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Powell's Staff:
Five Book Friday: In Memoriam
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Every year, the booksellers at Powell’s submit their Top Fives: their five favorite books that were released in 2023. It’s a list that, when put together, shows just how varied and interesting the book tastes of Powell’s booksellers are. I highly recommend digging into the recommendations — we would never lead you astray — but today...
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Brontez Purnell:
Powell’s Q&A: Brontez Purnell, author of ‘Ten Bridges I’ve Burnt’
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Rachael P.:
Starter Pack: Where to Begin with Ursula K. Le Guin
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Customer Comments
The Eager Readers has commented on (26) products
Infernal Devices 01 Clockwork Angel
by
Clare, Cassandra
The Eager Readers
, January 25, 2011
Dark, Victorian, Shadowhunter-y goodness! Cassandra Clare has a knack for writing delicious, character-driven stories that I can't put down, and Clockwork Angel is no exception! Tessa Gray is an intelligent, book-loving heroine with a coveted (and creepy) supernatural ability. Although she is new to the world of Shadowhunters and Downworlders, she has an observant nature and does not shy away from asking questions, so she manages to learn quite a lot about their world very quickly. Aside from her newly-discovered talent, Tessa is a fairly typical 19th century young woman. She is much more comfortable quoting Dickens than she is wielding a weapon, but she doesn't cower helplessly in the face of danger either. Her courage, compassion, and insatiable curiosity make her a girl to be reckoned with, and I am excited to see how her character will continue to develop over the course of the next two Infernal Devices books. Then there are the boys... one dark, one light. Will Herondale is often hilarious, frequently rude, and consistently determined to keep his image as tarnished as possible. He seems to suffer from troubling Hyde-like mood swings that repeatedly propel him toward darkly-amused cruelty, and a secret from his mysterious past has given him a harsh, fatalistic attitude. Only Jem, who never questions Will about his past and who tolerates his mercurial temperament with a calm patience, sees Will's well-concealed vulnerability and heart. Jem Carstairs is thoughtful, even-tempered, and soothingly philosophical. But he has a tragic secret of his own, and it is one that some Shadowhunters do not view with compassion or understanding. I've always had a major weakness for broken boys. In this case, one is emotionally broken, one is physically broken, and both are deliciously swoon-worthy. Will and Jem share a brotherly devotion to one another and both find themselves becoming increasingly attached to Tessa. Have I mentioned that I truly cannot wait to read the second Infernal Devices book?! Need more reasons to pick up this book? How about the spooky gothic atmosphere of the foggy, gaslit streets and the shadowy interior of the fortress-like London Institute? How about the full cast of well-developed secondary characters with distinct voices and all sorts of weaknesses and hidden agendas? Not convinced yet? Did I mention the nightmarishly horrifying steampunk elements and the complex villains? Still not convinced? Here are a few more (*SLIGHTLY SPOILERY*) reasons you may want to read Clockwork Angel as soon as possible. This book features the eternally-fabulous Magnus Bane at a Victorian party (wearing breeches and an elaborate brocade jacket). And have I mentioned that two of the main characters are avid readers, so there are lots of excellent (and occasionally worrisome) literary references to books like A Tale of Two Cities, Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, and Pride and Prejudice? Perhaps I also failed to mention the sexy Shadowhunter whose wet white shirt clings tantalizingly to the runic tattoos inked across his chest? Or the Shadowhunter whose hair brushes silkily across Tessa's wrist as he leans down to kiss the back of her hand? Surely I mentioned the glove removal that will have your heart racing? ;-) If any of that appeals to you, I highly recommend that you pick up a copy of Clockwork Angel immediately.
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Pegasus
by
Robin Mckinley
The Eager Readers
, November 06, 2010
Robin McKinley's Pegasus is beautiful coming-of-age story about a young girl and the pegasus who becomes her dearest friend. In Sylvi's world, it is customary for every member of the royal family to be ceremonially bound to a pegasus of comparable rank upon his or her twelfth birthday. The pegasus generally serves as an ambassador-like companion, and the pair will attend most formal functions together for the rest of their lives as a symbol of the longstanding alliance between their cultures. Each pair is assigned a Speaker, a specially trained magician, who serves as a translator and interpreter. But even with the Speakers' aid, actual communication beyond formal pleasantries and rudimentary smalltalk has long been understood to be impossible between humans and pegasi. So when Sylvi, the fourth child of the reigning human king, meets her pegasus, they are both shocked to find that they are able to hear one another's thoughts. Sylvi and Ebon's unique ability to communicate helps them form a friendship that could change the way humans and pegasi view one another forever. But will their friendship make the alliance stronger or tear their cultures apart? Pegasus is the type of richly-imagined fantasy novel that you can't help immersing yourself in, and I found myself thinking about it long after turning the final page. The characters are well-developed, the setting is intriguing, and the story is thoroughly engaging. I really enjoyed it and can't wait to read the second book! What I Liked: - The world-building. I loved the way the differences between the human and pegasi cultures were revealed and explored. Although the two races have lived side by side for hundreds of years, the seemingly insurmountable communication barrier has kept humans from truly understanding the pegasi. I really liked seeing the details of both cultures revealed through Sylvi and Ebon's increasing understanding of one another. - There may be magic and flying monsters in this book, but the characters all feel grounded and genuine. At the heart of this story is a sixteen year old caught in a difficult and pivotal place between two worlds. She is shy, self-conscious about her short stature, and frequently seems to find herself making mistakes in front of large crowds. But Sylvi is also compassionate and observant, and she has a strong sense of justice. She is very easy to sympathize with, whether she is nervous about her first big journey away from home or baffled by how much the world can change in a single moment. I am eager to see what the second book has in store for her. - I loved Ebon and Sylvi's relationship. Their personalities are remarkably suited to one another. Both are curious and observant, and neither is afraid to question ideas their societies have accepted for centuries. The more they learn about one another, the more they begin to examine their own cultural histories. Sylvi is fascinated by the pegasi culture and some aspects of the book almost reminded me of a colonial love story between a European immigrant and a Native American. - Even the minor characters in this book are memorable, and their relationships are all believably complex. I found myself growing attached to several minor characters, like Hirishy, Ahathin, and Hibeehea, and I hope to see more of each of them in the second book. What I Wished: - I wish the final pages of this book were less torturous. This book ends in the midst of a fairly traumatic development and almost feels as though it cuts off mid-chapter. The abrupt and unsatisfying ending is really my only complaint about this book, so I definitely look forward to reading the second half of the story in the sequel (which I believe is set for publication in 2012). Pegasus is sure to please fans of Robin McKinley's previous novels. This book made me want to re-read a few of my old favorites, like Beauty and Spindle's End. If you enjoy young adult (or middle grade) fantasy novels like Shannon Hale's or Tamora Pierce's books, you will want to pick up Robin McKinley's Pegasus
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Zombies vs Unicorns
by
Black, Holly
The Eager Readers
, October 23, 2010
Zombies vs. Unicorns is a fantastic YA anthology! If you love zombies, unicorns, or any of the authors featured in this anthology, you are going to want to pick up a copy of Zombies vs. Unicorns as soon as possible. With funny introductions from Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier, this diverse collection of zombie and unicorn stories by a wide assortment of talented YA authors is highly entertaining. It has something for everyone - romance, intrigue, sci-fi, fantasy, tragedy, violence, heartbreak, and humor. - The Highest Justice by Garth Nix It seems fitting that this book starts with a story that features both a unicorn and a zombie. This is a tale of deception and revenge about an unfaithful king and a dead queen. It has a scheming sorceress, a touch of romance, and a unicorn who helps dispense justice. Hard not to like that. - Love Will Tear Us Apart by Alaya Dawn Johnson This author was totally new to me before reading the Zombies vs. Unicorns anthology, but I look forward to searching for more of her work because Love Will Tear Us Apart turned out to be my favorite story in the entire book. This darkly funny, romantic, and intense story is about a teenage boy who finds himself hungering for a handsome lacrosse player (in more ways than one). I'm a sucker for stories about broken boys, and this angsty love story features two broken boys who may just be perfect for one another (so long as one of them can control his cannibalistic urges). - The Purity Test by Naomi Novik Hilarious! This is probably the funniest story in the anthology. Team Zombie may have my undying allegiance, but between The Purity Test and Princess Prettypants, Team Unicorn definitely deserves the prize for funniest story. This story is set in modern day New York, where a teenage girl who is down on her luck unexpectedly finds herself helping a unicorn on his quest to rescue baby unicorns from a conniving evil wizard. So funny! - Bougainvillea by Carrie Ryan I liked this story a lot. I love the way Carrie Ryan's zombie stories feature people pushed past their breaking points. Plus, the idea of zombie pirates is just plain awesome. Bougainvillea is set in a fully-imagined world in which the zombie apocalypse is upon us, and it cleverly brings to mind questions about how much of your humanity you'd be willing to lose in order to stay alive. - A Thousand Flowers by Margo Lanagan For me, this was the weakest story in the anthology, and it definitely features the strangest human/unicorn relationship. There are three different narrators, and unfortunately all three narrators are too disposable and too far removed from the emotional heart of the story for my taste. I really wished that at least one part of the story had been narrated from the princesses' POV. Since I didn't particularly care about the princess and thought her connection to the unicorn was very tricky to believe in, this story wasn't particularly compelling. - Children of the Revolution by Maureen Johnson Hilarious and disturbing all at once! I thoroughly enjoyed it. This story is about a teenage girl who spends every penny she has flying to England to work on an organic farm with her boyfriend for the summer. Once her slacker boyfriend ditches her, she finds herself miserable, broke, and stuck in dreary rural England. So when an Angelina Jolie-esque celebrity (who lives in a secluded manor nearby) offers her a job working as a nanny, she quickly jumps at the opportunity. But there is definitely something very odd about those children... - The Care and Feeding of Your Baby Killer Unicorn by Diana Peterfreund Set in Diana Peterfreund's world of killer unicorns, this story is a must-read for fans of Rampant and Ascendant. It offers a view of the unicorns as both predators and an endangered species in need of compassion and protection. This story also features an angsty best-friend romance that will resonate with lots of readers. - Inoculata by Scott Westerfeld An excellent dystopian story about a small community of people who have found temporary refuge from the zombie-infested world by barricading themselves inside an old marijuana farm. When one of the teens survives something that would normally have been fatal, it opens up a new world of possibilities. I really liked this unique take on the zombie apocalypse, and I wish it had been longer because I wanted to see what happened next. - Princess Prettypants by Meg Cabot First of all, can you even say the name Princess Prettypants without smiling? I don't think that is possible, and I also don't think it is possible to read this story without laughing aloud. This cleverly funny unicorn story is about a modern seventeen year old girl who is understandably shocked and mystified when she receives a unicorn for her (very disappointing) birthday. This story features a boy-next-door romance (love that!), a unicorn who farts rainbows but goes all demon-eyed when facing down sexist jerks (hilarious!), and a Zack Efron birthday cake (even more hilarious!). Major kudos to Meg Cabot for this totally entertaining unicorn story. - Cold Hands by Cassandra Clare This is a zombie story that touches on one of my worst childhood fears - being trapped in a coffin. It is also a love story and the tale of a corrupt leader of a village in which the living and the dead spend their days side by side. It feels like a bittersweet fairytale, with zombies. :-) - The Third Virgin by Kathleen Duey This was definitely the most haunting and thought-provoking of the unicorn stories for me. I loved it and was impressed by the way it dealt with the concepts of suicide, loneliness, and addiction from the perspective of an immortal unicorn who has the ability to heal people or steal their lives. - Prom Night by Libba Bray This haunting story about a town full of teenagers who outlived their parents in the zombie apocalypse is quite sad, but it is also told with a lot of humor and heart. The teens are all survivors who have tried to stay optimistic and to maintain a sense of normalcy as they've dealt with the tragic deaths of their parents and classmates. An excellent conclusion to the book, which will make you want to hug your loved ones while you still can. Zombies vs. Unicorns is an awesome anthology. If you have any interest in zombies, unicorns, compelling short stories, or any of the fabulous authors featured in this book, I highly recommend you pick up Zombies vs. Unicorns immediately. Some anthologies have one or two gems in a sea of mediocre stories, but this one is full of great stories.
