New releases of fantasy and science fiction for children and teenagers, the end of September, 2010 edition

Here are the new releases of fantasy and science fiction for children and teenagers from the end of September! My information comes from Teens Read Too, and the blurbs are the publishers, taken from Goodreads and Amazon.

MIDDLE GRADE (9-12)

ALIENOLOGY by Dugald A. Steer. The year is 1969, and Professor Alan Grey is ready to lead you on a magical mystery tour of a world where space creatures mingle with earthlings, unbeknownst to all but a chosen few. On the one hand, this dazzling book is a field guide to other worlds, from the solar system to the laws of time and space; from the many species and cultures in faraway galaxies to the primitive state of alienology studies here on Earth. To the sharpest readers, however, this shining resource, with its constellation of brain-teasers, serves as a cunning test: Readers who solve its puzzles are guaranteed to achieve enlightenment—and have a chance to represent humankind in the intergalactic community at large. Here are just some of the topics covered:
*A map of the universe, showing the location of many alien worlds an alien species guide
*Alien biology, methods of communication, and civilizations
*Alien technology and spaceship design
*How to identify aliens who have already infiltrated human society and more!

ANCIENT, STRANGE, AND LOVELY: THE DRAGON CHRONICLES by Susan Fletcher. In a new dragon novel by Susan Fletcher, Bryn must save a dracling from a dangerous modern world that seems to have no place for an ancient dragon.

HARRY POTTY AND THE DEATHLY BORING by Stefan Petrucha. The creative team behind the hit Tales from the Crypt #8 “Diary of a Stinky Dead Kid” team up again to launch this new parody series from Papercutz! Following the killing of their mentor Dumb-as-a-door by the seemingly traitorous barista Frappe, Harry Potty, Don Measley and Whiny Stranger must find a way to defeat the nose-less dark lord Value-Mart (He-Whose-Prices-Can’t-Be-Beat) and his followers, the Odor Eaters in order to avenge the death of Harry Potty’s parents and bring balance to the world of magic.

MUSEUM OF THIEVES by Lian Tanner. Welcome to the tyrannical city of Jewel, where impatience is a sin and boldness is a crime.
Goldie Roth has lived in Jewel all her life. Like every child in the city, she wears a silver guardchain and is forced to obey the dreaded Blessed Guardians. She has never done anything by herself and won’t be allowed out on the streets unchained until Separation Day.
When Separation Day is canceled, Goldie, who has always been both impatient and bold, runs away, risking not only her own life but also the lives of those she has left behind. In the chaos that follows, she is lured to the mysterious Museum of Dunt, where she meets the boy Toadspit and discovers terrible secrets. Only the cunning mind of a thief can understand the museum’s strange, shifting rooms. Fortunately, Goldie has a talent for thieving.
Which is just as well, because the leader of the Blessed Guardians has his own plans for the museum—plans that threaten the lives of everyone Goldie loves. And it will take a daring thief to stop him. . . .
Museum of Thieves is a thrilling tale of destiny and danger, and of a courageous girl who has never been allowed to grow up—until now.

ON THE BLUE COMET by Rosemary Wells. One day in a house at the end of Lucifer Street, on the Mississippi River side of Cairo, Illinois, eleven-year-old Oscar Ogilvie’s life is changed forever. The Crash of 1929 has rippled across the country, and Oscar’s dad must sell their home—with all their cherished model trains—and head west in search of work. Forced to move in with his humorless aunt, Carmen and his teasing cousin, Willa Sue, Oscar is lonely and miserable—until he meets a mysterious drifter and witnesses a crime so stunning it catapults Oscar on an incredible train journey from coast to coast, from one decade to another.

A PRINCE AMONG FROGS: TALES OF THE FROG PRINCESS by E. D. Baker. Princess Millie and her fiancé, Audun, are busy preparing for their wedding when trouble starts brewing in Greater Greensward. Millie's baby brother, Felix, has been kidnapped and is trapped in a swamp full of other frogs. With all the adults busy fixing problems elsewhere in the kingdom, it's up to Millie and Audun to find him—but they need all the help they can get to fight the family's oldest nemesis, the angry wizard Olebald. From the deep blue sea to the soaring skies, our two heroes will stop at nothing to get their families back together and banish all the troublemakers for good.

RISE OF THE DARKLINGS: THE INVISIBLE ORDER by Paul Crilley. Emily Snow is twelve years old, supporting herself and her younger brother on the streets of Victorian England by selling watercress. One early winter morning on her way to buy supplies, she encounters a piskie--a small but very sarcastic fey creature that has been cornered by a group of the Black Sidhe, piskies from an opposing clan. She rescues him and unknowingly becomes involved in a war between the Seelie and the Unseelie, two opposing factions of fairies that have been battling each other throughout the long centuries of human history, with London--and England itself--as the ultimate prize.

When the Invisible Order--a centuries-old secret society of humans that has protected mankind from the fey's interference--gets involved, things really start to get complicated.

Now she is the central figure in this ancient war that could permanently change Earth. With no one to trust, Emily must rely on her own instincts and guile to make the right choices that could save her family and all of mankind.

THE SEARCH FOR WONDLA by Tony DiTerlizzi. When a marauder destroys the underground sanctuary that Eva Nine was raised in by the robot Muthr, the twelve-year-year-old girl is forced to flee aboveground. Eva Nine is searching for anyone else like her, for she knows that other humans exist, because of an item she treasures—a scrap of cardboard on which is depicted a young girl, an adult, and a robot, with the strange word, "WondLa." Tony DiTerlizzi honors traditional children's literature in this totally original space age adventure: one that is as complex as an alien planet, but as simple as a child's wish for a place to belong.

STAR OF STONE: CENTURY by Pierdomenico Baccalario. Four kids. A wooden top. And four postcards with secret instructions.

New York City, March 15
Another mysterious artifact reunites Harvey from New York, Elettra from Rome, Mistral from Paris, and Sheng from Shanghai in their attempt to save the world. When they meet people who knew Alfred Van Der Berger, the murdered professor who sent them on their quest in Rome, they realize that the challenge is far from over. And when they discover a series of four postcards written in code years ago by the professor himself, their destiny becomes even clearer.

The cards send the kids all over New York City, through old libraries and abandoned tunnels, in search of the Star of Stone, an ancient object fundamentally connected to the earth. But a new set of villains, predators of Manhattan nightlife, will do anything to stop them....

THIS ISN'T WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE by Pseudonymous Bosch. Cass finds herself alone and disoriented, a stranger in a dream-like, medieval world. Where is she? Who is she? With the help of a long-lost relative, she begins to uncover clues and secrets--piecing together her family's history as she fights her way back to the present world.

Meanwhile, back home, Cass is at the hospital in a deep coma. Max-Ernest knows she ate Time Travel Chocolate--and he's determined to find a cure. Can our expert hypochondriac diagnose Cass's condition before it's too late? And will he have what it takes to save the survivalist?

YOUNG ADULT

ASCENDANT by Diana Peterfreund. Now a fully trained unicorn hunter, Astrid Llewelyn is learning that she can’t solve all her problems with a bow and arrow. Her boyfriend has left Rome, the Cloisters is in dire financial straits, her best friend’s powers are mysteriously disintegrating, and her hope of becoming a scientist seems to be nothing but an impossible dream.

