Book Review: Spellbinder by Helen Stringer

*ARC provided by publisher*

Spellbinder is the story of a very unusual girl.  Belladonna lost her parents in a car crash about a year ago.  But, she's been coping with the loss very well - mostly because they are still around.  Mom and Dad still make her dinner and help with homework.  In fact, things are just like normal, except that they happen to be ghosts.  But, when all the ghosts start to disappear, Belladonna, with the help of her classmate Steve, has to travel to the Other Side to get them back.

Things I Liked:
It was a fun and quirky story, with unusual characters and a promising premise.  I liked the worlds the author created and the ghost lore, mixed in with a bit of Greek mythology.  At times, the story was exciting and I wanted to know what happened to the characters.  I think Belladonna is really the whole reason I wanted to finish the book.  I liked how she seemed very average (or at least thought she was), but really had so much potential she had to discover.  Pretty much, like a lot of us.  Despite the sometimes dark nature of the story, the humorous interactions between the characters tend to lighten the mood.

Things I Didn't Like:
For the most part, however, this book did not interest me.  I found the story lacking in a spark that could draw me in.  This might be because I put it down for a week or two and then picked it up again.  Sometimes the writing was beautiful, but other times it was repetitive or old-fashioned or just strange (the word suppurating was used twice and I could manage to figure out what it meant by context, but a MG kid might not).  While the plot was fun, I thought the fantasy details were often not clearly described or simply confusing.  The story showed a lot of promise and the ending indicated sequels were on the way, so I have hopes the next one will improve. 

Read-alikes:
Reminded me of The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->
a little bit scary

Overall rating: **

Do you enjoy middle grade books? Did you when you were in middle school?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman

Odd and the Frost Giants is about an unusually unlucky boy named Odd.  When he helps a strange bear who turns out to be a Norse god, he finds himself going on an adventure unlike anything else before.  Along the way, he may just find his courage and his luck.

Things I Liked:
This was a fun, quick story with lovely illustrations and beautiful writing.  I love the mythology elements and also Odd, who is a character that you have to root for and like, despite the extremely short narrative.  The descriptive language is just so wonderful, and at the same time very simple.  I think very young kids would be able to read and enjoy the story.

Things I Didn't Like:
Some parts seemed a little too, well, odd.  I think that is very much Gaiman's style of writing, however.  Also, it didn't seem like Odd progressed much except in terms of his physical appearance.  It didn't have much meat to it, I guess.
 
Read-alikes:
Kinda like The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo
A little bit like Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: none

Overall rating: ****

Do you like quirky books or do you tend to think they're too weird?

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A Reader By Any Other Name

One of the things I think I miss out on the most by not working in a public library, is seeing someone discover (or rediscover) their love of books.  It could be a child that you recommend just the right book for, a teen who you guided to a life-changing book, or an adult you encouraged at just the right time to take up a life of reading.  But, I have had the very great fortune of watching (if not encouraging a little) these sorts of "transformations" in my own family. 

(Part of) My Family of Readers

First is one of my sisters.  She's got three young kids and never really figured she had the time to pick up a book.  She also didn't know what exactly to choose.  Well, I just so happen to love recommending books and after handing her several of my own copies of books, I hoped she might find the time to enjoy them.  She did better than that: she devoured them!  Sometimes I can't keep the recommendations coming fast enough to satisfy her reading hunger.  Now her problem isn't finding the right book or enough time, it is being able to put the book down!  I love feeling like I get to share my own love of reading with people who matter the most to me.

The second person is my father.  For most of his life, my dad has been VERY busy.  He's been a professor and in administrative positions for a very long time (pretty much my whole life).  However, he retired about two years ago and left all of that behind.  Even then, he and my mom decided to spend two years doing missionary work for the Mormon church in the Czech Republic.  It was like going from one full-time job to another.  Now they are home and my dad has to find something else to occupy that extra time.  Enter books.  He's always loved to read, but never found the time.  Every week now, he is telling me about some new book he read that was so fascinating.  For Christmas, I got him Sir Edmund Hilary's autobiography of climbing Mount Everest (High Adventure).  He couldn't stop talking about it.  He's devoured probably as many books as I have so far this year.  But, he began to run low on choices (despite the fact that my parents own quite a lot of books).  And that is where I enter again. 

