Book Review: Warren the 13th

Premise: Warren lives in a hotel that has been in his family for 13 generations. But now, his uncle isn't taking good care of the place, and has married a strange, heartless woman. With no guests, Warren is trying desperately to keep the hotel going, as his aunt destroys the rooms in her quest to find the mysterious "All-Seeing Eye," a treasure she claims is hidden in the hotel.

Title: Warren the 13th and the All-Seeing Eye
Author: Tania del Rio
Length: 224 pages
Series or Stand Alone: Stand Alone
Genre: Fantasy, Mystery
Content appropriate for: Grades 3-6

Three adjectives that describe this book: mysterious, creative, fun

This book has all the hallmarks of a fun middle grades book. A well-meaning protagonist, his questionable friends, useless adults, creative humor, and a delicious villain who is both creepy and fun to laugh at.

I was surprised how captivating this book was. I expected it to be quirky. And it was - with details like an uncle who sleeps in the lobby because he's too lazy to go up to his bedroom and a hotel guest who looks and acts like a pirate, but isn't one. There were so many terrific quirky elements thrown in that kept Warren the 13th super fun and engaging.

But what surprised me was how captivating the plot was as a mystery. There were twists and turns and dark corridors and clues and mazes and cellars. The whole thing had a lovely, mysterious, film noir feel and I loved it.

And look at those illustrations!

Plus the layout of the book is beautiful, and will keep middle grade readers going, providing them with visual support and keeping their curiosity/engagement piqued. Check it out:

And if you aren't intrigued enough, be sure to visit the wonderfully-crafted Warren the 13th website and watch the trailer below:

Book Review: Dead Boy

Premise: Crow died 2 years ago. But he's still alive. Sort of. He doesn't sleep or eat anymore, and his sometimes maggots crawl out of his ears, but other than that he's a pretty normal kid. Except that Crow isn't allowed to leave his house. And his parents won't tell him how he died. And then, a new neighbor moves in next door and Crow gets a chance for true friendship. Together they discover the secret of Crow's death.

Title: Dead Boy
Author: Laurel Gale
Length: 256 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Series or Stand Alone: Stand Alone
Content appropriate for: Grades 4-7
Format: Digital ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley

Three adjectives that describe this book: surprising, engaging, creative

I was expecting Dead Boy to be interesting and fun, a little gross and probably humorous. It was all of the things, but it was also entirely more. Much richer, stronger, and complex than it appears at first. There's something for everyone here.

Dead Boy is a story that reinvents itself over and over. First, it explores the tribulations of being a dead-ish kid. Not a zombie, a dead kid who's still mostly functional. Then, we turn to a friendship and family drama tale. Just as you think you know where the story's going, BAM you get an adventure novel with a crazy does of magic/fantasy/quest. It feels a little Indiana Jones! And in the end, you realize that somehow it was a coming of age story all along.

I found Dead Boy to be completely novel, highly engaging, and really well-done. It would be easy for many authors to struggle with piecing all those elements together cohesively, but somehow they flow together seamlessly with just the right balance of action, dialogue, description, and exposition. Highly recommended.

4.5 stars

Book Review: Milo Speck

Premise: Milo is looking for a sock when he gets pulled through the dryer into a land of giant ogres who love to eat little boys. As Milo tries to find his way home, he uncovers am incredible secret agency and an deadly scheme.

Title: Milo Speck, Accidental Agent
Author: Linda Urban
Length: 272 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Series or Stand Alone: Stand Alone
Content appropriate for: Grades 3-5
Format: eARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley
Publication: September 1, 2015

Three adjectives that describe this book: fun, creative, fast-paced

Milo Speck is a super fun story. The cover makes it look like Milo shrinks, but actually he ends up in a land of giants/ogres. The ogres provide quite a bit of comedy with their short attention spans and general lack of intelligence. It's pretty slapstick, perfect for middle grade readers who have a silly sense of humor.

There are some interesting characters, too, in this fast-paced plot-driven story. Urban manages to squeeze in quite a lot of depth. There are secret-pasts for some characters, betrayal by others, and transformation for several.