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Paranormalcy 01
by
Kiersten White
The Eager Readers
, September 17, 2010
Kiersten White's Paranormalcy is a fast-paced fantasy with a sweet and charming heroine, an entertaining assortment of paranormal characters, and a suspenseful mystery. Evie's work for the IPCA (International Paranormal Containment Agency) has made her day to day life anything but normal, and she longs for a typical teenage life with all its novelties - like high school lockers and prom. Then one day she meets Lend, a teenage shapeshifter who catches her eye, and some of that normalcy suddenly feels like it might be within her reach. But there is a mysterious threat brewing. Someone is murdering paranormal creatures and if IPCA can't figure out who is behind these crimes, there may not be any paranormals left to police. Evie must figure out who to trust and uncover details from her own past in order to stop the killer before they strike again. I thoroughly enjoyed Paranormalcy and look forward to reading the second book in this trilogy, Supernaturally, next autumn. What I Liked: - The humor! Evie is very amusing. She is a fashion savvy girly-girl who loves makeup, shopping, and watching her favorite teen television drama. Of course, she also spends her days taking down vamps, hags, and werewolves with Tasey, her handy rhinestone-encrusted Taser, so she isn't exactly your typical girl next door. Think Legally Blonde meets Men in Black. - Lend is a likable guy who doesn't have an ounce of 'bad boy' attitude, which is refreshing in a paranormal romance. He has a unique shape-shifting ability that gives him an interesting edge, and I'm really curious to see what the next two books have in store for him. - The romantic elements in this book are light and flirty rather than dark and angsty or smoldering and racy. Evie and Lend are both outsiders who have grown up surrounded by paranormals and humans but have never fully fit in with either group. They are instantly intrigued by each other, and it is quite sweet that they are able to see and accept each other for who they truly are. Their chemistry is of the blushing and inexperienced variety, so I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book to younger YA readers or even MG readers. - I was drawn in my the mystery in this book right away, and it kept me guessing chapter after chapter. There is still plenty to be explored in the second book, but I was happy to find that Paranormalcy doesn't end with a frustratingly suspenseful cliff-hanger. - Evie was brought in to work with IPCA at a very young age, so her supervisor Raquel and best friend Lish are the closest things she has to a family, and I liked seeing that aspect of the story explored. Lend also has an unusual family situation, and I loved the way his family was involved in the story. Kind, supportive parents are fairly rare in YA novels, so it is really nice to see a parent like that pop up occasionally. - The IPCA (International Paranormal Containment Agency) reminded me a little of Men In Black. They are a top secret agency responsible for monitoring and containing paranormal individuals around the world, and they employ several paranormals to help them get that job done. I liked their high tech, sterile command center and Lish's nifty control room, and I especially liked that they weren't necessarily beyond reproach. I enjoy seeing the gray area between the good guys and the bad guys, and this book touched on that concept a little. I hope we will see that gray area explored even more in the second and third books of the trilogy. - I liked that Reth, who used to be one of Evie's closest companions, provided tension within Evie's relationship with Lend without ever actually seeming like a rival for her affections. There is not a love triangle in this book, but Reth does have something to offer Evie that only he has ever made her feel. - I loved reading Lish's monotone computer voice aloud because it made her dialogue so charming and funny. I also loved Raquel's expressive sighs and all of their very specific meanings. What I Wished: - The one element that wore a bit thin for me was the way Reth repeatedly popped up and disappeared at key moments throughout the story. After a few of those instances, the lack of answers from him and the way the other characters seemed able to put him out of their minds to focus on other mundane things (like homework, prom, and tv shows) started to grate on my nerves and to feel like a slightly-too-convenient plot device to drag out the mystery. - There were a couple of moments in which Evie seemed to swing from bursting into tears to feeling giddy with happiness a bit too quickly, particularly in the days following one very sad incident. I felt like I was more depressed than Evie regarding that incident, which was a little odd. If you like humorous YA fantasies like Rachel Hawkins' Hex Hall or sweet, innocent YA romances like Aprilynne Pike's Wings, you will want to pick up Paranormalcy. If you like mysterious urban fantasies with a variety of paranormal creatures and a heroine who has been kept in the dark about her origins like The Mortal Instruments, then you may want to pick up Paranormalcy. This second book in this trilogy, Supernaturally, is set for publication next September, and I will definitely be picking up a copy.
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Mockingjay
by
Collins, Suzanne
The Eager Readers
, August 25, 2010
Suzanne Collins' Mockingjay is the riveting final book of the Hunger Games trilogy. To say that this book is absorbing is a massive understatement. I carried this book around with me all day yesterday and simply could not tear my eyes off the pages. The Hunger Games was intense, Catching Fire was gripping, but Mockingjay felt like being caught in a heartrending emotional firestorm! The characters are brilliantly drawn, the scope of the action is broader, and the horrors of war take center stage in a remarkably vivid way. If you enjoyed the first two books in this series or if you have any interest in dystopian fiction, novels about war, or stories with courageous heroines, Mockingjay should definitely be on your must-read list! What I Liked: - Katniss is still reluctant to see her public image used to promote other people's agendas, but even as she is being manipulated and used, she manages to blaze her own path and make her own decisions. She is still a practical survivor at her core, but she is also a young girl who is tormented by nightmares, wracked by guilt, and plagued by grief. Her insecurities, fears, and sense of guilt are more apparent than ever, but I love that she consistently leads her life with an impressive amount of compassion and courage, even when bombarded by one harrowing challenge after another. - I expected Mockingjay to have a lot to say about freedom, justice, and personal and political responsibility, but I was surprised and emotionally captivated by this book's incisive portrayal of the horrors of war. Absolutely haunting! Suzanne Collins does not glorify or sugarcoat the bloody atrocities of war. - The potent effect of media on society and the idea that the people who control the media, control the populace are used more effectively than ever in Mockingjay. In the previous two books, we saw the Capitol controlling every broadcast across all of Panem. This time we get to see two opposing sides airing their own propaganda messages, and the effect is powerful. - Seeing compassion highlighted as one of Katniss' greatest strengths is one of my favorite themes within this series. In Mockingjay, Katniss gains a much broader view of the whole of Panem, so we get to see her compassionate impulses put into action across a war-torn country. - The characters in this series learn, adapt, struggle, and sometimes crack under the stress and trauma of their situations. A few of the experiences they encounter do irreparable damage, and every bit of that is achingly painful to endure (as it should be). This series has never shied away from showing characters pushed to their limits (and beyond), and Mockingjay takes that to a whole new level. - Not only does Katniss learn more about the world in this book, but her understanding of herself and of her own power also grow by leaps and bounds. - There are so many poignant moments in this book, moments of heartbreak, despair, fury, and tenderness. Mockingjay brought me to tears more than once, but alongside the pain and grief that several of the characters in this book must endure, there is an underlying thread of hope and perseverance, and I loved that. What I Wished: - I wanted Peeta to have more time on the page. I know this is a fairly selfish desire brought on by the fact that I love his character and can never really get enough of him. There were certainly valid reasons for his lack of page-time, but that didn't stop me from wishing we got to see more of him in this final book. - Since this series follows Katniss in first-person present-tense, when her perspective narrows or is overwhelmed by her own situation, our view of her world also shrinks dramatically. I'm finding it difficult to phrase this clearly without revealing spoilers, but basically I occasionally wanted to see more of what was happening all over Panem and not just focus on Katniss' corner of the world. Mockingjay provides a powerfully emotional conclusion to one of the best YA series I've ever read. It reveals a wider view of Panem than the first two books, since Katniss' knowledge of (and effect on) life in all thirteen districts has grown considerably over the course of the series. The war-time action is brutal and intense, so don't expect a light and fluffy read out of this book, but DO expect to be absolutely riveted to the pages!
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Mistwood
by
Leah Cypess
The Eager Readers
, July 27, 2010
A shifter who can't remember her past, a prince in a dangerous position, and a court full of deceptions make Leah Cypess' Mistwood an impressive debut novel. This book is an intriguing YA fantasy that will appeal to fans of Tamora Pierce's Tortall books, Kristin Cashore's The Seven Kingdoms trilogy, and Megan Whalen Turner's The Queen's Thief series. What I Liked: - Isabel is a formidable heroine. She is intelligent and courageous. As the story unfolds, she is faced with increasingly difficult choices, but she remains brave and decisive even while frustrated by her lack of memory. Her unique abilities are intriguing, she is not shy about her intimidating presence, and she handles conflicts with clever calculations and impressive physical skills. - Many of the secondary characters have hidden agendas, so there are some excellent twists in this story. As one mystery is solved, another is revealed. Isabel is not certain who to trust, and neither is the reader. Fun! - I love that the characters in this book are drawn in many shades of gray. Even the individuals you may find yourself rooting against have understandable motives, and I truly wasn't sure which path Isabel would choose until her allegiance was put to the ultimate test. - Romance is not the primary focus of this story, but it contributes to the complexity of the choices facing the characters when it does appear. - The mysteries and subplots are satisfactorily wrapped up by the end of the book, but I still found myself thinking about this novel long after finishing it. - Although Mistwood has a conclusive ending and works well as a stand-alone novel, I was thrilled to hear that Leah Cypess is working on a companion novel. What I Wished: - Isabel is a great character and I enjoyed following her as she struggled to utilize her abilities, understand her past, and make challenging decisions. But I wanted to get to know the other important characters a little more. Rokan, in particular, had much less page time than I expected. - I do think the minimal amount of romance suited the story, but I was personally hoping for a bit more romance. This isn't intended as a huge complaint. After all, Tamora Pierce's YA fantasy novels are among my very favorites, and I nearly always want them to have a little more romance too. Mistwood is an entertaining YA fantasy with a strong and conflicted heroine. I enjoyed the twists and turns in the story and look forward to reading more from debut author Leah Cypess.