When my dad heard about the book Alive by Piers Paul Read from a PBS program, he really wanted to read it.  Since he knows I am a regular at the library, he asked me to get it for him.  But, I figured "give a man a book, you give him reading for a day, give a man a library card, you give him reading for a lifetime."  After some persuasion, I convinced him to come with us and get his own card.  I can't say he's a regular yet, but I think we've supplied that inner reader with enough material for a good long while.

In my pride, I guess, I used to think of myself as the family reader, an exclusive title.  After all, I am the family librarian - I often get asked to recommend books to members of my family (which also sort of makes up for my not working in a public library).  Now, I've stopped feeling so superior.  My mother is probably the one who instilled a love of literature in me.  I grew up seeing her with her nose in a book (when she found the time).  My father's love was simply dormant.  My oldest brother is always talking about an interesting book he read and though our tastes are quite different, I'll often pick up something on his recommendation (like this and this).  Several of my sisters have discovered a voracious reading bug that must be tempered with their duties as mothers.  I even have a few students at my school who will ask for recommendations when they see me with a novel in hand.  I guess instead of thinking that a reader must devote all their spare time to reading (and blogging about it), I've come to recognize different types of readers all around me.  And I welcome them into the circle. 

Have you noticed any readers around you that you hadn't seen before?

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I Love a Good Stack of Books

I'm starting to build a new pile!  From the library:

North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley
Al Capone Shines My Shoes by Gennifer Choldenko
Aurelia by Anne Osterlund
Incarceron by Catherine Fisher
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead (reread for book group)

Won:
The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forester (in a contest from Macmillan Children's)

I also found my way to a Friends of the Library book sale (and was very moderate, if I do say so myself):
The Ruby in the Smoke by Philip Pullman
Abhorsen by Garth Nix (I must reread these and review them soon!)
The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner (I can't seem to resist my childhood favorites)
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
The Year of Secret Assignments by Jaclyn Moriarty

Don't you just get a thrill (even if it is sometimes overwhelming) seeing a big pile of books waiting for you to read?

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Book Review: Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin

*Review copy provided by publisher for Cybils*

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is the place that Minli journeys to, hoping to change her family's fortune.  Ma and Ba and Minli do not have very much.  They work hard and they just barely scrape by, but Minli finds hope in Ba's stories, hope that there might be more for her family.  Minli decides she must speak to the Man in the Moon about how to change her family's fortune.  So, she sets off on her journey, with directions from a goldfish and along the way makes friends with dragons, kings, boys with buffalos, and a white rabbit.  Will she be able to find the Man in the Moon to ask him her question and will her parents be able to wait for her to return?

Things I Liked:
This was such a lovely book in many ways.  I loved the gorgeous illustrations that blended so well with the text.  It is a very visually appealing book, meant to be savored.  I thought it was an extra nice touch that the book shows how her parents deal with her being gone.  So many books are about young heroes and heroines going off on adventures and nobody mentions exactly how family left behind deal with it.  While sometimes the action was slow, the morals and meanings behind this deceptively simple story make it a very rewarding read.  I think it would be a fabulous read-aloud - as long as the kids can see the illustrations, too!  Here's a sample of the beautiful language:

"The goldfish man turned around and smiled questioningly at Ma and Ba, who could do nothing but continue to stare.  He was slender and small, which was perhaps why it was easy to mistake his footprints for Minli's.  The dragging lines Ma had thought were from Minli's walking sticks led to his cart, and the bowls of goldfish caught the sifting beams from the sun, slivering it into flashing sparkles of light.  The goldfish man's eyes also flashed, as he looked at Ma and Ba and their dust-covered clothes and haggard, tired faces." p60

Things I Didn't Like:
I think this book will appeal more to parents and adults who will read the story to kids and hope they enjoy it as much.  I'm not sure kids will be picking it up and devouring it on their own, but it is certainly a book adults will want to share with them!