Heads up, though - the premise and cover made me think, "This looks purpose for readers who need more support!" But, actually, the story is pretty complex, and some of the language is a tricky. For instance, the main character, Milo, really enjoys putting "esque" on the ends of words. He says things like, "The chair looked tree-esque."

Overall, I really enjoyed Milo Speck. It was a quick, engaging, light story with unexpected complexity.

4 stars

Book Review: Lair of Dreams

Premise: Diviner and object-reader, Evie O'Neill, is now a radio-superstar and media darling. As she and her friends struggle to move on with their lives after successfully stopping The Pentacle Killer, another mystery terrifies the city. People have gone missing. Others have fallen asleep, won't wake up, and eventually die. The Diviners must work together to solve the mystery from within the dream world.

Title: Lair of Dreams
Author: Libba Bray
Length: 624 pages
Genre: Fantasy, Horror
Series or Stand Alone: Book 2 of The Diviners trilogy
Content appropriate for: Grades 9-12
Format: eARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley

Three adjectives that describe this book: dark, gritty, complex

I gave book one in this trilogy, The Diviners, an awesome 4.5 stars. I loved the way Libba Bray wove a complex, chilling tale while setting it solidly in 1920s New York City. The dialect, dancing, and speakeasies were a stellar backdrop. What kept me so captivated was the frequent chapters that followed particular murder victims. The danger and horror of it was so palpable, but Libba Bray never made it campy.

Lair of Dreams was almost as good as the first one. The premise and mystery were really creepy. I loved the idea of the dream world, and traveling there with Henry was really captivating. But the chilling murder scenes were less frequent, and somehow less scary. Sadly, the opening third dragged for me.

This one was a bit more character-driven than The Diviners. Each character got a lot more depth, especially Henry and Sam. I was surprised to find myself really drawn to both of those characters. Well done, Libba Bray! I found myself equally turned off by Evie, and I'm pretty sure Libba Bray did that on purpose. She did not handle fame well, at all! She got so self-centered and her drunkenness was irritating. 

A massive conspiracy-theory, cover-up, paranormal show-down is set for Book 3 and I'm ready! I can't  wait to see how she wraps it up and I'm holding out hope that Evie gets to redeem herself.

4 stars

Classics Review: The Book of Three

Premise: When Hen Wen, an oracle pig, goes missing, Taran sets off on a quest to find her before the evil Horned King and his men. Along the way he joined by a diverse band including bards, magicians, and dwarfs. They must escape capture, battle magical creatures, and ultimately find that pig.

Title: The Book of Three
Author: Lloyd Alexander
Length: 190 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Series or Stand Alone: First book of a trilogy
Content appropriate for: Grades 4-8
Format: Audiobook from the library

Three adjectives that describe this book: action-packed, fun, lacking

I read this book as part of the Classics Club challenge to read 50 classics books in 5 years. My list is comprised entirely of children's books.

I bet if I were in the target audience (maybe grades 4-6) I would love this book. There was a ton of action and the story moved quickly. As a teacher of students in this age group, I know that most of them are looking for books with a lot of action, most haven't quite figured out how to incorporate character development and world-building. So this book is perfect for them. A straight-forward quest novel, moving from one danger to another, with some comic relief built in.

With Lord of the Rings coming about 20 years before this book, it felt almost as if Lloyd Alexander was trying to bring that format to younger readers. Yes, Tolkien gave us The Hobbit for young readers, but even that has quite a bit of complexity that is more suited to upper-middle grades and YA readers. So, The Book of Three fills a nice void for the 1960s.

Cartoon version of Hen Wen the pig & Taran the pigkeeper

But I wanted more development, both character AND world. We jumped from one event to another, with an array of characters who get little more than a cursory exploration. Folks join the band of questers without much thought, or any backstory. And the questers, themselves, make decisions about where to go and changes in course without any real clarity about what is happening. I pretty much stayed confused. Where are they going? Why? What does it look like? Who are those villains?

