The Scary Places Map Book, by B.G. Hennessy, illustrated by Erwin Madrid

The Scary Places Map Book: Seven Terrifying Tours, by B.G. Hennessy, illustrated by Erwin Madrid (Candlewick, July 10, 2012, for kids 5, or even a bit younger, and up), takes kids on a series of interactive journeys to fantastically spine-tingling places. Beginning with the Ghostly Galleon Cruise of the Seven Seas, passing through Transylvania (and other spooky places), and ending with a tour of the Museum of Haunted Objects (my favorite) the young reader is first given a small bit of context, and then is directed by the text to pass from one stop on each gridded map, or cutaway of a building, to the next.

Here's an example, from the Museum: "From the Potions Exhibit, take the Crooked Stairs down one flight to the Ghostly Gallery (H3-I3) for a lovey overview of the Rotunda of Possessed Sculpture." It's a lovely way to introduce the concept of co-ordinates!

The illustrations are beautifully detailed--there's lots of scope for engrossed pouring-over-ness. And at the end, the young reader is encouraged to go back and find the hidden extras in each picture.

It's a great one for the kid who likes picture search books, the kid who likes fantasy realms, or simply the random kid who wants something a bit different! It has staying power for the older kid--my own nine-year old passed a pleasant time following the directions as I read them, and even though he's perfectly capable of reading to himself, it is still lovely to enjoy sharing a book like this together.

Although the tours are billed as "terrifying," they aren't actually so much so as to distress the young reader--if your child can handle standard Halloween decorations, it will be just fine.

(disclaimer: review copy received from the publisher)

A sequel to Odd and the Frost Giants!

Just a quick postlet to say how happy my 9 year old son and I are to have learned that there's a sequel to Odd and the Frost Giants, by Neil Gaiman, in the works! It is one of the first real chapter books he read, and both of us love it, me so much so that I helped shortlist it for the Cybils back in the day. (here's my review)

Why I didn't have a time slip Tuesday review

July is my busiest time of year, what with house renovations (dining room from hell), gardening, children (as usual), and, in as much as summer is the time for digging, archaeology (which is what I do for a living, although I don't dig much myself these days).

Because it is rather interesting, here's the press release describing what I was doing today instead of blogging (I figure that at this point anyone who wants to find me in real life can....)

Dead Reckoning, by Mercedes Lackey & Rosemary Edghill

Dead Reckoning, by Mercedes Lackey & Rosemary Edghill (Bloomsbury, June 2012, YA) is a science fictional story of zombies in Victorian Texas, raised from the dead by a megalomaniac madman, and three unlikely comrades who ally themselves against him.

These three are Jett Gallatin, a girl from New Orleans passing for a young man (her ability to shoot straight helps her disguise considerably), Honoria Gibbons, a young woman with an extremely rational mind, whose steam powered vehicle provides a dash of steampunk to the story, and White Fox, a white man raised among the Meskwaki, and now working as a scout for the army. Honoria and and White Fox have both come separately to west Texas to investigate a series of mysterious disappearances; Jett meets them while escaping from one of the disappearances while it is happening. She got to witness an entire town (albeit a small one) engulfed by zombies.

And so the three of them put their disparate skills--science, gun slinging, and scouting-- to work to crack the case of the zombie attacks. There is a Dark Plot afoot, that must be stopped lest the zombies, and the evil mastermind whose minions they are, takes over not just Texas but the whole of the wild west!

Now, I am not, in general, a fan of zombies or of stories set in the wild west, but Dead Reckoning went to show that my biases are set in sand, not stone--I ended up enjoying this one. My enjoyment came not so much from the characters, who, though not uninteresting, tended somewhat to slightly exaggerated types rather than sympathetic, real, people. Instead, and this took me somewhat by surprise, I was really interested in the plot--from whence came these zombies, and how were they going to be stopped? It was a fast, undemanding read--good for summer time leisure, not desperately powerful in the Horror of it all, but disturbing enough to be engrossing.

Essentially, it seemed to me a collection of fun elements (like the steampunk vehicle--no real Need for it, but diverting), strung together in a "look, here's the next exciting bit!" way. The female characters had lots of agency (good), I didn't find the "white dude raised by Native Americans" as objectionable as I might have (although I have some doubts viz stereotypes, the fact that all three of the main characters are exaggerated makes it hard to figure out if they are worthy doubts).* Although I still won't be looking actively for wild west zombie science fiction, I was quite happy to read this one! And would probably pick up a sequel, if one emerged....

*(off topic rambling). For instance, Honoria knows White Fox was raised by Native Americans because he walks toe-heel. Is this, I asked myself, a stereotype, or is it a valid observation? Much research and experimental walking later, I have concluded that the "toe" part is a misnomer (not Honoria's fault, just terminology), and "ball of foot first" is a much better way to say it, and quite possible that was how people who don't wear hard-soled shoes walk. Although I don't think you can walk that way if, like White Fox, you are in fact wearing boots. At least, I couldn't. "Barefoot runners" says the website of the Society for Barefoot Living, " very quickly learn not to do heel strikes because of the transient forces created." I am now wary of transient forces.

disclaimer: review copy received from the publisher

This Sunday's round-up of middle grade fantasy and science fiction from around the blogs (7/8/2012)

Welcome to another week's engatherment of what I found in my blog reading pertaining to middle grade (ages 9-12) science fiction and fantasy. I myself haven't read much this week, as I am in the throes of dining room remodeling, so much so that my little one, who has been known to say, "I guess you love books more than you love your own little child," said "You have been working too hard. You should sit down and read." Truer words were never spoken.

But in any even, other people have been reading and reviewing. Please let me know if I missed your post!

The Reviews

Above World, by Jenn Reese, at A Backwards Story

Astronaut Academy, by Dave Roman, at Guys Lit Wire

Beswitched, by Kate Saunders, at Readatouille

The Book of Three, by Lloyd Alexander, at Book Nut

The Boy Who Howled, by Timothy Powers, at Readatouille

Castle of Shadows, by Ellen Renner, at Cracking the Cover

Dragon Castle, by Joseph Bruchac, at Random Musings of a Bibliophile

Dragonbreath--Lair of the Bat Monster, and Revenge of the Horned Bunnies, by Ursula Vernon, at Ms. Yingling Reads

The False Prince, by Jennifer Nielsen, at The O.W.L.

