April 2009 - Posts
Savvy
By: Ingrid Law
2009 Newbery Honor Book
I had heard so many good things about this book that I was a little leery of picking it up. I finally just decided to go for it, and man, am I glad that I did! Mibs and her family are not like most other families. On the day of their thirteenth birthday they usually receive their Savvy. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, it's just something that makes them special. For example, Mibs eldest brother, Rocket has a serious connection with electricity and her brother Fish has a major connection to the weather. On the day of Fish's thirteenth birthday, he caused a hurricane which forced the family to move to Kansaska-Nebransas (her grandfather can make the earth move, literally).
This story deals with Mibs upcoming thirteenth birthday, an accident that befalls their father, and what happens when Mibs thinks her savvy is one thing, when it turns out to be quite another. The shenanigans she gets into with some help from two of her brothers and the preachers somewhat unwilling kids are priceless. The angst of a bad decision is part of the major crux of this story, but the journey of discovery that all of these kids go through is quite remarkable to follow.
A major reason I really loved this book was the writing: Law really gets you into Mibs' head, and you feel all of her reasoning and justifications as if you really were her. Also, Law has a tendency to use some of the most fun words I've seen in a book in a long time. Just look at Kansaska-Nebransas and you get just a small hint of the fun words to come.
And just so you know, this book TOTALLY deserved it's Newbery Honor status this year!
Notes on the Cover:
Bus? Check. Crazy weather pattern above it? Check. And there you have two huge parts of this book right on the cover. Spot on!
Recommended To:
- Kids with upcoming birthdays
- Adults
- Everyone!
On our shelves!
Tender Morsels
By: Margo Lanagan
2009 Printz Honor Book
This was a hauntingly beautiful book that had me hesitant to turn the page one minute for fear of some other horrifying act being committed, to anxiously waiting to turn the page to see what would happen next. Rarely does a book excite such conflicting emotions in me! For the most part, I can’t wait to turn the page, no matter what I’m reading, but the atrocities that are committed on Liga at the beginning of this book are enough to make you shake with indignation and feel sorry for this innocent, young girl who doesn’t know any better. Never fear, though, as Liga’s situation drastically improves with some unexpected help from the local mudwitch, Annie.
Liga’s father is truly a horrifying man, both physically and emotionally. Liga hasn’t left her home since her mother’s death, such is the hold he has on her. Because of the horrifying things that happen to her have left her unable to cope with the real world, she is transported to her own version of heaven with her two daughters, Branza and Urdda.
Branza and Urdda are daily reminders of what has happened to her, but she loves them tenderly and cares for them as any mother would do. When the mudwitch, Annie, makes a little magic for a friend, it has unexpected consequences in Liga’s heaven. Here is the crux of the story: Liga’s two young daughters, vastly different from each other, have differing reactions to the animals and people that travel from world to heaven. These consequences can be lasting and will change the course of the three women’s lives forever.
All in all this is a delicious book that is not for the faint of heart. Let me tell you, things do get better, but not necessarily before they get worse. The story is filled to the brim of love, friendship and family which will warm the heart of anyone who picks up this truly beautiful story.
Notes on the Cover:
I believe it’s Branze with bear number one (Ramstrong) in the woods. It’s beautiful and tender and shows that true happiness and beauty can come out of even the worst of circumstances.
Recommended To:
¨ Fantasy fans
¨ Fans of fairy tales
¨ NOT to the faint of heart!
On our shelves!
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The Rose of Sebastopol
By: Katherine McMahon
Mariella is a dutiful daughter: she helps her mother with her charity work (especially the home for aging governesses), she sews exquisitely and knows what is right and proper behavior for a lady in society, even from a young age. Her cousin Rosa, however, is impetuous, daring and always wants to help people, but not necessarily in the traditional ways that women were allowed at the time as her desire is to become a nurse. Despite these vastly different personalities, the girls are as close as sisters and are inseparable, even when upset with each other.
The story goes back in forth from 1840 up until 1855. You slowly get the back story on how Rosa and Mariella meet, the reasons for dramatic partings, and Mariella's engagement which leads to her very daring decision to go to her very ill betrothed who thinks she is Rosa, and ends up sending her on a dangerous journey into a war zone.
