Salt by Helen Frost

Salt: A Story of Friendship in a Time of War
Helen Frost
Frances Foster Books (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux)
2013

Salt is a historical fiction verse novel--it's written in poetic form, but it is remarkably easy to read. Set at the beginning of the War of 1812, Salt chronicles the friendship of two boys: James, a white settler's son, and Anikwa, a Miami Native American's son. The two families have been friends for generations, but the white family lives just outside the American fort. When tensions rise between the French and the Americans, and the Indians are forced to choose sides, the two boys are caught in the middle.

Frost enjoys writing poetry in distinctive forms. Diamond Willow was written in diamond-shaped poems with one word in each line typed in bold to form a different message. In Salt, Frost uses a two-pronged approach to reinforce the differences in the two boys and in their cultures. James speaks in unrhymed couplets that look like stripes across the page. They are, in fact, supposed to look like stripes: the stripes in the American flag. Anikwa speaks in poetry shaped liked the weaving patterns from his culture's blankets.

The two boys struggle to understand each other in the midst of the turmoil surrounding their families. Misunderstandings are inevitable, and the two families must figure out how to continue to be friends--or if it's worth continuing to trust one another. The characters are nuanced, the many issues surrounding war time are present without taking over the boy's friendship, and the ending is perfect. If you've never read a novel-in-verse, this is a good one to try!

Frost includes good end notes on the history of the time period in question as well as cultural notes for Anikwa's people and how she came up with her characters' names. 

Recommended for middle grades and up.

Book from my local library; 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.

Novel in Verse: Odette's Secrets

I've come to really enjoy reading novels in verse in recent years. They're remarkably easy to read, despite their poetic form, and at least one--Inside Out and Back Again--has gained Newbery notoriety. They are especially appealing to certain groups of middle school and teen readers and often tackle deeply emotional or poignant issues without feeling overly dramatic or "cheesy."

Odette's Secrets
Maryann MacDonald
Bloomsbury, 2013


Odette's Secrets sounded like it was right up my ally: novel in verse, WWII time period, little explored subject within its time frame. And I did enjoy it. Little Jewish Odette lives in Paris as WWII looms large, and Hitler begins his "cleansing" of Europe. Her father goes to fight for France, and he is soon captured and taken as a prisoner of war. As Paris heats up, her mother hatches a daring plan with other resistance fighters: to send their children to willing strangers in the countryside to keep them safe. The time comes to put this plan into action, and Odette, along with three other girls she's never met before, travel by train to a family they've never met before. They are instructed in all the good Catholic ways, go to a Catholic school, attend a Catholic church, and in general passed off as "good Christians."

A series of events follows this, some heart warming, some heart wrenching. Yet, Odette's Secrets is based on the memories of the real Odette, so we know she survives. And she does.

The story in this short novel in verse is a rich one and worth reading, especially for those who enjoy WWII stories. My one complaint is the format. Although I really enjoy novels in verse, for some reason the format just didn't work for me in this one. I kept realizing I was reading a novel in verse; a really great one will suck you in and the form doesn't keep intruding on your consciousness in such a way as to jerk you back out of the story.

Look for this in bookstores or, hopefully soon, in libraries.


Thanks to netgalley for the ARC and goodreads for cover image

Don't forget that Megan and I are now contributing to Redeemed Reader! My first post there will come later this week.

Hattie Ever After

Hattie Ever After
Kirby Larson
Delacorte Press, 2013

Truly noteworthy books aren't judged just as a successor to the previous book; they're judged on their "stand alone" merits. As in, could this book be a great book without its predecessor (Hattie Big Sky, a 2007 Newbery Honor). In Hattie's case, most definitely yes!

How do I know this? I read Hattie Ever After "cold" from netgalley in ARC form.  By "cold," I mean that I haven't read Hattie Big Sky. Now, however, Hattie Big Sky has just moved much higher in the TBR pile!

