New Releases of Fantasy and Science Fiction for Children and Teenagers--the middle of November edition

Here are the new releases of fantasy and science fiction for kids and teenagers from the middle of this month! As usual, my info comes from Teens Read Too, and the blurbs are lifted from Amazon.

For 9-12 year olds:

Celia's Robot by Margaret Chang. "Ten-year-old Celia is messy and disorganized, so her father builds her a robot to turn her life around. High-tech Robot is part nanny, part housekeeper, and all friend, but Celia worries that Dad build Robot because he and Mom are too busy to take care of her. Then Robot goes missing, and Celia wonders if she's lost her father's love as well."

Claim to Fame by Margaret Peterson Haddix. "It was a talent that came out of nowhere. One day Lindsay Scott was on the top of the world, the star of a hit TV show. The next day her fame had turned into torture. Every time anyone said anything about her, she heard it. And everyone was talking about Lindsay: fans, friends, enemies, enemies who pretended to be friends....Lindsay had what looked like a nervous breakdown and vanished from the public eye. But now she's sixteen and back in the news: A tabloid newspaper claims that Lindsay is being held hostage by her father. The truth? Lindsay has been hiding out in a small Illinois town, living in a house that somehow provides relief from the stream of voices in her head. But when two local teenagers try to "rescue" Lindsay by kidnapping her, Lindsay is forced to confront everything she's hiding from. And that's when she discovers there may be others who share her strange power. Lindsay is desperate to learn more, but what is she willing to risk to find the truth?"

Clay Man: The Golem of Prague by Irene N. Watts. "It is 1595, and the rabbi’s son Jacob is frustrated with having to live in the walled ghetto known as Jewish Town. Why can’t he venture outside of the gates and explore the beautiful city? His father warns him that Passover is a dangerous time to be a Jew and that the people from outside accuse the Jews of dreadful deeds. But one night, Jacob follows his father and two companions as they unlock the ghetto gates and proceed to the river, where they mold a human shape from the mud of the riverbank. When the rabbi speaks strange words, the shape is infused with life and the Golem of Prague is born."

Everwild (Skinjacker Trilogy) by Neal Shusterman. "There was the rumor of a beautiful sky witch, who soared across the heavens in a great silver balloon. And there were whispers of a terrible ogre made entirely of chocolate, who lured unsuspecting souls with that rich promising smell, only to cast them down a bottomless pit from which there was no return. Everlost, the limbo land of dead children, is at war. Nick the "Chocolate Ogre" wants to help the children of Everlost reach the light at the end of the tunnel. Mary Hightower, self-proclaimed queen of lost children and dangerous fanatic, is determined to keep Everlost's children trapped within its limbo for all eternity. Traveling in the memory of the Hindenburg, Mary is spreading her propaganda and attracting Afterlights to her cause at a frightening speed. Meanwhile, Allie the Outcast travels home to seek out her parents, along with Mikey, who was once the terrifying monster the McGill. Allie is tempted by the seductive thrill of skinjacking the living, until she learns a shocking secret: Those who skinjack are not actually dead."

The Giant-Slayer by Iain Lawrence. "The spring of 1955 tests Laurie Valentine’s gifts as a storyteller. After her friend Dickie contracts polio and finds himself confined to an iron lung, Laurie visits him in the hospital. There she meets Carolyn and Chip, two other kids trapped inside the breathing machines. Laurie’s first impulse is to flee, but Dickie begs her to tell them a story. And so Laurie begins her tale of Collosso, a rampaging giant, and Jimmy, a tiny boy whose destiny is to become a slayer of giants. As Laurie embellishes her tale with gnomes, unicorns, gryphons, and other fanciful creatures, Dickie comes to believe that he is a character in her story. Little by little Carolyn, Chip, and other kids who come to listen, recognize counterparts as well. Laurie’s tale is so powerful that when she’s prevented from continuing it, Dickie, Carolyn, and Chip take turns as narrators. Each helps bring the story of Collosso and Jimmy to an end—changing the lives of those in the polio ward in startling ways."

Grk Smells a Rat by Joshua Doder. "Tim Malt; his parents; his dog, Grk; and his friends Natascha and Max Raffifi have just arrived in India. They are all set to see the famous sights and watch Max compete in a tennis tournament. But after meeting a boy named Krishnan, they learn about the Blue Rat Gang, a group that enslaves children. Krishnan needs help to rescue his sister from a cruel life of forced labor, and Tim and Grk are up to the challenge. Racing against time, Tim and Grk are chased through dark alleys only to find themselves face-to-face with the infamous leader inside the Blue Rats’ headquarters. Can they foil his evil plans before it’s too late?"

Lost Worlds by John Howe. "From the world of Aratta and Mohenjo-Daro to Atlantis and Camelot, this visually stunning book is a window with a view that takes readers on an historical, archaeological, and mythological journey through lost worlds, those abandoned in time, buried and forgotten, and the ones that live in the imagination. Attempting to put the most plausible pieces of history together, John Howe, concept artist for The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, begins the journey that will move readers to explore these lost worlds even further."

The Luckiest Boy by Scott Christian Sava. "13 year old Russell Ranger is the unluckiest boy in the world. Nothing ever seems to go his way. Nothing good at least. One day, though, he meets a real, honest to goodness Leprechaun, who grants him a wish... just one wish. So he wishes to be the Luckiest Boy in the World! Suddenly, his family wins the lottery, gets to meet his favorite football player, and even discovers Bigfoot. He's a worldwide celebrity. But something's not right. All of the good luck is going to Russ. But, that means all the bad luck is given to the rest of the world! Now, earthquakes, stock market crashes, and a deadly asteroid threaten the existence of everyone on Earth, and only Russ can stop it... if he can find the Leprechaun to give his good luck back!"

Olivion's Favorites (Marvelous World) by Troy Cle. "When Louis Proof collapsed in pain in front of his uncle's store, he thought he was going to die. Instead he awoke in Midlandia, a place of the impossible. Almost as soon as he arrives, three eNoli -- people who look human but are otherworldly -- try to kill him. In fact, it seems as if everyone in Midlandia is trying to kill Louis and the other two human teens, Cyndi Victoria Chase and Devon Alexander. The three are Favorites. If they survive Midlandia, they will have great powers. That's a big "if," though. Louis must find Cyndi and Devon, who've been flung to different parts of Midlandia. Only when the three are together will Olivion's Gate appear. Then they will be able to cross the Gate, meet the Olivion, and return home. The three teens must also pay attention to everything on their journey. It is not enough to be a Favorite; they need to learn how to use their newfound abilities. Tremendous challenges await them at home. But as they're about to learn, those challenges are only the beginning. A threat is coming that is greater than anyone -- human or eNoli or iLone -- can imagine...."

Scurvey Goonda by Chris McCoy. "In Book One of this two-part story, an endearing misfit embarks on an amazing adventure in search of his friend Scurvy Goonda, an outrageous invisible pirate with an insatiable love for bacon. Part friendship story, part madcap adventure, readers who love stories in which almost-ordinary kids travel to fantastical lands and become heroes will revel in the imaginative landscape and characters featured in this original debut. While adventure-loving vegetarians will find much to savor, this is a must-read for all who love bacon—which plays a key role in the story’s sizzling climax!"

Versus: Warriors by Steve Stone. "Ten of the greatest warriors of history meet for the first time. From Viking vs. Aztec Warrior and Samurai v. Gladiator to Medieval Knight vs. Zulu, Versus explores who would triumph and why, if these fiercest warriors were to engage in deadly battle against one another. Data files compare and contrast weaponry, armor, tactics and codes of honor, while eye-catching background scenes of arenas provide historical and cultural context. With the computer-gamer in mind, designs brings history's warriors into the 21st century and readers will be treated to large, gate folded pages that enhance the experience of each battle In the end, only one can be crowned history's ultimate warrior. Who will it be?"