So when she’s given the opportunity to leave the Cloisters and use her skills as part of a scientific quest to discover the Remedy, Astrid leaps at the chance. Finally, she can have exactly what she wants—or can she? At Gordian headquarters deep in France, Astrid begins to question everything she had believed: her love for Giovanni, her loyalty to the Cloisters, and—most of all—her duty as a hunter. Should Astrid be saving the world from killer unicorns or saving unicorns from the world?

BRAIN JACK by Brian Falkner. Las Vegas is gone—destroyed in a terrorist attack. Black Hawk helicopters patrol the skies over New York City. And immersive online gaming is the most dangerous street drug around. In this dystopic near-future, technology has leapt forward once again, and neuro-headsets have replaced computer keyboards. Just slip on a headset, and it’s the Internet at the speed of thought.

For teen hacker Sam Wilson, a headset is a must. But as he becomes familiar with the new technology, he has a terrifying realization. If anything on his computer is vulnerable to a hack, what happens when his mind is linked to the system? Could consciousness itself be hijacked? Before he realizes what’s happened, Sam’s incursion against the world’s largest telecommunications company leads him to the heart of the nation’s cyberdefense network and brings him face to face with a terrifying and unforeseen threat.

CRAVE by Laura J. Burns & Melinda Metz. Shay has had a rare blood disorder since she was born. In fact, her mother married one of Shay’s doctors, Martin, who left his world-renowned leukemia research to try and figure out exactly what the disorder is and how to cure it. When she turns seventeen, Martin begins to give her new blood transfusions that make her feel the strongest she has ever felt. But she also has odd visions where she sees through the eyes of a vampire. At first, she thinks she must be imagining the visions, but when she begins to see Martin’s office in them, she knows she has to check it out. That’s when she finds Gabriel, a sexy, teenaged vampire, imprisoned in Martin’s office. The connection she has built with Gabriel compels her to set him free. But when he kidnaps her in an attempt at revenge on Martin, their lives become deeply intertwined. She doesn’t know the half of it.

DEAD BEAUTIFUL by Yvonne Woon. After Renee Winters discovers her parents lying dead in California’s Redwood Forest in what appears to be a strange double murder, her grandfather sends her off to Gottfried Academy in Maine, a remote and mysterious high school dedicated to philosophy, “crude sciences,” and Latin: the Language of the Dead. It’s here she meets Dante, a dark and elusive student to whom she feels inexplicably drawn. As they get to know each other better, Dante can’t seem to control his attraction either, and their desires gradually deepen into a complex and dangerous romance. Dangerous because Dante is hiding a frightening secret. A secret so terrible, it has him fearing for Renee’s life.

Dante’s not the only one with secrets, though. Turns out Gottfried Academy has a few of its own… Like, how come students keep disappearing? Why are the prefect-like Monitors creeping around campus during the night? And what exactly are the Headmistress and Professors really up to? Renee is determined to find out why.

DUST CITY by Robert Paul Weston. Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf?
His son, that’s who.
Ever since his father’s arrest for the murder of Little Red Riding Hood, teen wolf Henry Whelp has kept a low profile in a Home for Wayward Wolves . . . until a murder at the Home leads Henry to believe his father may have been framed.
Now, with the help of his kleptomaniac roommate, Jack, and a daring she-wolf named Fiona, Henry will have to venture deep into the heart of Dust City: a rundown, gritty metropolis where fairydust is craved by everyone and controlled by a dangerous mob of Water Nixies and their crime boss leader, Skinner.
Can Henry solve the mystery of his family’s sinister past? Or, like his father before him, is he destined for life as a big bad wolf?
END OF DAYS: NIGHT RUNNER by Max Turner. In this thrilling follow up to Night Runner, Zack Thomson is back with his friend Charlie, searching for answers all the while being hunted by a creature most deadly...

While Charlie struggles with his vampirism, he, Zack, and their friends are pulled into a conflict with the mysterious Mr. Hyde, a creature who hunts vampires. As the story unfolds, and the ties between Zach and his girlfriend Luna intensify, the network of support around them collapses, forcing them to redefine their notions of good and evil and find a way forward.

THE EXILED QUEEN: A SEVEN REALMS NOVEL by Cinda Williams Chima. Haunted by the loss of his mother and sister, Han Alister journeys south to begin his schooling at Mystwerk House in Oden’s Ford. But leaving the Fells doesn’t mean danger isn’t far behind. Han is hunted every step of the way by the Bayars, a powerful wizarding family set on reclaiming the amulet Han stole from them. And Mystwerk House has dangers of its own. There, Han meets Crow, a mysterious wizard who agrees to tutor Han in the darker parts of sorcery—but the bargain they make is one Han may regret.

Meanwhile, Princess Raisa ana’Marianna runs from a forced marriage in the Fells, accompanied by her friend Amon and his triple of cadets. Now, the safest place for Raisa is Wein House, the military academy at Oden's Ford. If Raisa can pass as a regular student, Wein House will offer both sanctuary and the education Raisa needs to succeed as the next Gray Wolf queen.

THE FRENZY by Francesca Lia Block. Liv has a secret.

Something happened to her when she was thirteen. Something that changed everything. Liv knows she doesn’t belong anymore—not in her own skin, not in her family . . . not anywhere. The only time she truly feels like herself is when she’s with her boyfriend, Corey, and in the woods that surround her town.
But in the woods, a mysterious woman watches Liv. In the woods, a pack of wild boys lurks. In the woods, Liv learns about the curse that will haunt her forever. The curse that caused the frenzy four years ago. And that may cause it again, all too soon.
While Corey and Liv’s love binds them together, Liv’s dark secret threatens to tear them apart as she struggles to understand who—or what—she really is. And by the light of the full moon, the most dangerous secrets bare their claws. . . .
THE GENIUS WARS by Catherine Jinks. After abandoning a life full of deception and mistrust, fifteen-year-old Cadel has finally found his niche. He has a proper home, good friends and loving parents. He's even studying at university.

But he's still not safe from Prosper English, who's now a fugitive from justice and determined to smash everything that Cadel has struggled to build. When Cadel's nearest and dearest are threatened, he must launch an all-out attack on the man he once viewed as his father.

Can he track down Prosper before it's too late? And what rules will he have to break in the process?

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).

I SHALL WEAR MIDNIGHT by Terry Pratchett. It starts with whispers. Then someone picks up a stone. Finally, the fires begin. When people turn on witches, the innocents suffer. . . . Tiffany Aching has spent years studying with senior witches, and now she is on her own. As the witch of the Chalk, she performs the bits of witchcraft that aren’t sparkly, aren’t fun, don’t involve any kind of wand, and that people seldom ever hear about: She does the unglamorous work of caring for the needy.
But someone—or something—is igniting fear, inculcating dark thoughts and angry murmurs against witches. Aided by her tiny blue allies, the Wee Free Men, Tiffany must find the source of this unrest and defeat the evil at its root—before it takes her life. Because if Tiffany falls, the whole Chalk falls with her.

