a good book.

Knit Your Bit: A World War I Story
Author: Deborah Hopkinson
Illustrator: Stephen Guarnaccia
Pages: 32
Age Range: 6-12
Published: 2013
Genre: Historical Fiction
Cover Score: ***
Overall Score: ****
Rating: PG

When the nation calls for knitters to send goods to the troops fighting in WWI a young boy can't see the importance of it all. But when a knitting bee is proposed and the girls taunt the boys saying they're chicken to even try the boys decide to learn and not only participate in the bee but learn some valuable lessons on the way. Great large illustrations and simple text make it a perfect introduction to war for young readers. An author's note at the back explains about the actual events the story was based on and there are photos in the end pages. Another lovely historical fiction picture book on a slightly obscure event.




 

Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin
Author: Liesl Shurtliff
Pages: 264
Age Range: 9-12
Published: 2013
Genre: Fantasy
Cover Score: ***
Overall Score: ****
Rating: PG


Rump is born in a land where your name foretells your destiny, and with a name like Rump things won't ever be good. His mother died just after giving birth and he's convinced she only spoke part of his name before she passed, adding to his troubles. So he sets out to figure out the rest of his name and escape his fate. He ends up finding the truth about both and it's more than he'd bargained for. This is a great re-imagining/re-telling of the fairy tale filled with magic, humor, heart and self-discovery sure to appeal to both boys and girls.

 

The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen
Author: Susan Nilsen
Pages: 243
Age Range: 13+
Published: 2012
Genre: Realistic Fiction/YA
Cover Score: ****
Overall Score: ****
Rating: PG-13


Henry and his father have just moved to Vancouver, BC in an effort to start over after a murky event Henry calls 'It'. His mother is in another city with his grandparents, his older brother is dead and Henry has anger and coping issues and is forced to talk to his school counselor who encourages him to write his feelings in a journal. Each entry exposes a bit more of the past (which I won't disclose here because it's a huge plot point), his day-to-day life trying to cope with it all, his weight gain, lack of friends, trust issues, new life with his dad etc. An unlikely set of friends prove to be the support system he needs and when a similar incident rears its head with his new friends Henry is able to take a bit of ownership in dealing with it which leads him to being able to deal with the other event and begin to forgive his brother. This is a harsh and disturbing story with dark elements and a heavy tone but it's also one of those stories that needs to be told and the details aren't overly graphic or as grim as they could be. Bullying and school violence will continue to be timely topics and this book does a fabulous job of showing one of the lesser highlighted points of view.

a good book.

Or a few.  I've been on a wierd reading schedule the last little while with trying to pack and being gone and everything so I haven't read as much as I would have liked.  I've also been in a bit of a slump.  If you follow me on Goodreads you'll have noticed that most of my books have gotten a rather bland 3-star rating, nothing super outstanding.  But here are some of the rare few that have captured my interest and kept me reading  and excited beyond the blah and ordinary.

 

Nugget and Fang: Friends Forever--or Snack Time?
Author:Tammi Sauer
Illustrator: Michael Slack
Pages: 32
Age Range: 4-8
Published: 2013
Genre: Picture Book
Cover Score: ****
Overall Score: ****
Rating: PG

Nugget and Fang are best friends. And life is perfect until Nugget, a minnow, goes to school and learns that sharks (of which Fang is one) eat minnows! His new friends convince him they shouldn't hang out anymore but Fang is devestated. He tries everything he can think of to tell them he's not going to eat them but it's not until he saves them from a fishing net that they finally believe him and now they're all friends together!

Unlikely friends are a common theme in picture books and the shark one saw plenty of play in Finding Nemo but I think that works in its favor in this case (I kept wanting Fang to burst into choruses of "fish are friends, not food"...though to convince said fish, not himself as is the case in the film) The illustrations are grand with bright and plentiful shades of blue and other tropicals. The texture is great as well; you get hints of wood and oil, sponge, collage and more giving it an authentic underwater feel and the creatures are delightfully cartoonish.

Sever
Author: Lauren DeStefano
Pages: 371
Age Range: 13+
Published: 2013
Genre: Young Adult/Dystopia/Sci-fi
Cover Score: ****
Overall Score: ****
Rating: PG-13

Rhine is back under her father-in-laws roof but with the help of Cecily and Linden eventually finds herself on the road again with the two of them in tow searching for her brother in an effort to stop his terrorist antics and prove that she is alive. But she finds out Rowan is working for Vaughn and the world she's been trying to escape is not what she'd always believed.

I've finished up several trilogies in the last little while and all of them fell very flat; strong and intriguing first installments, weak seconds, and unfulfilling thirds.  This was the best of the bunch, keeping the tension and my interest right through to the end.  It still didn't quite meet the expectations I'd established with the first volume but it was pretty close. A heartbreaking but satisfying conclusion to the trilogy.