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Perfect Chemistry 01 Perfect Chemistry
by
Simone Elkeles
The Eager Readers
, July 22, 2010
Set against the backdrop of a fictional Chicago suburb, Perfect Chemistry is the story of two teenagers from opposite sides of the tracks. As the first book in Simone Elkeles' trilogy about the Fuentes brothers, Perfect Chemistry introduces the eldest brother Alejandro (Alex) and his reluctant lab partner Brittany, a wealthy girl who tries very hard to maintain a 'perfect' image in order to please her parents and peers. What I Liked: - I am a sucker for stories about star-crossed lovers, so I liked the premise. Seeing two polar opposites who despise each other (but obviously belong together) forced to be chemistry lab partners is entertaining. - I liked the way the protagonists gradually began to look beneath the surface to get to know one another. Brittany and Alex each face a lot of pressure outside of school, and I enjoyed seeing them both let their guards down to show each other a glimpse of what really motivates them. - The fact that Alex's life seemed to be headed toward more and more dangerous territory kept me turning the pages in hopes that he would find a way out of the Latino Blood gang, and overall this book felt like a fast, compelling read. - The novel's structure, with one chapter from Brittany's point-of-view and the next from Alex's, works very well for this story and makes it easy to connect with each character and to understand what lurks beneath the carefully-constructed images they each portray to the world. - I have a sister with cerebral palsy, and I enjoy seeing characters with disabilities featured in YA novels. In this case, Brittany's sister Shelley has cerebral palsy. Although Shelley is not the main focus of the story, Brittany's affection for and attachment to her sister is central to her personality and to the challenges she faces in her home life. - The difficult choices each of the protagonists struggle with are realistic and aren't necessarily black and white issues with one wrong choice and one right. I liked the complexity in their lives, and it made the sweet scenes sweeter and the heartbreaking scenes more heartbreaking. What I Disliked: - Most of the main plot points in this book can be anticipated from a mile away. While Brittany and Alex might be surprised to find themselves falling for one another, the reader will not be at all surprised by their attraction to one another or by the obstacles they encounter. - Several over-used plot devices come into play in this book, robbing the story of a bit of its originality. Of the common plot elements, I thought Alex's bet was the one used least creatively and most predictably. - A few scenes just did not ring true for me. At times I felt that a character's actions (or lack of actions) were inconsistent with their personality, and a couple of scenes seemed inserted purely for melodrama or for a sunshine-and-lollipops happy ending. - The pacing of the novel faltered in the final inning. Time passes a day or a week at a time throughout the first fifty-five chapters, but the the last few chapters skip months ahead and feel more like an extended epilogue than a continuation of the story. - I did not like the ending at all! I can't really elaborate without revealing spoilers, but UGH. :( Fans of contemporary YA romance and good girl/bad boy stories will probably enjoy this book. Several reviewers whose opinions I value and respect have given this book glowing reviews, so perhaps my complaints about this novel stem partially from the fact that contemporary YA is not my favorite genre. Despite my complaints, I did enjoy some aspects of the story and I am tempted to pick up the second book, Rules of Attraction, to see if I find Carlos' story more enjoyable and believable than Alex's.
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Siren
by
Tricia Rayburn
The Eager Readers
, July 20, 2010
Tricia Rayburn's Siren, is a paranormal mystery with a nice touch of romance. Are you looking for a suspenseful paranormal novel that doesn't involve vampires, werewolves, or angels? If so, then Siren might be exactly what you need. This quick summertime read follows Vanessa Sands, a teenager looking into a series of mysterious deaths off the coast of Maine. What I Liked: - This book pulled me into the story immediately. Not only is Justine's death tragic and suspicious, but the overall atmosphere in Winter Harbor is eerie and intriguing. - Vanessa is a likable heroine with a family that cares about her. Vanessa's fears feel genuine and endearing, and it is impossible not to hope she is able to find some closure regarding her sister's death. - Simon is not a 'bad boy' romantic hero. He is a kind, slightly nerdy guy with an interest in meteorology. He and Vanessa have known each other for many years, and when they begin to act on their non-platonic feelings for one another, their changing relationship is presented in a lovely, realistic way. Their romantic scenes together are sweet and sensuous without being overly explicit. - Winter Harbor is filled with a variety of unique characters that keep the story interesting - snotty Zara, friendly Paige, gorgeous Raina, intelligent Bettina, smitten Garrett, and unsociable Oliver. - Much like his brother Simon, Caleb is also sincere, thoughtful, and easy to like. Both Carmichael brothers increase this novel's appeal, but I would still consider the story more of a paranormal thriller than a paranormal romance. - Siren is not afraid to venture into dark territory with several murders and an unremorseful villain. It is spooky and suspenseful, and I often found myself wondering which characters would survive until the end of the book. - There are quite a few twists in this story, but I think the best one involves a moment when it becomes clear that our understanding of Justine has been dictated by Vanessa's perception of her. - I liked the way one particular line of dialogue from the very beginning is repeated much later in the story when the stakes are high. - Layers of this mystery are revealed little by little which keeps the book's pace moving forward at a fast clip, so Siren feels like a very quick read. What I Wished: - I wanted more answers. A few aspects of this story are wrapped up too quickly at the end, and there are a couple of story elements that are never explained. I don't mind mysterious or ambiguous endings if it is obvious that the author wanted readers to draw their own conclusions or intended to set up a cliffhanger ending that would leave readers desperate for a second book, but I wouldn't actually classify this book in either of those two categories. It has a fairly conclusive ending that leaves room for a sequel but doesn't demand one, but somehow it still left me wondering if I had missed a few answers along the way. For example, I felt that I had missed the meaning behind "Boo" and didn't fully understand why Justine was able to communicate with Vanessa from beyond the grave. I wanted a bit more resolution and explanation. - While I like that this story is visually descriptive and almost reads as though you are watching a film, I was not so fond of the way the story sometimes felt a little too much like a cheesy thriller like I Know What You Did Last Summer. Many of the secondary characters seemed conveniently devised to play a single key roll in the plot, and some characters seemed a bit like caricatures at times. A few examples of this include the wise old blind woman, the reclusive old man who happens to have written a book about the town's dark history, and a couple of secondary characters who seem as though they are introduced simply to become the next victims (kind of like the red-shirted ensigns in Star Trek). - This last note is an extremely nit-picky complaint, but Vanessa's father's nickname - 'Big Poppa' - seemed so laughably odd to me that it took me out of the story each time it appeared. The humorous nickname just did not seem to fit the tone of the rest of the novel. I would recommend this book to fans of paranormal mysteries and to anyone looking for a quick summer read with the spooky atmosphere of a small coastal town that finds itself tormented by a slew of unexplained drownings. I was pleased to hear that Siren will be the first book in a trilogy.
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Shadow Hills
by
Anastasia Hopcus
The Eager Readers
, July 08, 2010
Anastasia Hopcus's debut novel, Shadow Hills, follows Phe as she enrolls in a prestigious Massachusetts prep school in an attempt to unravel the haunting dreams she has been having since her sister's mysterious death. As she settles into school and begins to learn more about the local residents, she discovers that the townspeople have been hiding some very big secrets. But how was her sister connected to Shadow Hills? The more Phe discovers, the more danger she finds herself in and the more determined she becomes to uncover all of the secrets buried in Shadow Hills. What I Liked: - I liked the concept behind the townspeople's extraordinary abilities. The science-fiction element of the mystery surrounding the residents of Shadow Hills help this book stand out from others within its genre and give the story a bit of a superhero/X-Files edge. - I enjoyed the assortment of students Phe encounters at Devenish Prep. They are not cookie-cutter rich kids, but distinct individuals. I hope to see more of all of her new friends in the next Shadow Hills book. I liked Graham for his open friendliness and sense of humor, Toy for her geeky charm, Adriana because she is lovable and bold (in addition to being entertainingly spoiled), and Brody because he has dealt with some rough circumstances and is more complicated than his reputation first indicates. Even the antagonistic characters, like Corinne and Trent, are more than just flat villainous individuals and I look forward to learning more about them also. - Brody's living arrangements and his relationships with Mr. and Mrs. Carr allow us to glimpse another side of his personality that I enjoyed seeing. - The story progresses with consistent pacing and there is always a mystery pulling the plot forward, making Shadow Hills a quick read. - Many of the mysteries that are left unresolved at the end of Shadow Hills are very intriguing. I particularly look forward to learning more about Athena and about the banished individuals like Damon Gates. I feel like Shadow Hills barely scratched the surface of many of the mysteries Phe uncovered, and there are several more mysteries left to explore in the world Anastasia Hopcus has created. What I Wished: - I wanted to feel more chemistry between Phe and Zach. Their relationship seemed rushed and way too generic to me. I expected to feel a compelling chemistry between them, but I actually found almost all of Phe's other relationships more interesting than her attraction to Zach. I enjoyed her platonic camaraderie with Graham and her growing friendship with Adriana more, and I thought that those relationships better illustrated the aspects of Phe's personality that set her apart from other YA heroines. - In the beginning of their acquaintance, I felt that Phe should have been more alarmed by Zach's unique abilities. And the way in which Zach's special abilities were revealed occasionally led me to feel that he gained a new power whenever it was convenient to the plot. - While the underlying mysteries surrounding Phe and the residents of Shadow Hills are fascinating and create a lot of potential for a fun and suspenseful series, I thought the primary villain in this particular book was a little too predictable. I look forward to reading the next book in this series and hope to see more of Phe's new friends. There are lots of mysteries left to explore. Fans of paranormal thrillers like Kelley Armstrong's Darkest Powers series and Kimberly Derting's The Body Finder should check out Shadow Hills.
