My reading (and otherwise) life

A post in which I share, perhaps, too much, mainly to see if my blog feed thingy is working, which I doubt.

Number of minutes spent today fiddling with blog feed thingy, and google searching "blog feed not working": at least 60.

Number of non-library books to be read: 85. (46 in the guest room/computer room, 3 put on the proper shelf because there is no rush (they are books by British historical fiction author Hester Burton found at my local used book store, for less money than I had book store credit--yay!), 39 in various attractive clusters in various rooms downstairs).

Number of books checked out from the library: 15. (All tremendously appetizing ones...I have just started Bruiser, by Neil Shusterman)

Number of books lost somewhere in the house: 1. This vexes me to pieces, because it is Inda, by Sherwood Smith, and I had almost finished it and was really enjoying it.

Number of books waiting to be reviewed: only 2 (that are relistically going to be writen about), which isn't bad at all.

Moving away from books--

Number of panes of glass in the sunroom that need to be reglazed ere the snows of winter fall: 144.

Number of glasses of milk my children need every hour: too many. (I suppose I could make them pour their own, but a gallon of milk is a heavy thing....and I am afraid of the probable consequences). I wish they would learn to sneak their own cookies off the top of the fridge, too, but no, they ask Mama. Sigh.

Number of times I will have been to the dentist this month: 3. And it is all because my best friend Stephanie's little sister caused me to knock my front teeth out in seventh grade. I will not be reading Smile. It would be too painful.

So anyway, I hope this feeds properly to all of you kind enough to care. As the old saying goes, let me know if you don't get this. I found, in my flailings of today, that unsubscribing and resubscribing seems to work...

(oh happiness--this small post is showing up at the two place I just visited (Three Turtles and Their Pet Librarian and Finding Wonderland. Phew).

Plain Kate, by Erin Bow

Plain Kate, by Erin Bow (Scholastic, 2010, young adult, 311 pages in arc form)

Plain Kate got her nickname when she was just a baby, and as she grew older, nothing happened to her that would contradict it. Despite being plain in the eyes of the world, she knows that she is precious to her father, and so, despite having lost her mother to childbirth, Kate is happy enough, learning how to carve wood under her father's tutelage, and soon becomes an artist in her own right. But when her father dies before she has come of age, there is no one left who cares all that much about her. Then sickness and crop failure come to her small town, and rumors of witchcraft begin to swirl around.

A stranger has come to down, a pale man named Linay who offers to buy Kate's shadow in return for granting the wish of her heart. When she refuses his offer, he uses his magic to set her up as a witch in the eyes of the townsfolk. Soon she must flee, or be burned as a witch, and Linay's offer seems to be her only way out...So Kate sells her shadow.

In exchange, her beloved cat, Taggle, begins to talk to her--at last she is no longer alone. Her path away from the village leads to the Roamers, travelling people who agree to let her travel with them. Her hope is that they will fully accept her, before her shadow leaves her entirely, and for a brief time, she thinks she might have found a family.

Then things go awry. A new spectre of death has emerged, born on white mist and sending its victims into a sleep from which they never wake. More rumours of witchcraft abound, and even the Roamers fall prey to fear and suspicion. And Kate, her shadow gone, is an obvious target.

Her only hope to save herself is to get her shadow back. But Linay has plans for it--terrible plans, involving a magic darker than any Kate had ever heard of. And his reasons stretch back to a dark and horrible grief of his own.

"What do you want, Linay?" It was the first time she had said his name. It tasted powerful."

"The dead, you know, are hungry. Those that do not rest. They are hungry all the time and cannot even eat grass." He was halfway to singing again. He seemed to stop himself. "The have mouths the size of needles' eyes and stomachs the size of mountains. It is a terrible fate." (page 194)

One of the hungry dead, a ruskala, is coming ever closer....and it becomes all to clear to Kate that it is not just she, herself, who needs to be saved from Linay's magic. But what can a girl with no shadow, who only skill is her artistry with wood, and her talking cat do to stop him?

I thought, from the cover illustration, that this would be a lighthearted adventure story about a girl and her cat. It is, indeed, about a girl and a cat, but is much darker and more lyrical than I had anticipated. Gently and carefully Bow builds her dramatic tension, placing the pieces into place that lead inexorably to the horror that is to come. It is a gripping journey--even in building up the central story, she doesn't pull her punches. People are badly hurt, betrayed, and many die. (I cried).

Bow departs from the expected path of a YA fantasy in that Kate's story is complete without any romantic interest. Loneliness is a cornerstone of Kate's character, and Bow, commendably, stays true to this--there was no place in this particular story for romantic love. In part because of this, Kate is a beautifully believable character, whose determination and courage won my heart.

Despite its darkness, Plain Kate isn't a bleak book. The clarity and color of Bow's world building make the story sing. But what truly saves the book from the weight of its sad story is Taggle, the cat. He is the epitome of catness, adding great humor and warmth, and I loved him. He's happy to use his new found skill of speech to let Kate know just where to pet him, and heroic as all get out in his own right.

Here are other reviews, at Book Aunt, 21 Pages, and Let the Words Flow.

(disclaimer: arc received at ALA)

The Valley of Song, by Elizabeth Goudge

When I was little, we lived in Portugal and the Bahamas. Every summer we would go to Arlington, VA to stay with my grandparents, and a trip to Arlington's Central Library happened soon after we arrived. And every summer the first book I would check out was The Valley of Song (1951), by Elizabeth Goudge. I still remember the first time I thought to look--I was eight, and had read The Little White Horse and Linnets and Valerians, and the thrill of finding another book by this beloved author was pretty darn thrilling....

I have my own copy now, and Central Library has been remodeled, and no longer has it. But I don't need to re-read it anyway--I have absorbed it so deeply that it is as clear to me as if I read it yesterday. It is a book that combines fairies, and the living signs of the Zodiac, a bit of Greek mythology, angels, and heaven itself, in one gloriously described feast for the reader (no one can describe beautiful things for me as well as Elizabeth Goudge). And it seemed to me a perfect book to share on this day of Book Blogger Appreciation Week, a day devoted to "forgotten treasures."

The Valley of Song takes place in a little shipbuilding village in England, maybe 200 years ago. In this village lives Tabitha, daughter of the blacksmith, who would much rather explore the beautiful meadows and woods than stay confined in the village school. One day her wanderings take her down a new path, and at its end, she finds the gateway into a magical place, the Valley of Song. For Tabitha, the Valley is a place of trees and flowers--a perfect place where a child can play and be at peace. And one day, Tabitha takes with her her dear friend, old Job, the carpenter--and to the wonder of both of them, when he passes through the door, he too becomes a child, delighting along with her in the beauty and wonder that they have found. There they meet Silkin, a fairy person, small and furry, one of those charged with the making of trees.