Young Adult:

Angel in Vegas: The Chronicles of Noah Sark by Norma Howe. "Who is Noah Sark, really? And what is he doing in the men’s room at Angelo’s Donut Shop in Las Vegas, Nevada? No use asking him; he doesn’t know. But he’s gambling that an assignment from above will shed some light — after all, a life depends on it! Only master satirist Norma Howe could craft a provocative meditation on free will from blending one (or maybe two) budding teen romances, a psychic fair, a dead frog, a headful of blond curls, and Las Vegas in all its glitz and kitsch (hello, Elvis!) with the dramatic backstory of Princess Diana in Paris. The jackpot? A wild and witty portrait of an unlikely guardian angel on a desperate mission to save a certain unknown girl from a certain unknown disaster."

Betrayals: A Strange Angels Novel Lili St. Crow. "Poor Dru Anderson. Her parents are long gone, her best friend is a werewolf, and she’s just learned that the blood flowing through her veins isn’t entirely human. (So what else is new?) Now Dru is stuck at a secret New England School for other teens like her, and there’s a big problem— she’s the only girl in the place. A school full of cute boys wouldn’t be so bad, but Dru’s killer instinct says that one of them wants her dead. And with all eyes on her, discovering a traitor within the Order could mean a lot more than social suicide. . ."

The Magician of Hoad by Margaret Mahy. "Heriot Tarbas was born with a gift. Visions wake him in the middle of the night, and others' thoughts invade his head. Heriot's mind already feels torn apart when the King of Hoad decides to tear him away from his family. Heriot quickly discovers that life in the royal court is much more difficult and complex than life on the farm. Being at the beck and call of a King who expects him to read friends' and foes' minds alike is no small challenge, but neither is being caught in a power struggle among three princes and an intimidating Hero of Hoad. As Heriot hones his skills and grows into the role of the Magician of Hoad, the number of people he can trust becomes smaller. Loneliness threatens to engulf him until a chance encounter brings a street urchin named Cayley into his life. Heriot feels inexplicably drawn to Cayley, someone he sees so much of himself in, yet at times feels like he does not understand at all. But even amidst the turmoil, Heriot is certain that his ever-developing power is the key to his destiny...if only he could figure out exactly what that destiny is supposed to be."

Dr. Sigmundus: The Resurrection Fields (The Promises of Dr. Sigmundus) by Brian Keaney. "Beginning where Book 2, The Cracked Mirror, left off, this finale to the Promises of Dr. Sigmundus trilogy takes readers into bizarre realms with fanciful creatures, continuing its signature exploration of the price of freedom and self-determination. Focusing on the ongoing struggles of its teenaged protagonists, Dante and Bea, it is a journey at once thrilling and thoughtful, with plenty to offer for pure reading enjoyment and book discussion."

The Shadowmask: Stone of Tymora, Book II by R.A. & Geno Salvatore. "Though robbed by a masked spellcaster and left for dead by a demon, twelve-year-old Maimun refuses to give up the magic that rightfully belongs to him. After reuniting with dark elf Drizzt Do'Urden and Captain Deudermont's crew, Maimun sets off on a sea-faring chase that will test both the strength of his spirit and of his friendships. As perilous storms rock Sea Sprite and vicious pirates bombard its decks, a mysterious force gathers in the Moonshaes, determined to bring Deudermont's ship - and Maimun's quest - crashing to an end on its shores."

Winter's End by Jean-Claude Mourlevat. "Escape. Milena, Bartolomeo, Helen, and Milos have left their prison-like boarding schools far behind, but their futures remain in peril. Fleeing across icy mountains from a terrifying pack of dog-men sent to hunt them down, they are determined to take up the fight against the despotic government that murdered their parents years before. Only three will make it safely to the secret headquarters of the resistance movement. The fourth is captured and forced to participate in a barbaric game for the amusement of the masses — further proof of the government’s horrible brutality. Will the power of one voice be enough to rouse a people against a generation of cruelty?"

Shadowland: The Immortals by Alyson Noel. "Ever and Damen have traveled through countless past lives—and fought off the world’s darkest enemies—so they could be together forever. But just when their long-awaited destiny is finally within reach, a powerful curse falls upon Damen…one that could destroy everything. Now a single touch of their hands or a soft brush of their lips could mean sudden death—plunging Damen into the Shadowland. Desperate to break the curse and save Damen, Ever immerses herself in magick—and gets help from an unexpected source…a surfer named Jude. Although she and Jude have only just met, he feels startlingly familiar. Despite her fierce loyalty to Damen, Ever is drawn to Jude, a green-eyed golden boy with magical talents and a mysterious past. She’s always believed Damen to be her soulmate and one true love—and she still believes it to be true. But as Damen pulls away to save them, Ever’s connection with Jude grows stronger—and tests her love for Damen like never before…"

For all ages:

Fairie-ality Style: A Sourcebook of Inspirations from Nature by David Ellwand. "Photographer David Ellwand’s eye for natural beauty has brought him international renown. In this stunning new volume, a follow-up to FAIRIE-ALITY: THE FASHION COLLECTION FROM THE HOUSE OF ELLWAND, he uses the same gorgeous array of natural elements — feathers, flowers, stones, shells, and more — to explore the limits of imagination in home design as well as haute couture. Partly an inspirational sourcebook for imaginative DIY projects, partly a showcase of unique fantasy fashion, FAIRIE-ALITY STYLE is an eco-designer’s dream — the ultimate exploration of truly organic materials."

Lost Worlds, by John Howe, for Nonfiction Monday

There are some books which, the moment you see them, invite you to open them. The opening is accompianied by appreciative murmurs, and thoughts of gift giving. Lost Worlds, by John Howe (Kingfisher, 2009, older middle grade on up, 95 pp), is just such a book. Mysterious looking. Engaging. Alluring. And with great content inside!

In his introduction, Howe (who was the concept artist for the Lord of the Rings movies) writes:

"There are two kinds of lost worlds: Those abandoned in time, buried and forgotten, like Aratta or Mohenjo-Daro, and the ones that live in the imagination, from Atlantis to Camelot. The first ones we might call real, since they once had streets filled with people. The latter are real, too, but in a different way; they embody our need for symbols and meaning." (page 9)

And so he sets out to offer a tour of the lost worlds (both real and fantastical) that have captured the imaginations of people for millennia. Howe takes his readers from the Garden of Eden, to Thebes, to Cahokia, Shambhala, Avalon and the Hollow Earth (and many more magical places--24 in all), offering, like a good tour guide, much clearly presented information about each one. Alongside the words are pictures--both beautiful original art, and also photographs of the real places and artifacts from them. The detailed, colorful illustrations bring the places to life--the reader can imagine, for instance, walking the streets of Mohenjo-Daro, or arriving at Timbuktu...

The imaginary places included are skewed toward a European world-view, and even some of the places that aren't in Europe are discussed from the point of view of European eyes. There is, however, considerable cultural and geographical variety. The one striking geographical omission from the lost places featured is East Asia--there are no lost worlds of China or Japan (although there is Shambhala, high in the Himalayas). A few are included in the Appendix at the end, which gives tantalizingly brief descriptions of more lost worlds. Although there's a glossary and an index, I would really have appreciated a map--many of the places described are real, and it would be useful to know where they are.

That being said, this is a beautiful book, one that educates as it entertains. It would a great gift for the middle-school kid (maybe 5th grade up) who is fascinated by archaeology and mythology (and who loves the "ology" books). It would also make a good gift for an older fantasy loving teenager, or even an adult lover of fantasy. And, as an added bonus, there's a forward by Ian McKellen (aka Gandalf).

Review copy received from the publisher.

Today's Non-Fiction Monday is at Tales from the Rushmore Kid.

