The Real Boy

The Real Boy
Anne Ursu
Walden Pond Press, 2013

I haven't had the privilege of reading Ursu's highly regarded Breadcrumbs, but I'm going to make sure I track that one down soon! The Real Boy was a delight to read, pure and simple. I went into it one idea and one only: a particular legendary children's story, the title of which shouldn't be hard to figure out if you ponder the title of this book long. I also knew folks liked this book; in addition to appearing on mock Newberys (like that on Heavy Medal), it also made the National Book Award long list.

Ursu's writing itself is sheer pleasure to read. I'm a words girl, and I love to read well crafted sentences and the like. Nerdy, huh? I enjoy a well plotted novel, good characters endear themselves to me like real life friends, and musing over a deep theme with a good (real life) friend--lovely. But the words themselves are first and foremost what I notice. I'd wager that it's folks like me who enjoy the likes of Hokey Pokey and other titles that play with language. One of my favorite lines in The Real Boy reads, "And the people were the same way: gilded with plenty, unsullied by suffering." Ursu packs a punch with a succinct prose that will be just as easily read and relished by her target audience (middle grades) as it is by the likes of me. It's not perfect throughout, but there are moments of brilliance.

Thankfully, though, Ursu's prose isn't the only great thing about this novel. I hesitate to write too much about the characters and the plot because so much of the pleasure of reading this book is in the discovery of all that lies beneath the surface. Ursu gives us a wonderful character in Oscar, the real boy, and his friend Callie. I love their growing relationship, the ways they learn to read each other like any two people who are growing closer. Ursu does a great job of showing us this process, not telling. And she does a great job of showing us, not telling us, some of the quirks that any person has--but which Oscar seems to possess in greater abundance. There's no need to label him (finally!) because so many of us have strange little quirks. I'd bet there are lots of (unlabeled) kids who find elements of Oscar's character resonate within their own selves, even if they aren't as extreme in any given area. Callie is a born nurturer, but she's never saccharine about it. I love that. One important note: because the book is told from Oscar's perspective (although in 3rd person), there is lots that the reader must infer. I think this worked well although not everyone agrees with me.

The plot: it's well paced for the most part. Solid world building in the background informs lots of key decisions and moments, and it all hangs together. But the best part: the open ending! Enough is resolved for readers to close the book happily, but there are enough what ifs that we will spend the rest of the day (week) thinking on and musing over them.

Go get a copy and read it for yourself! Do NOT read my questions below unless you have read the book or don't care if you find out "stuff" before reading....

[SPOILER ALERT]
This book brings up great thematic material which would be worth discussing. The biggest issue is greed--and not just greed for more money or material goods. The parents in the Shining City want perfect children because they don't want to see their children suffer. Interesting, isn't it? Sort of a twisted desire to make everything in life perfect--so perfect for your children that, though they look and feel and sound real, they're actually artificial in an attempt to protect them. And don't we want that, too? Don't we go to great lengths to avoid suffering? Aren't we greedy for an easy life, an untroubled one, one that's "unsullied by suffering"?

My biggest question from this book, though: I totally thought the trees being cut down were the reason the children made from them were suddenly failing. I guess I get the idea of a "hole" in the world where Magic used to bind it together, but to me it made more sense to directly connect each particular tree with the children who were made from its wood. Anyone else?


Book from local library; cover image from publisher's site

Sky Jumpers

Sky Jumpers
Peggy Eddleman
Random House, 2013

Hot off the press, this debut novel plunges us into a technology-challenged post-WWIII landscape which includes the deadly "Bomb's Breath," a ring of pressurized air that will kill anything that breathes it in.

Hope, her friends Brock and Aaren, and Aaren's little sister Brenna are part of a fairly isolated community known as White Rock. White Rock is located in a crater that was formed by one of the deadly bombs of WWIII. Hope, Aaren, and Brock have figured out how to "sky jump" off a cliff through the Bomb's Breath (holding their breath) and land on the ground below the toxic air. While this would truly horrify their parents (all of whom have known people who died in the Bomb's Breath), it becomes the way these children will save their community with danger strikes.


