March Madness Slam Dunk Contest

Ah, yes, reader guys, the CARLMAN is excited because it's March again. Fabulous, wonderful March, the month of the March Madness college basketball tournament! Every year it's great. There are always exciting games, a major upset, and an unknown team that comes out of nowhere and thrills the whole nation. This year ought to be no different--although it won't be as much fun because my beloved Carolina Tarheels have a second-rate team and may not even make it. Oh, well.

But March is also the month the we hold an annual March Madness contest, complete with prizes. The last two years we've held Book Series contests and Author Shoot-outs in which we filled out brackets, went through elimination rounds, etc. but this year we're going to keep it simple and hold a MARCH MADNESS SLAM DUNK CONTEST. Each review you send in will be worth one point (a "slam dunk"). The three guys with the most points at the end of March will be the first, second, and third place winners. Simple, huh? BUT WAIT--THERE'S MORE!! You have chances to get THREE EXTRA POINTS! If you send us a review of any of the books listed below (which are terrific but don't get the attention they deserve), you'll make a "three-point shot" for three extra points. Here's the list:

Any book in the Racing for Freedom trilogy by Alison Hart (scroll down and see the post of 2-24 for more info)

Any book in the Sluggers/Barnstormers series (click here and here for reviews)

Any book in The Tiger's Apprentice series (click here for a review)

The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings (click here for a review. The book's long but it's great!)

No More Dead Dogs by Gordon Korman (click here for a review. This is my pick to counter Carl's Dead Animal book. You can guess what happens to the deer in that one! Darth Bill Hey, man, come on! It's a great read. Yeah, so's this one. OK,OK!)

Amulet: Book 1, The Stonekeeper by Kazu Kibuishi (click here for a review)

Amulet. Book 2, The Stonekeeper's Curse by Kazu Kibuishi (click here for a review)
(These last two are my picks as well. Got a problem with them?? No, I trust your judgement on graphic novels. You say you trust a SITH?? Whatever)

AND any guy who writes a review of the Childrens Theatre of Charlotte's production of Treaure Island will also get three points.

PLUS--any guy who writes a review of the Treasure Island book will get a "buzzer beater" worth FIVE POINTS because the book's long and the language is old, but it's well worth reading. The language isn't impossible, the story's exciting, and it's one of my all-time favorite books. It may be the best pirate story ever written. (click here for a review)

OK, guys! Are you up for it? Let's...wait, what's that you say? What about prizes? Well, of course! What's a contest without prizes? We have some good ones this year. The Charlotte Bobcats have been very generous and donated three prize bags! Each one has lots of cool Bobcats stuff, including an autographed miniball (one signed by Gerald Wallace, one by Boris Diaw, and one by Alexis Ajinca) Sound good? The prizes will be:

First Place--A Bobcats gift bag and a book bag with three free books

Second--A Bobcats gift bag and two free books

Third--A Bobcats gift bag and one free book

All right! Get those keyboards pumped and burn in those reviews. Don't forget that reviews of graphic novels, audiobooks, biographies, and nofiction count too!

PS--if you live outside the Charlotte, NC area, you can also enter. Call Carl at 704-416-4630 and give your address if you qualify for a prize. But first make sure your parents know you're making such a call!

Graphic Novels, Pirates, Princesses and GOOF OFF Day; AAArrrhhh!!

Hello all in "The Land of Blog," tis I, Capt'n Blackheart Bill. It is time again to talk about some some good reads. But first something completely different:







Mrs. Yingling had this to say about our recent review of "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins (to see the review click Here): "It was with great reluctance that I turned over Catching Fire to one of my students before I read it. Maybe he'll turn it in late on Friday afternoon and I can take it home for the weekend..." Well, Mrs. Yingling, I hope you get hold of it soon because dare I say, I do, I do, it may be even better than the first book!!!!!!!


G-Man: Learning to Fly by Chris Giarruss - This is a great Graphic Novel featuring G-Man and his brother Great-Man and all their superhero buddies.They're superhero friends (all kids also) such as Billy Demon, Tan Man, Sparky among many others. Also in this Graphic Novel are special appearances by "The Mighty Skullboy Army," Santa Claus, a Psychotic Christmas Tree, "The Savage Dragon" and more. Enjoy such epic storylines as the Origin Stories of G-Man and Great Man and The Crisis of Multiple Dimensions. This is definitely one of the most fun Graphic Novels dealing with Superheroes I have read in a long time. The artwork is too cool and the stories are hilarious so you really need to check this book out (literally)!!!! As a side not I met Mr. Giarruss at Heroes Con this summer and he drew me this great picture of Spider-Boy (from Mini Marvels) who both fights crime and delivers papers and you would be surprised at the challenges posed by both occupations. Great stuff from a great guy!!!!!!





Amulet (Book 2): The Stonekeeper's Curse by Kazu Kibuishi - This is the second book in the Amulet Graphic Novel Series (The first: Amulet: Book One, The Stonekeeper I reviewed on this blogs 3/27/2008 posting - Click Here to see that review. This Graphic Novel has brother and sister Navin and Emily continuing on their quest to save their sick mother. At the start of this book the elves are in hot pursuit of the new Stonekeeper (Emily), who must travel via walking house to the city of Kanalis (where people are cursed to slowly turn into animals but they do retain their intelligence and ability to speak). In this city they pickup an ally in the swashbuckling fox Leon Redbeard. When they find a doctor in the city, he tells them that the only way their poisoned mother can be saved is through the fruit of the Gadoba Tree which grows at the peak of Damon's Mountain. The only problem with this is that anyone who has taken this journey has never returned from it. Also Emily finds the Magical Stone that grants her magical abilities trying very hard to take control of her. Leon Redbeard offers to train her how to use the Magic Stone, but can she trust this mysterious mercenary? The artwork and story in this Graphic Novel are breathtaking. You really should tag along in this great quest full of action, strange machines, stranger creatures and all manner of good and evil characters. Highly Recommended!!!!!!!


Artemis Fowl, The Graphic Novel: The Arctic Incident by Eoin Colfer, Andrew Donkin and Giovanni Rigano - In three simple words: Artemis Fowl Rules!!!!!!!!!! This is the second Graphic Novel adaption of the second book (duh....am I stating the obvious????) "The Arctic Incident." The highest praise I can give to this Graphic Novel is that it is just as good as the book (which is excellent)!!!! The story starts with Artemis discovering that his father who he thought was dead showing up alive, but there is one small catch. He is being held hostage by the Russian Mafia. While this is happening underground where the creatures of fairy live an uprising is taking place in the form of a goblin revolution. Through a misunderstanding Artemis (a teenage criminal genius) and his bodyguard Butler are arrested by Captain Holly Short (an elf) of the LEPrecon fairy police. After the misunderstanding is cleared up Commander Root (a cigar smoking, short tempered elf), head of the LEPrecon fairy police, and Holly agree to help Artemis and Butler rescue his father. Things quickly go from bad to worse for Artemis and company, as soon as the reach Russia, Commander Root is betrayed by a disgraced former associate and ally Cudgeon (an elf) and the brilliant, but not very stable scientist Opal Koboi (a Pixie). Let's just say things really just go to heck from there. This Graphic Novel is a great read so what are you waiting for???? Read it already!!!!!! Oh I just remembered that although I did not review it, I also read the first Artemis Fowl Graphic Novel that deals with his first encounter with the fairy folk that you should definitely cheek out also. Artemis Fowl Rules!!!!!!

Well that's all for now yea scallywags!!!!

Until next time this is Blackheart Bill saying,

Aaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!