review Archives ⋆ Be the Cat

Publishers Weekly Review for The Journal of Angela Ashby

Liana Gardner — Sun, 11 Nov 2018 00:40:10 +0000

The most amazing thing happened today and I cannot wait to share it, so here we go …

I am absolutely thrilled to share this review in Publishers Weekly of The Journal of Angela Ashby. I am absolutely giddy they liked it so much.

“… hilarious, startling, and sometimes unexpected … filled with achingly relatable tween moments and gentle lessons about the power of friendship, understanding other people’s stories, and living with the consequences of one’s actions.” ~Publishers Weekly

To read the entire review, please visit Publishers Weekly.

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7th Grade Revolution: School Library Journal Review

Liana Gardner — Tue, 20 Feb 2018 20:47:13 +0000

While I was checking out all the libraries which have shelved 7th Grade Revolution, I ran across a review for the book. While that isn’t surprising, what caught my attention was that the review was the School Library Journal. At the point of realization, I must have looked very much like the girl in the photo because not even my publicist knew about the review. Anyway, I wanted to share…

“Gr 5-8. A fun ride that combines treasure hunting, quick thinking, Revolutionary-era U.S. history, and teamwork. The teachers announce to the seventh grade at Washington Academy Middle School that the students are now in charge of their own education. Instructional time must occur, safety must be maintained, and teachers must remain present, but everything else is up for negotiation. The students are given two days to decide their governing rules. On day two, new boy Dennis, who has an illegal police scanner app, hears that the school has been evacuated and that FBI agents are on grounds. They are looking for an artifact with information that is of great importance to the nation. He relays the information to the rest of the group. Eventually, they also look to Rhonda, a girl whose father is a survivalist, and has been teaching her that way of life. Using Rhonda’s knowledge of Silas Tucker, the original owner and builder of the school, and the students’ grasp of revolutionary history, the children set off in search of the artifact. Following clues left by Tucker, the students climb through secret passage ways, all while on the hunt. Are they knowledgeable, quick, and brave enough to find the artifact before the FBI storms the school? This novel reads like a National Treasure and Spy Kids movie combined. It has twists and turns. One of the novel’s huge strengths is the kids banding together; in addition, each character has the opportunity to show individual skills and to grow as a person … VERDICT Suggested for general purchase for middle school collections, especially for adventure-loving patrons.” ~Melyssa Kenney, School Library Journal

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7th Grade Revolution: When the Story Gives Back

Liana Gardner — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 13:00:40 +0000

As a writer, honoring the story and getting it down and into the hands of readers is my job. It’s a solitary endeavor that takes a host of people to bring to fruition. We are never in it alone. And for each person who helps me along the way, I am grateful for the help I have received. In the case of 7th Grade Revolution, the story would not have been possible without the help I received from a teacher. It amazes me to this day that Karen Rectanus was so open and sharing to some writer who contacted her out of the blue. And she helped without asking anything for it.

I’ve kept in touch over the journey for this book, giving Karen updates for where the book is at in the process and I was delighted to have the opportunity to send her an Advance Reader Copy to help thank her for the help she freely gave me. Her response to the book completely overwhelmed me.

So, I arrived home earlier today to find your book on my front porch and I have just come up for air, realizing that I haven’t even eaten since I picked it up. (It’s 11:00) I don’t even know where to begin. Should I start with the dedication that brought me to tears? The first time I saw my name as the teacher and I gasped? (I really had forgotten that you had said you would use my name!) The fact that the beginning of the book is so very reminiscent of the real thing? The illustration toward the end when I saw myself? All of those things were beyond my expectations, but what I really want to say is that the book held me captive from beginning to end. You captured the middle school mind perfectly, showing their insecurities as well as the amazing strength that is just below the surface. Bravo! It is a wonderful book and I can see it being used during a study of government as a class read. The illustrator is also superb. I could go on and on. (I also am really amazed at how you captured me as a teacher … how did you do that?) So thank you, thank you, thank you! I loved every part of this book and I am so very proud, as I said earlier, to have had any part in it.