Mariella is a somewhat infuriating character at first, she is so obedient and tepid that you don't think she'll ever put a toe over the line of what's considered right and decent. But then there's Rosa, who is her dearest friend and who adds some much needed spice to Rosa's life. Mariella's connection to Rosa brings about some extremely surprising changes in Mariella. She defies war generals, her father, Rosa's stepbrother Max and even the nurses in the hospital in the Crimea.
Until now I really didn't know a thing about the British war with Russia and the fight for Sebastopol. The Crimea is an unforgiving setting for a war, which Rosa finds out first hand. When she goes missing and Mariella's delirious fiancée (Henry) desires Mariella to find Rosa, she goes, even though she has some terrible suspicions about the relationship that occurred between him and Rosa.
Will her worst fears be realized? Will she find Rosa dead or alive? Rosa has obviously made an impression on the men, because they have all heard of her, but haven't seen her since that fateful day.
Recommended To:
- Historical fiction readers
- Those interested in the stories of love and war
- Anyone who likes a character who truly surprises you
Notes on the Cover:
It's pretty. It's not inaccurate to the story, but it's not fabulous either. It's not earth-shatteringly attracting, but at the same time the cover is what initially attracted me. Then I saw that it was by the same author that wrote The Alchemist's Daughter which I realize I haven't reviewed here. I don't know why as I really liked that story. So there you have it!
River Secrets
By: Shannon Hale
By now you should be well aware that the kingdom of Bayern has subjects that have a little extra something special about them, whether it's the ability to talk with animals, the wind or fire. Now you're going to find a book that is focused on a boy whose skills are not along the fantasy lines at all.
Razo, the prankster who shows up in both of the previous books, now has an entire story devoted to him. We only see bits of Razo in the other books, but here shines a boy who wants to be a man and who is trying to figure out his self worth in an envoy that is specifically selected to protect the ambassador to Tira (the country the war is fought with in Enna Burning). His skills at fighting are not remarkable at all, but when he learns where his skills truly lie he is astonished not only with himself, but with others who have not told him how great his skills really are!
As Razo tries to discover the secrets that surround the Tiran, he makes remarkable alliances with many people who others have either ignored, or had no opportunity to get close to. When Razo realizes that Lady Dasha may have a few more secrets than she is willing to share, he investigates and is astonished to discover something remarkable about her that he had never expected.
Will Razo be able to help save the ambassador, help his friends Enna and Finn, discover the secrets of those who wish to destroy their convoy and help to prevent another war? With time running out, Razo has to fight to the finish and use all of his strengths and weaknesses to find the perpetrators behind the killings and war mongering.
Notes on the Cover:
Oh the Razo on the cover is a good one! His hair is sticking up (though not as high as I imagined) he's smirking, and that little sideways glance are just great! Lady Dasha looks like a good one, her clothing is as I picture it, but her hair seems to be redder in the book. A minor annoyance, but there it is. The river in the background is a great touch as well.
Recommended To:
- Even if you don't think boys would like the first two, they'll like this one. Razo gets into some fights and scrapes that will have many a young guy cheering at the adventure!
- Those who enjoyed the first two
- Everyone!
On our shelves!
I should note that all of these books can be read separately and not in order. You get more of the background out of them if you read them in order, but I don't think that it's ‘required' or ‘necessary' if you find one sparks your interest over another one.
17 Things I'm Not Allowed to Do Anymore
By: Jenny Offill
Illustrated By: Nancy Carpenter
Parents, be prepared for hoots and howls of laughter the first time you read this one with your kids! Granted, they may get a few new ways to make things at home slightly more interesting after reading this book, but you should be well prepared to have a discussion about what is and is not okay at the end of this story!
I now realize that may sound a little bad and make you not want to read it, but, oh the joy you would be missing!
Really, the title says it all on this one. Follow the story of a little girl's day in which she gets into quite a bit of trouble for thinking up interesting things to do, like: gluing her brothers bunny slippers to the floor, doing her George Washington report on beaver's instead, and walking backwards to school. Her obviously active imagination inspires some antics that many parents will have seen before, but maybe not quite the extent of her fascination with beavers.
The illustrations have nice solid black lines that really help separate the sometimes very similar colors used in the pictures. I don't find this to be a problem, in fact, I really quite like it. Also, make sure you look at the pictures, because this is one of those books where you really get a lot extra out of taking the time to look them over before you turn the page. Nothing is really hidden from you here, so don't plan on having to spend a lot of time doing this, just make sure you don't miss anything!
