Torched, by April Henry

Yes, I'm posting the giveaway link. Only two days left, yo. Enter here. And this is my last post today. I think. :)

Torched, by April Henry
Young Adult, 2009

Elise is a completely normal teenager with hippie-picketing-smoking-pot parents who always have a 'cause'. When the police arrest them, she makes a deal with the FBI - join/infiltrate MEDic, the environmentalist teen group, and give them the proof they need and no one will go to jail. But when things go unexpected, does she have the guts to save her family, stick up for what she believes in, and keep the guy she's fallen for?
First, the cover. It totally looks like a romance novel, but if you look closely, that's a forest burning up. Although, this is a shorter work, it deals with some interesting issues, and looks at them from both sides. For example, they torch a hummer dealership, but the pollution they caused from the fire and the sales the dealership got as a result of the media sort of nixed the work they did. The tree-sits they do only save one or two trees, and blowing up the equipment might start a forest fire, so the question is: Is violence the only way for people to stand up and pay attention to their causes? Some interesting questions, but in the end kind of 'eh'. Graded a C+.

Waiting on Wednesday: Wintergirls, by Laurie Halse Anderson

Two more days....enter the giveaway here.

A reminder that Waiting on Wednesdays are books that I have previously read and published on our family blog. For example, Wintergirls I read this past April.
I will also post a review of the book I just finished, Torched, today.

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
Teen Fiction, 2009

Wintergirls is about two teenage girls who grow up with bulimia/anorexia. Lia is the anorexic, and was 'converted' to being a skinny 'wintergirl' by her best friend Cassie, who is bulimic. Cassie dies in a hotel room one night because of binging and purging with alcohol, resulting in a rather gruesome death. They hadn't been talking for a few months since Cassie was trying to stop, but Lia didn't want to. Basically this book discusses Lia's thoughts with regard to anorexia; specifically about her desire to be skinny. At one point she realizes it doesn't matter how much she weighs, because in the end she'll always want to lose more. Zero is the ultimate goal.
This was one of the best written books I've read in a while. She just has a gift with her words, and the way she moved them around really worked, especially with such a dramatic subject. She does have a thing with swearing - I just feel like it's such a horrible thing to add to teen literature. The last thing a teenager needs is help releasing more anger. There is one f-word, so I am officially not recommending it to anyone since I absolutely hate that word. It's also so depressing for most of the book, so most people wouldn't want to read it anyways.

I do also feel there were a couple things she could have done differently. 1. Cassie's mom begs Lia to come over. For comfort, and to tell her and explain to her why her daughter did this. Lia never returns her phone calls and never even has the guts to say hi to her. I think that's really horrible. If nothing else, Cassie's mom would have at least been able to understand and mourn with her. 2. I hate the guy. He's such a jerk. And the thing is, Lia has no friends in the whole book. NOT ONE. So, the guy needed to be a great guy, or she needed to go to Cassie's mom. But someone needed to be a friend. Because in the real world, there is always someone to help and who cares.
Ok, I'll stop with my tirade. Graded ...B-.

Waiting on Wednesday: The Magic Thief Series, by Sarah Prineas

Watch out - I'm going to do one more Waiting on Wednesday since this is juvenile and....I want to. :)
Only two days left to enter our giveaway - you can do that here.

The Magic Thief, by Sarah Prineas
Juvenile Fiction, 2007

Conn is a thief and street brat in the 'bad' part of town, when Nevery (an exiled wizard) comes back to save the city from the loss of magic. While trying to steal from Nevery, he is caught and becomes his apprentice.
This one was a keeper. The characters are for the most part well-developed, and the ideas work. Prineas isn't the best writer (I can only hope she got better with the sequel and will continue to do better as a writer should), but her plots are great. They move at a nice smooth pace and as long as she doesn't stop to pontificate about magic (she does a couple times...) it's a fun ride. Graded a B.





The Magic Thief: Lost, by Sarah Prineas
Juvenile Fiction, 2009 (and I believe there is at least one more for the series in the making. I DO know that Prineas has a 3 more book contract. I don't think all of them will be in this series, but...it happens.)

Although Conn has defeated the villains who tried to suck the magic out of the city, a further and scarier problem has appeared. Shadows, made of nothing more than smoke and a purple eye, can overcome any person, turning them into stone and killing them. Between looking for another locus magicalicus, speaking his new ideas about magic, and trying to stop the Shadows, it's going to be hard to even stay alive in this second book in the Magic Thief Trilogy.
Lost was just as good as the first book, which is impressive since Prineas was no doubt under a deadline. It starts off with a bang (literally) and keeps going. Although there are parts about the plot of book one that I enjoyed better, this one will keep you on your toes and reading through the late hours so you can hurry and find out how it ends. Graded B+.

Terrific Authors on Tuesdays: Patricia Wrede

Before we get to Patricia Wrede, I thought I'd post a picture of the 'half' for you all. After all, he doesn't get to post his reviews. (Although I can tell you his favorite author so far is Richard Scarry.) Ok. Now that you've oohed and ahhed, get over here and enter our giveaway. :)

Enjoying an Oreo shake. Note the pursed lips. And the question in his eyes: "more?".
Oreo shakes are actually quite easy - about 3 oreos per blender-full of vanilla icecream.


Patricia Wrede has been publishing books since the early 1980s, and while some of her books are well known - Sorcery and Cecelia and the Enchanted Forest Chronicles, you may not know most of her other books. She's an author that I can read over and over, and when a new book comes out, I always read it.
A list of books and my grades (sorry, Trackgeek is working hard):

Lyra Series - out of print, and hard to find in used book stores. Amazon is your best bet. I've read none of these, but would love to get my hands on them.
1. Shadow Magic (1982)
2. Daughter of Witches (1983)
3.The Harp of Imach Thyssel (1985)
4. Caught in Crystal (1987)
5. The Raven Ring (1994)
Shadows over Lyra (omnibus) (1997)

Enchanted Forest Series (juvenile) - all still in print and easily accessible.
1. Dragonsbane (aka Dealing with Dragons) (1990) - A
2. Searching for Dragons (aka Dragon Search) (1991) - A-
3. Calling on Dragons (1993) - B+
4. Talking to Dragons (1984) - B
The Enchanted Forest Chronicles (omnibus) (1995)