Interview with Megan Whalen Turner at HipWriterMama, and more Winter Blog Blast Tour goodness

If you are at all a fan of Megan Whalen Turner, you must not miss today's interview with her at HipWriterMama! (there was something in it that made me squee like the fan girl I am). This interview is part of the Winter Blog Blast Tour, organized by Colleen over at Chasing Ray, where you can find the whole schedule.

Here are today's other offerings of particular interest to us fans of speculative fiction/sff:

Derek Landry at Finding Wonderland
Frances Hardinge at Fuse Number 8
Mary E. Pearson at Miss Erin

Introducing the Middle Grade Science Fiction and Fantasy Roundup!

Looking for reviews of middle grade science fiction and fantasy (sf/f) can be something of a hit or miss proposition. Books in this genre are often reviewed at blogs that have a general children's book focus, but you never know when that's going to happen, and middle grade books seem to show up only sporadically (if at all) at blogs whose focus is sf/f. So, inspired by Sherry at Semicolon, who hosts a review round-up every Saturday, today I'm introducing a similar, but more focused, weekly feature here, one that I hope will happen every Sunday.

I'm inviting everyone who's blogged about middle grade science fiction and fantasy (new or old) in the past week to leave me a link to their reviews, responses, reminiscences or remarks (as many as you want from the past week). Then, at the end of the day, there will be a lovely consolidation of mg sff posts that will be a nice and tidy resource for folks looking for the books, and all of us who like to read about them!

Middle-grade generally means books for children 9 to 12 year old, but if you have reviews of books that skew a bit younger than that, that's fine with me (but any older, and you are getting into YA territory, which is a whole different thing....). And, for future weeks, links to reviews can be emailed to me at any time, if you think you might not be commenting on that week's roundup Sunday itself.

So. Here we go!

This Week's Middle Grade Science Fiction and Fantasy Reviews (alphabetical by blog)

At Boys Rule Boys Read:

Salt Water Taffy: The Seaside Adventures of Jack and Benny - The Truth about Dr. Truth by Matthew Loux (a graphic novel) As an added bonus, this link also gives a review of The Monstrumologist...(YA)

Carl has a whole bunch more links that aren't from this week in his comment below--do check them out! But I couldn't resist linking to his review of The Roar, by Emma Clayton (2009), because it is next up on my Cybils reading list...

Here at my place (Charlotte's Library):

The Society of Unrelenting Vigilance (The Candle Man, Book 1), by Glenn Dakin (2009)
A Walk Through a Window, by kc dyer (2009)
Mike Stellar: Nerves of Steel by K.A. Holt (2009)

At Eva's Book Addiction:

Darkwood, by M.E. Breen (2009)
Sent, by Margaret Peterson Haddix (2009)

At The Excelsior File:

When You Reach Me, by Rebecca Stead (2009)

At Fantasy Book Critic, Cindy has:

The Hotel Under the Sand, by Kage Baker (2009)
Nine Pound Hammer (The Clockwork Dark Book 1) by John Claude Bemis (2009)
The Softwire: Virus on Orbis 1, by PJ Haarsma (2008)

At Fantasy Book Review:

Return to the Hundred Acre Wood, by David Benedictus (2009)

At Jean Little Library:

The Runaway Princess and its sequel, The Runaway Dragon, by Kate Coombs (2006 and 2009)

At Owl in the Library:

Powerless, by Matthew Cody (2009)

Please let me know if I am being unclear about anything, and please leave me your links!

THANKS!

The Society of Unrelenting Vigilance (Candle Man, Book One)

The Society of Unrelenting Vigilance (Candle Man, Book One) by Glenn Dakin (Egmont, 2009, Middle Grade, 300 pages)

Theo has lived all his life a prisoner, shut away in miserable confinement by his guardian (the head of the "Society of Good Works) to keep him from contaminating the outside world with his mysterious illness. But on a birthday outing to a nearby deserted cemetery, he finds a mysterious birthday gift--someone out there knows who he is.

Turns out the Society of Good Works are not good at all. Pitted against that society is another, the Society of Unrelenting Vigilance. And Theo might be just the hero they are looking for. But the Dodo, another mysterious bad guy with legions of extinct creatures at his command, wants Theo too...

Theo finds himself swept into a London of sinister underground tunnels, villains large and small, and creatures that he never dreamed existed (the smoglodytes are especially fun, in a polluted sort of way!). It's all a bit much for a boy whose barely even been outside, but with the mysterious powers of the Candle Man to help him, maybe Theo and his new friends can prevail...

This is an action-packed adventure, that takes the familiar trope of orphaned boy with special powers and runs with it like crazy! There are hints of steam-punkishness that add interest--such as infernal machines down in a dark underworld that never existed. It's definitely middle-grade, in that the darkness is leavened with a bit of silliness, and though there is violence, it is not disturbingly wrenching. It's a great one for readers who enjoy rather frenetic pacing, brisk shifts in the point of view from hero to various assorted secondary characters, and a densely packed canvas of villains, good guys, and assorted fantastical creatures.

The problem with all that, though, is that it doesn't leave much room for strong relationships to develop among the characters, or between the reader and the characters, for that matter. I wish there had been a bit more quite time to spend with Theo when he wasn't in mortal peril. He's a rather wonderfully neurotic character (blame it on his peculiar upbringing), and I hope he brings his quirkiness with him into the next book of the series (The Society of Dread, coming Fall 2010). I'm also hoping to find out more about Chloe--the young agent of the Society of Unrelenting Vigilance who plays a pivotal role in guiding Theo to his confrontation with the bad guys.

Here's one of my favorite passages from the book:

"I would be glad to meet anybody," Theo said eagerly. "There have been thirteen so far if you count a skeleton and don't count--what does Sam call those flying things?" Theo asked Chloe, remembering the garghoul.

"Birds," snapped Chloe." (page 84)

But it really was a garghoul, as Chloe well knows....

The Society of Unrelenting Vigilance has been nominated for the Cybils in the Middle Grade Science Fiction and Fantasy category, and the publisher generously provided review copies for us panelists (thanks Egmont!)

Agnes and the Giant, by Anne Adeney

Agnes and the Giant, by Anne Adeney, illustrated Daniel Postgate (Franklin Watts, 2009, 31pp). Here's a great learning-to-read adventure from the UK, one of the Hopscotch series of books that tell the stories of Britain in easy reader form.

Sometimes it takes a brave and clever girl to stop a rampaging giant. Bolster is just such a giant, terrorizing the countryside of Cornwall, always on the lookout for a tasty child to eat for his supper. Knight after knight has tried to slay him, to no avail.

So little Agnes takes matters into her own hands.

"Where's Bolster, the cowardly giant?" she shouted. "I hear even a sheep is cleverer than him."

Bolster roared with rage.

"I can beat anyone and do anything!" (pp 16-17)

So Agnes challenges him to fill a small pool with his blood, and Bolster is sure it will be but the work of minutes. Little does he know that Agnes has tricked him! The pool is actually joined to the sea by a cleft in the rock cliffs, and Bolster grows weaker and weaker as his blood pours into the ocean...and at last, he tumbles off the side himself, leaving the rocks stained red.

And if you go to the Cornish town of St. Agnes, and walk along the seaside, you can still see those red rocks today.

It's a fun and interesting story for the kid who's just becoming an independent reader, and who wants a touch of fantastical gore to spice things up! It hasn't been published in the US yet, as far as I can see, but it's available here at a reasonable price.

Disclaimer: my copy of the book was sent to me by the author, who I am very proud to say is my sister-in-law!

Obituary for Louise Cooper, British Fantasy Author, in today's Guardian

British fantasy writer Louise Cooper died in October at the most untimely age of 57. Here's a link to an obituary in today's Guardian.

