Barbarians + Swords + Evil Wizards + Hot Wings = FANGBONE!

Graphic novels are great entertainment for guys! Let's establish that fact right away--and you probably know it already. Lots of guys have told about their favorites--Bone, Mad and Chad, Amulet and more. Today I'd like to tell you about a new series that I'm absolutely crazy about--FANGBONE!, THIRD GRADE BARBARIAN by Michael Rex. These graphic novels are hilarious, action-packed, and some of the most entertaining reading you could ever hold in your reader guy hands.

In the land of Skullbania, a group of barbarian warriors hold possession of the big toe of Venemous Drool, the evil wizard. Drool's army is approaching and someone must take the big toe to a magician who will send him to another land. The only one who cannot join in the battle is Fangbone, too young to fight. The magician sends Fangbone to the other land, tells him to protect the big toe at all costs, to blend in and not attract attention to himself so that Drool's minions will not find him. "May the spirit of Bigbelly Blackspit go with you," he says.
Fangbone lands near a school and follows a boy named Bill into Class 3-G, a class where everyone "learns at their own speed." Fangbone tries to blend in but it's hard to blend in when you wear a helmet with horns and a sword to class. Drool's monsters find Fangbone, however, and attack. Can Fangbone survive attacks by Dirt Devils, giant bat monsters and pop quizzes?

In the second book, Fangbone and the Egg of Misery, the warrior clans try to send a feast to Fangbone ("Stewed maggots! Twice-cooked gizzards!Fried Snake Eyes!") but Drool's minions switch the food for a giant egg. Fangbone thinks it will hatch a "Titan Razor Dragon" that could surely defeat the evil monsters of Drool. But something else will hatch instead--something deadly! Can Fangbone, Bill and friends ever hope to survive--and finish their presentation at the science pageant?

In the third book, Fangbone and the Birthday Party of Dread, Drool sends his most powerful monster yet after Fangbone. It's the Crusha and only one warrior, Bigbelly Blackspit, has ever escaped. How can a third-grader, even a barbarian, hope to get away? Even more than that, can they pass the Invention Convention at school?

These books are great!! They have attacks by Turtle-Gators, stories of old barbarian mythology (like why the sun is a flaming eyeball), bullies with fire truck underwear, the Ooky Dooky Dance and an evil bouncy castle. Plus, they're a testament to the power of courage and friendship. Have I got your curiosity up now? Then go and check them out!

These books get the Iron Guy Seal of Approval as Three Terrific Books!

Get to your local library and demand Fangbone, Third-Grade Barbarian--but leave your sword and evil big toe at home.

Sammer and Michael Tell Us About More Terrific Books!

Fall greetings, reader guys. The cool-weather, falling leaves,watching-football season officially arrived around

4:00 pm last Sunday--and the Carolina Panthers actually won a game!

 The Iron Guy thinks it's a great time to grab a chair, a good book and find a place to read either inside (to stay out of the cold) or outside (to enjoy the glorious fall weather). A couple of our old friends think so too. Both Michael and Sammer sent good reviews of some cool-sounding books. We haven't heard from Sammer for a long time, so let's hear him first:

This is my book review on Atlantis Rising. Atlantis Rising was a great book. There are two main characters in this book. Their names are Promi and Atlanta. It starts with Promi, a thief who has great skills with a knife. The leader of the town is a man named Grukarr who has bad intentions. Promi, not knowing anything about Grukarr’s evil plan, wanted to humiliate him in front of a big crowd. He plans on throwing his knife to cut off his belt buckle. He succeeds and becomes Grukarr’s enemy. Atlanta is a girl from the forest outside the city Elligandia where Promi lives. Atlanta is teaching a group of people how to talk to the trees when Grukarr comes through and tells her group to get out of the way so he can pass through. Now Atlanta can do some magic. As the group she was teaching runs away she stays and makes one of the tree branches move and smack Grukarr’s forehead. She then also becomes the enemy of Grukarr. Neither Prani or Atlanta know it yet but Grukarr’s plan involves both of them.This is an action-packed, dramatic adventure with spirits, immortals, faeries, Water gods, and even highly poisonous snails. If you are a fantasy lover like myself, this is a book for you.
From,
Sammer

Thanks, Sammer! I enjoy a good fantasy book, especially when a tree branch whacks the bad guy in the head! Now let's hear from Michael:

N. E. R. D. S., book 5

Attack of the BULLIES

by Michael Buckley
      It's the series finale of  N. E. R. D. S.! Ms. Holiday is now Ms. Information, a new deranged supervillain who has the abilities to copy everything the NERDS have done. She gets together a team of kids in juvenile detention, and puts the US president's daughter in charge of them! She gives them upgrades, and calls them the Brotherhood of Underestimated Liars, Lowlife, and Endangerment to Society: BULLIES. Meanwhile, Heathcliff struggles to regain the team's trust, because he can't remember what happened with the villain virus. Just as the NERDS start gaining on the BULLIES, Ms. Information pulls out a new surprise on them: a time machine! Find out Ms. Holiday's backstory, plus, will Agent Brand return? It's an intriguing, action-packed adventure through time and emotions that will leave you wondering what happens next on every page! ...well, except the last one, of course. As an interesting sidenote, the book shows Ruby Peet's family, what happens if someone receives a double upgrade, and it has not only lots of old game and TV show references, but it has a cameo of Buckley himself! Definitely not a book to miss! 