Cecelia and Kate Series (young adult)- all still in print and easily accessible.
The story about how the first book came about is fun - it's included in Sorcery and Cecilia. Basically they started writing letters to each other creating a story. It sounds like so much fun to do if you have a 'writing buddy'.
1. Sorcery and Cecilia: or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot (1988) (with Caroline Stevermer) - A
2. The Grand Tour (2004) (with Caroline Stevermer) - B
3.The Mislaid Magician: or Ten Years After (2006) (with Caroline Stevermer) - I haven't read this one.
Magicians of Quality (omnibus) (2005)

Mairelon the Magician Series (juvenile/young adult/adult)- Mairelon the Magician is still in print, but the Magician's Ward is awkwardly enough not. Which is frustrating! My library has a very old copy which is how I finally got to read it.
Mairelon the Magician (1991) - B+
The Magician's Ward (1997) - A-

Frontier Magic Series (young adult)- not only still in print, but only the first book has been written so far. Look for the others in the next few years - news about what's happening as of the last few months can be found on her blog, here.
Thirteenth Child (2009) - I must confess, this was a Failed to Finish. I'll probably give it another shot, but it just didn't live up to her other books for me.

Novels
The Seven Towers (young adult) (1984) - just reprinted, so you can get a pb copy for 8.99 new or of course scrounge for an older copy. I own this, so I'm saving it to read on holiday vacation.
Snow White and Rose Red (young adult) (1989) - just reprinted in the last couple of years, so it's pretty easy to find a copy of this as well. - B+
Book of Enchantments (juvenile) (1996) - this is also available, and I own it but haven't read it all the way through yet. It's short stories based on the Enchanted Forest setting.

Patricia Wrede has also contributed to the Star Wars series in the form of junior novelizations. You can find these in the juvenile section. You can also find her works in Annual Best Fantasy Collections - the 1st, 2nd, and 10th editions.

Like Patricia Wrede's books? May I suggest these authors:
Lillian Stewart Carl
Robin McKinley
Tamora Pierce
Sharon Shinn
Jane Yolen
Caroline Stevermer
Garth Nix
For more information, visit Patricia Wrede's blog here.

A Sweet Disorder, by Jacqueline Kolosov

And yet again....(I'll only do this through Thursday) don't forget our giveaway here. Thanks!

A Sweet Disorder, by Jacqueline Kolosove
Young Adult, 2009

When Miranda's father dies, her mother marries another man, her brother inherits a huge amount of debt, and she is entailed to the care of a woman whose goal is to marry her off to the horrible Lord Seagrave. As she makes her entrance in Queen Elizabeth's court, she becomes well known for her sewing and embroidery skills - but is it enough to earn her independence? And of course, what of Henry Raleigh, the man she had once hoped to marry?
Well...it's definitely better than the Red Queen by the same author, although I was still pretty disappointed. She goes to court and shows off her sewing skills, but...nothing really ever comes from it. You never find out why her mom remarried, and the ending is a bit much. I did like how it ended with Henry. I didn't like Queen Elizabeth in this book. She seemed like the type of woman you had to tiptoe around. Whether that was true or not, I don't know, but in Kolosov's previous book it didn't feel that way. So, my biggest problem with the book is that none of the characters felt particularly likeable. Graded a C+.

No Memory Monday today - too much to do. Trackgeek is getting ready to run at the St. George Marathon on Saturday. He's reading the Red Necklace, and just finished the last Percy Jackson book. I'm reading Torched and have a huge pile to dig into as well.
Happy Monday!

Banned Book Week - What have you read?

FIRST of all, seriously. If you haven't heard by now, we have an awesome giveaway. It ends on Thursday, October 1st, so get over here and enter!

For Banned Book week, I thought I'd list the classics that have been banned or at least challenged. Then I found this top 100 banned/challenged book list by the Radcliffe Publishing Company. Click here to see only a list of the classics that are banned and why/how that happened.
We've included grades next to them (T = Trackgeek, R = Raspberry), and some notes if necessary. Of course, we haven't read everything. Well, we try - it's embarrassing how many we haven't read, but keep in mind we probably have read other books by these authors. Feel free to take this list and do the same...or just comment and tell us any opinions you're just dying to spill.

1. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
R - This is hard to grade because I love the writing, but hate the story. So..in a compromise, graded a B+.
T - It's been too long since I've read it, but perhaps a B.
2. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
T - It used to be an A-, but lately after rereading it, I'd give it a B+.
3. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
R - I don't remember much, except that I was bored out of my mind in high school. So, years later going on what I roughly remember....graded a B?
T - An A-.
4. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
R - Solid A.
T - An A.
5. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
R - It has been too long - I can't possibly remember enough to grade it.
6. Ulysses by James Joyce
7. Beloved by Toni Morrison
8. The Lord of the Flies by William Golding
T - An A-.
9. 1984 by George Orwell
R - Incredible, but I must confess I was bothered by a few things, enough to put it down. Even still, it was so good up to that point that it's a B+.
10. The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner
11. Lolita by Vladmir Nabokov
12. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
R - I absolutely loath this book.
13. Charlotte's Web by E. B. White
R - An A-.
T - An A.
14. A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce
R - B+.
15. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
16. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
17. Animal Farm by George Orwell
R - Also not a fan of this one.
18. The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
T - A B+. Best Hemingway I've read.
19. As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
20. A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
T - People making repetitive dumb choices, so a C.
21. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
22. Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne
R - Definitely an A.
23. Their Eyes are Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
T - Did NOT like this book. A C-.
24. Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
R - An A-, although it is a bit graphic for a teenager.
T - About a B+.
25. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
26. Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
R - An A-.
27. Native Son by Richard Wright
T - An F.
28. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
29. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
30. For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway
31. On the Road by Jack Kerouac
32. The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
R - An F. I'm sorry, I know everyone loves this. I couldn't stand it.
33. The Call of the Wild by Jack London
R - It's been a long time, so I can't honestly give it a grade, but I know I like it a lot.
34. To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
35. Portrait of a Lady by Henry James
36. Go Tell it on the Mountain by James Baldwin
37. The World According to Garp by John Irving
38. All the King's Men by Robert Penn Warren
39. A Room with a View by E. M. Forster
R - An A-, but only after I read it a second time.
40. The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien
R - An A, of course.
T - An A.
41. Schindler's List by Thomas Keneally
42. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
R - I thought it was an A-, but then I found out what most people think the symbolism is and what they guy was thinking....and then didn't like it so much.
43. The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
44. Finnegans Wake by James Joyce
45. The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
R - Well, a B? B-?
46. Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
47. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
R - An enjoyable book, probably a B, but as a kid you like it more.
48. Lady Chatterley's Lover by D. H. Lawrence
49. A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
50. The Awakening by Kate Chopin
R - I swing back and forth on this one. Sometimes it's an A-, sometimes it's a B-. Anyone got a solid grade for it?
51. My Antonia by Willa Cather
R - Never quite finished it, so don't feel qualified to grade it.
T - An A-, it was a very good book.
52. Howards End by E. M. Forster
R - I tried. OH I tried. Ended up watching the movie - which I still didn't quite get.
53. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
54. Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger
55. The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie
56. Jazz by Toni Morrison
57. Sophie's Choice by William Styron
58. Absalom, Absalom! by William Faulkner
59. A Passage to India by E. M. Forster
60. Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton
61. A Good Man Is Hard to Find by Flannery O'Connor
R - Very good, definitely an A/A-, it's hard to pin down because it's been a couple years.
62. Tender Is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald
63. Orlando by Virginia Woolf
64. Sons and Lovers by D. H. Lawrence
65. Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe
66. Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut
67. A Separate Peace by John Knowles
68. Light in August by William Faulkner
69. The Wings of the Dove by Henry James
R - It's James. No matter how good the writing and the plot, in the end it's hard to read 700 pages of 'what was he thinking about'. But this one I'd give a B+.
70. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
R - Very good, a B+.
71. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
R - Not done yet, got side-tracked by books I don't own - interesting movie.
72. A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
R - B-. I was mostly bored.
T - An A-, the first one is the best.
73. Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs
74. Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh
75. Women in Love by D. H. Lawrence
76. Look Homeward, Angel by Thomas Wolfe
77. In Our Time by Ernest Hemingway
78. The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas by Gertrude Stein
79. The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett
R - An A-. Watch out for some swearing.
T - I have it checked out with the Thin Man from the Library.
80. The Naked and the Dead by Norman Mailer
81. Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys
82. White Noise by Don DeLillo
83. O Pioneers! by Willa Cather
84. Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller
85. The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells
R - Fun, especially when you know some background about it. B/B+.
86. Lord Jim by Joseph Conrad
R - sigh. I'm not a fan of Conrad. But...this one isn't so bad that I hated it. So, B.
87. The Bostonians by Henry James
88. An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser
89. Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather
90. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
R - Definitely an A.
91. This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald
R - I've read it, but I don't remember it well enough to grade.
92. Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
93. The French Lieutenant's Woman by John Fowles
94. Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis
95. Kim by Rudyard Kipling
96. The Beautiful and the Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald
97. Rabbit, Run by John Updike
98. Where Angels Fear to Tread by E. M. Forster
99. Main Street by Sinclair Lewis
100. Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie

R = 32.
T = 13.

A Northern Light, by Jennifer Donnelly

If you haven't already, enter our amazing giveaway here!


A Northern Light, by Jennifer Donnelly
Young Adult, 2003 (Printz Honor Book)

In this sweet story that takes place during 1906, Mattie Gokey lives in upstate New York, caring for her family after her mother has passed away. More than anything she'd like to go to college to learn more about literature. She reads voraciously and always has a word of the day she pulls out of the dictionary. At the same time, a young girl is found drowned in the local lake, and Mattie feels very conscious of the letters this girl asked her to burn - would reading them help solve the mystery of who the man with her was? With friends like Weaver, Minnie, her teacher, and even Royal, she learns a lot about what she really wants out of life - even if it isn't the easiest way.
I absolutely loved this book. It was very well written; some sentences just tasted so good you had to read them again. There are a few thematic scenes (i.e. discovering just who is getting the local widow with seven kids pregnant over and over, saying no to Royal despite his advances, Minnie's birth of twins and subsequent meltdown...) that are not appropriate for too young of an age, although for the most part I don't think a teenager from today would sit down long enough to read a slower book like this. Graded an A-.

Failed to Finish Friday: Warbreaker, Brandon Sanderson

If you haven't already, enter our amazing giveaway here!

Warbreaker, by Brandon Sanderson
Adult, 2009

Since I couldn't finish it, here is the summary from Amazon.com:
To keep a treaty made long ago, the king of Idris must send his daughter to marry Susebron, the God King of Hallandren. Loath to part with his eldest daughter, Vivenna, King Dedelin instead sends his youngest daughter, tomboyish 17-year-old Siri, who struggles to make sense of the schemers and spies in Susebron's court. Hoping to rescue her sister, Vivenna joins a group of Idrian operatives with questionable motives. As Vivenna comes to terms with her magical abilities, resurrected hero Lightsong questions the role of the undead Returned Gods, who command Hallandren's mighty army of zombie soldiers.
Ok, I only picked this book up because I loved Elantris and thoroughly enjoyed the first Mistborn book. When I started it, I did enjoy the opening scene, and then the whole idea of a younger daughter taking the older's place was intriguing. However, the more I learned about the 'magic' in this book, the more confused I was. It seemed weird and abstract, and I couldn't get a grasp on what was really going on in Hallandren, so...I gave up. After all, it's a big fat book, so it didn't take much convincing. If someone out there tells me it's completely worth retrying, then I would, but for now it's a Failed to Finish.
I do entirely recommend Elantris for any of you that can stand a bit of Sci-Fi.

Guest Blogger Review: The Codex Series, by Jim Butcher

If you haven't already, enter our amazing giveaway here!

Opa (Jim) is not only a book aficionado, but my dad as well. He emailed me about this series when he read our favorite series post, and was so complimentary that I thought I'd post it for you all.

Codex Alera Series, by Jim Butcher
Adult, 2004 - still being published
First book: Furies of Calderon

“Codex Alera series (the 6^th book gets published in the next few months) gets an ‘A’. The protagonist and his love interest are the most intriguing I’ve encountered. The magic is believable and Butcher has the ability to develop characters through story rather than character descriptions. The cultures he develops are second to none – some aren’t human and you still care. Edge of your seat stuff."