Cooper wrote for both adults and children, including, most recently, the Mermaid Curse Quartet, book 1 of which is shown at right. She is perhaps best known for The Time Master Trilogy.

Here's link to a more personal remembrance, at Mundania Press.

Rachel Neumeier's new books (Waiting on Wednesday)

One of my favorite books of last year was The City in the Lake, by Rachel Neumeier (my review). On a whim yesterday I looked to see if she might be having a new book out soon...and Yes! Riches beyond the dreams of bookish avarice:

From her website:

"The first book of the Griffin Trilogy is called LORD OF THE CHANGING WINDS, and it is due to come out in the spring of 2010.

If you liked CITY, then I think you'll like CHANGING WINDS. CITY was published as YA and CHANGING WINDS is coming out as Adult Fantasy, but truly, I wrote them exactly the same way. I hope nobody is put off by either category."

A whole trilogy to look forward to!

But wait, there's more:

Another adult fantasy, House of Shadows!

But keep waiting, there's still more! Because Neumeier was under contract to write another YA novel, she has, and it is called Islands in the Sky, and you can take a peek at it here.

Goody gumdrops for us, as my grandfather used to say!

Waiting on Wednesday is the brainchild of Jill at Breaking the Spine; if you head on over there, you can find all the other books folks are anxiously awaiting...

A Walk Through A Window, for Timeslip "Tuesday"

A Walk Through a Window, by kc dyer (Doubleday Canada, 2009, middle grade, 222pp)

Darby has been sent to spend the summer with her grandparents on Prince Edward Island, where she's never been before (her father and her grandfather are not close). She's not happy about the long, boring months stretching in front of her, stuck in a "lame little place." At least, she thinks, she'll have plenty of time to practice skateboarding.

Then she meets Gabe, who takes it on himself to prove that she is wrong in her perception of the island.

"Follow me," Gabe's voice somehow carried through the storm. There was a clap of thunder and something leapt straight out at Darby from the grass. She jumped, but it was only Maurice, her grandparents' cat, hanging out here again. He must have been looking for shelter because he hopped past them onto the stone windowsill of the chapel.

"This place doesn't look very safe," Darby yelled, looking at the half-collapsed roof and piles of rubble inside. Definitely more like a chicken-house than a chapel."

"Perhaps you are correct," Gabe replied. "But what choice have we? Please take my hand."

She grabbed on and they stepped up onto the windowsill..." (page 48)

And then they walk through the window, and go back in time.

Three times Darby passes through during the course of the story, and each time she finds herself on a journey to Canada. She sees the first people to follow the caribou herds across the Bering Straits land bridge, she sees, to her horror, the suffering of the Irish immigrants trapped on a coffin ship, and finally she watches her grandfather's great-grandfather's arrival at the end of the 18th-century. Gabe seems to be a part of each of the groups she visit, but Darby herself is a ghost, a passive spectator as she watches and learns from the past.

In the present, Darby is also watching and learning from the events unfolding around her, as her grandfather sinks slowly into the clutches of Alzheimer's. As she grows closer to her grandparents, Darby learns about her own family, and the tragedy that lead to her father's alienation from his parents.

This plot-line in the present gives depth and meaning to the episodic time-slip elements, which, although engrossing, well-written, and historically accurate, fall squarely on the passively didactic side. And in turn her encounters with the past make Darby an increasingly sympathetic character (especially as she turns to the local library for help making sense of the stories she has seen--this almost makes up for her complete lack of interest in Anne of Green Gables).

This is the sort of book that is an excellent read for those who like to learn history from their fiction--it's interesting and enjoyable. If I knew any 10 or 11 year olds traveling to Canada, I'd give it to them in a second. But, for me at least, it never made the transition to truly magical...almost, but not quite.

Perhaps this is because Gabe, who instigates the time slipping, and who has active roles to play in the past, remains a complete mystery, and never gets to be much more than a plot device. Why does the window take them back in time, and how did Gabe figure it out? Why can people see Gabe but not Darby? Who the heck is he, anyway? I can't help but feel that the book would have been richer if more had been made of him...

In the end, it is the family dynamics in the present that are more compelling than the time travel, especially the moving portrayal of Darby's Grandfather, with his memories of war and past tragedy. Here Dyer succeeds rather powerfully in creating a poignant picture of what it means to have history, and to belong to a family and a place.

Here's another review, from Kate at The Book Aunt last April, where I left a comment saying that this one was going on my list! I'm glad it got nominated for the Cybils mg sff/f (for which I am a panelist), because I've been wanting to read it ever since, and I'd like to thank the publisher for sending review copies--thank, Doubleday Canada!

Read Kate's review reminds me that I also added Dyer's Eagle Glen trilogy to my list--Kate says it's "about a girl named Darrell Connor who travels through time to Scotland, Italy, England, and Spain at crucial points in history and deals with villainous intrigues" and I am so sold. After the Cybils...

The longlist for the Carnegie Award--lots of fantasy (and other good books)

Guess what! The Graveyard Book has been nominated for another award! But so have lots of other good books, and here they are--the longlist for the Carnegie Award, which is the UK Newbery/National Book Award equivalent:

Agard, John The Young Inferno
Allen-Gray, Alison Lifegame
Almond, David Jackdaw Summer
Anderson, Laurie Halse Chains
Anderson, R J Knife
Ashley, Bernard Solitaire
Bowler, Tim Bloodchild
Brennan, Sarah Rees The Demon's Lexicon
Brooks, Kevin Killing God
Burgess, Melvin Nicholas Dane
Caldecott, Elen How Kirsty Jenkins stole the elephant
Cassidy, Anne The Dead House
Chancellor, Henry The Remarkable Adventures of Tom Scatterhorn: The Museum’s Secret
Christopher, Lucy Stolen
Creech, Sharon Hate That Cat
Crossley-Holland, Kevin Waterslain Angels
Dogar, Sharon Falling
Donaldson, Julia Running on the cracks
Dowd, Siobhan Solace of the Road
Dowswell, Paul Auslander
Finn, Daniel Two Good Thieves
Fisk, Pauline Flying for Frankie
Forman, Gayle If I Stay
Gaiman, Neil The Graveyard Book
Golding, Julia Wolf Cry
Grant, Helen The Vanishing of Katharina Linden
Hardinge, Frances Gullstruck Island (published in the US as The Lost Conspiracy)
Hearn, Julie Rowan the Strange
Higgins, F E The Eyeball Collector
Hoffman, Mary Troubadour
Kennen, Ally Bedlam
LaFleur, Suzanne Love, Aubrey
Laird, Elizabeth The Witching Hour
Manning, Mick & Granstrom, Brita Tail-End Charlie
Muchamore, Robert Brigands M.C.
Ness, Patrick The Ask and the Answer
Newbery, Linda The Sandfather
Patterson, James Max
Peet, Mal Exposure
Perera, Anna Guantanamo Boy
Philip, Gillian Crossing the Line
Pratchett, Terry Nation
Rai, Bali City of Ghosts
Reeve, Philip The Snipper
Riordan, James Fever Crumb
Riordan, Rick Percy Jackson and the Last Olympian
Sedgwick, Marcus The Kiss of Death
Sedgwick, Marcus Revolver
Strangolov, Lazlo Feather and Bone
Stroud, Jonathan Heroes of the Valley
Valentine, Jenny The Ant Colony
Ward, Rachel Numbers
Whitley, David The Midnight Charter
Wilson, Leslie Saving Rafael

(that is to say, at least the six I've read have all been very good...)

And in a celebratory spirit, Sarah Rees Brennon has the first chapter of her sequel up on line here!

Children's Book of Art, from DK, for Non-fiction Monday

In my mind, the DK brand of non-fiction is synonymous with beautifully designed and copiously illustrated packages of information, ranging from the intricately particular to the more general. That pretty much sums up the Children's Book of Art, released this September. This book takes the reader on a chronological journey that explores art, in all its myriad forms, from cave paintings to graffiti.