And the ending really really irritated me. We had to experience the climax battle with the villain second-hand because the main character was unconscious through the whole thing. Boo. Such a cop out. The Book of Three may have broken some ground for middle grade quest novels, but I'm glad that later titles made the genre more compelling and complete.

Sunbolt Review: Just Read it Now!

Premise: Orphaned at a young age, Hitomi has learned to hide her magical aptitude. Most of all, she must conceal her role in the Shadow League, an underground movement working to undermine the powerful and corrupt mage, Blackflame. When Hitomi finds herself captured, it will take everything she can summon to escape with her life. ~ From Goodreads

Title and Author: Sunbolt by Intisar Khanani
Length: 142 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Series or Stand Alone: Book 1
Content appropriate for: Grades 9-12
Format: Digital copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley

Three adjectives that describe this book: unexpected, intriguing, intense

I have a major thing for world-building. I love to read Brandon Sanderson and Hugh Howey precisely because they invent super creative worlds and develop them completely with carefully placed details that create the world without boring exposition. Sunbolt does this too. But the amazing thing about it is that the author richly developed this world and these characters in under 150 pages. That is some seriously talented writing!

And the plot? Sunbolt is chock full of fight scenes, creative magic, strong women, and scary nonhuman villains. The plot also twists and turns, so that at first it seems like a political intrigue book and then a vampire story and finally a magic powers story. I need book 2 now!

TBR Pile Challenge Update

We are only 4 months into 2015, and I already have 6 out of 12 books completed for the TBR Pile Challenge, hosted by Adam at Roof Beam Reader.

The TBR Pile Challenge List 

1. Dragonwings by Laurence Yep (2001)

2. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien (1971)

3. The Menagerie by Tui T. Sutherland ~ Completed 4.19.2015 ~ Review Below
4. Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence ~ Completed 4.9.2015 ~ My Review
5. Flawed Dogs by Berkeley Breathed ~ Completed 2.20.2015 ~ My Review
6. We Are Not Eaten by Yaks by C. Alexander London ~ Completed 4.20.2015 ~ Review Below
7. Watership Down by Richard Adams (1972)
8. The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper (1973)
9. Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve ~ Completed 4.5.2015 ~ My Review
10. HIVE by Mark Walden ~ Completed 1.4.2015 ~ My Review
11. Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh (1964)
12. Airborn by Kenneth Oppel (2004)

Alternates

1. The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander (1964)
2. The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley (1984)

Like last year, I am using half of my TBR Pile List to make progress on the 50-book Classics Club Challenge.

Not to toot my own horn, but I'm pretty proud to be half way through the list 2 months early. Go me! My favorite book of these 6 has been Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve. It is a really cool dystopia about cities that migrate on giant mechanisms and eat one another.


Just this past week I finished two books on the list, so I thought that I'd combine the reviews here:

Title: The Menagerie
Author: Tui T. Sutherland
Genre: Fantasy (book 1 of 3)
Length: 288 pages
Audience: Grades 4-7

Seventh grader Logan Wilde gets involved in tracking down a group of missing griffin cubs. The cubs have escaped from a secret facility that houses and protects mythical creatures. Along the way we encounter arrogant unicorns, temperamental pheonixes, and an adorable mammoth. This book was a fun, but light read. There are ample doses of humor, adventure, mystery, and unicorns. The Menagerie is totally accessible for the target audience, so lots of middle grade students love it. However, for me, it didn't feel very original and just blended into the crowd of other similar MG fantasies (Fablehaven, Spiderwick, etc).
Rating: 3 stars


Title: We Are Not Eaten by Yaks
Author: C. Alexander London
Genre: Fantasy (book 1 of 4)
Length: 384 pages
Audience: Grades 4-6

Two TV-obsessed kids end up on a quest to find the lost Library of Alexandria, the same quest on which their mother disappeared 3 years ago. London gives this story an intentionally over-the-top tone with ridiculous obstacles (being thrown from a plane and surviving via a raft/poncho), outrageous villains (evil witches who love television), and strange allies (Buddhist oracles). It's super fun and works well for students who love both silliness and adventure. However, the humor felt kind of forced to me. Some of the characters were really annoying - the protagonists with their constant complaining and desire to watch TV, and the main villain with his excessive arrogance.
Rating: 3 stars


Both of these books remind me that I am not the target audience. Some books appeal to middle grade readers and adults equally well, others seem to appeal more to one or the other. I really think both of these books would be loved by lots of readers in grades 4-7. They didn't work for me, but since I'm not the target audience... take that for what it's worth.