The Filth Licker, by Christy Burne, at BooksYALove

Goblin Secrets, by William Alexander, at The Book Monsters

The Groosham Grange series, by Anthony Horowitz, at The Write Path

Half Upon a Time, by James Riley, at The Book Cellar

Heirs of Prophecy, by Michael A. Rothman, at From Tots to Teens

Kat, Incorrigible, and its sequel, Renegade Magic, by Stephanie Burgis, at Jean Little Library

The Kindling, by Brandon Bell, at A Casual Read and Geo Librarian

The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell, by Chris Colfer, at Gossamer Obsessions

Liesl and Po, by Lauren Oliver, at The Dancing Reader

The Magic Tunnel, by Caroling D. Emerson, at Charlotte's Library

The Name of This Book is Secret, by Pseudonymous Bosch, at library_mama

Nation, by Terry Pratchett, at YA's the Word

The Princess and Curdie, by George MacDonald, at Becky's Book Reviews

Project Jackalope, by Emily Ecton, at books4yourkids

Scream Street: Flame of the Dragon, by Tommy Donbavand, at Wondrous Reads

The Serpent's Shadow, by Rick Riordan, at Beyond Books

Spellbound (The Books of Elsewhere), by Jacqueline West, at Book Nut

The Storm Makers, by Jennifer E. Smith, at Bookalicious

The Unseen Guest (Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place) by Maryrose Wood, at Book Nut

The Unwanteds, by Lisa McMann, at Everyday Reading

Authors and Interviews

Timothy Powers (The Boy Who Howled) at Readatouille

Joanne Levy (Small Medium at Large) at The O.W.L.

Carolyn Turgeon (Next Full Moon) at Literary Rambles (plus giveaway)

Katie W. Stewart (The Dragon Box) at The Reading Cafe

Michael A. Rothman (Heirs of Prophecy) at It's Raining Books

Other Good Stuff

Hufflepuff pride--"Sorted This Way," from The Mary Sue

"G is for Grim" (as in Death Dog)--Susan Price (Ghost Drum) at Scribble City Central

The favorite fairy tale retellings of various bloggers, at Random Acts of Reading

I'm always on the lookout for new lists of multicultural sci fi/fantasy, and here's a nice one at This Blog Belongs to Emily Brown, and here's an article on why parents should read multicultural books to their kids (found via Waking Brian Cells)

Cold fantasy for a hot summer's day, at Charlotte's Library

A nice piece on Eva Ibbotson at The Telegraph (also found via Waking Brain Cells)

And finally, from NOAA: "No evidence for aquatic humanoids has ever been found."

Note: any commissions earned from anyone buying a book through the Book Depository link in my sidebar will be used to buy the condo next door, from which horribly loud rap music is currently issuing.

Enchanted, by Alethea Kontis

I'm a bit late to the party viz Enchanted, by Aletha Kontis. It's been out for a while, and has been reviewed lots. However, the thing with having Lists, as I do, is that there they are, needing to be added to, and Enchanted is a must-have on my Fairy Tale retelling list (and some day I'll review Grave Mercy for my Historical Fantasy list, and Silver Phoenix for my multicultural list....)

So.

There is Sunday, a girl whose family is just riddled with magic. She is the seventh daughter of Jack and Seven Woodcutter, coming last after Monday et al. Each sister, in accordance with the rhyme, is the embodiment of the qualities for the child born on that day (Monday's child is full of grace, Tuesday's child is fair of face, Wednesday's child, which is me, and I resent it, is full of woe, etc.). Sunday gets to be bonny and giving, blithe and gay...which seems to guarantee a pretty happy life.

Except that Sunday has grown up in the shadow of her sisters' magic, not mention the exploits of her brother, Jack--pretty much the Jack of all the Jack stories--and he ended up mysteriously dying (or so they think), and Sunday's mother is cold and un-nurturing, and Tuesday got shoes that danced her to death, and so it's not exactly all sunshine and flowers in Sunday's family.

So Sunday goes off by herself, to write stories in the woods. And she meets an enchanted frog, and they become dear friends...and then he's a prince, and there are balls, and Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty are referenced...

But the former frog, now Prince, has secrets he isn't telling Sunday (like the fact that he was her frog friend), and in fact he has secrets he can't remember himself (cause of enchantments) and MAGIC and FAIRYTALES just burst out all over the place, like the beans planted outside the Woodcutter family cottage.

Will the ex-frog Prince and Sunday find a happily ever after? Will Sunday's sisters have satisfactory fates (too late for poor Tuesday)? Just what is the family secret that is at the root of all this magic? And how many fairy tale elements does one book really need?

Well, in this case, as long as the reader is prepared to go with the flow, the exuberance of fairy tales works just fine. I confess I was bewildered at times, as were the main characters, but it was fun. (On a personal note, "full of woe" turns out to be an interesting fate, which pleased me).

Sunday was a fine character, perhaps because we get to meet her before all the goings on really get going. The ex-frog Prince never gets to be quite a real character, in large part because he's lost a chunk of his memory, and he himself doesn't seem all that certain about who he is (and did he really spend time on Thursday's pirate ship? That little vignette seemed to come out of no-where, and may well have been a dream). There were moments of unexpected depth, particular with regard to Sunday's mother, and the nature of family relationships, that helped balance the whirl of enchantments, making this more than a light divertissement of a read.

So all in all, I enjoyed it, and recommend it to anyone 12 and up wanting a magic-filled entertainment with lovely dress-making scenes (always an added bonus!)

(If you found my summary confusing, and I feel that it might be, but like I said, I wasn't entirely certain at the time just what was happening, and retrospect hasn't lent clarity to the view all that noticeably, feel free to go read Kate's over at The Book Aunt).

helpful note on age: this is one of those books labeled YA that middle grade girls will love. Like Brightly Woven, and The False Princess, and, um....all the other ones that I am not able to think of right now. Which is to say--there's love, but no sex.

