This Week's Middle Grade Sci Fi/Fantasy Round-up (6/23/13)

 Welcome to another week of middle grade sci fi/fantasy fun (and yes, there are no less than three sci fi books represented this week!).  Please let me know if I missed your post.

The Reviews

The Apothecary, by Maile Meloy, at Book Nut

The Apprentices, by Maile Meloy, at Speculating on SpecFic

The Bell Between Worlds, by Ian Johnston, at From the Writer's Nest

Bigger Than a Bread Box, by Laurel Snyder, at That's Another Story

The Brixen Witch, by Stacy DeKeyser, at Reading Rumpus Book Reviews 

Claws, by Mike and Rachel Grinti, at crunchings and munchings

The Cup and the Crown, by Diane Stanley, at Sonderbooks

Doll Bones, by Holly Black, at Abby the Librarian 

Ella Enchanted, by Gail Carson Levine, at Don't Be Afraid of the Dork

The False Prince, by Jennifer Nielsen, at Jalyn Reads

The Fellowship for Alien Detection, by Kevin Emerson, at Bluerose's Heart

Frogged, by Vivian Vande Velde, at Book Trends

The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall, by Mary Downing Hahn, at Ex Libris

Goblin Secrets, by William Alexander, at In the Forgotten Realm

Goulish Song, by William Alexander, at The Book Monsters

Haunters, by Thomas Taylor, at Ms. Yingling Reads

The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom, by Christopher Healy, at A Word's Worth 

The Hidden Kingdom (Wings of Fire 3), by Tui T. Sutherland, at Charlotte's Library

Horton's Miraculous Mechanisms, by Lissa Evans, at Sonderbooks

In a Glass Grimmly, by Adam Gidwitz, at Michelle I. Mason

In Search of Goliathus Hercules, by Jennifer Angus, at Sharon the Librarian

Jack Templar, Monster Hunter, by Jeff Gunhus, at Sher A Hart (review at the end)

Keeper of the Lost Cities, by Shannon Messenger, at Dark Faerie Tales

King of Shadows, by Susan Cooper, at Reads for Keeps

The Last of the Dragons, by A. de Quincey, discussed by Lucy Coates at Seven Miles of Steel Thistles

Liesl and Po, by Lauren Oliver, at Dark Faerie Tales

Odessa Again, by Dana Reinhardt, at Jen Robinson's Book Page

Once Upon the End, by James Riley, at Shannon Messenger

The One and Only Ivan, by Katherine Applegate, at Mister K Reads

The Planet Thieves, by Dan Krokos, at BookYAReview, Alice Marvels, Charlotte's Library, and Books In Bloom

The Reluctant Assassin, by Eoin Colfer, at Bookfever and Paranormal Sisters

Rump, by Liesl Shutliff, at Deb A. Marshall

The Runaway King, by Jennifer Nielsen, at Kid Lit Geek

Runemarks, by Joanne Harris, at Great Imaginations 

Sidekicked, by John David Anderson, at Charlotte's Library

Storybound, by Marissa Burt, at The Haunting of Orchid Forsythia

The Throne of Fire, by Rick Riordan, at Fyrefly's Book Blog 

Wednesdays in the Tower, by Jessica Day George, at Librarian of Snark

The Weirdstone of Brisingamen, by Alan Garner, at Fantasy Literature

The Wells Bequest, by Polly Shulman, at Random Musings of a Bibliophile and Charlotte's Library

The Wimpy Vampire Strikes Back, by Tim Collins, at Wondrous Reads

The Vengkeep Prophecies, by Brian Farrey, at Kid Lit Geek 

Zombie Mommie, by M.T. Anderson, at Confessions of a Bibliovore


Authors and Interviews (last week there were so many; this week not so much)

Malia Ann Haberman (Chase Tinker and the House of Magic) at somewhere in the middle


Other Good Stuff

The shortlists for 2013 Scottish Children's Book Awards were announced last week, and the books in the 8-11 year old category are all fantasy/sci fi, and look appealing as all get out (found at Waking Brain Cells):

  
The Accidental Time Traveller by Janis Mackay
Black Tide by Caroline Clough
Really Weird Removals.com by Daniela Sacerdoti

Here's me looking at diversity in MG sci fi/fantasy so far this year, with help from authors and commenters.

Elizabeth Wein's top ten dynamic duos in fiction, at The Guardian

The Planet Thieves, by Dan Krokos

Full-blown military science fiction in space written for middle grade (9-12ish years old) readers is currently so thin on the ground that The Planet Thieves, by Dan Krokos (Starscape, May 2013) is the only example from the past decade I can think of.  Maybe, what with the Ender's Game movie, there will be more...but it's good to at least have this one.

Here's the gist of the story:  A 13-year-old Earth kid, Mason Stark, is one of seventeen cadets on board the SS Egypt. They're peacefully logging their required time in space for the Academy, when their ship is attacked by the alien Tremist, enemies of Earth for the past sixty years.