Doll Bones
Author: Holly Black
Pages: 244
Age Range: 9-12
Published: 2013
Genre: Suspense/Fiction
Cover Score: ****
Overall Score: ****
Rating: PG


3 kids spend the bulk of their time playing make believe games involving queens and heros, pirates and quests all acted out using various dolls and toys. But Zach's father thinks its time he grew up and Poppy and Alice are going through changes of their own as they begin to mature. When all of Zach's toys go missing he can't bring himself to tell Poppy and Alice the truth so a string of lies and misunderstandings ensue. Poppy takes it upon herself to bring them together with one final quest. This time they must venture out for real, across state lines to bury a china doll of her mother's she tells them holds the remains of a murderd girl whose ghost has been haunting Poppy's dreams. They go along out of spite and placation but as their quest gets stranger and stranger they realize Poppy may have been telling the truth all along. Equal parts creepy ghost story, quest and growing up this is a great spine tingling adventure perfect for those middle readers who are eager to be seen as older yet still have moments of clinging to their childhood.

Moloka'i
Author: Alan Brennert
Pages: 389
Age Range: Adult
Published: 2003
Genre: Historical Fiction
Cover Score: ****
Overall Score: ****
Rating: PG-13

A young girl contracts leprosy and is taken from her family on the Big Island to live in the leper colony on the island of Moloka'i. Following her through childhood and on through old age we see her progress through the disease, cause trouble, fall in love, form friendships and lead a beautiful life that touches all she comes to know. Around her the world progresses as well; the Americans usurp power from Hawaii's queen, the world descends into war, pictures begin moving and lights are captured in small glass globes, yet through it all Rachel never loses her love of learning and her longing to discover the world around her and beyond the bounds of her life. 

There's so much going on here with lessons about the history and political background of the Hawaiian islands, the history of the treatment and eventual understanding of leprosy (now known as Hansen's disease) and its effects on the people who contract it as well as their families, and of course, Rachels own story. It's a heartbreaking story of love, life, and beating unbeatable odds. I can't stop thinking about it.
Those are the recent standouts. What have you been reading lately?

a good book.

It's been way too long since I did a book review (or any real consistent blogging.) I have some big announcements coming up as I've already hinted to but I'm still not quite in a position to say anything public just yet. But that's my excuse. Despite the nutsiness of life I have been doing a bit of reading (though not nearly as much I'd like!) Here are a few of my recent favorites.

Benjamin Bear in Bright Ideas!
Author: Philippe Courdray
Pages: 32
Age Range: 7-12
Published: 2013
Genre: Graphic Novel
Cover Score: ***
Overall Score: ****
Rating: PG

Fans of Benjamin Bear in Fuzzy Thinking, rejoice! The bear is back with more hilarious situations and not-so-obvious solutions to the scrapes he finds himself in. Whether he’s crossing rivers, herding sheep, trying to rid himself of fleas, or catching squirrels Benjamin’s unique way of doing things is sure to bring a smile to the face of the reader. Each paneled story takes just one page to play out and relies on the perfect blend of visual cues and sparse text to deliver the punch lines. The length makes this volume ideal for newly independent readers yet to truly appreciate the jokes requires some higher-level thinking skills, thus a more advanced reader crowd is simultaneously pulled into the audience as well. Bright and richly colored illustrations expertly draw the eye to the pictorial puns and subtle subversive humor. These brilliant cartoons are sure to appeal to readers of all ages. Highly recommended! 

Kid Pickers: How to Turn Junk into Treasure
Author: Mike Wolfe
Pages: 113
Age Range: 9-12
Published: 2013
Genre: Non-fiction
Cover Score: ***
Overall Score: ****
Rating: G

Taking a leap from the small screen to the printed page, History Channel’s American Pickers host, Mike Wolfe, adapts his treasure hunting secrets and obsessions for a young audience of up and coming pickers. Covering such topics as the thrill of the hunt, where to begin and how to develop your own picking style, kids with a beginning interest in picking will have plenty to work with. Wolfe also ties in green trends like repurposing and sustainability, uncovering your own family history, making a profit, and using various resources to discover an item’s story, widening the appeal to those not necessarily looking to dig through endless flea markets and dumps. The orange, black and white palette give it an appropriately vintage feel and the lively layouts sprinkled with photos, real kid-picker profiles, and picking pointers adds to the book’s accessibility. This is a surprisingly versatile resource that would be a fine addition to any library.

Shadow and Bone
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Pages: 356
Age Range: 13 up
Published: 2012
Genre: Fantasy/YA
Cover Score: ****
Overall Score: ****
Rating: PG-13

Orphans Alina and Mal have only each other to rely on growing up and when they go off to fight for the fate of their kingdom together that loyalty is tested beyond anything they could have imagined. On a journey through the dark and dangerous Fold, Alina saves Mal’s life from a deadly vulcra by unleashing an unknown power. Targeted by the Darkling for her newly discovered ability she’s conscripted into the Grisha (the magical elite) and after rigorous training, introduced to court as the hoped-for Sun Summoner who will conquer the darkness of the Fold once and for all. Alina, however, is not used to magic or the intricacies and intrigues of court life and only when it’s nearly too late does she realize that things, and people, aren’t always as they seem. Hand this to fans of Graceling and Daughter of Smoke and Bone or anyone looking for a well-developed magical romance. Dripping with rich atmosphere and fascinating characters, this is a world readers will be loath to leave.

What have you been reading?