Book Review: Shadow Scale

Premise: Seraphina's secret half-dragon parentage is out and now the kingdom of Goredd has found itself in the middle of a dragon civil war. She must travel to neighboring kingdoms in search of the other half-dragons, for they share a connection that might be used to fight the dragons more successfully.

Title: Shadow Scale
Author: Rachel Hartman
Length: 608 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Series or Stand Alone: Book 2 following Seraphina
Content appropriate for: Grades 9-12
Format: Digital ARC provided by Random House Children's via NetGalley

Three adjectives that describe this book: complex, gripping, twisty

Oh man! So much goodness here. This sequel is certainly worthy of its predecessor. Rachel Hartman had her own big shoes to fill, and she filled them marvelously. Where Seraphina was largely character-driven, Shadow Scale is largely plot-driven. And that plot? It was deliciously complex, with the reader never really sure who could be trusted.

Book 1: Seraphina

As a huge fan of world-building, I love how Rachel Hartman showed us more of Seraphina's world. We travel to all the different kingdoms, meeting people of various cultures. Each culture has a slightly different take on both dragons and religion, so it was really interesting to experience that spectrum. Rachel Hartman has clearly invested a lot of creative energy in developing this world, its foods, customs, clothing, geography, politics, and religion.

Another really cool element is that we spend a lot more time with dragons in this book. The first book really focused on Seraphina, so we didn't get to know many dragons. In this one, though, not only do we spend more time with dragons, but we also get to experience a Quigutl society. It was absolutely fascinating. Plus, we learn a lot more about the powers of half-dragons. It turns out, that they all have some sort of ability and Seraphina's mind garden is key to the whole thing.

This book totally met my needs for political intrigue. The characters are constantly scheming and plotting. The humans and dragons are split into several camps, some working together, some fighting one another, and others manipulating each other. I loved how Seraphina was constantly circling her nemesis in this one, they were like wrestlers at the start of a match, sizing each other up.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to fans of Seraphina. And if you haven't read book 1 - do it now!

4.5 stars

Book Review: Flawed Dogs

Premise: Sam the Lion is a young dachshund, bred to be a show dog. But when Sam meets Heidy, a young human, his destiny is forever changed. Sam and Heidy have a perfectly wonderful relationship, until a jealous poodle frames Sam for an unspeakable crime. Suddenly alone, injured, and on the streets, Sam must face the unimaginable, while dreaming of revenge.

Title: Flawed Dogs
Author: Berkeley Breathed
Length: 216 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Series or Stand Alone: Stand Alone
Content appropriate for: Grades 3-6
Format: Classroom library paperback

Three adjectives that describe this book: creative, fun, surprising

Children's dog stories have a sordid history - being either over-the-top lovey (Lassie is a good example) or devastatingly sad (Old Yeller). The dogs in children's stories don't fare well. They get sick, attacked, and (often) die.

That's why I was surprised to read the Goodreads reviews of Flawed Dogs. One reviewer after another couldn't believe that a children's book had dogs that were suffering. "How can this book be for children?" they asked. Most of the outrage stems from the opening scene, in which our central character is forced into a dog fight.

Yet, my fifth grade students have been recommending this book to me for years. Many of them heard it read aloud by one of our third grade teachers, and they couldn't believe that I had never read it. You read that right - THIRD graders love this story. Still, after all those eager recommendations, Flawed Dogs sat on my bookshelf for over a year with that cheesy cover.

The truth of Flawed Dogs is that it is neither too sad nor too cheesy, although it has both elements. Yes, Sam faces horrible experiences, but Berkeley Breathed infuses his story with a surreal realism that is somehow lighthearted. Sam's fellow dogs, and the shenanigans they get involved in, are just on the edge of outrageous.