Michael Lanier

Pianist, guitarist, banjoist, autoharpist, jaw harpist, ukeist, mandolinist 

Thanks to you too, Michael! The N.E.R. D.S. books are really popular with guys and with good reason. I was a little worried because you said N.E.R.D.S. 4 wasn't that good, so I'm glad to see that series get back in shape.

Check these out, guys, and remember, they weren't recommended by some boring old grownup but by a reader guy like YOU! That means these books are:

Or as the boys at last year's Read to Achieve club at Eastover School said:

 

  

Guy Tested--GUY APPROVED!

Sea of Monsters--Is the Movie Better If You Have/Have Not Read the Book?

Greetings, all you fellow reader guys! A couple of weeks ago, the Iron Guy went to Charlotte's annual Yiasou Greek festival. It was a great time, as it always is, and this year I fulfilled a long-term dream and wore my Camp Half-Blood t-shirt there. (It's a long story but I got this t-shirt from Rick Riordan himself!) While I was there, I used a time travel device known only to the Iron Guy and signed up with the ancient Greek army to become the 301st Spartan to go and fight the Persians at Thermopylae. Here you see me with my fellow Spartans:

Yes, indeed, I fit right in, don't I? Notice the soldier to my right--he seems to be in awe of the Iron Guy, who is ready to fight the entire Persian army dressed, not in armor, but simply a t-shirt!!

Enough silliness. The Greek festival and the Camp Half-Blood shirt reminded me of a post I read at This Kid Reviews Books, a great blog run by a reader guy just like you. He wrote a post about the Percy Jackson movies and asked, " Book or Movie--Which One Is Better?" In it, he wrote:

“The book was SO much better than the movie” is a statement I hear a lot. It got me wondering, is the book always better? To me, the answer is an obvious yes, but I’m a book person.
For example, I LOVED the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books (Jeff Kinney), but I hated the movie. I think that Gregory’s self-centered character is much better as cartoon in a book than in the movie. In the movie Rowley wasn’t nearly as goofy as he should have been.
 They also took one of my all-time favorite books, The Lightning Thief from the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series (Rick Riordan), and made it into an okay movie. I mean, they took out Clarisse, one of my favorite characters, and they even took out Ares, the god of war (how do you take out the god of war from a story about Greek mythology with fighting in it?!?). The fight between Percy and Ares has got to be my all-time favorite fight scenes from any book and it wasn’t in the movie. 
Of course, the movie wasn’t horrible. It was pretty good and, I think, for someone who hadn’t read the book, it was probably great. There is lots of action, great special effects, and cool monsters.

He also ran a poll  that asked whether the books were better than the movies. Some said that the books were always better and others took the line that movies are primarily visual experiences and so it's not fair to compare them.

So that got me wondering. I have not seen The Sea of Monsters movie and so I don't know. Is the book or the movie better? Or would the movie have been more fun if you had not read the book first? That's what I thought of The Lightning Thief movie--it was so different from the book that I was disappointed. But then I thought that the movie would have seemed really good to someone who had not read the book.

Soooo--I want YOU to tell ME if you liked the Sea of Monsters movie better than the book. Or if you liked the book better than the movie. Or would the movie have seemed really good if you hadn't read the book first.

And to make it interesting, I'll give you some incentive. The first three guys who write and tell  why or why not the book or movie was better--or if the movie would have better if you had/hadn't read the book first--will get a choice of one these three books.

That's right--you could choose The Indian in the Cupboard, Stone Fox, or Hatchet. All of them are really good guy books. BUT I don't want you to write something like, "Oh, yeah, the book was better." I want you to tell me WHY. Convince me! Make me believe the book or movie was better! OK--you got it? Then go ahead and hit that "Comment" button under this post and give me your reasons. Then I'll publish your comments on this blog. Then you can either come to the Myers Park library and claim your prize or, if you live too far away (even outside of Charlotte), then put your address and contact info with your comments and I'll get your prize to you. Don't worry--your address WON'T get published. No one will see it but me.

So send me your comments, guys! I and all the other reader guys out there are waiting to hear from you.

If you have any more questions on how to send your comments, see the instructions on the left-hand side of the page or call me at 70416-5800.

News from Michael!

