320 pgs.
Target audience: Ages 8-12
Rating: Wizard
This is a stunning modern-day
version of the snow queen. Hazel doesn't fit in either at home or at school.
Nobody seems to see things the way she does. The truth always pales in
comparison to what she can imagine and she can imagine quite a lot. Then
there's Jack, the one person in the whole world who understands her. He lives
next door and life, especially her dismal school with all its mundane
occumpans, seems brighter. One day at school everything changes after Jack gets
a piece of glass in his eye at school. Now Jack won't even talk to her and then
simply vanishes. His parents won't tell her what happened and Hazel is beside
herself with worry. Her parents try to explain that sometimes friends grow
apart. Hazel is not convinced and panic sets in when she sees Jack at the edge
of the forest with a mysterious woman made out of ice. So ignoring
everyone'sadvice Hazael sets out into the wood on a journey to rescue her best
friend. He's certainly under some sort of spell she thinks. This a heartfelt
story of friendship, loyalty and determination. The frightening forest presents
dangers both real and magical. Hazel is a very strong character who knows who
she is and what she wants. Very likable and believable. Recommend to fans of
Lewis' Narnia books.
Awaken by
Katie Kacvinsky
320 pgs.
Target audience: Young adult
Rating: Wizard
Technology is a wonderful thing, we
all depend on it. Teens can barely survive one hour much less one day without
texting. But what if life were completely digital. In Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky,
school, vacations, dates - everything is done through a computer screen. Real
face to face personal interactions are a thing of the past. You wouldn't even
have to go outside. Not too long ago, violence and terrorism drove people
inside to a world run by DS, Digital School. Maddie's father, the creator of
DS, has her under strict grounding ever since she helped some rebels by hacking
into her dad's computer. This safe, protected life is all she has ever known
until she meets Justin in a chat room. Feeling trapped by her father's rules,
she sees meeting Justin in person as just what she needs. Justin initially sees
Maddie as a way to bring an end to DS. Maddie is intrigued by a world she never
knew she was missing. The closer she gets to Justin and his friends, the more
she is awakened to her father's lies and the flaws of DS. This story is a
wake-up call that there has to be a balance between technology and personal
interaction. It has some good action sequences, car chases and cool inventions.
The romantic element grows slowly between Maddie and Justin. There is to be a
sequel. Fans of Delirium, Divergent, and Clockwork Angel,
will enjoy this.
Iron Thorn by
Caitlin Kittredge
512 pgs.
Target audience: Young adult
Rating: Dragon
There has been a rise in Steampunk
themed fiction and Iron
Thorn is a brilliant addition. In this alternate Victorian
flavored world, Proctors rule and the city of Lovecraft is powered by the
Engine, an underground power source. Aoife Grayson is the only female student
at the School of Engine of Lovecraft Academy and terrified that she will
succomb to the hereditary madness that strikes at the age of 16 and which has
already claimed her mother and brother. Desparate to escape her fate, she flees
Lovecraft, with her friend Cal and a hired guide, to her father's mysterious
estate. There she plunges into a world of magic, monsters and secrets.
Kittredge expertly describes Aoife's affinity for machinery and clockwork with
stunning details. There's lots of plot twists and turns and even a bit of
romance. I would recommend this book to fans of Incarceron and Leviathan.
Jane
by
April Lindner
400
pgs.
Target
audience: Young adult
Rating:
Wizard
I just finished reading Jane by April Lindner, a
contemporary telling of Jane
Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. It's been years, decades actually, since
I've read the original and was intrigued by this new version placing Jane in
the employ of a notorious "bad-boy" rocker. April weaves the familiar
story of Jane's self discovery, self determination and growing attraction to
her new employer into the modern world with a seamless beauty. I was hooked
from the start. I got completely caught up in the story just as I had when I
was 14. The modern touches to Charlotte Bronte's classic masterpiece give this
version a new identity and can be read and enjoyed without having read the
original. Although once I finished
this, I started re-reading Jane
Eyre. In
the author notes, April Lindner says "I hope some of that fun has made its
way onto these pages. And if Jane
sends a few readers back to Jane
Eyre to see what all the fuss is all about, so much the
better." Well, I know what all the fuss is all about, but reading them
back to back was a real treat.
The
Death Catchers by Jennifer Ann Kogler
352
pgs.
Target
audience: Young adult
Rating:
Wizard
Books that take an offbeat approach
always fascinate me. In Death
Catchers,
the main character, Lizzy, has to write a defense paper for her
English class to save herself from flunking after failing to turn in her final
paper. Ordinarily this would be a huge challenge for a highschooler, but her
life takes an unexpected turn providing her with ample writing material. Lizzy
finds out that like her grandmother, Bizzy, she is a Death Catcher. She can see
someone's impending death as messages hidden in the written word. She writes
her defense paper as a letter to her teacher, Mrs. Tweedy. Each chapter is
titled after a literary technique or device such as mood, the archetype, irony,
foreshadowing. Instead of making the story choppy, it is seamlessly done. The
story moves quickly and teaches you about literary techniques without sounding
preachy. It's witty and fun. To top it all off, both Lizzy and Bizzy are
descendants of Morgan Le Faye and Lizzy's ultimate task is to protect King
Arthur's last descendant. There will be a sequel and I will be there to read
it.
Delirium
by Lauren Oliver
480 pgs.
Target audience: Young adult
Rating: Wizard
Everyone is searching for love, for a
companion, for relationships. It's everywhere with online dating services,
singles events etc. But imagine a world where love has been declared a disease,
"amor deliria nervosa." In Lauren Oliver's compelling Delirium, the scientists and
government have determined that this affliction leads to all that is bad in the
world. It impairs judgment, it leaves you distracted and out of control, it
kills. Lena's 18th birthday is coming up in 90 days and she will then have the "procedure"
and be cured. But before that fateful day, Lena does the unthinkable - she
falls in love. This was a fascinating look at what is left when you take away
the ability to love. People become emotionless drones who just go through the
motions of living. The author doesn't give much detail about the procedure
other than each "cured" retains a star shaped scar on the neck. This
is a smart approach because I think that too much information about this
procedure would diminish the fear and anxiety associated with it. For me the
unknown is a whole lot scarier than the known. I for one can imagine a great
many things. The love story provides a nice balance to the horrors of such a
society. I thought about this book longer after I had finished reading. Those
are the types of stories I love.
Divergent by Veronica
Roth
576
pgs.
Target
audience: Young adult
Rating:
Dragon
Set in a distopian Chicago, Divergent by Veronica
Roth, plunges the reader into a world ravaged by war then rigidly organized
into five factions. These factions value one personality trait above all
others: Candor for honesty, Dauntless for courage; Amity for peace; Abnegation
for selflessness; and Erudite for knowledge. Each child at the age of sixteen
must choose which faction will govern the rest of his/her entire life. For
Beatrice, this is not a simple task, she tests equally in more than one
faction. She is a Divergent. This is a fast paced, twisting and turning,
captivating book. I read it in record speed. This is a perfect choice for fans
of the Hunger Games
trilogy and Maximum Ride
books.
Oscar
and the Very Hungry Dragon by Ute Krause is now hands down my
favorite dragon picture book. When it comes time to feed the local dragon with
the princess tribute, no princess can be found. Instead they choose a child by
lottery. But Oscar is no ordinary child. He's resourceful, clever and, thanks
to his mother, a fabulous cook. I'm a true fan of dragons and prefer them to be
lovely, friendly, and compassionate if you only knew how to treat them right.
Consequently Oscar sees that the way to a dragon's heart is through its
stomach. Afterall what dragon, especially a very hungry one, would not be
tempted with a neverending supply of such delicacies as grilled eggplant, filet
mignon on a bed of young beans, crepe suzette, double-layered chocolate cakes,
meringues and blueberry pies?. The whimsically detailed illustrations give this
story a full flavored appeal.
(I
would like to thank Ellen Myrick from North-South Books for allowing me to
sample this wonderful new book)