MONSTERS OF MEN: CHAOS WALKING by Patrick Ness. "War," says the Mayor. "At last." Three armies march on New Prentisstown, each one intent on destroying the others. Todd and Viola are caught in the middle, with no chance of escape. As the battles commence, how can they hope to stop the fighting? How can there ever be peace when they're so hopelessly outnumbered? And if war makes monsters of men, what terrible choices await? But then a third voice breaks into the battle, one bent on revenge - the electrifying finale to the award-winning "Chaos Walking" trilogy, Monsters of Men is a heart-stopping novel about power, survival, and the devastating realities of war.

THE REPLACEMENT by Brenna Yovanoff. Mackie Doyle seems like everyone else in the perfect little town of Gentry, but he is living with a fatal secret - he is a Replacement, left in the crib of a human baby sixteen years ago. Now the creatures under the hill want him back, and Mackie must decide where he really belongs and what he really wants.

A month ago, Mackie might have told them to buzz off. But now, with a budding relationship with tough, wounded, beautiful Tate, Mackie has too much to lose. Will love finally make him worthy of the human world?

TORMENT: A FALLEN NOVEL by Lauren Kate. How many lives do you need to live before you find someone worth dying for? In the aftermath of what happened at Sword & Cross, Luce has been hidden away by her cursed angelic boyfriend, Daniel, in a new school filled with Nephilim, the offspring of fallen angels and humans. Daniel promises she will be safe here, protected from those who would kill her. At the school Luce discovers what the Shadows that have followed her all her life mean - and how to manipulate them to see into her other lives. Yet the more Luce learns about herself, the more she realizes that the past is her only key to unlocking her future...and that Daniel hasn't told her everything. What if his version of the past isn't actually the way things happened...what if Luce was really meant to be with someone else?

TWELFTH GRADE KILLS: THE CHRONICLES OF VLADIMIR TOD by Heather Brewer. Vlad’s running out of time. The Elysian Council has given him weeks to live, and that’s if the Slayer Society doesn’t kill him – along with all the citizens of Bathory – first. Then there’s the issue of Vlad’s father, who may or may not still be alive after all these years, and oh yeah, that tiny little detail in the Pravus prophecy about Vlad enslaving Vampirekind and the human race. So much for college applications.

In this epic finale to Heather Brewer’s heart-stopping Chronicles of Vladimir Tod, dark secrets will be revealed, old friends will become enemies, and warm blood will run cold. Just be careful it isn’t yours.

WHEN ROSE WAKES by Christopher Golden Her terrifying dreams are nothing compared to the all-too-real nightmare that awaits. . . .Ever since sixteen-year-old Rose DuBois woke up from months in a coma with absolutely no memories, she’s had to start from scratch. She knows she loves her two aunts who take care of her, and that they all used to live in France, but everything else from her life before is a blank.Rose tries to push through the memory gaps and start her new life, attending high school and living in Boston with her aunts, who have seriously old world ideas. Especially when it comes to boys. But despite their seemingly irrational fears and odd superstitions, they insist Rose not worry about the eerie dreams she’s having, vivid nightmares that she comes to realize are strangely like the fairy tale Sleeping Beauty. The evil witch, the friendly fairies, a curse that puts an entire town to sleep—Rose relives the frightening story every night. And when a mysterious raven-haired woman starts following her, Rose begins to wonder if she is the dormant princess. And now that she’s awake, she’s in terrible, terrible danger. . . .

WILDWING by Emily Whitman When Addy is swept back in time, she couldn't be happier to leave her miser-able life behind. Now she's mistaken for Lady Matilda, the pampered ward of the king. If Addy can play her part, she'll have glorious gowns, jewels, and something she's always longed for—the respect and admiration of others. But then she meets Will, the falconer's son with sky blue eyes, who unsettles all her plans.

From shipwrecks to castle dungeons, from betrothals to hidden conspiracies, Addy finds herself in a world where she's not the only one with a dangerous secret. When she discovers the truth, Addy must take matters into her own hands. The stakes? Her chance at true love . . . and the life she's meant to live.

ZOMBIES VS. UNICORNS edited by Holly Black & Justine Larbalestier. It's a question as old as time itself: which is better, the zombie or the unicorn? In this anthology, edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier (unicorn and zombie, respectively), strong arguments are made for both sides in the form of short stories. Half of the stories portray the strengths--for good and evil--of unicorns and half show the good (and really, really bad-ass) side of zombies. Contributors include many bestselling teen authors, including Cassandra Clare, Libba Bray, Maureen Johnson, Meg Cabot, Scott Westerfeld, and Margo Lanagan. This anthology will have everyone asking: Team Zombie or Team Unicorn?

For Timeslip Tueday--links to all my time travel reviews, sorted by time period

To celebrate having reviewed 75 timeslip stories since I first began Timeslip Tuesday, I've created a page where links to all my reviews can be found, sorted by the time period travelled to. I've also given the audience age for the books. I hope this a useful resource, and I hope to keep adding to it!


I think it absolutely fascinating that times of presidential popularity (Eisenhower, 1953-1961, Reagan, 1981-1989, Clinton's first term, 1993-1997 ) appear to coincide with low periods in time travel book publishing. If this is true (and I know it's silly, of course, to make any sort of argument from the small amount of data I have, but I find it amusing), it doubtless implies that times of perceived prosperity lead to a smug complacency about one's own place in history. Or something like that :).

If you have any time travel/timeslip books to recommend to me, I'd love to have them! My list is really middle grade heavy, and I'd love more YA and adult books on it (although the adult side of things seems daunting....)

Ninth Ward, by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Ninth Ward, by Jewell Parker Rhodes (2010, Little Brown, middle grade on up, 217 pages) is a book that is just plain unequivocally Good, in its writing, its story, its characters, and even in the much more subjective territory of the feelings it left me with.

Lanesha has lived all her twelve years in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans secure in the love of Mama Ya-Ya, the wise old woman who was the midwife at her birth. Her seventeen-year old mother, rejected by her well off family after she became pregnant, died giving birth to her...but she hasn't quite left her daughter. Her ghost still lies there on the bed where, still and unresponsive, still waiting for her baby to be born safely into the world.

Her Mama is just one of many ghost that Lanesha can see. Mama Ya-Ya has raised Lanesha in world where ghosts are just one fact of life, and everything around them--magnolia flowers, birds, numbers--has a meaning that transcends the quotidian. Despite being as poor as can be money-wise, Mama YaYa given Lanesah a childhood that is just about the warmest, most tenderly-drawn fictional childhood I can think of. Lanesha's suffered through a lot of teasing--crazy, spooky, and witch are some of the things she's called by the other kids. But when it gets too much, and she hides in the bathroom, she thinks of Mama YaYa's words--"'You are loved, Lanesha,' she always says. 'Lanesha, you are loved'" (page 22).

Lanesha might not have any friends at school, but she loves it all the same. She learns everything the teachers can give her (she dreams of being an engineer, and designing bridges, and her teacher, incidentally, is a gem). This school year looks like it might be different, though--there are promising signs that Lanesha will make friends, with both a neighbor boy, TaShon, and a girl in her class. All seems to be going gloriously well.