Read-alikes:
The Kite Rider by Geraldine McCaughrean
A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: none

Overall rating: ****

Do you suppose your taste in children's/MG/YA literature changes as you get older?

Posted as part of Tween Tuesday, hosted by GreenBeanTeenQueen.
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Listless Monday, Paranormal Romance Edition

Listless Monday was inspired by both Amanda at A Bookshelf Monstrosity's feature Books by Theme and Court at Once Upon a Bookshelf's Listed feature.  Be sure to check out their lists!

As if love, romance, dating, and marriage aren't hard enough, throw in a little paranormal activity, and things can get downright crazy! Since these supernaturals seem to be appearing more frequently, I thought I'd create a list of them (you know, so your love life will seem a little more sane).  Everything from wizards to werewolves is what I've included here.  And since I haven't read as widely in this genre as I thought, feel free to mention some of your favorites! (I've refrained, for the most part, from including faeries/fairy tales, since I have a list that will be dedicated to them coming soon.)

Paranormal Romance

The Abhorsen trilogy by Garth Nix
The Amaranth Enchantment by Julie Berry
Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
The Dark Divine by Bree Despain
Fallen by Lauren Kate
Gemma Doyle trilogy by Libba Bray
Howl's Moving Castle by Dianna Wynne Jones
Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
The Immortals series by Alyson Noel
Impossible by Nancy Werlin 
Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs (suggested by Christy)
Mortal Instruments series
Need and Captivate by Carrie Jones
Once a Witch by Caroline MacCullough (suggested by Ms. Yingling)
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
The Summoning (and sequels) by Kelley Armstrong
Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer (I'm starting to think of this as the great and abominable Twilight series) 
Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead
Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr
Wings by Aprilynne Pike

What do you think is the very best paranormal romance you've ever read?

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Book Review: The Serial Garden by Joan Aiken

The Serial Garden: The Complete Armitage Family Stories is a collection of stories about the Armitage family, who happen to have very interesting lives.  Odd things always seem to happen to them on Mondays, and all of these strange happenings date back to a wish made by the newly wed Mrs. Armitage.  But, the family is quite used to these happenings and nothing, not even unicorns, magical gardens, fairies, or witches will phase them.

Things I Liked:
Each of the individual stories are very fun, full of silly things that happen.  The humorous and sometimes sarcastic comments from the parents, the tongue-in-cheek humor, and the delightful adventures are what makes each of these stories a delight to read.  I think these stories are best for reading aloud and in small increments (they can get a bit repetitive if read all at once).

Things I Didn't Like:
I admit I had a hard time getting through this one and ended up not finishing it (for Cybils).  I was bothered that there appeared to be no real progression from story to story, that they didn't relate to each other much other than the characters were the same.  I suppose this is expected as it is a collection of short stories.  I also found that some of the language was archaic and strange, rather difficult to understand at time.  I'm not sure how much appeal they will have to kids now, but I know many people who grew up with them adore them still.  But, I think they might appeal to advanced kids who like quirky read-alouds.

Read-alikes:
A little like the humor in the Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: none

Overall rating: ***

Britt at Confessions of a Book Habitue asked whether some of our childhood favorites will appeal to kids today.  What do you think?

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Book Review: Invisible Lines by Mary Amato

*ARC provided by publicist*

Invisible Lines is the story Trevor Musgrove, graphic artist extraordinaire.  Trevor is used to not having a lot of things.  His family lives in a run-down housing complex and while many of his classmates have plenty of money, he must earn his money (by drawing designs for his classmates) to buy soccer gear.  When he is mistakenly enrolled in an advanced science class, he meets an extraordinary teacher who helps him see that even in the worst situations, life can thrive.