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Viola 01 Viola In Reel Life
by
Adriana Trigiani
The Eager Readers
, July 08, 2010
Adriana Trigiani's Viola in Reel Life is a sweet coming-of-age story about a fourteen year old from Brooklyn who finds herself adjusting to life at a boarding school in Indiana. I tend to gravitate toward the fantasy/sci-fi/paranormal books in the YA section and generally prefer YA novels with an older protagonist, so I was surprised to find myself enjoying this book as much as I did. I enjoyed Viola's narrative voice as well as the humor and simplicity of the story, and it reminded me of contemporary YA novels that I enjoyed as a middle grade reader. What I Liked: - Viola's personality. She is confident and talented, and she always makes her passion (film-making) a priority. Of course, she is also a typical fourteen year old girl, so she spends a fair amount of time making snarky comments, thinking about clothes and boys, and being a bit too self-absorbed for her own good. - One moment that clearly illustrates what I liked most about this book occurs when the boarding school girls are on their way to meet some boarding school boys at their first school dance, Viola thinks: "Ever since the Founder's Day show, I feel very calm about who I am - as if I found a way to express myself that is truthful and authentic. It's the only way I can say it. I loved being creative and seeing my ideas realized in front of an audience. I'm not afraid of anything, not even boys. Awkward? Okay, maybe. But afraid? I have nothing to be afraid of. I know who I am. And if a boy doesn't like it? Well, too bad for him." - Viola is a high school freshman, and I liked that her story was much more about appreciating supportive friends and exploring her own interests than it was about chasing after the hottie-of-the-week or tearing down her female classmates mean-girls-style. Even when she does begin to pursue her first romantic relationship with a boy, they are drawn to one another primarily because of their shared interest in film-making. - There is a lot of humor in this story, and it is not comedy of the slapstick variety that can wear thin very quickly in middle grade or contemporary YA novels. Instead, the humor is rooted in Viola's witty, observant personality. - Adriana Trigiani's writing is enjoyably casual, with an easy rhythm and comfortable pace. It is written in first person present tense, and both the dialogue and Viola's narration flow smoothly. What I Wished: - I wanted a bit more tension. Viola's roommates are all sweet, optimistic, and understanding. Her parents and grandmother love her dearly. Her two best friends back in Brooklyn are thoughtful and supportive. While all those friendly and kind individuals helped make Viola in Reel Life a fast, cheerful read, they also made Viola's life seem slightly too charmed and kept this book from being much of a page-turner. With no real villain and no strong conflict, the story doesn't have quite enough suspense or tension. - I would have enjoyed seeing more of Viola's best friend Andrew on the page. Every time I began to think that we were about to hear more from him, he would essentially drop out of the story for another chapter or two. This is a light and innocent coming-of-age story about a fourteen year old girl's first experiences away from home when she is forced to adjust to life at a boarding school in Indiana. While I am not always a fan of contemporary YA novels, I still found myself enjoying Viola in Reel Life quite a lot. Viola's entertaining personality and Adriana Trigiani's heartfelt and humorous writing style makes this book a quick and pleasant summer read. It is the type of book I would have liked a lot as a middle grade reader, and I would recommend it to fans of contemporary YA novels like Maureen Johnson's Suite Scarlett or Deb Caletti's Honey, Baby, Sweetheart. I look forward to reading some of Adriana Trigiani's non-YA novels.
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Curse Workers 01 White Cat
by
Holly Black
The Eager Readers
, July 08, 2010
Holly Black's White Cat is a smart story about betrayal and deceit among a family of curse workers with ties to the mob. I've enjoyed several of Holly Black's books, but White Cat is by far my favorite. I can't wait to read Red Glove and Black Heart, the upcoming books in her Curse Workers trilogy! What I Liked: - This book will appeal to male and female readers equally. Not only does White Cat feature a realistic male protagonist, which is fairly rare in the current YA market, but the story itself is not dripping with saccharine teenage romance or the typical high school drama that frequently repels fifty percent of the potential audience. This is not to say that there is no romance or angst, but the point-of-view stays true to the male protagonist and the primary conflict revolves around the tension and secrets between three brothers. - I loved Cassel! I have always had a soft spot for broken boys, and Cassel is far more broken than most. He has been dealt an extremely rough hand, and it is impossible not to sympathize with him even if he isn't necessarily a law-abiding citizen. I would try to describe what makes him so wonderful, but I think a fantastic phrase in the book describes him much more succinctly than I ever could. He is "clever as the devil and twice as pretty." - The secondary characters feel realistic and have distinct personalities and motives. Even characters that only grace the pages for a few sentences don't seem like stock background characters. In fact, several of the least-significant characters are so vividly painted that I can still recall bit players like the schnauzer-shirted shelter employee and the businessman arguing about sorbet vs. ice cream on his cell phone. - I enjoyed the gritty realism of the world in which White Cat takes place. This is not the type of gritty realism that feels contrived or designed purely for shock value, but it is a variety of realism that allows you to see that the characters bleed, vomit, and bruise, and lets you see that the world they live in is one in which houses aren't miraculously spotless and cars aren't all brand new shiny sports cars. It is similar to the difference between a CGI-driven blockbuster populated by airbrushed actors and a clever independent film populated by character actors who look and behave like real people. I liked the realism a lot. - The references to the French fairytale, The White Cat, are intriguing. While this book is definitely not a straightforward retelling of that story, I really enjoyed all the fairytale references - such as the veiled white cat, the disembodied hands holding torches, and the three brothers with the youngest being the kindest and most likable. - Following a main character who is reluctantly skilled at the art of conning people is entertaining. Even when Cassel is not actively scheming, he analyzes situations with the eyes and mind of a con artist, and it quickly becomes obvious why he has a difficult time building friendships or maintaining a romantic relationship. - I liked the idea of curse magic and the ways in which political choices made based on fear led to the outlawing of curse work and the development of major crime families here in the U.S. The current political debate within the book made the fantasy elements of the story more believable, since curse workers faced such a familiar and realistic type of discrimination. - I was pleased that the magic in this book has very serious consequences, not only legal ramifications but immediate physical or mental consequences in the form of blowback. - There are lots of quotable moments in this book. A couple of non-spoilery ones that stand out to me are: (Cassel thinking about how his mother's cluttered house was always overflowing with random items she couldn't seem to throw away - p. 52): "When I was a kid and brought friends over, I was defiantly proud of the chaos. I liked that I knew how to jump over the piles and the shattered glass while they stumbled. Now it just seems like an ocean of crazy that I have no way to explain." (Cassel reflecting on the unreliable nature of memories - p. 96): "Memory is slippery. It bends to our understanding of the world, twists to accommodate our prejudices." - A few of the background characters' names included winks to some of Holly's author friends or their characters - such as brief mentions of the Brennan crime family (Sarah Rees Brennan) & a Jace that lives in Cassel's dorm (Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments). Those types of tiny nods are always fun & remind me of spotting hidden Mickeys at Disneyland. Basically it is the type of thing that isn't necessary to your enjoyment of the book, but if you happen to like those authors it may feel like a little inside joke you get to smile at too. - The book's ending leaves plenty to be explored in the next two volumes of the Curse Workers trilogy, but readers are not left hanging with thousands of infuriating loose ends either. What I Wished: - One of the twists near the end of the book seems slightly more contrived than I would have liked. Not that Cassel's rotten luck surprised me or that I didn't believe the characters would behave in the ways they did, but this particular turn in the story had me thinking "Geez! What are the odds?!" a little more than usual. Fans of organized crime stories or noirish capers will definitely want to pick up White Cat. Fans of clever antiheroes who find themselves caught up in horrific circumstances will want to check out White Cat. Fans of books or movies about con-men or smart criminals, like The Usual Suspects, Ocean's Eleven, The Sting, Rounders, Snatch, L.A. Confidential, Matchstick Men, or Dirty Rotten Scoundrels may also want pick up White Cat.
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Theatre Illuminata 02 Perchance To Dream
by
Lisa Mantchev
The Eager Readers
, June 04, 2010
Lisa Mantchev's Perchance to Dream picks up right where Eyes Like Stars left off and follows Bertie along her magical and perilous journey to rescue Nate. The love triangle takes center stage in Perchance to Dream, and hearts and souls hang in the balance. Can Bertie rescue Nate? What will she have to sacrifice to set him free? If you liked Eyes Like Stars, the first book in the Theatre Illuminata series, then you must read Perchance to Dream! If you haven't read Eyes Like Stars yet, get thee to the bookstore to pick it up as soon as possible! This series is incredibly creative and entertaining! What I Liked: - I loved how inventive and original this story feels right from the first page! I found myself surprised and delighted by the twists and turns Bertie and her companions encounter along their journey to rescue Nate. I never knew what to expect around the next bend in the road. Such fun! - Bertie's roll as the new Mistress of Revels gives her a phenomenal, but challenging, power. She may not have mastered the use of her newly-discovered abilities yet, but it is extremely amusing to see her experimenting with them. I look forward to seeing what she does next. - Bertie learns so much about the world outside of the Theatre in this book, but along the way she also discovers a lot about herself. I enjoyed learning more about her father and her past. And I particularly loved the way Bertie's internal journey toward finding her own strength and a place that belonged to her (and only her) became a real, tangible experience for her. Beautiful. I continue to like her for her bravery, her passion, and her individuality. Bertie's desire to find and settle comfortably into herself before fully opening herself to the desires of others is also commendable. - All of the characters in this book make mistakes. They are sometimes deceitful, angry, scared, vindictive, foolish, and petty. But every one of those qualities makes them more real. I love them for their flaws as much as for their virtues, and they are never one-dimensional or flat. - Huzzah for more Ariel! I was firmly #TeamAriel by the end of Eyes Like Stars, and seeing more of his interactions with Bertie was actually what I most looked forward to in reading Perchance to Dream. I am happy to say that this book did not disappoint. Ariel's charm had lots of time to shine in this book, and now I adore him even more! Not only does he wear his heart on his sleeve & let down his guard significantly more than we've seen in the past, but he knowingly assists Bertie in her efforts to rescue his rival. It doesn't get much more devoted than that. He totally won my heart. - I loved the players and the theater atmosphere so much in Eyes Like Stars that prior to reading Perchance to Dream I was a bit concerned that the clever theater references would be absent once Bertie traveled away from the Theatre Illuminata. As it turned out, I needn't have wasted time worrying. There were still plenty of opportunities for quirky performances, fabulous costume changes, a bit of Shakespeare, and several cleverly twisted theater references. - The wild and imaginative array of acrobats and performers in the Innamorati felt like something out of a dreamlike Cirque du Soleil performance. Fascinating and colorful. - The sneak-thief was such a great addition to the cast of this story. I loved the idea of his taking only unwanted items and really enjoyed his roll in the tale. Hope to see more of him in the next book. - Ah, last but not least, the fairies. As expected, they are still bursting with personality and mischief. I thought they were much more amusing in this book, and I thoroughly enjoyed all their hijinks, performances, quests for food, and costume changes. From their beatnik brainstorming ensembles to their creative interpretation of Romeo and Juliet, they bring gleeful smiles & giggles to each of their scenes. What I Wished: - As I have already mentioned, I am totally in love with one of Bertie's suitors in this book, so I desperately wanted her to have more scenes with him and I occasionally wanted her to make different choices where he was concerned. I knew that wish was unrealistic since the love triangle would have crumbled if the story had gone differently, and I actually didn't feel like it was a flaw in the story. Bertie's decisions all rang true for Bertie. But that didn't stop me from wishing Bertie would offer Ariel a little bit more of her heart. Fans of magical fantasies, imaginatively twisted theater performances, and passionate heroines should check out this series. Readers who have grown weary of recycled plots and characters & find themselves craving something dizzyingly unique should definitely pick up the Theatre Illuminata series! I would recommend reading the first book, Eyes Like Stars, before Perchance to Dream because it will give you a better understanding of Bertie's history & her relationships with Nate and Ariel. I can't wait to read So Silver Bright, the final book in the Theatre Illuminata trilogy!