Cold fantasy for a hot summer's day--revisited with new additions

My heart goes out to all of you suffering in the horrible heat here in the US. We are not particularly suffering in southern New England at the moment, but it will doubtless get hot again here too. So I am offering a small potential solace--beautifully cold fantasy books--the sort with Winter, and Snow, and freezing damp. On a hot summer day like today, these are exactly the sort of books I want to curl up with. My favorite beach reads are all ice.

Back in 2010, I compiled two lists of Cold Fantasy (here's the one for younger readers, here's the one for older readers). I've just gone through my reviews for the last two years, and extracted more recommendations of books with which to escape from the heat.

Breadcrumbs, by Anne Ursu (middle grade), is all about the snow and ice (being a retelling of The Snow Queen, this is to be expected). The cover in itself cools one down.

And even more intense breath of arctic air comes with Icefall, by Matthew Kirby (middle grade)--what better place to be when it's 100 degrees outside than snowbound in a Norwegian fjord? Yeah, there's a murderer snowbound with you--but at least it isn't too hot.

Another beautifully cold cover is Witchlander, by Lena Coakley (YA), and there's lots of snowy good times (kind of. In an isolated, lonely way). This is one that I think needs to somehow make into the hands of more young teen boy readers, though I enjoyed it lots myself.















The Snowstorm, by Beryl Nethercliff, is an older time slip story that takes place mostly indoors ...but the titular snowstorm does make an appropriately chilly appearance!

Winterling, by Sarah Prineas, is of course all about the snow and cold--lovely! It's a good story too, perfect for handing to your wilting 11 year old.

City of Ice, by Laurence Yep, delivers what it promises, taking the reader to a place that is cold indeed, where Canadian mounties patrol the skies riding on the backs of giant birds, among other marvels.















The Crowfield Curse, by Pat Walsh, is a lovely escape into the unpleasantness of a medieval winter...in a monastery, so even chillier than one might expect! And its sequel, The Crowfield Demon, is set in medieval March, so plenty of damp chilliness and never being warm. These are middle grade, but stand up very well to reading by an adult-- I recommend both of these enthusiastically to anyone who likes good historical fantasy, not just because they make you appreciate having dry, warm, feet.

Cold Magic, by Kate Elliot (marketed to grown-ups), is described by its author as an "Afro-Celtic post-Roman icepunk Regency novel with airships, Phoenician spies, and the intelligent descendants of troodons." It's also cold, though not consistently so...If my memory serves, it gets warmer by the end. So maybe more of a September reading book.

For those who want "horror in cold weather" I suggest The Toymaker, by Jeremy de Quidt. Ostensibly for young readers, but I kind of wish I hadn't read it. It is chilling in both senses of the word.

Anyone else read any good cold books recently?

The Magic Tunnel, by Caroline D. Emerson

The Magic Tunnel, by Caroline D. Emerson (1940) is a classic example of didactic time travel. This is made clear in the introduction-- "What was it like to live in old New Amsterdam so long ago? Go through the magic tunnel now-- and see!"

Ten year old Sarah is visiting her twelve year old cousin John in New York City, and when John takes her on a subway trip down to Battery Park, she feels somewhat anxious and overwhelmed. So she wishes that she "could go somewhere in this city where it wasn't so crowded," (page 15) and suddenly the rain is moving faster, but in the opposite direction! And it is completely empty. When it comes to a stop, John and Sarah find that it has taken them back in time, to New Amsterdam, in the year 1664.

Things are somewhat tense in New Amsterdam--Sarah and John have arrived just before the English take over, and change its name to New York. But as far as time travel goes, they have a handy place in the past, as two properly dressed and Dutch speaking children...and so they, along with the reader, learn lots about daily life in the 17th century and a bit about the European history of the city. The Native American history is not directly addressed, except in as much as the children encounter a stereotypical Indian "naked except for a fur at his waist" and able to move really really quietly through the woods (page 36). (Since this is August, and therefore Hot, and since there has been at this point fifty years of European cloth being traded, the fur rubbed me the wrong way).

Onward.

The story is reasonably plotted, with interesting episodes (For instance, they go to school. They meet an old man who sailed with Henry Hudson. The English arrive to take over the city). The history was reasonably accurate (apart from the glossing over of the Native American side of things), and although I noticed some details of the material culture seemed unlikely (it's true, for instance, that there were chandeliers in Holland at this time, but here in New Netherland in the house of ordinary people it seemed out of place--I shall check on this today at work), mostly I was happy with the portrayal (17th-century material culture is one of the things I do for a living). John and Sarah are not exactly characters of depth and individuality, and fell into a pattern of Boy=leader and Girl=more thoughtful follower, which doesn't do much for me.

If you have a child who loves the Magic Tree House books, they will quite possibly enjoy this (it's at about the same reading level), and they will certainly learn something-- it is a reasonable introduction to the European history of New York. From the responses on Goodreads and Amazon, this seems like the sort of book that might be magical if you read it at a young enough age. Which I didn't.

House of Shadows, by Rachel Neumeier

Here are some possible first sentences for this review of House of Shadows, by Rachel Neumeier (Orbit, ostensibly July 10, but available online now, YA/Adult):

The Crisply Professional:

Ms. Neumeir's latest Young Adult* offering is a beautifully realized tale of three young lives intersecting in a magical city where the shadows of the past threaten the tenuous peace of the present.

*edited to add: actually, it's being marketed as Adult. But it reads younger to me...

The Utterly Egocentric:

1. If Rachel Neumeier had set out to write a book for just me, she could hardly have done better.

2. I'm so glad I started blogging, because it was through my involvement with the Cybils that I read, and loved, Neumeier's first book, City in the Lake, went on to love The Floating Islands, and now have had the great pleasure of receiving a review copy of House of Shadows. Which I also loved.

3. Books like this almost make me regret that I have a blog--back in the day before my tbr pile/list became so extreme, I would have had the leisure to start House of Shadows right from the beginning again.