But reading this happy part of the book, and falling hard for Lanesha and Mama Ya-Ya, and their diverse and vibrant community, brought cold chills, and made me want to cry for the pity of it. Because I knew it was all a fragile soap bubble, about to pop-- it is late August of 2005, and Hurricane Katrina is forming off to the east. The Ninth Ward is doomed, and the courage and determination of Lanesha and TaShon are about to be put to a test that no child should have to undergo.

Now the book becomes a gripping story of children on their own, facing the possibility that there will be no rescue, facing the reality that they will have to save themselves. The great adventure-type of story, where ordinary kids are heros, and must do extraordinary things...

Gosh, it was a good. Brilliant in its characters, vivid with regard to place, gripping in its story. It's my pick for the Newbery this year.

Here's an interview with Jewell Parker Rhodes at Through the Tollbooth, and one at TheHappyNappyBookseller.

(And now I am wondering the following. This book deserves to be nominated for the Cybils Awards. The choice is straight middle grade fiction, or fantasy. It isn't straight middle grade fiction--Mama Ya-Ya has uncanny knowledge, and there are ghosts, one of whom plays an important part in the story. But it isn't fantasy either--there are ghosts, but that's just part of everyday life for the characters, and it is the here and now that is at the center of the story. "Magical realism" might be the most accurate descriptor, but doesn't help with my need to put the book into one of two boxes, neither of which is quite the right fit....

If you've read this book, in which category do you think it would be happiest?)

What Goes On In My Head? from DK, for Non-fiction Monday

What Goes On In My Head? How your brain works and why you do what you do, by Robert Winston (DK 2010, 96 pages)

Even after reading this fascinating book, I'm still not sure why I do what I do (many other people might be wondering as well). But that isn't the book's fault.

What Goes On In My Head? is a high-level look at the complexities of the brain. The author succeeds in using clear language to discuss sophisticated concepts, without condescending to the younger reader by eschewing latinate words or relying on doubtful metaphors (the computer metaphor is mentioned, but not overdone).

The book kicks off with a really fascinating time line of brain related discoveries, from the trepanning practiced by paleolithic humans, to scientists of whom I had never heard (Hermann von Helholtz or Jose Delgado, anyone?). It then goes on to discuss "Brain and Body" (the most scientifically dense chapter), "I think therefore I am" (consciousness and personality), "The Feeling Mind," and "Brain Power" (memory, creativity, a critical look at psychic powers, and robot minds). I did regret that little attention was paid to how things go awry in the brain (I'm a huge fan, for instance, of Oliver Sacks), but you can't have everything.

There's a lot here, presented in true DK style with crisp paragraphs, lots of pictures, and activities for the reader's own brain. The result is a book that my older son and I found utterly engrossing. But because of the pretty high level of information presented, especially toward the beginning of the book, I think will work best for the older kid with some background in the nervous system...otherwise, all the talk of ganglias and photoreceptors and neurons might be daunting (although the later chapters, I think, are pretty easy to grasp).

Random interesting thing I learned: The unconscious part of the brain sometimes makes decisions up to ten seconds before our consciousness kicks in. I am now regarding my brain with suspicion.

Non-random bit I'm storing away in my own mind to bring out in just a few more years--"The age at which you take the most risks is 14. That could be because the 14-year old basal ganglia are in full working order, giving you the thrill of excitement during risky behaviour, but the prefrontal cortex (the part of the brain controlling decisions), is still maturing, so the brakes are missing" (page 67).

The Non-Fiction Monday Roundup is at Wendie's Wanderings today!

(disclaimer: review copy received from the publisher)

This Sunday's round-up of middle grade fantasy news, reviews, interviews, and other things of great interest from the blogging world

This might be my most dense middle grade sci fi/fantasy round-up ever! Please enjoy it, and let me know if I missed your post.

The first most important thing, from Robin McKinley's blog. She just vistied Diana Wynne Jones and reports thus -- "I assume a lot of you know that Diana’s been seriously ill. She’s doing enormously better than the medical establishment, in its somewhat less than total wisdom and foresight, predicted,†† but she’s still a bit frail." and the footnote reads "AND SHE’S WRITING"

The second most important thing, to me at least: On October 1st, the nomination period for the Cybils Awards begins! Anyone, anyone at all, can put forward the titles of their favorite books in a variety of genres by this award, bestowed by panels of bloggers, on books that combine quality of writing with tremendous audience appeal. I'm one of the middle grade science fiction/fantasy panelists who will be paring down the nominations (there were almost a hundred last year) to a short list of five to seven books that will progress into the final round of judging.

Please start thinking of your favorite middle grade sff books published from October 16, 2009 to October 15, 2010, and make sure they don't get left outside in the cold, whimpering sadly to themselves! (if you need help remembering what was published, check my handy "new releases" posts, although I make not claim that these lists are a. complete b. entirely accurate)

The Reviews:

Attack of the Fluffy Bunnies, by Andrea Beaty, at Biblio File.

The Battle for Gullywith, by Susan Hill, at My Favorite Books.

Boom! by Mark Haddon, at Biblio File and Eva's Book Addiction.

Brains for Lunch, a Zombie Novel in Haiku, by K.A. Holt, at Biblio File.

The Crowfield Curse, by Pat Walsh, at The Excelsior File.

Dandelion Fire, by N.D. Wilson, at Read in a Single Sitting.

A Different Day, a Different Destiny, by Annette Laing, at Lucy Was Robbed.

Green, by Laura Peyton Roberts, at Ms. Yingling Reads.

Into the Woods, by Lyn Gardner, at My Favorite Books.

Katie Kazoo Switcheroo: Horsing Around, by Nancy Krulik, at Manga Maniac Cafe.

Nightshade, by Hilary Wagner, at Writing the Renaissance (includes an interview with the author).

On Etruscan Time, by Tracy Barrett, at Charlotte's Library.

Ook and Gluk: Kung-Fu Cavemen from the Future, by Dav Pilkey, at Literate Lives.

Out of the Woods, by Lyn Gardner, at My Favorite Books.

Palace of Mirrors, by Margaret Peterson Haddix, at Biblio File.

Reckless, by Cornelia Funke, at Becky's Book Reviews.

Runemarks, by Joanne Harris, at By Singing Light.

The Shadows, by Jacqueline West, at Cloudy With a Chance of Books and Musings of a Book Addict.

Summer of Moonlight Secrets, by Danette Haworth, at Book Nut.

Thomas and the Dragon Queen, by Shutta Crum, at Lost for Words.

Wildwing, by Emily Whitman, at One Librarian's Book Reviews

Zombiekins, by Kevin Bolger, at KinderScares.

Katherine Roberts has been taking a look at Scottish Legends at The Reclusive Muse.

Interviews:

Alan Garner (The Weirdstone of Brisingamen etc.) is interviewed at The Independent today. And some of us really wish we go back to Alderly Edge, in Cheshire, England, where the fiftieth anniversary of Weirdstone is being celebrated the weekend of October 8th.

Vordak the Incomprehensible (How to Grow Up and Rule the World) at Manga Maniac Cafe and at Charlotte's Library. (I'm also giving a copy of this book away--ends Monday night).

Shutta Crum (Thomas and the Dragon Queen) at Lost for Worlds.

Hiromi Goto (The Water of Possibility) at Bookmark.

Hilary Wagner (Nightshade) at Odd Shots.

