New Mid School/YA Reviews

Here are a couple of Middle School/YA reads. One is a hauntingly beautiful story. I'm hoping I can come up with the words to do it justice. The other is a time travel with some romance.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, based on an idea by Siobhan Dowd, illustrated by Jim Kay

Cried like a freaking baby.

I knew I would love this book when it opens with the yew tree outside 13 year old Conor's bedroom turning into a monster that drags him out of his room, but he is nonplussed because this monster is not the scariest thing he has to deal with. Conor's mother has been fighting cancer, and everyone around him is waiting for the end, while she is trying everything she can to fight. Conor is haunted by nightmares that make giant clawed trees tame. He feels isolated, because no one around him knows how to talk to him. Except for a Monster.

Beautifully written and illustrated, it's also heartbreakingly real and true. I've been Conor and this story just resonated deep within. Also, the illustrations are not "beautiful" in the sense of full color glossy portraits, but that they fit so perfectly in the story and enhance it.

This book illustrates what happens when you learn that life is not fair, that the truth hurts, that sometimes we need lies to deal with the truth, and that healing has different meanings.

The obvious person in need of healing (in this case a dying parent) is not the only one. 

This is not an easy read, but it is one that I believe should be read.

Ruby Red (Edelstein Trilogie 1) by Kerstin Gier, translated by Anthea Bell

I'm kind of happy that the last two time travel books I read did not give me visions of unspeakable paradoxes, nor did they make my head hurt. Gives me hope for finding more time travel stories.

As far as Ruby Red, the pacing was fairly quick, although it still seemed to take a long time to get anywhere. For the most part I liked the side characters, especially Lucy and Paul, and I hope they get fleshed out more. I thought that the main character, Gwyneth, was pretty realistic (almost annoyingly so), but her reactions felt natural. It was an easy book to get into and finish.

However, I felt like it ended just as it was starting to get good. I realize it's a trilogy, but I think I wanted a bit more oomph in the action or the conspiracies. The romance angle felt off to me, to the point where I almost hope in the next book we find out it was a lie. Gwyneth did annoy me a bit in places, but I think that is more the adult in me talking, so younger readers will likely not have the same issue. I also thought the male lead was too 1-dimensional. I hope he gets rounded out a lot more in the next book.

And when I get down to it, yes, I will read the next one. Although I'm really hoping that Lucy and Paul play a bigger role in the next one.

New Review: The Cabinet of Earths

The Cabinet of Earths by Anne Nesbet

Note: I'd put this one in the middle school group. It has a female protagonist, but I think it is good for both boys and girls. There is no romance.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It has some dark moments, including kidnapping, but the pacing is so fast that you don't dwell on them too long, although it does leave much to think about.

Maya and her family have just moved to Paris. She is not thrilled about this decision as she had to leave her dog and her friends behind, but she tries to put on a sunny front because this is her mother's wish. Her mother had been very sick, her cancer is now in remission, but Maya is always worried that the "cold" her parents tell her is nothing to worry about is really the cancer returning. Maya's brother James is 5, a natural charmer, and Maya is envious of the fact that he exists perpetually happy, while she had to grow up fast while dealing with her mother's illness. Of course, she also feels protective over her brother. Once in Paris, Maya starts noticing odd things - almost as if there is magic. They meet their strange cousin Louise, who seems forgettable, like she is just a shade. They also find a family connection in the Fourcroys, an old man with a strange Cabinet that Maya is drawn to, and Henri, a beautiful man that Maya doesn't quite trust, and there is a group of magnetic, beautiful people who never seem to age. Maya also makes a friend with Valko, an outsider like herself. He is a very logical person and his explanations balance out Maya's burgeoning belief in magic. Then James is in danger, and Maya needs to step up and save him.

I thought that Maya's reactions were believable, and the reasoning in the end as to why she alone had to help her brother vs going to her parents felt believable as well (a must in a children's book). I appreciated that very little of the book takes place in school - this is not the story of how Maya and Valko team up against the mean popular kids (refreshing for this reviewer). I also thought that the book raises some very interesting questions on the consequences of an immortal life, how an unchanging existence eats away at your humanity, your capability to enjoy and participate in life. While there are no vampires in this book, it is not hard to draw a comparison to the very popular paranormal creatures. Stealing the vitality from another human takes on a different meaning when you see if from the victim and their family's point of view.

[I received a copy of this to review from Amazon Vine.]

2012 Must Reads - YA

Hope the new year is treating you right. Seems about time to focus on some of the books coming out this year that I must get my hands on. It's a big list (and you know this is only a small part of it), and I wanted to include covers when possible, so I am splitting it between YA and Fantasy/UF reads. I included release dates, but we all know sometimes things change. Let me know what is on your Must-Read list.