Things I Liked:
I thought it was a very hopeful story, despite all the bad things that seem to continue to happen to Trevor.  His ability to face the difficulties sometimes with strength (and humor) and sometimes with anger made him much more believable.  I love how things don't magically work out for him, he had to work hard for what he did get and forget about things he didn't.  This is definitely a book with some tough issues, but quite well done.  Also, I think the illustrations will be great - not all of them were in the ARC, but what I did see, I liked.  I enjoyed this thought of Trevor's:

"How come some babies get cardboard boxes and other babies get houses like Langley's?  That doesn't seem fair.  It seems like everybody should start out the same.  A real soft blanket and a little bed and some milk.  But you can't pick how you start, can you?  So, is it luck?  Good luck if you end up in Langley's house and bad luck if you end up in a Dumpster?  How can something as important as your life be based on luck?  And when you know you're not lucky, how are you supposed to feel?" p 254 of the ARC

Things I Didn't Like:
There were a few minor things that bothered me.  The writing sometimes was very literal - very much "telling" instead of "showing."  Particularly during action parts, like when they play soccer, it sounded like the descriptions for a movie scene.  Also, I was annoyed that Trevor tended to lie a lot about his family's situation in the beginning, and even though he had to make some admissions, there didn't seem to be any consequences.  

Read-alikes:
A little like The Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->
a few scenes involving domestic violence

Overall rating: **** 

Do you prefer a happy ending or a hopeful one?

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Book Review: The Farwalker's Quest by Joni Sensel

*Review copy from publisher for Cybils*

The Farwalker's Quest begins when Ariel and Zeke find a mysterious dart, a relic from the past that no one knows how to read.  Then, two strangers come into town, looking for the dart and the person who found it.  When they carry off Ariel, Zeke must try to find and rescue her.  But neither of them realize that this journey will change who they are forever.

Things I Liked:
I could not put this book down.  From the first introduction to the rather unexpected conclusion, I was hanging off every word.  And what wonderful words they were - Sensel has created a gorgeous new world with touches of familiarity and beautiful sweeping landscapes.  I thought Scarl was a particularly intriguing and complex character, with emotions and reactions that felt very real.  Sensel is not afraid to give the characters tragedy, suffering, sorrow, and real obstacles that they must overcome.  A beautiful, touching, and entirely entertaining story about coming to understand and accept who you are.  I'm SO glad we got to read this for the Cybils - I think it's a hidden gem of a fantasy.

Things I Didn't Like:
Honestly, I can't think of much I didn't like.  Ariel and Scarl had an interesting relationship that sometimes was a tiny bit creepy, but honestly I don't think it was intended to be.

Read-alikes:
Reminded me of The Giver by Lois Lowry
A bit like The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->->
some frightening and also violent things happen, but they are not graphic or descriptive

Overall rating: *****

Where do you discover "hidden gem" books?

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I Managed to Survive

My self-imposed library hiatus is now over and I have all my 20+ books back on hold. Mind you, they didn't all come in yet, so it was another pretty small group.

Frederica by Georgette Heyer (for Classics Circuit)
Umbrella Summer by Lisa Graff
Calamity Jack by Shannon and Dean Hale
Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Phillip M. Hoose
Erak's Ransom by John Flanagan

But, I went a little crazy with accepting and requesting review books:

The Eastern Stars: How Baseball Changed the Dominican Town of San Pedro de Macoris by Mark Kurlansky
Artsy Fartsy by Karla Oceanak
Beatrice and Virgil by Yann Martel
Beyond Freedom by Patricia Q. Wall
Heresy by S.J. Parris
We the Children by Andrew Clements

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Cause I Can't Help But Post About an ARC Giveaway!

In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other.  Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past . . . and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack.  And Isabelle, who already lost her brother to the wolves . . . and is nonetheless drawn to Cole.

At turns harrowing and euphoric, Linger is a spellbinding love story that explores both sides of love -- the light and the dark, the warm and the cold -- in a way you will never forget.

Comes out in stores everywhere July 20th. Pre-order here.

Enter to win an advanced review copies of LINGER, Sisters Red, The Dead-Tossed Waves, and The Replacement on Maggie's blog.

