The House of Dead Maids, by Clare B. Dunkle

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

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

Because Seldom House holds horrible secrets.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

disclaimer: review copy received from the publisher

On Etruscan Time, by Tracy Barrett, for Timeslip Tuesday

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ideas that Changed the World, from DK

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

Disclaimer: review copy received from the publisher.

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

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

Reviews

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

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

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

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

Found, by Margaret Peterson Haddix, at Knight Reader.

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

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

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

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

Radiance, by Alyson Noel, at The Reading Date.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


Authors talking

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

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

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

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

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

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

Other good stuff

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

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

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

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

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

Bruiser, by Neal Shusterman

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

My reading (and otherwise) life

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

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

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

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

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

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

Moving away from books--

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

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

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

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

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

Plain Kate, by Erin Bow

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(disclaimer: arc received at ALA)

The Valley of Song, by Elizabeth Goudge

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Two winners will receive:

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

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

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

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

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

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

FOR KIDS (aka Middle Grade)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

YOUNG ADULT

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Consider Your Fate to Be Sealed . ..

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

Time Cat, by Lloyd Alexander, for Timeslip Tuesday

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here's another review at Under the Covers.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

6. Where are your favorite places to read?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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