As I write this, I’m the one with tears in my eyes. To think that two total strangers on opposite sides of the United States can connect through happenstance and a story is born, is still an incredible concept to me. And there is no greater praise than for a writer to hear their work has been consumed by a reader, that the reader was captured from start to finish. Because the story was inspired by the classroom experience, it meant so much to me to hear that the story was reminiscent of the real experience. To hear I have captured the middle school mind makes me grin … because this is coming from someone who deals with those minds as her profession.

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Treat People Review

Phoenix — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 23:45:14 +0000

When I first looked at Treat People, I thought the look a trifle plain. They do have some cute puppies in the header. They should have a picture of Elsa as a puppy, with her little nose-hawk. While the site design may lack bling, the treats they offer do not.

Treat People offers the canine consumer, just that – their selection of treats. The brands that they provide are Pet ‘n Shape, Greenies, BilJac and Newman’s Own. They primarily offer Pet ‘n Shape, which are billed as 100% Natural, Safe, Gluten Free, and Human-Grade. What the heck is human grade and why would I want it? If I want some “human” food, all I have to do is look at my Papa for a period of time and then he feels guilty and shares what he has, so there is nothing special about human grade around my house.

Treat People list their offerings along the side of the page, so you don’t have to hunt through the entire site, just to find their Duck & Sweet Potato (I love these) treats. The give you a run down on why they provide so many products with Chicken and Duck. There is a page explaining why they are promoting the Pet ‘n Shape products, and one of my favorite pages is how they outline all of the uses for the treats, such as mid-afternoon treat, afternoon tea treat, crunchy midnight snack and more. I think that you should get your parents to spend some time perusing that page so that they know all of the times that it is appropriate to give you a treat. Then once you think they have it down, hone your persuasive skills and get them to start following the program.

The next page outlines their ongoing contest to find the most beautiful pet, the cutest, the funniest, and the one who does the best trick in order to get a Pet ‘n Shape treat. I don’t believe that I will be entering the contest, but I’d love to see you all submit your pics and stories.

Now, perk up your ears. . .I have now come to the supreme page for you to focus on ~ the FREE SAMPLE page. When your parents get to that page, start to nuzzle them, and if they don’t get it, whine, and if they still don’t get it. . .bark your head off. Ask them in every possible way to please, please, PLEEAASSSEEE get you a free sample. Otherwise, how are you going to know whether you like the product or not. I love a bargain, and figure that everyone should share in the wealth.

So at the end of the review, I determined that what I thought of at first as a plain little site, is one that is actually beautiful in it’s simplicity. This site is one that offers treats and doesn’t try to mess it up with providing too many services. . . just treats. And for those of you who have a feline friend, they also have some cat treats.

On the 5 paw scale, this site gets:

‘Til next time, Paws Up!

Copyright 2008 © Phoenix with a helping paw from Gryphon

About the Author:
“Just call me Your Highness” ~ Phoenix
_____________________________________________________________________

Here’s information about my Mama’s stuff:
Visit us at Griffie World
To buy Misfit McCabe, visit my store at Lulu.com or purchase at Amazon.com
To track Misfit McCabe across the country, visit:
Where in the World is Misfit McCabe?
Own a Kindle? Download Misfit McCabe in an instant.
For other ebook formats, visit Smashwords.com
To read book reviews by LK Griffie, visit: The Lulu Book Review

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The Poop Review

Phoenix — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 23:31:50 +0000

My next foray into the world of reviewing dog websites took me to The Poop – “the site where a dog can have its day.”

First of all, you have to like a website that calls itself The Poop. I happen to love double entendres. This site has a lot to recommend it, store, blog, pet adoption, recipes and more. While not being a specifically dog-oriented site, dogs are definitely featured. There are nice graphics to help the consumer find the appropriate store for the type of pet that they have. The pet store that is associated with The Poop is PetFoodDirect.com – America’s Pet Store on the Web.