Every year, White Rock sends a troop of volunteer guards down the road to the next settlement (Browning) because it's fairly protected by the snow and Bomb's Breath during winter. Bandits roam freely and often attack these small communities, and sometimes the volunteer guards don't return. This year, however, bandits figure out how to enter White Rock in the winter. They attack, hold the entire town hostage, and are demanding the town's full supply of their only antibiotic. Hope, Aaren, Brock, and little Brenna manage to escape the large community center and flee to Browning. They must jump through the Bomb's Breath and struggle against deadly cold, but they do make it. Are they in time to rouse the guards at Browning? The guards can't go back through the Bomb's Breath, so how will they rescue White Rock's citizens? Will Hope's father, whom the bandits shot, die before she returns?

This is a fun debut and is satisfyingly one novel rather than a giant series. Perhaps there will be more, but it doesn't need a sequel. Lots of action and bravery will hook young readers. Hope, Brock, Aaren, and Brenna are fairly stock character types for middle grade fiction, but they are unique in their sky jumping. The plot wraps up pretty neatly in the end, but the escaped bandit makes for a nice unresolved element. Tiny sparks of romance will please some middle grade readers, but there is not enough to turn away those who don't want romance. All in all, Sky Jumpers is a fun read and one I recommend!

Book in ARC form via netgalley and thanks to publisher; cover image from publisher's website

The Song of the Quarkbeast (Dragonslayer #2)

The Song of the Quarkbeast (Dragonslayer #2)
Jasper Fforde
HMH Books for Young Readers, 2013
(originally published in the UK in 2011)*


*I'm one of the privileged few who got to read this second book before it came out in the U.S. I have a connection who is also a big Jasper Fforde fan, and she buys his books from the U.K. and then loans them to me! But for those of you not so fortunate, know that this book just came out here in the ol' U.S. of A.

First, let me assert once again that the U.S. covers of these books are a bit subpar in "oomph" when compared with their Anglo cousins. (Although the paperback version of The Last Dragonslayer is far superior to the hardback.)

Second, let me say that you must, you absolutely must, read The Last Dragonslayer before reading this book--or even this review. If you haven't read that book, then at least read my review of it. Otherwise, what I'm about to tell you will make no sense whatsoever.

We meet up with Jennifer Strange and the other oddballs at Kazam right away, and we are also immediately plunged into the action. King Snodd IV is up to no good (as usual), and he has hatched a nefarious plan to control Magic (thus controlling the world). iMagic (big business) and Kazam (small business), as the two primary workers of Magic, are pitted against each other in a contest. The fate of the planet seemingly hangs in the balance, and King Snodd is not playing fair. He has rigged the contest...or so it would seem.

Thankfully, those strange Quarkbeasts come into play again along with ancient Magical forces. Thanks to Jennifer's quick thinking, her sidekick Tiger Prawns, a Transient Moose whose special talent is finally realized, a pair of Quarkbeasts, and various and sundry other strange characters, big business doesn't carry the day.

This is a quick read, a very quirky one (what did you expect? It's Fforde!), and a satisfying one. I liked the ending very much (more than the ending to the first book, that's for sure). It's not quite as good overall as the first book, but only slightly less so. If you're a Jasper Fforde fan and/or relish quirky fantasy, then this series is a winner. If you read and enjoyed The Last Dragonslayer, then you must read this book! Fforde's snarky wit and clever storytelling is so much to fun to read.

Recommended for 12 and up. Book from my friend; cover image from publisher's website.

Mirage (Above World #2)

Mirage
Jenn Reese
Candlewick, 2013


Wow. This is one of those second-book-in-a-series that assumes you have read the first-in-the-series and can keep up! With very little preamble, we are immediately plunged back into the world of Aluna and her best friend Hoku, both Kampii, and their friends Calli (who has wings) and Dash, an Equian. If those descriptions means nothing to you, read no further. Just go read Above World quickly so you can catch up!