I especially loved the group of unwanted dogs that Sam befriends, including one that can fly by extending his jowls and another that farts rocket-boosting flames. Ultimately these dogs crash Westminster and it's a jolly good time.

The best way to describe this book, is that it's basically a dog version of The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, but with some dark humor mixed in.

If you enjoy the somewhat heartbreaking tale of a character overcoming adversity to find love and acceptance, Flawed Dogs is a unique choice!

Awesome Read: The Inquisitor's Mark

Premise: After the all-out Eighth Day war in Mexico, Jax, Riley, and Evangeline have gone into hiding. There are still rogue Transitioners and evil Kin lords who want to use Riley, a descendant of King Arthur, and Evangeline, a powerful wizard with bloodlines to Merlin, to get control over the Eighth Day. So when Finn Ambrose, a mysterious stranger, contacts Jax claiming to be his uncle, Jax's defenses go up—especially when Finn tells Jax that he’s holding Jax's best friend, Billy, hostage. (from the author)

Title: The Inquisitor's Mark
Author: Dianne K. Salerni
Length: 352 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Series or Stand Alone: Book 2 in the Eighth Day series
Content appropriate for: Grades 5-10
Format: ARC provided by HarperCollins and the author
Publication Date: January 27, 2015

Three adjectives that describe this book: intense, intriguing, exciting

Even better than Book 1! The Inquisitor's Mark is an intense, action-packed fantasy set in a world where Arthurian descendants can enter a secret spell-created day between Wednesday and Thursday.

This one picks up right where The Eighth Day left off, and our characters need to find and protect one of Merlin's descendants, otherwise she will be murdered to destroy the people living in the 8th day.

The Inquisitor's Mark kept me glued to the page throughout. A new set of characters are developed as an enemy clan, and they are creepy and fun to read. I loved the addition of Dorian's perspective for helping us understand just how evil the Dulacs are and how hard it is to make the right decisions.

Salerni also used this book to develop her world even further. We meet magical creatures and explore fascinating time-and-space travel tunnels.

Second books often have a hard time living up to their counterparts, but I found this Book 2 to be even stronger than Book 1, even though Book 1 was a 5 star book for me. Salerni doesn't ease into the story like she did in The Eighth Day, she jumps straight in. The dialogue is more authentic, and the world was crafted more clearly.

Also, I love that this series is steering clear of annoying love triangles. Some twinges of romance exist in the background; as in, he has a crush on her... they're holding hands. As a result, this book focuses on plot and world development, with actual character development, rather than drowning in irritating romance.

If you're looking for a fun, addictive read these books are highly recommended!

Book Review: Inked by Eric Smith

Premise: Caenum is just days away from his Inking, the day when he'll get a magical tattoo that determines his future career. But when he angers a Scribe, a magical tattoo artist, Caenum sets in a motion events that send the brutal government after him and everyone he cares about.

Title: Inked
Author: Eric Smith
Length: 217 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Series or Stand Alone: Unclear, but probably a stand alone
Content appropriate for: Grades 5-8
Format: Digital ARC thank to Bloomsbury via NetGalley
Release Date: January 20, 2015

Three adjectives that describe this book: dark, interesting, disappointing

I was really eager to start Inked. The cover is beautiful and the concept of magical tattoos that move around and determine your future is really cool. Other elements are pretty typical for novels like this, though:
* A career-determining special occasion
* Anxiety about said occasion (what if I don't like what I get?)
* All is not what it seems
* The government is actually evil

So Inked could have gone either way - boring and predictable, or really really cool.

Eric Smith did a moderate job of world and character building. Not enough to give me the full scope of the place and our characters (it's only 217 pages, after all), but enough that I could make sense of what was happening. The plot had a few surprising elements in the first third that really kept my attention.

Inked is full of moral quandaries. I like that in a book. It tackles issues like, "Is it okay to sacrifice a few for the good of many?" and "Is it okay to hurt an innocent person, in order to protect myself?"