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Incarceron 01
by
Catherine Fisher
The Eager Readers
, June 04, 2010
A young man's desperate quest to find his way out of a mysterious and terrifying prison collides with the court intrigue of a technologically-advanced world that has been forced into a faux bygone era by its oppressive rulers in Catherine Fisher's Incarceron. This highly original sci-fi/fantasy follows two characters - Finn, a young man who is trapped inside the frightening Incarceron, and Claudia, the clever daughter of Incarceron's warden. With their own fates depending upon their every choice, Finn and Claudia must navigate their way through two worlds filled with dangerous threats. What I Liked: - The inventive world-building is shown rather than described. Fantasy novels sometimes suffer from too many dry descriptive passages, but this book jumps right into the thick of things and reveals the world through the characters' experiences. Not only is the prison environment intriguing and menacing, but the odd faux-historical nature of the outside world is also fascinating and strangely suffocating. - Claudia is a brave, observant, and determined heroine. She is calculating, has a complicated relationship with her father, worries about her tutor's health, feels compelled to help Finn escape, and dreads her arranged marriage. I loved her calculating nature and her ability to play the games necessary to her success at court. - The relationship between Claudia and her tutor, Jared, is one of my very favorite aspects of this book. She trusts and cares for him, and he would willingly risk his life for her. Jared is wise and devoted, and he knows Claudia as well as she knows herself. His cautious nature provides the perfect balance to Claudia's bold personality. When I first read this book's description, I imagined I would be rooting for a romance to blossom between Claudia and Finn, so I was surprised to find myself utterly charmed by Jared. Their relationship has a quiet, unspoken subtlety that I loved. - Finn is a compelling character with a strong conscience. His past is mysterious. His relationships with Keiro and Gildas are interesting and potentially dangerous, and it is easy to find yourself hoping for his escape. - I liked the complexity of the court intrigue and look forward to learning more about the outside realm in the next book. - The secondary characters are enjoyably memorable, each with their own motivations and vibrant personalities. - Finn's journey through Incarceron is like a hazardous and twisty roller coaster ride, and the dramatic tales of an individual who escaped from Incarceron help propel his quest forward. These legendary tales of Sapphique are relayed by one of Finn's companions, and are also shared in little snippets at the start of several chapters. They often sound like passages from a richly-detailed mythology, and they help explain Incarceron's history as well as offering hints about the events to come. What I Wished: - The shift in perspective between outside and inside Incarceron is occasionally frustrating. Most of the time it is skillfully used to build tension, leaving a character in one location in peril while the perspective shifts to the other location to reveal some crucial information. It does draw the story forward and keeps all the characters in focus even when they are in two separate worlds, but I sometimes found myself wanting to hurry through the chapters set within Incarceron in order to see more of the outside world. Incarceron is the type of well-crafted fantasy world that is so full of mysteries that you find yourself hanging on each chapter wondering where the characters are heading, and the science fiction elements in this story succeed in bringing the stakes up several notches. I would recommend it to fans of sci-fi, fantasy, and dystopian fiction. And I very much look forward to reading the sequel, Sapphique, which is scheduled to be released in the US on December 28th!
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Fairytale Retellings 01 Sisters Red
by
Jackson Pearce
The Eager Readers
, May 12, 2010
Sisters Red is a romantic, action-packed urban fantasy. Imagine Little Red Riding Hood with Buffy the Vampire Slayer's wicked fighting skills and determination to take down as many predatory monsters as possible (in this case, Fenris, evil werewolves who prey upon women), and you will have a pretty accurate image of Scarlett March. She was only eleven years old when she first courageously faced off against a murderous Fenris in a effort to protect her little sister Rosie. Since that time, Scarlett and Rosie have both worked hard to become formidable fighters and, along with their childhood friend Silas, have become experts at luring and slaughtering Fenris. Sisters Red is not a bland retelling of the traditional Red Riding Hood story. It is a modern tale about family, responsibility, love, and identity. At the center of it all are two fiercely loyal sisters who tread a fine line between devotion and resentment while in pursuit of a deadly enemy. What I Liked: - Scarlett and Rosie March are capable, resilient, and intelligent. They are not damsels in distress who wait around to be rescued. Instead, they choose to lure and fight the Fenris on their own terms. - Silas is sweet and has a wonderful sense of humor. He reminded me of an old-fashioned romantic hero like Theodore "Laurie" Lawrence from Louisa May Alcott's Little Women, if Laurie happened to have a sexy southern charm and a fabulous physique from his expert ax-wielding skills. ;-) Silas is Scarlett and Rosie's devoted childhood companion, and he wouldn't hesitate to put his life on the line for either of them. *insert swoon here* - The chapters alternate between Scarlett's point-of-view and Rosie's point-of-view, and the alternating perspectives help make it easy for readers to sympathize with and relate to both sisters. While they are both fiercely devoted to one another, they have very different personalities and motivations. Rosie's chapters keep the story lighter and more romantic while Scarlett's chapters keep the suspense and dramatic tension in focus. The alternating perspective helps maintain a well-paced balance between romance and mystery. - I love modern stories inspired by traditional fairy tales and folktales, but if the interpretation isn't given its own twists and turns the story can feel unoriginal. Sisters Red does not suffer from that at all. The story and characters feel new and well-developed, and the Red Riding Hood references add a delicious bit of darkness and striking visual imagery (the crimson cloak, the woodsman's ax, etc). This book would lend itself very well to a movie or a graphic novel adaptation. - The Fenris thrive on their victims' fear and are sinister in a lecherous, predatory way. They make excellent villains. - The increasingly flirtatious friendship between Rosie and Silas evolves just slowly enough to torture readers with a lovely amount of tension. Not only has Scarlett always been the most important person in Rosie's life, but the camaraderie and affection between Silas and Scarlett also feels genuine, which sets up a challenging and strained dynamic between the three of them as Rosie and Silas find themselves increasingly attracted to one another. - Obviously there are fantastical elements to this story (i.e., werewolves), but the overall feel of the world and characters remains grounded in reality. The main characters are practical, don't instantly heal from injuries, and are not independently wealthy. While their Fenris-hunting lifestyle sets them apart from their peers, their overall situation seems plausible and realistic for young people living on the outskirts of society. They spend what little money they have on important supplies like gauze to wrap up their injuries. They survive on pasta, ramen, and Chinese take-out. And Silas drives an old, beat-up car. Basically, their lifestyle and living arrangements feel believable. - I liked the recurring themes, such as the shadows and sunlight, which contribute to the fairy tale feel of this modern retelling. - This book gets bonus points for mentioning The Princess Bride! *happy grin* What I Wished: - I wished a particular aspect of the story had been less predictable, but it was still enjoyable to watch everything play out and there are still other twists and surprises right up to the end. - One specific conflict scene seemed too conveniently paced to me, so I wished that scene had unfolded a little differently, but it didn't ruin my overall enjoyment of the book so I'd consider it minor. - I wanted to know more about the woodsmen, and I hope we will learn more about them in the two companion novels Jackson Pearce has in the works. I would also love to see a graphic novel series set in this world. Scarlett would make a fantastic graphic novel heroine. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy modernized fairy tales, urban fantasy, or paranormal romance. Fans of stories about strong, heroic girls, like Diana Peterfreund's Rampant or Joss Whedon's Buffy the Vampire Slayer should definitely pick up Sisters Red.
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20th Century Childrens Book Treasury Celebrated Picture Books & Stories to Read Aloud
by
Janet Schulman
The Eager Readers
, May 12, 2010
The 20th Century Children's Book Treasury is a fantastic compilation of over forty fun children's books. From William Steig's Sylvester and the Magic Pebble to Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are, this book is full of timeless favorites! We own over half of these forty-four picture books separately, but finding them combined into one very portable edition has been a delight. Our copy of this book has been hauled along on many car rides and trips to the park, and it is a perfect resource for bedtime stories. What I Liked: - It is great to find such an impressive assortment of excellent books contained within one volume! From H.A. Rey's Curious George to Janell Cannon's Stellaluna, this book has something for everyone. It is not a read-once-and-you're-done kind of book but a volume our children have pulled off the shelf year after year as their reading interests have grown and changed. - Even if you have stand-alone editions of many of these picture books, this Treasury is a worthwhile investment for it's awesome portability and the exposure to all the stories you may not own. It is fun to find classic stories like Virginia Lee Burton's Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel and Wanda Gag's Millions of Cats nestled among more recent favorites like Bill Martin, Jr. & John Archambault's Chicka Chicka, Boom Boom and Kevin Henkes's Owen. - Not only are the stories wonderful, but this book is also a great way for children to glimpse a wide variety of illustrative styles. From the black & white charm of Robert McCloskey's drawings in Make Way for Ducklings to the beautiful stamp art of Leo Lionni's Swimmy and the creative collage work in Ezra Jack Keats's The Snowy Day, this is a great book to show children a huge variety of illustrations. - The stories in this book are each labeled with a color-coded symbol to indicate the approximate reading level for which they may be most appropriate, but I love that they are not sorted by reading level because that allows readers to try a bit of everything as they flip through the pages & encourages beginners to give more challenging stories a try by placing them right next to simpler ones. What I Wished: - I really like this book exactly as it is, but it is worth noting that in order to condense 44 books into a single 308 page volume, some of the illustrations have been reduced in size and/or combined into new page layouts. For example, Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are is a forty-eight page book in its original form, but it only takes up thirteen pages of the Treasury because the page layout is condensed. In my opinion, the illustrations are consistently presented in a way that reflects the text and is true to the original source material, but readers who expect the content to look precisely like each of the original books may be slightly disappointed . It is important to note that the text of each book is unabridged, with the two exceptions of Roger Duvoisin's Petunia and Peggy Parish's Amelia Bedelia (which are slightly abridged). Whether you are looking for a great selection of classic children's picture books, trying to save on shelf space, or looking for an affordable way to add an awesome assortment of bedtime books to your collection, The 20th Century Children's Book Treasury will not disappoint. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a wonderful assortment of picture books or Caldecott Medal/Honor books (there are twelve in this Treasury). I would also recommend it to anyone who is searching for a nice, comprehensive children's book to give as a gift and to anyone who is looking for a fun book to keep their kids entertained on a long car trip.