4. House of Shadows made me grow as a person, in as much as I had to practice loving patience very very hard when my youngest wanted to describe to me, in intricate (excruciating) detail, his latest drawing project right when I was at the most exciting part.

It's the story of the old magic at the heart of a city poised at the edge of war, as a fifteen year old treaty with the country to the north comes to the end. In that city, three lives intersect--Taudde, a young man from that northern country, whose magic stems from his music, Leilis, a young woman on whom fate and magic have played a cruel trick, slamming shut the doors of her future, and (my favorite) Nemienne, a girl who finds herself a mage's apprentice, opening doors that lead to darkness.... When these three become entangled in a plot that will shake the kingdom to its core, the choices they make might bring on the war, or make a place for peace.

Why I liked it so very much:

1. Character-driven fantasy for the win! It is all about people thinking, and feeling, and making choices. Sure, there's a plot, and danger, and threatenings, but mostly it’s about the people. Nemienne, Taudde, and Leilis all became very real too me, each with their own distinct flavor.

2. Sisters! Nemienne is one of eight sisters, and an older sister, Karah, has an important part to play. Though the family as a whole doesn't get much page time, the love between the sisters is an important foundation stone of Nemienne's character, and has shaped Karah, too.

3. Cool magic. I like it very much when music and magic intersect, without bardic clichés coming into play. I love it when people, like Nemienne, learn to magic by showing up on the doorstep of a house that is much more than it seems...I love it when magic has an ancient heart, hidden in darkness...I love it when magic isn't spells or potions, but craft poured into artifacts, or learning to see things from impossible angles.

4. Beautiful descriptions that make pictures in my mind. The mage's house in particular is one of those twisty places between spaces, with windows looking out onto places that shouldn't logically be there, and rooms that shift, and doors that appear where there were none before.

"Among the windows were three doors. The first was of beech wood, carved with an intricate border of interlocking beech leaves all around its edges. The second, carved of what she thought was red cedar, had fantastic animals twining together in sharply jagged patterns that linked each of its panels to the next. The third door was absolutely plain, made of some ink-dark wood she did not recognize, with no carving at all.

"Ah," said the mage, looking at her face. "How many doors do you see in this hall?" (p.118)

5. And I liked it because the ending wasn't just a stopping right after The Big Showdown part. It went on for a nice little while, as life does, in all its complexities. This is clearly a self-contained story, not the beginning of a trilogy, so this somewhat extended ending is especially appreciated.

(edited to add: There are also lovely cats, and a kitten of great charm).

Especially and whole-heartedly recommended to fans of Patricia McKillip.

I have, however, one criticism: Nemienne's sister Karah is so wonderfully Nice that she seems almost half-witted. It's a bit too much to take.

Note on age of reader: prostitution is mentioned, and adult relationships play a role in the plot (although there is no sex (sigh, in this case--not as a criticism, but as a personal preference-- I would have liked a bit more frisson*) and two of the main characters are in their twenties. So sure, it's Young Adult. However, story-wise, it's just fine for older middle grade readers beginning to separate from Family and wondering about making their own way in the world. If I had a dreamy, introspective seventh grade girl kicking around the house, this is one I'd give to her in a second.

*is there a decent one word English equivalent of frisson?

This Sunday's round-up of middle grade fantasy and science fiction from around the blogs (7/1/2012)

Here's what I found this week--enjoy! And of course let me know if I missed your post.

The Reviews:

Aliens on a Rampage, by Clete Barrett Smith, at The HappyNappyBookseller

The Bonehill Curse, by Jon Mayhew, at My Favorite Books

Breadcrumbs, by Anne Ursu, at RoeSpot and Michelle Mason

Brigitta of the White Forest, by Danika Dinsmore, at Middle Grade Fiction Finder

Coraline, by Neil Gaiman, at Best Fantasy Books Blog

The Crowfield Demon, by Pat Walsh, at Ms. Yingling Reads

Deadweather and Sunrise (The Chronicles of Egg, Book 1), by Geoff Rodkey, at Charlotte's Library

Dogsbody, by Diana Wynne Jones, at Random Musings of a Bibliophile

Dust Girl, by Sarah Zettel, at Confessions of a Bibliovore

Elf Girl and Raven Boy, by Marcus Sedgwick, at Wondrous Reads

The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom, by Christopher Healy, at One Librarian's Book Reviews and Page In Training

Icefall, by Matthew Kirby, at Library Chicken

Iron-Hearted Violet, by Kelly Barnhill, at Diary of a Book Addict

The Lost Hero, by Rick Riordan, at Fyrefly's Book Blog

Midnight for Charlie Bone, by Jenny Nimmo (audiobook review), at Known to Read

Mind If I Read Your Mind? (Ghost Buddy #2) by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver, at Ms. Yingling Reads

A Monster Calls, by Patrick Ness, at Geo Librarian

My Very Unfairy Tale Live, by Anna Staniszewski, at The Book Cellar

Parsley Sage, Rosemary, and Time, by Jane Louise Curry, at Charlotte's Library

Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes, by Jonathan Auxier, at Adventures of a Book Wyrm

Scary School, by Derek the Ghost, at Small Review

The Shadows (Books of Elsewhere, 1) by Jacqueline West, at Book Nut

Ship of Souls, by Zetta Elliott, at The Adventures of Cecelia Bedelia

The Silver Bowl, by Diane Stanley, at The Book Smugglers

Starry River of the Sky, by Grace Lin, at Fuse #8

The True Meaning of Smekday, by Adam Rex, at Teach Mentor Texts

The Whispering House, by Rebecca Wade,at books4yourkids

You Can't Have My Planet, But Take My Brother Please, by James Mihaley, at Jean Little Library

Authors and Interviews:

Sarvenaz Tash (The Mapmaker and the Ghost) at Cynsations

Michael A. Rothman (Heirs of Prophecy) at Books Are Magic

Derek Kent. aka Derek the Ghost. (Scary School) at Imaginary Reads

Joanne Levy (Small Medium at Large) at A Thousand Wrongs (plus giveaway)

Other Good Stuff:

Thank goodness for io9, one of my go to sites for Concluding Whimsical Images. They did not disappoint this morning- Knitted Monster Masks!

