Weight of Feathers

Book talk: Two families of traveling performers, alike in dignity, meet in a small town. The Palomas have a mermaid act and the Corbeaus perform tight-rope acts up in tall trees. They put on costumes for the audience, but there's more truth to their acts than people realize. Both families have unique genetics that set them apart, and both are proud and insular and cling to tradition. One of those traditions is the feud that breeds a deep-seated hatred of the other family into their bones. When a son and daughter of these warring families fall in love, it threatens to tear both of their families apart.

Rave: A classic Romeo and Juliet with magical realism flair. The story revolves around two rival circus families each imbued with a special gift over air or water. The two families speak French or Spanish and a saying from each language opens every chapter to designate perspective. The language is beautiful and if the plot is a bit predictable it's still completely satisfying.

Every book its reader: I'd give this to students looking for romance with a magical flair. 6th & up.

Topics and trends: Star-crossed lovers, magical realism, French, Spanish, circus performers, feuds, diversity

Extras:



Bonus Quote:
“He thought the feud was live ash a boot heel could stomp out. He didn't notice it burning down both their houses.”

Source: school library

The Weight of Feathers by Anna-Marie McLemore: buy it or check it out today!

Under a Painted Sky Review

Book talk: One day Samantha had a happy, stable life running a dry goods store with her father and dreaming of moving to New York to play violin. The next her father and her home are lost in a fire, and when their land lord tries to take advantage of her, she kills him in self defense. Of course, no jury is going to side with a Chinese girl who killed a White man, so she's forced to flee or face the noose. Together with a runaway slave, Annamae, Samantha sets her sights on the freedom of the west. Traveling as two girls wouldn't be safe, so they disguise themselves as Sammy and Andy. The trail holds more surprises than they anticipated, including two cowboys they team up with for safety. But will the four of them be able to make it out West, and what will happen if the boys discover their secret?

Rave: I confess that I love a good Western and it was nice to find one with POC leads. The characters are well drawn and the tension delicious as they start to develop crushes while being forced to maintain their gender masquerade. There's all the excitement you'd expect to find on the trail as well as interesting commentary about the times that you wouldn't find in a white-washed western. To top it all off, the prose is a beautiful.

Every book its reader: I'd give this to students 7th and up looking for historical adventure and gender swapping tales.

Topics and Trends: gender swapping, westerns, people of color, #weneeddiversebooks, #ownvoices, romance, musicians, violin

Bonus Quotes:

“No one ever injured an eye by looking at the bright side.”


“Maybe life just tastes sweeter after you’ve licked death.”

Source: school library

Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee: buy it or check it out today!

Brief Reviews Fall 2015 part 2

 This eco-thriller about genetically-engineered material that gets loose and infects a town is a fun read. I think it would be perfect for struggling readers because it's high interest, fast-paced, and short. It wasn't my cup of tea. It didn't spend enough time on the characters and the plot resolved too quickly for my tastes. It could have easily been a much longer novel without any filler and I found the glimpses of something more frustrating. There aren't enough good high-interest, low reading level books out there though so I appreciate it for what it is. Fuzzy Mud by Louis Sachar: buy it or check it out today!






One of the benefits of being behind in my book reviews is that the distance gives me the chance to see which books really stayed with me. I remember enjoying this book, and I gave it four stars on Good Reads but I honestly could not remember a single thing about it. After reading other reviews, some things have come back, but not much. This is a good romance with a classic Pride & Prejudice plot. They misjudge each other & spend much of the story hating each other and trading barbs until they fall madly in love with each other. I don't remember there being anything specific that I disliked about the book. It's nothing ground-breaking or particularly memorable though. These Broken Stars by Amy Kaufman and Meagan Spooner: buy it or check it out today!



I like the premise of this book, but I did not like the execution. All the characters were just so petty and mean-spirited. It makes me wonder why they were friends to begin with when they're so quick to throw each other away. In the end, I didn't like any of them and so I didn't really care what happened to them. You and Me and Him by Kris Dinnison: buy it or check it out today!

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

Book talk: Simon has a major crush, the only problem is he doesn't know who he's crushing on. After a pseudonymous post about not being openly gay in his high school, he met Blue. Blue and Simon have been messaging ever since, and Simon can't get enough of him. When another student discovers their e-mail conversations, everything is put in jeopardy. Simon is blackmailed with the threat of having not only his secrets revealed, but Blue's as well. How will he keep their secrets safe while staying true to himself? How far will the blackmail go? And most importantly, who is Blue?

Rave: I was a goner the moment I read the exchange ending in "I think you're cute and grammatical, too." I didn't know I could be so invested in a fictional relationship with a mystery crush. All the characters are fleshed out from the kid blackmailing Simon to his embarrassing but loving parents. The play brought me back to my own high school theatre days and the ending was simply perfect.

Every book its reader: I can't recommend this book enough. I've given it as a present and shoved my library's copies into plenty of hands. Great for those looking for a high school romance 8th grade and up.

Topics and Trends: LGBTQ, romance, school stories, high school theatre, secret admirers

Extras:

I'm not surprised this book has inspired a lot of people to make fan art & tributes, including this trailer:



The publishers made these two quote images to promote the book:

Bonus Quotes:

“He talked about the ocean between people. And how the whole point of everything is to find a shore worth swimming to.”

“Really, though, there are only two kinds of weather: hoodie weather and weather where you wear a hoodie anyway.”

Source: public library

Simon vs. the Homo Spaiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli: buy it or check it out today!

The Girl at Midnight Review

Book talk: “Not the truth, but close enough. Maybe she ought to make that her life motto”  Echo is a runaway and a thief. She lives in a secret room in a library and survives on the edges of two societies: the one we know, and the society of the Avicen. The Avicen are a proud and ancient race of people who grow feathers instead of hair. Some might find this disconcerting, but they're the only family Echo has ever known. So when a threat to the Avicen emerges, Echo is determined to risk everything to help.