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: The Prince of Fenway Park by Julianna Baggott

*Review copy from publisher for Cybils*

The Prince of Fenway Park is the story of Oscar, who is beginning to wonder if he's cursed.  Nothing seems to go well for him, from his brief and strange visits with his father, to his mother's new love interest and the teasing and taunting he gets at school.  But, when his mother leaves him with his father, Oscar is about to discover that he isn't the only one who feels cursed.  He's also about to enter a world he never imagined existed - underneath Fenway Park.

 
Things I Liked:
The book held an interesting and fun story, complete with great characters and lots of strange creatures.  I think the book will appeal more to baseball fans, and it just might get them interested in fantasy books.  But, what I thought made it so fabulous were the themes of race and identity that seem to creep up on you.  I love that they are not banging you over the head with these ideas, but subtly and neatly adding them as essential parts of Oscar's story.  It was little lines like this that kept me hooked and intrigued throughout:

"His father understood what it was like to be two in one.  His father had wings.  His father had a part of himself that he wasn't sure what to do with." p57

"It's better to forgive people.  It's better to forgive them for their future wrongs.  It's better to go out there and let that forgiveness make things right.  Ugliness and racism and meanness have ganged up to make things wrong.  It's only forgiveness - your forgiveness - that's stronger than this curse." p279

Things I Didn't Like:
I had a hard time understanding the fantasy elements, particularly the cursed creatures.  Some details didn't seem to align correctly and some felt like they were not fully formed.  It lacked the spark that many fabulous fantasy books hold in their fantastic details.  Fortunately, I think the other elements, Oscar and his inner musings and the subtle themes, make this truly enjoyable.

Read-alikes:
Mudville by Kurtis Scaletta
We are the Ship by Kadir Nelson

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: none

Overall rating: ****

Posted as part of Tween Tuesday, hosted by GreenBeanTeenQueen.

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Listless Monday, Triangular Love

Listless Monday was inspired by both Amanda at A Bookshelf Monstrosity's feature Books by Theme and Court at Once Upon a Bookshelf's Listed feature.  Be sure to check out their lists!

I am still going with the romantic books, since we just celebrated Valentine's Day yesterday.  This week, I thought I'd list books where love is not quite so simple - the love triangle.  

Love Triangles

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
The Dark Divine by Bree Despain
Emma by Jane Austen (suggested by Court)
Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev
Fallen by Lauren Kate
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
The Host by Stephenie Meyer
Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins
I Capture the Castle by Dodi Smith (suggested by Court)
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (which features one man, two ladies AND one lady, two men)
Lament: the Faerie Queen's Deception by Maggie Stiefvater
The Luxe series by Anna Godberson (which is so convoluted, I don't even know if it's a triangle)
Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare
Need and Captivate by Carrie Jones
Roses by Leila Meacham (suggested by Dana)
Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer (of course)
Uglies trilogy by Scott Westerfeld (which also has, at least for a short time, two girls liking one boy)
Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr
Wings by Aprilynne Pike
Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell (the best two ladies loving one man example I could find)

I know this is not a complete list, so feel free to add suggestions in the comments!

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Cybils Winners Announced!

Today's the day! Remember how I mentioned I was involved in the Round 2 judging for the MG/Elementary Sci-fi and Fantasy panel for the Cybils awards? It was so much fun reading and discussing those seven finalists, but since we could only choose one, we all voted for:

Dreamdark: Silksinger by Laini Taylor

If you haven't picked up this fabulous MG fantasy series, I HIGHLY recommend you start with Dreamdark: Blackbringer, though Dreamdark: Silksinger stands pretty well on its own.  You can read the announcement at the Cybils blog here and check out the winners in all the other categories.  I'm also particularly excited that Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson won the Middle Grade Fiction award.  

And now that the judging is officially over, I can start posting reviews of those delightful other finalists (I read Dreamdark: Silksinger back in December and reviewed it before I became a judge).  Watch for those this week! 
 
Congrats to Laini Taylor and all the other winners!