There are sections on particular cultures, such as Dreamtime art, Chinese art, and African sculpture. There are sections on particular artists, dominated by many of the standard European heavyweights like Van Gogh and Picasso, but including some artists who were new to me--like Australian artist Sidney Nolan and the English artist Damien Hirst. There are sections that explore themes, like "Gods and heroes in art" and "Work in art."

And there are sections, which I found particularly fascinating, on how to make art oneself. Some tips and techniques I can imagine trying out with my own children (ideas from the section of watercolor, for instance) and others that might be a bit beyond us (how to make blue pigment from grinding lapis lazuli, and how to carve marble) that nevertheless make for engrossing reading.

I was a little saddened by the paucity of women artists (Mary Cassatt gets a double spread, and I noticed that some women are mentioned in the section on Naive art, a few more in Postwar Abstract art, and one in Abstract sculpture; I might have missed others). But, of course, the dominance of men isn't exactly DK's fault...

And I would have liked more anthropological elaboration, with global examples, on the lightly touched on point that art "can also be a meaningful idea" (page 9). I don't think this is explored enough, but then, I'm an anthropologist myself, and this is the part of art I find most fascinating.

But still. This is a lovely, fact-filled, pretty diverse look at art. It's a book that would make a great addition to the library of any young art lover (or art-lover-to-be).

Here are some other reviews, at Five Minutes for Books and 100 Scope Notes. And, in the interests of full disclosure, I received my copy from the publisher.

Today's Non-fiction Monday is hosted by Abby (the) Librarian.

Old Swedish Fairy Tales, by Anna Whalenberg

So I've been thinking about fairy tales this week, and thought this would be a good time to share a book I have loved since I was old enough to read. Growing up, some of the books I re-read most often were the old fairy tale collections that had belonged to my father when he was a little boy. And my most favorite of these was Old Swedish Fairy Tales, by Anna Whalenberg (translated by Antoinette DeCoursey Patterson, Hampton Publishing Company, 1925).

These are lovely stories. There's castle on an island held up by the hand of a sleeping underwater giant, and magic soap bubbles and water nymphs and good people being rewarded by magic (and less good people getting what they deserve too) and a witch in the woods and a woman who loved a tree (shown at right)...and I read them over and over again.

It truly is a wonderful collection of stories, and it seems to be readily available (on Amazon it starts at $18.28).

Here's a teaser for my favorite story, one that started my love affair with fictional glass-blowing:



Anyone else have a favorite fairy tale collection from their childhood that they still treasure?

Mike Stellar: Nerves of Steel, by K.A. Holt

See up there, next to my orange snail, where it says I review science fiction and fantasy books? Um. I just did some math. Turns out I've reviewed or talked about fantasy 184 times, sci fi only 23. It's true that I gravitate more toward fantasy, but my personal bias is not entirely to blame. There is much less science fiction for children and teens then there is fantasy.

But today I have a science fiction book for middle grade kids! And it isn't a Jimmy Neutron type boy genius concocting things in his lab story, nor is it an aliens among us story. It is a real, honest-to-goodness, edge-of-your seat straight-up space adventure.

It is Mike Stellar: Nerves of Steel, by K.A. Holt (Random House, 2009, middle grade, 262pp).

Young Mike has been having a rough time of it ever since the last mission that set off to terraform Mars was lost in space. A lot of people think his parents were to blame. Then suddenly he is whisked by his folks off on mission number 2. But strange things are happening on board their space craft, and soon Mike isn't sure if even he can still believe his parents are the good guys.

Mike puts his intelligence and technological savvy to work sneaking information from under the noses of the grownups, with the help of a very odd, but even more knowledgeable, girl named Larc. But meanwhile, the bad guys, whoever they are, are getting closer, and there's only way out.

"I just thought we would hide in here- not fly away!" I looked crazily around the pod. Through the porthole next to me, I saw stars streaking by.

Larc giggled and said, "Belt." Her belt slid off and she hovered in front of me. With her hair whipping around and her billowing jumpsuit, she looked like a ghost or a fairy or something.

"An escape pod is for escaping, Mike. It's not called a hiding pod." (pp 195-196)

Mike Stellar is a fun space adventure, narrated by a smart kid who's confused and annoyed (with good reason), but likable. There's cool technology that doesn't distract from the story. A mystery to solve. (although, characteristically, I was too busy reading to stop and ask if I knew what was going on). A wacky girl, who's even smarter than the boy.

This probably isn't a book that will appeal to grown-up fans of science-fiction, for whom the plot and its concomitant technology might seem simplistic. But, since they aren't the target audience, so what. I bet Mike Stellar is a huge hit among ten and eleven year olds, and, given how few recent middle grade books there are about kids in space,* I bet it will be fresh and fun for them as all get out.

And then they can go forward and read Asimov.

*please, leave recommendations of such books in the comments! I want to know if I am totally wrong! (although I wouldn't, of course, mind being told just how right I am).

Mike Stellar: Nerves of Steel is a nominee for the Cybils Awards in the Middle Grade Science Fiction and Fantasy category, for which I am a panelist. The copy I was reviewed was provided by the publisher.

YA Fairies in the NY Times

Just a quick post-let to put up a link to this Sunday's NY Times Book Review, where there's an article on YA Fairy Books (rather inaccurately entitled "Field Guides to Fairies"). It talks about some great books-- Ash, by Malinda Lo, Eyes Like Stars, by Lisa Mantchev, Fairy Tale, by Cyn Balog, Wings, by Aprilyne Pike, and Fragile Eternity, by Melissa Marr.

Laini Taylor gets a mention at the end: "But the books in her beautifully written “Dreamdark” series are for a younger audience, and unlike the other fairy-themed novels discussed here, they don’t cross human and otherworldly realms but are rooted in a self-contained fantasy world, like Tolkien’s Middle-earth. There’s no tortured adolescent sexuality, just adventure, flying carpets, hideous monsters and stolen magic. Hardly a fairy tale at all."

On the other hand, they do fit the description "Field Guides to Fairies" rather better than the books discussed. And now I am wondering to myself--is there any YA book with fairies that doesn't have "tortured adolescent sexuality?"

But anyway, it's nice to see the Times following the lead of Once Upon a Week (which has now officially ended).

Book Blogger Holiday Swap

My favorite part about Christmas is looking forward to it, and in that spirit, I've just signed up for the Book Blogger Holiday Swap! It's an annual book blogger secret Santa, now in its third year. I've never done this before, but it sounds like fun. The deadline for sign on is November 12, 2009.

New Releases of Science Fiction and Fantasy for Children and Teens--the beginning of November edition

Here are the new releases of fantasy and science fiction of children and teens from the beginning of November. Actually, there's only one YA title in the lot...

I am particularly exited about the release of books three and four of the Keyholders series, so much so that I have already bought them. This is a great series for the eight or nine year old hesitant reader!

(My information comes from Teens Read Too, with help from Amazon).

CURLY AND THE FENT by Sally Morgan & Ambelin, Blaze, & Ezekiel Kwaymullina. "Curly gets in trouble enough already, but it really starts when he discovers a monster called a Fent (from Fent Land) that lives in the cupboard. Adults can’t see the Fent, so when it tickles Curly in the car until he shrieks and eats Dad’s new invention, there’s no one to blame but Curly! To make matters worse, Billy the school bully can see the Fent too, and he wants it for himself. What’s poor Curly to do?"