Hattie's character and voice are so genuine and warm; she's the kind of book character you are drawn to and feel sort of nostalgic on behalf of. Many people have this same sort of artificial nostalgia for Laura Ingalls and her time period. Hattie Ever After brings us to the early 20th century when women are struggling with the return to the domestic homefront after helping out professionally with the war effort. This tension is dealt with well in Hattie Ever After. The importance of human relationships--especially marriage--comes through alongside the understandable interest, for young women like Hattie, in pursuing a career dream (in her case, newspaper reporting).

I really enjoyed the setting, the characters, the pacing, the plot in this little gem. I really, really liked the ending--a very appropriate balance of authenticity for the time period with Hattie's career aspirations. Historical details were thrown in naturally (such as Hattie gazing up the at the "large" 10-story newspaper building), worked into letters, and communicated effortlessly in conversations. The ending was a bit predictable, but that didn't spoil the book for me. All in all, a great read and a sweet love story just in time for Valentine's Day!

Recommended for middle grades and up; look for this book in local bookstores in mid-February and in libraries shortly thereafter! (you can always request your local library to purchase a book!)

Cover image from goodreads; ARC/book thanks to Delacorte via netgalley

Three Recent Informational Book Faves

(Updated 1/29/13 to reflect recent awards!)
 

Informational books (aka “nonfiction”) are getting lots of buzz these days. Why? The new Common Core State Standards for public schools stipulate that children read more informational text across the curriculum (50% in kindergarten, up to 55% in middle school, and up to 70% by graduation). That doesn’t mean literature classes are tossing poetry, novels, and short stories; it does mean, however, that more reading in more informational sources than a basic textbook are now highly encouraged throughout the school day--in all subjects.

Charlotte Mason would be delighted. Not a fan of textbooks, she urged her followers to use living books to teach concepts and history. Now, that’s more within reach than ever! Publishers and authors have been producing some remarkable information works in recent years; with the new CCSS, this trend is likely to continue. 

Here are three titles published this past year (2012) that are fascinating reads, quite educational, well written, and which encourage the reader to think critically about the material at hand. That’s a winning formula in my book! And, since the ALA Youth Media Awards (think: Newbery, Caldecott, etc.) get announced tomorrow, I'm hoping to see at least one of these win something!!

Bomb: the Race to Build—and Steal--the World’s Most Powerful Weapon

Steve Sheinkin

Roaring Book Press, 2012.
2013 Newbery Honor, Sibert Medal Winner, and YALSA Best Nonfiction title

Bomb chronicles the race to build (and steal) the first atomic bomb. Giving us insight into the US’s fears of Germany’s progression in their own atomic weapons program, the drive for scientists like Robert Oppenheimer to get that bomb up and running FAST, the KGB’s ruthless insistence that their spies unearth the US’s bomb secrets, and the entire WWII stage—Bomb is a gripping read. For those who enjoy political thrillers, scientific history and information, and a terrific peak inside a time fraught with uncertainty and tough decisions, Bomb is the book for you. Readers will come away with a better understanding of the time period in question, the behind-the-scenes events and decisions at play, and a recognition that all decisions, especially in wartime, carry significant weight; even when someone thinks he or she is making the “right” decision, that doesn’t mean the decision is easy or will have good consequences.  I also found myself thinking repeatedly: I am so NOT brave compared to these guys. Man. Recommended for 5^th grade and up.

The Invincible Microbe: Tuberculosis and the Never-Ending Search for a Cure

Jim Murphy, Alison Bank

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012

Who would have thought a book about tuberculosis would be good--even riveting? Not me. But I could not put this book down, and when I closed the book… I was looking around for a face mask. TB is still out there…lurking…and defying our latest scientific cures. Thank goodness, our latest scientific cures are in the realm of antibiotics instead of collapsed lungs and enforced trips to sanatoriums located far away from family and friends. Filled with photographs, startling statistics and historic “cures,” and bringing us right up into the present day, The Invincible Microbe is a great read, especially for those who enjoy medical history, science, or just plain weird stuff. Recommended for 5^th grade and up.