I've now read Ninth Ward, by Jewell Parker Rhodes, and loved it, but I'm still a bit on the fence as to whether it is "fantasy" or not (more on this later). But I wanted, regardless, to include this interview with her at TheHappyNappyBookseller.

Authors saying interesting things:

First, three fairy tale posts-- "Why Fairy Tales" by Gail Carson Levine, Adele Geras is featured in the Fairy Tale Reflections series at Seven Miles of Steel Thistles, and Lyn Gardner visits My Favorite Books, and talks about "wolves and fairy tales."

Michael Grant (The Magnificent 12) visits Literate Lives.

Susan Fletcher (Waiting to Fly) is a guest at Cynsations.

R.L. LaFevers talks about the different journeys of girl and boy protagonists.

Miscellany:

If words aren't enough, one can try an "interactive augmented reality experience" while reading The Search for WondLa, by Tony DiTerlizzi. Read more at ReadWriteWeb, where the conclusion is thus "It's great to see a major publisher like Simon & Schuster get behind augmented reality, as implementations like these could change the way young adults read in the near future." (to which I reply, is there something wrong with the way they read now????)

The folks at io9 (or at least one of them) went to see the Guardians of Ga'hoole movie and found it "a hoot".

You can get a sneak peak at the first chapters of the eagerly anticipated new book by Rick Riordan, The Lost Hero, here!

TV programs I wish I could watch: The BBC aired a wondrous sounding program last Friday--The Magic Carpet Flight Manual. From their website:

"Web-dreaming one day, writer Cathy FitzGerald stumbled on a site belonging to a museum in Iran. It purported to tell the "true history" of the flying carpet and detailed its many uses – military, as a means of aerial attack; commercial, as a vehicle for the transport of goods; and cultural, as a device to help readers in the library at Alexandria reach the high books. The article appeared across the web, rarely with any caveat or credit.

In search of a "real" flying carpet, Cathy tracks down the article's author, Azhar Abidi, who helps her separate carpet fiction from carpet fact. She goes on to meet a physicist working on levitation in the quantum world, and a Japanese astronaut who took a carpet ride in space.

Cathy FitzGerald explores the past, present, and future of the magic carpet and wonders what our desire to defy gravity tells us about ourselves."

Thanks to The Fairy Tale Cupboard for the heads up!

Banned Books Week is here again. Sigh. On this Banned and Challenged List for 2009-2010 I found Zilpha Keatley Snyder's The Egypt Game; it isn't fantasy, but it is one that appeals strongly to mg fantasy readers.

"Challenged as part of a reading list in a fourth-grade class at Southern Hills Elementary School in Wichita Falls, Tex. (2009) because the book includes scenes depicting Egyptian worship rituals. The Newbery Award-winning book has been an optional part of the school district’s curriculum for years. “I’m not going to stop until it’s banned from the school district. I will not quiet down. I will not back down. I don’t believe any student should be subjected to anything that has to do with evil gods or black magic,” said the student’s father."


And finally, just because it caught my fancy--why your face is older than your feet (from io9)

Cold Magic, by Kate Elliott

Cold Magic, by Kate Elliott (2010, Orbit, 502 pages) is described by its author as an "Afro-Celtic post-Roman icepunk Regency novel with airships, Phoenician spies, and the intelligent descendants of troodons." Pretty darn irresistible, to my taste at least.

And indeed, I was gripped most grippingly by the perilous adventures of young Catherine Hassi Barahal, daughter of a Phoenician family of spies fallen on hard times. The story, set in the early 1830s, begins when a contract, signed and sealed with magic long ago, tears Cat from the bosom of her family and sends her off with her new husband, an arrogant young Cold Mage. It is set in an alternative Europe where the revolutionary tide is beginning to ferment and a Napoleon-like general threatens the balance of power between post-Roman princes and the elemental mages, both oppressors (of the new industrial working class and of the peasantry, respectively)... And, on top of all that, there's the spirit realm as well--the home of the wild hunt, and shapeshifters, and hints of the dreams of dragons to come....

So, in short, there's a lot here to grip the reader. And I was gripped, and enjoyed reading it (bits of it, like the beginning chunk of "two cousins at school in a strange and magical alternate Europe" I can even say I enjoyed lots, and I thought that, in general, the relationship between Catherine and her cousin Beatrice, with the fierce love and loyalty underlying bickering and teasing, is excellently done). And I am certain that there are lots of other aspects to this books that lots of other readers will love to pieces. But unfortunately I kept running into things that kicked me out of the story.

For instance, many of my favorite books have a strong element of romance. I have been known to re-read certain scenes in certain books obsessively....But the story here in Cold Magic-- a girl is forced into marriage with cold and haughty, but incredibly desirable man who seems to spurn her, does things that appear Wrong, and might even be her enemy, but still she keeps contemplating his beautiful jawline-- is the sort of romance that isn't my cup of tea. I do not like "He just tried to kill me! Yet how I want to kiss him!" in my fictional relationships.

I was fascinated by the idea of a Europe in which West Africans migrated northward en masse (due to supernatural difficulties south of the Mediterranean) and settled in amoung the Celts and the Romans--lots of people are African (like the Cold Mage to whom Catherine is married), lots of people aren't, and lots of people are a mix, and it's all just part of the way things are. But gee, I don't think Elliott needed to underline the physical side of things quite as much as she did--I didn't need, on page 456 (almost at the end of the book! A very tense scene!), to be told (of a character we'd met already) that he had "a bold, striking face whose lineaments were stamped by both his Celtic and Afric forebears." I would have liked more interesting elements of West African and Celt culture, and fewer specificities of skin and hair.

And I know this is an alternate world. I try not to be a knee jerk over-reacter. But was it really necessary to make the indigenous inhabitants of North America descendants of troodons, known in that world as trolls? (South America gets to have people).

Finally, the writing felt occasionally off to me--chunks of exposition broke the flow in places; admittedly, it's a complicated history, but chunks are still chunks. Points were occasionally belabored. Characters sometimes acted in ways that seemed odd (I can't be specific without spoilers; this could just have been my problem as a reader, anyway). I never quite relaxed into the feeling that Elliot was in complete control of all many disparate threads of her story (but this might be because this the first of a trilogy--things might be tied together more tightly with the next books).

In short, there's much to admire and enjoy in the complexity of Elliot's alternate Europe and the political, magical, and social maelstrom that is brewing there. There were even moments that flickered at the edges of the numinous. I wouldn't have bothered writing a review of this if I hadn't really almost liked it lots. But it just didn't quite come together for me.

Here are some other thoughts--a glowing review at Fantasy Book Critic, and one that's postive with some reservations at Bookworm Blues.

Good-bye, Rosie (or possibly Julia)

Today was one of those days where you wake up only to be confronted with a dead chicken. Julia (or possibly Rosie) will be missed (although obviously not for her memorable personality/appearance--one fat and sassy RI Red looks a lot like another) -- she was one of our two egg layers. Aggie, who is not a layer, is doing just fine. Aggie is many feathers short of a pillow (hence her nickname "scraggy Aggie"), and is the dumbest chicken that ever walked the earth. She cannot find her own way back under the barn in the evenings, and stands outside the back door and cries until someone carries her home sigh sigh sigh. Anyway, like I said, she's doing just fine.