Happiness is...a good book (Summer Reading edition #39)

How to Save a Life
Author: Sara Zarr
Published: 2011
Pages: 341
Age Range: 12+
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Cover Score: ***
Overall Score: ****
Rating: PG-13

First Sentence:I am writing in response to your Love Grows post from Christmas Day.

Jill's father was killed in a car accident and part of her died with him. Unable to truly move on her relationship with her mother is fractured, she's pushed her friends away, she's on the outs with her boyfriend and to top it all off her mother has decided to adopt a stranger’s baby. Jill thinks this is the most ridiculous idea she's ever heard and is even more convinced when Mandy, the teenaged mother, arrives. She's spacey and strange and doesn't seem to be telling the truth about much and Jill is sure her mother is going to get hurt again. But Mandy has a few reservations of her own and while the two don't get along they end up helping each other to figure out life.

The two girls are vastly different, each dealing with their own set of world-shaking experiences and coming to them with their individual sets of wisdom and understanding (as well as wonderings, questions and confusions.) Mandy has spent her life basically unloved in a broken household, surviving on the skewed advice from her often-missing mother. She has some street smarts but very twisted ways of coping. While Jill’s life has been filled with love and support in many ways she’s been very sheltered and only recently has been forced to face some of the hardships of life. Told through their alternating perspectives, I loved watching each of them grow and come into their own both on their own and together. Here’s a sample:

Jill’s voice-
Despite all the love lectures and even though I just said it to Dylan, sometimes I’m not sure I know what it really means to say “I love you.” These days with Dylan—when we’re together—it’s more friendly and cozy than romantic and exciting, but it still soothes me. Isn’t that more caring about myself, though, than loving him? Shouldn’t love have at least a little to do with the other person, separate from yourself? But how can you see anything or anyone in the world apart from yourself? I mean, everything we experience is subjective, since we have no way of experiencing It other than through our eyes. And I get to thinking that love is just a word we use to describe what boils down to a selfish and temporary state of happiness. (91)

Mandy’s voice-
I didn’t yell back at my mother. When I’m angry or scared or upset, I don’t yell. I stay quiet. I’ve seen how she is, how she would get with Kent and with me and with other people, like if someone at the pharmacy got in the wrong line or asked too long a question, or if someone on the bus accidentally bumped her. I’ve watched her my whole life, the way people react to her. It doesn’t actually help you get what you want, yelling and being like that. It only makes people think bad of you.
Sometimes it’s more powerful to say nothing and keep still. (226)

Zarr is one of those authors who has developed a sort of cult following and has been the darling of many awards and ‘favorite’ lists. I’ve read one of her other books and it just failed to impress me. It wasn’t anything I was sorry I read, but it didn’t reach out and amaze me like it did so many others. I don’t know that this one would make it onto any of my top reads but I found myself relating to both of the characters in various ways and getting equally caught up in their sagas. There are some hard concepts—rape, abuse, death, teen pregnancy, family dynamics, relationships and love—discussed, but done without feeling overly heavy or preachy which is often difficult to do. I could definitely understand Zarr’s appeal after reading this story.

Happiness is...a good book (Summer Reading edition #37)

Under the Never Sky
Author: Veronica Rossi
Published: 2012
Pages: 376
Age Range: 13 up
Genre: Sci-fi/Dystopia
Cover Score: ***
Overall Score: ****
Rating: PG-13
 
First Sentence: They called the world beyond the walls of the Pod “the Death Shop.”

Aria lives in the enclosed city of Reverie. When her mother, a scientist, disappears, Aria does everything in her power to find out what has happened to her and in return she is thrown out of the city into the wasteland. Surprisingly she doesn’t die but is picked up by an Outsider, Perry, who is searching for his nephew taken by the Dwellers (those who live inside.) Reluctantly they form an uneasy alliance to search for the answers they both need.

After severe electrical storms and droughts, society moved in doors for protection. To keep them all from going stir crazy Realms or alternate virtual realities were created where people could experience anything and everything they could imagine.

There is some appeal to the Dwellers way of life. Always wanted to fly? Wish granted. Time travel and a million other things are basically possible by visiting the various Realms and experiencing things few have ever had the chance to before. Also medical advances are such that people no longer feel pain or age (unless you choose to experience some semblance of it in a Realm). Most don’t realize the danger but Aria has picked up on some of the flatness of the beauty. The rocks for example are computer generated through an algorithm creating subtle variances to a master design. If you look too closely you’ll see the sameness of them and the Realm loses a bit of its magic.

The Outsiders have adapted for survivals sake, many evolving and developing super heightened senses. These individuals are Marked (literally and figuratively) and are prized by the tribes they live in often being bargained for and married off for alliances like royalty of old. Perry is one of these, a Scire, one whose sense of smell is so keen he can even sense emotions. Roar, another friend, is an Aud who can hear whispers from miles away. These attributes come in handy when the group finds themselves being tracked by Croven, cannibals.

You've probably noticed by now that I enjoy a good apocalyptic story and this was one I was quickly sucked into. Rossi’s world was an interesting one, illustrating some of the actual dangers society faces when we become too attached to our technologies and lose contact with our natural abilities and realities. It had sort of a Truman Show quality to it, the world being created to suit some choreographed purpose, only some of the truths being known by the general population. There were a host of unanswered questions and places where you had to simply suspend belief, several times I had to remind myself that it wasn’t reality, there were no answers to how something could have happened the way it did in the story (it couldn’t have!)