When Job sees the trees being made, with those that are to grow in our world disappearing in a flash of light, and those that do not being cast aside, to be used again, he knows he wants some of that ungrowing wood to take back with him. For in Job and Tabitha's village, a new ship is being built--the most ambitious that has been attempted. But it is dying almost before it is begun--the owner cannot pay for it. So Job, despite Silkin's reservations, ascends the stairway in the great tree that leads to Heaven itself, to ask for wood for the ship. And being a humble man, his prayers are answered, and the next morning, the wood has appeared in the village.

But a ship needs more than wood--metal, paint, ropes, and sails are also necessary. And each of these comes from the Valley of Song too, as Tabitha brings others into this paradise--Anthony, the master builder, Julie, his French wife, Andrew, the bitter and lonely man who was to be the ship's captain, and even her own father. Each of these has their own aspect of the Valley, waiting for them on the other side of the door when they pass through and become young again--formal garden, pastoral meadow, Mediterranean coast, and high mountains--and each finds new and wondrous fairy folk, and living signs of the Zodiac, and each of these will also send their own prayers to Heaven, for the ship they love....

It is Andrew's journey that most impressed me--his path to the door of Heaven leads down into the dark waters. Capricorn is there to guide him, but Andrew is afraid. "No child of mine, born to the hardness of the cold nights and the lashings of the winter winds, was ever a coward." says Capricorn (page 140), and Andrew goes down into the dark, to free himself of the ropes with which his spirit is bound...I'm a Capricorn too, and I say this to myself when I have to go to the dentist....And then, after saying good-bye to Andrew, Tabitha has a lovely little journey with a merchild fairy.

At last, after many such magical adventures, the ship is built, but one thing is missing. The village priest takes Tabitha to the church, and there she finds that the church itself is another way into the Valley of Song...and God's own blessing flies like a flag from the beautiful ship as Tabitha christens it and sends it on its way.

I'm a little shy about recommending this one, because I'm not sure how a grown-up (or even "the modern child") might react to the dizzying pastiche of mythology, folklore, and Christianity. But it is a book I will always love. Such beautiful pictures in my mind, so many hours daydreaming about what my own Valley of Song would be...so much wonder and delight. And there's humor, too, in the dialogue, to keep it from being cloying. But you'll probably have to take my word for it. It is out of print, and very expensive now, unless you visit one of the few libraries that still has a copy...

Gaurdians of Ga'Hoole: The Capture--Giveaway!

And the winners are....Jessi and Kathy!

Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole comes to movie theaters September 24. And I, one of those who likes to read the book before seeing the movie, have just read The Capture (Scholastic, 2003, middle grade), the first book in the series by Kathryn Lasky. I'd seen my boy reading it, but never picked it up... once I did, I found it rather more exciting than I had expected, and enjoyed it quite a bit (although I don't think, somehow, I'm going to find the time to read all 15 books in the series...)

When a young barn owl named Soren is kidnapped from his forest home, he finds himself in a terrifying owl dystopia. Although it's name seems harmless enough, St. Aegolius Academy for Orphaned Owls teaches nothing except brainwashed acceptance of its unnatural way of life. Soren and an elf owl friend, Gylfie, struggle to keep from falling under the power of those in control--and gradually they begin to put together the pieces of the hideous puzzle in which they have been entangled. Giving them strength and courage are the stories of the the Guardians of Ga'Hoole, knightly owls pledged to do noble deeds.

Here's the Guardians of Ga'Hoole website, where you can learn more about the series.

Thanks to the publishers, I'm offering a giveaway to promote the release of the movie.

Two winners will receive:

• A copy of Guardians of Ga’hoole: The Capture by Kathryn Lasky
• A copy the first book in Kathryn Lasky’s new series -- Wolves of the Beyond: Lone Wolf

Here's the publisher's blurb about this new series: "In the harsh wilderness beyond Ga’Hoole, a wolf mother hides in fear. Her newborn pup, otherwise healthy, has a twisted leg. The mother knows the rigid rules of her kind. The pack cannot have weakness. Her pup must be abandoned on a desolate hill—condemned to die. But alone in the forest, the pup, Faolan, does the unthinkable. He survives. This is his story—the story of the wolf pup who rises up to change forever the Wolves of the Beyond." Find out more here!

Please leave a comment to enter this giveaway; I'll keep this open till 11:59 pm on Monday, September 20st.

And finally, here's the trailer for the movie:

The new releases of fantasy and science fiction, for kids and teens, from the middle of September, 2010

Here are the sci fi/fantasy books for kids and teens that have just been released. As ever, I get my information from Teens Read Too, and the blurbs come from the publishers via Amazon and Goodreads. Here's what I want--The Curse of the Were-Wiener. Dragonbreath rules!

FOR KIDS (aka Middle Grade)

ALDWYN'S ACADEMY by Nathan Meyer. Enter a school for magic where even the first day can be (un)deadly...On the very first day of school at the world-famous Aldwyns Academy for Wizardry, fledgling wizard Dorian Ravensmith finds himself immersed in a mystery. White wolves have been attacking incoming students. Ghosts are haunting the Snapping Dragon Gardens. And the professors lurk in the halls, whispering about a shadowy wizard who seems to be behind it all.That night, Dorian spies a figure creeping into the Snapping Dragon Gardens and and he follows, certain that with the help of a few magic items and simple po9ions, he can catch the culprit by daybreak and return a hero. But as hobgoblins, banshees, and a terrifying dragon try to stop him at every turn, Dorian discovers that he's stepped into an (un)deadly trap that could not only destroy his future as a wizard but also the beloved wizardry school.

CURSE OF THE WERE-WIENER: DRAGONBREATH by Ursula Vernon. Danny Dragonbreath and his best friend Wendell thought the hot dog from the school cafeteria looked a little . . . off. Then things got weird when the hot dog bit Wendell, and weirder still when Wendell started to sprout back hair. Could Wendell be morphing into a . . . (cue ominous music) were-wiener? All evidence points to yes. And unless he and Danny can get past the lunch ladies and slay the alpha-wurst, the whole school could be infected.

HOW TO TRAP A ZOMBIE, TRACK A VAMPIRE, AND OTHER HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES FOR MONSTER HUNTERS by A.R. Rotruck. Ever wonder how to: Improvise a wand? Capture a werewolf? Make a monster-catching net? Why wait to be accepted into wizardry school to learn the answers? Packed with easy projects using everyday materials, this fact-filled activity book shows wannabe wizards how to craft unique creations such as their own wizard robes, play games such as vampire tag, master adventuring skills like mapping a monster-filled dungeon, and follow step-by-step instructions on how to "survive" almost any monster attack.

THE IMMORTALS: THE EDGE CHRONICLES by Paul Stewart & Chris Riddell. Nate Quarter is a lowly lamplighter in the phraxmines of the Eastern Woods, until treachery forces him to flee for his life to the mighty city of Great Glade.But these are turbulent times. In far-off Hive, the spectacular city founded by the goblin tribes, the clan leaders are preparing for war. And out beyond the dread Nightwoods, in the fabled gardens of Riverrise, a one-eyed waif jealously guards the life-giving waters of the mystical Riverrise spring. . . .Swept up in the maelstrom that follows, Nate and a small band of intrepid friends must set off on an epic journey that is to lead them into terrible peril. All the while, from over the Edge cliff itself, a storm unlike any ever seen before, is building. A storm that is to roll across the land, bringing both echoes of the past and promises of a new beginning. . . .