It is a vicious attack, and the crew of the Egypt can't withstand it. Violence and mayhem abound, and soon the cadets (shunted off to the sidelines) find themselves the only able-bodied crew left aboard the ship.  And then they discover the reason for the attack -- the Egypt was carrying a powerful weapon that could have won the war for Earth. 

Mason, appointed acting captain by the one injured officer still on board, must find a way to rally his fellow cadets to take back the ship, warn Earth, and try, desperately, to stop the Tremists from using Earth's own weapon against them.

But things are not exactly what they seem...and just when Mason things there's might be hope for himself, his friends, and his planet, the dice are rolled again...

So yeah, cool technology, mayhem, cunning plotting, interesting aliens, some neat character interactions....a great read for kids who are only just discovering the joy of sci fi geekdom, and fun for us grown-ups who already know we enjoy it (though it won't break any new ground for the adult sci fi reader).   It's also a fine example of the "kids coping in a desperate situation without adults" genre, which I almost always enjoy.

That being said, military sci fi is not really quite my Thing.  I skimmed much of the fighting, so I can't offer an opinion as to its quality (I always skim the fighting).  I could have used more down time, with more plotting and intrigue, and less zapping, and as I read on, with things snowballing further and further out of control, I felt a tad dizzy.  But for those who like heart-pounding adrenaline and desperate struggles, go for it!

(Minor thing that threw me terribly every time it came up--the Tremists have a class of super warrior/wizardly dudes, called Rhadgasts.  I read it as Radagasts every time (as in Lord of the Rings)....It's hard (and not fair to the book) when the bad guys become ditsy dudes with brown robes and hedgehogs.)

Note on age of reader:  The violence is not sugar coated, the casualty list is long, the aliens are scary, and the stakes are high. I'd give this to a kid before I'd give them The Hunger Games, but it's not going to be every young reader's cup of tea.  Fortunately (though not for the characters) the fighting starts quite soon, so it can be put down by those who are off-put by the violence.


Here's a sample of the book, along with a discussion of how its cover came to be, at Tor.

New Diana Wynne Jones Book!!!!!

The last book Diana was working on before her death,  The Islands of Chaldea, has been finished, and will be out in the summer of 2014!!!!  It was nearly completed, but had no ending...happily, her sister Ursula was able to finish it.

Here is the Publishers Weekly article with all the information.

I did not know that Ursula was a children's book writer in her own right.  I certainly did not realize that the Ursula Jones who wrote one of the books that has been sitting on my very own TBR pile for almost a year, The Lost King, was Diana's sister.  Guess what I'm reading this weekend...

(which would be Ursula's book.  Not Diana's.  Not yet....)

A look at diversity in middle grade fantasy and science fiction so far this year

Over at The Open Book, the blog of publisher Lee and Low, Jason Low asks a number of writers and reviewers and thinkers why the number of multicultural children's books hasn't gone up in the past 18 years. The responses are fascinating and thought provoking.

Apprently only ten percent of children's books published in a given year have multicultural content, but I think it's a lot lower in Middle Grade fantasy and science fiction, and I don't seen any surge in diversity.  2013 is, in fact, looking like the least diverse year since I started paying attention five or so years ago.

The year is pretty much half-way done, and these are all I know about and have read; please tell me I'm missing lots! 

Middle Grade fantasy and sci fi books

Astronaut Academy Re-Entry (2013), by Dave Roman  (quick insertion of much love for Astronaut Academy)

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the Race Against Time, by Frank Cottrell Boyce (2013 in the US)

Jinx, by Sage Blackwood (2013)

The Menagerie, by Tui T. Sutherland and Kari Sutherland (2013)

The Water Castle, by Megan Frazer Blakemore (2013)

The Wells Bequest, by  Polly Shulman (2013)

Ms. Yingling adds Playing With Fire (School for S.P.I.E.S., book 1) by Bruce Hale.  Thanks.

Upper MG/pushing toward YA

 City of a Thousand Dolls, by Miriam Forster (2013)

Hammer of Witches, by Shana Mlawski (2013)


I don't get it.  Looking at the five solidly MG books above that I've read (one graphic novel, four regular books), it's clear that it's really really easy to have a central character who isn't white in a fantasy/sci fi book.  And the fact that a central character might be a kid of color doesn't have to have anything to do with the plot--it does in The Water Castle, but not in the other four.   It doesn't have to be waved enthusiastically, with more emphasis than any other description of any other character.  All it takes is a tiny little default to non-white in one or two sentences, and you have the main character of The Menagerie--a kid who happens to be African American, or a bit of family background casually described, and you have one of the main characters of The Wells Bequest, who's family is from India.

Really easy.  Doesn't effect book marketing or sales.   Young readers won't bat an eyelid (unless they are excited to see themsleves represented). Why don't more writers/publishers do it? 