There is plenty of danger and adventure and of course, a touch of romance. Aria is a basically strong character but has realistic moments of helplessness and frustration. The supporting characters are developed enough to support the story without overtaking it.




Nothing against the writing or this book in particular but I am growing a bit tired of series. Whatever happened to books having a beginning, middle and end? I feel as if I never get conclusions anymore but am constantly hung up in this realm of middleness and cliff hangers and anticipation.  What has been your favorite stand-alone novel of late? I think I'm due to read a few and would love your suggestions!

Happiness is...a good book (Summer Reading edition #32)

Gilt
Author: Katherine Longshore
Published: 2012
Pages: 404
Age Range: 14+
Genre: Historical Fiction
Cover Score: * (it’s pretty but rather generic and has no direct connection to what goes on in the story)
Overall Score: ***
Rating: PG-13
 
First Sentence: You’re not going to steal anything.

This it the fictionalized story of Catherine Howard’s rise and fall from Henry VIII’s graces and the throne as told through the eyes of her best friend Katherine Tylney.

Abandoned by her family when she is 8 and given to the household of the Duchess of Norfolk (Catherine’s step-grandmother) she is pitied by Cat and taken under her wing. And she’s never given a chance to look back. Knowing that she is nothing and has nothing she bows to Cat’s whims, lies for her, covers for her, does anything that is asked of her in order to keep her favor. Together they fantasize about one day living at court, wearing fine clothes and having any man they desire. Cat is serious while Kitty is just along for the ride, aware that she is too tall, too plain to ever have those kinds of chances. But when Cat catches the eye of Henry’s entourage and is taken to court she promises she’ll bring Kitty with her.

She eventually makes good on her promise and Kitty finds herself ensconced in lies and secrets, keeping Cat’s romantic dalliances and exploits from the king and falling into her old patterns of doing anything Cat wishes in order to keep her favor. But Cat doesn’t return the favor and when things don’t suit her needs she finds someone else to do her bidding and knows just how to hurt Kitty for spite.
Struck by the attention of two very different men Kitty finally begins to see the truth behind Cat’s actions and realizes she never makes her own decisions or thinks for herself but by now it’s too late. Or is it?

While Kitty is the main character the story is most often dominated by Cat. Kitty is a very weak character constantly overpowered by a much stronger one. We see Kitty’s turmoil emotionally but not until the end do we get to see her take a stand and make some choices on her own, though even then they are governed by her guilt and her conscience. Cat is calculating and manipulative to the very end. She’s petulant and childish, selfish and self-absorbed. Her lies and intrigues brought ruin to herself and those around her. The following dialogue gives you a perfect picture of her personality:

“Well, any gentleman you encounter will be. Impressed, that is.”
“But will the king?” she cried, exasperated. “I want him to look at me and to see that I’m different! That I’m not just another maid-in-waiting.”
“What do you want from him, Cat?” I asked. “He’s already getting married.”
“Whoever said I needed marriage?”
“Wait a minute. Are you trying to tell me that this whole act is so that you can be a mistress to the king? A fat, aging man with an ego the size of France and a temper the size of the Roman Empire?”
“I don’t know!” she huffed. “Maybe I just want someone to notice me!” (54)

Some of the dialogue felt too modern but it was consistent throughout and will most likely not be something noticed by its teen audience and it does flow a bit better when you remember that they were only teenagers at the time (early 20s at most, history disputes Catherine Howard’s birth date.) There is an author’s note with some of the facts and fictions distinguished where possible but it could use a bit more; a timeline or cast of characters perhaps?

There is a lot of discussion of sex, a rape scene and other violence against women but it is not graphic. Just know your audience before you hand it out! It’s a rather engrossing characterization of one of Henry’s ill-fated wives that helps bring history to life. Hand it to teens who want some drama but are through with the paranormal fantasies or want a change from modern-day realistic fiction.

Happiness is...a good book (Summer Reading edition #24)

Cat Girl’s Day Off
Author: Kimberly Pauley
Published: 2012
Pages: 334
Age Range: 10+ (technically it’s a YA but it could easily be handed to a younger reader)
Genre: sci-fi/fiction
Cover Score: * (After reading the book I could tell what they were trying to convey but I would have ignored it based on the cover had I just seen it on a shelf)
Overall Score: ***
Rating: PG

First Sentence: I opened the front door to my house and gagged.

Natalie can talk to cats.  She has a Talent for it. But no one knows that except her family and her two best friends and she’d like to keep it that way. Oscar and Melly are caught up in the celeb craziness that is sweeping their school. They live just outside of Chicago and go to the school used for filming Ferris Bueller's Day Off. A film crew is on location to shoot a takeoff, hitting all the famous spots and the two friends have signed on to be extras, convincing a very reluctant Natalie to join them.

When they watch a news clip of Easton West, a famous celebrity blogger and her 2 pets arriving in town to cover the filming Natalie notices that her cat (died pink to match West’s entire wardrobe) is yowling, saying that she’s been kidnapped and the Easton they all see is a fake. Since no one will believe a bunch of kids they take it upon themselves to solve the mystery and end up risking their lives and becoming heroes.