Vordak The Incomprehensible: How to Grow Up and Rule the World -- Interview and Giveaway!!!!

The Random Number Generator spoke, and the winner is Henry! (I'll send you an email...). Thanks all of you who entered.

Vordak the Incomprehensible: How to Grow Up and Rule the World (Egmont, 2010, middle grade, written by minion Scott Seegert, illustrated by minion John Martin)

Now, I always wanted to be Good--in many ways, I was your typical Victorian pious tot, bandaging the paws of hurt puppies, giving my pocket money to those in need, etc. I never wanted to grow up and be evil and rule the world. Despite that, I found Vordak's guide book more than somewhat amusing. Filled with tips and trick of a fiendish nature (sections of the book include "Building a Top-Notch EVIL Organization" and "SUPERHEROES- Noble Upholders of Justice or Big, Fat, Stupid Jerks?") there is much here (both in the text and in the copious illustrations) that entertains even the good child. As well as the evil child.

Today I have the privilege of welcoming VORDAK HIMSELF to my blog; he has deigned to answer a few of my humble questions.


Me: I was especially struck, in reading your book, by your descriptions of you incomprehensibly evil childhood. Since many readers of your book are children, I'd like to explore that part of your life a bit more. When did you realize you wanted to grow up and rule the world? With regard to parents, yours seem to have been incredibly supportive of your tendency toward evil. But did the fact that you utterly surpassed them cause tension in your relationship? Since most children are burdened with parents who urge them to choose the path of virtue, it seems like they must struggle harder even to be worthy minions to one as evil as yourself. Or do you think it is possible that having to struggle against parental adversaries might actually be good preparation for ruling the world?

Vordak: That is one heck of an opening question! I had to take a break at the midway point to grab a snack. And then again at the end to use the restroom. But I am now refreshed, comfortable, and ready to go! Unfortunately, I don’t remember the question. Hold on…

I first realized I wanted to Rule the World on the day of my birth, when I glanced around the baby-filled nursery and realized the enormous gap in intelligence that existed between myself and the others, doctors included.

My parents, Walter and Irene the Incomprehensible, have always been very supportive of my ambition to Rule the World. I believe they thought I would give them Arizona or Quebec or a chunk of Kazakhstan when I eventually succeeded. But it’s not like Dad wasn’t successful in his own right. He struggled valiantly right up until his retirement to gain unquestioned dominion over the earth. Sure, he rose only as high as mayor of Gomersborough, a small town in central Wisconsin. But he was a VERY EVIL small town mayor and the work ethic and dedication he displayed in his repeated attempts to conquer neighboring towns and villages helped shape me as I was growing up.

As far as other parents go, I think for even the most virtuous of mothers, the thought of being able to adorn the tailgate of their SUV with a “MY CHILD IS THE RULER OF THE WORLD!” bumper sticker would trump any apprehension they might feel about their child being “evil”.

Me: I myself have never had any luck attracting minions. Yet you seem to do this effortlessly. Can you share any tips?

Vordak: Well, you have to have something to offer. In my case, I have MYSELF – the opportunity to occasionally spend time in my presence and bask in my glory. Surely you can see the appeal. I also offer not being dropped via hidden trap door into a vat of molten titanium. I feel it’s important to come at prospective minions from a variety of directions.

Me: So many authors these days are pressured by their publicists to "have an on-line presence." I have visited your excellent blog, and I see that you are tweeting. Do you see this as a distraction from your main business of ultimate evil, or is it the beginning of an evil plan to rule the internet? (here's Vordak's website)

Vordak: Actually, I enjoy spending time on the internet – it lends it itself naturally to my favorite activity, which is talking about Vordak the Incomprehensible. And it was astute of you to point out my blog, which was recently named The Most Jaw-Droppingly, Brain-Meltingly Awesome Blog in the History of the Blogosphere by a panel of seven impartial media experts while being suspended above a tank of underfed piranha.

By the way, I do not “tweet” – I SINISTWEET! There’s a big difference. A “tweet” is the result of some insignificant gastropod or other droning on about his or her mundane existence. A SINISTWEET, on the other hand, alerts the planet to an event of world-wide significance, such as whether my toaster oven is set to “bake” or “broil”.

Me: This might seem banal, but I think my readers will share my curiosity, in as much as one's choice of animal companion (or not) can be very revealing-- Do you have any pets?

Vordak: Why, of course! I have my trusted and loyal canine, Armegeddon, who follows me around everywhere…as long as I’m wearing my pork chop-scented spandex. Then, of course, there is that tank of piranha, but they’re really more threat than pet.

Me: Hard though it might be to write a followup to a book such as yours, do you (or your minions) have any plans to do so?

Vordak: Yes, I have indeed decided to grace civilization with yet another epic tome. But don’t even begin to believe that you are deserving of a synopsis. And why would you think it would be difficult to write? I didn’t even try very hard on the first one and just look how that turned out!

Me: And finally, I was wondering what happened to your nose. (If this is too cheeky, please disregard!)

Vordak: What happened to my nose?! It’s right there, between and somewhat below my eyes! Just because something is not obvious doesn’t mean it isn’t there. As is the case with your intelligence, it appears.

Thank you so much, Vordak, for visiting my unworthy blog!

I have an extra copy of this magnificent opus of evil to bestow on a lucky reader--just leave a comment (preferably one in which you confess to an Evil Deed of your own) to enter! (ends on Monday at midnight).

(disclaimer: review copy received from the publisher)

Let the Cybils science fiction/fantasy fun begin!

I am thrilled and honored to be part of this year's Cybils, back as a first round judge in middle grade/elementary science fiction and fantasy! And I'm thrilled to be part of such a great team!

So please, start thinking what books you might want to nominate--any book from October 16 2009 to October 15 2010 is eligible. In case you need reminding about what was published, I have a full year's worth of New Releases in mg and ya sff posts (except, of course, for the next 3 weeks, but that will come). The Nominating begins October 1!

Panel Organizer: Sheila Ruth, Wands and Worlds

Panelists (Round I Judges), MG/Elementary:
Anamaria Anderson, Books Together
Gwenda Bond, Shaken & Stirred
Cindy Hannikman, Fantasy Book Critic
Aaron Maurer, Coffee for the Brain
Nicole Signoretta, Booked Up
Charlotte Taylor, Charlotte's Library
Karen Yingling, Ms. Yingling Reads

Panelists (Round I Judges), Teen/YA:
Steve Berman, Guys Lit Wire
Tanita Davis, Finding Wonderland
Leila Roy, Bookshelves of Doom
Sheila Ruth (see panel organizer)
Angie Thompson, Angieville
Hallie Tibbetts, Undusty New Books
Heather Zundel, Secret Adventures of WriterGirl

Round II Judges:

Elementary/Middle
Melissa Baldwin, One Librarian's Book Reviews
Kate Coombs, Book Aunt
Emily Mitchell, emilyreads
Nancy Tsai, Kidsmomo
Tanya Zavestoski Turek, Books 4 Your Kids

Teen/YA
Emma Carbone, Miss Print
Anne Levy, Cybils
Sam Musher, Parenthetical
Sarah Stevenson, Finding Wonderland
Steph Su, Steph Su Reads

And I am also really thrilled to think of the reading challenge before me--I love, absolutely love, the challenge of having more books to read than is actually possible. Last year I managed to read all but one of the books nominated--I think we had 99 in the end (and I would have read the last one too, but I couldn't get it in time....) .