CURSE OF THE SPIDER KING: THE BERINFELL PROPHECIES by Wayne Thomas Batson & Christopher Hopper. "The Seven succeeding Elven Lords of Allyra were dead, lost in the Siege of Berinfell as babes. At least that's what everyone thought until tremors from a distant world known as Earth, revealed strange signs that Elven blood lived among its peoples. With a glimmer of hope in their hearts, sentinels are sent to see if the signs are true. But theirs is not a lone errand. The ruling warlord of Allyra, the Spider King, has sent his own scouts to hunt down the Seven and finish the job they failed to complete many ages ago. Now 13-year-olds on the brink of the Age of Reckoning when their Elven gifts will be manifest, discover the unthinkable truth that their adoptive families are not their only kin. With mysterious Sentinels revealing breathtaking secrets of the past, and dark strangers haunting their every move, will the young Elf Lords find the way back to the home of their birth? Worlds and races collide as the forces of good and evil battle. Will anyone escape the Curse of the Spider King?"

ERAGON'S GUIDE TO ALAGAESIA by Christopher Paolini. "From the creators of the bestselling books Dragonology, Egyptology, Piratelogy, and others, this is a never-before-seen glimpse into the world of Christopher Paolini’s Inheritance cycle. Alagaësia comes alive in a lush and detailed look at an unforgettable magical land. From elves, dwarves, Urgals, humans, and dragons, to the natural landscape and the magic it contains, Eragon himself offers the reader an unsurpassed tour. This oversized, full-color book provides 15 spreads chock full of spectacular artwork, engaging novelty elements, and fascinating insights into Eragon’s home. With gorgeous jewels adorning the cover and pages filled with envelopes, gatefolds, samples of dragon skin, and more, Eragon’s Guide to Alagaësia is sure to appeal to the legions of fans of Christopher Paolini’s bestselling Inheritance cycle."

HOOTCAT HILL by Lucy Coats. "Linnet Perry is a 13-year-old girl living in Wyrmesbury. Ordinary on the surface, she has hidden powers which she must be taught to use. When the ancient worldwyrm stirs, fear spreads throughout the town. People begin to disappear. Unless the wyrm is returned to sleep, there will be natural disasters and worse—too much old magic will leak into the world, disturbing the careful balance of modern life. Only Linnet has the rare combination of magics needed to embark on the dangerous quest through the natural and spiritual world to redress the imbalance and restore order. But is she strong enough—and willing enough—to confront her gifts, and use them—especially since all she has ever wanted was to fit in and be like everyone else?"

IN TOO DEEP: THE 39 CLUES by Jude Watson. "A hint from their parents’ past puts Amy and Dan on the trail of secrets their grandmother Grace would NEVER have wanted them to know. Awful memories begin to crowd in on Amy, just as her enemies circle closer. How far would she go to protect Dan? How much of a Cahill is she prepared to be? Perhaps Grace was right – some secrets are better left buried."

INSIDE THE MAGIC: KEYHOLDERS by Debbie Dadey & Marcia Thornton Jones. "Oh, no! Mr. Leery has been kidnapped by the evil Queen of the Boggarts. It’s up to the apprentice Keyholders Penny, Luke, and Natalie to rescue him. Together with their links, a unicorn named Kirin, a dragon named Dracula, and a rat named Buttercup, the three Keyholders cross the border to the land inside the magic—a place where anything can happen. Will they find Mr. Leery in time?"

KICKING AND SCREAMING: MEET THE KREEPS by Kiki Thorpe. "When Polly joins the soccer team, her strange stepmom, Veronica, becomes her biggest fan -- and the spookiest soccer mom Endsville has ever seen!"

THE MISSING KIN: THE CHRONICLES OF KRANGOR by Michael Pryor. "While Adalon and his friends Targesh and Simangee gather supporters at the Lost Castle, the mad Queen Tayesha and her ruthless general continue to wage war on the Seven Kingdoms of Krangor. It is only when Simangee finds a legend in an ancient text that the rebels begin to have renwed hope. Do the Missing Kin of the saur really exist? Can the three friends find the winged saur and convince them to join their cause before the war is lost?"

MONKEY SEE, MONKEY DON'T: CYBERIA by Chris Lynch. "Zane lives in a future in which everything is networked and microchipped. His bedroom talks to him, reads his temperature, and informs him when he will next need to go to the bathroom. His parents are wired, too—both are network broadcasters with studios at home—although Zane never sees them unless he makes an appointment. His best pal is his dog, Hugo, who wears a microchip installed by the family vet that allows him to talk when Zane wears a special earphone. But Hugo tells Zane things he isn't supposed to know—for example, that Dr. Gristle has been performing twisted techno-experiments on an entire lab full of animals, and that the boy is the only one who can rescue them." (from School Library Journal)

MY UNWILLING WITCH STARTS A GIRL BAND: RUMBLEWICK'S DIARY by Hiawyn Oram. "Witty Rumblewick the cat is back, writing about even more hilarious hijinx with his unwilling witch in Book 3 of the series. Rumblewick is Haggy Aggy's right-hand cat, contractually bound to shape her into the best witch she can be. The problem? Haggy Aggy is a most unwitchy witch, and she has no interest in boiling frogs--she wants to be a STAR! Now Haggy is dead-set on entering the Girl Bands Are Us contest and becoming a rockstar. But how is Rumblewick to stop her and avoid the wrath of the ruling witches if he can't stop his head from bopping along with the music? With hand-written text of varying sizes, doodles, and comical black-and-white illustrations throughout, it's easy to believe you're really reading a diary."

THE OK TEAM by Nick Place. "Hazy Retina was born out of focus. He’s all blurry around the edges. And when he’s nervous or embarrassed, he disappears completely. He’s always thought of himself as a freak, until he gets a visit from the Australian Federation of Hero Types. It turns out he’s an Entry Level Grade Two Superhero! Now he just has to find some equally low-grade heroes who are prepared to join his team—the OK team. This hilarious adventure story features newspaper articles, cartoons, collectors handwritten notes, photographs, transcripts, and graffiti."

PRINCESS GRACE AND THE GOLDEN NIGHTINGALE: THE TIARA CLUB by Vivian French. "Fairy G is taking the princesses to the Museum of Royal Life! Princess Grace can’t wait to hear the golden nightingale sing, but the horrible twins Diamonde and Gruella are determined to get her into trouble."

PRINCESS LUCY AND THE PRECIOUS PUPPY: THE TIARA CLUB by Vivian French. "Princess Lucy has a secret. She doesn’t like games—and it’s nearly Sports Day! But when Queen Molly asks her for a special favor, Lucy is in for a real surprise."

REWIND ASSASSIN: TIME RUNNERS by Justin Richards. "The man Jamie and Anna are looking for is no ordinary killer. Dressed in a modern business suit and with a high-powered sniper rifle, his sights are set on Will Shakespeare and changing history—if the Time Runners don't stop him. Their old enemy, Darkling Midnight, wants to form an alliance against the assassin. But can he be trusted? As the Spanish Armada, wrecked and defeated eight years previously, surfaces from the watery depths, and soldiers who should be long-dead leap ashore to invade England, Jamie and Anna realize that nothing is quite as it seems. It will take all their courage and ingenuity to defeat their sinister enemy."

THE UNUSUAL MIND OF VINCENT SHADOW by Tim Kehoe. "Vincent Shadow isn't particularly good at sports and is constantly being picked on by his classmates at Central Middle School. But it is Vincent's unusually creative mind that truly separates him from other kids his age. Vincent's top secret attic lab is crammed with toy prototypes --from Liquid Superballs to Bullz-I Basketballs and Sonic Snorkelz--and he has a sketch book filled with drawings of toys he still wants to build. So when a chance encounter with an eccentric toy inventor offers him the opportunity to go from unknown weird kid to toy inventor extraordinaire, Vincent realizes that playtime is over: it's time to get serious about toys."