Notes on the Cover:
An obviously gleeful little girl (who still manages to look like she's not doing anything wrong) holding a glue bottle upside down with the unfortunate bunny slippers off to the left will make this attractive to children. The shadow of mom with her hands on her hips will attract parents. The word is out on how the parents will feel when they notice mom's feet at the bottom of the cover!
Recommended To:
- Storytime!
- Everyone! I don't care how old you are you won't miss the humor in this one!
On our shelves!
Enna Burning
By: Shannon Hale
Enna is a character from The Goose Girl. She is the first real friend Isi (Ani) has and does her job admirably well. When the story opens, Enna is at home because her mother has just died. She and her brother get along, but something is happening with him that is quite strange: he's irritable and mad at the king, and is so upset that he starts Enna's legs on fire. You didn't see that last one coming, did you?
With war fast approaching the Bayern kingdom, something needs to be done, and fast. When Isi and her husband come to the forest born for help, they even enlist Leifer (Enna's brother). What they all don't know about Leifer's secret is about to change in a drastic way: he can start fires by inhaling the heat from people and objects around him and expelling it at other people and objects. This skill proves to be invaluable in battle, and Enna sees her brother in action, and sees what the fire does to him. When he won't teach her, she ends up learning herself and almost being consumed by the fire just like her brother. Will Enna be able to survive the fire and help save her friends and country? Will she succumb to the enemy in a way she never could have imagined before the fire became a part of her life?
Enna's journey to self-discovery is fraught with more perils than your average person encounters in a lifetime, yet she stands up for what she believes in and does the best she can, but will it be enough to save herself and her home?
Notes on the Cover:
I know I already said that I like all three covers, but this one is by far my favorite. Enna commands your attention with a backdrop of red and gold fire behind her. I am just drawn to this cover!
Recommended To:
- Those ready to go on a journey of self-discovery with Enna
- Anyone who enjoyed the first book. I think you'll like this one even more! Enna really sticks out to me.
- Everyone!
On our shelves!
The Goose Girl
By: Shannon Hale
Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee is a Crown Princess of Kildenree who, as the oldest child, will inherit the throne from her parents when they die. Unfortunately for Ani (or Isi as she is later known) her talents of speaking to birds (particularly swans and geese) put her in her mother's bad graces. Now, her mother is not really mean or cruel to her, just a little distant to her oldest daughter. The day soon comes when Ani realizes her mother has made different plans for her than what she thought. Although she is somewhat upset, she succumbs to her mother's wishes to marry the Prince of Bayern and this is where the story really begins.
On her journey with people whom she thinks she can trust, Ani learns the hard truth that some people are just not what they seem. For the first time in her life, Ani has only herself and her wits to rely on. She survives and makes a plan, which, unfortunately isn't going to work as Ani soon realizes she needs more than just the truth to reveal her identity, save her people, and bring the perpetrators to justice. In order to create a plan and to set it in motion, Ani does something many princesses would never deem acceptable; she becomes a goose girl for the king. Ani learns the value of heard work, trust, true friendships, and powers she never knew she had, but will it be enough to save herself and her kingdom?
Hale takes the fairy tale of the same name and adds a richness, depth and complexity of characters that we don't see in the tale. This book is a riveting read that will have you sympathizing and gunning for Ani at the same time.
And for those of you who truly love Bayern, there are three more to come! Two are published (reviews will be up next!) and the fourth (Forest Born) will be out in September.
Notes on the Cover:
I have the newly issued paperbacks, which means that the first three books have a somewhat similar appearance, but with the main characters from their titles on the covers! And they look like them! (Okay, there are some slight discrepancies for me, but that's just what my imagination put in and not really the fault of the designers, as they stay true to the character descriptions). Which means I like all three!
Recommended To:
- Fairy-tale fans
- Shannon Hale fans (Book of a Thousand Days, Princess Academy)
- Those who like their heroine with some backbone, and the temerity to discover her best traits
- Everyone!
On our shelves!
Knuckleheads
By: Joan Holub
Illustrated By: Michael Slack
For those of you who love fairy tales and the ways people take them and twist them around have I found the book for you!