2011 Favorites

A little hard to believe that it's New Year's Eve already - wasn't Christmas yesterday? Like everyone else, I have my own little list of favorite books from 2011. A lot of my favorites come from series I already enjoy, but there are some new authors/series added to the mix. I also discovered a few series that came out a few years ago, but that I've added to my TBR list, like Rob Thurman's Cal Leandros series, Ann Aguirre's Sirantha Jax, and Kalayna Price's Grave Witch.

Favorite Kid's Book

You know I love YA and Middle School books. Have read quite a few very good ones, like Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor, Lost & Found by Shaun Tan, Beauty Queens by Libba Bray, Game of Triumphs by Laura Powell, Ship Breaker by Paolo Baciagalupi and many more, but one book just really stood out for me.

The Boneshaker by Kate Milford

It's a middle school read, but I think that there is something for readers of any age, male and female. This one had a Something Wicked This Way Comes vibe. A small town set at the crossroads, an ominous traveling medicine show, a family legacy, deals with the Devil, and children having to face the fact that sometimes adults don't have all the answers. I'm saving this one for my kids to read when they are a little older. Fantastic book.

Favorite New Series

Started quite a few new series this year, ones where I am counting the days until book 2 comes out. I really enjoyed Enclave by Ann Aguirre, the Iron Druid series by Kevin Hearne, Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison, Phoenix Rising by Philippa Ballantine & Tee Morris, First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones, Dark Descendant by Jenna Black, to name a few, but my favorite remains

Dead Iron by Devon Monk

A Western-Steampunk-Fantasy that was different from what I've been reading lately. You've got a man cursed by an Indian god, Strange beings that stalk humans, witches, a zombie, and a girl who is more than she seems. It's in 3rd person following a handful of characters (both heroes and villains). I've read some books where this effect leads to too many threads and an inability to connect to the characters, but this book did not have that problem. The different POVs propelled the action along, gave me a greater sense of the scope of the world and the magic system, and let me get to know several characters better than I would have in a 1st person narrative. It was a tight story that still leaves a lot of room for more adventures. The worldbuilding was fantastic and I know we've barely scratched the surface.

Favorite Continuing Series

Most of my favorites came through continuing series. I do love seeing characters progress from the actions in previous books. Since a few of my favorites ended, I've broken this category into Favorite Continuing and Favorite Endings. Notable continuing series reads this year, Fate's Edge by Ilona Andrews, Ganymede by Cherie Priest, Under Witch Aura by Maria Schneider, Heartless by Gail Carriger, and others, but the favorite of the year has to be

Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews

This is the fifth book in the Kate Daniels series, a series that still for me is at the top of the list for worldbuilding, action, character progression, relationship evolution, and still makes me laugh out loud. A lot of writers can bring the action and the drama, few are able to also bring the funny. There are dark times in this series, but it is also balanced with hope and determination. This is a series I've re-read more than a few times and I still love it. It makes me happy, takes me away from the real world for awhile, and is just plain fun.

Favorite Endings

All good things must come to an end sometime. I've finished quite a few trilogies this year, and am happy to say that most ended on a strong note, like Head Rush by Carolyn Crane and Goliath by Scott Westerfeld, but my favorite has to be

The Kingdom of Gods by N.K. Jemisin

I have loved every book in Jemisin's Inheritance trilogy. This is not your traditional fantasy saga where a disparate group gathers together and journeys to defeat a big bad. Each novel tells a unique story with a different main character, but the underlying issues that began before book 1 continue to progress throughout the trilogy. Gods, godlings, demons, mortals, all living together in a world out of balance. This book centers on Sieh, the eldest godling, the god of childhood, who finally has to grow up. This is one of those books where I don't feel in any way my words can do it justice. I fell in love with the breathtaking world, have been intrigued by the characters (even if I would never want to meet them), and held my breath wondering what would happen next.


What were some of your favorites?

Hope you all stay safe out there tonight, and looking forward to sharing more awesome reads with you in 2012!

Christmas Prezzie List #3 - Tween/Mid School Books

On to some recs for the older readers (and adults who like to read kids books). For some of these, I'm also going by what I liked to read when I was a tween, in middle school. That's when I first got into Fantasy.

I've been steadily building up a library of more advanced books for my own kiddos to read, too. My daughter will be hitting these first, so I admit to a preference for strong female heroines, although most of these are ones my son would enjoy reading too (he totally ate up The Wizard of Oz - I know boys can read and enjoy books with girls as the main character).