To end on a brighter note--I am not particularly aware of forthcoming books in general (for all I know, a flood tide of diversity is on its way...), but I do want to share the cover of an ARC that arrived in the mail recently from Scholastic.  It is the first book of the forthcoming Spirit Animals series, and it is utter bibliocake* for kids--it will be devoured.  It was only in my house for five minutes before my youngest was reading it.    And look!  A brown girl on the cover! She is not half hidden by another character, and she is not at all passive.  And my son, reading away, added that her animal is the one shown front and center, making it clear that she is a powerful main character.  (It is also a lovely cover for reversal of gendered expectations--the girl looks by far the most fierce).

And I bet that making her non-white was not hard at all, and I bet the series is going to sell like hot-cakes.

*"bibliocake" is like "bibliocrack," but age appropriate

Edited to add: thanks to commentors, here are some more forthcoming books with kids of color-- Sarwat Chadda's The City of Death, Paradox by A.J. Paquette, and possibly The Real Boy, by Anne Ursu.  Edited to add:  The Real Boy is a go! (confirmed by Anne herself in the comments).

 

And I've thought of another forthcoming one-- Darwen Arkwright and the School of Shadows, by A.J. Hartley.

Updated again:  Jinx, by Sage Blackwood, is now counted!  I couldn't remember him being described in the text, but Sage pointed me to the description-- "He saw himself reflected in the glass, a thin boy with black hair, brown eyes, and tan skin" (page 23 of the ARC, which is what I have), and indeed, Jinx as shown on the cover is several shades darker of skin than me (not that this is hard...).   And given the fact that he lives in a dense forest, the tan part isn't from time in the sun...

I totally missed that line of description both times I read the book...and it raises questions about how, when you have characters in a fantasy world, it can be hard to make it clear that they don't default to "white."

On the one hand, I think that authors having to underline the ethnicity or skin color of non-white characters is something that shouldn't Have to happen (and although it's possible to do it gracefully--see above--when your character isn't living on earth, you loose geographical referents that can serve as confirmation, and might have to fall back on food similes.  Assuming they have chocolate and coffee in fantasy land).

But on the other hand, people come in all sorts of colors, and often there aren't sufficient grounds for confident assumption, so even if you have a brown character on the cover, textual description is sometimes necessary to clinch things.   Like maybe two descriptions.  Thoughts????

Sidekicked, by John David Anderson

In the past few years, middle grade superhero books have sprung up like crazy, and I am rather impressed at how varied and interesting they are in their take on the subject.  The latest such book to come my way is Sidekicked, by John David Anderson (Walden Pond Press, June 25, 2013), and it brings a new emotional twist to the genre.

The Highview Environmental Revitalization Organization (H.E.R.O.) is not your typical school club.  The kids who slip off to its meetings are not ordinary kids.  They are Sidekicks, the superheros of the future.  Each one has a unique talent, each one is matched with a Superhero mentor.

But though Andrew has a superpower--preternaturally enhanced senses-- it is hard to be a Sidekick when your Superhero has no interest in your, or the Cause of Justice.  In fact, the legendary Titan is just about the worst mentor a Sidekick could have.  On the other side of the scale, Andrew's best friend Jenna, ak The Silver Lynx, is almost ready to take her place fighting in public at the side of her hero, The Fox.

But when a dastardly villain from the past, thought to have been annihilated by the Titan long ago, re-emerges, will the Superheros of the present be enough to stop him?  Only the Fox seems to stand a chance, with Jenna fighting at her side.   But Andrew, though he doubts how useful his own powers can be, isn't ready to give up on the Titan...and the bad guys haven't given up on revenge.   Andrew must figure out who he can trust, and if he can trust himself, or else the bad guys will win.

What makes this one stand out is that the hero, Andrew, isn't the sort of person who's going to charge out and save the day with stupendous superhero deeds of daring.   Instead, he's a kind of awkward, uncertain type of 13 year old, who worries that his powers are not ever going to have that much point, who worries that he might never find his way socially, who worries that even though he's "special," he's going to be left behind.    And these anxieties are, of course, exacerbated by the fact that his "mentor" the Titan wants nothing to do with him, and instead of using his titanic powers for good, spends his time in a seedy bar.   Unlike the Fox, darling of the public....

Which raises the question of obligation--if you have the power to do good, do you have to?  And what if one person's path to perfect justice involved killing innocent people along the way? What does it mean to be a hero?  So it's not just a book about middle school angst with superpowers, but it also gives a nod to Bigger Philosophical Questions.

My one disappointment is that I wanted more of Andrew using his super-sensory powers.  He does put them to good use in a useful way on more than one occassion, and I guess I wouldn't have liked him to suddenly be Saving the Day and becoming the Hero of the Hour, because that would have felt contrived, but it didn't feel like quite enough.  I wanted there to be more heavy underlining to the realization on Andrew's part that he can contribute...and so the ending felt a tad flat to me.

That being said, Sidekicked is a fine addition to the ranks of middle grade Superhero books--entertaining and interesting, with emotional depth.

disclaimer: review copy received from the publisher.

The Wells Bequest, by Polly Shulman, for Time Slip Tuesday

The Wells Bequest, by Polly Shulman (Nancy Paulsen Books, June 2013, MG).  

Imagine a library that's a repository of things--old things, fascinating things, mundane things--that you could check out.  That's the New-York Circulating Materials Repository, where a teenager named Leo has come to study the history of robots (and how cool is it that the library has the actual early automatons and proto-robots in the flesh, as it were?). But Leo is interested in more than robots--he's also more than a bit curious about time machines.   He has good reason--he just saw one in action.  And it was in his room, and tiny, and he was in it, shrunk down, with a beautiful girl.  Neither time travel nor girls are part Leo's normal life, spent tinkering with gizmos and playing computer games, the youngest, and least stellar (or so he thinks), kid in a family obsessed with scientific accomplishments.

There at this strange and wonderful library Leo meets the girl he's going to travel through time with--Jaya, the head page.  Leo begins to wonder what this wonderful library might have in the way of time-travel devices....and finds his way to the Wells Bequest, and H.G. Well's tine-machine.  Because this library contains fictional devices, and the Wells Bequest is one of many collections from stories here in our world for real.

Leo knows he and Jaya are going to time travel....but he doesn't know why, and the time-machine in the library has never worked.   But when one of the other library pages turns twisted, and starts threatening to use Nikola Tesla's death ray to destroy New York, obviously Leo and Jaya are going to have to find a way to go back to Tesla's time, and keep the secret of the death ray from being stolen.

A dash to London, to recover the miniature working model of Well's Time Machine as it materializes on its trip from the past, back to New York in Jule's Verne's miraculous steampunky ship, the Épouvante (from Master of the World), then off to 1895 New York, with the help of a handy shrink way....and then they must find Tesla while navigating the strange city of the past.

It is an excellent book, and pretty much has it all--the appealing, believable characters (not the bad guy so much, but Jaya and Leo), the really really cool premise of fantastical objects being real, and the shear fun of the way the premise and the plot combine.   There's a bit of romance, which Leo angsts believably about, there are grown-ups actively involved (which makes the plot more believable), but not taking over from the smart young protagonists, and there's Mark Twain. 

And Jaya's family is from India, making this multicultural sci fi/fantasy!

What more can one ask for?  Indeed, right from the first chapters, I was pretty sure this was going to be a good one, and I wasn't disappointed.

The Wells Bequest is a companion to The Grimm Legacy, which first introduced the Circulating Materials Repository, and one of its more magical collections.  But there's absolutely no need to have read that one first.

Disclaimer:  review copy received from the publisher

The Hidden Kingdom (Wings of Fire, Book 3) by Tui T. Sutherland

It was a bit touch and go as to whether I would get a chance to read my review copy of The Hidden Kingdom (Wings of Fire, Book 3, Scholastic, May 2013) by Tui T. Sutherland.  My ten year old and his classmates are huge fans of this series, and after my son devoured this one, it disappeared into his extensive reading circle*, and made many children happy**.  Fortunately I remembered before the end of school that I needed it back, and so it returned to me, and I finally got to read it.  And I enjoyed it very much too.

So the basic premise is that the various clans of dragons are at war, and there's a prophecy that five dragonets will bring peace.   The Dragonets of Destiny, as they are known, were taken as eggs to a secret cave, and raised by The Talons of Peace...until they escaped, to try to find their destiny (and their families) for themselves.

Each book focuses on a different young dragon, and The Hidden Kingdom is Glory's book.  Glory has had a harder life than the others-- She's a RainWing, thought to be lazy and worthless by the other dragon clans,  and she isn't actually in the prophecy.  There were problems with the SkyWing egg that the prophecy had called for, and her egg was a last minute substitute.  So all her life she's been bullied by the Talons of Peace, and told she's worthless, so she feels angry and defensive.   But now she and the other four have reached the kingdom of the rain dragons, and she'll see for herself just what her people really are like....

But though the life of the RainWings is peaceful and rather lovely, it has a darker side.   RainWings have been disappearing, and no one is doing anything about it.   And so the Dragonets find themselves on a desperate rescue mission that takes them into an adventure just as dark and dangerous as anything that's ever happened to them.

So yes, there's some violence, but it's not something the characters take lightly.  Glory has used her RainWing venom on other dragons to save herself and her friends....something she finds no RainWing would do.    But once again, she's faced with no alternative...

New characters are introduced, and the existing characters continue to work out their dynamics, and new and fascinating world-building takes place (raising interesting questions---is a society of peaceful inaction acceptable?).   It's a fine, page-turning addition to the series, and if you haven't offered these books to your handy fourth grader (boy or girl), do so tout suite!  And read them yourself because if your fourth grader is like mine, he or she will want to talk about them with you, and also because you might, like me, find them fun light reading for your own pleasure.

The Hidden Kingdom ends on a cliffhanger, and both of us want to be the first to read The Dark Secret (coming in October).  I will probably be forced to model gracious unselfishness.  Sigh.

Here are my reivews of the first two books:  The Dragonet Prophecy, and The Lost Heir.   The Hidden Kingdom is my personal favorite so far.

* I am so jealous of this aspect of my son's childhood.  There are about twelve truly avid readers of fantasy in his class, boys and girls, and they recommend and share and play imaginary book based games like crazy.  They even call and text each other to talk about books.

**I feel compelled to let Scholastic know that their book sales have not been undercut--the kids have all been buying their own copies at the school book fair.

disclaimer: review copy received from the publisher.

An interview with Diana Wynne Jones from 2008, now online

A quick just to say:

Emma Jane Falconer just shared with the Diana Wynne Jones list that an interview she did with Diana back in 2008 is now online--here at Emma Jane's blog.  I was very pleased to see that DWJ loved a book I did too--The Hotel Under the Sand, by Kage Baker (my review). 

But now I am sad, reminded again that both DWJ and Kage Baker have left us....

This week's Middle Grade Fantasy and Science Fiction round-up (6/16/13)

I think this might be the most reviews I have ever rounded-up!  I was particularly diligent/obsessed in my hunting this week, because it seemed like I might be able to make a dream come true--a review for every letter of the alphabet.  Sadly, no Y review ever materialized, and I wasn't able to get a hold of a Y book in time, so I am saving my precious X review for another week....

Please let me know if I missed your post!

The Reviews:

The Apprentices, by Maile Meloy, at Charlotte's Library and A Reader of Fictions

The Borrowers, by Mary Norton, at Tor

Chase Tinker and the House of Secrets, by Malia Ann Haberman, at Im's Book Shelf

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the Race Against Time, by Frank Cottrell Boyce, at Charlotte's Library

City of Lies, by Lian Tanner, at The BiblioSanctum (audiobook review)

The Clockwork Three, by Matthew Kirby, at Sylvia Liu Land

Counterclockwise, by Jason Cockcroft, at Time Travel Times Two

Doll Bones, by Holly Black, and Lace and Fog Autheress and Reading Rumpus Book Reviews 

The Emerald Atlas, by John Stephens, at New, Borrowed, Used 

Flora and Ulysses, by Kate DiCamillo, at Fuse #8 

The Girl Behind the Glass, by Jane Kelley, at Kiss the Book

The Glitter Trap, by Barbara Brauner, at Small Review

Handbook For Dragon Slayers, by Merrie Haskell, at Bibliophilic Monologues

The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom, by Christopher Healy, at Cari's Book Blog (audiobook)

The Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle, by Christopher Healy, at Lori Calabrese Writes!

The Hidden Gallery, by Maryrose Wood, at Sonderbooks

Hit the Road, Helen (Myth-o-mania#9), by Kate McMullen, at Ms. Yingling Reads 

Howl's Moving Castle, by Diana Wynne Jones, at Karissa's Reading Review (audiobook)

The Ifs, by J.D. Pooker, at Sapphyria's Book Review (there's a large excerpt, and then the review)

In a Glass Grimmly, by Adam Gidwitz, at Becky's Book Reviews

The Infinity Ring series, books 1 and 2, at Great Books for Kids and Teens

Island of the Aunts, by Eva Ibbotson, at Here There Be Books

Jinx, by Sage Blackwood, at alibrarymama  and Kid Lit Geek

Keeper of the Lost Cities, by Shannon Messenger, at Fiction Freak

The Key and the Flame, by Claire Caterer, at Book Nut

Larklight, by Phillip Reeve, at alibrarymama (audiobook)

Loki's Wolves, by K.L. Armstrong and M.A. Marr, at On the Nightstand

The Lost Heir, by Tui T. Sutherland, at Challenging the Bookworm

Lupus Rex, by John Carter Cash, at Tor

Mirage, by Jenn Reese, at The Book Smugglers

My Very Unfairy Tale Life, by Anna Staniszewski, at Michelle I. Mason  (giveaway)

New Lands, by Geoff Rodkey, at Easy as Pie

North of Nowhere, by Liz Kessler, at Akossiwa Ketoglo

The One and Only Ivan, by Katherine Applegate, at Staircase Wit

Pi in the Sky, by Wendy Mass, at Pub Writes

The Planet Thieves, by Dan Krokos, at Watchamacalit Reviews

The Quirks: Welcome to Normal, by Erin Soderberg, at Secrets and Sharing Soda

The Raven Mysteries series, by Marcus Sedgewick, at Wondrous Reads

Remarkable, by Lizzie K. Foley, at Temre Beltz 

The Rise and Fall of Mount Majestic, by Jennifer Trafton, at The Book Smugglers

Saranormal, books 6 and 7 (Giving Up the Ghost and The Secrets Within), by Phoebe Rivers, at Charlotte's Library

Shadow Breakers, by Daniel Blythe, at Books Beside My Bed

Shadow Chaser, by Jerel Law, at The Write Path

The Suburb Beyond the Stars, by M.T. Anderson, at An Obsolete Child

Summerkin, by Sarah Prineas, at Charlotte's Library

The Trouble with Toads, by Danyelle Leafty, at Sher A Hart 

Tunnels, by Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams, at Log Cabin Library

Unlocking the Spell, by ED Baker, at  Sharon the Librarian

The Unseen Guest, by Maryrose Wood, at Sonderbooks

Verdigris Deep, by Frances Hardinge, at things mean a lot

The Wells Bequest, by Polly Shulman, at Ms. Yingling Reads and A Reader of Fictions

What We Found in the Sofa and How it Saved the World, by Henry Clark, at For Those About to Mock

The Whizz Pop Chocolate Shop, by Kate Saunders, at books4yourkids

A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeline L'Engle, at Book Nut (audiobook)

Zombie Mommy, M.T. Anderson, at Sticky Books

Four reviewlets at Random Musings of a Bibliophile--In a Glass Grimmly, Rump, Tilly's Moonlight Garden, and The Vengekeep Prophecies.

Authors and Interviews

Marissa Burt (Story's End) at Literary Rambles (giveaway)

Melanie Crowder (Parched) at Smack Dab in the Middle

Philip Reeve (writing about gender and romance in fantasy) at Cynsations

Mary G. Thompson (Escape From the Pipe Men) at The Enchanted Inkpot

Dan Krokos (The Planet Thieves) at My Shelf Confessions

Mikey Brooks (The Dream Keeper) at Shirley Bahlmann Biz

Kelly Light (on illustrating The Quirks) at inkygirl

Barry Wolverton (Neversink) at The Haunting of Orchid Forsythia

Andrea Offermanm (illustrator of many middle grade covers, as well as picture books) at Writing and Illustrating

Other Good Stuff

A nice list of mermaid books for girls, at Readatouille

Scholastic is celebrating the 15th anniversary of the year Harry Potter arrived in the US, and the forthcoming paperbacks with Kazu Kibuishi covers.  Plan a Harry Potter Celebration for you library, and be entered to win a party prize pack.  Here's more information.

And just because I think its a Good Thing, here's something cool from io9--how ordinary people can become citizen scientists.

And finally, if you want to come play with me at this year's US Discworld convention, the conference hotel rate has been extended until June 19th....

The Apprentices, by Maile Meloy

The Apprentices, by Maile Meloy, begins two years after the end of The Apothecary.  It's 1954, with the threat of atomic warfare (a bit part of the first book) hanging over the world...but Janie, now 16, is distracted by other things. Like getting expelled from school on a false charge.  Like Benjamin, the companion of her first magical adventure who she hasn't seen since it ended, finding a way to communicate with her through alchemical telepathy.   Like being kidnapped, and held prisoner by a power-hungry millionaire who wants alchemical help developing new weapons of mass destruction.

Benjamin, in the meantime, has been spending his teen years in the jungles of Asia-- his idealist father, the Alchemist of book 1, is devoting his life to tending the victims of war.  But when Janie is kidnapped, he heads off to to the Pacific island where she's being held, travelling in the form of a bird.  And basically everyone else who played a role in the first book converges on this island, to confront the bad guys and free Janie.


After the slowish start of Janie's school difficulties, it's all very adventurous.  But I  liked the mundane beginning--the chemistry experiment, the school dynamics, etc.--much more than the magical happenings, and unfortunately the book as a whole didn't work that well for me, for a variety of reasons. 

The story is told from the multiple view points of the various characters travelling around the world.   There were some episodes that I felt didn't move the story forward much at all, and some that just seemed like awkward story telling, like a surprising chapter from the point of view of one of the bad guys at the end.  Because many of these points of view weren't those of the primary young characters, I had trouble sustaining any emotional connection to Janie and Benjamin.  And this disconnected was exacerbated by the fact that the kids, Janie in particular, didn't play quite as much of a role in the resolution of the plot as I'd been expecting--there was adult intervention that felt a bit like a swiz.

I could also have done without the encounter with Pacific Island cannibals (of a "now we'll boil the white person in a stew pot!") which seemed like an unnecessary and unpleasant cliche.

So no, not one I loved, and indeed, The Apothecary wasn't either.  But lots of people did like The Apothecary lots, and mine is the first unenthusiastic take on The Apprentices, so if you are the exciting magical adventure type, don't be put off by my opinion!

For instance, here's another review at A Reader of Fictions

And here's what Kirkus said.

Note on age of reader: the main young characters are now teenagers, and there is some developing romance.  It's perfectly suitable, though, for kids as young as ten or so.

Disclaimer: review copy received from the publisher

Summerkin, by Sarah Prineas

In Winterling, Fer (short for Gwynnefar, or Jennifer, as her father's mother calls her) saved a magical land from a wicked queen whose rule threatened to cast it into endless winter.  Fer learned that her mother had once been the lady of this land, and that first book ended with Fer becoming lady herself.

In Summerkin (HarperCollins, April, 2013), Fer returns to the land...but there are those who think that because she is human, she cannot be the true Lady.   To prove that she is, Fer must compete in a challenge organized by the High Ones--and they aren't explaining the rules.  All she knows is that if she looses, her Summerlands are once more in danger.  Three will compete against her for the crown--a magical girl from a desert land, a Lich boy of the damplands, and a third from the High Ones realm, whose beautiful appearance belies a dark heart.

And in the meantime, Fer must figure out if she can truly trust Rook, the shape-shifting, surly, mischievous puck boy she thinks of as her best friend...and Rook must figure out if he can still be a wild, untamed puck and still be a friend to Fer.  The story is told from their alternate perspectives, making this tension an integral part of the story.

The contest for the crown is no Hunger Games, and indeed these books are perfect for the kid whose still a few years too young for the violence of that series (ie, the fourth grader, give or take a year).  Instead, Fer proves herself worthy not through physical prowess, or violence, but by being a good, caring, person.  Which is not to say that it's not exciting, because it is.

The main interest for me, though, lay not in the action-full elements of the competition, but in Fer's struggle to figure out what sort of rular she wants to be, and her relationship with Rook.  There's enough going on throughout the story to keep things from being bogged down in too much introspection, but enough of this character-centered element to the story to make it one I enjoyed lots.

If, like me, you want the boys in your life to read books with strong girl central characters, these are spot on--there are many mythological creatures and fantastical beings (a good hook for the young fantasy lover), set in a compelling, brisk story.    My own boy (now 10) loved Prineas' Magic Thief books (me too), and so I should have no problem convincing him to try Winterling...

Here's another review of Summerkin at Random Musings of a Bibliophile.

Me at the North American Discworld Convention! (and what YA would you recommend to Pratchett fans?) + a list lof letters I need for Sunday

I have been reading a lot of Terry Pratchett of late...and there is a good reason!  For I am going to the North American Discworld Convention in Baltimore the first weekend of July, and I will be on two panels!  One will be talking about time travel in the Discworld books, with specific reference to Thief of Time and Night Watch, and the second (beautifully appropriate to the conference them of L-space) is a panel on helping YA reading fans of Pratchett find more books to read.  And the exciting-est part of that panel is that Tanita Davis and Sheila Ruth are on the panel too (fun!), and we are also being joined by Anne Hoppe, Pratchett's US YA editor.

So what YA books would you recommend to a Pratchett fan?  We're looking for books that are exciting, vivid, with memorable characters, lots of fun, and deeply moving....

And in the meantime, I am busily continuing reading every one of Pratchett's books.  When I was asked to be part of this last fall, I had read just enough Discworld to say yes please....but that left a lot of books still to be enjoyed.......



And on a completely different note, I have Great Hopes for this Sunday's Middle Grade Science Fiction/Fantasy round-up--I really think I will have a book for every letter of the alphabet!  Here are the (very few) letters I'm missing, with a few suggestions if you feel like making my dream of alphabet entirety come true!

N

Update--I have my N!

O

 Odd and the Frost Giants, by Neil Gaiman
 Oddfellow's Orphanage, by Emily Winfield Martin
 The Ogre Downstairs, by Diana Wynne Jones
 On the Day I Died: Stories from the Grave, by Candace Fleming
 Once Upon the End, by James Riley
 The One and Only Ivan, by Katherine Applegate
 Ordinary Magic, by Caitlen Rubino-Bradway
 The Orphanage of Miracles, by Amy Neftzger

V  UPDATE--I have my V!

X  (I actually have an X on hand, but would be happy to save it for another week!)

Y
The Year of Shadows, by Claire Legrand
You Only Die Twice (The Genius Files), by Dan Gutman
Young Fredle, by Cynthia Voight
You Can't Have My Planet, But Take My Brother Please

Saranormal, Books 6 and 7--Giving Up the Ghost, and The Secrets Within

There are a number of middle grade books out there whose central premise is a girl who sees ghosts/has psychic powers.  But it's a fine premise, and if nicely done, the result can be extremely readable, age-appropriate, supernaturally mysterious fun.  Such is the case of the Saranormal series, of which I just read books 6 and 7 in what was (as much as circumstances allowed) a very quick single sitting.  And  so help me, if I had the eighth book on hand, I'd be reading it now, reviews be hanged....

But I don't.  So here's a quick look at Giving Up the Ghost, and The Secrets Within, by Phoebe Rivers (Simon and Schuster, MG, 2013)

So I started in the middle of the series, but it wasn't a problem.  In these books, Sara is still  finding her feet both as a newcomer to her great-grandmother's home on the Jersey shore, and as a 12 year-old psychic with supernatural gifts that just won't stop appearing.   It runs in the family--Sara's great-grandmother  Lady Azura, is a professional psychic.  But though Sara has always been able to see ghosts, in Book 6 (Giving Up the Ghost) she develops the power to read minds (not fun!  not fun at all!), and in Book 7 (The Secrets Within) she finds she can read the past lives of objects (also disturbing).