THE WRONG SIDE OF MAGIC: KEYHOLDERS by Debbie Dadey & Marcia Thornton Jones. "When Penny, Luke, Natalie and their links return home after rescuing Mr. Leery from the clutches of the evil Queen of the Boggarts, they find a lot of changes in Morgantown. Mrs. Bender, the principal, has decided on longer school days with no recess. The cafeteria ladies are serving up some extremely yucky food (even more than usual). And their teacher, Mr. Crandle, is giving them twice as much homework. What is wrong with all the adults in town? Could it be another scheme from the Boggart Queen? It’s up to the apprentice Keyholders to find out."

And here's the one YA release:

FADE OUT: THE MORGANVILLE VAMPIRES by Rachel Caine. "Without the evil vampire Bishop ruling over the town of Morganville, the resident vampires have made major concessions to the human population. With their newfound freedoms, Claire Danvers and her friends are almost starting to feel comfortable again...Now Claire can actually concentrate on her studies, and her friend Eve joins the local theatre company. But when one of Eve's castmates goes missing after starting work on a short documentary, Eve suspects the worst. Claire and Eve soon realize that this film project, whose subject is the vampires themselves, is a whole lot bigger-and way more dangerous-than anyone suspected."

Tell Me a Story: Women of Wonder

Women of Wonder, the third volume of the Tell Me a Story audio book series, offers 68 minutes of stories from around the world. The tales and legends included are a wonderful addition to the story world of any listener-the selections reach beyond the more common stories of the fairy tale cannon, and they feature brave girls and young women using their wits to succeed.

The stories are:

"The Cleverest Tune," (Britain) read by Bryce Dallas Howard
"The Goddess and the Ogre," (Cambodia) read by Jessica DiCicco
"Whisker of the Lioness," (Ethiopia) read by Margot Rose
"The Lady and the Judge," (Turkey) read by Wendy Hammers
"Reindeer Maiden," (Siberia) read by Yvette Freeman
"Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind," (America) read by Paula Poundstone.

With the exception of the last story, my children and I were unfamiliar with these tales, and it was delightful to make the acquaintance of this diverse collection. It's diverse not only globally, but narrative-wise as well, offering as it does a most entertaining mix of magic, smarts, and the supernatural.

My only disappointment was with the music that compliments the stories--I wish it had been as diverse as the stories themselves (although my children had no complaints).

Women of Wonder was the winner of the 2009 Parents Choice Gold Medal and 2009 NAPPA Gold Medal for story telling. For more about volumes 1 (Timeless Folktales from Around the World) and 2 (Animal Magic), visit MythsandTales.com.

(review copy provided by the producer)

Favorite childhood books of the authors we love, inscribed and signed, are being auctioned...

Would you like to own a copy of one of Neil Gaiman's favorite childhood books, with a signed inscription from him inside? Or one of J.K. Rowling's? The Little Auction that Could gives you a chance to bid on these and more, to raise money for a pretty special library.

Karla Preissman, a mother from Florida with a passion for books, wanted a library for the abused and neglected children who live at the Hibiscus Children’s Center. So she came up with an extraordinarily ambitious, and delightfully simple, fundraiser

She asked famous people to sign their names in a copy of a book that influenced or delighted them back when they were children, and, beginning today, they are being auctioned off.

Here are some of the books, with their inscriptions:

Jane Goodall, Tarzan (If only Tarzan had married the right Jane)
Maya Angelou, Story of Phillis Wheatley (To the winning bidder at Hibiscus Children`s Shelter, Joy! Maya Angelou; July 24, 2009)
Jason Taylor, Tom Sawyer (Read & grow!)
Sean Connery, Treasure Island (Best wishes)
Philip Knight, The Kid from Tomkinsville (Just do it!)

What a great way to celebrate books and kids!

(photo by Robert Holland)

Fairy Tale Retellings for Once Upon a Week...

This week a celebration of fairy tale retellings--Once Upon a Week-- is taking place, hosted by Today's Adventures. Lots of fun reviews and interviews to read, and, for me at least, lots of new to me blogs to visit!


In the spirit of fairy tale-ness, I went through and found all the fairy tale retellings I've reviewed, and offer them again today! I am a little surprised that out of 796 posts I only have seven that are retellings of "classical European fairy tales" (but on the other hand, I've reviewed lots of fantasy books that are fairy tale-esque in their own right...see list of recent reviews at right!)

Ice, by Sarah Beth Durst

Ash, by Malinda Lo

Black Pearls: A Faerie Strand, by Louise Hawes

Princess of the Midnight Ball, by Jessica Day George

Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow, by Jessica Day George

My Fair Godmother, by Janette Rallison

Glass Slipper, Golden Sandal, by Julie Paschkis

And now I feel inspired to seek out more re-tellings, preferable retellings of "fairy tales of many lands" done with cultural sensitivity...so please make suggestions! (and come back tomorrow for a review I'd already planned of a cd featuring just such stories...)

And now I am also wondering what makes a Fairy Tale different Folk Tale. Are there ever girls in ball gowns on the covers of the later? Or is it something more fundamental, (like shoes)?

The Secret-Keeper, by Kate Coombs, a fantasy picture book

The Secret-Keeper, by Kate Coombs, illustrated by Heather M. Solomon (Atheneum Books, 2006, 24 pp)

The Secret-Keeper is a beautiful picture book that tells of Kalli, a young woman who lived by herself in the woods. The people of the town came to her, to tell her their secrets, and the words they spoke would take shape in her hands, and she would store away the things they had become in the many little drawers of her house. The secrets were sad, and bad, many small mean things (and some larger things), and surrounded by them all, Kalli grew sad and sick.

When the townsfolk found her lying alone, near death, at first they did not know what to do. Telling Kalli secrets was what they were used to, but they did not want to add to the weight of sadness she carried. So they began to tell other secrets, of love, and hope, and happiness, and these turned into beauty.

And then when Taln, the potter's son, told his own secret to Kalli, her happiness was complete.

This is the sort of picture book that is a lovely thing to give to an older child, one who can already read, but who has not yet grown dismissive of childish things. My nine-year old loved it. It is also the sort of picture book that will delight the grown-up who is not afraid to sniff a bit while reading a children's book (my husband and myself).

I know the author, Kate Coombs, as the blogger behind Book Aunt (where she currently has a lovely post up about witches), which is why I sought out this book.

The Hotel Under the Sand, by Kage Baker

For today's Timeslip Tuesday, I offer a hotel that traveled through time, bringing with it a cook and a dog. The time travel part is not the point of the book, so I feel a little diffident about saying that it is a Timeslip story. But, in as much as my reading at present is (mostly) dictated by the books nominated for the Cybils in MG Sci Fi/Fantasy (as this one is) it is the best I can do today...also, I liked the book and wanted to write about it.

The Hotel Under the Sand, by Kage Baker (2009, Tachyon Publications, middle grade, 180pp)

More than a hundred years ago, a grand hotel was built far from civilization, on great sand dunes beside the ocean. Sand dunes are tricky to build on, and these were no exception. One day a great storm arose, and the beautiful hotel was buried...Now another storm has come, and washed away everything that Emma has ever known and loved. Cast away on the same sands that cover the hotel, Emma holds back her grief while she struggles to survive.

Then Winston, the ghost of the Bell Captain from the old hotel, appears by her campfire, offering comfort and companionship. And then, when the winds begin to blow again, they uncover the old hotel.

"It was a palace of turrets and spires, verandahs and cupolas, scrollwork and gilded weathervanes. In some places it was five stories tall. It was the most beautiful building Emma had ever seen, and brightly burning lights above the fourth-floor balcony spelled out its name:

THE GRAND WENLOCK." (p 37)

Nothing has changed since the day it was lost, because, hidden in its depths, is a mechanism that can hold time still. Still inside, brought forward from the past, is the motherly cook, ready to give all the hospitality of the Wenlock to Emma. And it is wonderful hospitality, with beautiful rooms to explore and tasty meals to eat.

