A Darker Shade of Magic

Book talk: “Lila Bard knew in her bones that she was meant to be a pirate.” Regency London is a hard, dirty place for an orphan, but Delilah Bard is harder and dirtier. She knows what it takes to survive, and she knows that she'd rather die on an adventure than live in safety. So when a mysterious man appears who can turn blood and whispers into weapons and preens about in his magical coat, she knows that following him will finally lead her to the adventure she's always wanted. She doesn't have much to miss about London when she travels with this strange man into another dimension where the water glows red with magic. Delilah is a woman with nothing to lose but her life, and several worlds of possibilities to gain.

Rave: I was so absorbed in this book that I almost missed my flight even though I was seated at the gate. Luckily I looked up during the last call and made it on. This is one of my favorite fantasy series and I read a lot of fantasy, so that's saying something. Delilah and Kell are all I could ask for in protagonists and the sharp writing, witty dialogue, and immersive world building kept me completely engaged. Highly recommended!

Every book its reader: I'd give this to fans of fantasy adventure.

Topics and trends: fantasy, adventure, strong characterization,

Extras:

Clearly I'm not the only one obsessed with this series. You can find a whole wiki here and someone wrote a great song inspired by Lila Bard



Bonus Quotes:

“I apologize for anything I might have done. I was not myself.”

“I apologize for shooting you in the leg.” said Lila. “I was myself entirely.”

“The bodies in my floor all trusted someone. Now I walk on them to tea.”

“Kell wore a very peculiar coat. It had neither one side, which would be conventional, nor two, which would be unexpected, but several, which was, of course, impossible.”

“He’s … charming and spoiled, generous and fickle and hedonistic. He would flirt with a nicely upholstered chair, and he never takes anything seriously.”

Source: Powell's Books

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab: buy it or check it out today!

Challenger Deep

Book talk: Caden is a brilliant student. He is well-liked by his peers and part of a loving family. But Caden is increasingly convinced that he is on a dangerous trip to the Marianas Trench with a crew that's threatening to mutiny. He is struggling to keep track of reality, but the choppy waters of his illness keep pulling him under. When he makes it to the surface, he gets glimpses of failed medication and looks of shame, pity, and disappointment. When he sinks into his delusions he's at the center of a conflict between the captain and crew as he documents their journey through his art. He is conflicted and fighting and exhausted, but giving up would mean losing everything.

Rave: An excellent book on schizophrenia. The way the narrative switches between reality and life on the ship keeps the reader off balance and provides a glimpse into the mind of someone who has schizophrenia. This is a book that really stays with you. For those who suffer from any mental illness there's many things to identify with from the struggle to find an effective treatment to the puzzle in the hospital missing a dang piece.  For those who have never had a mental illness, it's an illuminating glimpse into that experience that will foster empathy. I can't recommend it highly enough.

Every book its reader: It's certainly not a fast-paced action thriller, but for those who enjoy character studies and those who suffer from mental illness themselves, this book is an unforgettable experience.

Topics and Trends: Schizophrenia, mental illness, character-focused, building empathy

Extras:

 
Bonus quotes:

“And when the abyss looks into you - and it will - may you look back unflinching.”

“You see demons in the eyes of the world, and the world sees a bottomless pit in yours.”

“They all think medicine should be magic, and they become mad at me when it's not.”

“Don Quixote - the famous literary madman - fought windmills. People think he saw giants when he looked at them, but those of us who've been there know the truth. He saw windmills, just like everyone else - but he believed they were giants. The scariest thing of all is never knowing what you're suddenly going to believe.”

“I feel her wave of worry like a patio heater - faint and ineffective, but constant.”

Source: public library

Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman: buy it or check it out today!

