Donalisa Helsley

I am a mommy, social worker and a children's book author. I love reviewing children and adolescent books and sharing them with my Wild About Reading fans.
My mission for Wild About Reading is to encourage a love of reading in our children and re-ignite it in the parents. This is one of the greatest gifts we can give our children. So turn off the television and read to your children. Reading and being read to will help develop language and listening skills. Reading will also develop their imagination!

Website: http://www.wildaboutreading.net
Twitter: @donalisahelsley
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Blog: http://donalisahelsley.blogspot.com

http://www.wildaboutreading.net

• The Note on Sep. 21, 2011
  
  This is a wonderful story with a great message that needs to be told. Cyber bullying is an epidemic right now. This story is very timely in addressing it. As a social worker I have worked with many children that have been victims of bullying. I was also bullied in high school. I love that the story shows Jenny standing up for herself, being assertive.
  
• Hexult on Sep. 24, 2011
  
  What a exciting change from the vampires and werewolves I have been reading lately. This book was a wonderful and entertaining adventure. Hexult is the story of two teens who are shipwrecked and saved. They are brought to a land where they are very different from the people around them. They are attacked verbally and physically due to fear and ignorance. The teens bring with them knowledge and information on how to build helpful items that are considered "magic". I am always looking for a lesson learned and this story has a few. Perry expertly weaves in a lesson about predjudice. We learn along with the characters that just because someone or something is different doesn't make it "bad". Secondly, there were bits of science woven throughout the story. I found myself wanting to build an ice tower! This story is aimed at ages 12-15 but I believe that it can be read aloud to younger children. Even adults will like it. Although it took me a chapter or two before I "got into" the story once I was in I didn't go to bed until I finished the book!