In each book, Sara must struggle not to be overcome by the supernatural floods of information that beset her, she must solve ghostly mysteries, and she must navigate the challenging waters of middle school friendships.   There's enough substance in the  character relationships to make the stories more than fluff, and Sara's struggles are compelling.  The ghosts are creepy, in a mild way, and there are many nice touches of material details that made Sara's world come alive.

And now I am at the point where Sara is about to meet in real life a boy she's seen pictures of in her mind...a boy who might have supernatural gifts of her own...and I am really curious to see what happens!

Highly recommended to the upper Elementary/lower Middle School reader (ages 8-10, in other words) who wants her supernatural and her real life world in one entertaining package.

(That being said, Sara's voice and point of view are, understandably and unsurprisingly  perhaps a bit young for most grown-up readers of MG sci fi/fantasy, especially at the beginning of Book 6, so I wouldn't push this in the hands of those readers.  Some things we just aren't the target audience for, although I did enjoy these myself!)

(possible bias--Sara lives in a big old rundown house with interesting stuff in it.  Although the stuff doesn't play as much of a role as I'd like in Book 6, it's very much there in Book 7, and I am a sucker for old houses with stuff in them).

Disclaimer:  review copies received from the publisher

Waiting on Wednesday--The Shadowhand Covenant, by Brian Farrey

The Vengekeep Prophecies, by Brian Farrey, came out last October, and was reviewed by Betsy at Fuse #8 with great enthusiasm, and by me with slightly less enthusiasm, but certainly with enough to be looking forward to the sequel. 

And I just found the sequel, The Shadowhand Covenant (HarperCollins) is coming out this October!

"With more twists and turns than a palace vault and one unforgettable family of thieves, this second book in Brian Farrey's epic Vengekeep trilogy will leave you breathless.

The Vengekeep Prophecies was termed a "rich fantasy" (Publishers Weekly, starred review) featuring a family of thieves that "couldn't be more likable" (Kirkus Reviews).

Now, in this exciting sequel, Jaxter Grimjinx is back. Trouble is brewing in the Five Provinces. Mysterious magical artifacts have gone missing from the royal vaults. Master thieves from a secret society known as the Shadowhands are disappearing. And without explanation, the High Laird has begun imprisoning the peaceful Sarosan people.

Jaxter Grimjinx suspects all these things are connected, but after the tapestry fiasco that nearly destroyed Vengekeep, he knows better than to get involved. Then he and his parents receive a summons from the Shadowhands—a summons that they would be foolish to ignore—and Jaxter is thrust into the heart of the conspiracy. With the help of a few new friends and an old friend he would rather forget, Jaxter will have to delve deep into some long-buried and dangerous secrets."

(This would be a good week for someone to review The Vengekeep Prophecies.  I need a "v" title to achieve my goal of having a Middle Grade Sci Fi/Fantasy round-up with something for every letter of the alphabet, so if you do, please let me know.  I also need e, g, i, n, o, and y books please).


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

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the Race Against Time, by Frank Cottrell Boyce, for Timeslip Tuesday

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the Race Against Time (Candlewick, March 2013) is Frank Cottrell Boyce's second book about what happens when a modern family rebuilds the famous flying car, which takes them one fantastical adventures during which they must a powerful, twisted villain (Tiny Jack) who wants Chitty for himself.

The first book (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Flies Again, my review) ended when Mr. Tooting accidentally yanked Chitty's chronojuster, sending the family hurtling back into the Cretaceous.  Little Harry, the baby of the family, is thrilled to see his first T-Rex, but his sibling, Lucy and Jem, join their parents in a more adult reaction--terror.  Fortunately they escape, but Chitty doesn't take them home to England....she has an agenda of her own, and takes them to New York in the 1920s.

There she seems determined to compete against her maker's newer, shinier car in a cross-continental road race.  And the Tootings have no choice but to enjoy the ride, even when it takes them to the lost city of El Dorado in the Amazonian jungle...but in the meantime, the stage is being set for Tiny Jack to reveal his true, twisted, identity....and will the Tootings ever get home again? (and will Chitty win her race?).

In a nutshell:  fun time-travelling adventure.   Adjectives that could be used include "fresh" "bright" "zesty" and "absurd."  It is pleasantly absurd, without coming close to farce, even when little Henry's T-Rex egg hatches in New York city.  Numerous black and white illustrations add to the fun--I love the one of Chitty flying through the skyscraper canyons of Manhattan.

What makes this book particularly nice is that the Tootings are a family who care about each other--rare is it to see the mother and father along for the ride.  It's also nice that the Tootings are a multi-racial family.  This isn't mentioned in the text, and has no bearing on the story, but they are shown as such in the interior pictures.

This isn't clear on the cover though, where Mrs. Tooting is only a teensy bit browner than her family--pity.

So if you are looking for fun fantastic adventure to share with a 7-10 year old who hasn't lost his heart to to High Fantasy/Talking Animals on Quests/Mythological Creatures (naming no names, but looking right at my own 10 year old), you could do far worse than to fly through time and space with Chitty!