And there you have it!
Meanwhile, Trackgeek is reading The Red Necklace, and finishing up the Percy Jackson series. I'm (Raspberry) getting ready to read Sacred Stars (sequel to Skin Hunger) and The Sweet Disorder, but I do have the Silver Blade on my shelf. However, since I own it, I'm considering taking it with me on vacation in November....we'll see if I can wait that long.

The Magician's Elephant, by Kate DiCamillo

If you haven't already, enter the giveaway, here!

The Magician's Elephant, by Kate DiCamillo
Juvenile, 2009

Peter is an orphan being raised by a soldier, who one day sends him for some bread (the moldier the better - it'll make a man out of you) and some fish (as small as possible - as a soldier you don't eat much). Instead of getting the food, however, he decides to spend the one coin on the fortune-teller, who will answer one question. And so he finds out that his sister is alive, and if he wants to find her, he must follow the elephant.
At the same time, a magician who fully intends to make only a bouquet of lilies appear, instead makes an elephant drop through the ceiling...
A fun idea, and a short book, I started it completely thrilled with the characters and the plot idea. However, things got a little weird for me as the coincidences and the ending just....well, a bit off. I think, perhaps, this is one of those books children will love, but when they get older, scratch their head and go, 'huh'. So, for children, two thumbs up, way to go Kate. But for me, I'm afraid I'm grading it a B-.

Giveaway: The Hunger Games and Double Identity

I thought I'd do a giveaway in time for the beginning of fall, also timing it so that there's enough of a break before I do a Halloween giveaway.
Since this is my first giveaway, there's going to be the option of getting more entries. (Since I'm not firmly established in the book blog world just yet. :)

The first book for the giveaway is.....

The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins

This is a hardback copy in perfect condition, bought when it was still 'just out'. Stephenie Meyer had just posted her review of it, so I decided to try it out. My review of it is here. It's graded a little low, but I think that's a personal preference, not a reflection on the writing. So many people are giving away copies of Catching Fire, I thought some people might want a copy of Hunger Games.



The second book for the giveaway (and so you have a choice), is...

Double Identity, by Margaret Haddix

This is also a hardback copy in perfect condition, but it is by Scholastic, so it's got the red logo on the spine.
I read this book about a year ago, but have never reviewed it. Just remember it's for juvenile readers - and if there's one thing Haddix excels at, it's that she completely tailors her books for the appropriate age group. You can read the synopsis at fantastic fiction here.


Ok...now, how do you enter?
Leave a comment, with a way to contact you. Also let me know which book you'd pick, and if you can't have your first choice, if you'd still be interested in the other one.

For more entries:
+2 if you were already a follower
+1 for becoming a follower
+1 for each time you post about me on your blog. (i.e. sidebar, blogpost, etc.) Leave a link and tell me where to look.
+1 For commenting on the Hunger Games review - tell me what YOU thought of the book and why. I realize most people really love this book, of course, but tell me why, and don't worry about offending me - I'm harsh on my book reviews, that's all.
+2 For writing a review on The Red Necklace, by Sally Gardner and emailing it to me [rae_sunshine4(at)yahoo.com] - then next week we'll post a multiple-review of the book, including Trackgeek's. (finally) You don't have to include a synopsis.

The contest ends October 1st, but I won't tally up and choose one until the 2nd, when I get online and figure it all out. and P.S. Yes, this time we will ship internationally, but I can't guarantee that for all our future giveaways.
Thanks!

Duo Book and Movie Review: The Ruby in the Smoke, by Philip Pullman

We've decided to review The Ruby in the Smoke because we've both read the book, probably multiple times, but the movie we just saw a couple of days ago.


The Ruby in the Smoke, by Philip Pullman
YA/Adult, 1985

On the event of her father's death, Sally goes to live with her Aunt, who treats her as though she is a nuisance and a child. Receiving an odd letter about her father's death, she meets with his solicitors. There she accidentally causes a man's death, starting a chain reaction where the end results could be fatal. Slowly events start to unravel the mystery - a Major Marchbanks, a friendly photographer and his sister, a notebook with a cipher, the evil Mrs. Holland and her opium den, and of course, the infamous Ruby. Set against the backdrop of the opium trade, this story will keep you reading long into the night.
My one caution is that although this is YA, there are a few adult themes, and a significant amount of opium use in the book. Adults tend to prefer the book over YA for the most part anyways.
Ryan: Graded an A-
Raspberry: Graded an A-
movie - B-
movie - C+
The Ruby in the Smoke, 2006

The movie follows the book's plot quite well, but shoves it all into 127 minutes. Because of that, the relationships between the characters aren't always fleshed out, and the characters themselves seem a little stunted. Our biggest beef was the casting. Neither of us are fans of Billie Piper, but when Hayley Atwell came on, well, she basically stole the show. She should definitely have been Sally Lockhart, and would have done a great job. Pictured below is Billie Piper as Sally Lockhart (front and center) with J.J. Feild as the photographer friend and his sister (Hayley Atwell). You may have seen Feild in the Northanger Abbey recently released. In the end, both of us were pretty disappointed, but after you read the book, try it out for yourself, and let us know how you liked it. :)
Trackgeek: Graded a B-
Raspberry:Graded a C+



Neither of us have read the sequels to the book. Here they are in the right order:
The Ruby in the Smoke (1985)
The Shadow in the North (1986) - also a movie made of this one as well, with the same actors.
The Tiger in the Well (1990)
The Tin Princess (1994)

Favorite Series

Angieville posted her Favorite Mystery Series today, and I thought I'd do the same...but with a twist. I don't usually enjoy series at all. In fact, I've read more 'first books' than just about anybody, but almost no seconds. So I thought since I'm pretty picky about my series, that I'd just post general favorites. Genres are listed so you know what to expect, and I've included some of Trackgeek's favorites as well. (He's completely a series kind of guy.) (Note: Not included are completely obvious ones like LOTR or Chronicles of Narnia, etc.)
Enjoy!

Raspberry:

Theodosia Throckmorton, by R.L. LaFevers
Egyptian Mystery, Juvenile
(still on-going)

Enola Holmes, by Nancy Springer
Historical Mystery, Juvenile
(still on-going)

Hercule Poirot or Miss Marple, by Agatha Christie
Adult Mystery

Skulduggery Pleasant, by Derek Landy
Fantasy Mystery, Juvenile/YA
(still on-going)

Gilda Joyce, by Jennifer Allison
Mystery, Juvenile/YA
(still on-going)

Alex Rider, Anthony Horowitz
Action/Adventure, Any (I've seen these books in Juvenile, YA, AND Adult)

Harry Dresden, Jim Butcher
Fantasy Mystery, Adult
(still on-going)

Ranger's Apprentice, John Flanagan
Fantasy, Juvenile
(still on-going)

The Seer and the Sword Trilogy, by Victoria Hanley
Fantasy, YA

Enchanted Forest Chronicles, Patricia Wrede
Fantasy, Juvenile/YA

Marilon the Magician Duo, Patricia Wrede
Fantasy, YA

Trackgeek:

Bartimaeus Trilogy, by Jonathan Stroud
Fantasy, YA

Mortal Engines, by Phillip Reeve
Fantasy, YA
(prequel to be released 2010)

Margaret Truman
Mysteries, Adult

Atherton, by Patrick Carman
Fantasy, YA
(final book just released)

39 Clues, Various
Mystery, Juvenile
(still on-going)

Westmark Trilogy, Lloyd Alexander
Fantasy, Juvenile

What About Wednesdays? Declaration, by Gemma Malley

I realize this is two What About Wednesdays, but I wanted to do Bewitching Season in honor of the release of Betraying Season. And I thought you'd all enjoy this book as well:
(Both were read in February of this year.)

Declaration, by Gemma Malley
Young Adult, 2007

Anna is a 'surplus'. Longevity drugs have been introduced, and people can option to live forever as long as they sign saying they will not have children. Any children produced result in imprisonment and their children are 'surplus' and sent to a special school. There they learn to hate their parents for bringing them into the world, they learn their place (think pond scum), and learn just enough skills to be little more than slaves to the rest of society.
I really enjoyed this book. It raises a philosophical question - would you choose to live for ever, or would you opt out of that option in order to have children? The catch is, you have to opt out by 16 - but who really knows what they want at that age? In the end, this book almost ends up being a psychological study because of the progress of Anna - how she evolves from thinking herself of no consequence and a 'surplus' to realizing her worth. Grade A-.

What About Wednesdays? Bewitching Season, by Marissa Doyle

Bewitching Season, by Marissa Doyle
Young Adult, 2008

Twins Penelope and Persephone are having a season in London, filled with magic and kidnappings, and matchmaking.
This is a cute book and a little along the lines of Sorcery and Cecilia. A fun book to read, it did go a little fast in some parts and slow in others. However it was a lot of fun, with more books to come. Graded B+.

Climbing the Stairs, by Padma Venkatraman

Climbing the Stairs
by Padma Venkatraman

In British-ruled India, Vidya and her family experience the violent effects of World War II and Ghandhiji's non-violence revolution. While she is forced to live in a very traditional Indian home, her family and her ideas change as she grows.
An excellent story about learning to think for yourself, loving those around you unconditionally, and the on-going struggle of violent versus non-violent war. Very similar to Gloria Whelan's style, this book is excellently done. My only request was for recipes of the traditional Indian food Vidya ate throughout the book, as well as a glossary of sorts explaining all of the feasts and celebrations.
Graded an A-.

Failed to Finish Friday: (on Tuesday) Once A Witch, by Carolyn MacCullough

I realize that many people who've read this book may gasp in horror that this was a 'Failed to Finish' for me. I promise I have valid reasons.


Once A Witch, by Carolyn MacCullough

Tamsin is supposed to be the most talented of all the witches in her family. However, her Talent never appears, and she instead craves the normal life of a teenager to match. Working in her family's book shop one day, she meets a man who asks her to find a clock lost in the late 1800s. Flattered by his attention, she agrees to do so, but in the process releases a deadly power.

Three strikes:
1. She smokes. I realize this is more of a rebellious thing to do, an 'I want to be an individual' kind of thing, but it's disgusting and not a good message to teens.
2. She drinks and goes to bars with a fake id. How is this ok? I don't care if she's a senior in high school, it still bothers me and again I feel like the last thing teens need is a bad example.
3. Time travel. And this is where people might get mad at me. I'm sorry, I just have an incredibly hard time wrapping my head around time travel. Typically I can't finish a book if it has it in it.

That said. I probably would have finished the book if even one of those strikes weren't there, but I think when reading it's a good way to ensure you don't read a book and walk away totally hating that you spent your time on it.

The Amaranth Enchantment, by Julie Berry

Amaranth Enchantment, by Julie Berry
Young Adult, 2009

Lucinda works in a goldsmith shop for her aunt and uncle as little more than a servant. Once the wealthy daughter of a merchant, she has lost everything. By chance she encounters the famous Amaranth witch, the prince, spiraling into an adventure involving a large jewel, a lost fortune, and an evil man....who may be immortal.
This book started out fascinating, but ended just a little off...perhaps just slightly weird and over the top with magic. I would have liked to see more details with regards to the characters and their interaction - it seemed a bit rushed. However, it does end right (if a little quick and off center), and overall was a fun read. Graded B.

General Winston's Daughter, by Sharon Shinn

General Winston's Daughter, by Sharon Shinn
Young Adult, 2009

Averie is visiting Chiarrin, a country her father (General Winston) has helped conquer. At 18, she is young and naive about politics and war, and is more excited about meeting up with her fiance. Wealthy and pampered, she spends her first few weeks enjoying shopping and the 'pet idea' of integrating herself into Chiarrin clothing, food, and society. After an honest Lieutenant shares with her 'new' ideas, she finds herself questioning everything she's been taught and grown up with - even her love for her fiance.
Shinn has created an imaginary world that could easily double for the great countries of the 19th century....England, America, Spain...etc. Instead, however, she's created the new countries with different cultures that are fascinating to learn about and easy to love. What bothered me is how despite how much Averie does end up being involved with Chiarrin's unrest, she doesn't do much other than shop and gossip for most of the book. I expected more, I guess, from the different ideas spouting from her mouth at dinner than talk. The ending is a bit, well, like jumping into a pool, but it does end happy. Other than my beef with the main character, I liked it well enough. Graded a B.

Storm Glass, by Maria V. Snyder

Storm Glass, by Maria V. Snyder
Adult Fiction, 2008

Opal Cowan is a glass maker, whose abilities to infuse magic in her pieces make her both useful to the country's magicians, and a student at the magician's training school. Her unique abilities seem small next to those with traditional power, but she is called on over and over to use her abilities to solve a variety of problems, including the Stormdancer's breaking orbs. While on these missions, she learns her abilities are much stronger and dangerously useful than she thought, and everyone is not who she thinks they are.
Overall, an interesting plot, but I was completely distracted by both the stop/start jumpiness of the book, and the onslaught of half a dozen plots. They do all come together in the end, but while reading them it made the book seem incredibly long and over done. Also, Opal is supposed to be 19, but frequently acts 15, and numerous references are made to Yelena and the Magic Study trilogy that Snyder has previously published. This was frustrating, because I felt this book should be a whole new idea, and not dependent on a previous book. I enjoyed Poison Study, the first book that Snyder wrote but felt she lacked the same focus for this book. Graded a B-.

Memory Monday: North and South, by Elizabeth Gaskell

In honor of this first Memory Monday, I'm reviewing my all-time favorite book ever. I'm also reviewing the movie as well, because it is also excellent. For Sunday's review of Genesis, see here.



North and South, by Elizabeth Gaskell
Adult Fiction, 1855
(*Originally published in serial by Household Words, ed. by Charles Dickens.)

When Margaret Hale and her family move from the lush, beautiful South to the industrial, working North, she is shocked at the change of lifestyle, the poverty of the workers, and the attitudes of the managers/owners of the mills there. Over time, she begins to understand the North, while the manager and love interest, John Thornton, starts to appreciate her and the differences that make her worth having.
An incredibly moving tale, North and South is what I would call a deeper and more profound version of Pride and Prejudice. It deals with issues of the day, and the understanding that develops between not just Margaret and John, but the workers and managers, her father and his beliefs, and others. Also a wonderful love story, it is worth reading over and over again. Graded an A+.
For more information on Elizabeth Gaskell, please refer to this short biography.



North and South, BBC, 2004

Based on the book by Elizabeth Gaskell, this movie is, in a few words, the equivalent of a serious Pride and Prejudice. Don't expect laughter, but do expect incredible acting, beautiful characterization, and of course, a great love story. The casting is well done - you'll throw out Colin Firth once you meet Richard Armitage, and to top it off, the music is beautiful. A favorite to watch over and over. Graded A+.
Check out IMDB's information here.

Genesis, by Bernard Beckett

Genesis, by Bernard Beckett
Adult Fiction, 2006 (first published in Great Britain/U.S. 2009)

The entire book (which is only 150 short pages) was written while Beckett was at a research fellowship investigating DNA mutations. It's easy to see how this book could have been fleshed out into a 500 page tome, but instead he kept it to more of a short-story format. The story is built on an interview Anaximander has for entrance into the Academy. Her expertise is the life of Adam - a man that is said to have changed the entire course of humanity. As the examination and Adam's life unfolds, hidden truths emerge, and she realizes her humanity is intricately tied to Adam's.
A fascinating read, moral dilemmas and philosophical topics are ingrained throughout. Even the irony at the revealed twist in the end brings a debate, all tied to the same question: What is humanity? Great for a book club and definitely one you want to talk about. Beware, as it has the F word in an acronym once, and plenty of the sh word. Graded a B+, although I seriously considered giving it an A-. I didn't because I don't think I'd want it on my shelf for the swearing - I have a thing against the F word, but really it was quite good.

The 'Half'

A bit of confusion has been expressed over the 'half', so I thought I'd post a picture of him today, since we have no Failed Fridays to review:

Brushing his hair.



He truly loves to read. Here he is with his Da-dee, (Trackgeek) reading Richard Scarry.

Sorry, no reviews today. But I am currently reading A Northern Light, by Jennifer Donnolly, and Once A Witch by MacCullough. (Hope I got those names right.)
Have a great weekend, everybody!

Duo Review: Revenge of the Witch, by Joseph Delaney

Typically Trackgeek and I enjoy the same books. However, we usually grade slightly different - he usually gives a book a higher grade. Duo Reviews on Thursdays was created to 1) give Trackgeek more times to review (he is getting a PhD and doesn't do them a lot), and 2) show you are grading differences. In this case, however, we graded the same! :)


Revenge of the Witch (The Last Apprentice series), by Joseph Delaney
Juvenile, 2005

12-year-old Thomas, seventh son of a seventh son, is apprenticed to the local Spook, whose job is to fight evil spirits and witches. Thomas is forced to use his wits, and the help of his new friend, Alice, to fight an evil witch. But defeating her is only the start of Thomas's problems.

Trackgeek: Over all The Revenge of the Witch is dark. There is no other way to put it. Now, not quite to the level of disturbing as say a horror film (which I cannot stand), but it still seems to be set in a rather dark place with the ominous becoming worse in the future. The book was well written and the plot moved quickly. Over all I would have to say that I do want to read the next books, but mostly because you know that there is more to come based on the outcome of the first novel. The apprentice motif reminds me of Flanagan’s Ranger’s Apprentice series, but it is very different and I would have to say geared to a very different audience. Grade: B.

Raspberry: This book is way too scary to be in juvenile - in fact, when I recommended it to Trackgeek, I told him not to read it at night. Incredibly dark, I would only recommend it to those who have a penchant for scary stories - and can handle them. Still, the writing was decent, the plot was well done, and while I can't bring myself to read the rest of the series, I'm willing to bet they're also quite good. Graded a B.

The Hollow, by Jessica Verday

A busy post day, I suggest looking over Waiting on Wednesday and our BBAW interview.


The Hollow, by Jessica Verday
Young Adult, 2009

When Abbey's best friend Kristen is drowned, she feels incredibly alone as she mourns her and goes through the motions of recovering from grief. Rumors abound about Kristen's death, and when she finds a diary that reveals more she feels compelled to find out what really happened. A secretive young man, Caspian, shows up and starts to fill the void created by Kristen - but he has secrets of his own that test what Kristen knows about herself, her town of Sleepy Hollow, and even her sanity.
I was completely intrigued to read this book when I saw it offered mystery, danger, and a little romance. However, I soon found The Hollow didn't quite live up to expectations. There were twice as many words as were needed to tell the story - I wanted to take a pen and start crossing them out. The mystery is cut short in the middle and not only do you never find out what happened; Abbey doesn't either. There were a couple of inconsistences, and although I read them a couple times to try and make it fit, I just couldn't (for those of you that've read it, going to the old couple's house to deliver the Christmas gifts, and Caspian's streak being in the newspaper picture). I did enjoy Abbey's personality - despite her faults, she was helpful, kind, and truly tried hard to be a good kid. It was an interesting plot idea, although the ending drove me absolutely nuts. Graded a C.