Greetings, fellow reader guys, and I hope you're enjoying these last few days of summer. Some of you may be back in school and some of you may be cramming in as much fun as you can before the school doors open. Our old and faithful friend Michael has been doing what all reader guys love and that is READING! He's here to tell us about something he read and liked this summer. Take it away, Michael:

Island of Thieves

by Josh Lacey

      When his parents go on vacation, Tom Trelawney is left last minute with his uncle, Harvey. But when Tom gets mixed up with Harvey's search for treasure in Peru, and his trouble with super-criminal Otto Gonzalez, things get a little more hectic than Tom expected. This book was narrated in the first person, which I usually don't like, but it worked out pretty well for this book. The book isn't written like a movie, it's written like what would happen if this was a real event. Although searching for treasure and having an uncatchable criminal trying to kill you isn't exactly realistic, the choices the characters made are more realistic than dramatic, making the book more realistic and relatable than one written like a movie. Some of the events may seem stupid, but it's just realistic. Wouldn't you make stupid choices if you were running from a murderer and didn't have time to think? This book is also action-packed, so no need to worry about it being boring. It's very much worth reading, and it's highly enjoyable.

Michael Lanier

Pianist, guitarist, banjoist, autoharpist, jaw harpist, ukeist, mandolinist 

Thanks, Michael! You've always told us about good stuff. So how about it, guys--have any of YOU read this? Did you like it? Have you read anything else that we should know about? THEN TELL US ABOUT IT! We want to know! All the instructions are on the left-hand side of the page. HOP TO IT, men, before summer's over!

Hot Reading Fun in the Summertime

How's summer going, reader dudes?? This is a great time of year. A chance to relax and have fun. Here you see the Iron Guy chilling at a favorite spot.

Of course, he must still work out to maintain his MANLY physique.

Summer is also a great time for really fun reads. Here are some that the Iron Guy has enjoyed in the past. I'm going to avoid the obvious picks, like Percy Jackson, Harry Potter or The 39 Clues and focus on some that aren't as well known but still tremendously fun reads. (Some of these may be hard to find because they've been out for a while but the Charlotte Mecklenburg library has copies)


N.E. R. D. S. by Michael Buckley--Secret agents, flying school buses, world-destroying villains, laughs and action--what more could you want? I must confess that I've read only the first one but other guys have read and recommended them.




How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell--Could you eat 15 worms? "Yeecchh!!" you say. Would you do it for $50.00? That's the idea behind this terrific book. It's been making guys laugh for almost 40 years and will make YOU laugh too.



 
The Island trilogy by Gordon Korman--a great survival story with thrills, thrills, thrills. Several troubled kids go on a boat for an extended rehab trip but end up stranded on a deserted island. This island isn't on any map--and for good reason! A really terrific read!




The Adventurrous Deed of Deadwood Jones by Helen Hemphill--Yeehaa! Adventure in the Old West! Two brothers skeedaddle to Texas after the Civil War when some racists threaten them. They join a cattle drive and look for their father. Great fun but serious and sad parts, so you get get a little substance with your fun. Don't let that scare you off, though--still very fun and very highly recommended.

The Bone Graphic novels by Jeff Smith--What can I say about this epic graphic novel fantasy series that hundreds of others haven't already said? Probably the best fantasy series ever put into graphic form. Go get it NOW!!



The Tiger's Apprentice trilogy by Laurence Yep--Based on Chinese mythology, this fantasy trilogy starts in San Francisco but takes you through far-flung magical lands and into dangers with wild creatures. A great read!




The Hank the Cowdog audiobooks--Going on a car trip this summer? Then take along these very funny audiobooks. John R. Erickson wrote and narrated these and guys really enjoy them. I've seen kids beg for these in carpools!






Sluggers/Barnstormers series by Phil Bildner and Loren Long--Finally, one of my all-time
favorite series. These books are perfect summer reads. An old-time baseball travels around the country in 1898 to raise for an uncle who's not only ill but in trouble with a very bad guy. And a lot of mysterious things happen around a magical baseball. Start one and you'll be hooked! (PS--the first few books came out under the Barnstormers name and the rest under Sluggers)

OK, guys, enjoy your summer! Keep reading and, if you want to find out what the Iron Guy and other people have said about these books, click on the tabs under this post. And if you want to add your $.02, send us a review! All the instructions are on the left-hand side of this page.