The arrival (by boat) of a pirate and the arrival (by home-made flying contraption) of Masterman, a young boy who is the last of the Wenlock family, both seeking the lost Wenlock fortune, leads to a treasure-hunt around the grand hotel. More arrivals soon appear--strange and magical guests. So Emma, the pirate, the ghostly Bell Captain, Masterman, and the cook set themselves to the running of the hotel.

But it's hard to relax when you can be buried by sand again at any minute. The only solution is to move the hotel.

The Hotel Under the Sand is a strangely delightful story. I especially loved Emma's explorations of the hotel (being a fan of books in which children explore strange old houses). I could happily have stayed at this part of the book much longer, as all the myriad arrivals scattered the story a bit. I realize that "plots" often require that things happen, but the magic of the hotel was so powerful that I wanted more time to enjoy it before things got truly surreal...Although I enjoyed the treasure hunt a lot too.

One could (perhaps) characterize this book as Joan Aiken-ish (the fantastical absurdity of plot) with a dash of Elizabeth Enright's Goneaway books (the abandoned mansion/hotel). If you like slightly old-fashioned feeling stories, far removed from reality, with brave girls overcoming calamity, wondrous hotels and very strange hotel guests, and if you don't require lots of Dramatic Action Packed Adventure, and are able to tolerate a bit of pirate, you will probably like The Hotel Under the Sand a lot.

Incidentally, the nature of the catastrophe that washed away Emma's family is never revealed, and she very deliberately is not thinking about it while she struggles to survive, and then becomes engrossed in the hotel. It is only at the end, when the hotel is safe, that she allows herself to cry...adding a sudden depth to the whole story.

There are charming black and white illustrations by Stephanie Pui-Mun Law sprinkled throughout--but, as is so very often the case, I feel Bad because I didn't even realize they were there because I was so busy reading the story....if you read it yourself, please take a moment to appreciate them. Or you can go to this entry at the Tachyon blog, to see some for yourself...

Here are some other reivews, at The SF Site, and The Antick Musings of G.B.H. Hornswaggle, Gent.

Many thanks to the publisher for sending us MG SF/F Cybils Panelists review copies! We appreciate it.

Tender Morsels wins World Fantasy Award for best novel; Jane Yolen wins Lifetime Achievement award

Young Adult books, and children's too, are well represented in this year's World Fantasy Awards (announced November 1). A YA novel, Tender Morsels is one of this year's best novels, and prolific children's and YA author Jane Yolen received a lifetime achievement award. Shown at right is the forth-coming Australian cover of Tender Morsels, illustrated by Shaun Tan, who by happy chance won this year's Best Artist Award. I love it--it is so much more comforting than the US cover.

Lifetime Achievement: Ellen Asher & Jane Yolen

Best Novel (tie): The Shadow Year, Jeffrey Ford (Morrow) & Tender Morsels, Margo Lanagan (Allen & Unwin; Knopf)
Best Artist: Shaun Tan
Special Award – Professional: Kelly Link & Gavin J. Grant (for Small Beer Press and Big Mouth House). Small Beer Press publishes books for children and teenagers, like The Serial Garden, by Joan Aiken, The Privilege of the Sword, by Ellen Kushner, and Kelly Link is herself the author of Pretty Monsters and Magic for Beginners, two great YA short story collections.

Here are the other winners:

Best Novella: “If Angels Fight”, Richard Bowes (F&SF 2/08)
Best Short Story: “26 Monkeys, Also the Abyss”, Kij Johnson (Asimov’s 7/08)
Best Anthology: Paper Cities: An Anthology of Urban Fantasy, Ekaterina Sedia, ed. (Senses Five Press)
Best Collection: The Drowned Life, Jeffrey Ford (HarperPerennial)

Special Award – Non-Professional: Michael Walsh (for Howard Waldrop collections from Old Earth Books)

Ghost Town, by Richard Jennings

Ghost Town, by Richard Jennings (Houghton Mifflin, 2009, upper middle grade/YA, 165 pp).

When its factory closed, the life began to drain away from Paisley, Kansas. Family after family moved away, until the only two people left in town are 13 year-old Spence Honesty and his TV addicted mother. And Spence's imaginary friend, Chief Leopard Frog, bad poet and carver of talismans.

One lonely day, the rabbit Chief Leopard Frog carved for Spence asks to be photographed. So Spence digs out his father's old camera, and begins to shoot picture after picture of life in a town where everyone has left. And in the some of the pictures appear the people who once lived there, most often pictures of Maureen, the older girl who had lived next door, who once, unforgettably, lifted her shirt for Spence (this is the one incident that makes this perhaps not entirely suitable for younger middle grade readers--Spence matter-of-factly describes what lay beneath). Not every picture Spence takes is populated, but a few from every role of film bring back the people who have gone.

"There were many lovely compositions featuring flowers and mushrooms and mailboxes; a rather formal portrait of the Shiba Inu family standing on their front porch without a single smile among them; a couple of action shots of the Foos engaged in repairing a vacuum cleaner, and a full roll of exposures of Maureen.

That's when I knew for a fact how lonely I was." (page 100)

In the meantime, Chief Leopard Frog has found an unlikely outlet for his poetry and carvings (marketed as bad luck charms) via Uncle Milton's Thousand Things You Thought You'd Never Find, and is well on his way to fame and fortune...and the media, in the form of a young woman hoping for a breakthrough of her own, has come knocking on the one door of the one home left in Paisley.

The imagined and the longed for and the real converge...and Spence, Paisley, and Chief Leopard Frog will never be the same.

Here's Spence, musing about the old saying, "be careful what you wish for:"

"...I think it means that if you're wishing you had excitement in your life and all of a sudden you're dealing with the bruised egos of sensitive imaginary Indians, and the sudden bursting forth of motherly behaviour by a former television vegetable, and the unannounced arrival of a smart-aleck cutie-pie way too old for you, and letters from modern-day pirates of the Caribbean, not to mention notes from girls who once lived next door and the occasional unexplained photograph of a vanished person, well, it's like that other old saying that goes, "It's either feast of famine." (pp 123-124).

It's a funny, sweet, magical book.

Even though on paper this might seem easily classifiable as "fantasy," what with ghost images appearing in pictures and an imaginary friend who seems rather more real than most, I don't think that label quite suits this story. Spence is an unreliable narrator (I think)* with a great imagination, and the dreamlike pictures of the people he is missing so badly are never seen by anyone else.

So this isn't a book I'd give to someone who is looking for fantasy style "magic." I'd be most quick give it to a sensitive, introverted eleven or twelve year old, although I don't by any means think its appeal is limited to just that demographic. For instance, I'm going to pass this one on to my husband, something I don't often do with middle grade/ya fantasy books. But the quality of the writing, the rather brilliant portrayal of Spence in his lonely adolescent state, and the lovely mixture of poignancy and humor make this a book many grown-ups (like my husband, I hope, and me, I know) will appreciate very much.

Note on Chief Leopard Frog: I had my doubts about whether the inclusion of an imaginary Native American Chief was a good idea, or whether it would be offensively stereotypical. I think Jennings managed to avoid the latter...but I'd be curious to hear from anyone else whose read this!

*This is one of the things I would talk about if I were running a discussion about this book (and I think it would be a great book club choice) -- here's an unreliable narrator (whose last name is, ironically (?) Honesty), who is making things up like crazy but who is actually incredibly honest in his self-assessment, who is bent on documenting, in his photography, the reality of his abandoned town, except that there are ghost images, and who never actually lies to the narrator. Except for maybe once.

And there are so many lovely metaphors too, subtly tucked away in the story...Lots to talk about!

Here are other reviews and remarks, at Guys Lit Wire, The Happy Nappy Bookseller, and Chasing Ray.