The Case of the Vanishing Little Brown Bats is wonderful scientific mystery for middle grade readers.  The information is presented clearly and simply, but with accuracy and science vocabulary.  

Sandra Markle leads kids through the scientific process by explaining what the issue is and why it is important, how it is affecting the bats and data collection, hypotheses to what the problem could be, finding the cause of the problem and possible solutions.  I read this with a group of kids aged 10-12, they were intrigued by the mystery and inspired to find out more about bats and what they could do to help- that is exactly what I want a science book to do.  Female students also liked that many of the scientists were women!

This book was provided for free in return for an honest review.  

I love chicken and use it as a cooking staple in my home, it is versatile and can be used for so many different things.  So, when I saw this cookbook, I knew that I had to get it. 

This cookbook starts out with a good primer on chicken, the different cuts, how to prepare and cooking techniques.  I was happy to see a lot of recipes from different cultures.  Recipes are separated into weekday, weekend and dinners and celebrations.  

I tried the Grilled Chicken, Fennel and Feta salad, it was a simple recipe and I was glad to use some herbs from my garden.  I also tried the enticing Smoky Bacon Chicken Wings, this ended up being a nice and different, but  easy appetizer with great flavor combinations.  

I'm looking forward to trying Pulled Chicken Buns with Barbecue Sauce, Chicken and Butternut Squash Gnocci with Sage Butter and Chili Chocolate Chicken.  Some of the dinner and celebrations recipes were a little more difficult in terms of preparation and technique, but looked delicious.  

Some great new recipes and classics with chicken.  

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.  ​

About the Book: The adventurous woman nicknamed La Belle Créole is brought to life in this book through the full use of her memoirs, contemporary accounts, and her intimate letters. The fascinating María de las Mercedes Santa Cruz y Montalvo, also known as Mercedes, and later the Comtesse Merlin, was a Cuban-born aristocrat who was years ahead of her time as a writer, a socialite, a salon host, and a participant in the Cuban slavery debate. Raised in Cuba and shipped off to live with her socialite mother in Spain at the age of 13, Mercedes triumphed over the political chaos that blanketed Europe in the Napoleonic days, by charming aristocrats from all sides with her exotic beauty and singing voice. She married General Merlin in Napoleon’s army and discussed painting with Francisco de Goya. In Paris she hosted the city’s premier musical salon where Liszt, Rossini, and great divas of the day performed for Rothschilds, Balzac, and royalty. Celebrated as one of the greatest amateur sopranos of her day, Mercedes also achieved fame as a writer. Her memoirs and travel writings introduced European audiences to 19th-century Cuban society and contributed to the debate over slavery. Mercedes has recently been rediscovered as Cuba’s earliest female author and one who deserves a place in the canon of Latin American literature.


Review: I love learning about intriguing women throughout history.  The story of María de las Mercedes Santa Cruz y Montalvo or just Mercedes, is no exception.  Born in Cuba to a well-connected family in the 19th century, Mercedes was perfectly placed to drive her own destiny.  Raised in her great-grandmother's household and then sent to her mother's household in Spain in the midst of political tumult, Mercedes continued to thrive and grow.  She eventually married becoming the Comtesse Merlin and hosted the premiere soirees of her time.  

I loved Mercedes stories of her childhood and the way that they were captured.  Her daring escapes from her relative's imprisonment as well as the convent were exciting as well as humorous, even if they were romanticized by Mercedes later in life. Mercedes time in Cuba was the most interesting to me, the landscape, houses, family issues and Mercedes antics made her childhood seem like an adventure. Her parents lives were equally as entertaining and it's easy to see where her personality, persuasive ways and flare for the dramatic came from.    In her adulthood Mercedes went from Spain to France and hosted extravagant salons featuring premiere artists and musicians of the day.  This section painted a beautiful portrait of France at the time and the luxuriousness of Mercedes' salons.   Luckily, Mercedes wrote about her life in her published memoirs.  I had only wished that I could have read more of the actual excerpts that Mercedes had written.  Alina Garcia-Lapuerta has pulled the most interesting times out of Mercedes varied past and brought to life a captivating woman who was ahead of her time.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.