Ice Drift and Alvin Ho 5 or Why It's Not Necessary to Mention Fungus, Snot and Earwax All the Time

Hey, reader guys everywhere! Summer is here at long last. School has been out for a couple of weeks now, swimming pools and theme parks are open and fun reigns supreme! And reading is king over the summer, Yeah, I know school is out and you may not think about reading but the Iron Guy believes that reading is fun and I intend to share some fun reading with you over the summer. And here are a couple of good reads to start off:

Ice Drift by Theodore Taylor

Here's a survival story along the lines of Island of the Blue Dolphins, except that it doesn't take place off the California Coast but in the frozen Arctic Sea. In the 1860's, two Inuit boys and their dog are hunting for seal when an iceberg hits their ice floe and sends it drifting into the Greenland Strait. They have no kayak and swimming to shore is impossible--even if they were close enough, the freezing water would kill them almost instantly. And it's October. They're about to go into the coldest and darkest part of the year when it can get to 40 below. And there are bears. And even if they survive the winter, what will happen in the spring when their ice floe thaws and breaks up? This is a good and suspenseful story, just the sort of thing for a guy to enjoy. You'll really wonder if survival is possible. This is one you're going to enjoy. Besides, it's good to read about the frozen Arctic when it gets so hot during the summer!

 Alvin Ho: Allergic to Babies, Burglars and Other Bumps in the Night by Lenore Look

This is another terrific book in the Alvin Ho series. These books are funny, funny, funny and each one should come with a You-Will-Laugh-Out-Loud guarantee. All of them feature second-grader Alvin Ho, who is scared of everything. Lighting storms. Getting stuck in trees. Speaking up in class. Dead authors who give tours of their houses. He evesn carries a Personal Disaster Kit which contains like like Band-Aids, a whistle (in case you're so scared you lose your voice) and Garlic for "fending off vampires and teachers." In this one, Alvin's mom is expecting a baby. She shows him the ultrasound pictures but he says it looks like an alien. Then he notices that his tummy is getting big too. Oh, no--that must mean HE'S pregnant!! He doesn't want to have a baby! Not only THAT, there's also a burglar in the area. Now Alvin's got something ELSE to be scared of! Wait--he's home alone after he fell asleep in the closet and his mom had to go to the hospital. Who's that coming up the stairs?? Could it be the BURGLAR??!! Alvin's brother rigged up a trap for burglars--WILL IT WORK??? Oh, man, you've got to read this one!! You will laugh out loud when a TV reporter shows up at Alvin's school and a classmate says Alvin's pregnant! Or when the other boys in class learn that they're pregnant! Or when Alvin solves the baby-crying problem. Or when he eats six ice cream cones and a lick in a minute and a half. So get this and have some good summer fun.

This one gets the Iron Guy Seal of Approval as One Terrific Book!

And if you'd like to find out about more Alvin Ho or survival books, click on the "Alvin Ho" or "survival stories" tab under this post.

Enjoy summer and keep reading!

Basketball!

The Iron Guy loves sports, especially when it takes an epic turn like the 2013 NBA playoffs. I have no idea

who'll win tonight but you just gotta love the thrill of the game! Basketball is a high-speed, high-intensity game that is just right for GUYS. So, in the spirit of the roundball, here are basketball books that are just right for GUYS!

Fundamental Basketball by Jim and Mike Klinzing and

  Basketball Step-by-Step by Brian Burns and Mark Dunning

These are good, basic books about how to play the game. Fundamental Basketball covers everything from the history of the game to how to shoot jump shots to the size of the backboard! Basketball Step-By-Step also covers the basics of scoring, equipment, players and court and the different team positions. But, more importantly, it shows how the techniques of offensive and defensive play by giving multiple photographs that demonstrate each move step by step.Both would be useful for the novice player or the veteran looking to sharpen his (or her) skills. Really recommended.

Derrick Rose by Michael Sandler

Here's a story about one of the good guys of basketball. Nothing could keep Derrick away from the roundball as a boy, playing even after sundown when there were no lights or after breaking his arm climbing a tree. He went to the University of Memphis and helped the Tigers reach the 208 NCAA championship game. That was also the year the Chicago Bulls drafted him as the # 1 pick. But even with all his success, he remained humble and did good things, like helping kids in his old  poverty-stricken Chicago neighborhood or donate money for earthquake victims in Haiti. (he once pledged to donate $1000 for each point he scored in a game and raised $32,000!) This is a good, quick and inspirational read and a good book for anyone who loves sports or stories of the good guys. (The only problem is that it came out in 2012 and doesn't mention the last year he's been out with his injury--but don't let that stop you. It's still a good read)

The Basket Counts by Matt Christopher

Matt Christopher wrote a lot of books about sports and every one I've read has been good. This one is about a middle school basketball team. Mel Jessen is new to the school. He's also one of the few African-American kids in the school. One of the other kids won't pass to him even when he's in the open. This team has a good chance to win the season--will this other guy get over it for the good of the team? And will the coach intervene or just ignore the situation? This is another good quick read. Matt Christopher makes every game exciting, especially the season's final game. And this book was written way back in the day when prejudice was more common. It's hard to believe now that it was such a problem--or is it still a problem? Have any of you reader guys encountered it? Or do you see it on your teams?

OK, guys (and Heat and Spurs), play hard and let me know what you think about these books!