2 Middle School/YA Reviews

Goliath (Leviathan #3) by Scott Westerfeld

Let me start by saying how much I have enjoyed this trilogy as a whole. I can't wait until the kiddos are a little older - I think they will love it too.

Now, on to Goliath...

I had a lot of fun reading it - read the whole thing in one day. Good pacing, action, and I enjoy the characters.

Leviathan is still hands down my favorite book of the three, but I like the resolution and the character progression that you find in book 3.

For Deryn, yes secrets come out (but I'm not saying how!) and she learns that there could be consequences for more than just herself.

For Alek, he's felt so much responsibility for the war (since it started with the deaths of his parents), that it's shaped most of his actions. He needs to figure out who his allies really are, and what his limits might be.

Both of them need to decide what it is they really want in their own lives, as well, not just what others want of them.

Down to the action and the gadgets - yep, those are still seamlessly interwoven into the story. The world in this series is just so rich, but it never felt overwhelming, like I was just reading blueprints.

The "bad guy" in this one is mad, yes, but like with many characters, his sense of right and wrong depends on your point of view. With a world at war, right and wrong are in a grey area. It does help shape our hero and heroine's actions though, and that's really the point here.

This is the end of the trilogy, and there is an end that I was satisfied with, although I'd be lying if I didn't mention how much I hope that we'll be treated to more from this world in the future. There are so many places it could go.

Circus Glacticus by Deva Fagan

On the surface, this book seems like a rollicking good ride. An orphan with a mysterious rock, an encounter with a strange masked man, an amazing circus that turns into a spaceship, aliens, epic battles, the value of friends and finding a home, all of that is there. It's just that it was missing some of the finer details to draw out the characters and their interactions. It all felt too rushed, and some things resolved far too easily.

Trix is a hard character to like. I think with a few more insights to her character, it would have been easier to follow and root for her. I am used to kids in tween/middle school age books choosing to go off on their own, not involving the adults, but the reasoning behind it and why their new friends would go along with them, needs to be there. Those scenes felt off to me here.

There were parts I enjoyed, but I was left wanting more, and not in an "I need the next book now" way.

[I received an Advance Readers Copy of this book to review for Amazon Vine. Link goes to Vine review.]

Christmas Prezzie List #2 - Young Readers

All righty -here is where we talk about those books for kids who are just getting into reading. For my recs here, I'm mostly going with what the expert (in this case, my eldest kiddo) likes to read. The kid will snuggle on the couch with these books, reading them to herself, her brother, or one of the parentals, so I count that as a win.

Fly Guy series by Tedd Arnold

I'd give this one to a boy or a girl. Buzz has a pet fly, named Fly Guy. They have adventures, such as going on a cross country trip or meeting another kid with a pet fly at the park. There was even a school trip to a flyswatter factory. The kiddo thinks they are great. She can pretty easily read all of the words (and it even has chapters like mom's grown up books). The favorites right now are Fly High, Fly Guy and Buzz Boy and Fly Guy (where Buzz creates his own comic book).

Rocks and Fossils by Chris Pellant

It's not just the fantasy books in our house. We bring on the science too. This was a great intro to fossils for first readers (the preschooler loved it too). Just the right level of info along with fantastic photos/illustrations.

Fancy Nancy series by Jane O'Conner

I'm going to say that these are geared more for a girl audience. Nancy is very, very fancy. She loves to dress up, loves first grade, and everything French. She also has an exceedingly good vocabulary (the pages are peppered with the "fancy" name for things). We just recently read the original Fancy Nancy book, but to be honest, that wasn't her favorite. My resident Fancy Nancy aficionado prefers the Explorer Extraordinaire (where Nancy and her best friend Bree have their own nature club) or Poet Extraordinaire (where you have the introduction of many different forms of poetry). There are others on stargazing (another favorite) as well as Tea Parties (got some decent easy recipes and craft ideas in that one). You'll find different versions all over the bookstore/library. There are hardbacks, but also in the First Reader section, you'll find small paperbacks. Illustrations are well done too.

Christmas Prezzie List #1 - Picture Books

As you all know, I love reading. My book collection is a large and glorious thing. Someday I will have a room ringed with bookcases to the ceiling and it still won't be enough room. And that's not even including the eBook collection.

It should come as no surprise that the kiddos have their own collection of books - from factual to fanciful, books are just a fixture at home.

Should also be no surprise that books are a favorite gift. With that in mind, here are a few picture books to consider if you are looking for a present for a young reader (or an adult who loves good illustrations).

Note: these are a couple of my favorites published in the last few years (I'm not including some of my all-time favs, like Where the Wild Things Are, because, well, I think you've already heard of it).