Mistaken identities, more kidnappings, gun play, hidden Talents, secret government agencies, a herd of cats, young love.  As they battle all of these and more Natalie comes to understand how special she is and how important her Talent can be in her family and to the world.

I wouldn’t pick this up based by on the cover though I can see why they picked all the elements they did, it’s just sort of blah (in spite of the bright colors.)  And I wouldn’t have picked it up based on the premise.  But it was a fun and silly romp through a fabulous city. The kids had fun and believable personalities. Natalie’s voice had just the right amount of sarcasm and self-loathing to keep it teen without becoming overly angsty. The celeb element (her friends over the top fan mania and the actors themselves) balanced nicely with Natalie’s more down to earth/who cares way of looking at things. She only got caught up in it all when she had to; her sense of decency and goodwill winning out over her need to lay low.  It’s not going to be a huge hit but it was a lot more fun than I was anticipating.

Here’s a taste:
“I’m going to swaddle you like a human baby,” I said.  Just hold still. You’ll be able to breathe, okay?”
He humphed, but lay there and let me swaddle him.  When I was done, he looked like one seriously ugly, furry baby, with only the front of his face sticking out.  I hoped that as long as I held him close to my chest, no one would notice.  Or maybe they’d just think I was babysitting a really ugly kid.  With a lot of pink facial hair.  And a lazy eye. (162)

And yes, of course I knew all of this sounded crazy.  There was no part of any of it that sounded remotely like normal life.  Like a normal person’s life.  But that wasn’t my life. It never had been. I mean, my little sister was doing calculus when she was three. My first good friend was a cat. My older sister was a human lie detector, and my mom had more patents than most people had cookbooks.  My dad could smell what you had for dinner two days ago if you didn’t brush your teeth well enough.  I was a freak from a family of freaks. (217)

It's sort of a soft, girly version of X-men that will find a fanbase within a certain niche of readers. As a plus for John Hughes fans, there was an author’s note giving some additional background on the movie and some of the locations mentioned in the book.

Happiness is...a good book. (Summer Reading edition #23)

Fugitives (Escape From Furnace series #4)
Author: Alexander Gordon Smith
Published: 2012
Pages: 270
Age Range: 13-18
Genre: Sci-fi (dystopia)
Cover Score: ***
Overall Score: **
Rating: R (violence and mayhem)

First Sentence: I wish I could tell you that my story ended here.

Incarcerated in Furnace Penitentiary for a crime he didn't commit Alex has spent his time fighting the system and looking for a way to escape. But now he's becoming one of the monsters who have held him prisoner and although he and his friends have escaped it's only a matter of time before he loses himself to a place he'll never be able to return from.

Perhaps it’s because this was the first of the series I’d read, or because I’d read so many rave reviews of the other 3 so I would know what was going on in this one, but I just didn’t love it.  It was okay and it was filled with action but I found the writing to be tedious in places (though how many ways can you describe bulging muscles, towering infernos or the end of the world?) and inconsistent.

And there's very little hope.  I like a dystopia/apocalyptic story probably more than the next guy but there’s got to be some hope somewhere, and something more than just revenge steering the action. Again, maybe there is an overarching theme to the series that just fell out of this installment  but it was far too bleak for me.

On the plus side, there's a super high body count and non-stop destruction that boys will appreciate!

Don't discount it just based on my opinion, and at least start with the first in the series but be forewarned it's super bleak and bloody.

Happiness is...a good book (Summer Reading edition #20)

Birthmarked
Author: Caragh M. O’Brien
Published: 2010
Pages: 361
Age Range: 13-17
Genre: sci-fi/dystopia
Cover Score: **** (note below)
Overall Score: ***
Rating: PG-13

First Sentence: In the dim hovel, the mother clenched her body into one final, straining push, and the baby slithered out into Gaia’s ready hands.

*The image here is not the same as the cover of the book I read. I couldn't find one that matched!  This cover would only rate a 2 or so in my opinion.  It's far less eye-catching.


In a not-so-distant future society is slowly rebuilding after a catastrophic climate change. On the banks of the Unlake (a dried remnant of Lake Superior) inhabitants live in two separate factions; those inside the walled city or Enclave and those outside. Inside are the privileged few, the wealthy who have regained some technology and have leisure time for education and recreation, while those outside are peasant-ish, fighting for bare necessities and paying tribute of their goods and lives to those inside.

Sixteen year old Gaia is a midwife, her mothers' apprentice. She has just delivered her first successful solo birth when she learns her mother and father have been taken by city soldiers. When she sneaks inside to help them escape Gaia is forced to question everything she has ever known or believed about her life. Things are not as rosy in the Enclave as Gaia has always imagined, there are cruelties and harsh government rulings and hereditary disorders that threaten their very lives.

Each month the town is required to pay tribute of their first 3 births, sending the newborns to live in the Enclave where they are promised a life of ease and opportunity. But inbreeding and lack of knowledge have led to many problems. The Enclave is sure that Gaia’s mother holds the clues to the bloodlines that will help strengthen the genetic pool and rebuild the population. But she is in prison and refuses to reveal what she knows and now Gaia must trust her despite not knowing the truth.