The four friends attempt again to thwart the nefarious Karl Strand and one of his clones in this fast-paced book. Trying desperately to arrive at Mirage (an aptly named desert city in the middle of Equian country), the friends find their plans constantly shifting and changing--much like the terrain they are crossing. As the book progresses with rapidly advancing plot, they meet new friends and form new alliances. We meet the Serpenti--a race of people adapted to live as snakes do. We understand more of Dash's personal history as well as that of another "failed" Equian, Tal. We watch Aluna struggle to admit her need for and dependence on her friends, and we watch a gripping showdown in which the ending is brilliantly done. I love it when an author doesn't give us the expected ending! Aluna "grows up" a bit in this book as she suffers the side effects of the pill she swallowed at the end of the last book--the pill the Kampii swallow to generate their trademark tale.

I'll confess that I didn't find the writing style as distinguished in this book as in Above World. Still, for fans of Above World, this is a fun sequel to be sure. Similar thought-provoking discussions will result, as well: what makes us human? When is too much tech, well, too much? What assumptions do we make about others based simply on appearances or quickly formed judgements from one action? When does our pride get in the way of a true friendship (either with people we already know or with those we've pre-maturely judged)? When is tradition important and when should it alter to fit the new times we're living in?

Clearly we are headed for more in this series; Karl Strand is still out there, and Aluna and her band are stronger than ever!

Recommended for middle grades, especially those who enjoy fantasy/sci-fi! Look for Mirage in book stores this week, and hopefully on library shelves soon, too!

Cover image from netgalley; ARC of book thanks to netgalley as well!

Hokey Pokey

Hokey Pokey
Jerry Spinelli
Knopf (Random House)
2013

You put your right foot in
You put your right out out
You put your right foot in
And you shake it all about
You do the hokey pokey
And you turn yourself about
That's what it's all about...

And that sums up Hokey Pokey, Newbery Medalist (Maniac Magee) Spinelli's latest middle grades offering. It sums it up brilliantly, in fact.

For the second time this week, I'm reviewing a work by an author whose former work I wasn't so keen on. Although people really seemed to love Maniac Magee, I wasn't wowed. Maybe I need to give it another chance and read some of Spinelli's other works as well because I really enjoyed Hokey Pokey. And for the second time this week, I'm reviewing a book about a boy named Jack that involves a bit of magical realism. Funny how those things seem to be cyclical.

And yet Hokey Pokey is nothing like Navigating Early, despite their main character's names. Hokey Pokey takes us back to the world of childhood and shows us what the seemingly overnight transition to adulthood is like. And it does indeed happen overnight.

Spinelli's world of Hokey Pokey was terrific. I loved his new compound words ("bestfriendship," "dropflopping," "shadowblur"). I loved his place names ("Tantrums," "Thousand Puddles"). I loved the feel of Hokey Pokey: an iconic place of childhood activity where children drink Hokey Pokeys when the Hokey Pokey man comes (like the ice cream truck), play on the playground, and bike everywhere on their two-wheeled steeds. The only electronic device in the picture was the giant cartoons screen where the youngest children liked to gather. Even when we hit our present, real world at the end of the book, we still only read about one TV.

Jack's coming-of-age in this book is not because of some great event he lives through or some momentous decision he must make. Instead, it is simply time to grow up and involves much  more prosaic decisions like changing out his childish wallpaper to something more grown-up...or does it? Spinelli gives us a work in which the monumental shift from childhood to adulthood is seen for its significance, even if it's evidenced by a small decision to not leave dirty socks on the floor.

This is one of those books that is hard for me to peg in terms of its young audience. I wonder, in fact, if it's a book that grownups will enjoy more. Will a middle school student recognize the transformation as quickly? Will it resonate with him or her like it does for those of us who navigated the shift years ago? Will younger readers feel as nostalgic about such cartoons as Bugs Bunny and such games as jacks or simply riding bikes? I don't know. It's certainly worth finding out because Spinelli's Hokey Pokey is fantastic.