Is my blog useful?

I am constantly wondering if my blog is useful. I am constantly wondering about other things--are the children are eating properly, if the universe is constantly expanding, what is it expanding into, etc. but, inspired by the recent conversation about ARCs and bloggers and librarians, I am taking advantage of the fact that the power is out over much the country and it is a Saturday in June (so no blog readers around) to be Sincere (to the best of my ability), or perhaps, more acurately, Self Indulgent, to think about usefulness out here in public.

Now I certainly don't want to be part of an Island of Sodor bloggisphere, where every blog is "a really useful engine." There are many blogs I love whose authors seem motivated primarily by the joy of sharing whatever thoughts they feel like sharing, with out anxiously wondering if they are a "resource." But I am an INFP, and in as much as INFPs are "driven to help people and make the world a better place" (which, being an INFP, I believe, cause that's what we do), I can't help but wonder, in my own Special Snowflake way, is my own blog useful? And more specifically, do authors see that I have their books on my review pile, and weep or gnash their teeth (depending on temperment?), or might they be, dare I hope, pleased?

The problem with this line of thought is that the word "useful" makes one ask--to whom? I know I am useful to the readers (and there are at least five of them) who like the same sorts of books that I do. I love being useful to these readers! They are useful right back at me! I know that my blog has features that are useful to people who are looking for certain kinds of books. People who google "time travel books for kids" find them here, by golly. I know that some librarians (at least two) read my blog, and may use it in their purchasing decisions. And I know that I have given some small measure of publicity to books that weren't being blogged about much, because I don't see other reviews of them.

But I have no clue if anything I have written has actually caused anyone to go buy a book (as opposed to getting it from the library), which is presumably how useful is construed by publishers and authors....That being said, it's a fact that reviews have a cumulative effect, so I'm quite happy to believe that I've contributed to book buying decisions. There is, of course, absoulutely no way to measure this. I want my blog to send people out into the world to read in a general kind of way, but also it makes me happy to think of people buying books because of something I said. If no-one bought books, there wouldn't be publishers and the wonderful books they publish. There would be no money for authors, and so fewer books would be written. This would be sad.

I'm not, at this point in my life, a librarian, or an author, or a publisher. The only place I have at the public table of books is the place I am making for myself with my blog, and when I get review copies in the mail, it becomes a more happy place. Review copies make me feel that I am a useful contributor, a person who has something to share that's of value.

But then I wonder if I truly Deserve them. I feel that I should desperately be making an effort to increase my readership, to justify the review copies I get. I know I'm not obligated to do anything, but I can't help but wonder if I could do more. I tell myself that the YA book bloggers will always have more comments and followers and excitement than I, with my middle grade focus, can hope to have. But still...

How do you feel about being useful (and am I alone in worrying about this)?

postscript regarding stats: It seems to me that stats are not a useful way in which to measure a blog's impact (except perhaps for the blogs at the very high and rather low end of the scale). In June and July, when my stats plummet (from a high of 8,000 plus unique visitors in November to a low of barely 5,000 per month in July), it's hard to feel that the particular reviews I post are "useful." There are, of course, lots of other people (dunno how many) who follow me in various ways.

But what constitutes a lot of readers, keeping in mind that this would differ depending on the types of books you review?

* I went back and looked at the pile of books I brought home from BEA from the point of view of the authors...and I'd just like to say that I do plan on reviewing Gold Medal Summer even though it's not mg or YA sci fi/fantasy...I like books about gymnastics and ballet and music too!

Range of Ghosts, by Elizabeth Bear

For my mother's most recent birthday, I bought her Range of Ghosts, by Elizabeth Bear, mainly because I had heard good things of it, and partly because I knew I would be coming to visit her and would therefore get to read it too (just to show I'm not entirely selfish, I bought her another book present just for her). Sadly, when I arrived, I found that she had put aside Range of Ghosts (though not abandoned it) half read.

And when I started reading myself, I could see her point. The story takes place in a vast canvas of difficult to keep track of places (basically Asia, with Mongolia, China, India, and Persia equivalents represented). The author offers a the generous largesse of social and religious details; so generous in their variety that they are a bit daunting (for instance, the dieties of this world are so present that the land where each pantheon is worshipped has, literally, its own sky). But once I had read enough to know my way around a bit, I was able to enjoy the book lots!

I'm going to do something I almost never do, and use the blurb lifted straight from Amazon (I've frittered away my morning time weeding....sorry!):

"Temur, grandson of the Great Khan, is walking away from a battlefield where he was left for dead. All around lie the fallen armies of his cousin and his brother, who made war to rule the Khaganate. Temur is now the legitimate heir by blood to his grandfather’s throne, but he is not the strongest. Going into exile is the only way to survive his ruthless cousin.

Once-Princess Samarkar is climbing the thousand steps of the Citadel of the Wizards of Tsarepheth. She was heir to the Rasan Empire until her father got a son on a new wife. Then she was sent to be the wife of a Prince in Song, but that marriage ended in battle and blood. Now she has renounced her worldly power to seek the magical power of the wizards. These two will come together to stand against the hidden cult that has so carefully brought all the empires of the Celadon Highway to strife and civil war through guile and deceit and sorcerous power."

So basically there are these two main characters, and they become united in a common cause against a really nasty enemy, and there is just tons of intrigue, and courtly plotting, and journeying around a world where hungry ghosts can rip the flesh from the living, rocs fly overhead, and magic, and the gods, are very real. And there's love, and despair, and determination...and it's easy to hope for a happy ending, and one is left wanting the sequel rather a lot!