Rook

Book talk: “The heavy blade hung high above the prisoners, glinting against the stars, and then the Razor came down, a wedge of falling darkness cutting through the torchlight. One solid thump, and four more heads had been shaved from their bodies.” In a post-technological age where the past is all but forgotten, a rebellion is stirring. The nobility are being captured and executed. Their only hope is the mysterious red rook who keeps sneaking into prisons and freeing people, leaving a red-tipped feather behind. 

Rave: I adored this re-imagining of The Scarlet Pimpernel! The dystopian setting provides a perfect background and gender-swapping the main character creates a more modern feeling. There's the perfect mix of action, world-building, and romance. 

Every book its reader: I'd give this to fans of swash-buckling adventure stories and characters like Robin Hood. 8th & up

Topics and trends: adventure, romance, french revolution, re-tellings, dystopian, gender-swapping

Extras:

Sharon Cameron has tons of cool extras on her site about everything from the science behind her extrapolations to create her future world to the art of swordplay. http://sharoncameronbooks.com/books/rook/

Check out the trailer:

Bonus Quotes:

“He thought she was someone who could break the pattern of history. And he was offering to break it with her.” 

“She was clever, and beautiful, and hard as burnished bronze.” 

Source: school library

Rook by Sharon Cameron: buy it or check it out today!

Brief Reviews Winter 2015-16

I enjoyed getting lost in the world of seventeenth century Amsterdam and the touch of magical realism. The miniaturist is a unique and mysterious character that drew me under a spell. It's a great escapist read for a vacation and makes me want to go back to Amsterdam. The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton: buy it or check it out today!







This book actually changed the way I see the world. The science behind how stereotypes really do affect all of us is simply astounding. As well as the toll that trying to fight those stereotypes can take on the body. Steel's writing is very accessible and intersperses personal anecdotes with the science so it's entertaining and easy for everyone to read. And everyone should read it. I can't recommend it enough. Whistling Vivaldi and Other Clues to How Stereotypes Affect Us by Claude M. Steele: buy it or check it out today!

Danza!

Danza! tells the story of Amalia Hernandez, the founder of El Ballet Folklorico de Mexico. She drew from local dance traditions throughout Mexico and combined them with ballet and modern techniques to create spectacular performances. The costumes are inspired by local tradition and when the company tours it takes more than three tons of costumes with it! Tonatiuh captures these beautifully by combining digital collage with his hand-drawn illustrations. I love this mixed-media approach which uses photographs to fill in fabric, hair, and other materials and adds a wonderful texture. Amalia's life and the spread of Mexian folkloric dance is an inspiring tale. I'm lucky enough to have seen the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico perform and recommend that you do too, but first read this book!

Danza! by Duncan Tonatiuh: buy it or check it out today!

Breathe Like a Bear review

This colorful and practical guide leads kids through a variety of exercises in mindfulness. The bright illustrations and simple language make it an engaging way to teach mindfulness to even the youngest kids. The exercises are broken down into five sections: Be Calm, Focus, Imagine, Make Some Energy, and Relax. Each exercise gets a fully illustrated two page spread with large text in appealing fonts explaining what to do in kid-friendly language. I love the squirrels with their kindness exercise and the wolf that leads the get your grumpies out exercise, but it's afternoon as I write this, so I am most drawn to the energizers. This example from that section certainly looks appealing to me. Just look at that lion!

Breathe Like a Bear by Kira Willey, illus. by Anni Betts: buy it or check it out today!

Bravo Review

Reading comforts me.
I find magazines in trash piles.
Reading leads to writing.
I find poetry in tomato fields,
and stories in the faces
of weary workers.

-from "Tomas Rivera" by Margarita Engle

This gorgeous collection of poetry highlights many lesser-known figures from artists to activist. The poems are short but inspiring and made me want to learn more about the people described. It would be a great class share, especially with the full-page mixed media illustrations that could each make beautiful posters on their own. Brief additional biographical information is included in the back, but you will probably want to do more research on your own after reading.



Bravo!: Poems about amazing Hispanics by Margarita Engle; illustrated by Rafael Lopez: buy it or check it out today!