What About Wednesdays? Mortal Engines, by Phillip Reeve

Enjoy our first What About Wednesdays - reviews from our family blog reposted. This review was done by Trackgeek only about 2 weeks ago.
Also, in honor of Blog Appreciation week, we have a self-interview below.


Mortal Engines, by Philip Reeve
Young Adult, 2001

Set in the future after much of the world as we know it has been destroyed by war and the continents have shifted, cities have survived by going on the move. They abide by the principles of Municipal Darwinism, larger cities eat smaller ones and the earth is carved to bits by the gigantic treads the cities. The Great Hunting Ground (Europe) is being depleted just as London crosses the land bridge and comes out of hiding in what used to be the British Isles and heads straight across Europe. What reason can they have for this bold move? How will the traction cities survive against the Anti-Traction League? A young Historian onboard London finds himself in the midst of a grand and dangerous adventure as the scary and uncontrollable Old Tech (our era and that after ours) is found and utilized.
A compelling read. I would recommend for high school aged kids and up, especially as the series progresses. I enjoyed all of them, but was a little disappointed in the last of the four. (They are in order Mortal Engines, Predator's Gold, Infernal Devices and A Darkling Plain.) A well told story with a good deal of tongue in cheek about our own generation and the technology that we use. For a similar good read by the author but for a younger audience try his Larklight books which are also a great read. Grade: Mortal Engines A-.

Book Blogger Appreciation Week

Do you snack while you read? If so, favorite reading snack?

Neither of us typically snack while reading, but every once in a while I find myself munching something - which would always have chocolate in it. Last night I had some dessert tea.

Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of

writing in books horrify you?

No - but if a book is thought-provoking and profound, like Les Mis or Anna Karenina, then yes, I've highlighted several passages.

How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ears? Laying the book flat open?

Library books are layed inside down by both of us. If we own them they're bookmarked. We try to stay on top of bookmarking library books, since I was previously a librarian....

Fiction, Non-fiction, or both?

Fiction for us both.

Hard copy or audiobooks?

Neither of us like audiobooks at all, but we've listened to a couple of Agatha Christie's on long car rides before.

Are you a person who tends to read to the end of chapters, or are you able to put a book down at any point?

Most of the time both of us have to be torn away from a book. Just the other day I was in the kitchen and had to come out and tell trackgeek that his child had closed himself in the bedroom and wanted out. He looked up from his book with a confused expression on his face. :)

If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop to look it up right away?

No. I grew up with a word fiend, and I think for the most part both of us get it from the reading.

What are you currently reading?

A Northern Light, by Jennifer Donnelly (Raspberry - although I read The Hollow last night instead)
Just finished A True and Faithful Narrative, by Katherine Sturtevant (trackgeek)

What is the last book you bought?

For my birthday, trackgeek bought me the third book in the Skulduggery Pleasant series, The Faceless Ones, by Derek Landy

Are you the type of person that only reads one book at a time or can you read more than one at a time?

Trackgeek reads one at a time, period. I tend to read a couple at a time, plus I forget that I've already started book and go to the shelf to find another.... :)

Do you have a favorite time of day and/or place to read

Trackgeek reads whenever he gets a moment - when he gets home from school (he's getting his PhD), or before bed. I tend to read during the 'half''s nap or before bed as well.

Do you prefer series books or stand alone books?

Trackgeek likes series, I like stand alones. More often than not I've read the first book of a series Trackgeek is interested in. But then he reads all the rest.

Is there a specific book or author that you find yourself recommending over and over?

I've never had anyone disappointed in The Goose Girl, by Shannon Hale, and I like to recommend Hanley's trilogy that starts with The Seer and the Sword. Trackgeek tends to fall back on more classic juvenile/teen fiction because I think he's afraid of recommending something people won't like. And of course, who doesn't like E. L. Koningsburg?

How do you organize your books? (By genre, title, author’s last name, etc.?)

Well, since we're in a two bedroom apartment, we shove our books in as many bookshelves as possible - we have nearly 2000. Some are sadly in boxes, but we are just completely out of room. Library books get a couple shelves in the front room and we read them in order of interest. Someday we intend having an entire library in our house, sorted traditionally - as you would find them in a library.

Thanks for reading! More reviews later today..... :)

Heroes of the Valley, by Jonathan Stroud

Heroes of the Valley, by Jonathan Stroud

Young Adult, 2009

The author of the Bartimeaus Trilogy, has proven that Anti-Heroes can be as interesting if not more interesting than our perfect run of the mill protagonists. In Heroes of the Valley Halli Sveinsson is the younger brother in the ruling family of Svein. The valley was purged long ago of an evil race of monsters, the Trogs, that lived underground by the Heroes. Svein and his counterparts who died fighting one last battle to keep the valley safe for their families instead of fighting among themselves. Now after many generations of relative peace, a blood feud erupts as Halli's uncle is killed during the yearly celebration and gathering of all of the houses of the heroes. Halli wants revenge and journeys to try to take it. In the meantime he wonders about the validity of the stories that he was told as a child and that surround the burial cairns that the families maintain just over the border of the valley to keep the Trogs out.

Stroud nicely mixes a variety of Norse traditions and culture with a protagonist that can't seem to get anything right and makes plenty of mistakes, some of them very costly. I was intrigued by his approach to how we question the myths and traditions of our past, and amid all of the skepticism and seeking for "truth" what if the stories actually turn out to be true?

A well told tale with intriguing character development, as long as you don't have to put down the book in frustration as the characters make mistake after mistake. Grade: B.