THE LAST PHOENIX by Linda Chapman & Steve Cole. For stepsiblings Milly, Michael, Jason, and Jess, life has never been trickier. Milly's worried about her singing audition, Michael's losing his friends, Jason's never going to get picked for any sports teams, and as Jess's exams loom closer, she can't seem to remember anything. But then Fenella, the only living phoenix in the world, swoops into their lives looking for help—and their problems really begin!
Fenella has laid a magical egg, but if she wants it to hatch she needs four very special ingredients, scattered throughout time to the far corners of the world. So the children embark on a hair-raising hunt across the world, through the past, present, and future. And with a crazed phoenix-worshipping cult on their tail, a grumpy gryphon to soothe, and time paradoxes to avoid, Milly, Michael, Jason, and Jess will need all their wits and bravery if they hope to succeed.

MODERN FAERIES, DWARVES, GOBLINS, AND OTHER NASTIES: A PRACTICAL GUIDE BY MISS EDYTHE MCFATE by Lesley M. M. Blume. Perhaps you think fairies are figments of the imagination, or even relics of an ancient past. You may even think all fairies are lovely winged creatures, who dance in bluebell fields, granting wishes to anyone who should encounter them.
You would be wrong on all counts.
Fairies are very much alive today, and they are everywhere—in our cities, our backyards, and even our kitchen cupboards. Some of them are indeed the sweet-tempered, winged creatures of folklore, but the fairy family also includes goblins, trolls, brownies, and other strange creatures, some of which are revealed to humans in this book for the very first time. While many fairy breeds are harmless, others can be quite nasty or even dangerous.
In this luxuriously illustrated guidebook, preeminent fairy expert Miss Edythe McFate shares her knowledge of the modern fairy world and includes practical advice on matters such as how to tell a good fairy from a bad one, how to spot a “fairy ring,” how to tell the difference between dwarves and trolls (one species is far deadlier than the other), and how to defend against fairies who would do you harm. Also included are eight true cautionary tales about children who have encountered fairies in ultramodern New York City.

NANCY DREW, VAMPIRE SLAYER: THE NEW CASE FILES by Stefan Petrucha & Sarah Kinney. Vampire-mania has gripped River Heights, with teenage girls going wild over the new "DieLite" novels and movies. But what happens when a supposedly "real" handsome young vampire arrives on the scene? Will Nancy expose him as a fraud -- or fall under his dark spell? As if that wasn't enough-- there's something dark and sinister happening while everyone's distracted by the vampire madness. Could this possibly be linked to what's happening in Bayport, home of the Hardy Boys? Spoiler warning: there are no vampires, blood or gore in this graphic novel.

A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO DRAGON MAGIC by Susan Morris. Do you wish you could fly on wings of your own? Breathe fire? Cast spells in the blink of an eye? These are the secrets only dragon magic can teach you. In this next edition in the Practical Guide family of fantasy essentials, dragon expert Sindri Suncatcher opens up his notebooks one last time to give readers an insider's look into the Darastrix Academy, a place where young wizards and dragon hatchlings live side-by-side mastering the powerful magic that makes dragons so special. For every fantasy fan who loves dragons and wants to know everything about these enigmatic creatures, this book reveals the greatest dragon secrets of all.

RECKLESS by Cornelia Funke. Beyond the mirror, the darkest fairy tales come alive. . . For years, Jacob Reckless has enjoyed the Mirrorworld's secrets and treasures. Not anymore.His younger brother has followed him.Now dark magic will turn the boy to beast, break the heart of the girl he loves, and destroy everything Jacob holds most dear. . . .Unless he can find a way to stop it.If you're looking for happily ever after, you've come to the wrong place.

THE SECRET OF KA by Christopher Pike. One minute Sara's bored on vacation in Istanbul. The next, she's unearthed a flying carpet that cleverly drags her to the mysterious Island of the Djinn—or genies. By her side is Amesh, a cute guy she has a crush on but doesn't yet trust. When Amesh learns the secret of invoking djinn, he loses control. He swears he'll call upon only one djinn and make one wish. The plan sounds safe enough. But neither Sara nor Amesh are any match for the monster that that swells before them. It hypnotizes Amesh, compelling him to steal Sara’s flying carpet and leave her stranded on the island.
Discovering the carpet has sparked a new path for Sara, one that will lead her to battle creatures even deadlier than djinn. In this fight, Sara can save mankind, herself, or the boy she cares for. Who will she be forced to sacrifice?

YOUNG ADULT

ALONG THE RIVER: A CHINESE CINDERELLA NOVEL by Adeline Yen Mah. Bestselling Chinese American author Adeline Yen Mah weaves her authentic accounts of life in China into an absorbing novel about a Chinese girl and her vision of a previous life. After a fall, CC is whisked away to a hospital. As she drifts in and out of consciousness, she is haunted by vivid dreams that seem strange—yet somehow familiar. Thus begins CC’s emotional journey back to a privileged life lived eight hundred years ago during the Song dynasty.CC is the daughter of a wealthy and influential man, but she finds herself drawn to a poor orphan boy with a startling ability to capture the beauty of the natural world. As the relationship between these two young people deepens, the transforming power of art and romantic love comes into conflict with the immovable rules of Chinese society.

THE DARK DEEPS: THE HUNCHBACK ASSIGNMENTS by Arthur Slade. Transforming his appearance and stealing secret documents from the French is all in a day’s work for fourteen-year-old Modo, a British secret agent. But his latest mission—to uncover the underwater mystery of something called the Ictíneo—seems impossible. There are rumors of a sea monster and a fish as big as a ship. French spies are after it, and Mr. Socrates, Modo’s master, wants to find it first. Modo and his fellow secret agent, Octavia, begin their mission in New York City, then take a steamship across the North Atlantic. During the voyage, Modo uncovers an astounding secret.

DAY OF DELIVERANCE: A JACK CHRISTIE NOVEL by Johnny O'Brien. Jack and Angus’s time travels are heating up again, and this time the boys must save Queen Elizabeth I from an early death. Meeting the playwright Marlowe and a young actor named William Shakespeare along the way, Jack and Angus will have to use all their bravery and skill to thwart their archenemy, Pendleshape, and his misguided notions of changing history.

THE GATHERING: TRISKELLION by Will Peterson. After escaping the Australian Outback — and the nefarious agents of the ill-named Hope Organization — Rachel and Adam have fled to the United States in hopes of locating their father. Luck is evading them, however, until they follow the clues in the note their Granny Root left them, leading straight to a military base in Alamogordo, New Mexico. Meanwhile, their mother is facing charges of murder in Oklahoma, even as Dr. Laura Sullivan speeds to New Mexico to snatch the kids from the clutches of the Hope Organization. Will Rachel and Adam discover the third and final triskellion before it’s too late?

GRACE by Elizabeth Scott. Grace was raised to be an Angel, a herald of death by suicide bomb. But she refuses to die for the cause, and now Grace is on the run, daring to dream of freedom. In search of a border she may never reach, she travels among malevolent soldiers on a decrepit train crawling through the desert. Accompanied by the mysterious Kerr, Grace struggles to be invisible, but the fear of discovery looms large as she recalls the history and events that delivered her uncertain fate.


THE HOUSE OF DEAD MAIDS by Clare B. Dunkle. Young Tabby Aykroyd has been brought to the dusty mansion of Seldom House to be nursemaid to a foundling boy. He is a savage little creature, but the Yorkshire moors harbor far worse, as Tabby soon discovers. Why do scores of dead maids and masters haunt Seldom House with a jealous devotion that extends beyond the grave?
As Tabby struggles to escape the evil forces rising out of the land, she watches her young charge choose a different path. Long before he reaches the old farmhouse of Wuthering Heights, the boy who will become Heathcliff has doomed himself and any who try to befriend him.

HOW TO LOVE A WEREWOLF by Sophie Collins. Whether he's been your best friend for years or you've suddenly sprung a crazily close bond with the new kid on the block, a werewolf is a girl's best friend. But what if he wants more? Don't let confusing feelings mess up your friendships, or crazy crushes stand in the way of true love. Whether you've got a vampire love to die for, or fancy running with wolves for a change, we show you how to track down your werewolf, get in with his pack and untangle even the trickiest of love triangles. Packed with charts, quizzes, and the savviest advice around, this little guide can sort a supernaturally complicated love life, and help you figure out your feelings once and for all (without leaving him in the doghouse).

JUMP by Ginger Rue. High school junior Brinkley Harper is beautiful, wealthy, admired, and powerful—until the day she wakes up in the body of a classmate she wouldn’t be caught dead hanging out with.

Goth girl Miranda is everything Brinkley isn’t: she won't leave the house in anything but black, her family life is in tatters, she’s practically invisible at school, and she’s hiding a dark secret. As Brinkley experiences Miranda’s life from the inside out, she’s forced to consider the world from a very different point-of-view. But this won’t be Brinkley's last “jump,” and each time she lives a day in another classmate’s body, Brinkley not only begins to feel empathy for others, she also begins to glimpse the fears, vulnerabilities, and disappointments behind her own perfect façade. By experiencing the world as somebody else, Brinkley may finally learn to understand herself.

KING OF ITHAKA by Tracy Barrett. Telemachos has a comfortable life on his small island of Ithaka, where his mother Penelopeia keeps the peace even though the land has been without its king, his father Odysseus, since the Trojan War began many years ago.

But now the people are demanding a new king, unless Telemachos can find Odysseus and bring him home. With only a mysterious prophecy to guide him, Telemachos sets off over sea and desert in search of the father he has never known.

THE LEGEND OF THE KING: THE SQUIRE'S TALES by Gerald Morris. In this final installment of the Squire's Tale series, Terence and his fellow Knights of the Round Table must come together in a last stand to save Camelot. The characters Gerald Morris has brought to life throughout his series—“Terence and Gawain, Lynet and Gaheris, Luneta and Rhience, Dinadan and Palomides"—each have an important role to play in this climactic final conflict. Maintaining their faith, selflessness, and honor, Arthur's court bands together to try to defeat Morgause and Mordred and banish the dark magic from England forever.

LOW RED MOON by Ivy Devlin. The only thing Avery Hood can remember about the night her parents died is that she saw silver—deadly silver, moving inhumanly fast. As much as she wants to remember who killed them, she can't, and there's nothing left to do but try to piece her life back together. Then Avery meets the new boy in school—Ben, mysterious and beautiful, with whom she feels a connection like nothing she's ever experienced. When Ben reveals he's a werewolf, Avery still trusts him—at first. Then she sees that sometimes his eyes flash inhuman silver. And she learns that she's not the only one who can't remember the night her parents died.Part murder mystery, part grief narrative, and part heart-stopping, headlong romance, Low Red Moon is a must-read for teen paranormal fans.

PERSONAL DEMONS by Lisa Desrochers. If you had to choose between Heaven and Hell, which would it be?Are you sure about that...?Frannie Cavanaugh is a good Catholic girl with a wicked streak. She's spent years keeping everyone at a distance--even her closest friends--and it seems her senior year will be more of the same...until Luc Cain enrolls in her class. No one knows where he came from, but Frannie can't seem to stay away from him. What she doesn't know is that Luc works in Acquisitions--for Hell--and she possesses a unique skill set that has the king of Hell tingling with anticipation. All Luc has to do is get her to sin, and he's as tempting as they come. Frannie doesn't stand a chance. Unfortunately for Luc, Heaven has other plans, and the angel, Gabe, is going to do whatever it takes to make sure that Luc doesn't get what he came for. And it isn't long before they find themselves fighting for more than just her soul. But if Luc fails, there will be Hell to pay...for all of them.

THE SECRET SOCIETY OF THE PINK CRYSTAL BALL by Risa Green.

In a world where nothing is certain, a little magic couldn't hurt...right?

When Erin Channing's favorite aunt dies, Erin is bequeathed a pink crystal ball and a set of weird instructions. Granted, Aunt Kiki (aka Aunt Kooky) always lived "outside the box." But now Erin and her two best friends are convinced that the pink crystal ball holds the key to their future-or at least the key to getting dates...

Consider Your Fate to Be Sealed . ..

WIRED: SKINNED by Robin Wasserman One year ago, Lia Kahn died. A few days later, she woke up. She had a new body: Mechanical, unfeeling, inhuman. She had a new family: Mechs like her, who didn’t judge her for what she could no longer be. She had a new life, one that would last forever. At least, it was supposed to. But now everything Lia thought she knew has turned out to be a lie; everyone she thought she loved has been stolen away. And someone is trying to get rid of the mechs, once and for all. Lia will risk everything to save herself and the people she can’t live without. But not before facing one final truth: She can’t save everyone.

Time Cat, by Lloyd Alexander, for Timeslip Tuesday

This is the seventy-fourth time travel book I've reviewed for Timeslip Tuesday, and I'm getting a bit nervous. After today, I'll only have four books in reserve, for those weeks where I haven't found time to read a new one....five if you count my husband's promise to do a guest post about Red Shift (Alan Garner), which would bring some welcome (?) gloom to my cheerful little blog, but I'm not holding my breath.

But anyway. Today's book is: Time Cat, by Lloyd Alexander (Henry Holt, 1963), Alexander's first book for children. It is not gloomy. It tells of Jason, a boy, and Gareth, a cat, and how Gareth uses his catly magic to take them both back in time.

"Lucky Gareth," Jason sighed, lying back and closing his eyes. "I wish I had nine lives."

The cat stopped purring. "I wish I did, too." he said.

Jason started up in surprise. Not because Gareth had spoken. Jason had always been sure he could if he wanted to. It was what Gareth had said." (pages 4-5)

Gareth might not have nine lives, but he does have something else. He can visit nine different lives, in nine different times and places. And he can take Jason with him.

Boy and cat travel around the globe, starting with ancient Egypt and ending in Revolutionary War Massachusetts, and everywhere they go, a little vignette of interesting encounter/adventure awaits. They meet Leonardo da Vinci, become friends with the young Japanese Emperor, are taken hostage by the Incas, and are found guilty of witchcraft in 17th-century Germany. And more.

Their travels through the past are particularly fascinating to Jason, Gareth, and the cat-loving reader because of the great variety in people's attitudes toward cats--there's veneration, appreciation of their utility, affection, and fear. Without being too overtly didactic, Alexander gets some decent non-cat history and cultural anthropology into the story too....and (being Alexander) he underlines the moral point:

"I learned a lot about cats...and different places," Jason said.

"That was only part of it," said Gareth. "If you think back, everybody we met had something to tell you--about themselves, and about yourself. It's a way of finding out a part of what you have to know to be a grown-up." (page 205).

Not exactly subtle, but I think it does encapsulate one reason why books mean so very much to the avid young reader. Alexander went on to write the Chronicles of Prydain just after finishing this book, and the theme of "finding out what you have to know to be a grown-up" is central to those books. I was just the right age when I read them, and I know that the messages he put in those books hit home for me...Of course, Lloyd Alexander went on to write the same story over and over again, and this theme of growing up began to grow old, and not other book of his ever became dear to me. Oh well. Back to Time Cat.

In Time Cat the "lessons" are much less overt, and much less powerful. It can be enjoyed as just a fun and colorful romp through time, a book to give to the fan of the Magic Tree House books, for instance, when those are outgrown. I plan to try it on my own boys, and I bet they'll like it.

But its episodic nature, which allots only a fleeting bit of time for each character interaction, makes the book feel a lot like a series of postcards. It doesn't quite have enough to hold the attention of an older reader looking for the numinous, the truly engrossing, the beautiful enchantments of a true classic. Bottom line--it's not going to go to the nursing home with me and my best beloved books, but it's a perfectly fine young middle grade story. Especially, most emphatically, a good one for the young cat lover.

Here's another review at Under the Covers.

BBAW--my interview with Joanne, of Jo-Jo Loves to Read

Today's the second day of Book Blogger Appreciation Week--a day when participants are sharing interviews of their BBAW assigned partners! I was matched with Joanne, of Jo-Jo Loves to Read, and here's my interview with her:

1. What made you decide to start a book blog? How long have you been blogging? Do you have any advice you'd give new bloggers?

It will be two years next month since I first started my blog, and I think the original purpose for me was to find another outlet to discuss books that my book club wasn't showing an interest in. Advice I would give to new bloggers is don't let yourself become overwhelmed with review copies. It's ok to say NO! We started book blogs because we like to read so be sure to keep the enjoyment in one of your favorite leisure activities.

2. Has your blog's focus changed since you began? Or did you start with a clear idea in your mind of what sort of books you'd read, and stick with it?

Well, when I started my blog I wasn't really sure where I was going with it! But then I thought this would be a good way to expand into reading genre's that I don't usually read. After reading a couple of books that are not in my usual genre I decided that I'm just not going to do that any more. There are plenty of bloggers out there that read specific genres that I do not enjoy, so I'm going to stick with the one's that I like.

3. The book blogging world is pretty big these days (over 7000 book review blogs are tracked by Technorati), and there seem to me to be a number of clusters, or communities, within it. Do you have a sense of a particular blogging community that you are part of?

I guess I do feel that I am a part of a community that contains blogs that focus on literary fiction or an eclectic mix. Besides the few historical fiction blogs that I view, I really only regularly visit blogs that share a balanced assortment of reviews, such as memoirs, contemporary fiction, cultural fiction, or classics (just to name a few).

4. Has blogging changed your reading habits? Do you have more books on your tbr pile now, for instance? Has the number of books you read a week gone up? And where do you get the majority of the books you talk about?

Blogging has changed my reading habits in that I definitely read more. I think it also inspired me to start listening to audiobooks, which I am so thankful for discovering! I have the opportunity to read (or shall I say listen) to so many more books that I wouldn't have been able to in the past. Audiobooks also introduced me to the thriller/suspense genre, which I found I just love to listen to, but never really enjoyed reading before.

My TBR pile goes up almost every day-all it takes is a visit to a couple of blogs in the morning and I find a new book I HAVE to read! Before blogging I probably only read about 2 books a month, but now I can average about a book a week so my reading has definitely gone up.

I get my books from various sources. Publishers, authors, PR firms, and several come from requests through the Shelf Awareness newsletter. I have also received review copies through LibraryThing and Goodreads. I feel that I should give special mention to Hachette Book Group and TLC Tours because they are both so generous with their review copies and giveaways that they offer!

5. And, speaking of reading habits, have you had a chance to try out your new kindle yet? Do you like it?

With all of the review copies on my pile I haven't really had a chance to try out my Kindle yet and it's driving me nuts! I'm going to start getting my book club selections on my Kindle, but before the Kindle was given to me I already had most of the books for the next year that my group is reading. I do plan on reading our Christmas selection, Comfort and Joy by Kristin Hannah on the Kindle so I will be sure to let you know how it goes after I get to experience it fully. I might even buy the Good Husband of Zebra Drive (our November selection) on the Kindle and let one of the ladies buy my used copy. The little bit that I have been able to check out I can tell you has definitely floated my boat!

6. Where are your favorite places to read?

One of my very favorite places to read is on my deck in the summertime. With a glass of ice water, tea, coffee or wine on a sunny day I can just stay there all day! But since we live in Northern Wisconsin most of my reading is done in the recliner in the family room.

7. Do you ever write critical, or even negative reviews? Or do you see your reviews as primarily recommendations?

I think it's so important to be honest with the reviews that I write so I think I have written critical or even negative reviews. I do try to still find some positive within the book in this case and not be distasteful about it. Just because a certain book wasn't right for me, doesn't mean that the next person that reads my review would not enjoy it.

8. I see on your blog that you are a member of a pretty active book club. Did your involvement with the book club predate your blogging? Do you review on your blog the same books you talk about with your club?

Our book club first started meeting in September of 2004 so we are just starting our 7th year together! We have a great bunch of ladies and we always have a nice selection of books that we read throughout the year. Since I review all of the books that I read I do post reviews about them also. You can see our complete list of book club picks since our group began on my blog here.

We actually just finished a book that I didn't particularly care for and one of the ladies asked me if I was going to blog about it. And I told her it wouldn't be right if I didn't let other bloggers know what I honestly thought about this book.

9. I primarily read middle grade and YA fantasy and science fiction, and so I am rather clueless about good books for adults, reviewed by bloggers like yourself! What's a book you've loved this past year that I should read?

A couple of my favorite books from the last year were Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman and Labor Day by Joyce Maynard. I usually recommend books to people depending upon what they usually read and since you enjoy middle grade books these might be great for you! Both of these books have children as the main characters between the ages of 9 and 12 and they have such a good message and story. Oh sorry, I just noticed you asked for one and I gave you two!


Thanks so much for being my partner, Joanne! It was great meeting you! And in looking around all the new to me blogs taking part in BBAW, I've been seeing CeeCee cropping up all over the place--I'll definitely be looking for this myself now!

And if anyone wants to read more about me, Joanne asked some great questions....

Children's Book of Music: An introduction to the world's most amazing music and its creators, from DK, for Non-Fiction Monday

Children's Book of Music: An introduction to the world's most amazing music and its creators, from DK (2010, 142 pages, with accompanying cd)

DK set themselves an ambitious task with this book--to concisely survey the music of the world, in an inclusive way, in a book for kids. The result is a pretty astounding book. It's not without issues (about which more below), but it's pretty fantastic--the best book about world music for children I've ever seen.

The Children's Book of Music is divided into three sections--- Early music (50,000 BCE - 1600 CE), Classical music (1600-1900), and Modern music (1900--). Early music is the section of the book that most deeply delves into musical traditions around the world. It begins a fascinating smorgasbord of what we've learned from archaeology and history about truly ancient music, but quickly fans out into music across cultures. The gamelan orchestras of Bali, which get a wonderful double-page spread; the "world of wind" features Polynesian nose flutes and South American pan pipes; "rituals and religious music" is (rightly) broadly defined, with Maori singers, National Anthems, the Soweto gospel choir and more sharing a double-page spread. There's another about Yatsuhashi Kengyo, "father of modern koto." These sections are all lavishly illustrated with pictures of people from today’s world, making music and dancing.

I could provide many more examples, but I hope this gives you some idea of what this part of the book is like. I would have loved this section of the book, if its title, Early music (50,000 BCE - 1600 CE), hadn't implied that all the musical traditions described ended in 1600. This implication is contradicted the photographic evidence, and the text itself, that clearly show these musical traditions as alive and vibrant today. I think that DK probably meant "music that had its beginnings long before 1600" but still, I do not like the wording they chose at all. Big Sigh.

In a children's book geared toward a western audience, it's not surprising that there's a generous chunk (part two of this book) about"classical" music. This is a primarily European section, although there are nods to diversity, with mention, for instance, of the Beijing opera, and a rather lovely spread about "dazzling dances" that is nicely diverse. And there are other pleasing bits of diversity in unexpected places within this section-- "Brassed off," for instance, leaps away from the orchestral instruments one might have expected,and includes a large illustration of a triton shell player, pictures of the shofar and nafir, the serpent and the bazooka. So it's not nearly as dominated by "great European music" as it might have been (although it is very famous-composer heavy). I think, however, that the title heading here is somewhat problematic, too, because "classical" music didn't stop at 1900, as the last section (Modern music (1900--)) of the book indicates....

When I reached this final section of the book, I turned to my husband for his opinion. He's an ethnomusicologist, and has taught courses on world music that include many of the subjects discussed here (like the blues), and he's much more knowledgeable about reggae, and jazz, afropop, and rock then I am. He gave a running commentary as looked through the book ("oh good, they put her in" type remarks), and in general was impressed and approving of the choices DK made about which musicians to highlight (although he wanted more about Dylan...). (His main complaint about the book, incidentally, was that his own class of instrument, the bagpipes, doesn't get a mention).

In short, this is a beautiful, diverse book (albeit still skewed in favor of western music). The accompanying cd is a brilliant touch that brings the musics discussed in the text to life. There is much to appreciate here, with fascinating information made accessible through clear writing and marvellous illustrations.

I just really really wish (getting back to that troublesome section heading) that DK hadn't fallen into the trap of putting non-Europeans into the past, when it is clear that there are many non-European musical traditions that are alive and well. And though the subjects that are included in this book are dealt with in clear, balanced, informative ways, I wish, as well, that there had been less emphasis put on performative music. I would have liked more about music made communally--music that doesn't need a large audience,or any audience at all. Like lullabies, work songs, and Irish music played in someone's kitchen...


Non-Fiction Monday is hosted today by Rasco from RIF!
(disclaimer--review copy received from the publisher)

BBAW--First Day Post-- two blogs I've added to my list since this time last year

The assignment for the first day of Book Blogger Appreciation Week is this--"to share with us about a great new book blog you’ve discovered since BBAW last year! .... Tell us why this blog rocks your socks off and why you keep going back for more."

I'm bending the rules, and sharing two blogs that I've added to my list. The first is author Katherine Langrish's blog, Seven Miles of Steel Thistles. I have gotten loads of enjoyment from her long and juicy posts about mythology, fantasy, older books, fairy tales and more, as well as from her books (I've reviewed The Shadow Hunt, and Troll Fell), which I've also had the pleasure of discovering this year!

The second blog I'd like to wave hello to is Chachic's Book Nook, a fun and friendly place I always enjoy visiting. Chachic shares my taste in books, with just enough that's different to make things interesting! And she just let me know that one of my favorite authors has a new book out-- Coronets and Steel by Sherwood Smith!

This Sunday's middle-grade fantasy and science fiction round-up

Hello, fellow readers of middle grade science fiction and fantasy! Here's this week's round-up of such reviews, interviews, and etcs. as I could find. Let me know if I missed you!

The Reviews:

Amulet, vols. 1-3, by Kazu Kibuishi, at The Hopeless Gamer.

A Crack in the Sky, by Mark Peter Hughes, at Voracious YAppetite.

Dark Life, by Kat Falls, at The Excelsior Files.

The Familiars, by Adam Jay Epstein and Andrew Jacobson, at YA Book Shelf.

Found, by Margaret Peterson Haddix, at This Purple Crayon.

Journey to Atlantis, by Philip Roy, at Lucy Was Robbed.

Monster Slayers, by Lukas Ritter, at Charlotte's Library.

No Such Thing as Dragons, by Philip Reeve, at Charlotte's Library.

Ondine, by Ebony McKenna, at Read in a Single Sitting.

Quest for Merlin's Map, by W.C. Peever, at Book Reader's Heaven (this looks mg to me, what with a 12 year old protagonist...)

Radiance, by Alyson Noel at Fantastic Book Review

Remembering Green, by Lesley Beake, at Charlotte's Library.

The Red Pyramid, by Rick Riordan, at Book Nut.

Scumble, by Ingrid Law, at Book Aunt.

The Shifter, by Janice Hardy, at Ex Libris.

The Smoky Corridor, by Chris Grabenstein, at Lesa's Book Critiques

Spaceheadz, by Jon Scieszka, at One Librarian's Book Reviews, and Green Bean Teen Queen

Thresholds, by Nina Kiriki Hoffman, at Book Aunt.

Wednesday Witch, by Ruth Chew, at Biblio File.

Interviews:

Riley Carney (The Reign of Elements series) at Cynsations.

Kristen Landon (The Limit) at Manga Maniac Cafe.

Kathryn Lasky (The Guardians of Ga’Hoole) at Clickthecity.

Fiona McIntosh (The Whisperer) at The Australian Literature Review (note--I'd never heard of The Whisperer, so I looked it up here--it's a magical circus book. Seems like circuses are a Big Thing right now in mg/YA sff....)

And even though Kathi Appelt's books are not exactly fantasy, but more magical realism (the term she herself uses) here's an interview with her at Bobbi Miller's blog.

Miscellaneous things of great interest:

The Enchanted Inkpot offers a fun back to school list for the fantasy protagonist.

Katherine Langrish shares her thoughts on realism and fairy tales, at Seven Miles of Steel Thistles.

Sometimes, in compiling these round-ups, I'll make judgement calls about what is and isn't middle grade, and about what is and isn't fantasy/science fiction/speculative fiction. If you disagree, please say so! In "The Pirate Code of Children's Literature," Stacy Whitman (Editorial Director, Tu Books, an imprint of Lee & Low Books) talks about how and why the middle grade/YA call is made. And middle grade and young adult author Hannah Moskowitz blogs about the same subject, with lots of references to fantasy, at her blog, Invincible Summer.

Speaking of Stacy-- she recently created Tu Books in order to publish multicultural science fiction and fantasy for kids and teens--excitingly, the first two books that Tu will publish have just been announced:

"Stacy Whitman at Lee & Low Books has acquired the first novels for the Tu Books imprint, which launches in fall 2011. The imprint will focus on multicultural MG/YA science fiction and fantasy. For the launch list, Whitman has acquired World rights to a YA paranormal thriller tentatively titled Wolf Mark by Joseph Bruchac, author of Codetalker and Skeleton Man. When Lucas King’s black-ops father is kidnapped and his best friend, Meena, put in danger, Lucas’s only chance to save them is hidden away in an abandoned, monster-guarded mansion. The deal was done by Barbara Kouts of the Barbara S. Kouts Agency.

Whitman has also bought world rights to Galaxy Games by Greg Fishbone, a MG science fiction trilogy about an incoming asteroid that turns out to be an alien spaceship, visiting Earth to recruit a team of kid athletes to compete in the upcoming Galaxy Games Tournament. The first book, tentatively titled Preliminaries, will be published as part of the Tu Books launch list in fall 2011."

To which I say: Cool!

Stephanie at Read in a Single Sitting let me know that she has compiled some great lists--Books to Read After Harry Potter, and Young Adult Books About Ancient Egypt and Egyptian Mythology.


other news: Book Blogger Appreciation Week begins tomorrow! There's still time (till Sept. 15) to send in your name for consideration as a judge for the Cybils Awards! There's still time to register for Kidlitcon 2010!

Remembering Green, by Lesley Beake

Remembering Green, by Lesley Beake (Francis Lincoln, 2010 in the US, middle grade, 111 pages) is a dystopia for upper middle grade kids, set in a future Africa.

Two hundred years from now, the oceans have drowned much of the earth. On a fortified island that was once a mountain in South Africa, technology has created a hold-out of "civilization," where the Tekkies live in relative comfort. But one thing technology can't do is make rain come from the dry skies...

North, on the mainland of Africa, a girl called Rain inherited the promise of her name...bound to a lion cub in an ancient ritual, she might be able to restore, at least in part, the balance of nature. Rumors of her existence lead the Tekkies to kidnap her, to try harness her for their own use, and now she, and her lion Saa, are prisoners on the island.

"Sometimes, on days when the wind blows from the north for a change, I can smell Africa. Here they call it 'Out', and they worry about it, looking over their shoulders as if there were something there waiting to pounce." (page 16)

For Rain and Saa, life on the island is far from paradisal. Lonely and afraid, Rain is unsure what the Tekkies expect from her, and even more unsure that she will ever find her home again. But she has friends from outside who have infiltrated the island and are working to free her. One of these is Ghau, a boy she might be falling in love with. When word comes that a Grand Ceremony is being planned, one that involves a sacrifice, Rain and Saa are forced to risk everything to try to escape....

One the plus side, this almost fable-like story* has a central plot I found compelling, and it manages to pack a powerful message about the risks of global warming without being too didactic. It is also great to find a science fiction story in which the central character is a young girl from Sub-Saharan Africa, and Rain's heritage was most intriguing.

But I found the book as a whole to be somehow thin--it is very short, at 111 pages, and I just don't think the author gave herself enough time to fully develop either her world or her characters. I wanted more! The complicated story, with its the clash of ancient mystical heritage and technology in a world where the climate has been irrevocably changed, and the set-up of a lonely kidnapped girl living in an alien society, cried out to me to be explored in greater detail.

It's still a book I'd recommend to middle-school kids, especially those looking for young African heroines--and this isn't to disparage the sophistication of middle grade readers, but simply a feeling that they might not yet be so familiar with futuristic dystopias that they will share my disappointment. Indeed, the succinct story telling might well be an asset for this audience.

And I bet that the relationship between Rain and her lion cub, the one area of where the book fully realizes its potential, is a bit hit with animal-loving kids.

"I couldn't touch Saa. There was not enough space through the grid. The only thing that could reach her was my voice. I lay on the ground beside her cage and let my words surround her.

*****

And so our nights would pass on our journey to nowhere, Saa and I. She lay very still. Her ears hardly twitched and her great paws were lifeless--both of us were powerless in the face of this captivity. I would not run--our captors knew that. I would not melt into the darkness and disappear, not with Saa caged and broken. Saa was my life now. Saa was everything. I would die for her if I must." (pages 19-20)

*I am now struggling a little in my own mind about what I mean by "fable-like." I think the cadence of the storytelling, with many paragraphs beginning "And" and "But" and "So," gives the story a spoken feel, which in my mind is part of "fable." This sort of story telling also slows down, I think, the immediacy of the action, distancing the reader from what's happening--another quality of "fable" in my mind. I might, however, think fable means something entirely different tomorrow.

(Note on age: Amazon has this as YA. In my mind, it's not--there's little violence, and romance is in the future).

White Cat, by Holly Black

White Cat, by Holly Black (Simon and Schuster, 2010), is pretty close to my ideal of what a YA fantasy thriller should be. Mystery! Mayhem! Cool and unusual magic! Interesting characters!* It is the first book I can ever remember taking upstairs with me, and finishing in bed next to my little one "I guess Mama's not going to read to me tonight...." he murmured plaintively. But I only had five more pages, and I had to find out what happened....(and then I read to him).