A Black Hole is Not a Hole

Carolyn Cinami DeCristofano, author

Michael Carroll, illustrator

Charlesbridge Publishing, 2012
2013 Orbis Pictus NCTE Recommended Book

Most of us have some vague idea of what a black hole is, right? No matter what you think you know, this book will fascinate you. Space is just, so, well, ... huge. There's so much we don't know, and the author is quick to point out that many of what she is telling us is the latest scientific conjecture. Photographs, artistic renderings, great charts/graphs showing comparisons to readily knowable facts (so many space-related measurements are too mind boggling for us to grasp), A Black Hole is Not a Hole is readily accessible to anyone with a modicum of basic earth science background. Explanations are student-friendly, and, while there are references to billions of years, there is remarkably little overt reference to things “evolving.” My conservative readers will still enjoy this read. Recommended for 4^th grade and up.

Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy

Lizzie  Bright and the Buckminster Boy
Gary D. Schmidt
Clarion
2004
Newbery Honor; Printz Honor

This is an excellent book! As you might surmise from those award stickers on the cover, I'm not the only one who thinks so. Historical fiction is Schmidt's strong suit; this particular book takes place in Maine in 1912 and centers on the white Buckminster Boy (Turner) and the black Lizzie Bright. Turner and Lizzie also represent town and country (island in this case), establishment and fringe, the way-it's-always-been and the way-it-should-and-could-be. All of this potential conflict set in a small town that's slowly dying as it faces the end of the industry that's kept it alive.

Turner grows up in this book. He makes hard decisions, stands up for what he believes is right, and watches those "right" decisions still not end happily all the time. A pitch perfect book for the 12-14 crowd, this is a book that raises great questions. Schmidt's biblical allusions are an added treat for those steeped in biblical literacy; his characterization is especially well done in this novel.

Things to Note/Discuss

• When is it okay to stand up to a parent?
• Are there decisions that Turner made that you feel are particularly noteworthy? Were there any you disagreed with or thought foolish?
• What do you think Turner's father should have done in regards to the island (Malaga) and its people?
• Any thoughts on looking a whale in its eye?

Book from my local library; cover image from goodread; drinking Private Selection peppermint tea

Trouble by Gary Schmidt: a Teabag Review

It's no secret that Megan and I enjoy a good cup of tea. So, in honor of our tea appreciation, I'm introducing a new review style: a teabag-sized review. You might consider our normal reviews to be a cup of tea to savor; a teabag is the short and sweet alternative, similar in length to a title's discussion in a weekly round-up but which appears all by its lonesome. Sometimes, we just want to let you know a book is out there! So, without further ado, here's a teabag-sized review of Trouble by Gary Schmidt.

Trouble
Gary D. Schmidt
Clarion, 2008

Trouble takes place near Trouble (a location) and involves heaps of trouble in the lives of young Henry, his family, and a Cambodian named Chay. Schmidt's gift for description, intricate plotting, and terrific characterization come into play, as does his frequent treatment of a young person turning his/her face to adulthood--with all the drama and coming-of-age that implies. This is a book for an older audience than Schmidt's Okay for Now and The Wednesday Wars; I'd even say it's for an older audience than Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy. Issues that crop up include racism, guilt/innocence, family relations, friendship. A touch long, in my opinion, and therefore a touch slow, this book is still a good read and one to provoke much thought.

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.

Beyond Courage: WWII Nonfiction for Teens

 Beyond Courage: The Untold Story of Jewish Resistance During the Holocaust
Doreen Rappaport
Candlewick
2012
NCTE Orbis Pictus Recommended Book (2013)


(updated 1/29/13)
I think it fitting that this book is scheduled to be published on September 11--a day of significance for Americans. This book describes the countless ways teens and 20-somethings stood up to the terrorism of the Nazis during WWII.

I've read a lot of WWII-era fiction for middle grade and high school students (some of it quite well done: Code Name Verity, Between Shades of Gray, My Friend the Enemy, Number the Stars, etc.). In fact, each of those titles I just mentioned covers a different aspect: spies captured and held in Nazi-occupied France, the Russians' forced deportations of Eastern Europeans, Japanese-American tension in Northwest U.S., and concentration camps, respectively).