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Chasing Brooklyn
by
Lisa Schroeder
The Eager Readers
, May 07, 2010
Lisa Schroeder's Chasing Brooklyn is a moving novel that follows two individuals as they find themselves drawn together by a shared loss. Told in verse from alternating points of view, this compelling story follows Brooklyn and Nico as they attempt to navigate their way around the hole Lucca's death left in each of their lives. A year after Lucca's death, the unexpected loss of a friend brings Brooklyn's heartache back to the surface and leaves her feeling haunted. Nico has always known he couldn't fill his brother Lucca's place within his family, and he still finds himself running away from the emptiness that he can't seem to fill. Both narratives are written in very accessible verse, and once again Lisa Schroeder manages to cut straight to the emotional core of the heartache holding each of the main characters captive. The story is suspenseful, romantic, and emotionally captivating. I thoroughly enjoyed Chasing Brooklyn. What I Liked: - The alternating perspectives helped propel the story forward and made me long for Nico and Brooklyn to connect with one another from the very start. Glimpsing each of their individual thoughts and realizing how much they could both benefit from opening up to one another added a compelling level of tension to the story. - It was easy to sympathize with Nico and Brooklyn. My heart truly ached for them both. They are believable characters, and each of their verse-style narratives is remarkably clear and easy to follow. - The suspenseful elements of this book are well-crafted. At times, I found myself on the edge of my seat with butterflies in my stomach as I wondered how the story would end. - The paranormal aspect of this novel has a sinister feel to it as Brooklyn is haunted and pursued by the ghost of her recently-deceased friend. Eerie and frightening. - I enjoyed the roll Ava (the protagonist from Lisa Schroeder's first verse novel) played in Chasing Brooklyn. It was a small but lovely part, and it was nice to see her supportive gesture passed along by the end of the novel. - As in I Heart You, You Haunt Me, feelings of loss and guilt are at the core of this book, but the overall tone is not one of despair and hopelessness. Chasing Brooklyn is also a longer, spookier, and more romantic story. What I Wished: - I still wanted a little bit more at the end. The novel definitely feels complete, but I liked Nico and Brooklyn so much that I was reluctant to let either of them go even after the main plot points were resolved. Basically, I was ready to start reading this book again the moment I set it down. Chasing Brooklyn is a beautiful and memorable story about the bravery it takes to move forward and embrace life after losing someone you love. If you liked I Heart You, You Haunt Me, then you absolutely MUST read this book! It is a companion novel rather than a sequel, so you can also enjoy Chasing Brooklyn without having read I Heart You, You Haunt Me. I would recommend Chasing Brooklyn to anyone who likes contemporary/paranormal YA and to anyone who is intrigued by the idea of a verse novel. It is a fast, compelling read, so it would also be a great choice for reluctant readers.
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Naughty List 01
by
Suzanne Young
The Eager Readers
, April 17, 2010
Suzanne Young's debut novel is the first in a trilogy of books about Tessa Crimson, the head of a secret organization of cheerleaders dedicated to catching cheating boyfriends red-handed and gathering proof of their indiscretions to present to their wronged girlfriends. As a reader who tends to gravitate toward paranormal & fantasy novels, this book is well outside of my typical genre preferences, but I still found it entertaining. The Naughty List is a quick read that manages to be funnier and more heart-wrenching than you might expect from the title and summary. What I Liked: - The idea of a group of somewhat stereotypical cheerleaders running an extremely organized non-profit service like the SOS is funny and clever. I like the concept of girls helping other girls, enjoyed the SOS's memos & letters to their clients, and admired Tessa's dedication to keeping the team both professional & perky. - Tessa doesn't approve of cussing and using common slang, so she constantly replaces curse words and exclamations of surprise or approval with her very own terms like: "Strawberry smoothie!", "Sugarplum fairies!", and "Gingersnap!" That aspect of her personality is consistently amusing and helps make her a memorable character. - The tension between Tessa and her boyfriend's mom is believable. It added to the complexity of Tessa's relationship with Aiden and made my heart go out to her. - The Smitten Kittens' high-tech investigative missions are very entertaining! - Tessa's parents' history added depth to her character and explained a lot about her intense commitment to maintaining her perky cheerleader persona all the time. - There are lots of northwest-inspired references in this book, from Washington High's rival basketball teams including the Ducks and the Beavers to the Birkenstock-clad new kid. As a northwest native myself, those references were fun to see! - I liked and respected Tessa & Aiden's relationship choice at the end of the book, and l look forward to seeing where the second novel in this series leads them both. - The book is conclusive enough not to drive readers crazy with suspense, but there are still several sub-plots to be resolved and lots of character development to be explored in the two sequels, So Many Boys and A Good Boy is Hard to Find. What I Wished: - I really enjoyed SOS's investigative adventures, and I would like to have seen more of those scenes featured in the book. - Knowing that this novel is about an organization of high school girls who spy on cheating boyfriends, I was not particularly surprised by the frequent sexual references, but the constant innuendo was still my least favorite aspect of the book. All the actual hook ups take place off the page so The Naughty List is not explicit in a romance-novel-ish way, but it does seem that everyone at Washington High is sexually-active and that 99% of the guys are unfaithful and/or unscrupulous. Those statistics seem a bit too depressing for the light and humorous tone of this book. - While chemistry is great, I wished that Tessa and Aiden's relationship was not so centered on their physical attraction to one another. After two or three scenes of them finding each other irresistible, their relationship began to seem a bit one-dimensional to me. The Naughty List is a fun and quick read with an original plot and a memorable protagonist. I look forward to reading the next two books in this series - So Many Boys and A Good Boy is Hard to Find.
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The Body Finder
by
Derting, Kimberly
The Eager Readers
, April 03, 2010
Romantic, intense, and suspenseful! Those are the first three words that come to mind when describing Kimberly Derting's impressive debut novel, The Body Finder. Half heart-pounding suspense and half heart-racing romance, readers will find themselves unable to put this book down! Set in a small town in western Washington, this romantic thriller seamlessly blends romance and mystery as a teenage girl uses her unusual paranormal ability in an attempt to trace the imprints left by a serial killer before he strikes again. A word of warning: Don't start this book at bedtime if you intend to get any sleep because you won't want to set it down until you reach the last page. What I Liked: - The playful and flirtatious romance! Since this book is about a girl who senses dead bodies and gets entangled in a serial killer investigation, I expected creepy suspense from this novel (and it delivered). But I did NOT expect the completely intoxicating romance! Violet's crush on her best friend leaves her distracted by his casual touch, flustered by his comforting, familiar scent, and blushing at his every teasing grin. The romance is sweet, sexy, and believable. If you adore best-friend love stories, this book is definitely for you! - Violet is a well-rounded teenager. She isn't defined solely by her unique body-finding ability or her relationship with Jay. She interacts with her parents, goes shopping with friends, babysits for her aunt and uncle, feels the sting of social rivalries at school, and finds herself frustratingly focused on her changing feelings toward her best friend. She also handles her paranormal talent well, deals with social pressures responsibly, and stands up to her best friend when he seems over-protective or demanding. - Violet has a healthy self-image. To pull a line directly from the text (p.122): "She never wanted to be one of those girls who looked for flaws, picking themselves apart with unjust criticisms." I really enjoyed that about Violet's personality. She isn't arrogant and she isn't totally free of insecurities, but she is self-confident and relatively comfortable in her own skin. - Jay is a good guy. He is kind and thoughtful. He genuinely cares about Violet and is not afraid to show it. He is funny and sweet, and he and Violet have basically been inseparable since the first grade. Since Jay has been her constant companion for so long, it makes sense that he feels and acts protective at times, and Violet's specific situation truly does warrant a lot of caution. I found Jay's protective nature endearing, and I liked that he listens to Violet (who isn't shy about calling him out on his missteps & won't tolerate being bossed around). I seriously adored Jay! - The chapters from the killer's point of view are used to excellent effect and will leave readers nervous to be out alone at night. - This is a romantic thriller that can be enjoyed by teens and adults alike. Although it involves disturbing abductions and murders, it is never gory or graphic. The romantic scenes are steamy enough to have readers running to turn up their air conditioners, but they are not graphic either. Both the suspense and the romantic tension remain PG-13, yet the frightening moments are still chillingly scary and the romantic moments are still deliciously sexy. - Violet's parents care about her and are present in her everyday life. That may sound like an unusual thing to comment on, but it is surprising how often a YA protagonist's parents are dead, drug-addicted, missing, abusive, totally oblivious, or otherwise excluded from the plot. - The overall high school atmosphere rang true, as did the intense, all-consuming nature of Violet's newly-discovered feelings for her best friend. Readers will feel Violet's excitement and nervousness & will fall head-over-heels for Jay right along with her. What I Wished: - This is probably only because I've read too many mystery novels and watched too many suspenseful thrillers over the years, but I wanted the manhunt and the investigative aspect of the plot to take center stage a little more often. In the final third of the book, I wondered what the police and FBI were discovering while we were following Violet, and I wanted a few more twists and turns in the investigation. - I wanted more. I have no complaints about the way this novel ended, and I was pleased to see the suspenseful elements of the plot thoroughly wrapped up. But I wasn't quite ready to close the book on the main characters yet. I look forward to re-reading The Body Finder, and I wish we didn't have to wait until next year to read Kimberly Derting's next book. If you are looking for a fast, suspenseful read with believable characters and a sweet romance, I would definitely recommend The Body Finder. I was impressed by the well-paced balance between the frightening serial killer mystery and the endearing love story. It is unusual to find a book that is just as likely to give you pleasant, romantic dreams as it is to give you terrifying, serial killer nightmares. Readers who enjoy romantic YA novels like Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl's Beautiful Creatures, Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely, and Claudia Gray's Evernight should pick up Kimberley Derting's The Body Finder. Fans of paranormal mystery novels like Charlaine Harris' Harper Connelly series, may also be interested in reading The Body Finder. I look forward to reading Kimberly Derting's next book, Desires of the Dead, which is due out in 2011.