This was a fairly interesting premise but I just could never get myself into it. The writing was fine but nothing jumped out at me as exceptional. Gaia was a relatively strong female character (which is always good) but I never found myself feeling overwhelmingly drawn to her and her plight. It wasn’t a miserable read by any stretch but I probably wouldn't have pushed through it if it weren't for the fact that I have to read the sequel for a work review. (You might also chalk it up to my summer reading overload and having a desire to read a bit more in the fluff department.)

Did the sequel grab me? Did it build or fizzle? You’ll have to wait until next week when I tell you all about Prized to find out.

Happiness is...a good book (Summer Reading edition #15)

Grave Mercy
Author: Robin LaFevers
Published: 2012
Pages: 549
Age Range: 13-17
Genre: Historical Fiction/Fantasy
Cover Score: ****
Overall Score: *****
Rating: PG-13

First Sentence: I bear a deep red stain that runs from my left shoulder down to my right hip, a trail left by the herbwitch’s poison that my mother used to try to expel me from her womb.

Seventeen-year-old Ismae’s life has been one of extreme hardship. Mistreated by her father since she was tiny she has just escaped an arranged marriage to an equally cruel man and finds sanctuary at the convent of St Mortain. Here everyone serves the god of Death and they're trained as assassins to kill those who bear his marque. Eager to please and have a purpose in life she looks forward to exacting some justice on men in general, a group she assumes to be as cold and heartless as her husband and father had been.

Her first real assignment leads her to the high courts of Brittany where she poses as mistress to Gavriel Duval, step-brother to the duchess whose life and rule is in danger. She uses her feminine wiles to spy and gain information about the plots to assassinate the duchess and take over the duchy, while watching for evidence of the marque on those she comes in contact with.

She receives guidance from her convent but as she comes to know the people she is working with she realizes that some of the orders and decisions don’t make sense. She doubts their accuracy and worries that there is an ulterior motive or spy in their own midst. And then she has a visit from Death himself. Can she serve him the way she feels or is she losing her nerve and her heart?

Set against the reign of Anne, Duchess of Brittany in 1485 there is much history at work here but it is solely as a backdrop for Ismae’s story. There are stark differences between Ismae’s upbringing with its deep cruelties and her extreme wants and the lushness of the life she finds at court. The descriptions gently lull you into the time and setting, while you are being swallowed up in the intrigue of the plot.

There is a hint of magic surrounding the old gods and Ismae has some superhuman abilities including being immune to poison, otherwise it’s quite realistic.

This is a beautifully written book, the dialogue feeling authentic but not overly flowery or formal. Ismae’s progression throughout the story is believable and natural. I love that she was able to move beyond her past and refused to let others dictate who or what she should be. She took guidance and help when needed but learned to take charge of her own fate and decisions. And I appreciated the aspect of forgiveness and growth; too often the emphasis is on judgement and revenge, forgiveness being seen as a weakness. This passage shows some of her conflicting thoughts and what she must overcome:

“How did you sleep?” he asks politely.
I risk glancing at him, expecting to see a glint of amusement or a smirk. Instead, there is a hint of concern. It is this kindness of his that unsettles me most. I can dodge a blow or block a knife. I am impervious to poison and know a dozen ways to escape a chokehold or garrote wire. But kindness? I do not know how to defend against that. (220)

This is a great historical fiction for those who don’t like historical fiction. The touch of fantasy makes you forget that the bulk of the premise is based on true events. It’s a fun escape and the first of a trilogy so watch for more to come!

Happiness is...a good book. (Summer Reading edition #39)

Where She Went
Author: Gayle Forman
Pages: 264
Age Range: 14+
Published: 2011
Genre: YA/Realistic Fiction
Cover Score: ***
Overall Grade: ***
Rating: PG-13 (language including several f-bombs, sexual references, drinking/smoking)

**If you haven’t read If I Stay yet drop what you’re doing and read it, now. It’s beautifully written and poignant and highly superior to this follow-up book. Also, this review does contain spoilers (a giant one that you’ll probably have figured out about 5 seconds into reading), just FYI.

It’s been three years since Mia’s accident, her miraculous recovery and her decision to attend Julliard and walk out of Adam’s life forever.

Adam is living the high life. His band Shooting Star has become an overnight sensation, he’s making more money than he knows what to do with, touring the world and living in L.A. with his celebrity girlfriend Bryn Shraeder, the envy of everyone he comes in contact with.

But Adam is slowly falling apart. He constantly doubts himself, his band mates hardly speak to him, he’s moody and temperamental, he can’t sleep without a million prescription drugs in his system, he feels lost and alone and he is wracked with guilt that he didn’t do more to change the way things worked out with Mia.

The night before he’s to leave on tour he begins wandering NYC in search of some anonymity and anything to make him feel better. And that’s when he notices the sign announcing Mia performing that night at Carnegie Hall. He buys a ticket just to listen to her play but after the concert she summons him backstage and the two have embark on the night of their lives.