This site really does have a little bit of everything. You can register your pet’s birthday so that on the day, the birthday greeting will be listed, participate in polls, voice your own opinion in the blog, and learn how to make food for your pets (although, as you know, I prefer my food to be prepared already as handmade food just isn’t happening in this household). There are actually links to even more things such as pet news. This is the one negative that I found on this site – there is so much going on, that on the main page it is not all apparently available. You have to go to the store in order to see the link for their pooppourri section which has a cornucopia of information sources.

All in all, a well worthwhile site to visit for pets and their parents.

On my Paw Scale (1 being low/5 being high), this site gets:

‘Til next time, Paws Up!

By the way – how do you like my new signature. I feel that it is much more me, being all sparkly and pink.

About the Author:
“Just call me Your Highness” ~ Phoenix
_____________________________________________________________________

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Gourmet Sleuth Dog Treats Review

Phoenix — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 23:24:34 +0000

Here is my very first review of the sites that I run across when searching for dog treats. First of all, I should give my method for searching. It is actually quite simple. I open up a browser window (ok – all of you in the peanut gallery, I said BROWSER, not BOWSER) and in the Google search widget, type dog treats and then enter. The results come up and I selected one randomly.

The GourmetSleuth.com came up and it has several recipes for dog treats. Actually, dog biscuit treat recipes. My first comment has to be that I am look for treats to eat, not to bake myself. Plus, I am not allowed to work in the kitchen. This site really doesn’t do me any good, because my Papa doesn’t cook and my Mama doesn’t have time and simply won’t do it anyway.

In addition to recipes for dog biscuits, they have some dog food recipes as well. Let’s discuss the dog-likability factor of the page. There is a dog bone graphic at the top and they have books on dog recipes, kits for making dog treats, etc on the side bar, but other than that you wouldn’t know it was a site for dogs looking for treats. All text, no visuals of the treats themselves. No descriptions to capture a dog’s imagination, and frankly from the sound of some of the ingredients, you woulnd’t catch me eating them anyway.

Then there is the final reason why this site will not get a Paws Up recommendation from me. Apparently one of their readers let them know that some of the recipes that they have in their collection have grapes or raisins in them, which can be toxic to us pups. Their response to receiving the information was to post a blurb advising people to be careful that some of the recipes they are linked to could actually cause your dog harm. Did they remove the offending links? No they did not. How can they even hope to retain any measure of dog-friendlieness when they are posting recipes that could kill their supposed canine friends.

All in all this site does not have dogs as its primary focus and should be steered clear of for the best consideration of your pet.

On my Paw Scale (1 being low/5 being high), this site gets:

‘Til next time. Paws Up!

About the Author:
“Just call me Your Highness” ~ Phoenix
_____________________________________________________________________

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It’s My Turn

Phoenix — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 23:07:02 +0000

Finally! I can hardly get a paw in edge-wise these days. Mama has been working diligently on her book trailer and doing other things related to promoting Misfit McCabe, that getting time on the internet has been scarce for me. When am I supposed to look up new treat sites for crying out loud.

Yes ~ it’s true, I do surf the net searching for new treat sites. I am very picky about the treats I eat (only the yummiest please) and want to make sure I am up to date on all of the latest offerings.

We will be trying some treats from SpunkyPup sometime soon, so I recommend that you stop by and check it out. Don’t be startled when you access the site for the first time and the site guard dog barks a greeting to you.

Speaking of barking, Elsa was soooo loud today, it was annoying. She doesn’t like when Mama is in an area where she can’t get to her and then she sits there and yips in this ear piercing bark to get attention. I hope Mama breaks her of that soon, my delicate ears just can’t take that.

I think that with all of the talk of book reviews that has been going on in our house because my Mama got a great review from The Lulu Book Review yesterday, I will start reviewing websites geared toward dogs. I figure why not? I have excellent qualifications to do so. I am a dog, I have lots of opinions. . .what other criteria could there be?

All for now. Paws Up!

About the Author:
“Just call me Your Highness” ~ Phoenix
_____________________________________________________________________

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