Unfortunately, this promising, solid 4-star book, took a steep dive downhill in the final 10%

I've been wrestling with how to explain my issues, without any spoilers. Here's my best shot:
In the final 10%, an interesting moral dilemma arises when Caenum realizes that the good guys might be just as evil as the bad guys. This set-up is a grand opportunity for Eric Smith to grow our character. But, unfortunately, Smith seems to struggle with this tricky situation. The dilemma resolves itself through a series of convenient blackouts and an even more convenient murder (which, apparently, no one feels guilty about). Moments later - we flashforward to an epilogue where everything is peachy keen for the main characters, but the Big Evil Government problem is completely and totally unresolved.

Before reading the Epilogue, I thought maybe Eric Smith was setting up for a sequel where he would take the time to handle all the implications of evil good guys stopped via murder. But, the epilogue has our main characters walling themselves in and, almost, abandoning their goal of stopping the government. Is that the end? Apparently, so.

Book Review: Where the Mountain Meets the Moon

Premise: Minli's family is poor, working in the fields all day for just enough food to eat. Enchanted by her father's folk tales, Minli sets off on a quest to find The Old Man of the Moon, who she believes can change her family's fortune.

Title: Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
Author: Grace Lin
Length: 278 pages
Genre: Fantasy / Folk Tale
Series or Stand Alone: Stand Alone
Content appropriate for: Grades 3-5

Three adjectives that describe this book: easy to read, entertaining, mystical

In Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, Grace Lin weaves together traditional Chinese folktales with her own twists and additions to create a beautiful story that captures the beauty of this ancient genre. In the wonderful Author's Note at the end of the book, Lin explains where some of her inspiration came from, noting that it's sometimes difficult to parse out exactly which pieces in the book are traditional Chinese tales, which are her own invention, and which elements are a mix of the two.

Although this book is nearly 300 pages long, it reads incredibly quickly. I finished it in about a day. I think this speed is a mix of both short-ish chapters, and a well-crafted story. The writing is complete, with detail to develop world and character, but nothing extraneous.

The novel is littered with separate tales, interrupting the flow of the story. I found this odd, until they all started to fit together. In the end, these tales turned out to be one of my favorite elements. Reading this book was kind of like examining a quilt, where all the parts fit perfectly.

And Grace Lin's illustrations!? Oh man - this whole book is beautiful! If you can, get the print edition because the colors and layout are SO worth it!

Overall, I absolutely adored this book. From the traditional Chinese feel, so carefully crafted by a talented, modern author, to the outstanding character development and pacing, to the beautiful presentation of the story. I can see why this book won a Newberry Honor and continues to be placed on all kinds of reading and honors lists. Outstanding!

4.5 stars

Book Review: Ella Enchanted

Premise: As a newborn, Ella received a fairy's gift - to always be obedient. Ever since, she has to follow every command, from "sit down" to "run along." The obedience curse becomes even more troublesome when Ella's dad tries to find her a suitor. Now, Ella is desperate to find the fairy and reverse the curse. This quest leads to encounters with trolls, battles with ogres, and surprising discoveries.

Title: Ella Enchanted
Author: Gail Carson Levine
Length: 232 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Series or Stand Alone: Stand alone
Content Appropriate For: Grades 5-8
Format: Paperback from classroom library

Three adjectives that describe this book: fun, amusing, creative

Ella Enchanted is a re-imagined Cinderella. All the elements are there - a prince, a ball, a pumpkin coach, glass slippers, and mean step-sisters. But this version has an entirely different Cinderella. She's feisty and funny and a joy to spend time with. And the fantasy creatures are fascinating - especially the mind controlling ogres!

Ella Enchanted is a Newberry Honor book and was made into a fun movie starring Anne Hathaway:

The added premise of the obedience curse made for a brilliantly woven web of complexity. And I was totally caught off-guard by the level of intelligent-humor in the story. Ella is super-witty, making this book straight-up fun. Of course, by its nature, this story has a central romance and I'm not much for romance. Luckily, both protagonists were intelligent and no one moped around mooning.