She convinces him to wander the streets with her, visiting some of her favorite haunts before they both leave on their respective tours to exotic places. He agrees hoping he’ll have the guts to confront her about why she left and how it devastated him.  They spend hours skirting around the issue, avoiding talking about her family or anything of real substance until it’s time for them to say goodbye. She’s ready to send him on his way and he loses it. He finally cries and screams and voices so many of the feelings he’s been holding onto for years along with the frustrations of his current situation. She confesses that she hadn’t planned to cut all ties but when she got to Julliard and everyone treated her like a fragile child she knew she needed to make some changes.

I won’t tell you how it ends but I will tell you that I was satisfied even though I didn’t love this book half as much as I loved the first one. It was full of emotion and hurt and frustration but I think those feelings didn’t translate as well for me as the issues of choice and reflection and hope did. There was love and loss in both novels but again I was more captivated by the way they were brought up in Mia’s story than in Adam’s. It was still a great book but I was waiting for it to reach that state of powerful emotion that I felt during If I Stay but it just never quite made it to that point for me.

Hand this book to teens struggling with a variety of emotions, loss, depression, grief etc. Or read it yourself, but not without reading If I Stay first.

Happiness is...a good book. (Summer Reading edition #34)

The Dark and Hollow Places
Author: Carrie Ryan
Pages: 374
Age Range: 13+
Published: 2011
Genre: Sci-fi/dystopia
Cover Score: *** 
Overall Grade: ****
Rating: PG-13 (gruesome violence, some language)

This is the third in a trilogy so whil I will try not to give away any major plot points I can’t guarantee there won’t be spoilers for the first two; The Forest of Hands and Teeth and The Dead-Tossed Waves.

Annah lives in New York City, 150 or so years after the Return (the infection that causes the dead to rise again and walk the earth hunting for human flesh…yes, zombies!) Society has dwindled to a few pockets of the living struggling to keep barriers between themselves and the Unconsecrated (the zombies) but the numbers are so great that most of them have fallen and the last great stronghold, the Dark City, is on the verge of falling as well. She’s been trying to make ends meet and take care of herself since being abandoned by Elias (her pseudo brother) who joined the Recruiters three years earlier. She’s resentful of him and still harboring guilty feelings for not having done more to help her sister Abigail escape the forest when they were children.

As she’s making her way out of the city though she spots a girl on the bridge, her sister she’s sure of it. And then she meets Catcher. He’s got some secrets and regrets of his own but he knows all about Annah and Elias and Abigail, now known as Gabry. He’s promised to look after Annah but Annah’s not sure she trusts him.

Eventually they find themselves on the Sanctuary, a small island run by the Recruiters and the only place left not overrun by the Unconsecrated. Elias and Gabry are there as well and together the four of them uncover their twisted and intertwining paths and begin to forge new relationships together.

Elias thinks he’s done right by everyone, protecting them by leading them all to the Sanctuary, but the remaining Recruiters are cruel and merciless, torturing the helpless for sport, using anyone they can (Catcher in particular who has an immunity to the virus and can walk undetected among the Unconsecrated) to ferry back and forth between the two worlds to gather food and forcing the Soulers (a fanatic religious group that believes the dead who Return have found the elect resurrection and are somehow pure) to patrol the beaches around the building.

The four must learn to trust each other (Annah in particular who feels abandoned and betrayed by them all) and find a way off of the island and hopefully to a place where they can start again (though the maps and plans show that most of the world is overrun.) Annah is also dealing with her many scars (physical and emotional) that keep her from trusting or allowing herself to be loved.

They are forced to make one major decision after another and answer some life-altering questions: what does it mean to live? Is existence the same as life? Who has it better, those who are aware and continually suffering and in fear or the Undead who eternally exist (until someone chops off their heads) and have no memories, pains or emotions? What would you do if you knew you only had a few days left to live? Which fears are justifiable? When is it okay to give up?

I didn’t find myself as engrossed in this one as I did the other two. I think I got a little bored with Annah’s insecurities. She’s in a struggle for her life and yet she’s constantly worried about her scars (though they are extensive) and if the men in her life will find her attractive. I’m not sure how realistic that would be. Sure she’d want to be desirable, she’s human after all, but she spent a lot of time dwelling on it, and dwelling on it, and dwelling on it. But it was still a thrilling and basically non-stop ride. And it’s a satisfying conclusion to the series; questions are answered and characters are tied together and there’s a bit of hope though not a truly happy ending (true to the incredible and comprehensive world built by Ms. Ryan.)

Full of gore and violence and decapitations it’s also a story of love and forgiveness. There is proof that even in the most horrid of conditions and potential futures one can still make choices and many choose to cling to humanity and kindness. If you’re a fan of post-apocalyptic fiction, dystopias, or zombies or are looking for something a little different, give it a look-see. I think you’ll like it!

Happiness is...a good book. (Summer Reading edition #30)

Happy Tuesday!  What? It's not Tuesday you say? Well, let's see what we can do about that. (Cue wiggling fingers of illusion and appropriate time travel music).

                                                    *    *   *   *   *   *   *   *

Ah, my friends!  Welcome to Tuesday, July 26th. I'm so glad you could join me. I have a lovely book to review for you today. Are you ready for this?!