Violet Wings, by Victoria Hanley

Violet Wings, by Victoria Hanley
Young Adult, 2009

Zaria is an anomaly in Feyland - a Full Violet, Level 100. With her best friend Leona, a half-Violet, Level 200, they visit Earth, break a lot of rules, and in the process uncover a plot by the Forcier herself. But how can they convince everyone they're not guilty when the Forcier has unlimited magic? Maybe not the best summary. It's hard to explain without telling you how all of the magic works.
I'm not usually - well, ever - a fairy kind of person. But I read it because I love Hanley's books. I was pleasantly surprised at the plot-line, and enjoyed the writing and the variety of characters. My only reserve with recommending this book is that it's obviously particularly for a target audience: 10 - 14 year old girls. I wouldn't recommend to anyone else. Graded a B+.

The Revolution of Sabine, by Beth Levine Ain

The Revolution of Sabine, by Beth Levine Ain
Young Adult, 2007

Sabine is a full-blooded French aristocrat, whose manners and ideals are right up there with the social world of the rich. However, a chance meeting with the famous revolutionist Benjamin Franklin, a book that turns out to be much more than it is, and just the right friends....she may have found that life can hold so much more meaning than that.
I loved the inside cover description, but was hesitant to ever buy it in case I didn't like it. I loved the idea, and I liked the description of Ben Franklin, but the story was so short. I know I read fast, but I read this in an hour. The characterizations were brief, and the plot seemed choppy and stilted. The ending seemed a little incredulous, but was toned down at the last minute by a father that had until that point remained basically anonymous. I was very disappointed that there wasn't so much more to this book - Graded a C+.

The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins
Young Adult, 2007

In the city of Panem, the capital controls 12 districts, each of which is required to give up two children by lottery to the games. The games are a harsh reminder by those who lead that the districts are under their thumb and had better submit to that. Katniss and Peeta, from a poorer district, are chosen to participate in these games - a fight to the death. The sole winner will have fame, glory and money, living in the capital for the rest of his or her days, while the others will have given their lives. Televised to all the districts and with not many on their side, how can they survive?
An interesting but incredibly violent idea, I enjoyed the details but not the main plot of the book. For example, the moment where they step out of their circles to grab what supplies they can, or when Katniss helps another because she reminds her of her sister. Or when her and Peeta finally learn to trust each other, and of course the winner (or how that happens, for those who have read it). However, I hated that teenagers were pitted against each other, forced to kill each other by whatever means available. I thought the costume chapters a bit weird, and the ending sort of drove me nuts - I mean, how can Katniss not figure...but if you want to know you'll have to read it yourself. Graded a B-.

The Safe-Keeper's Secret and The Truth-Teller's Tale, by Sharon Shinn

The Safe-Keeper's Secret, by Sharon Shinn
Young Adult, 2004

Damiana is Safe-Keeper for the village of Tambleham. One night she is entrusted with a secret - and a child, who she raises alongside her own. As Reed and Fiona grow, they discover who they are, what they're meant to be, and that some things are not what they seem.
I've read this book a few times, and am reviewing it because of my recent read of The Truth-Teller's Tale, which is reviewed below. I enjoy this book particularly because of how real the world that Shinn has created seems to me. I love the Wintermoon celebration, and the interactions of the characters, and enjoy the relaxed even-flowing plot. The ending seemed a bit unfinished, but I think it was this particular plot line, as Shinn's other books always finish just fine. Graded a B+.




The Truth-Teller's Tale, by Sharon Shinn
Young Adult, 2005

Mirror Twins Adele and Edela are respectively the Safe-Keeper and Truth-Teller for their small town. Many people come to them for guidance; particularly their young friend Roelynn Karro, whose father is determined to marry the prince. With the arrival of a dancing master and his apprentice, they learn that some secrets should be told, and some truths hidden, and that everything isn't quite what it seems.
Another delight from Sharon Shinn, I particularly appreciated the growing-up years of the twins. The ending was as it should be, with no loose ends, although the scene where Roelynn's father gets his comeuppance seemed a little confusing or perhaps too fast. My reservations in recommending this book would be the very light references to sex, including a sentence where Eleda is told of a girl getting raped. It does not glorify any of this, however, and even suggests that waiting until you're older and wiser is a better course of action. That said, I'd just remind parents that this book is young adult for a reason. When in doubt, read it for yourself. Graded a B.

The Secret Olivia Told Me, by N. Joy

The Secret Olivia Told Me, by N. Joy
Picture Book, 2007

Olivia tells her friend a secret, who knows she'll never tell....but one day it slips, and before she knows it, it's been told over and over to everyone, getting bigger and bigger until one day - she must decide if she should tell Olivia that she told her secret.
A funny little book, I like the imagery of the balloon representing the secret, getting bigger and bigger until...it pops. I absolutely loved the illustrations. The story was perfect for kids, except I must confess to being a little frustrated that you never find out what that secret was. Graded a B+

The Red Necklace, by Sally Gardner

The Red Necklace, by Sally Gardner
Young Adult, 2007

At the start of the French Revolution, Yann is a Magician's apprentice who finds himself embroiled in the evil plots of the Count Kalliovski as he tries to save his friends, himself, and the young girl, Sido.
I know the synopsis is short, but I'm afraid of giving away too much. I read this over a year ago, but never got around to reviewing it. However, I brought it out again because of all the excitement over the next book in this set called The Silver Blade. Well-written, I found Count Kalliovski one of the best villians ever invented. I wish Gardner had fleshed him out more, and had perhaps drawn breath (figuratively speaking) long enough to give her characters a chance to show themselves off a bit, but otherwise I really enjoyed it. Graded a B+.

Angel Girl, by Laurie Friedman

Angel Girl, by Laurie Friedman
Picture Book, 2008

At only 11 years of age, Herman is taken to a labor camp. Nazis make them work hard and feed them little. One day, Herman sees a girl outside the fences who tosses him an apple. His 'Angel Girl' comes back every day with an apple. The war ends, and he leaves and goes to America after getting an education. There on a blind date he miraculously meets his Angel Girl, whom he marries.
I read the book a little unimpressed - with the sheer number of books about the Holocaust, you need to be quite good to make a mark. The details were few, and the story very toned down to the audience. While that was good, it made everything seem so vague. However, at the back is a short synopsis with a picture of Herman and his 'Angel Girl'. After reading that part, it really hit me that it actually happened, and I nearly cried. While I don't feel the author and illustrator quite did the story justice, I can't help but love this bitter-sweet book. Graded B+