Rave: What's not to love: a girl who lives in a library, an alternate world full of magic and strange creatures hidden behind the one we know, a thief with a sarcastic wit but a strong moral compass. This book is firing on all cylinders. I'll even admit to enjoying the love triangle, as cliched as it may be. It's not the most original book I've read, but it was certainly a fun ride!

Every book its reader: I'd give this to fans of Daughter of Smoke and Bone  and other fantasy romances 8th grade and up.

Topics and Trends: urban fantasy, moral thieves, fantasy creatures, romance

Extras:

Bonus Quotes:

“The young always think they’re invincible, right until the moment they learn otherwise. Usually, the hard way”


“If war had taught him anything, it was that it took the people who deserved long and happy lives and gave them short, brutal ones instead.”

“The was something about churches that she found unsettling. Everything seemed overly concerned with death, as if someone had forgotten that the basis of the religion for which they'd been built was a rebirth.”

Source: school library

The Girl at Midnight by Melissa Grey: buy it or check it out today!

Brief Reviews Summer 2015 part 2

“There are some awful things in the world, it's true, but there are also some great books.” This book is part memoir and part fantasy and all wonderful. I was completely absorbed by the setting and characters. I felt a strong kinship to the main character's love of literature. I was equally fascinated by the historical aspects of life in Wales and at an English Boarding school in the 70s and by the fairies and their magic that the narrator describes. I absolutely adored this book and I cannot recommend it enough-especially for anyone who has ever felt like an outsider and sought comfort in the pages of a book.Among Others by Jo Walton: buy it or check it out today!


 I read this book while I was travelling in Italy and I was so absorbed by it that I found it difficult to put it down even with the temptations of Venice awaiting me. I've always been a fan of retellings of well-known stories but this one really goes above and beyond. The characters were so fully realized that I found myself worrying about them when I put the book down even though, of course, I already knew how their stories would end.  When that inevitable ending did arrive I was completely shattered. Whether you've read a dozen versions of the Trojan Wars or you've never heard of the face that launched a thousand ships, this book is sure to pull you in. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller: buy it or check it out today!


This book is a cross between the fun, light romance that Georgette Heyer is known for and a Gothic Tale. There's a spunky but penniless heroine, first impressions that turn out to be wrong, and of course true love triumphs in the end. The Gothic aspect was uncomfortable from a modern perspective. It largely revolved around a mental illness that was portrayed in a way that shows a clear lack of understanding. I'd stick to Heyer's more traditional romantic fare. Cousin Kate by Georgette Heyer: buy it or check it out today!




This is a fun, light, fairy tale read but not in any way memorable. I remember enjoying reading it on the train, but a week after I finished it I couldn't tell you what it was about. I'm pretty behind in my reviews so at this point I would have forgotten that I read it entirely if it wasn't for Goodreads. I really should have written down my impressions sooner but the fact that I have so completely forgotten it says something in and of itself. The Amaranth Enchantment by Julie Berry: buy it or check it out today!




 This book is considered a classic of Australian literature and I can see why. The prose is gorgeous and it evokes a time and place so well that the outback is practically a character in the novel. The plot revolves around a tough man and his 4 year old daughter whom he takes custody of just to spite her mother. Watching him be affected by this child that he at first sees as no more than a burden is genuinely moving and there's plenty of humor provided by the juxtaposition of this spunky child with a hard man. The book had me crying more than once as it portrayed the hard life endured by these people. The only caveat I'd give is that the book is a product of its times and there's plenty of sexism and racism, especially against indigenous peoples. Still, it's unfortunately an accurate representation of the period and the main character isn't always supposed to be sympathetic. It's a moving novel and it captures its setting beautifully. The Shiralee by D'Arcy Niland: buy it or check it out today!

Brief Reviews Summer 2015 part 1

 
I appreciate the inherent humor of a wizard living in modern times and I always love a good detective story. The main appeal for me here though is that the audio books are narrated by James Marsters (who you may know as Spike from Buffy.) The plot was well-paced and the mystery intriguing, although I found the main character's attitude towards women concerning at times. I'm not sure that I'd continue reading them as regular books but I'll keep listening to the audiobooks as long as Marsters is narrating them! Storm Front by Jim Butcher: buy it or check it out today!

This book was just as delightful as the first. There was a bit more emphasis placed on romance than family this time around but it was still a pretty good balance of the two. Once again her family is fun to read about and the boys are endearing as they vie for her affections. I particularly enjoyed Lara Jean's volunteer work setting up dances for the retirement home and the game she revived with her former friends. My favorite aspect of the story was they way it explores bullying as rumors circle campus about the ski trip from the previous book and she's forced to confront the girl who started them and learn more about her perspective. Humor, heart, and fully realized characters make this a satisfying read on multiple levels. P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han: buy it or check it out today!

 I didn't always know what was happening in this book, but I did enjoy the ride. It's a very atmospheric novel and reminds me of gothic literature. The language is absolutely beautiful and I appreciated that it focused around a girl and her female ancestors. At times it felt like a regular contemporary novel with the protagonist worrying about her twin getting ahead of her in school and regular issues with friends and relationships. Then the novel would just go completely sideways as she talked about the strange house and spells and her compulsion to eat chalk. It was an occasionally bumpy ride but a fun one! White is for Witching by Helen Oyeyemi: buy it or check it out today!