It reminded me to some extent of Guy Gavriel Kay's historical re-envisionings, although perhaps a bit more densely textured, more immediate in detail and intensity. My only substantive reservation is that the language occasionally bounces into Latinate stiffness in a noticeable way, and there's just a tad more verbiage than I though absolutely necessary--it's not always a smooth flow of plain prose. Here's an example that I hope gives some sense of what I mean:

"The words chilled her innards. If he meant to chew her out for some infraction, he would not hesitate to do so in front of witnesses. Which meant he had some news to impart that he did not wish to become public knowledge just yet." Page 172

Perhaps I noticed this because I so rarely read books for adults! Another, almost irrelevant, quibble I had also stems from the fact that I prefer children's books. Quite early on our hero, Temur, begins a lovely relationship with a lovely girl, and they have sex. Which is just fine. I am in favor of happy consensual sex! Except that at this point in the book I hardly knew her, and so was somewhat jarred when I found out exactly what her nipples look like. Actually, I don't think I ever really want to know what any fictional character's nipples look like.

But at any rate, Range of Ghosts is a grand tapestry of multi-cultural, magical, fun, and by the time I had finished it, I had convinced my mother to try it again....

I especially appreciated the multicultural part--it is so nice not to be in medieval Europe! However, I was disappointed by the cover. The dude on horseback is fine, but if you look closely at the upper left, you will see a woman's eyes. Here they are: In this Asian inspired world, why the heck are they blue?

Deadweather and Sunrise (The Chronicles of Egg, Book 1), by Geoff Rodkey

Deadweather and Sunrise, by Geoff Rodkey (Putnam, May 29, 2012, middle grade) is an intriguing and entertaining adventure set in a piratical, alternate colonial-historical world (vaguely reminiscent of Joan Aiken).

13 year old Egbert Masterson has lived a somewhat sheltered life--not the nice sort of cozy shelter where one is protected from unpleasantness. Life for Egg consists of the sort of isolation from the world that happens when you are the youngest child of the only ugly fruit plantation owner on isolated Deadweather Island (which has nothing to recommend it), your older brother and sister are thugs who hate your guts, your father has no time for you (except to whack you to encourage you to work harder), and your tutor is a nasty and incompetent lout with no learning. Yet despite everything, Egg is not entirely miserable--one of the ex-pirates who work on the plantation is not unfriendly, and some comfort can be found in the few books available to him.

But then the borders of Egg's world expand with a vengeance when his father takes his children on a trip to fabulously wealthy Sunrise Island. Soon after their arrival, he disappears with the two older siblings in a freak accident. And Egg begins to realize that there are Sinister Machinations afoot, involving a lost treasure of the indigenous people of the islands and greedy colonialist exploitation. There are attempts on Egg's life, and there was a huge secret his father hadn't shared. And there are lots of pirates, regular marauding ones on boats as well as the field pirates of Deadweather.

And perhaps most importantly, there's Millicent, the plucky daughter of privilege who must cast off the shackles of her sheltered upbringing (the comfy kind of sheltered) and reconfigure her own perceptions of the world if Egg is to survive....

Like I said up at the top, it reminded me more than a bit of Joan Aiken, especially her later books--almost over the top alternate history, with tons of adventure and bizarre characters and situations and plottings. It's not a book that's exactly to my own personal taste (I don't actually like pirates. Sorry. And exciting non-stop adventure is fun, but not my truly favorite type of story). But it is still a diverting read that I recommend enthusiastically to those who do like piratical adventure! If you like the look of the cover, you will like the book.

And despite my personal preferences, I was quite curious about the mystery, and happy to cheer Egg on as he a. tries to stay alive b. dreams of one day marrying Millicent c. figures out what the heck is happening. Egg is an engaging young hero (anyone who loves reading as much as he does is, of course, a sympathetic character) and it's especially interesting to see Millicent coming into her own. I also appreciated the fact that the book deals with colonialism (a bit off center stage in this one, but the next book seems to promise to involve the native inhabitents of the region more immediatly, and to give them greater agency). It's an alternate world, but the parrallels are clear.

The book ends at a good stopping place--but Millicent and Egg are clearly about to embark on a new phase of their adventures. I'll be looking forward to it.

Here's an interview with Geoff Rodkey at Educating Alice.

disclaimer: review copy received from the publisher

City of a Thousand Dolls-- Waiting (for a long time) on Wednesday

So City of a Thousand Dolls, by Miriam Forster, doesn't come out till February 2013, but that just gives me time to read all the other books in the house and really be ready for it!

Here's why I want it: it sounds like a fantasy boarding school for orphan girls mystery with cats and romance. "Isolated estate" is also a bonus feature.

"Nisha was abandoned at the gates of the City of a Thousand Dolls when she was just a child. Now sixteen, she lives on the grounds of the isolated estate, where orphan girls apprentice as musicians, healers, courtesans, and, if the rumors are true, assassins. Nisha makes her way as Matron’s assistant, her closest companions the mysterious cats that trail her shadow. Only when she begins a forbidden flirtation with the city’s handsome young courier does she let herself imagine a life outside the walls. Until one by one, girls around her start to die.

Before she becomes the next victim, Nisha decides to uncover the secrets that surround the girls’ deaths. But by getting involved, Nisha jeopardizes not only her own future in the City of a Thousand Dolls—but her own life."

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine

Parsley Sage, Rosemary, and Time, by Jane Louise Curry, for Timeslipe Tuesday

Parsley Sage, Rosemary, and Time, by Jane Louise Curry (Atheneum, 1975, younger middle grade) Ten year old Rosemary is distressed when her father and mother's business trip to China results in her being packed off to her Aunt Sibby in Maine. Unlike her somewhat staid parents, Aunt Sibby, a writer of detective stories, leads a somewhat Bohemian life. And her aunt's first words to her aren't such as would warm a dutiful daughter's heart: "Red hair! Aren't you lucky! You're not like your father at all. I was half-expecting a cod-faced little priss." (page 3) 

 Aunt Sibby's old and overgrown house, with its old cat, Parsley Sage (able to dance on his hind legs, despite his age, when Aunt Sibby flicks her fingers) awakens in Rosemary for the first time thoughts of magic. And then Parsley Sage leads Rosemary to an abandoned herb garden, where she finds that magic is real. In the garden grows a plant labeled "Time" (not thyme, as one might expect), and indeed, the Time plant is well named. When she fingers a sprig from it, time freezes. When she visits it again, it transports her back to the early 18th century. 

 Rosemary, still skeptical of magic though she is, can't deny the evidence of all her senses. She is truly in the past. There she meets another time traveller, a little girl nicknamed Baba...and both are taken in by Goody Cakebread, who already has come upon a toddler named Wim. Goody Cakebread is not as consternated as one might expect by this influx of time-travellers--she seems to have had prior experience, and assumes that they'll go away again eventually. Which the children hope will happen too! Unfortunately, Goody Cakebread lives in land much desired by the fire and brimstone preaching minister of the town...and the appearance of a gaggle of strange children (clearly imps of Satan) makes a nice addition to his accusations that she is a witch. Rosemary is suspicious, herself--after all, Goody Cakebread's wooden cupboard does seem to have strange powers.... 

Fortunately for Goody Cakebread, she is friends with the Sokokis, the neighboring Abenaki people, and she and the children plan to escape to them (with the hope that their knowledge of magic can help return the children to their own time, as they don't seem to be leaving on their own!). But before that happens, the townsfolk arrive. All works out well in the end (mainly thanks to the cleverness of Carolanna, the minister's slave), and the story of how the Time plant came to Maine is woven into the conclusion. Baba and baby Wim and Rosemary all meet again in the present...and Rosemary already begins planning her next visit to her aunt's house. 

 My main thought upon reading this how short children's books were back in the 1970s! The whole story is told in only 107 pages! Part of me admires the economy of story telling. Jane Louise Curry manages to pack a lot in about early 18th-century Maine, touching on the fact slavery in New England, the persistence of Native peoples in their ancestral lands, and the dangers of being an older woman living alone in a society that still believed in witches. But part of me wishes there had been a hundred more pages--the time spent in the past flies by, and I wish we had had a bit more time to really get to know the characters and the place they found. It seemed rushed. (I also wish the Sokokis had not been quite so clearly presented as Magical Others, but this wasn't so pronounced as to turn me against the whole book). 

 By far my favorite part was Rosemary's discovery of the herb garden, and the first magical, beautifully eye-widening, depiction of the Time plant's power. It's the sort of thing that I can easily imagine knocking the socks of a young reader of eight or nine--a lovely introduction to the genre of magic intruding into real life. And, since overgrown gardens of magic are one of my favorite things to read about in general, I'm awfully glad to have found this one to revisit in my mind as I work on my own weeds!

Just to fill in the empty space, more Castaway Blobs!

Still not entirely back from vacation, in terms of having reviews written and ready to go, so here, to pass the time, is another thrilling episode of Castaway Blobs!

This week's middle grade fantasy and science ficiton blog posts, rounded-up for your reading pleasure

I have been spending the last few days on vacation, mostly rotting my mind playing Civilization...but am now rested and refreshed (and very, very sick of Civilization). Back to blogging.

Here are the posts I found in this week's worth of blog reading that pertain to middle grade fantasy and science fiction...please let me know if I missed yours!

The Reviews:

Bansi O'Hara and the Bloodline Prophecy, by John Dougherty, at Charlotte's Library

Breadcrumbs, by Anne Ursu, at Challenging the Bookworm

The Cabinet of Earths, by Anne Nesbet, at The Write Path

Circle of Secrets, by Kimberley Griffiths Little, at Ms. Yingling Reads

The Crowfield Curse and The Crowfield Demon, by Pat Walsh, at Cracking the Cover

Dark Life, by Kat Falls, at Mister K Reads

The Dark is Rising (series) by Susan Cooper, at Random Musings of a Bibliophile

The Dead Gentleman, by Matthew Cody, at Michelle Mason

Dragonsong, by Anne McCaffrey, at The Adventures of Cecelia Bedelia

Earwig and the Witch, by Diana Wynne Jones, at Oops...Wrong Cookie

Fairest of All, by Sarah Myinowski, at Ms. Martin Teaches Media

The False Prince, by Jennifer Nielsen, at library_mama

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making, by Catherynne M. Valente, at Wondrous Reads

Heirs of Prophecy, by Michael A. Rothman, at There's a Book, The Written World, Starting Fresh, and Dad of Divas

The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom, by Christopher Healy, at Geo Librarian and Small Review (audio)

Liesl and Po, by Lauren Oliver, at Squeaky Books (audio book)

Magyk, by Angie Sage, at Mister K Reads

Middleworld, by J. & P. Voelkel, at Mister K Reads

Museum of Thieves, by Lian Tanner, at Bewitched Bookworms

Odd and the Frost Giants, by Neil Gaiman, at HumbleIndigo

The Phantom Tollbooth, by Norman Juster, at Hope is the Word

The Princess and the Goblin, by George MacDonald, at Becky's Book Reviews

The Princess in the Pigpen, by Jane Resh Thomas, at Time Travel Times Two

Sam Silver-Undercover Pirate, books 1 and 2, by Jan Burchett and Sara Vogler, at The Book Zone

The Serpent's Shadow, by Rick Riordan, at Ms. Yingling Reads

Storybound, by Marissa Burt, at A Librarian's Library

A Tale Dark and Grimm, by Adam Gidwitz, at Wicked Awesome Books

Troubletwisters, by Garth Nix and Sean Williams, at Bookshelves of Doom

The Undrowned Child, by Michelle Lovric, at Bookish Ardour

The Unseen Guest, by Maryrose Wood, at library_mama

The Voyage of Lucy P. Simmons, by Barbara Mariconda at Ms. Yingling Reads

The epic Animorphs re-read at Intergalactic Academy continues with #26, The Attack

Other Good Stuff

A look at some sci fi schools from Children's Books @ suite101

Cassandra Golds reflects on The Little Mermaid at Seven Miles of Steel Thistles, and Linda Newbery talks about the Green Man at Scribble City Central.

"Why does magic need so many rules" at io9

Not mg sff related, but it's always nice to find that an author you like (Sherwood Smith) has one of the same comfort reads (Miss Buncle's Book, by D.E. Stevenson), as you do (via Book View Cafe). This is also a favorite of Jen's. Just saying.