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Scones & Sensibility
by
Lindsay Eland
The Eager Readers
, March 13, 2010
Lindsay Eland's debut novel, Scones and Sensibility, is a sweet and sunny addition to the middle grade section. Polly is twelve year old girl who has fallen head over heels for the romantic fictional worlds of Pride & Prejudice and Anne of Green Gables. She is consistently hilarious and melodramatic as she tries her best to emulate the formal speech and mannerisms of those bygone eras. Unfortunately she becomes so caught up in her delusions about the charm and superiority of those fictional romances, that she ignores the wishes and pleas of everyone around her & charges forward in her matchmaking pursuits. What I Liked: - As a huge fan of Jane Austen and L.M. Montgomery, I could relate to Polly's love for their wonderful stories and characters. Polly shares Anne Shirley's daydream-prone, idealistic nature & Emma Woodhouse's interest in matchmaking. Her longing for candlelit evenings and formal manners is endearing, and her dress twirling & curtsying are charming. - I liked the idea of a twelve year old who is passionate about what she loves and totally unafraid to be herself, even when her style of dress and behavior are not at all popular or conformist. She is not shy about expressing herself & it is lovely to find a young character who boldly marches to her own drummer. - The relaxed seaside setting is well-realized and made me long for summertime and the carefree days of childhood. - The humorous way Polly sees the world is entertaining. It is impossible not to laugh at her perspective on internet dating, unromantic teen boys, and her parents' fairytale romance. What I Wished: - Polly's desire to find Austen-worthy suitors for the people she cares about is initially very sweet, but I wished she wasn't quite so comfortable telling lies and quite so prone to stubbornly ignoring her friends' & family's wishes in pursuit of her goals. After awhile I was surprised anyone trusted her, and the adults' willingness to be directed around by a 12 year old began to feel contrived and unrealistic. - I wished Polly's melodramatic inner dialogue did not slow the pace of the story. I liked her passion and her confidence, but sometimes it seemed the book was too focused Polly's personality and not focused enough on moving the plot forward. Scones and Sensibility is a light and funny book that will appeal to readers who share the main character's love for classic heroines like Anne Shirley and Elizabeth Bennett. It is a story about an idealistic young girl learning some important lessons about friendship, romance, and becoming a better listener. I enjoyed Polly's unique point of view and look forward to reading more from debut author Lindsay Eland.
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Killer Unicorns 01 Rampant
by
Diana Peterfreund
The Eager Readers
, March 10, 2010
I've wanted to read Rampant since I first heard it recommended by the phrase: killer unicorns! Throw out your images of gentle unicorns that merrily prance & sparkle among rainbows and butterflies, and prepare yourself for the bloodthirsty, venomous beasts of Diana Peterfreund's Rampant. What I Liked: - Astrid is an intelligent, science-minded heroine. - She and her fellow warriors (all virgin descendants of Alexander the Great) are flawed & don't have flat, bland personalities. - The group of potential hunters sometimes reminded me of Buffy-esque slayers-in-training. - The mystery surrounding the unicorns and their history is interesting, seems plausible, and leaves a lot to be explored. - [The following is an example of ReaderFAIL on my part, but I've decided to mention it anyway because it does describe something I liked about the book & perhaps I'm not the only one who occasionally judges a book by its cover & tagline.] This book is set in modern times. Right now you are probably thinking: "Thank you, Captain Obvious! The mention of prom in the book's description made that rather clear." But as I said before, this book had me hooked at "killer unicorns" so I actually did not read the jacket summary before purchasing it. What I did see - the cover featuring a young woman with a sword & Tamora Pierce's glowing recommendation on the back of the book - seemed to support my vague assumption that a book about sword-wielding unicorn hunters would be set in a quasi-medieval setting. So Rampant's present day setting was a surprise to me, and it turned out to be a pleasant one. What I Wished: - I would like to have seen more of the loose ends tied up and more information about the Remedy revealed. - I also wanted more details about the unicorns & their history. Who needs vampires, werewolves, and fallen angels when there are deadly unicorns lurking in the woods? I would recommend this book to teens and adults who want to read a fresh take on unicorns and to readers who like coming-of-age adventure stories. Fans of Tamora Pierce, Rick Riordan, and Joss Whedon should pick this one up! I look forward to reading Ascendant, the second book in Diana Peterfreund's Killer Unicorns series.
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Magicians Elephant
by
Kate DiCamillo
The Eager Readers
, March 10, 2010
he Magician's Elephant is a sweet tale of hope set in a world colored by grief and monotony. Yoko Tanaka's bleak black and white illustrations are quiet and expressive and seem well-suited to the cold and wintry atmosphere of the story. Readers who liked The Tale of Despereaux may find this book a slower, more-predictable adventure, but they will still enjoy Kate DiCamillo's fable-like prose & her characters filled with heart and hopefulness. What I liked: - The quirky cast of characters. Kate DiCamillo has a knack for revealing her character's dreams and fears in a straightforward and touching way, and she succeeds in sharing the key experiences that shaped their personalities & attitudes. - The idea of an elephant inexplicably crashing through the ceiling of an opera house is explored in a way that reflects both the sadness and the heartfelt wish that precipitated her arrival. That side of the storyline also touches on the lack of compassion in keeping a wild animal in captivity for human entertainment, which I really appreciated. - Virtually all of the main & supporting character's are compelling in some way & you'll want to see each of their dreams realized and their hopes validated. - Some of the bit players with the tiniest of rolls were very entertaining. For example, the captain of police and the Countess Quintet play very small rolls, but they are both memorable and amusing. What I wished: - The story had been less predictable. Even our five year old was certain about the story's eventual outcome after reading the first couple of chapters. And predictability can be a deal-breaker in our household. Even if the characters are charming or pitiable & the initial concept is unusual, predictability can make a short & relatively entertaining book seem too long. Predictability can also lead us to be overly critical of minor characters who seem unnecessary to the plot as well as any scenes that do not actively drive the plot forward. - Peter is a tender-hearted young boy who is used to being lonely & quietly grieving for the family he has lost. Those qualities define him & as readers we long for him to find both his sister & a real family, but I wanted to see more layers of Peter's personality explored and more changes becoming evident in him as the story progressed. I liked The Magician's Elephant and would recommend it to young and old readers alike. It will particularly appeal to readers with a fondness for reaffirming tales of hope and faith. It is populated by characters who have each seen their share of heartbreak and live in a fairly monotonous, gloomy world. But despite their disappointments, many of these individuals maintain a spark of hope and a longing for the seemingly impossible, which ultimately brings them together to explore "What if?" instead of settling for what is.
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Silver Phoenix: Beyond the Kingdom of Xia
by
Cindy Pon
The Eager Readers
, March 10, 2010
Cindy Pon's Silver Phoenix: Beyond the Kingdom of Xia is and adventure-filled YA fantasy novel of the refreshingly non-Western variety. Fans of epic adventure stories, independent heroines, and Chinese culture will definitely enjoy this book. I Liked: - the Asian-inspired setting and mythology - Ai Ling's healthy appetite! This book had me craving delicious Chinese food every few pages. Ai Ling's passion for tasty meals added a very endearing characteristic to her personality. - the courageous heroine who rescues herself - that Ai Ling was no cookie-cutter, generic heroine but a well-developed individual with her own desires, strengths, fears, and flaws. - Chen Yong as Ai Ling's steadfast and intelligent companion. His history is intriguing and the roll he plays in her journey is valuable and pleasantly complex. - the ending, which surprised me and is not generally the type of conclusion I enjoy. But in this case, it feels true to the characters and makes me eager to read the second book. I Wished: - there were not quite so many 'epic quest' moments and objects (glowing pendant, enchanted dagger, vial of magical tears, etc.). At times, it seemed that every single person or creature they met along the way either brutally attacked them or conveniently had some significant item to bestow upon them. - the story's momentum didn't lag a bit toward the middle. Most of the time, the encounters with new characters and locations helped to propel the plot or character development forward rather than distracting from the primary focus of their journey, but around the middle of the book the forward momentum seemed to falter a bit. Thankfully, the main characters are consistently compelling and the story's pace & tension both pick up again in the last few chapters. Cindy Pon's Silver Phoenix will appeal to fans of adventure stories and to readers with an interest in Chinese culture and/or courageous heroines. Reading this book made me want to look for more Asian-inspired fantasy novels, and I look forward to reading the second half of Ai Ling's story. Silver Phoenix does have a significant amount of violence & contains several sexual references (including a scene of attempted rape), so I would not place this book on the middle-grade end of the YA spectrum. Readers who enjoyed Shannon Hale's Book of a Thousand Days or who love to read about strong female characters embarking on fantastical quests, will thoroughly enjoy Silver Phoenix. But I recommend having an ample supply of noodles and pot stickers on hand before starting to read this book because Ai Ling's passion for delicious food is highly contagious! :)
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Betrayal Of Natalie Hargrove
by
Lauren Kate
The Eager Readers
, March 10, 2010
Macbeth meets Gossip Girl in this dark tale of ambition gone wrong. Natalie Hargrove & her mother have climbed the South Carolina social ladder one morally ambiguous step at a time, and as the novel opens they both have their sights set on gold. As her mother pursues a wealthy man in an effort to secure financial freedom & an elevated social status, Natalie sets her sights on securing the title of Palmetto Princess (essentially the wealthy high school's very celebrated prom queen). In fact, Natalie has spent the past few years building a foundation of popularity designed to guarantee her the crown, and as the competition nears her ambition becomes obsessively focused on securing both the Palmetto Princess title for herself & the Palmetto Prince title for her popular & malleable boyfriend, Mike King. Natalie has Lady Macbeth's aggressive determination and a willingness head into murky moral territory to pursue her goals, and she has Macbeth's unquenchable desire for the crown (as well as his paranoia about losing it). When the prank she devises to remove her boyfriend's competition for Palmetto Prince takes a fatal turn, Natalie's ambitious nature is put to the test. Although she struggles with some of the dark consequences of her actions, her determination never wavers. Mike King plays what could be considered a very watered-down Macbeth. He too wants the crown & the title, but he does not share even one tenth of Natalie's single-minded determination, and he often hesitates to continue their pursuit once the waters begin to get murky. The Scottish play's violent & bloody elements are replaced by the backstabbing emotional cruelty of a high school with a brutal social hierarchy. As in Macbeth, the women are often the more aggressive wielders of power here, and their primary weapons are social manipulation & skillfully orchestrated deceitfulness. True to Macbeth, hallucinations & prophecy both play a roll as the story unfolds. But all of the Shakespearean parallels aside, readers may find themselves so caught up in the Gossip Girl style drama of the high school scene, that they won't see the end coming. What I Liked: - This is an ambitious book. A Macbeth-inspired story set against a catty high school backdrop could have been completely predictable or such a literal retelling that it lost its own voice. As it turns out, Natalie definitely has her own unique (often despicable, occasionally pitiable) voice & the plot does not follow the play so closely that you see everything coming from six miles away. - Relying on a relatively unsympathetic protagonist to carry the narrative is always risky. Not all readers are willing to follow a largely unlikeable character through her rise to & fall from grace, but Natalie's mysterious past will keep readers turning the pages even if they find her reprehensible. - Natalie's home life and history add a compelling depth to her character. - The quick pace stays consistent throughout the story, making it a fast & entertaining read. What I Wished: - I wanted Mike to have more personality & a larger roll to play. He felt a bit two dimensional to me. - I didn't fully believe some of the descriptions of Natalie's past, given the very young age she must have been at the time. - As a fan of Macbeth, I actually wanted the book to parallel the play a little more closely & would have liked it to be a little darker. - A few of the sub-plots & lesser characters seemed underdeveloped to the point that they weren't particularly necessary. The story would have benefited from either developing those elements further or from cutting them out altogether. This book will appeal to fans of Gossip Girl, Heathers, Cruel Intentions, and contemporary takes on Shakespeare.