Knuckleheads is a book of fairy tales in which the characters are hands, feet, thumbs and noses. It is by far one of the most amusing picture-book retellings of fairy tales that I have seen in a long time! We are treated to the tales of: "Handsel & Gretel," "Handerella," "Thumbilina," and "Nose White." The tales are quite condensed, and some of them are missing some major aspects of the story, like the parents in "Handsel & Gretel, but all-in-all the book is a lot of fun. The text itself is humorous and a bit slap-stick in nature, but when you combine that with the illustrations you have a hit on your hands! Parents will probably get a little bit more of the humor than the really young kids, but it's not at a level that is unattainable. I think this is one of those books, that, if a child loves it and reads it again and again, they will get more out of it with each reading.
Also, make sure to read ALL of the text on the pages. A good example is in the "Handerella" story, where there's a sign that reads: How to be a wicked stepsister in three easy steps: 1. Step on others' feelings. 2. Step on others' toes. 3. Step on anyone who gets in your way." You may not get the humor by just reading that, but when you add in the fact that her stepsisters are feet (plus the word stepsister) you have comedic gold on your hands. I think kids will totally love the humor of this book!
Notes on the Cover:
Honestly, if I hadn't heard about this one I probably wouldn't have picked it up. The title is in red and in the very center of the cover. I find the title so distracting that the first time I looked at it I didn't even notice that the little designs in the four corners of the book had the titles and the characters of the fairy tales that are in the book. Also, the little hand-vine that surrounds the title is very interesting upon closer inspection, but I find the title itself to be the focus of my attention and it really looks like a book that boys would enjoy just by glancing at the title. (And I do think boys will like this book!)
Recommended To:
- Fairy tale rewrite lovers
- Adults, read this one aloud with your kids, or, better yet, have them read it to you!
- Everyone!
On our shelves!
The Hunger Games
By: Suzanne Collins
Oh my racing heart! I now know why everything I've read about this book raves about it and tells you to make sure you have a period of time to devour this book start to finish. I really don't know how I have managed to put it down the last couple of days!
The book is set in North America after a huge war which leaves the Capitol the victor and the districts the losers. In the Capitol everything is peachy, but in the 12 districts, things are anything but. Katniss is lucky that she and her friend Gale are able to hunt outside of the district lines without getting into too much trouble, since she provides meat for her family and other important families in her district.
The title of the book, The Hunger Games, comes from an event that is held every year. Each child in a district, ages 12 - 18 has their name entered into a drawing that occurs before the games to select the male and female representative of their district. Some, like Katniss, have their names in there multiple times, because once a month they can add their name to the drawing in order to get needed supplies for their families. When her little sister, Prim, is chosen at her very first time of eligibility, Katniss immediately offers to take her place because she knows she has a much better chance of surviving than her sister. The male chosen in this year's game is Peeta, the baker's son (and yes, this is important on more than one occasion.)
Once the kids are selected, they are taken to the Capitol to be prepared for the fight for their lives, literally. The point of the games is to have one winner, the one who survives the longest. I will say that there is killing in this book, some of it is brutal, but when it comes to survival, these young children have to make an extremely stressful decision: to kill or to be killed.
This book is a fast-paced riveting page-turner that will keep you guessing about the final outcome up until the last - so much so that I dreamed about the book last night (before I finished it)! I can pretty much guarantee you that you will want more, but will find out that this is book one and I can tell you that book 2 isn't coming out until September 1st. I, for one, can NOT wait! (And if you're like me and tend to get impatient while waiting for sequel books to come out, read this one in August so you have less time to wait!) The ending is good and solid, yet there is still a lot of information that we just don't get in the first book. I am seriously chomping at the bit here, people!
Notes on the Cover:
I love the black. It really hits home the point of the bleakness of the lives of the majority of the people in each district, also of the situation the Capitol forces on the people of the districts. The gold mockingjay pin on the cover is beautiful. I just know there is more to the story of this pin, but I just haven't totally figured it out yet, nor have I figured out why the person who gave it up did, and what their motivation was. (In this book, it's all about the hidden objectives!)
Recommended To:
- Boys and Girls! I know the main character is a girl, but honestly, the boys are going to forget all prejudices they may have towards the female protagonist as soon as they realize how feisty and smart this girl is! And girls, for those of you who love your female heroines with some attitude and gumption, you will not be disappointed!
- Adults! Oh adults with any prejudices towards "kids books" put away your prejudices and just go on the crazy ride this story will take you on!
- Everyone!
On our shelves!
Theodosia and the Staff of Osiris
By: R.L. LaFevers
I love Theodosia. She's just the right mix of spunk, smarts and knowing when to keep her mouth closed that has me on the edge of my chair every time! In this tale, Theodosia is still worried about the Serpents of Chaos and what they may be planning, but when mummies from all over London start showing up at her parents' museum, and her father is being blamed, she knows she must do something, and fast! She still thinks the Serpents of Chaos are behind it, the problem is how to prove it.
But then there's the problem of her grandmother and insisting on finding her a governess. A couple of them are really horrid examples of what a kind of an education a young girl of the early twentieth century could expect! Yikes!
In the midst of trying to fight of a governess she doesn't want (or, honestly, really need) she is assigned to catalog all of the artifacts in the catacombs (basement). When a dog-like statue springs to life, she fears for hers, but her quick-thinking manages to subdue it - until it finally submits to the job it obviously has!
After Theodosia finds a rather intriguing staff and realizes just what it is and does, Wigmere is the first person she needs to tell. That part is okay, but it's the rest of her investigation that, unfortunately, creates more problems than someone her age should have to handle - but that's also the fun of the story! An adventure waiting to happen on every page!
Notes on the Cover:
Theodosia? Check. Staff and Orb? Check. Creepy Mummies? Check. All the main elements of the story are on display in Yoko Tanaka's unique illustration. I really love it! Plus, if you can take the dust jacket off, you'll see a map on London on the actual cover of the book. Now that is exciting, as Theodosia does quite a bit of running around trying to figure out this latest mystery and avert disaster!
Recommended To:
- Everyone! I mean it! Adventure, mystery, intrigue, a smart, complicated heroine, what more do you want?
On our shelves!
Also, check out this website devoted to Theodosia!
http://www.theodosiathrockmorton.com/
The Poison Apples
By: Lily Archer
The title on this one grabbed me. It reminded me of Snow White and her evil stepmother who tries to kill her. The plot summary seemed to include this idea, so I was quite excited to read about Alice, Molly and Reena to see what their take on the classic tale would be. Unfortunately for me, it was more of a modern-day growing up and dealing with the sometimes really icky life changes that happen to you. Not that there's anything wrong with that, or even the story, but it's not what I was really expecting or looking for. If I were to judge the story on its merits rather than on my first impressions and how they were shot down, I'd say that it was a decent coming-of-age story, but the savvy reader is going to see the ending coming a mile away.
That being said, there were things that I really liked about the book: namely, the fact that we get to meet each of the girls individually. I really enjoy being able to get inside someone's head and to really see how they think and feel, and why they think and feel that particular way. Also, the stepmothers are portrayed as just being so deliciously evil that you really sympathize with the girls - until you realize you're learning about the evil stepmothers from each girl's point-of-view. Kudos to Archer for really making you feel for the girls and the experiences that they're going through.
Like I said, any reader familiar with the whole coming-of-age genre (in which you see the characters learn and grow) will see the ending coming way before you even meet the Poison Apples. That really isn't going to distract you from the heart of the story. You will find yourself rooting for each girl to really "get" her new stepmother good, but at the same time you may find yourself wondering what the stepmothers are really thinking and feeling, and why they're acting the way they are. I mean, these women are supposed to be adults and quite a bit of the time they also act like spoiled teenagers who always want to get their way. Really, if you're going to feel bad for anyone, you should be contemplating what happens to the girls' moms (well, one you find out right away, but the other girls' moms have a lot of growing and learning to do themselves, which we really don't get to see. A sequel, maybe?)
Notes on the Cover:
The cover is really what originally drew me to this book. The young girl looking behind her with the wrist and hand of your unknown villain draped in two bracelets (one gold, one pearl), the left hand with the hint of a wedding band on that all important finger, and those wicked long-red fingernails. Subtle, simple, and oh-so-intriguing!
Recommended To:
- Anyone whose family is in upheaval - sometimes reading about those in a familiar (not necessarily similar) situation can be relieving
- Those who like a little spite on the side
- Everyone!