And also irrelevant, but attractive--pretty paper art by Diana Beltran Herrera at Colossal Art & Design (via Bookshelves of Doom)

Bansi O'Hara and the Bloodline Prophecy, by John Dougherty

Bansi O'Hara and the Bloodline Prophecy, by John Dougherty (Random House Children's Books, 2008) was tremendously enjoyable. Never once, while reading it, did I think "I would have enjoyed this so much as a child." I was too busy enjoying it as just me! As well as a zesty little plot, with a sympathetic heroine who's half-Indian (yay multicultural fantasy with non-whitewashed cover!), considerable humor, and dangerous Danger, it features two of the best older women characters (Bansi's granny and her granny's best friend) in children's fantasy that I can think of.

When Bansi O'Hara's Irish father and her Indian mother met and married, little did they know that they were bringing together the bloodlines of two legendary leaders of the Fair Folk, who had been exiled from the other world long ago. And naturally they'd never heard the prophecy about their union: "When the Blood of the Morning Stars, joined and flowing together at last, is returned to the scared earth as the light dies, then shall the power of Tir na n'Og awaken...And one who returns the blood to the land shall come into the inheritance of Derga."

[those of you who become skeptical when Ancient Prophecies come into play--do not be alarmed. Yes, it is the basis for the plot, but it doesn't take over the story]

In any event, when Bansi arrives in Ireland to visit Granny O'Hara at Midsummer, when the way between the worlds is open, quite naturally two factions (good and evil, as usual) are competing to be the returnees of the prophecy. On the good side, a mischievous shapeshifting pooka and a friendly brownie are guarding Bansi; on the bad side, a shapeshifting, evil wolf-boy is hunting her.

This is all very well and good--nothing too surprising. But what is surprising, adding just tons of fun to the story, is what happens when Granny O'Hara and her best friend become involved--beautiful little set pieces of comedy and snappy dialogue, and a wild ride in a Morris Minor Traveller to fairy land armed with a car jack and miscellaneous scrap metal.

And in the meantime, the danger grows as Bansi is captured by the dark side...and she has to find the courage to keep fighting (even though, and this is a good thing, she has no secret Specialness! Just pluck and determination!)

I did enjoy it awfully much, and I'm awfully glad I found about it through this post at Scribble City Central last April and took a chance on it!

This Sunday's round-up of middle grade fantasy and science fiction from around the blogs

The problem with a regular feature such as this is that it is boring to write the same introduction every week:

Welcome to another week of the posts I gathered from around the blogs of interest to fans of middle grade fantasy and science fiction. Please let me know if I missed yours, and feel free to send me links at any time!

It can't be helped. Onward.

The Reviews:

Cold Cereal, by Adam Rex, at Alexia's Books & Such and Random Musings of a Bibliophile

The Coming of the Dragon, by Rebecca Barnhouse, at library_mama

Ebenezer's Locker, by Anne E. Johnson, at Readatouille

The False Prince, by Jennifer Nielsen, at The Book Smugglers (with bonus Code Name Verity before you get to it....)

Fever Crumb, by Philip Reeve, at Fantasy Book Review

Halt's Peril, by John Flanagan, at Karissa's Reading Review

Juniper Barry, at Jean Little Library

The Lunatic's Curse, by F.E. Higgins, at Karissa's Reading Review

The Odyssey, by Gareth Hinds, at Children's Book-a-Day Almanac

Out of Time, by John Marsden, at HumbleIndigo

The Outcasts, by John Flannagan, at Fantasy Book Review

The Phantom Tollbooth, by Nortan Juster, at Book Nut

Rapunzel's Revenge, by Shannon and Dean Hale, at Challenging the Bookworm

Revenge of the Horned Bunnies, by Ursula Vernon, at AmoXcalli

The Stones of Ravenglass, by Jenny Nimmo, at Charlotte's Library

Stonewords, by Pam Conrad, at Charlotte's Library

Stormswept, by Helen Dunmore, at Seven Miles of Steel Thistles

A Tale Dark and Grimm, by Adam Gidwitz, at Sharon the Librarian and at Wicked Awesome Books

Authors and interviews

Geoff Rodkey (Deadweather and Sunrise), at Educating Alice

Pete Johnson (The Vampire Fighters) at Babbleabout Children's Books and Nayu's Reading Corner

Robin LaFevers (Theodosia series, as well as the YA Grave Mercy) at Finding Wonderland

Susan Cooper (The Dark is Rising et al.) at School Library Journal

Ellen Booraem (Small Persons With Wings) at Roots in Myth

Amanda Ashby (talking about the covers of Sophie's Mixed-up Magic series) at Melissa Walker

Other Good Stuff:

A Monster Calls, by Patrick Ness, illustrated by Jim Kay, wins both the Carnegie (for writing) and Kate Greenway (for illustration) awards in one fell swoop!

And the winner of the Locus Award for Young Adult book is The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making, by Catherynne M. Valente

Here's an amusing list of 20 things characters in fantasy books should do more often, from Lev Grossman at Lytherus.

A list of middle grade beach reads with lots of sci fi/fantasy at Readatouille

A selection of sci fi picture books at io9 (and here's my own sci fi picture book post from awhile back)

And finally, happy Father's Day! From Darth Vader and Son, by Jeffry Brown (found at Gizmodo, where you can see more)

Because I love Lord Peter's mother

My favorite bit of Dorothy Sayers is the begining of Busman's Honeymoon, in which the reader gets to meet Lord Peter Wimsey's mother through her (warm, witty, slightly cracked, but incredibly sane) letter writing.*

So today there I was at the library booksale, and it being a beautiful June day, there were few customers (worst booksale ever) and I was mildly disheartened.**

But then I went and visited Sounis, where I found this link to letters writen by Sayers from various characters to each other (including a gem from Lord Peter's mother) that had been published in The Spectator in the early years of WW II.

Happy!

*Because of something Lord Peter's mother said about how nice it was that Harriet gave her and Peter time alone together, I did the same the first time we visited my soon to be mother-in-law in England and she thought I was being unfriendly. SIGH.

**though pleased to take back into the fold some unsold books that I had donated to the sale even though I didn't want to so as to increase the number of books at Friends Preview night (as explained here)