(I know I overuse parentheses in this post (sorry!) but sadly I don't have time to de-parenthesize).

Cassel is not quite like the other kids at his prep school. For one thing, his family are curse workers--they possess magical (and very illegal) skills. His mother's in jail for emotional manipulation on a very high level (she can twist the feelings of anyone she touches, including rich men...). His grandfather is able to kill with a touch (a useful skill for a hit man). His older brother's gotten involved with a high level curse worker family--the mafia of the magical. Seventeen-year old Cassel himself has accepted that he has no curse working abilities himself, but he does have his own abilities as a con man, and runs a rather lucrative gambling ring at his school.

But when he wakes up trapped on the roof of his dorm, with no idea how he got there (or how to get off), Cassel's life begins a spiral out of control into a tangle of magic, crime, and twisted (very very twisted) family secrets. Cassel comes up against murder, transformation, the manipulation of memory, and more...and the reader (me at least) is left on the seat of her chair, reading hungrily to find out the answers to the mysteries that have exploded into his life.

Told from Cassel's point of view, the reader gets to unravel the plot threads along with him, making for satisfying reading (except for a bit at the end, where the author withholds information from the reader--I can see why she did it, but I felt a bit miffed, and began to wonder if I should Question what I had been told previously). Like Cassel, we aren't sure who we can trust, who is using whom, and why. Black makes her world of curse workers satisfyingly real, without resorting to information dumps. She's assembled a (mostly) stellar cast of supporting players, and she manages to make us care about (many) of her characters, while keeping all but one (not Cassel) morally ambiguous. (Although I was rooting for Cassel throughout).

This is the first YA book of Black's I've finished--I found Tithe much too gritty for my taste. This was also gritty, but not as much--there's considerable violence here too, and some of it is disturbing, but it doesn't take up too much page time, and I was able to accept it as necessary for the truly exciting story. There's a romantic sub-plot line, but it's not particularly gritty, or expansive.

(In short, I liked the book lots).

*It also has several scenes that involve cleaning out an old house full of junk. For some reason I am strangely attracted to such books.

No Such Thing As Dragons, by Philip Reeve

No Such Thing As Dragons, by Philip Reeve (2010 in the US, Scholastic, middle grade, 185 pages)

"There were no such things as dragons, were there? Only in stories. Only in tales told around the hearth on winter's nights, to set you shivering with cozy fear. Only in pictures."

So young Ansel tells himself as he rides north into the mountains, following in the wake of Brock the Dragon Slayer. One morning he'd been the unwanted youngest son of a tavern keeper, mute since his mother's death. The next, his father has handed him over to be Brock's servant. Now, headed off to look for dragons, Ansel is understandably concerned with their reality.

Brock himself isn't a believer. His handy crocodile skull is all he needs to convince gullible folk that he's a true dragon slayer. But their journey is taking them up into a snowy mountain range where strange things are happening--just the sort of things you'd expect if there really was a dragon.

The villagers believe, so much so that they have left a girl, named Else, up in the heights to serve as a dragon offering. Ansel and Brock try hard not to believe...but when they, and Else, are actually being pursued by a ravenous flying worm, it's pretty impossible not to.

No Such Thing as Dragons combines adventure and well-drawn characterization in a delightfully succinct story. Once Ansel, Brock, and Else meet the dragon, Reeve gives us an almost minute by minute account of what happens, bringing to vivid life the desperate immediacy of their situation, as the dangers of the natural world--the snow, and ice, and the creature itself-- beset them fiercely. Reeve brings to life the entire range of the struggling in snowy mountains experience, from generic chilly plodding to utterly panicked conviction that death is imminent.

Although my memories of the mountains are the most vivid (overshadowing even the dragon), Ansel, Brock and Else became nicely clear in my mind as well. They are given just enough back story to be credible, given just enough guts to get off the mountain alive, and are allowed to show very human weakness (some more than others). I liked very much that Ansel isn't a Chosen One. He doesn't suddenly develop unrealistic abilities and become an extraordinary hero; he remains solidly a boy, one forced by desperate circumstance to persevere in the face of danger. Else, too, is not a stock damsel in distress; she is a nuanced character in her own right. Even Brock, so used to telling the one-dimensional story of himself as Great Dragon Slayer, gets to become a real, believable, person. Each of these characters must question themselves--courage, trust, and loyalty are all put to the test when the possibility of death by dragon becomes all too real.

The result is a compelling page-turner of a story that feels entirely plausible. Those who equate dragons with High Fantasy-esque questings and magics might be a tad disappointed; those who love historical fiction merged with the fantastical should enjoy it lots.

Other reviews can be found at Book Aunt and Book Ends.

Monster Slayers, by Lukas Ritter

Monster Slayers, by Lukas Ritter (Wizards of the Coast, 2010, middle grade, 249 pages)

Evin longs to leave his village--longs to put his Rougish skills to the test and to become a heroic slayer of monsters. When he watches from the edge of the forest as his village is overrun by gnolls, who set the buildings alight and kidnap the its inhabitants, it seems like his chance might have come. He and his friend Jorick (who dreams of becoming a great swordsman), the only two left free, set off to save their friends and family. Their path brings them to a young elf wizard, a girl named Betilivatis, whose helpful book, A Practical Guide to Monsters, and even more helpful magical abilities, enable them to reach the underground chambers where the villagers have been imprisoned....

But things aren't quite adding up in Evin's mind. Betilivatis seems to be hiding secrets, something very odd seems to have happened to the villagers, and the motivations of the gnolls seem far stranger than one might expect. And even stranger still, Evin begins to be tormented by the feeling that he himself might not be the person he thinks he is....

What began as a straightforward, very Dungeons and Dragons-like adventure turns into a much more twisty tale, as Evin and his companions begin to question everything they have taken for granted, and find out that the true enemy is much more dangerous than just a few monsters....

And so, what seemed to me at first a perfectly adequate middle grade adventure, fine for kids, but not much more than that, ended up catching and holding my attention. I wouldn't go so far as to urge adult fans of mg sff to seek this one out, but I'd happily recommend this to the kid whose beginning to take an interest in Dungeons and Dragons, and any kid who enjoys a fun fantasy adventure. I think it would be pretty perfect for the kid who enjoyed, for instance, the Dragon Slayer Academy books, and is ready for something a bit more challenging in a similar vein.

Wizards of the Coast, the folks who bring us Dungeons and Dragons, as well as D. and D. inspired books such as this, have created an introductory on-line D. and D. adventure, The Heroes of Hesiod, for kids 6 and up, which is based on this book. My own older son has been asking me to play D. and D. with him, and I think I will point him here....

And here's an interview with Lukas Ritter at Nina Hess.

Note on age: There is violence, and there are tense moments, but the gore is not lavish, and the tension not so scary as to cause bad dreams. It's a generously spaced book, too, and the vocabulary is not particularly daunting, making it a good one for the not quite so confident younger middle grade reader.

(disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher at ALA this summer)