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I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong

The Summoning is something Chloe would rather have not happen.  After freaking out at school when she sees a ghost, Chloe is taken to Lyle House, a group home for mentally unstable teenagers.  Now she is doing everything in her power to convince them that she is coping with her illness and not actually seeing ghosts.  But when she and some of the other patients at the home uncover some dark secrets about the people who run Lyle House, she realizes she may need to accept her power to speak to ghosts in order to survive.

Things I Liked:
The story really grabs you, right from the first page.  I thought it was a pretty refreshing take on the supernatural side of young adult literature.  Chloe was an interesting character, just enough spunk and personality to make her believable, particularly with her love of cinema.  Armstrong did an excellent job of leaving us guessing just what would happen next and I definitely didn't see some of the surprises coming.  The ending left me on the edge of my seat and eager to read the next installment.  I thought another of its unique strengths was the psychological aspect Armstrong brought in.  It was not easy for Chloe to believe in her supernatural powers.  She had to battle with herself and with her fear that she may just be mentally ill.  It lent the book an air of believability.  See here:

As much as I loved the world of cinema, I knew the difference between reality and story.  In movies, there are ghosts and aliens and vampires.  Even someone who doesn't believe in extraterrestrials can sit in a movie theater, see the protagonists struggling with clues that suggest alien invasion, and want to scream, "Well, duh!" p103

Things I Didn't Like:
The writing seems a little flat in places, but the book is carried entirely on the intriguing and mysterious story line to keep you reading.  I have high hopes that the second installment will be just as good, perhaps better.  I also have to admit I had pretty low expectations for this one.  It almost seemed like it would be a repeat of my disappointment with Evermore by Alyson Noel.  Perhaps those expectations made it easier for me to enjoy it.

Read-alikes:
The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forester
Dull Boy by Sarah Cross

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@
some scattered throughout

mrg-factor: X
a few passing references

v-factor: ->
not violent so much as frightening images

Overall rating: ****

Have you had a pleasantly surprised read recently?

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I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr

Once Was Lost is just how Sam feels right now.  She used to believe in God and in family.  Now, her mother is in rehab and her father takes better care of his congregation than his only child.  When a shocking kidnapping takes place in her small town, Sam is forced to think deeply about what she believes and what exactly that belief means.

Things I Liked:
This was such a thoughtful and complex book.  I was really drawn into not only the story of the kidnapping and all that entailed, but the emotional and spiritual feelings Sam experiences.  Her thoughts and the logic of her thinking felt very real.  I think many teens and twenty-somethings will see a part of themselves in Sam.  At some point, people who have been brought up in a religious home will have to think through and even question those things.  Zarr shows this in a realistic way.  As Sam deals with the problems and continual bad things happening to her, we feel just what she does and understand why she feels that way.  I'm completely impressed with Zarr's ability to write a book about religion that isn't sappy or preachy.  Here are some thoughts that really struck me:

Most of all I want to believe - in him, in God, in our family - the way I used to.  It used to be that there was always one of them I could count on.  If Dad was lost in his work, Mom and I had each other, even if it wasn't perfect.  If Mom was lost in her drinking, Dad would pull us together and get us back on track.  And I was always sure God hovered around there among us, somehow. p100

It's not words, so much, just my mind going blank and thoughts reaching up up up, me wishing I could climb through the ceiling and over the stars until I can find God, really see God, and know once and for all that everything I've believed my whole life is true, and real.  Or, not even everything.  Not even half.  Just the part about someone or something bigger than us who doesn't lose track.  I want to believe the stories, that there really is someone who would search the whole mountainside just to find that one lost thing that he loves, and bring it home. p199

Things I Didn't Like:
I really can't think of anything I didn't like.  It's not a super fast read or something you can rave about (see Hunger Games 3 post), but it will really make you think.

Read-alikes:
The Dark Divine by Bree Despain (in some ways)
Evolution, Me & Other Freaks of Nature by Robin Brande
The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams (a little bit)

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
a very few

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->
nothing is described, but stuff about the kidnapping is sometimes intense

Overall rating: *****

Which do you prefer - fast-paced, action-packed or slower, thought-provoking books?