Things to Note/Discuss

• What does growing up mean? How do we help our children navigate that transition? 
• What does "faith like a child" mean? 
• Is there a true sense in which we need to grow up? How does our world encourage children to grow up in ways that aren't as positive?

Cover image from goodreads; ARC from netgalley

The Terrible Thing That Happened to Barnaby Brockett

The Terrible Thing That Happened to Barnaby Brockett
John Boyne, author
Oliver Jeffers, illustrator
Random House (Alfred A. Knopf BFYR)
2012

I was drawn to this book because I like quirky stories, and I'm a huge fan of Oliver Jeffers (the illustrator). And, this book comes out on my birthday! (at least in the U.S.)

This book started out great! Poor Barnaby Brockett, born to terrible parents, sibling to two very ordinary kids, and master to one devoted dog. The book reads much as a classic Roald Dahl book might (complete with TERRIBLE parents!), and Jeffers's illustrations add a similar touch as Quentin Blake's might.

What Came From the Stars

What Came From the Stars
Gary D. Schmidt
Clarion
2012


I'm a huge fan of the books of Gary Schmidt's I've read to date (Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy, Okay for Now, and The Wednesday Wars). So I was thrilled to win a goodreads "first reads" giveaway. I got an ARC for this book in the mail the week the hardcover hit bookstore shelves in September. I must confess that the first chapter really threw me--I knew this was a fantasy (a deviation from Schmidt's award-winning historical fiction novels), but it still threw me.

Shades of Grey

Shades of Grey
Jasper Fforde
Viking Adult
2009
(originally published in the UK in 2008; also published by Penguin in US in 2011)


This is NOT the Fifty Shades of Gray that has stirred up so much discussion--and rightly so--this summer. Nor is it Ruth Sepetys' lovely historical fiction titled Between Shades of Gray (note the different spellings of Gra/ey). No, no, this is a completely different beast altogether. I recently reviewed the latest Fforde offering to hit US shelves (The Last Dragonslayer), but I've long wanted to review this earlier work of his. I've been waiting (waiting!! Hint Hint Mr Fforde!!) for the sequel, but alas...

Summers of Gypsy Moths and Mariposas (Butterflies)

Two books from two well-recognized authors, both targeted to middle grades, both with fluttery creatures in their titles and throughout the book in metaphor, both dealing with renewed understandings of maternal relationships, both including grandmotherly figures who garden, both involving a corpse which the girls must disguise, and both taking place near bodies of water. Weird, huh?

Summer of the Mariposas
Guadalupe Garcia McCall
Lee & Low Books
2012

McCall won the Pura Belpre Award for her earlier verse novel, Under the Mesquite, a book I've been wanting to read (but our library doesn't have it!!??). So I jumped at the chance to read an ARC of her newest novel, Summer of the Mariposas.

As a fun adventure story of 5 Mexican American sisters living on the border between Mexico and the U.S., this book has definite merit. There is a lot of between-the-lines information about Mexican and Mexican American culture (including such events as quinceaneros parties), a nice glossary of the some of the Spanish terms used, and terrific little Spanish proverbs or sayings at the beginning of each chapter. McCall also uses as her foundational inspiration an old Aztec legend of a woman named Llorona. I learned a lot!

However, this novel feels a bit too long to me. Also, even though I thoroughly enjoy fantasy and magical realism, this felt a bit much. Perhaps it was too realistic in some parts while melding too many spiritual/supernatural elements on the other? I'm not Catholic, nor am I very mystical; perhaps readers from those traditions might enjoy this type of novel more. I think part of my reaction may stem from the simple fact that the traditions reflected in this book are not my own (which means that it's great I read it and learned about another culture!); my more conservative readers will need a heads up on the spirits from the past--both good and evil--that crop up in this story as well as the mystical element in general. [Look for this book in bookstores in the next week or so! If you're interested, you might also request your local library to acquire it as well ☺}


Summer of the Gypsy Moths
Sara Pennypacker
Balzar + Bray
2012

I'm a huge fan of Pennypacker's Clementine series, a modern day Ramona. If Summer of the Gypsy Moths is any indication, Pennypacker's talents are best reserved for the likes of Clementine. Don't get me wrong--this isn't a bad book. It just doesn't "shine" like it could. As with Mariposas, above, it's a touch too long. 

Pennypacker's strengths in this book are in the plot itself (which is far-fetched but funny), her characterization, and her general portrayal of relationships between folks . These are her strengths in the Clementine books as well. But Gypsy Moths is firmly in the middle grades camp, and, therefore, contains more introspection about life, about parents, about people as individuals, and about self than do the chapter books of which Clementine is an example. And the introspection in this book gets a touch too much for me--it slows down an otherwise hilarious plot (I'll just say that two foster kids end up having to bury a corpse under a pumpkin patch....).

All in all, both Summer of the Mariposas and Summer of the Gypsy Moths will find some definite fans. But they aren't books I'll end up recommending far and wide to any soul within hearing distance. Both feature broken families, estranged parents, siblings (and foster siblings) learning more about each other and how to cope/survive, and moderately resolved endings. But, sadly, those resolutions are for the plot; the families continue somewhat estranged and definitely broken.

Recommended ages: Summer of the Gypsy Moths for Middle Grades and Summer of the Mariposas for upper Middle Grades and Young Adult. 

Thanks to Lee & Low Books for the netgalley ARC of Summer of the Mariposas and to my local library for Summer of the Gypsy Moths! And thanks to goodreads for the cover images.

The Last Dragonslayer

The Last Dragonslayer
Jasper Fforde
Harcourt Children's Books
2012 (this week, actually!)
Published in the U.K. in 2010*



*I read the UK version of this book at least a year ago (pictured below--and a much more exciting cover it is, too), wondered why I hadn't seen many reviews of it, and didn't realize until THIS WEEK that it's only JUST NOW coming out in the United States. Man. England gets all the fun books first (ahem, Lulu and the Duck in the Park...when will we get the REST of THAT series?). But I digress.

The Drowned Vault (Ashtown Burials, #2)

The Drowned Vault (Ashtown Burials, #2)
N. D. Wilson
Random House
2012

When I get approved for an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) by the publisher and via netgalley, I have precisely 55 days in which to read my electronic copy before the digital rights management stuff kicks in and the book "expires." When this one came through, I quickly had to read the first Ashtown Burials, The Dragon's Tooth. And then I waited until I had about 10 days left.... This book clocks in at about 450 pages. Was I nuts?



Not at all. You see, I read The Drowned Vault, all 450 pages of it, in less than 24 hours. Yes, yes I did. And my husband and kids survived, were fed, clothed, and the kitchen is reasonably clean. Did I do anything else? NO. MUST. KEEP. READING. I knew that would happen and therefore waited until I had a day in which I could safely turn into a reading zombie. ☺

That's the way Wilson's books are. Mesmerizing, gripping, heart-stopping action, delight at all the million literary and cultural allusions he manages to throw out, terrific sibling dynamics, families with rich histories, ... I jumped into all this knowing, knowing full well I tell you, that I would end this book and immediately "need" the third book. Which means I have to wait. (Sigh.) Precisely the reason I didn't read The Dragon's Tooth until I had The Drowned Vault in hand. There will be five in this series, and somehow Wilson manages to both wrap up the storyline from the current book and also leave you totally hanging....

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Flies Again

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Flies Again
Frank Cottrell Boyce
Joe Berger, illustrator
Candlewick, 2012 (U.S. date)

If you're like me, you can't read that title without beginning to hum the theme song from the musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. (which, in my mind, isn't a bad thing ☺). Did you know that there was first a book? Yes, yes there was--written by Ian Fleming.

Did you know, too, that Frank Cottrell Boyce is a master of terrific adventure stories and was given permission from the Ian Fleming estate to continue Chitty's adventures? His stories are very British, are technically fantasy since the events couldn't actually happen, and are exactly the kind of story you wish might really happen. I mean, after all, who wouldn't want to go up in a rocket and see the moon? Or find a million dollars? What about repairing an old camper van only to discover that it can fly and has a mind of its own?

Splendors and Glooms

Splendors and Glooms
Laura Amy Schlitz
Candlewick
2012
2013 Newbery Honor (updated 1/29/13)


In the hands of a talented story teller, a story becomes, well, "more." More what, you ask? Just more--more robust, more gripping, more poignant, more creepy, more beautiful, more evil. This can be good or it can be disturbing, depending on the tale being told. No doubt about it, Laura Amy Schlitz is a gifted story teller. That makes Splendors and Glooms both more splendid and more gloomy than it might have been in less capable hands.

Above World

 Above World (Above World, #1)
Jenn Reese
Candlewick
2012

It is rare that a science fiction middle grades novel is this appealing to both boys and girls (at least, I'm assuming it's equally appealing ☺). This book has the rapid fire pace of a summer blockbuster complete with super cool and over the top special effects; throw in just a teeny bit of very well done first love, marry it to a future post-human society in which all main characters have been genetically modified in order to live in hitherto-inhospitable-to-humans-terrain, and give us some heroes with brave and sacrificial natures, and you have a terrific story. To add to that teaser, let me just say there are warrior mermaids, winged warrior women, tech geeks (both male and female), centaurs, a super villain to make all super villains proud, and some serious messing with the gene pool.

The Coming of the Dragon (the Beowulf saga)

The Coming of the Dragon
Rebecca Barnhouse
Random House
2010



I taught portions of Beowulf several times in my few years as a high school English teacher. I often wished for a way to really bring this tale alive for my students--after all, it's got such terrific story elements: heroes, villains, dragons, body parts being ripped off, pagan culture... what's not to like? Even a major villain's mom gets involved.

Enchantments, Magic, and More This Summer

There are so many wonderful literary adventures that take place during the summer:

• Four Pevensie children first find themselves exploring a familiar wardrobe 
• Henry York first opens a cupboard door 
• A group of four siblings get sent to a great aunt's house in Ireland  
• A girl finds a thimble 
• We first meet the marvelous Penderwicks 

Here are two more delightful summer adventures, both of which are classics that often get overlooked. Both involve 4 children (3 girls and a boy), both have inspired other summer adventures (such as those of the aforementioned Pevensies and Penderwicks), and both deal with some sort of magic talisman that doesn't exactly behave the way one might expect....

The Enchanted Castle
E. Nesbit
1907
Puffin (1994)


Nesbit's influence on later writers of children's fantasy cannot be underestimated and, unlike many 100+ year old books, her stories remain quite readable for children today. The Enchanted Castle is a lively romp in which 4 children discover a magic ring, watch the statuary on the castle grounds come alive, and have all sorts of crazy little adventures. Who wouldn't want a summer like that? Delightful, and since the four children are on summer holiday, it fits right in with a bit of hot July read-a-book-on-the-couch-and-daydream weather.

Half Magic
Edward Eager
1954
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (1999)

The four children in Half Magic actually refer to The Enchanted Castle because they are wishing for their own summer break to be more interesting. But they are destined for magical adventures of their own. They discover a magic coin that grants wishes--every child's secret fantasy! Except that their coin turns out to grant only half a wish. And sometimes that half is a bit hard to predict. But the children learn to adapt and have a truly magical summer even if they aren't back in Nesbit's Enchanted Castle like they first wish. Another great pick-me-up for summer's doldrums, especially when that assigned summer reading list looks, well, too much like homework.


Both books appropriate read alouds for elementary; reading level around middle elementary and up.
Cover images from goodreads; books from my local library

The Dangerous Journey: The Story of Pilgrim's Progress (+ free download)

The Dangerous Journey: The Story of Pilgrim's Progress
Oliver Hunkin, John Bunyan, and Alan Parry (illustrator)
Eerdmans
1985


The Pigrim's Progress is one of those stories that is part of our cultural background--even if you are not a Christian. Granted, Christians place much more emphasis on this story because it is such a good allegory of our Christian journey/faith. Regardless of your perspective, the old, original form of the story can be a challenging read since it is roughly 350 years old.