The House of Dead Maids, by Clare B. Dunkle

The House of Dead Maids, by Clare B. Dunkle (Henry Holt, 2010, YA, 160 pages) is a gripping Gothic story, full of chills and darkness and lowering evil coming ever closer.

Tabby Aykroyd's eleven years as an unwanted orphan were spent at the mercy of various cooks and housekeepers in great houses, until a stroke of luck got her a place at Ma Hutton's knitting school. But when a cold and mysterious woman arrives to pick one of Ma Hutton's girls to be a nursemaid at a great house on the edge of the moors, Tabby's luck seems not so lucky after all.

Because Seldom House holds horrible secrets.

In all its long dusty corridors and countless rooms, there are only six living people--Tabby, the Miss Winter, who had chosen her, the cook, the coachman/groundskeeper, and a visiting gentleman (in the loosest sense of the term). The sixth is the little boy with whom Tabby is charged; a wild and heathen thing, who doesn't know his own name, but who is apparently the master of the house. A boy who will grow up to be known as Heathcliff (of Wuthering Heights fame).

But Seldom House is not as empty as it seems. Tabby is haunted by the ghost of the maid before her-- a cold, wet thing who will not leave her be. And as she and the boy explore the house and grounds, other ghosts--horrible ghosts--appear. A legion of dead maids (and masters)...who are waiting for Tabby and her young charge to join them.

"The dead hold no terrors for me. I have watched by the beds of those who have passed on, comforted by their sorrowless repose. But this little maid was a ghastly thing, all the more horrible because she stood before me. It wasn't the pallid hue of her grimy face that shocked me, or her little gray hands and feet. It was the holes where her eyes should have been, great round sockets of shadow." (page 24)

And this is what has been trying to crawl into bed with Tabby every night since her arrival....

The House of Dead Maids is a relatively short book, which works in its favor, allowing it to pack its punch in a more concentrated way. Dunkle does a wonderful job creating the world of Seldom House, in prose that evokes the writing of the Brontes without being drowned by archaic floridness. And although "subtle" isn't the word I'd choose to describe the legions of the dead that populate the story (things got just a teeny bit over the top for me at the end), Dunkle manages to disturb quite disturbingly (the villagers, in particular, are tremendously creepy...).

What made the book work for me, though, is the tension between Tabby's character and the circumstances in which she has found herself. Tabby's strong faith and strong character, her conviction that the world has a proper order, are a very nice contrast to both the savage, self-centered indifference of young Heathcliff, and the pit of horror into which she has fallen. She is not just a passive describer, but a solid presence who fully occupied her designated space as the one real, sane, character in the whole disasterous mess!

Tabby Aykroyd went on, in real life, to become housekeeper to the Bronte family...and, as Dunkle tells it, fascinated young Emily in particular with the dark stories she told.

Not recommended to the young reader prone to nightmares, but highly recommended in particular to the upper middle-grade reader who loves scary stories! Older readers might well enjoy it too, but because of the young age of the central characters, this seemed to me a story of children vs adults, an orphans in danger type of book, which is a sub-genre that feels middle grade-ish to me...

Finally, here's a fascinating guest post by Clare Dunkle at The Compulsive Reader, in which she talks about the characters of Tabby and Heathcliff.

(and even more finally--my 7 year old will be very glad that I have written this review. He has been wary of coming into the computer room these past few days, lest he be confronted by the eyeless face on the cover of this book!)

disclaimer: review copy received from the publisher

On Etruscan Time, by Tracy Barrett, for Timeslip Tuesday

On Etruscan Time, by Tracy Barrett (Henry Holt, 2005, middle grade, 168 pages)

Hector hadn't wanted to tag along after his mother to an archaeological dig in Italy--he would much rather have stayed home enjoying the company of his friends. But an eleven-year old doesn't get much say in how he spends his summer. Despite himself, he grows interested in the ancient Etruscan site that is slowly being reveled. Human bones have been found in a trash pit, giving sinister weight to the ancient name of the modern village--"city of sacrifice." Faced with the alternative of having nothing to do, Hector agrees to try his hand with a trowel himself. On his first day digging, he finds a strange stone that look like an eye. Although it's dismissed as a modern good luck charm, it is much more.

The stone links Hector to to an Etruscan boy, Arath, taking him back in time, where Hector, an ghost visible only to Arath, begins to learn the horrible truth behind the site's name. Arath's life is in danger, and unless Hector can save him, the nightmares that the stone shows him when he sleeps will come to pass....And in the meantime, unless a spectacular find is made, the archaeological dig will be shut down.

This is a fine example of a timeslip story, one in which the mysteries of the past combine satisfactorily with events in the present to create ever increasing tension. I found the mechanics and motivations of the time travel qua time travel explained with just the right combination of detail and magic that allows for peaceful suspension of disbelief.

Although it's a short book, Barrett manages to pack an emotional punch in a very tight story. I myself would have liked more (in particular more time in the past, and more connection between what Hector sees back then and what's being found at the dig, and more about the bones the archaeologists found) -- but I think it is just about the perfect length for its intended audience.

Although Hector's time in the past is limited, Barrett includes sufficient detail about the lives and the beliefs of the Etruscans to make them believable. Fans of Greek and Roman mythology, in particular, might well enjoy encountering the deities of the Etruscans, who merged with the Greek gods to become members of the Roman pantheon.

(Postscript: In real life I'm an archaeologist, and so I can't help but look at fictional descriptions of fieldwork with a somewhat critical eye. There were a few instances of archaeology fail, but in general, Barrett's description of the dig were satisfactory. My "Ask An Archaeologist" offer, by the way, is still open...)

Ideas that Changed the World, from DK, for Non-Fiction Monday

Ideas that Changed the World, from DK

This is one of the most fascinating books I've seen from DK in the past year or so, and that is saying a lot. The book is exactly what the title would indicate--a compendium of ideas that describes how the initial discovery, inspiration, or chance occurrence progressed through the steps of its production and applications to products that have truly changed the world.

Or at least made it more fun (I'm not sure lego has truly changed the world, although it does, on a regular basis, change the hazard level of my living room floor).

Each "idea" gets a two page spread, with typical DK high-resolution images and succinct nuggets of text:


The people behind the ideas (such as Jacques Cousteau, discussed in this spread) are an important part of DK's discussion, as are the historical background of the problem being addressed and the technology available with which to address it. DK doesn't shy away from mention of problems concomitant with some of these inventions, such as pollution, although I, myself, would have put in Lots More about this part of the picture, and the consequences of many of these ideas. And indeed, the tone is, in general, celebratory. The technology of warfare (with a few exceptions, such as unmanned spy planes) is not addressed (despite the impact military spending has, and continues to have, on the development of new technology).

In short, it's entertaining and educational reading for anyone interested in how the world we live in, with its heavy imprint of technology, came about. I highly recommend it to the curious child (or adult).

(I was struck by the book's pink spine and pink endpapers. Is this a conscious effort to appeal to girls? Not unsurprisingly, boys dominate inside...which, sadly, can't be avoided. And veering off topic, my son just started lego robotics--and not a single girl in his class signed up. Sigh).