Highly recommended for people who like feisty, witty, female-protagonists and creative creatures in a familiar-ish world.

Classics Review: Alice in Wonderland

Premise: After following a strange rabbit down a super-deep hole, Alice finds herself in a magical land. During her time there, Alice interacts with a variety of strange creatures.

Title: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Author: Lewis Carroll
Length: 92 pages (depending on the edition)
Genre: Fantasy
Series or Stand Alone: Book 1 of 2
Content appropriate for: Grades 6-8

Three adjectives that describe this book: strange, challenging, confusing

I am in the middle of the Classics Club challenge to read 50 classics books in 5 years. My list is comprised entirely of children's books. I really enjoyed The Wizard of Oz, and for some reason I expected Alice in Wonderland to be a similar experience. Wrong Wrong Wrong. So hold onto your hat, because I'm about to get very blasphemous.

Okay, enough stalling - here's my review:

Alice in Wonderland is strange. That's the main thing. Over the course of 100ish pages weird things happen. It almost reads like Lewis Carroll was just trying to figure out what the weirdest things were that could happen, and then he put those exact things all together in a book with absolutely no sense-making. Case in point:

List of Weird Things in the Book
* Swimming in a lake made of your own tears
* Rocks become cakes
* Dancing with lobsters
* Dancing with lobsters actually means throwing them in the ocean
* A baby that's really a pig
* Everything you eat or drink makes Alice (no one else...) grow or shrink over and over again

Apparently Alice in Wonderland is actually an example of a genre called Literary Nonsense. Maybe if I had known that, I would have been prepared for the insanity and lack of plot. But I, erroneously, expected a great story. Instead, it's just a collection of weird characters and strange events.

Most frustrating for me, was that large chunks of the story consisted of poems which Alice tries to recite. She makes mistakes each time, which she sees as proof that she must have changed. These pieces would make more sense if I actually knew the original poems. That way I would be able to spot the mistakes that Alice makes.

Ultimately, I'm not sure how to rate Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. It's a classic. Lots of people love it. It is a shining example of Literary Nonsense. But it is also bizarre, with no plot and almost no coherent world-building.

Spirit's Key is Magically Haunting

Premise: Twelve year old Spirit is starting to wonder if something is wrong with her. First, she can't seeing the future like her father can. And secondly, she has started seeing the ghost of her dead dog. When her neighbors start getting sick, everyone blames the wild dogs on the island. But Spirit is convinced that they are not to blame. Together with her ghost dog, she seeks to find the truth.

Title: Spirit's Key
Author: Edith Cohn
Length: 320 pages
Genre: Fantasy, Mystery
Series or Stand Alone: Stand alone
Content Appropriate for: Grades 4-7
Format: Digital ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley


Three adjectives that describe this book: mysterious, captivating, memorable 

Hooray for a well-crafted, haunting, dog book that doesn't make you cry! This book is for every dreamer and wonder-er. For kids who love dogs or a good mystery or interesting magic - or all three!

It's full of magical moments set firmly in the fascinating world of Bald Island - populated by wild dogs and superstitious islanders. The relationship between Spirit and her dog, Sky, is spot-on. Clearly influenced by Ingrid Law's terrific book, Savvy, Spirit's Key is part magic, part mystery, part homage to dogs.

I loved the haunting setting. Edith Cohn's world-building is outstanding. This tight-knit community reminds me of the wonderful Twilight Zone episode, "The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street." Both stories ring of McCarthyism and group-think. It's amazing to me how carefully Cohn built the community's paranoia so that it seems somehow superstitious and outrageous, but also totally plausible. And she keeps all of this completely accessible to young readers.

My only beef is that the Big Reveal is a bit too ta-da for me. Everything wraps up quickly in a neat little package. More tension in the ending would have fit better with the tone of the rest of the book.

Be sure to check out Edith Cohn's fascinating discussion of her inspirations for Spirit's Key.

Magic and Mystery Collide in Bad Magic

Premise: After a graffiti incident at school, Clay is sent to a camp for struggling kids on an isolated volcanic island. When Clay meets the other campers and discovers ruins occupied by a ghost, he vows to get off the island.

Title: Bad Magic
Author: Pseudonymous Bosch
Length: 400 pages
Genre: Mystery / Fantasyish
Series or Stand Alone: Book 1 in a new series
Content appropriate for: Grades 5-8
Format: Digital ARC provided by Little Brown Books via Edelweiss
Publication Date: September 16, 2014

Three adjectives that describe this book: mysterious, strange, twisty

Bad Magic, is a wildly unique mystery with an intriguing solution. I especially enjoyed all the book-love - one setting is a library, one character is a book nerd, and there are frequent discussions of Shakespeare's The Tempest.

Pseudonymous Bosch is well-known for his Secret Series, in which he makes heavy use of authorial intrusions, similar to those used by Lemony Snicket in the Series of Unfortunate Events. I enjoyed the first few books in the Secret Series, but became annoyed by the over-the-top jokey tone by the end of book 2.

Bad Magic, however, represents a shift for the better for Bosch. He still uses intrusions to keep things fresh, but they are toned-down and refreshing when compared to The Secret Series. Those books were silly, this one was mysterious and effective.

Squirrels Are Fun in Nuts to You

Premise: The adventure begins when Jed the squirrel is captured by a hawk. Managing to escape from the in-flight hawk's talons, Jed fears that he will never see home again. Little does he know, that his friends are setting out to rescue him.

Title: Nuts to You
Author: Lynne Rae Perkins
Length: 272 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Series or Stand Alone: Stand Alone
Content appropriate for: Grades 5-8
Format: Digital ARC provided by Greenwillow Books via Edelweiss
Publication Date: August 26, 2014

Three adjectives that describe this book: adventurous, fanciful, interesting

A fun squirrel story with themes of friendship, adventure, acceptance, and protecting trees. I really enjoyed the relationships between the 4 squirrel friends, and the way they joked with one another was great fun. There were some great observations about life as a squirrel. I also enjoyed the straight-forward, tell-it-like-it-is authorial voice (up until the weird, lengthy sequence of author's notes and epilogues).

Unfortunately, a few bizarre choices made Nuts to You really difficult. It looks like a book that is aimed at grades 3-5, but quite a lot of it was too hard to read. For instance, two of the main characters are TsTs and Tchke. Really!?!? It makes no sense to put such a barrier in the way of  young readers. Even more challenging, was the crazy squirrel dialect:

"Wair y'fromm, then?.. Oim Chuck, roight?"

"Oim Tsam... En oo er yu?"

If you can pronounce these words easily, it certainly makes the character voices fun, but as a 5th grade teacher, I know that dialect is insanely hard for kids. That's why I can't suggest Nuts to You to most elementary readers.

Creatures on a Quest: Broken Branch Falls Review

Premise: Gabe the goblin doesn't understand why he can't have friends from other species, like pixies and elves. Some day he would like to try a sport, but only ogres are allowed to play sports. After his goblin friends pull a prank on a group of dragons, they set off on a multi-species quest to save their entire town from dismantling.

Title: Broken Branch Falls
Author: Tara Tyler
Length: 238 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Series or Stand Alone: Stand Alone (although there's room for a sequel)
Content appropriate for: Grades 4-6
Format: ebook provided by the author in exchange for an honest review


Three adjectives that describe this book: entertaining, fun, predictable

A fun quest novel with strong messages of accepting differences and avoiding stereotypes. I really enjoyed this world and its characters. Set at a time when humans are extinct and becoming mythological, and Earth is now populated by ogres, goblins, trolls, dragons, mermaids, vampires, etc... this book has a well-crafted, engaging world, even though the plot is a bit cliche.

 My only difficulty with Broken Branch Falls was the occasionally clunky writing.  Some things were just way too obvious. For instance, every time Rove the werewolf helped out, our narrator would say something terribly obvious like, "I'm so glad he came along." It was okay at first, but he kept saying every single time. It was exasperating. This is a complaint I have with some fiction for kids - young readers.are a lot savvier than we often give them credit for.

3.5 stars