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*Insert Squealing Here*

I was very happy (possible understatement) to see the good news from Scholastic this morning!  I will be posting a review later this morning, so check back, but I had to comment on this.

See the pretty new cover (and title)?

I think it looks lovely with the other covers, especially with the beautiful message of the bird being set free (which I admit I didn't see until we got the third cover).  I think the color choice is bold, since it doesn't quite fit with the darker and more vivid colors of the first two.  Perhaps that's part of the message too?

   

Any predictions for the plot of the third book? Thoughts on the cover? Declarations of team spirit?

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Book Review: Lockdown by Walter Dean Myers

*ARC provided by publisher*

Lockdown is exactly what Reese feels his life is like.  He's fourteen and in a juvenile detention center.  As he tries to maneuver the problems of fellow inmates looking for a fight, adults who assume he's a lifelong criminal, and his own sense of an inevitable life on the street, he makes an unlikely friend. Mr. Hooft is an elderly white man with his plenty of prejudice and lots of stories about his own life that help Reese discover just what he might be capable of. 

Things I Liked:
It was a unique and interesting look at life in a detention center.  I liked getting into the mind of a person who deals with everyone's preconceived notions of his criminality and his general depravity.  Having grown up white, privileged, and pretty sheltered, I found it hard to relate to Reese's difficulties in trying not to fight other inmates.  The book doesn't pack quite the punch that Monster did, but I liked the hopeful ending, especially after I started to care about what happened to Reese.

Things I Didn't Like:
I didn't think there was enough about the relationship between Mr. Hooft and Reese.  It didn't really develop in my mind to the point where they liked each other enough to actually listen to what the other said.  Mr. Hooft rather suddenly didn't care as much that Reese was black, despite his life-long prejudice.  Sometimes the language was a little choppy, but that might be because I don't really have a grasp on the slang. 

Read-alikes:
Definitely like Monster also by Myers

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@#
plenty

mrg-factor: X
a few remarks in passing

v-factor: ->->
they get in several fights

Overall rating: ***

I think reading definitely broadens our horizons with characters that are so different than us, but do you ever find it hard to like a book where you simply can't relate to the characters?

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Book Review: Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink

Prophecy of the Sisters is a dark tale of twin sisters, born to fulfill a prophecy that pits them against one another.  When Lia and Alice's father dies, Lia finds a disturbing new mark on her wrist, pointing to an old prophecy about twins.  As she learns more about this prophecy and her part in it, she comes to realize the danger she faces - a danger that centers around her sister.

 Things I Liked:
From the first paragraph, this story sucked me in.  The mysterious and disturbing prophecy, not to mention the dark and morbid setting, this book will thrill any fan of paranormal mystery.  I loved the feeling of chills and spookiness that pervades the whole thing.  The writing also happens to be just as rich and enticing as the plot:

Stepping into the cavernous main hall, I find the library is more than quiet, it is deserted.  Indeed, I don't see a single person as we make our way across the scuffed marble floor.  Its emptiness is more than the lack of living, breathing beings.  It is the unread pages of the many books that reside on the shelves throughout the room.  I should not have though one could tell when books have gone unread, but after the company of Birchwood's well-loved library it is as if I can hear these books whispering, their pages grasping and reaching for an audience. p 155

Things I Didn't Like:
I found myself somewhat disappointed with the lack of character given to Alice.  All throughout the book, Lia talks about her and their childhood and things she's done, but I feel like I have no idea what her true character is.  Also, I was a little let down with the ending.  With the urgency Lia felt about her part in the prophecy, I almost felt like it should have been concluded in this book.  However, I am looking forward to more books in the series.

Read-alikes:
Reminded me of the Gemma Doyle trilogy by Libba Bray
It felt like Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier with its spooky atmosphere

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->
not violence in the traditional sense, but some frightening things

Overall rating: ****

Are you a fan of all out scary books or those that have more subtle creepy details?

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