Beyond Courage takes us behind the scenes, as it were, and tells the true stories that aren't as familiar: a 12-year-old violinist taking notes back to the Jewish Resistance after his performances for Germans in a Nazi-occupied country, desperate escape attempts from cattle cars and camps, refugee camps set up in the middle of a forest, parents who had to send their young children on train to strangers, and many others. Divided in several sections, this book covers much more than concentration camps. It also includes photographs, a lengthy bibliography (including websites) and a nice chronology of important Nazi-related dates.

Beyond Courage will be a nice addition to a study of the era for middle or high school students. The information is not sensationalized and, although covering a tragic and harsh time in history, is presented in a way that will be palatable to older middle school students as well as high school students.

Book cover image from goodreads; ARC from netgalley

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....

It's Not All Black and White

It's Not All Black and White: 
Multiracial Youth Speak Out
St. Stephen's Community House
Annick Press
2012

This is a fascinating look into the world of those who aren't easily "labeled" as one race or ethnicity. I realized in reading it just how much I think in terms of racial or ethnic categories--not because I'm trying to ostracize one group or favor another, but because it seems easier to lump books and people into particular categories. Maybe it's the teacher and librarian in me who likes to know how to classify a book so that I could fit it into a lesson plan or match it up with a student. But this book shows readers that all is not black and white. There are many people in our country who don't easily fit into one ethnic or racial group.

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.

Flygirl

Flygirl
Sherri L. Smith
Putnam's
2008



I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Every last part of it. If you're looking for a great coming-of-age story, a story which deals with a seldom discussed racial issue, a story that shows an oft overlooked part of history, a story with a winsome and believable main character, a story with a hint of romance, a story with lots of adventure, a story with flying and military history--then this is the book for you!

Weekly Round-Up: Some Olympics Themed Reading!

The Olympics are just around the corner!! In honor of this favorite sporting event of mine, here are some reading ideas--some are about Olympians and some are about London (past or present). Enjoy these last few weeks of summer with some non-school reading ☺. With the exception of the Dodsworth title, all are middle school friendly and up.

Rush for the Gold: Mystery at the Olympics by John Feinstein is a mystery set at, you guessed it, the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. A very fun read.

Speed to Glory: the Cullen Jones Story is a short, readable biography of Olympian swimmer Cullen Jones. He is on the U.S.A. 2012 Olympics Team, too, and will be racing with his college teammate, the famous Michael Phelps.

Heart of a Champion: the Dominique Dawes Story is a short, readable biography of former Olympian gymnast, part of the famous Magnificent 7 U.S.A. team who won gold in the 2000 Olympics here on U.S. soil.

The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd is a part adventure, part mystery set in, of course, London! Nothing to do with the Olympics, per se, but lots to do with London itself and very contemporary.

Dodsworth in London by Tim Egan is an Easy Reader book featuring the intrepid Dodsworth and his faithful duck companion. Nothing to do with the Olympics, but young readers will see lots of familiar London landmarks in the quirky illustrations.

The Official London 2012 Olympics Website also features LOTS of information on the upcoming events in London as well as some great information on past medalists and Olympics history (plus a slew of ever changing photos!).

The Official Olympics Website is also a treasure trove of Olympics-related information to explore. Check it out!

Cover images for books from goodreads and Zondervan; Olympics flag found on Olympic Website; London Image from London2012 Website.

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.

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! 

Code Name Verity

Code Name Verity
Elizabeth Wein
Hyperion
2012
Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book
2013 Printz Honor


If this book doesn't win an award, I'll eat my hat. Thankfully, I don't think that will be necessary. If it is necessary, I might eat the award committee(s)' hat(s). (update 6/12/12: BG-HB Honor! 1/29/13: Printz Honor!)

This is the absolute best modern young adult novel I have read in recent years. And that's saying a lot because there are some really great ones out there. It's also one of those "young adult" novels that will be enjoyed equally well by grown-ups (after all, the main characters are in their early 20s I believe).

Two girls who are truly best friends. Two girls, each telling part of the story. Two girls, one English and one Scottish, each involved in the war effort. Two girls, one rich and one middle class. Two girls, each doing work traditionally done by men. Two girls, each braver than I think I will ever be.