The Non-Fiction Monday round-up is at Wrapped in Foil today!

Disclaimer: review copy received from the publisher.

This Sunday's Round Up of Middle Grade Fantasy and Science Fiction posts from around the blogs

Welcome to another week's worth of middle grade fantasy and science fiction fun! Please let me know if I missed your post.

Reviews

The Capture (Guardians of Ga'Hoole), by Kathryn Lasky, at GreenBeanTeenQueen and Brimful Curiosities (where there's also a giveaway; I'm giving it away too, here).

Dark Life, by Kat Falls, at Manga Maniac Cafe and Ink Spells.

Dragonbreath: Curse of the Were-Wiener, by Urusla Vernon, at TheHappyNappyBookseller.

The Familiars, by Adam Jay Epstein and Andrew Jacobson, at Mr Ripleys Enchanted Books.

Found, by Margaret Peterson Haddix, at Knight Reader.

Hamster Magic, by Lynne Jonell, at Eva's Book Addiction.

Lost in Lexicon, by Pendred Noyce, at Wands and Worlds.

Mister Monday, by Garth Nix, at The O.W.L.

Modern Fairies, Dwarves, Goblins and Other Nasties: A Practical Guide by Miss Edythe McFate, As told to Lesley M.M. Blume, at Fuse #8 and Educating Alice.

Radiance, by Alyson Noel, at The Reading Date.

Reckless, by Cornelia Funke, at A Chair, a Fireplace, and a Tea Cozy (is this really middle grade? School Library Journal says grades 7-10, Amazon says 9-12, Liz, in her review, says "children and teens.")

Sabotaged, by Margaret Peterson Haddix, at Becky's Book Reviews.

Scarlett Dedd, by Cathy Brett at The Book Zone (For Boys), where you can also enter to win a copy (here).

Sceptre of the Ancients (Skulduggery Pleasant) by Derek Landy, at Three Turtles and Their Pet Librarian.

The Smoky Corridor, by Chris Grabenstein, at Middle Grade Ninja.

The Tiger's Apprentice, by Laurence Yep, at Guys Lit Wire.

Time Cat, by Lloyd Alexander, at Charlotte's Library.

Troll's Eye View, a Book of Villainous Tales, edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling, at Writing and Ruminating.

The Valley of Song, by Elizabeth Goudge, at Charlotte's Library.

Ms. Yingling Reads takes a look at The Mysterious Howling (The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place), by Maryrose Wood, and Magic Below Stairs, by Caroline Stevermer.


Authors talking

Middle Grade Ninja has seven questions for Chris Grabenstein (The Smoky Corridor, and many other books).

A. R. Rotruck talks about her new book, Young Wizards Handbook: How to Trap a Zombie, Track a Vampire, and Other Hands-On Activities for Monster Hunters, at John Scalzi's Whatever.

Pamela Voelkel, co-author of The Jaguar Stones, shares her Today Show experience at Random Acts of Reading.

David Lubar (Nathan Abercrombie: Accidental Zombie) talks about Zombie Humor at Tor

Ingrid Law (Scumble) is interviewed at The Enchanted Inkpot, and Adam Jay Epstein and Andrew Jacobson (The Famliars) are interviewed at Tales of a Teenage Book Lover

Kathryn Lasky (Gaurdians of Ga'Hoole) is a guest at GreenBeanTeenQueen (where there's also a giveaway!), and Violet Haberdasher (Knightly Academy) visits The Story Siren.

Other good stuff

Katherine Langrish introduces a new feature--Fairy Tale Reflections-- at her blog, Seven Miles of Steel Thistles. And here's a post about dresses in fairy tales at The Fairy Tale Cupboard.

At The Book Zone (For Boys) there's excitement about Rick Riordan's new book, The Lost Hero, with links to events in the UK.

Beth, a contributor to Fantasy Literature, has written a love letter to Bruce Coville (someday I must try his books!)

The shortlist for the Guardian Children's Fiction prize has been announced, and two of the four are fantasy: Michelle Paver's Ghost Hunter, the sixth and final book in her Chronicles of Darkness series, and The Ogre of Oglefort, by Eva Ibbotson.

And finally, even though it's not middle grade (although I think it's a series that older mg kids would appreciate), there's a sneak peak at the art of Behemoth, sequel to Leviathan (Scott Westerfeld) at io9. Here's a sample:

Bruiser, by Neal Shusterman

Bruiser, by Neal Shusterman (2010, HarperCollins, YA, 328 pages)

(I've tried to be as spoiler free as possible; I hope the result isn't too vague).

Most YA fantasy books that are set in the real world involve the intrusion of the paranormal into the life of a teenager. And, in a sense, Bruiser follows that pattern. But Shusterman eschews the traditional permutations of the paranormal, in favor of a character whose otherness isn't cast from the typical folkloric mode (vampires, angels, werewolves, etc.). There is no conflict between good guys and bad guys, not overt threat of soul loss/humanity loss/plain old death due to paranormal violence. What there is, instead, is a character-driven, tension-filled story about pain, love, and growing-up, all of which is given impetus by one fantastical twist.

Tennyson is appalled when his twin sister Bronte begins dating Bruiser, a loner voted "most likely to receive the death penalty." Bronte, on the other hand, has always had a weakness for those in need (lots of stray dogs in her past). After she encounters Brewster (his real name) in the poetry section of the library (where he's looking for Ginsberg), and realizes there's more to him than meets the eye, she won't give him up, no matter what Tenny says or does.

Bronte doesn't know that there is a good reason why Brewster has been a loner all his life, determined to avoid caring about anyone. It's the reason why his mother left, why his uncle has become an abusive alcoholic, why his first pet dog was his last, and why his little brother is a daredevil risk taker, with no thought for consequences. Because when Brewster is around, things happen to the people he cares about--and to himself.

But Bronte, and then Tenny, won't let Brewster be alone, no matter what the cost to him. It isn't until it is almost too late for him that they realize what they have done, both to him, and to their own family.

Bruiser is told primarily from the alternating first person points of view of Tenny and Bronte, which works rather well--the reader learns about Brewster in the same gradual unfolding of the mysterious as they do. They are likable narrators--two normal teenagers, confronted with something extraordinary, and forced to examine their assumptions and attitudes in consequence (well, mostly Tenny--he has a lot more assumptions and attitudes to question). But interspersed into their narrations are passages in which we see things from Brewster's point of view--told in free verse (verse which, sad to say, was the one part of the book that at times didn't work for me), and small bits told by Brewster's little brother, showing the reader a part of Brewster's life that Tennyson and Bronte aren't aware of. The romance aspect of the book is present, but understated--there are no moments of swoon (my second quibble with the book--I wish Bronte and Brewster's relationship had been fleshed out just a bit more, although the end result is that this is a very clean read, albeit with some physical violence).

Despite my two quibbles, I found it a tremendously moving and thought provoking book, one I heartily recommend. Bruiser is one of the most memorable characters I've encountered so far this year.

Other takes on the book can be found at Kids Lit, ReaderGirls, Library Ninja Blog, Tempting Persephone, and Squeaky Books.

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: