3/14/10

New releases of fantasy and science fiction for teenagers and children

Here are the new releases of science fiction and fantasy for children and teenagers for the middle of March (3/9 to 3/18), taken from Teens Read Too, with blurbs from Amazon/the publishers.

Middle Grade:

AWAKENING ON ORBIS 4: THE SOFTWIRE by PJ Haarsma. "Johnny Turnbull now knows that his sister, Ketheria, is the Scion — a long-awaited being who will bring understanding and healing to the universe. But what about him? As the Scion’s protector and guardian, JT is expected to start training to become a Space Jumper, a mercenary soldier who can jump through time and space. And he’s not happy about it, especially as he promised his girlfriend, Max, he would never take on that dangerous role, which could take him who-knows-how-far away. Can anything — or any one — guide Johnny to his true calling? And as new trouble brews on Orbis, will even Space Jumper skills be enough to help JT protect his sister and his friends?"

BERYL: A PIG'S TALE by Jane Simmons. "When Beryl decides to look for a family that will love her just the way she is, from her pig nose to her curly tail, she bravely sets off on a journey that will ultimately change her life forever. Away from the cruel and ill-tempered pigs on the farm where she grew up, Beryl finds her preconceived notions of wild pigs-- and everything else--put to the test. And with the help of the many unlikely friends she meets, Beryl discovers, at the cost of some heartache, that there just might be a place she could call home after all. If she could only get there . . . "


KNIGHTLEY ACADEMY by Violet Haberdasher. "Henry Grim has never been in trouble for borrowing a sword from the headmaster's private stores. He has never discovered a forbidden room in a foreign castle, or received a death threat over breakfast. All Henry knows is life as an orphaned servant boy at the Midsummer School, bullied by the privileged sons of aristocracy. But all that changes when Henry is the first commoner to pass the entrance exam for the prestigious Knightley Academy, where he will be trained as a modern-day knight alongside the cleverest and bravest fourteen-year-olds in the country. Henry and his roommates, two other students from decidedly un-Knightley backgrounds, are not exactly greeted with open arms by their classmates. In fact, it soon becomes apparent that someone is going to great lengths to sabotage the trioƕs chances at becoming knights. But Henry soon learns that there is more at stake than his future at Knightley, and only he can sound the alarm. Is anyone going to believe a former servant on the brink of expulsion?"


LEGION OF THE DEAD: BARNABY GRIMES by Paul Stewart & Chris Riddell. "Barnaby Grimes is a tick-tock lad, delivering messages and running errands all over the city, day and night. Gangland funerals and diving expeditions are hazardous enough, but when the graveyards begin to give up their dead, this tick-tock lad is faced with his deadliest challenge yet. . . .A blood-curdling tale of greed and betrayal. Will Barnaby be defeated by the Legion of the Dead?"



LORD SUNDAY: THE KEYS TO THE KINGDOM by Garth Nix. "Seven days. Seven keys. Seven virtues. Seven sins. In this thrilling conclusion to Garth Nix's Keys to the Kingdom series, Arthur Penhaligon must complete his quest to save the Kingdom he is heir to...and Arthur's world."




PRINCESS FOR HIRE by Lindsey Leavitt. "When an immaculately dressed woman steps out of an iridescent bubble and asks you if you'd like to become a substitute princess, do you
a) run
b) faint
c) say Yes!
For Desi Bascomb, who's been longing for a bit of glamour in her Idaho life, the choice is a definite C--that is, once she can stop pinching herself. As her new agent Meredith explains, Desi has a rare magical ability: when she applies the ancient Egyptian formula "Royal Rouge," she can transform temporarily into the exact lookalike of any princess who needs her subbing services. Dream come true, right? Well, Desi soon discovers that subbing involves a lot more than wearing a tiara and waving at cameras. Like, what do you do when a bullying older sister puts you on a heinous crash diet? Or when the tribal villagers gather to watch you perform a ceremonial dance you don't know? Or when a princess's conflicted sweetheart shows up to break things off--and you know she would want you to change his mind?"

STAR IN THE FOREST by Laura Resau. "Zitlally's family is undocumented, and her father has just been arrested for speeding and deported back to Mexico. As her family waits for him to return—they’ve paid a coyote to guide him back across the border—they receive news that he and the coyote’s other charges have been kidnapped and are being held for ransom. Meanwhile, Zitlally and a new friend find a dog in the forest near their trailer park. They name it Star for the star-shaped patch over its eye. As time goes on, Zitlally starts to realize that Star is her father’s “spirit animal,” and that as long as Star is safe, her father will be also. But what will happen to Zitlally’s dad when Star disappears?"

THE WAY OF THE SWORD: YOUNG SAMURAI by Chris Bradford. "After a vicious ninja attack left him orphaned and stranded in Japan, Jack Fletcher managed to complete his first year of samurai school. Still, his troubles are far from over. The prejudice of his Japanese classmates has gained him dangerous enemies within his school, and Dragon Eye – the ninja who killed his father – is still after him. Jack’s only hope of defeating them lies in surviving the Circle of Three: an ancient ritual that tests a samurai’s courage, skill, and spirit to the limit. For most, gaining entry into the Circle means honor and glory, but for Jack it’s a matter of life or death. The winner will be trained in the Two Heavens—the formidable sword technique of the great samurai, Masamoto. Learning this secret is the only hope Jack has of protecting his father’s rutter -- the invaluable navigation guide of the world’s uncharted oceans -- from Dragon Eye."

Young Adult: (sorry I ran out of time and don't have cover pictures for all of them....I blame Daylight Savings)

THE BODY FINDER by Kimberly Derting. "Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her "power" to sense dead bodies—or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes the dead leave behind in the world . . . and the imprints that attach to their killers. Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find dead birds her cat left for her. But now that a serial killer is terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he's claimed haunt her daily, Violet realizes she might be the only person who can stop him. Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet find the murderer—and Violet is unnerved by her hope that Jay's intentions are much more than friendly. But even as she's falling intensely in love, Violet is getting closer and closer to discovering a killer . . . and becoming his prey herself."

THE DEAD-TOSSED WAVES: THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH by Carrie Ryan. "Gabry lives a quiet life. As safe a life as is possible in a town trapped between a forest and the ocean, in a world teeming with the dead, who constantly hunger for those still living. She’s content on her side of the Barrier, happy to let her friends dream of the Dark City up the coast while she watches from the top of her lighthouse. But there are threats the Barrier cannot hold back. Threats like the secrets Gabry’s mother thought she left behind when she escaped from the Sisterhood and the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Like the cult of religious zealots who worship the dead. Like the stranger from the forest who seems to know Gabry. And suddenly, everything is changing. One reckless moment, and half of Gabry’s generation is dead, the other half imprisoned. Now Gabry only knows one thing: she must face the forest of her mother’s past in order to save herself and the one she loves."

FANG: A MAXIMUM RIDE NOVEL by James Patterson. "Being a kid with wings--constantly on the run--has never been easy, and Max and her flock are getting tenser than ever. First, on a trip to Africa, they meet a mysterious billionaire whose intense scrutiny of the flock makes her fear the worst. Then, a cryptic message from a young girl arrives, warning them "The sky will fall." And as if an impending apocalypse weren't bad enough, canny birdkid Angel makes a dire prophecy about Max's soul mate: Fang will be the first to die. Max's desperate desire to protect Fang brings the two closer than ever. But can the team weather the storm, or will the turmoil rip them apart for the last time?"

FLIRTING WITH DISASTER by Rhonda Stapleton. "Felicity is a total romantic. That's why she follows her heart—not the rules—in her job as a cupid. But when Felicity turns her matchmaking magic on her best friend, Andy, it's Andy who breaks their golden rule: friends always come first. Andy is so wrapped up in her new guy that she's ditching everyone else. How can Felicity stop her BFF from letting a BF come between them? Meanwhile, Felicity decides to get over her crush on Derek by setting him up with someone else—but in her impulsive haste, she accidentally matches him with the whole school, and now everyone is in love with him. The entire student body is headed toward heartbreak, just weeks before prom. Does Felicity have what it takes to make everyone's heart happy? including her own?"

HOURGLASS: EVERNIGHT by Claudia Gray. "Bianca will risk everything to be with Lucas. After escaping from Evernight Academy, the vampire boarding school where they met, Bianca and Lucas take refuge with Black Cross, a fanatical group of vampire hunters. Bianca must hide her supernatural heritage or risk certain death at their hands. But when Black Cross captures her friend—the vampire Balthazar—hiding is no longer an option. Soon, Bianca and Lucas are on the run again, pursued not only by Black Cross, but by the powerful leaders of Evernight. Yet no matter how far they travel, Bianca can't escape her destiny. Bianca has always believed their love could survive anything . . . but can it survive what's to come?"

NIGHTFALL: THE VAMPIRE DIARIES, THE RETURN by L. J. Smith. "Elena Gilbert's love, the vampire Stefan Salvatore, has been captured and imprisoned by demonic spirits who are wreaking havoc in Fell's Church. While her friends Bonnie and Meredith explore the evil that has taken over their town, Elena goes in search of Stefan. In order to find him, she entrusts her life to Stefan's brother, Damon Salvatore, the handsome but deadly vampire who wants Elena, body and soul. Along with her childhood friend Matt, they set out for the slums of the Dark Dimension, where Stefan is being held captive. It is rumored to be a world where vampires and demons roam free, but humans must live enslaved to their supernatural masters. . . .Elena will stop at nothing to free Stefan. Yet with each passing day the tension between Elena and Damon grows, and she is faced with a terrible decision: Which brother does she really want? Back in Fell's Church, Bonnie and Meredith have made some dire discoveries. They hastily try to follow Elena and warn her—only to be caught up in Elena's most dangerous adventure yet."

POISONED HONEY by Beatrice Gormley. "This story begins with Mariamne, a vulnerable girl who knows little of the ways of the world. Much as she wants to be in control of her own destiny, she soon learns she has no such power. She must do as her father and brother see fit, and when tragedy strikes, Mari must marry a man she does not love and enter a household where she is not welcome, for the good of her family. But she finds a small way to comfort herself when she meets an Egyptian wisewoman who instructs her in the ways of the occult arts. In the spirit world, Mari finds she has power. Here, she really is in control of her fate. But is she? Or is the magic controlling her? This gripping portrait of one of the most misunderstood and controversial Biblical figures is the story of a young girl’s path through manipulation and possession, madness and healing, to a man who will change the world forever."

POSSESSING JESSIE by Nancy Springer. "Two-time Edgar Award winner Nancy Springer has written a chilling psychological thriller about a teenage girl possessed by her dead brother. Quiet, cautious Jessie had always lived in the shadow of her dynamic younger brother--her mother's clear favorite. His recent death leaves Jessie and her mother numb with grief. That is, until the morning Jessie cuts her hair and dresses in Jason's clothes, swaggering out of the house in an uncanny imitation of her brother. Her mother is visibly cheered, and for once Jessie is the center of attention at school. But each day Jason takes over Jessie more and more. Can she escape his power?"

SHADOW MIRROR by Richie Tankersley Cusick. "Unsettling. There’s no better word to describe Miranda Barnes’s ability to hear the cries of the dead, feel the wind move her hair when they run by, and—dare she look into a mirror—see the reflection of a ghostly woman behind her. There’s only one person to turn to for support: Etienne. As sexy as he is mysterious, Miranda can’t help but be drawn to him. He believes her; he wants to help her. But there’s a secret in Etienne’s past, something Miranda’s on the verge of discovering. As paranormal activity escalates, passion grows, and soon Miranda is caught up in both love . . . and tragedy"

SHADOW SOULS: THE VAMPIRE DIARIES, THE RETURN by L. J. Smith. "To save the two vampire brothers who love her, Elena Gilbert sacrificed her life. Now that a supernatural force has brought Elena back from the dead, all handsome, brooding Stefan wants is to keep her safe. But when he is lured away from Fell's Church, sleek, powerful Damon seizes his chance to win Elena over, unaware of the danger they're both in. A malevolent being has infiltrated the town and is growing stronger. Able to possess Damon at will, the creature is also drawn to Elena and the new power she has acquired. But it's after more than Elena's power: It thirsts for her death."

SPLIT by Stefan Petrucha. "Wade Jackson has always felt split, his love for playing and writing music competing with his ambition to do well in school. But when his mother dies, this need for order competes with his desire to leave it all behind. What follows is a split in his consciousness that takes him to two very different worlds. Told in alternating chapters that together form one cohesive story, Split follows both Wades as they pursue what they think is the correct path. One Wade continues working hard in school, pulling all-nighters to write a computer code he believes will save the world. The other Wade pursues the dream of being a dive-bar singer, pulling all-nighters to party, gamble, and live on the edge. But when these two worlds begin to collide, each Wade will need to find a balance between control and abandon, order and chaos, life missed and life lost, in order to save himself."


STUCK ON EARTH by David Klass. "Ketchvar III’s mission is simple: travel to Planet Earth, inhabit the body of an average teenager, and determine if the human race should be annihilated. And so Ketchvar—who, to human eyes, looks just like a common snail—crawls into the brain of one Tom Filber and attempts to do his analysis. At first glance, Tom appears to be the perfect specimen—fourteen years old, good health, above average intelligence. But it soon becomes apparent that Tom Filber may be a littletoo average—gawky, awkward, and utterly abhorred by his peers. An alien within an alien’s skin, Ketchvar quickly finds himself wrapped up in the daily drama of teenage life—infuriating family members, raging bullies, and undeniably beautiful next-door neighbors. And the more entangled Ketchvar becomes, the harder it is to answer the question he was sent to Earth to resolve: Should the Sandovinians release the Gagnerian Death Ray and erase the human species for good? Or is it possible that Homo sapiens really are worth saving?"

VOICES OF DRAGONS by Carrie Vaughn. "On one side of the border lies the modern world: the internet, homecoming dances, cell phones. On the other side dwell the ancient monsters who spark humanity's deepest fears: dragons. Seventeen-year-old Kay Wyatt knows she's breaking the law by rock climbing near the border, but she'd rather have an adventure than follow the rules. When the dragon Artegal unexpectedly saves her life, the rules are abruptly shattered, and a secret friendship grows between them. But suspicion and terror are the legacy of human and dragon inter­actions, and the fragile truce that has maintained peace between the species is unraveling. As tensions mount and battles begin, Kay and Artegal are caught in the middle. Can their friendship change the course of a war?"

This week's round up of middle grade fantasy and science fiction

Here's what I found this week of interest to us connoisseurs of middle grade fantasy and science fiction.

The big (although old-ish) news first:

Lee and Low books has acquired Tu Publishing! Tu started as an independent imprint dedicated to multi-cultural middle grade and YA sff; in its new home, its mission will be unchanged. Why this acquisition is a good thing--the number of books Tu can publish in its first year will be larger, and the books will more easily find their way to book stores. This happened in large part because so many ordinary people contributed to Tu's initial campaign for donations to help kickstart it; this so successfully demonstrated that there was great interest in diverse sff that Lee and Low became interested.

More on diversity--at Asimov's Science Fiction, Norman Spinrad discusses "an almost textbook example in extremis of how the failure of an Anglophone writer from the outside to really embed himself in the street-level popular culture of the Third World society in which he is setting the story can place the reader at the same less-than-deeply involved remove." Rose Fox offers a response at Publisher's Weekly (thanks to Lee and Low's The Open Book blog for the links).

And not mg, but interesting--at the Tor blog, Heather Tomlinson has compiled a list of YA fantasy that offers geographical/cultural diversity.

Now, the reviews:

11 Birthdays, by Wendy Mass, at Becky's Book Reviews.

The Birthday Ball, by Lois Lowry, at Book Aunt.

Finally, by Wendy Mass, at Bookshipper

Mari Ness continues to look at Ruth Plumly Thompson's Oz books with The Hungry Tiger of Oz over at the Tor blog.

Ingo, by Helen Dunmore, at Vulpes Libris.

The Incorigible Children of Ashton Place
, by Maryrose Wood, at Read Now, Sleep Later.

Knightly Academy, by Violet Haberdasher, at Book Aunt.

The Night Fairy, by Laura Amy Shlitz, at Oops...Wrong Cookie.

The Sixty-Eight Rooms, by Marianne Malone, at Read Now, Sleep Later.


At the Russell Elementary Library blog, there's a look at the Fablehaven series, in which Jana says (italics in the original) "this is one of the only series I know of that has a female as the lead character, but that boys read just as much or more than girls." Agree? Disagree?

Don't miss New Fashioned Fantasy: What does look like? over at The Enchanted Inkpot.

Finally, there's a super swell contest (for librarians only) over at the Spectacle, to win this awesome list of books:

1. INCARCERON by Catherine Fisher (hardback)
2. SACRED SCARS by Kathleen Duey (hardback)
3. THE BOOK OF NONSENSE by David Michael Slater (hardback)
4. THE BOOK OF KNOWLEDGE by David Michael Slater (hardback)
5. THE SECRETS OF THE CHEESE SYNDICATE by Donna St. Cyr (paperback)
6. HOUSE OF THE SCORPION by Nancy Farmer (paperback)
7. THE EMERALD TABLET By PJ Hoover (hardback)
8. NAVEL OF THE WORLD by PJ Hoover (hardback)
9. THE SEER #1: DON”T DIE DRAGONFLY by Linda Joy Singleton (revised large issue with short story bonus)
10. THE FARWALKER’S QUEST by Joni Sensel (hardback)
11. THE TIMEKEEPER’S MOON by Joni Sensel (hardback)

Please let me know if I missed your post! I do my best to find things, but every week I find things I missed the week before...which is sad for me. You can email me anytime during the week at charlotteslibrary at gmail dot com, or leave a link in the roundup comments.

3/13/10

A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts, by Ying Chang Compestine

A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts, by Ying Chang Compestine, illustrated by Coleman Polhemus (Henry Holt, 2009, YA, 180 pp).

In this short story collection, eight hungry ghosts from China rest unquiet in their graves, wanting revenge (and tasty snacks). Eight men and women, from ancient times to the modern era, die horrific deaths, and come back to take the living with them...and their stories make compellingly gory reading.

There's lots of blood. There are horrible deaths. I flinched. I wouldn't give it to a young reader. And yet, it's a rather cheerful book.

Partly this is because the stories aren't desperately subtle--the ghosts take vigorous action, rather than exerting hideous psychological tortures on the reader. It's even a bit over the top at times. In short, it's not going to give me nightmares.

But wait, there's more. This book is, after all, a banquet...Interspersed with the stories, each one titled with the name of a Chinese dish, are historical background notes, food chat and recipes. Engaging (and very enticing, food-wise), these non-fiction elements lift the reader briskly out of the gore. They strengthen the book not just by providing something completely different, but by making the stories rather wonderfully all of a cultural piece, educating while entertaining.

In short, I found it a pleasantly diverting read that served nicely to take my mind of my own hungry ghosts/boys (they are sadly lacking in gumption when it comes to getting their own snacks).

Other reviews at The Book Owl, Book Dragon, and The Places You Will Go.

Compestine also the author of Cooking with Green Tea, and Revolution is Not a Dinner Party, a YA novel about growing up during the Cultural Revolution.

3/12/10

My book spine poem

At 100 Scope Notes this Poetry Friday, there is a gallery of Book Spine Poems. I forgot to do this at home, so had to use what was at my office (but there are two YA books). I've typed my poem out with meaningless (?) line Breaks and stuff, to make it more Profound, and I'm sure Blogger will add more Special formating.

Rational lives, romantic motives.
Entangled objects

race and the education of desire.
The meeting of two worlds--the invasion within.

The limits of
interpretation beyond geography,
Cities in the wilderness, changes in the land.

Fire will fall.
Dragonfly

(or perhaps, Dragon, fly!)

The Wonder Book, by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

The Wonder Book, by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, illustrated by Paul Schmid (Harper Collins, 2010, 79pp), is a feast of poetry, puns, short story-lets, and assorted humorous snippets for kids and whatever grownup might be reading aloud.

We meet Mary Mac's friends, including

"Miss Mary Mellow Mellow Mellow
All dressed in yellow yellow yellow
Slept till noon noon noon
And then ate Jell-O Jell-O Jell-O" (page 20)


There are lots of puns:

From "Word Play (in Four Acts)"

The bicycle couldn't stand alone
(it was two tired)

The TV couldn't sleep
(it was too wired)

Read the book for Acts 3 and 4!

Lots of funny black and white line drawings, palindromes, advice for the young on such crucial topics as cookie pilfering, and many other assorted divertissements. You can see a number of the illustrations for yourself at this interview with Paul Schmid at Seven Impossible Things--I'm especially glad the twisted version of This Little Piggie is shown in its entirety.

I myself found the Index especially satisfying. "yes" appears on pages 12-13,16, and 44. hee hee.

It's a lovely book to have on the coffee table in the living room, for one's nine-year old to dip into at random and chuckle over; it's a fun book to read to your six-year old (those, coincidentally, being the ages of my own boys).

Here's another review, at A Year of Reading.

This is my contribution to Poetry Friday, hosted today by Becky at Becky's Book Reviews

(disclaimer: review copy received from the publisher)

3/11/10

"Ged from the Wizard of Earthsea is currently kicking the stuffing out of Edward from Twilight"

The quote that titles this post is lifted from Pat Rothfuss' blog, where I was just reading about the Suvudo Cage Match, which is pitting different fantasy heroes against each other. Each fight has an amusing scenario from the organizers, and each hero's special attacks, advantages, disadvantages, etc. are broken down in detail. But ultimately, the winners are determined by votes from readers like us.

Despite their mad swarming skillz, the Wee Free Men are currently being dispatched handily by Aragorn. And as for poor Lyra...

(I'd have picked a slightly different bunch of characters, myself...it's a bit boy heavy, yet despite that, my own boy Eugenides isn't there...sigh).

3/9/10

Mistwood, by Leah Cypess --giveaway!

No Timeslip Tuesday today...Blackout, by Connie Willis, travelled south with me but remained unopened...The Puzzle Ring, by Kate Forsyth, was opened, but I'm still in the middle of it.

But I do want to recommend the one book out of the 10 I took with me that I did read and enjoy despite the sad way I spent my weekend--Mistwood, by Leah Cypess (Harper Collins, April 27, 2010, 303 pp in ARC form). It's the story of Isabel, a shapeshifter who is, despite her inhuman powers and an agenda that has no room for love, one of the most endearing characters I've read in ages. There's lots of political intrigue, magic, and just enough romance, and it is a true page turner.

Cypess does an extraordinarily deft job of keeping the reader inside Isabel's point of view--like her, we aren't sure who to trust, what machinations are at work, and to whom she should give her loyalty. She's built her world with enough solidity to make it work, while avoiding information dumps, and her magic is kept nicely subservient to the plot, rather than being overwhelmingly over explained. Since all of this is done in rather lovely writing (and the aforementioned romance is rather a nice one), the result is a book to squee for.

I agree with the back of the ARC that this is one for fans of Kristin Cashore and Megan Whalen Turner*, although it felt less Dense then either of those--it seemed a faster, lighter read. Which is not bad--sometimes one wants a rich layer cake, sometimes a fruit tart, and both types of books/deserts offer their own type of complexity.

I packed Mistwood on the strength of Angie's glowing review, and it was just the sort of book I needed. I am pretty sure that I will put this on my Christmas present list, and so I would like to pass my ARC on to another reader. Leave me a comment by midnight on the 15th of March, and it could be yours.

*ha--I just saw on her website that Queen of Attolia is listed as one of her favorite books! I am not surprised.

And the winner, produced by random number generation, is Kathy! (I'll be emailing you...)

(ARC picked up at ALA midwinter)

3/7/10

I had a father who read to me

Many fathers read to their children when they are little. But I was one of the few whose father read Silas Marner (why???) to the whole family. That was a rather lovely winter--us girls would sew while he read (and subtly changed the text to add interest)....Although, quite frankly, I have never felt the least bit of urge to go back and revisit the book.

My father could also, when he was in the right mood, tell the best whacked out Nancy Drew stories ever, complete with three dimensional settings built from our wooden blocks, with our Fisher Price dolls (the wooden ones that were bodies with heads) as the characters....

I am thinking of this now, because I've just come from saying goodbye to him. And even though I don't much think of my blog as a place to write about real life, it would be too strange not to mention this huge event here, where I spend so much time. So I am.

Goodbye, Papa.

Middle Grade Fantasy and Science Fiction Roundup for this week

Here's what I found around the blogging world this week; please let me know if I missed anything!

First, the news. Sea of the Dead, by Julia Durango, which has been on my tbr list for far far too long, was awarded the Golden Kite Award (given by children's book writers and illustrators) for best fiction.

That's it for the news. Now the reviews.


11 Birthdays
, by Wendy Mass (2009), at One Librarian's Book Reviews, and its sequel, Finally (2010) at Kids Lit.

Beauty, by Robin McKinley, at The Best of Children's Literature.

Claim to Fame, by Margaret Peterson Haddix, at Presenting Leonore.

Falling In, by Frances O'Rourke Dowell (2010) at The Book Aunt.

Fortune's Folly, by Deva Fagan (2009), at The HappyNappyBookseller.

Havoc, by Chris Wooding (2010) , at Mr. Ripleys Enchanted Books. (this is the sequel to Malice, which teetered between MG and YA).

The Mysterious Howling: The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place (2010), at Fuse #8 Production.

The Pickle King, by Rebecca Promitzer (2010) at The Book Aunt.

The Timekeeper's Moon, by Joni Sensel (2010), at Fantasy Book Critic and at Charlotte's Library.

Wiff and Dirty George: the Z.E.B.R.A. Incident, by Stephen Swinburne (2010), at Charlotte's Library.

And of course there are lots of reviews out there of the Alice in Wonderland movie. My husband and I read both Alices to my nine-year old this year, and he enjoyed them very much. When it was my night with him, I read the standard Tenniel edition; my husband chose the version illustrated by Mervin Peake. At Fantasy Book Critic, Cindy takes a look at a new Alice, illustrated by Camille Rose Garcia.

3/6/10

The Dead-Tossed Waves, by Carrie Ryan

The Dead-Tossed Waves, by Carrie Ryan (2010, Delacorte, YA, 402pp), pickes up some years after a young woman named Mary found her way out of The Forest of Hands and Teeth (2009). That book introduced a world over-run by zombies; a world where humanity's chances of survival seem truly bleak, and death by zombie infection is extremely likely.

Mary found a refuge from the zombie plague in a coastal settlement, and there she raised a daughter, Gabrielle, in security and relative peace. One night that peace is shattered when Gabrielle and her friends sneak off for a bit of fun in the old amusement park outside the fence. Because there is no place that is safe from the undead...

In the aftermath of that horrible night, Gabrielle's world changes forever. Figuring out what sort of person she really is, and trying to make sense of her feelings for two different boys, are fairly normal teenage pastimes. But in Gabrielle's world, growing up can also include running for your life straight into a zombie nightmare, with the blood of friends, and enemies, on your hands.

Those who enjoyed The Forest of Hands and Teeth will probably like this one very much as well-it has the same character-focused intensity of the first. There's the same sense that, even though things are happening in the story (mostly attacking, and being attacked, by zombies), the things happening in the main character's head are more important. Gabrielle's thoughts, emotions, and attempts at understanding fill the book, and the use of the first person present underscores the central position she occupies.

This tight focus on Gabrielle might not be to the taste of every reader. When reading such a book, I tend to find myself wondering how I would think and feel in similar circumstances, which resultes in unsuspended disbelief at best, annoyance at worst. This happened to me quite a bit with The Dead-Tossed Waves, because everything that Garbry thought or felt was shared with the reader at length, regardless of various impending dangers. And on top of this I found some of the motivations and actions of the secondary characters hard to fully understand.

I myself would rather have had more of the interesting big picture bits --I felt that the historical/sociological/geopolitical/medical aspects of the story got short shrift, with tantalizing information dumps and not enough deep exploration.

In short, I just don't think I was the right reader for this book (it's been that sort of week). Other reveiws can be found at The Wertzone, The Serpentine Librarian, and Reverie Book Reviews.

3/4/10

Wiff and Dirty George: The Z.E.B.R.A. Incident, by Stephen Swinburne

Wiff and Dirty George: The Z.E.B.R.A. Incident, by Stephen Swinburne (2009, Front Street, upper middle grade, 167 pp).

Here's one for those who enjoy books that are truly extraordinary, down right weird, even verging, perhaps, on the too odd.

Wiff and Dirty George are two young Brits who suffer from poor hygiene habits. They soon begin to suffer from more serious troubles, when they become enmeshed in the sinister plot of an Evil Rabbit Man and his hopping henchmen. At first, the costumed Rabbit simply uses an infernal device (the Zipper Extraction Button Removal Atom-smasher) to undo zippers in public, but this is just the first phase of his evil plans. The Queen is his ultimate target--can Wiff and Dirty George stop him, before Her Majesty waves her last wave?

It was a bit too much for me, but I'm happy to recommend to those who have a higher tolerance for the insane...and those who enjoy lots of scientific gadget things...and who like plots that involve plucky lads foiling evil genius masterminds. Which I don't, much, myself, but I did rather like Dirty George's three foot long Madagascan worm, named Worm.

If you enjoyed last fall's The Brain Finds a Leg, by Martin Chatterton, this one might be right up your alley.

(ARC received from publisher at ALA)

3/3/10

New Releases of Science Fiction and Fantasy for children and teenagers--the beginning of March, 2010 edition

Here are the latest releases of sff for kids and teenagers (up to March 8), taken from Teens Read Too, with blurbs found in various places. It's a noteworthy batch, in as much as it includes two sequels to Cybils middle grade sff finalists--The Farwalker's Quest, by Joni Sensel, and 11 Birthdays, by Wendy Mass. In addition, there is an interesting new trend (if two books can be called a trend) that might be emerging. Move over, undead--here come the bad bunnies!

Middle Grade:

ATTACK OF THE FLUFFY BUNNIES by Andrea Beaty. “When Joules and Kevin Rockman’s parents drop them off at Camp Whatsitooya on their way to an International Spamathon, the twins expect a summer of marshmallows, campfires, and canoe trips. What they do not expect is to defend the earth from an invasion of sugar-addicted, murderous, seven-foot-tall rabbits from another galaxy. Happily, the Rockman twins, veteran watchers of the Late, Late, Late Creepy Show for Insomniacs, are unusually well-prepared for dealing with monstrous beings from outer space. If only their fellow campers were so lucky.”

THE BRAIN FULL OF HOLES by Martin Chatterton. “Thinking about stuff was all well and good, but Sheldon would have liked a bit less thinking and a lot more action. Couldnt Theo tell that things were getting weirder by the minute? Switzerland is not famous for being a silly country. But why are so many silly things happening? Holes are disappearing from cheese. Doppelgngers, cuckoo clocks and angry geese are running amok in the Alps. Not to mention flying cows! All Sheldon McGlone wants is some peace and quiet. Hes left Australia, hes trying to get used to his new life, and hes just fallen in love. But when your step-brother is Theo Brain, the worlds youngest super sleuth, getting any peace and quiet is about as unlikely as Urs Bupka winning the Eurovisionara Song Contest.”

CHANTAL'S QUEST FOR THE GOLDEN SWORD by Oliver Neubert. “The first in a series of four, this fantasy novel for reluctant readers stars Chantel the Princess of Freedom. She's the only one capable of retrieving the four ancient relics that will save the world from the darkness, a force of evil unleashed by a vengeful spirit that is slowly destroying nature. With the help of a warrior mouse, a winged creature, and a fox bat, Chantel's first adventure begins: her search for the powerful Golden Sword of the Land of the North. Unfortunately, the Snow Walker — the brutal Warlord of the North — is determined to find the Golden Sword first. In this thrilling adventure, young readers learn, as Chantel does, that everything in life is a precious balance, and caring for nature is key in that balance.”

DRIZZLE by K.D. Van Cleve. “Eleven-year-old Polly Peabody knows her family’s world-famous rhubarb farm is magical. The plants taste like chocolate, jewels appear in the soil, bugs talk to her, and her best friend is a rhubarb plant named Harry. But the most magical thing is that every single Monday, at exactly 1:00, it rains. Until the Monday when the rain just stops. Now it’s up to Polly to figure out why—and whether her brother’s mysterious illness and her glamorous aunt Edith’s sudden desire to sell the farm have anything to do with it. Most of all, Polly has to make it start raining again before it’s too late. Her brother’s life, the plants’ survival, and her family’s future all depend on it.”


ELSPETH: SHADOW OF THE DRAGON by Kate O'Hearn. “Kira and Elspeth have already broken First Law many times over Now outlawed and running for their lives, they are determined to stand amongst the men and fight the unjust First Law that binds the kingdom. But cruel Lord Dorcon still stands in their way and the heat of his chase is stronger than ever. A prophecy to fulfill, a cruel monarchy to upend.”




FALLING IN by Frances O'Roark Dowell ”…. it's actually not that great to have a buzzing in your ear. It's distracting for one thing. And when Isabelle starts listening to the buzz instead of, say, her boring teacher, strange things happen. She gets sent to the principal's office (that's not so strange), but then while awaiting her punishment, she tumbles into an adventure—into another world that's a little bit different, a little bit Hansel & Gretel-y, a little bit like a fairy tale, which would be great, but...did I mention that Isabelle is an unusual dresser? When she shows up in fairy-tale land wearing her favorite high, pointy boots, the fairy-tale people start thinking that Isabelle is a witch -- and not just any witch, but the witch!”

FINALLY by Wendy Mass. Follow up to 11 Birthdays. “You can pierce your ears when you're twelve. You can go to the mall with your friends when you're twelve. You can babysit little Timmy next door when you're twelve. You can get a cell phone when you're twelve. Hey, you can even ride in the front passenger-side seat when you're twelve. When you're twelve, when you're twelve, when you're twelve . . . My name is Rory Swenson, and I've been waiting to turn twelve my whole life. In exactly 18 hours, 36 minutes, and 52 seconds, it will finally happen. My life will officially begin.”


FULL CIRCLE: AVALON, WEB OF MAGIC by Rachel Roberts “It started with a quest to find the home of all magic: Avalon. It may end in darkness. Three girls, Emily, Adriane, and Kara, their fates set long ago, were to become mages. They were to discover the secrets of Avalon and save their animal friends. They failed. Now, the Gates of Avalon are locked, beloved friends are doomed, and the Dark Sorceress reigns supreme. There may be one final chance to fulfill their destiny. But it will take the strength of a warrior, the fire of a blazing star, and the heart of a healer. The mages must put everything they love on the line—and be prepared to sacrifice all—as the final battle for Avalon begins!”


THE HUNT FOR THE HAUNTED ELEPHANT: THE GHOSTHUNTERS by Carol Matas & Perry Nodelman. “Molly and Adam Barnett have had more than enough trouble lately. First, they discovered that their dearly departed grandfather wasn’t quite as “departed” as a dead guy should be. Then, they had to save their dad from a dreaded family curse. The final installment in the Ghosthunters trilogy opens with Molly and Adam making a frightening discovery: the emerald in Reggie’s ring was once on an ancient Indian elephant carving. The other eye is nowhere to be found, and if the eyes aren't soon returned to the elephant, ghosts everywhere will repossess their former bodies, and the world will be doomed. Will Molly and Adam be able to find the elephant, and the missing eye, in time?”

MEANWHILE: PICK ANY PATH. 3,856 STORY POSSIBILITIES. by Jason Shiga. “Chocolate or Vanilla? This simple choice is all it takes to get started with Meanwhile, the wildly inventive creation of comics mastermind Jason Shiga, of whom Scott McCloud said “Crazy + Genius = Shiga.” Jimmy, whose every move is under your control, finds himself in a mad scientist’s lab, where he’s given a choice between three amazing objects: a mind-reading device, a time-travel machine, or the Killitron 3000 (which is as ominous as it sounds). Down each of these paths there are puzzles, mysterious clues, and shocking revelations. It’s up to the reader to lead Jimmy to success or disaster.”


ORTEGA by Maureen Fergus “With a thick finger he slowly traced the path of a stray raindrop that had landed near the corner of his eye and trickled down his cheek. And he thought to himself that it was probably a very good thing that gorillas didn’t know how to cry. Raised in a laboratory, Ortega might seem nearly human to his scientist-caregivers, but to the children at his new school, a talking gorilla is nothing but a freak. Unless he wants to spend the rest of his life locked in a cage, however, Ortega is going to have to change people’s minds. More than a comic-adventure novel, Ortega asks the reader to reflect upon the limits of science, imagine how it feels to be profoundly different from those around you and, most of all, consider what it really means to be human.”


ROBERTO & ME: BASEBALL CARD ADVENTURES by Dan Gutman “When Stosh travels into the past to meet Roberto Clemente, a legendary ballplayer and a beloved humanitarian, he's got only one goal: warning Roberto not to get on the doomed plane that will end his life in a terrible crash. In the sixties, Stosh meets free-spirited Sunrise, and together they travel across the country to a ball game that leaves them breathless—and face-to-face with Roberto. But when the time comes for Stosh to return to the future, he finds that the adventure has only just begun. . . . Join Stosh and Sunrise on a journey that will take you into the past, from the excitement of Woodstock to a life-changing encounter with Roberto Clemente—and into a surprising future!”


THE TIMEKEEPER'S MOON by Joni Sensel “When Ariel Farwalker hears the moon talking to her, she thinks she must be going crazy. Then she discovers an ancient map, and learns that the moon is part of a mysterious summons that's calling her on a new journey. With her surly guardian Scarl by her side, Ariel sets out on an adventure that leads her to new friends-the beautiful Flame-Mage Sienna and the mute boy Nace, who captures Ariel's heart. As the four travel on, strange things start to happen-fragments of Ariel's past appear in the present, so that it seems that time itself is coming undone. At the end of the journey, Ariel will learn where her journey began, and have a chance to save her life as she knows it.”

WIPE OUT: TIME RUNNERS by Justin Richards. “Jamie and Anna are Time Runners—they keep history moving in the right direction. Their latest mission takes them to Britain in the 1950s, during the Cold War—when Anna was from before she fell through the cracks in time. But something's terribly wrong. Why is a Russian spy attending a dinner party held by the man in charge of Britain's nuclear development? Why is a ghostly image of Anna being dragged away by grotesque imp-like creatures? Why does the mysterious Mr. Prophecy never leave his room? And why is there a corridor reaching back through time hidden in the cellar? If Jamie and Anna don't find out quickly, it could be too late. It could be the end of the world.”

Young Adult:

BEFORE I FALL by Lauren Oliver. “What if you had only one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life? Samantha Kingston has it all: the world's most crush-worthy boyfriend, three amazing best friends, and first pick of everything at Thomas Jefferson High—from the best table in the cafeteria to the choicest parking spot. Friday, February 12, should be just another day in her charmed life. Instead, it turns out to be her last. Then she gets a second chance. Seven chances, in fact. Reliving her last day during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding her death—and discover the true value of everything she is in danger of losing.”


THE CANTERVILLE GHOST: THE GRAPHIC NOVEL by Classical Comics “Oscar Wilde's clever parody provides an entertaining twist on the traditional gothic horror story. A gauche, materialistic American family moves into the English mansion of Canterville Chase, much to the annoyance of the resident ghost. Wilde creates an unforgettable gallery of characters, from Hiram B. Otis and his children to Lord Canterville and the chain-clanking ghost Sir Simon. This brilliant and often overlooked story is a clever commentary on how Wilde saw "free" America challenging "traditional" England — all in the guise of a charming fireside tale. This faithful graphic novel adaptation is ideal for students and any readers who want to understand and appreciate the original story.”

FORGET-HER-NOTS by Amy Brecount White. “Something—some power—is blooming inside Laurel. She can use flowers to do things. Like bringing back lost memories. Or helping her friends ace tests. Or making people fall in love. Laurel suspects her newfound ability has something to do with an ancient family secret, one that her mother meant to share with Laurel when the time was right. But then time ran out. Clues and signs and secret messages seem to be all around Laurel at Avondale School, where her mother had also boarded as a student. Can Laurel piece everything together quickly enough to control her power, which is growing more potent every day? Or will she set the stage for the most lovestruck, infamous prom in the history of the school?”

GREEN WITCH by Alice Hoffman. “In this powerful, lovely sequel to GREEN ANGEL, Green must learn the stories of a number of "witches" and free her true soul mate from a prison as she grapples with life, love, and loss in a post-disaster world.”






HEX HALL by Rachel Hawkins. “Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters. By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect. As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.”

JONAS: BEAUTIFUL DEAD by Eden Maguire. “Not alive. Not dead. Somewhere in between lie the Beautiful Dead. Something strange is happening at Ellerton High. Phoenix is the fourth teenager to die within a year. His street-fight stabbing follows the deaths of Jonas, Summer, and Arizona in equally strange and sudden circumstances. Rumors of ghosts and strange happenings rip through the small community as it comes to terms with shock and loss. Darina, Phoenix's grief-stricken girlfriend, is on the verge. She can't escape her intense heartache or the impossible apparitions of those that are meant to be dead. And all the while the sound of beating wings echos inside her head...And then one day Phoenix appears to Darina. He tells her that she must help Jonas-the first of the four to die-right the wrong linked to his death. Only with her help can Jonas finally rest in peace. Will love conquer death? And if it does, can Darina set it free?”

THE LINE by Teri Hall “An invisible, uncrossable physical barrier encloses the Unified States. The Line is the part of the border that lopped off part of the country, dooming the inhabitants to an unknown fate when the enemy used a banned weapon. It’s said that bizarre creatures and superhumans live on the other side, in Away. Nobody except tough old Ms. Moore would ever live next to the Line. Nobody but Rachel and her mother, who went to live there after Rachel’s dad died in the last war. It’s a safe, quiet life. Until Rachel finds a mysterious recorded message.”


MARCH: CONSPIRACY 365 by Gabrielle Lord “On New Year's Eve, Cal is chased down the street by a crazed man with a deadly warning: They killed your father. They'll kill you. You must survive the next 365 days! Now everyone's searching for Cal, the psycho kid who's meant to have attacked his uncle and put his sister in a coma. He's desperate to clear his name and protect his family, but he also has less than a year to solve an ancient family secret: the Ormond Singularity. And the closer he gets to the truth, the more dangerous his life becomes. He has 306 days. The threat is growing...”


THE MARK by M.R. Bunderson. “She's had it forever. A tiny mark on her hand. No big deal, right? But when Tori discovers that her ordinary freckle is really some kind of microscopic tattoo, she doesn't know what to think, especially after meeting Eric, a guy she feels strangely connected to--and not just because he has a mark too. All too soon, Tori and Eric realize that their marks are only the first clue to a mystery that will change everything. And with each new discovery, Tori finds herself pulled deeper and deeper into a world she could never have imagined.”




MY SO-CALLED DEATH by Stacey Jay “One second, freshman Karen Vera's on top of the most fabulous cheer pyramid ever. The next, she's lying on the pavement with seriously unflattering cranial damage. Freakishly alive without a pulse, Karen learns that she's a genetically undead zombie. Suddenly, Karen's non-life is an epic disaster. She's forced to attend a boarding school for the "death-challenged," her roommate is a hateful wannabe-Goth weirdo, and she's chowing down on animal brains every day to prevent rot (um, ew?). Even worse, someone is attacking students and harvesting their brains for a forbidden dark ritual. And it might be the hottest guy at DEAD High, the one who makes Karen's non-beating heart flutter! Armed with a perky smile and killer fashion sense, it's up to Karen to track down the brain snatcher and save her fellow students from certain zombie death.”

THE NEW KID by Temple Mathews. “Will Hunter is used to being the New Kid; Harrisburg High School is his fifth new school in less than three years. By now, he knows not to be fooled by the bright pep rallies, the wholesome jocks, the innocent cheerleaders. He knows the evil lurking underneath. It’s the same evil that took his dad eight years ago: the same evil he battles every day. Natalie Holand’s life fell apart the night her sister Emily disappeared. No one believes her when she tells them what she saw: yellow and green eyes, glowing beneath the surface of the water in which Emily supposedly drowned. And Emily isn’t the only person to go missing in Harrisburg lately. The town is changing, not for the better, and Natalie doesn’t know why. What she does know is that, whatever’s happening, it’s bad, and the New Kid is right in the middle of it. Because Will has a secret even bigger than Harrisburg’s, and there’s more to it than even he knows.”

THE RETURNERS by Gemma Malley. “London teenager Will Hodge is miserable. His mother is dead, his father's political leanings have grown radical, and his friends barely talk to him. To top it off, he's having nightmares about things like concentration camps. Then Will notices he's being followed by a group of people who claim to know him from another time in history. It turns out they are Returners, reincarnated people who carry with them the memory of atrocities they have witnessed in the past. Will realizes that he, too, is a Returner. But something about his memories is different, and with dawning horror, Will suspects that he wasn't just a witness to the events, he was instrumental in making them happen. Set in the near future, with the world on the verge of a new wave of ethnic cleansing, Will must choose to confront the cruelty he's known in his past lives, or be doomed to repeat it…”

THE SIGHT by Jude Watson. “Gracie has premonitions. They’ve haunted her since before her mother’s death, and she can’t get rid of them. She doesn’t know how to deal with them and she doesn’t want to--they’ve never led to anything good. She never knows whether she’s seeing the past, the present, or the future--it just comes to her. But Gracie is forced to try to use her premonitions. Her best friend, Emily, disappears, and the premonitions lead to the only clues to where she might be--and how she might be saved. Gracie’s long-absent father reappears, and his history appears to be mysteriously linked to the disappearance of a student many years ago--and the recent appearance of a body. Only Gracie’s premonitions lead to answers to some dark family secrets.”

THE Z.E.B.R.A. INCIDENT: WIFF AND DIRTY GEORGE by Stephen R. Swinburne. "Wiff and Dirty George were two lads larking about London. Now they are swept up in one of the most dastardly plots ever unleashed on England, and it's up to them to stop it. Set in the Beatlemania 1960s, Stephen R. Swinburne's smashing adventure is super fab." This, incidently, is the second of the two bad bunny books.

3/2/10

The Timekeeper's Moon, by Joni Sensel, for Timeslip Tuesday

In The Farwalker's Quest, by Joni Sensel (my review), young Ariel learned that her destiny was to walk the world, reuniting the scattered clusters of people who had survived the cataclysm of the Blind War. In that book, she and her guardian, the Finder Scarl, had discovered the Vault, wherein lay secrets lost to humanity for centuries, and it was time to begin to share them.

Now, in The Timekeeper's Moon (Bloomsbury 2010, middle grade, 336 pp in ARC form), Ariel learns that finding the Vault wasn't enough. Somehow she must prove that it wasn't chance that lead her there...Guided by her Farwalking feet, by the warnings the moon is sending her, and by an enigmatic map, Ariel must make her way to the Timekeeper, a place outside time itself.

So she trusts her feet, and starts walking, with Scarl once more at her side. Soon they are joined by Sienna, a Flame-mage, and Nace, a boy with strange gifts of his own. But time seems to be slipping back to her first journey, bringing back strange reminders of that first quest--an old wound reopens, lost objects reappear. Stories held in Ariel's bead necklace seem to be coming true, and all the while the moon is urging her to hurry, before she runs out of time.

It's a lovely quest journey, where the adversities to be faced are not two dimensional monsters, but rather the three-dimensional intricacies of human relationships, and convincing physical challenges. There's a bit of magic in the various gifts folk have, a bit of spooky old technology, and some great stories within the story. I especially enjoyed how Sensel, without belaboring the point, makes it clear that humanity in her world is divided and scattered, and I loved how Ariel's Farwalking gift serves to bring people together.

One of the quibbles I had about The Farwalker's Quest is laid to rest here. The relationship between Scarl, in his late twenties, and Ariel, just turned 14, which had slightly odd undertones in the first book, is clarified comfortably to here to that father/daughter...and Ariel gets to find explore young love in a rather nicely grin-inducing relationship with an age-appropriate young man.

Issues of plot aside, I almost want to recommend this book simply because Sensel includes menstruation among Ariel's more minor tribulations, in a frank and unembarrassed way (many kudos to Scarl for not being embarrassed either). She also deals matter-of-factly with disability--some characters are, and there it is, effecting their lives but not dis-abiling them, as it were.

I don't want to say much more than I have already about the time-slip side of things, because of not wanting to spoil the book, but rest assured, this book qualifies! The Timekeeper, after all, shows up in the title....

Note on reader age: The Farwalker's Quest was on the upper end of middle-grade (mainly for death and violence reasons), and this book is moving YA-ward (a passionate, yet still very young and sweet, kiss). I'd call it a good one for 12 year olds, with a bit of a spread either way...

Other reviews: Becky's Book Reviews, Larissa's World, Purpleplum's Blog, and Story Force.

Disclaimer: ARC received from the publisher.

I knew something had gone terribly wrong

"The massive 8.8 earthquake that struck Chile may have changed the entire Earth's rotation and shortened the length of days on our planet, a NASA scientist said Monday." Read more here.

In today's busy world, every millisecond counts.

3/1/10

Tiger Moon, by Antonia Michaelis

Tiger Moon, by Antonia Michaelis (2008 in US edition, translated from the German, Amulet Books, YA, 448 pp)

In India, more than 100 years ago, when it was still part of the British Empire, a beautiful young woman was taken from her desert home to be the newest bride of a rich, but cruel, husband. Safia waits for the night to come when he takes her to her bed for the first time, and discovers that she is not the virgin he had bargained for...and kills her. To keep fear at bay, she begins to tell a story to her husband's serving boy.

It is a story of an unlikely hero, a young thief named Farhad who grew up unloved and unwanted, scrounging a living as best he could. Then one day he finds a silver amulet that holds the picture of a beautiful girl. She is the daughter of the god Krishna, and she has been seized by a demon king. Farhad, unlikely though it seems, is the hero Krishna has chosen to save her. To do so, he must find the cursed bloodstone with which he can bribe the demon's guard. And to find the bloodstone, and take it to the desert city in time to save the princess' life, he must ride a magical white tiger the length and breadth of India, on a quest that will test both boy and tiger to their limits, and stretch the boy's heart to that of a true hero.

All the while, as boy and tiger journey on, Safia fills the night with the words of their story. Until the night the two stories meet...By which point the words were flying off the pages into my eyes (despite the fact that I was starting to weep). And I closed the book with that oh so satisfying of having read something whose pictures and people will stick in my mind for ages.

Farhad is a thief worthy to stand with the other great young thieves of modern fantasy. Safia is no passive victim, but a smart strong young woman pushing as hard as she can against fate. And the white tiger provides lighter moments comic relief, without losing his dignity. I enjoyed their stories lots.

Yet as I was reading, Rudyard Kipling's Kim kept coming into my head. I read Kim, the story of a tricksy British boy living on his wits in colonial India, back when I was young, and I loved it. I accepted uncritically the "India" that Kipling gave me, and simply enjoyed the story. I can't do that now, as an adult. So although I loved the story, and even loved the story-telling, of Tiger Moon, I have reservations about Michaelis' India--it seems to me a 19th-century European fantasy of India, rather than an India (if there can ever be "an India") that ever existed. And then, poking around for other blog reviews, I found my vague doubt given more explicit and knowledgeable voice at Writing With a Broken Tusk, and I'm left sighing...

Because I did loose myself utterly in Tiger Moon...but then again, I still re-read Kim.

Free Blog Counter

Button styles