Enter: The Dangerous Journey. A fully illustrated, abridged version of The Pilgrim's Progress, The Dangerous Journey is approachable for kids but is also a terrific refresher or introduction for adults as well. The story is abridged, but it still is told using the original language.

Want to go through The Dangerous Journey with your family? Check out Redeemed Reader's Children's Guide, available as a free download this week!!

Note for concerned parents: Redeemed Reader recommends this guide for ages 9 and up. I have read The Dangerous Journey with my children (ages 5, 5, and 6), but there are some meaty concepts in this story AND there are some fairly intense images which may frighten young/sensitive children--particularly if they haven't been exposed to much fantasy. I will no doubt revisit it in a few years using the study guide and do more discussion with them; this summer, our church is doing a Dangerous Journey themed program on Wednesday nights, so we've been following along in the book at home.

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
Grace Lin
Little, Brown
2009
Newbery Honor (+lots more!)

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon marries a fantastic journey, reminiscent of The Wizard of Oz and other similar tales, with Chinese culture and folklore, and comes up with a unique and wonderful story all its own.* Short chapters, narrative interrupted frequently by stories, beautiful artwork, and charming characters conspire to make this one of the best books I've read this year! I cannot wait to read it to my children. *My children and I are reading Wizard, so that is fresh on my mind!


Minli is the only daughter of two struggling farmers who live at the base of Fruitless Mountain. They are rich in stories, though, as her father tells her stories night after night. One day, Minli decides to seek the Old Man of the Moon and ask how she can change her family's fortune. Many days and adventures later, she finally succeeds in her quest, but she finds the answer to her question in a way she didn't expect. Along the way, she meets countless interesting other characters, learns new stories, and befriends a dragon. In addition, her parents also learn a valuable life lesson. In the end, Minli and her parents have learned thankfulness and contentment. Do their fortunes change as well? You'll have to read it to find out!

Recommended read aloud for elementary students; read independently for upper elementary-middle school. Grace Lin has written a delightful easy reader book, too!

Book from my local library; cover image from goodreads.

The Dragon's Tooth

The Dragon's Tooth
(Ashtown Burials #1)
N. D. Wilson
Random House
2011


I was delighted to get a copy of The Drowned Vault (Ashtown Burials #2) as an Advance Reader Copy, but this meant I needed to read the first book, The Dragon's Tooth, post haste. Which I did (thank you, public library, for coming through for me once again!). I thoroughly enjoyed Wilson's 100 Cupboards trilogy and Leepike Ridge, so I knew I'd enjoy his latest series-in-progress. And I was correct.

The Chestnut King

The Chestnut King
(100 Cupboards Trilogy)
N. D. Wilson
Random House
2010


I neglected to review this final book in the 100 Cupboards Trilogy last year when I whipped through the three books (see 100 Cupboards and--my favorite--Dandelion Fire reviews). I must say, Wilson knows how to end a series with a bang. Seriously.

One of the reasons fantasy can be so enjoyable is that it helps us picture the reality lurking outside our temporal, earth-bound viewpoints. The Story of the Bible is grand, over-arching, and firmly grounded in a spiritual realty that the earth merely participates in. And there are battles being waged that we can't see. And there are truly wicked forces at work--and the heroes that rise up to fight for the side of good aren't always the strong, beautiful, or brave folks. But they are fighting for what they believe in because they have been called to do so.

This is what The Chestnut King communicates so well: epic battle, incredibly wicked foes, ordinary heroes, sacrifice, reunion--just what the final book in an epic fantasy trilogy should be.

For things to Note/Discuss, see the Dandelion Fire review, in particular.

Recommended for upper elementary and up (same as the rest of the series); sophisticated enough for young adults and grown-ups to enjoy as well.

Cover image from goodreads

Don't forget our give away ending Thursday!