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The Pace: The Pace Series, Book 1
by
Shelena Shorts
The Eager Readers
, March 10, 2010
The Pace is a romantic YA novel with a sci-fi/paranormal twist. Wes and Sophie’s love story is one that seems to defy time, and it is difficult not to find yourself intrigued by their relationship. This book is the first in a trilogy, and I look forward to finding out where Sophie and Weston’s future leads them. What I Liked: - The premise of this series is interesting and has a lot of romantic potential. It is difficult to say much without revealing too many spoilers, so I’ll just say that their connection to one another is unique and intriguing. - Sophie and Weston share several very sweet moments. Their relationship has a soulmate quality to it that isn’t based on lust or casual interest. It also has an innocence and a timelessness that I found compelling & memorable. - The heartbreaking portions of their love story are genuinely heart-wrenching & I found myself reading through tears a few times. - Sophie and Weston have a lot in common with Bella and Edward. Not only is Weston strikingly handsome and wealthy, but he has supernatural qualities and is protective, chivalrous, restrained, and sincere in a way that your average 19 year boy generally is not. Sophie shares Bella’s introspective nature and has a fairly unsocial disposition. She also just moved to town, has an unconventional relationship with her mom, is defined by her selflessness, and seems to be a bit of a danger-magnet at times. Plus Weston and Sophie’s romance is of the soulmate variety & poses potentially devastating risks to both of them. - Some of the differences between Sophie and Bella were among my favorite aspects of this book. Sophie demands answers from Weston on a few occasions & is ready to break off the relationship when she suspects he is lying to her. Her reaction to heartbreak is also different from Bella’s in a way that I liked. - This story is not driven by a love triangle. (I don’t mean to imply that I dislike love triangles, but sometimes the ‘love of a lifetime’ kind of romance is nice too & The Pace is that type of love story.) - I liked that Sophie is attending an online high school. It fits the story and her situation well, and I loved seeing non-traditional schooling represented accurately and positively. Sophie is intelligent and responsible, and the online high school seems an excellent choice for her. What I Wished: - Occasionally, Sophie’s narration seemed too distant from the emotional content of a scene. In those moments, I felt as though she was clinically describing the details of a scene rather than living within the scene. Basically, I wanted more showing & less telling. - I was pleased with the suspenseful nature of the last couple pages of the book & satisfied with the conclusion, but I was not a fan of the final plot twist that led to that conclusion. It felt too coincidental to me. Then again, the idea of destiny is vital to this series, so perhaps the coincidental nature of that twist is tied to fate. I’m hoping that the second book in the series will successfully convince me of that twist’s plausibility. - As I’ve mentioned, several aspects of this story are reminiscent of Twilight (including many that I didn’t describe in detail here to avoid sharing significant spoilers). In some ways, those plot & character similarities contributed to my enjoyment of The Pace, but it was also a bit distracting to find myself inadvertently drawing lots of comparisons as I read. I hope more differences will become apparent as the series continues. Thankfully, I suspect that the second book, The Broken Lake, will not remind me nearly so much of Twilight because the challenges confronting Sophie and Weston by the end of The Pace are quite different from those Bella and Edward faced. The Pace will appeal to hopeful romantics who enjoy soulmate stories. The premise is intriguing and will leave readers looking forward to discovering where Sophie and Weston’s future will lead them over the course of the next two books. Fans of YA romances like Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight and Maggie Stiefvater’s Shiver will want to check out The Pace. I look forward to reading the second book in this trilogy, The Broken Lake, which will be released in August.
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Hex Hall 01
by
Rachel Hawkins
The Eager Readers
, March 10, 2010
Hex Hall is a delightfully funny book about a likable heroine who finds herself sent to an unexpectedly dangerous reform school. I guessed that I would like this book because of the witches, warlocks, vampires, ghosts, and fey, but it turned out to be the protagonist's ordinary human qualities and sense of humor that totally won me over and made this book a joy to read. What I Liked: - Sophie's sarcastic sense of humor and knack for landing herself in awkward situations kept me laughing page after page. She is intelligent, stands up to her rivals, and is not a damsel in distress. She does not spend her time apologizing for who she is, and it is fun to explore Hecate Hall from her point of view. - Archer and Sophie have chemistry from the first moment their names appear on the page together, and I found myself hoping he would pop up in every scene, even if it was only to send an unexpected wink or a wicked grin her way. - Common boarding school plot elements (like a much-anticipated dance, a trio of mean girls, roommate conflicts, and ugly gym uniforms) could have fallen flat and made this book feel exactly like a billion other boarding school books, but the cliches feel acknowledged and celebrated here, which has the effect of adding to the book's 80's-teen-flick charm rather than detracting from the story. - Sophie's personality is pleasant and funny, but the world she lives in is a dangerous one. There are quite a few twists to be found within this first book and several mysteries are left for further exploration in the next two books. - Many paranormal YA novels can be sorted into sub-genres like romantic drama, action-adventure, historical, or urban fantasy, but Hex Hall is a paranormal YA novel that leans toward humorous chick-lit. What I Wished: - I wanted more. This book was such a light and fun read that the 336 pages flew by and I found myself wishing it was at least 100 pages longer. Hex Hall blends humor with darkness as Sophie learns about the dangers threatening the inhabitants of this southern boarding school for supernatural misfits. Fans of paranormal YA novels like Claudia Gray's Evernight series, Libba Bray's Gemma Doyle series, and P.C. & Kristin Cast's House of Night series will want to pick up Hex Hall. Readers who enjoy funny chick-lit like Meg Cabot's books or Helen Fielding's Bridget Jones' Diary may also find a lot to like in Hex Hall. I can't wait to read the second book in this fun new series!
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Iron Fey 01 Iron King
by
Julie Kagawa
The Eager Readers
, February 22, 2010
As shared on The Eager Readers blog: Urban fantasy blends deliciously with a spooky fairytale ambiance in Julie Kagawa's debut novel, The Iron King. This book was much creepier than I expected it to be, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! I love reading about brave heroines who are thrust into challenging circumstances. I am also a fan of excellent world-building, particularly when that world happens to include a beautiful boy, a clever illusionist, and old grudges colliding with new rivalries. This book was a lot of fun! What I Liked: - The dark fairytale world. From the eerily hazardous Nevernever to the dangerous fey-filled streets of New Orleans, it was easy to get caught up in the fabulously spooky atmosphere of The Iron King. - Ash! Who doesn't love a dangerous ice prince? Beneath his cold, handsome exterior lies an honorable and surprisingly gentle heart. Plus, the boy can dance and is exceptionally handy with a sword. ;) - Puck. He is more than just a playful trickster. It is impossible not to be charmed and amused by Meghan's devoted friend and protector. - The creepy creatures. From nixies to gremlins to chimeras and goblins, this book is brimming with mysterious fey creatures & many of them are seriously scary. There are several nightmare-worthy moments & characters to be found within the pages of The Iron King. - Grimalkin, a clever & snarky cat with his own agenda. He reminded me of a cross between Lewis Carroll's mischievous Cheshire Cat and Tamora Pierce's intelligent constellation cat. - The blending of traditional fey mythology (Seelie Court, Unseelie Court, Shakespearian fairies - Oberon, Titania, Puck, and Queen Mab) with totally new & intriguing elements like the Iron fey. - The conflict that has been brewing between Ash and Puck since long before Meghan entered their lives, which is only made more complicated by their newfound rivalry & desire to help Meghan. - Lines that made me laugh in the midst of tense scenes. For example, when Megan thinks "Good God, the Ice Prince was making jokes now; the world must be ending." - The first book, while leaving much to be explored in the rest of the series, is still conclusive enough not to be frustrating. What I Wished: - More Ash! More Puck! Okay, I suppose those two characters probably could not logically have been on all 363 pages, so I know this is a slightly unfair request. But a girl can dream, right? Luckily, there are two more books to come, so there should be plenty of time for Meghan to find herself dealing with forbidden romance & unrequited love (aka shirtless winter prince Ash & devoted 'I would've given everything for you' Puck). - I wanted Meghan to experiment with her abilities a little more. Hopefully, more time will be devoted to that in books two and three. - A few of the human characters leaned toward cliches (the obnoxious jock & the snotty cheerleader), and they probably could have been reworked or developed a little further. - Occasionally, I wanted Meghan to be a little less naive or ready to jump into fairy bargains, but she'd generally redeem herself with her unflinching determination so I never held that character trait against her for too long. If you enjoy modern faery stories or traditional fairytales, I would highly recommend this book. Fans of Neil Gaiman, Melissa Marr, or Holly Black should definitely check out The Iron King. This book also has elements that reminded me of Alice in Wonderland, The Neverending Story, and Labyrinth, so if you enjoyed any of those stories, you will want to pick up this novel. I am looking forward to reading the next two books in The Iron Fey series - The Iron Daughter (August 2010) & The Iron Queen (February 2011).
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