This novel read a bit like a cross between a western and a hard-boiled detective novel. The setting was well depicted and the author's knowledge and love of the outdoors is clear. The characters were diverse and fascinating and the mystery took a lot of interesting turns. I haven't read the other books in the series, so I was at a bit of a disadvantage at times. I muddled through but I'd recommend reading them in order. The only part of the book that I didn't like was the way it enthusiastically embraced the kinky librarian stereotype. For obvious reasons that particular stereotype gets on my nerves and I'd like to see it put to rest. The subplot that revolved around that stereotype wasn't my favorite part of the novel, but the rest more than made up for it. Crazy Mountain Kiss by Keith McCafferty: buy it or check it out today!

 I like westerns and I was excited to read this gritty book with a female lead. I enjoy writing in dialect so I thought the narration was fun. I didn't mind the slow-burning romance either. The portrayal of native peoples left me uncomfortable though. It switched from the bloody warriors to the nobles savages stereotypes without much nuance. The book in general seemed to rely on tropes a bit too much and didn't have the depth I wanted it to have. I appreciated that Bowman included a native character in her main lineup, but I wish a bit more care and thought was put into her character and especially the overall portrayal of native cultures. Still, if you're just looking for a quick, gritty western this should satisfy you. Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman: buy it or check it out today!

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe Review

Book talk: "The problem with my life was that it was someone else's idea" Ari never asked to be born into a family where everyone is bursting with words left unsaid. His father never left Vietnam behind and his brother is in jail, meaning that all the family pressure is on him to be the good kid. He never asked to be saddled with a name like Aristotle. But his life finally starts to make sense when he meets a boy named Dante. Dante is unabashedly himself--emotional, vulnerable, intelligent, beautiful. Aristotle never felt like he fit in before but he feels a sense of belonging when he's with Dante. Their friendship blooms until Aristotle's own secrets threaten the only happiness he has ever known.

Rave: This book was written by a poet, and that is immediately obvious because the prose is just gorgeous. The plot is fairly quiet, mostly dealing with the inner life of the narrator as he comes to terms with his various emotions, but I read it in a greedy gulp anyway. Not only are Dante and Aristotle painted in heart-breaking detail but the other characters such as their parents are portrayed with complexity and in a way that actually renders them helpful and meaningful players in their children's lives. Highly recommended!

Every book its reader: I'd give this to teens 7th grade and up looking for an emotional novel or a moving romance.

Topics and Trends: LGBTQ, romance, characters of color, poetry,

Bonus Quotes:

"The problem with my life was that it was someone else's idea"

"Yeah, I had all kinds of tragic reasons for feeling sorry for myself. Being 15 didn't help. Sometimes I thought that being 15 was the worst tragedy of all"

"We sat, drinking our tea and watching the rain fall on his front porch. The sky was almost black and then it started hailing. It was so beautiful and scary, I wondered about the science of storms and how sometimes it seemed that a storm wanted to break the world and how the world refused to break."

“Words were different when they lived inside of you.”

“To be careful with people and with words was a rare and beautiful thing.”

“But love was always something heavy for me. Something I had to carry.”

“Summer was here again. Summer, summer, summer. I loved and hated summers. Summers had a logic all their own and they always brought something out in me. Summer was supposed to be about freedom and youth and no school and possibilities and adventure and exploration. Summer was a book of hope. That's why I loved and hated summers. Because they made me want to believe.”


Source: school library

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz: buy it or check it out today!

Since You've Been Gone review

Book talk: Sloane was the best friend a girl could ask for. No matter what they were doing, Sloane would turn it into an adventure and Emily could count on her to draw her out of her shell. Which is why Emily couldn't wait for their epic summer to begin. But then Sloane disappears without saying a word. The only clue she leaves behind is a list of things for Emily to do: from apple picking at night to kissing a stranger. Armed with her list, Emily sets out to check items off and find Sloane. Along the way she ends up having the most unexpected and wonderful summer of her life.

Rave: I like that the main driving force of the plot was the friendship between Sloane and Emily. It was interesting having the story told from the perspective of the friend that isn't as popular and often feels like an after-thought. The story deals a lot with what it's like to be friends with someone with such a strong personality, especially for a shy person, and what it's like to be suddenly left alone to cope with life. Emily makes admirable strides but I like that her personality doesn't suddenly change overnight and that it takes her and other characters times to overcome their fears. I also really like the relationship between Emily and Frank and how it slowly grows out of a friendship. I was expecting a frothy book about high school relationships and was surprised by how much I liked this book. I was completely absorbed and flipping pages quickly.

Rant: There were a couple of points that stretched my credulity a bit, but I was so taken with the characters I didn't mind.

Every book its reader: I'd give this to anyone looking for a story about summer and friendship 7th grade and up.

Topics & Trends: friendship, romance, summer

Bonus Quotes:
“I somehow knew that the particulars didn't matter. She was my heart, she was half of me, and nothing, certainly not a few measly hundred miles, was ever going to change that.”

“I don’t think you have to do something so big to be brave. And it’s the little things that are harder anyway.”

“Do you not like The Beatles?" Frank asked, sounding shocked. "Do you also not like sunshine and laughter and puppies? I don't think the Beatles get enough recognition. I mean, when you look at their body of work and how they changed music forever. I think there should be federal holidays and parades”
Source: independent book store author event (Book Passage)

Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson: buy it or check it out today!

My True Love Gave to Me Review

Book talk: Whether you love or loathe the holidays everyone can agree that it's a time of year when emotions run high.  That's why they make such a great backdrop for these short, romantic stories.  An all-star cast of authors brings variety to this collection from serious to sweet to laugh-out loud funny. The only thing they all have in common is a holiday setting from Hanukkah to New Year's Eve and a romantic plot line. A perfect pick to get into the holiday spirit any time of year.

Rave: Like any collection there were some stories I enjoyed more than others but there weren't any I disliked.  There were a few I absolutely adored by favorite authors or new ones I have to now investigate.  The stories do a good job representing a diverse range of characters and love stories.  Bonus hint: the couples in the stories are depicted on the cover of the book.  It's like a game trying to pick each one out as you read their story.

Every book its reader: I'd give this to anyone 7th grade and up looking for a light, romantic read.

Topics and Trends:  LGBTQ, diversity, holidays, romance, short stories

Source: gift

My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories edited by Stephanie Perkins: buy it or check it out today!

Salvage Review

Book talk:  Ava dreams of Earth, but she has never set foot on solid land.  She lives on a Crewe ship where everyone knows their place and there's plenty of work to do.  She longs to learn how to fix things or go down to Earth, but that's men's work.  Women have their own work like tending animals and children or cooking and doing laundry.  The other women tell her that the longing for Earth and other things she can't have will go away once she gets married and starts having children.  As the captain's daughter the odds are good she'll make a fine match--maybe even as a first wife.  But just when everything seems to be coming together disaster strikes, and she has to flee everything she has ever known for the perils of a life on land.  

Rave: How could I not be intrigued by the premise of polygamists in space?  Reading about this society with its mythology and social constructs was fascinating in and of itself.  And that's just the beginning of the fully developed settings Ava lives in. For a while she lives with a single mom in a house on stilts over a giant mass of garbage in the Pacific Ocean and later she spends a good deal of time in India both in the slums and a posh suburb.  Being able to compare and contrast these very different settings and the characters that populate them was one of my favorite parts of reading the novel.  The characters are as richly layered and diverse as the settings and had a way of staying with me.  The overall effect reminded me of the TV show Firefly.  It's set in the future and largely in space and there are aspects that are advanced and shiny but a lot of it is gritty and hasn't changed much from today.  Moreover I loved the unconventional way romance is dealt with in the novel and how long it takes for Ava to come to terms with her past.  Character growth is slow and there are no magic wands to fix her problems (which just keep coming at alarming speed.)

Every book its reader:  I'd give this to fans of gritty space dramas like Firefly and readers drawn to rich settings with well-rounded characters.  The romance gets pretty intense especially at the beginning of the novel and there's a fair amount of violence and disturbing situations Ava finds herself in.  I'd say it's best for 8th grade and up.

Bait & hooks: outer space, competent adults, feminism, protagonist of color, economic diversity, set in a foreign country (India), moral ambiguity, strong characters, strong world building, gritty setting, unconventional romance

Extras:

Alexandra Duncan has her own website subtitled "Science Fiction. Fantasy. Feminism." love it!

Source: ebook from public library

Salvage by Alexandra Duncan: buy it or check it out today!

Cruel Beauty Review

Book talk:  Before Nyx was born her father made a deal with the ruler of their cursed kingdom.  He has many names such as the Gentle Lord or the Sweet Faced Calamity, but despite his handsome face he is centuries old and rules the kingdom through terror and tricks.  Only the desperate or the foolish bargain with him because it always ends in tragedy.  Nyx knows this all too well.  The price of her father's deal was that one day Nyx would marry the Gentle Lord.  While Nyx's sister grew up coddled and loved Nyx was raised as a weapon crafted to destroy the Gentle Lord when her wedding day finally came.  So Nyx steeled her heart to her purpose and prepared to marry a monster.  But when she finally comes to live in his enchanted castle killing him proves harder than she expected and the Gentle Lord is not the monster she anticipated.

Rocks my socks:  I love a good Beauty and the Beast story and have long been a fan of Greek Mythology so I was glad to see them combined in such a creative way.  The tension between the Gentle Lord and Nyx is palpable and their banter all I could hope for.  Speaking of the Gentle Lord is it just me or is he basically Benedict Cumberbatch? ("Sharp nose and high cheekbones framed with tousled, ink-black hair and stamped all over with the arrogant softness of a man just out of boyhood who had never been defied.")  The twists of the enchanted castle and the plot provide an interesting puzzle to solve while the characters struggle to overcome their pasts and see the world complexly.

Rocks in my socks:  Sometimes I wanted to shake Nyx by the shoulders and say "We know!  Move on already!"  Her life growing up was legitimately messed up but after a while I grew tired of hearing about it and the constant mention of the word 'monster' and how she's bound to a monster or married to a monster or eating breakfast with a monster grated on my nerves.

Every book its reader:  I'd give this to fans of fantasy, romance, greek mythology, and fairy tales retold.  Fans of Beauty and the Beast will particularly enjoy the dynamic between Ignifex and Nyx.

Extras:

The author has a website  and the publisher has made a trailer for the book:


Bonus Quotes:
"No honest people ever bargained with the Kindly Ones...Only the foolish. The proud. The ones who believed they deserved the world at no price."

"I had been the bride of the Gentle Lord for half a day already, and there had been strikingly little torment."

"They avenge the wronged, when it suits them. Strike bargains with the desperate, when it suits them. They love to mock. To leave answers at the edges, where anyone could see them but nobody does. To tell the truth when it is too late to save anyone. And they are always fair."

Source: ebook from public library

Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge: buy it or check it out today!

To All the Boys I've Loved Before Review

Book talk:  What would you do if everyone you've ever had a crush on got a letter from you pouring out everything you felt for them at the time?  That is exactly what happens to Lara Jean.  Every time she had a crush on a boy and she wanted to get over it she would sit down and write a letter.  She'd pour her heart into it because no one else would ever see it.  Or so she thought.  Then one day her special hat box that held her letters is taken to the Goodwill by her father on an overzealous housecleaning spree.  Someone puts them in the mailbox, and suddenly a guy she had a crush on years ago comes up to her in PE asking her about a strange letter he just received.  It gets worse.  One of the guys she had a crush on is now her older sister's boyfriend.

Rocks my socks:  The first time I heard the plot of the book described I had a visceral reaction to it.  I'm sure there are more mortifying situations than having to come face to face with every boy you've had a crush on, but I am hard-pressed to think of one.  The romance this creates is certainly unconventional and I enjoyed reading about it.  What kept me feverishly turning the pages until I finished it though was not the romantic relationships, but the ones between the sisters.  After all love triangles (or in this case, polygons) are a dime a dozen in YA fiction, but it's rare to find such well-developed relationships between sisters.  The tensions between them really drove the plot as much as the romantic tension did, which was refreshing.  I also connected with Lara Jean in a lot of ways, for example her quite sensible fear of driving (which I have overcome by moving to the Bay Area and no longer owning a car, pro tip!)  I can't wait for the next book!

Rocks in my socks:  nothing

Every book its reader:  I'd give this to anyone looking for a realistic school story with a touch of romance.  Those looking for stories about sisters or stories with Asian-American leads will also be glad to find this novel.  The romance never gets too heated.  I'd say it's fine for 6th grade and up.

Extras:

Jenny Han has her own author page with more info on her books and FAQs: http://www.dearjennyhan.com/

Source: Book Passage (I attended an event for the author and got her to sign my copy!)

To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

The Madman's Daughter review

Book talk: Juliet is a maid in King's College.  She works at night, cleaning off the blood stains in the operating theatre when the halls are as dark and silent as a grave.  It would bother many ladies and many men, but she is her father's daughter and she is made of stronger stuff.  She grew up falling asleep to screams from his laboratory where he performed the experiments that disgraced him and led to Juliet's dreary circumstances.  After believing herself an orphan for many years, she is shocked to discover that her father is alive and well--performing his experiments on an island far from the prying eyes of society.  She is warned that it's no place for a lady, but when things turn from bad to worse she is forced to flee London and travel to the island of her father, Doctor Moreau.

Rocks my socks:  This book was so deliciously atmospheric that I could feel the gloomy London fog and the oppressive tropical heat even though I was on vacation in Oregon.  The hints about the full extent of her father's experiments keep the tension high and his secretive nature casts a shadow of doubt over everything. Juliet finds herself caught in a love triangle with high stakes as who she trusts may decide whether she lives or dies.  Juliet is a wonderful heroine bold enough to do what needs to be done even when the men around her quail at the task.  The Madman's Daughter is a thrilling gothic romance based on a classic Victorian science fiction story.

Rocks in my socks:  Shepherd milks the love triangle for all its worth, so if you're tired of them steer clear of this book.

Every book its reader:  I'd give this to fans of gothic romance or anyone looking for a fresh take on a classic tale.  7th grade and up.

Extras:

Megan Shepherd has a website with more info about the series

There's a trailer for the book although I can't support its oddly cavalier waste of paper (seriously only two lines per two pages?)




Source: ebook from public library

The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd: buy it or check it out today!

Brief Reviews: Winter 2013

I became interested in this book while reading Dan Simmons's Drood this summer.  Considering how much I grew to dislike the fictional version of Wilkie Collins that narrated Drood, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed The Woman in White.  I was also surprised by how modern the pacing of the novel felt considering that it was written over a hundred and fifty years ago.  This is an early work of detection fiction, and it is easy to see its influence in modern mystery novels.  The novel is told as a series of journal entries and testimonials from various people and Collins does a wonderful job of switching between them and capturing each character's voice.  My favorite was naturally Marian with her sparkling wit and surprising bravery.  She is a capable heroine and sets herself apart in many ways, including her apparent disinterest in finding romance for herself.  I'm glad that I was able to get to know her! The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins: buy it or check it out today!

 Miss Annie is a kitten who is ready for adventure, if only they'd open up a window to let her outside!  She's still young, but she knows the ways of her house pretty well by now.  There's the dad who is a writer "That means he gets back his own stories in the mail and yells, 'Oh no! They didn't want it!' What a funny job."  Then there's the mom who works for a literary journal and is gone during the day.  Finally there's Sarah who spends hours talking to her best friend Keshia.  Miss Annie knows just who to ask for food, how to use her cute looks to her advantage, and has befriended the mouse that lives with them.  But what more adventures will await her when she finally gets her freedom?  This is an adorable, light-hearted comic that is sure to appeal to children who love cats.  Miss Annie: Freedom! by Frank Le Gall, illus. by Flore Balthazar, color by Robin Doo: buy it or check it out today!

 When they heard that cousin Sophy was coming to stay everyone expected a pitiable creature.  The poor girl was raised without a mother and forced to travel all over the continent under the negligent eye of her diplomat father.  So when Sophy arrived with a menagerie in tow, dressed to the nines, and clearly capable to taking care of herself they were completely shocked.  It's hard to resist Sophy's charms for long, though and soon she would leave an indelible mark on the whole family.  My mother gave me this book to read, and it just shows how well she knows me.  This book has it all: Regency dresses, balls, witty repartee, a headstrong woman, even a monkey!  Sophy's quick rejoinders had me laughing and the light-hearted drama as everyone settled down into their proper matches kept me entertained.   This a perfect frothy read for when you just want something fun to distract you and pass the time.   The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer: buy it or check it out today!

Everyone I've talked to that has read this book absolutely loved it.  It's the story of two teens, Sam and Emily, who fall in love at first sight.  The only problem is that Sam has a tendency to leave town quickly.  He has an abusive and schizophrenic father who keeps them on the run and living in dismal circumstances. Sam's younger brother is intensely involved in his drawings, but is unhealthy and usually stays silent.  I can see why so many people like it.  It's fast-paced and knows how to pull on the heart-strings.  It reminds me of a  Lifetime movie.  I really wanted to like it too, but I didn't. I don't remember a single character showing any sign of having a sense of humor.  The only even vaguely humorous scene was the physical comedy that ensued when one of the book's antagonists was getting his just desserts.  But I couldn't share in the schadenfreude.  It felt almost cruel and I didn't like how two dimensional his character was.  In fact all of the characters felt flat to me.  The good characters were unfailingly good and practically perfect except for circumstances beyond their control.  The bad characters were bad all the way through and not portrayed with a hint of sympathy, even the father who was clearly suffering from serious mental illness. I like my characters to exist in shades of grey and my plots to have complexities that resist easy fixes.  The end of this book was full of circumstances that conveniently lined up to provide everyone with what they deserved in the last couple of chapters.  Even the plots of minor characters were wrapped up with a neat bow that almost always involved them finding love.  If you want a clear-cut, heartwarming story of good triumphing over evil then this is the book for you. But if you prefer stories with humor and moral ambiguity, then you can skip this one.  I'll Be There by Holly Goldberg Sloan: buy it or check it out today!

 When Jezebel first sees Tommy, she thinks he's a ghost.  When she finds out the truth, it's even stranger.  Tommy is a member of the Explorers' Society, a group that knows how to unlock hidden portals to other worlds.  But sometimes when they go to these other worlds, something dark follows them back to Earth.  The Dead Gentleman is building an army and preparing to take over.  After he attacks the headquarters of the Explorers' Society, Tommy and Jezebel are all that stand between humanity and the apocalypse.  This book was great fun with references to many of my favorite things: Tesla, Lemuria, H.G. Wells...the list goes on.  Despite being about a Dead Gentleman that destroys everything in his path, there aren't many gory details making it solid middle-grade fiction fare.  However the plot doesn't hold up to close scrutiny and there were many cliched elements that left me with a sense of déjà lu.  Many of the characters were two dimensional and the villains were evil incarnate putting considerable energy into destroying worlds for no discernible reason other than to cause suffering.  It was a quick and entertaining read though.  If you're looking for a fast-paced fantastical adventure, this is a solid choice.  The Dead Gentleman by Matthew Cody: buy it or check it out today!

 This is an excellent read for elementary school teachers and librarians.  Hobbs and Moore define media literacy, discuss why it is so important to teach it our students, and describe how they have gone about doing this.  There is a nice balance between philosophy and practical examples of lessons they have done with students.  My only quibble is that I wish the example lessons had listed which grades they had actually tried them with.  With the increase of digital tools in our classrooms and the ever-present influence of the media on our students it is imperative that we teach them how to become thoughtful media consumers, recognize how others use media to deliver messages, and learn how to use digital tools to make their voices heard.  I'll be attending a workshop on the topic this summer to better integrate media literacy with my students and I am looking forward to it!   Discovering Media Literacy: Teaching Digital Media and Popular Culture in Elementary School by Renee Hobbs and David Cooper Moore: buy it or check it out today!

The Girl With Borrowed Wings Review

Book talk: Have you ever wished that you had wings?  Have you ever imagined what it would be like to be able to fly away any time that you wanted, and go anywhere you wished?  Frenenqer has been many places and lived in many countries, but she has never felt free.  Even when her father's not there Frenenqer can feel the pressure of his expectations like a tug on her spine leading her wherever he wants her to go.  So she contents herself with small rebellions like reading books and dreaming of wings while she's trapped in her bedroom in the middle of the desert.  She never thought that she could escape her father until she met a Free person.  Regular laws of the universe do not apply to Free people.  They can shape shift into anything they want and fly all over this world and others.  The moment Frenenqer meets Sangris, she knows that he will only lead to trouble and that her father would want her to turn him away.  But she can't resist the temptation of his wings. For once she ignores the tug on her spine and doesn't do what her father would want, whatever the consequences may be.  

Rocks my socks:  This book has everything that I love in a novel: foreign countries, bookish protagonists, themes of independence and individualism, an "interestingly wicked" love interest,  talking cats, and heaping helpings of sass!  I don't think I could have crafted a book that was better suited to my tastes.  I enjoyed hearing about all the countries Frenenqer had lived in, her best friend was charmingly quirky and supportive, and I love the way she grew over the course of the novel so that she could embrace who she is and stand up for herself.  Her father was the most disturbing antagonist I've seen in a long time as he controlled his household and psychologically abused his wife and daughter.  The man/cat on the other hand was absolutely delightful as he wooed Frenenqer and waited for her to be able to return his affections while patiently enduring her sarcastic barbs.  He reminds me a bit of Spike in the later seasons of Buffy.  I absolutely devoured this book and enjoyed myself immensely while doing so.

Rocks in my socks:  zip

Every book its reader:  I'd give this to urban fantasy fans and those who enjoy books about other cultures.  Fans of literary bad boys will particularly enjoy Sangris.  The romance is pretty conservative and there's little violence although the scenes that describe the emotional abuse Frenenqer receives can be disturbing.  I'd say it's fine for 6th grade and up.

Extras:

Rinsai Rossetti has a website

Source: school library

The Girl With Borrowed Wings by Rinsai Rossetti: buy it or check it out today!

Team Human Review

Book talk:  Even though New Whitby is known as a haven for vampires, Mel hardly ever sees any.  The vampires stay in their part of town, and mostly only tourists go there.  There certainly aren't any vampires in the high school, which is why everyone is so shocked when Frances shows up in his UV protection suit. Cathy immediately falls for his sculpted good looks, but Mel recognizes him for what he is: a crazy astronaut suit full of trouble.  And she's determined to keep her best friend out of harm's way.  Unfortunately Cathy is just as determined to get to know the walking history book better.

Rocks my socks:  I was surprised by this book.  I was expecting it to be funny, and it certainly did not disappoint on that count: it cheered me up wonderfully when I was home sick.  I wasn't expecting it to be so affecting though.  At first Mel's sarcastic jabs at the vampires are just amusing, but as the book goes on she's forced to face her prejudice and re-examine it.  The way she struggles with supporting her best friend while trying to protect her carries real emotional heft, and when she meets a human boy raised by vampires with some interesting prejudices of his own things really start to get interesting.  This boy, Kit, is a great character and I appreciated that he respects Mel's independence and is quick to smile at her jokes and join in.  Of course Mel's wit and willingness to speak her sassy mind are what really made the book for me.

Rocks in my socks:  Cathy and Frances could have been fleshed out better.  It was hard for me to understand the appeal of either.  Which is saying something when Cathy is described as an intelligent bibliophile with a passion for life in previous eras.  If anyone was going to be able to relate to Cathy's character, it should be me.  But she just felt like a placeholder for a generic vampire romance lead.  I had difficulty understanding why Mel was friends with her to begin with.  Frances was much the same.  I've found plenty of vampire characters appealing, but I could not understand his appeal at all.  He mostly seemed to exist to provide fodder for Mel.

Every book its reader:  I'd give this to fans of paranormal novels looking for a humorous twist.  8th grade and up.

Extras:

Both Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan have their own sites

Harper Teen has a page for the book with some extras

There's a book trailer in the style of a PSA about vampires:


Source: school library

Team Human by Justine Larbalestier & Sarah Rees Brennan: buy it or check it out today!

Eleanor & Park Review

Book talk:  Have you ever heard a song that changed your life?  Did you ever listen to something on repeat until the batteries gave out?  There's a world of music Eleanor always wanted to listen to.  She'd write down the lyrics on her notebook and dream of owning her own music player.  But she never heard them, until she met Park.  Now she can't get enough of him or his music.  But Park looks like a protagonist from a story; everything seems to go right for him.   While Eleanor looks like she'll never fit in and knows just how hard life can be.  She knows it would never work out between them.  But she might just be crazy enough to try.

Rocks my socks:  I absolutely adored this novel and stayed up until the wee hours of the morning finishing it (despite the fact that I had to wake up early for a road trip.)  Eleanor and Park are both such endearing characters.  I couldn't ask for more delightfully quirky protagonists.  The author had a unique style as well and instead of the usual endless and cliche comparisons of eyes to oceans or galaxies she chose to describe Park's eyes as "so green they could turn carbon dioxide into oxygen."  I love it!  Instead of the same, worn-out references to Han and Leia she lets Eleanor boldly claim that she's Han Solo and Park decides "I'll be Boba Fett. I'll cross the sky for you."  *Swoon!*  On top of all that, Eleanor is not classically beautiful and does not have to undergo a make-over to become so before she can win Park.  He appreciates her for the unique person she is thinking "She never looked nice. She looked like art, and art wasn't supposed to look nice; it was supposed to make you feel something."  Then there's all the wonderful references to music and mix tapes.  Tapes were a bit before my time, but I clearly remember the thrill of getting a mixed CD from a boy and playing it on repeat.  Rowell captures this perfectly.  The whole novel captures the feelings of a passionate first love and bottles them up so that those who are too young to have experienced it can, and those for whom it is a distant memory can re-live the experience.  On top of all of that there is a lot of substance to the story ranging from themes of prejudice to abusive families.  Rowell deals with these topics deftly and provides the reader with hope without resorting to unrealistic miracles.

Rocks in my socks:  I wish Rowell had ended the story at the end of the school year.  Instead the last few chapters are a kind of epilogue that give a brief sketch of the following year.  These detracted from the story and I would have much preferred it if I had been left alone to decide what happens to Eleanor and Park for myself and debate it with other readers.

Every book its reader:  I'd give this to anyone looking for a good misfit story or an atypical romance set in a high school.  Audiophiles, particularly those who enjoy 80's punk will enjoy the music references throughout.  The novel deals with some dark issues around Eleanor's family, so I'd save it for at least 7th grade and up.

Extras:  

Rainbow Rowell has a great site with a blog, information about her and her books, and upcoming events.  Don't miss out the post with her playlists for Eleanor and Park.  It includes embedded videos with the songs and Rowell's commentary on why each song is there.

Macmillan has a page for the book complete with a discussion guide.

The book has not one, but three official trailers!  They're all short so you can easily watch them all:




Source: school library

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell: buy it or check it out today!

Dawn of the Arcana review

Book talk:  One island, two kingdoms engaged in a long and bloody war.  Princess Nakaba is from Senan in the North while Prince Caesar is from Belquat in the South.  Their marriage finally brings peace to the land, but Princess Nakaba knows better than to think it will last.  Now she's a hostage in enemy territory with only her faithful Ajin servant beside her.  She expects to wake up with a dagger at her throat every day, and she is prepared to fight to save herself and her kingdom.  But she isn't prepared for the kindness Caesar shows her, and the feelings she starts to develop.  Or for the mystical powers she develops that she cannot control.  Now her heart is being torn in two.  How can she do what is right when everything is so wrong? Will she remain true to herself--even if it means betraying others?

Rocks my socks:  There's a lot of great themes in this series that take it beyond the usual shojo fare.  Princess Nakaba is a fierce and unique protagonist.  She shows her regal authority as she takes control of difficult situations, even as others try to disempower her.  She isn't afraid to risk herself and head into a fight to stand up for her friends and what she believes in.  There's an overarching theme of discrimination and prejudice with a race called the Ajin: part human and part animal that are treated as servants and feared and hated by many. Princess Nakaba herself is hidden away by her family for her red hair because black hair is a mark of royalty in the land.  Her two closest friends are both Ajin and she tries to aid their cause.  One of these, Loki, is also a main love interest in the story, and his loyalty to her is impressive as is his revolutionary zeal as her comforts her by saying "The trouble, princess lies not with you.  It's the world that's not right.  That's why I'm going to change it."  The prince, while problematic at times also has great moments where he recognizes Nakaba for the strong woman she is and loves her for it, defending her from an assassination accusation by saying "My wife would never plot to murder me...and if she did she wouldn't waste her time with venom and vipers.  She would face me head on with a sword in her hands.  That's the sort of woman she is."  The world-building grows more complex and interesting with each installment and the political intrigue and overarching themes keep the plot moving just as much as the romance and even eclipse it at times.  The drawing is exquisite with wonderfully expressive faces and gorgeous costumes.

Rocks in my socks:  While Caesar and Ajin both have great moments, they have troubling aspects as well.  Nakaba's romance with Caesar is a classic Beauty and the Beast scenario and while I enjoy seeing the tough exterior thawed by a caring and intelligent woman, it also sets some troubling precedents.  In real life jerks mostly stay jerks and far too many women think they can change them after being raised on stories like these.  He has a creepy Jareth moment where he says "When I'm king, I will make you happy.  I ask only one thing in return.  Surrender yourself to me." I wanted Nakaba to scream "You have no power over me!"  Far too many of their kissing scenes start as fights where he eventually forces himself on her.  Still, when she does tell him to stop he respects that, so I have to give him credit for that.  The facts that Loki was a father figure to her and is currently her servant both make me a bit uneasy about that romance.  As for Princess Nakaba, while she is feisty she still faints regularly and blood sets off her powers so that the men try to hide it from her and mostly when she tries to help in a fight she only ends up hindering.  Even when she does defend herself, it's only a temporary measure until one of her love interests comes along to save her.  Still there's enough that the comic gets right, especially considering the conventions of the shojo genre, that I was still able to enjoy the series immensely.  I do hope that Princess Nakaba will grow stronger as the series progress though.

Every book its reader:  I'd give this to anyone looking for a fantasy comic that is character and relationship driven.  The romances have yet to heat up that much, so I'd say it's fine for 5th grade and up.

Extras:

There is an official page for Dawn of the Arcana on Viz Media 

Source: school library

Dawn of the Arcana by Rei Toma: buy it or check it out today!

Matched Review

Book talk:  The world used to be a horrible place, but Society has changed all that.  Society guides each of its citizens down the optimal path: choosing their careers, their houses, and even their spouses.  Society is all that keeps them from the diseases, crimes, and wars of the past.  Cassia is a bit nervous on the way to her Match Banquet, but she knows that Society will choose the ideal match for her and keep her safe.  But then Society makes a mistake, and she realizes that there is more than one path that she could follow, and more than one match she could choose.  Making her own choices means risking everything, but how can she keep trusting Society to choose for her when she discovers the dark secrets they've been hiding?

Rocks my socks: I admit that I judged this book by its cover and wrote it off as another fluffy love triangle series.  Then I needed an audiobook for a last minute road trip with my sister.  I ended up being pleasantly surprised by the depth of the novel and the extent of the world-building.  Even the love triangle served the plot without eclipsing it.  It triggered important actions by the characters, but it was not the whole point of the novel.  Add to this the refreshing addition of parents that are loving and not completely useless, an allusion to Sisyphus (one of my favorite myths), and the fact that the poem "Do Not Go Gentle" (another favorite) was a pivotal to the story and you get a surprisingly refreshing novel that thoroughly entertained my sister and I through vast stretches of Arizona desert.

Rocks in my socks:  The book was predictable at times and strongly reminiscent of The Giver.  Both societies create order by eliminating choice of career, spouse, etc.  Both work to destroy memories of the past and euthanize the elderly at a certain age. Still, Matched provides plenty of details that differentiate it.  Besides, the question of how much freedom people would be willing to give up to ensure their safety is one American society has been grappling with for a long time. Benjamin Franklin famously cautioned "Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."  The question remains relevant today as I was often reminded this summer as I travelled and submitted sheepishly to the TSA.  The recent controversy around the Patriot Act has also caused many to question how many civil liberties we are willing to give up for the sake of the safety of society.  So if another book gets today's teens talking about this very question then that's not a bad thing.

Every book its reader:  I'd give this to fans of other YA dystopias like The Hunger Games, although this one is more character than plot focused so those just looking for something dark and violent should look elsewhere.  The book is far less violent than most of the dystopian books out there and Society keeps such close tabs on the characters that it never gets too steamy either.  I'd say it's fine for 6th grade and up.

Extras:

Ally Condie has her own site with the usual blog, FAQ, bio, etc as well a play list of suggested songs for your listening pleasure

The series has its own official website with information about the books and a party pack pdf download with suggestions for throwing your own themed party (including a quiz you can take to see where the dystopian Society would place you.  The marketing department seems to have missed the point of the novels.)

There is also a fansite where you can get info on the books, the author, the upcoming movie, and quotes.

If that isn't enough for you head on over to the tumblr for more quotes, fan art, and other images related to the book.

If you want even more you can head on over to the wiki and get involved in the fan community.

There's an official trailer for the book that's appropriately ominous:



Those who have read the book may appreciate this recording of Dylan Thomas reciting "Do Not Go Gentle"



And to round the media extravaganza off, here's a scene from The Muppet Show where Fozzie attempts to recite another poem mentioned in the novel, Robert Frost's "Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening" (stay through the end because Statler and Waldorf's pun is my favorite part)

 


Bonus Quote:
“Growing apart doesn't change the fact that for a long time we grew side by side; our roots will always be tangled. I'm glad for that.”

Source: Audiobook from a public library

Matched by Ally Condie: Buy it or check it out today!