Wrapped
Author: Jennifer Bradbury
Pages: 309
Age Range: 12+
Published: 2011
Genre: Historical Fiction/Mystery/Young Adult
Cover Score: ****
Overall Grade: *****
Rating: PG

Agnes Wilkins is an unusual 17 year old girl about to debut into 1815 London society. Her father is a government official and her mother is determined to see her only daughter engaged to their charming and wealthy neighbor Lord Showalter before the season is out. While Agnes knows her duty and is somewhat excited at the prospects she's also loathe to give up her opportunities to continue her education to settle into a life of bland domesticity. (She speaks 10 languages, longs for adventure and loves the romance in the newly published A Lady's novels, particularly Pride and Prejudice, and fancies herself finding a Lizzie Bennett/Mr. Darcy type relationship full of banter and passion.) 

Her first social adventure is attending a mummy unwrapping party in Showalter's garden. As she cuts into the linen wrappings she's equally enthralled and disgusted. She's fascinated to see something very few have from a place she, as a proper English lady, will probably never visit but feels that the relics, ruins, and artifacts should remain in their places of origin rather than be desecrated by people for entertainment's sake.

As she unwraps a small jackal's head in the bindings there is a disturbance and insistence that the party stop so the mummy, supposedly switched with another during shipping and unloading, can be returned to the British Museum. For some reason Agnes finds herself pocketing the iron head and witnessing a few odd exchanges before the party comes to a chilling end with the murder of one of Showalter's grooms. 

By morning talk of ancient curses has spread throughout the city with several of the party goers being attacked or having their houses broken into. Agnes scoffs at the talk of curses but is sure it all has something to do with the jackal's head hidden under her pillow. Throughout the course of the book she goes behind the scenes of the British Museum, unlocks a code with the help of the Rosetta Stone, dresses as a boy, uncovers Napoleon Bonaparte's dastardly plans to conquer Britain, meets a handsome and vexing young scholar, learns to shoot a gun and more.

There's enough fact and history interwoven into the story to make it all sound very credible and give it some substance. There's also an author's note at the end separating fact from fiction and giving a bit of additional information about the historical setting and customs. It's lightly flavored with turns of phrase that remind you of the time period and keep it from sounding modern yet it's highly readable.  Agnes is a spunky heroine eager to buck the system that keeps her confined and locked into a particular role and future, both likeable and relatable. Like a watered down combination of Jane Austen and Elizabeth Peters it begs to be read during afternoon tea in the garden. I thought this book was thoroughly delightful. It was the perfect blend of smart and fluffy. The perfect easy escape for my crazy weekend, I highly recommend it (particularly to fans of either of the aforementioned authors!) 




Hope you enjoyed your short journey to Tuesday.  Can't wait to see you all again tomorrow!

Happiness is...a good book. (Summer Reading edition #28)

Uh, just pretend it's Sunday! (With a second and official Monday posting to follow later today.)

What My Mother Doesn't Know
Author: Sonya Sones
Pages: 259
Age Range: 13+
Published: 2001

Genre: Realistic Fiction/YA
Cover Score: **
Overall Grade: ***
Rating: PG-13

(I realize this is the image for the audiobook but I did actually read the printed copy. This was just the only image I could find that looked like my cover looked.  All the print editions have newer covers, just FYI!)

In an effort to broaden my scope a bit I've tried to hunt down a few older titles and varying genres. This one fits the bill for both.  While 2001 wasn't that long ago it's enough to have changed the landscape of the teen world. No IPods or texting occur though there are emails and cell phones. The real reason I picked this though was the fact that it's a novel written in verse. Some of these are more masterfully done than others (Helen Frost for example creates poetic forms that she adheres to throughout the book, diamanté and so forth, many of which could stand as beautiful poems on their own) while others simply write in spare prose, the poems falling more into the free verse category.   This is one of the latter.

Sophie is a ninth grader on the quest for finding Mr. Right. She thought she had found him in the beautiful and thoughtful Dylan but as their relationship progresses she realizes that it's hinged more on physical aspects than common goals or interests. As he pushes her to 'go further' than she wants to and she finds herself becoming more and more interested in an online relationship she steps up and breaks things off.

She has a series of flirtatious encounters, pity parties and daring adventures while coping with her two best friend's different love interests, school and trying to avoid running into Dylan, and dealing with her neglectful yet interfering mother. A run-in with a mysterious masked man at the Halloween dance has her examining all of the male forearms she comes in contact with. And she worries about her sanity when she begins to have daydreams and lustful thoughts about the nerdy, unattractive but talented guy in her art class. She does find a Mr. Right after all but even that revelation comes with its own dilemmas. 

Sophie's pain and doubts are well portrayed and anyone who's ever felt the longing or heartache involved in a new/old/past/unrequited love will recognize the emotions and know exactly where she is coming from. 

The over abundance of white space on the page will be encouraging for reluctant readers and teens will appreciate Sophie's humor and insecurities. There are some slightly more mature themes, particularly regarding sexuality and maturation though nothing overly graphic.

I enjoyed this quick glimpse into Sophie's life (and made me grateful t o no longer be a teenager!) It would make a great beach read for the middle school set or anyone trying to recover from a first love.