Malice by Chris Wooding
I took one look at the cover of this book (it protrudes) and knew it would be an easy sell to middle-grade readers but I also immediately underestimated its content, writing it off as all show and no substance. I was delightfully proven wrong.
The opening grabs the reader immediately, with an urban legend scenario. First, a black feather. Second, a twig. Third, a knot of cat fur… The fourth ingredient was a tear (p 7).
When Luke performs the ritual, completed with the words “Tall Jake, take me away,” he is shortly taken away by the cover boy to the land of Malice. The terrors of Malice make it to our world in the form of a comic book. When Seth and Kady, Luke’s best friends, track down the elusive comic, they learn of Luke fate.
Seth longs for an unexplored world. According to Seth:
It was as if there were two worlds for adults, divided by an invisible barrier: the world of the Living and the world of the Dead, The Living dressed up and looked good, and they went out and did things like go to the theater and eat in restaurants. They laughed and sparkled. The Dead drifted back from their jobs every day and sat in front of the TV, and every day they got a bit pudgier and duller, and they only bought cheap, functional clothes because there was no point looking good when you never went out.
Seth looked at his parents, and he was afraid. He was afraid that he was a child of the Dead, and nothing he could do would stop him from turning into one of them (p 37).
Angered by Luke’s end and mesmerized by the possibilities of Malice, he soon summons Tall Jake. It is part prose, part comic book (though the art was the weakest part of the book), this would be an easy sell to Wimpy Kid readers.
This is more than just a good horror (if you liked The Devouring, you’ll love Malice). It is a layered story. Jake only comes for those who believe, those who think they are ready. Some make it out alive. Some die. Some don’t want to leave. I’m already clamoring for the sequel, Havoc.
Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman
There was a boy called Odd, and there was nothing strange or unusual about that, not in that time or place. Odd meant the tip of the blade, and it was a lucky name (p 1).
For those who enjoy mythological tales, Odd and the Frost Giants is a must read. Employing Norse mythology, Gaiman tells the story of Odd, a crippled young man with an unsettling smile. With the aid of a crutch, Odd leaves home to reside in his deceased father’s hunting cabin.
His adventure really begins when a fox knocks on his door. The fox leads him to a bear caught between two trees during an attempted honey comb heist. A one-eyed eagle flies overhead. When Odd assists the bear, he becomes entangled with the lives of these animals who are soon revealed to be trapped Norse gods.
At only 117 pages, this is a very quick read with only a handful of challenging words for a young reader.
The days were long here in Asgard. The sun was a silver coin that hung in the white sky. Odd pushed himself to keep walking, one step at a time, remembering when he had walked with ease and never thought twice about the miracle of putting one foot in front of the other and pushing the world towards you (p 76).
The writing is, of course, excellent and perfectly paced. As someone who enjoyed the story of Atlanta, elements of stories like the Riddle of the Sphinx, and the tricksters featured in The Sign of the Qin and Trickster’s Choice, this story was a sweet peach.
Ash by Malinda Lo
Ash is a finalist for the 2010 William C. Morris YA Debut Award.
Malinda takes the skeleton story of Cinderella (a young girl loses her mother; father remarried before following his first wife to the grave; girl lives miserably with stepmother and two stepsisters) and builds a new story involving the seductive and deadly faeries of lore, the king’s huntress as friend and love interest, and storytelling.
The writing is solid. I’ve always loved fairy tales (not the sugar-coated Disney retellings but the gritty originals) and you will enjoy this book if you do as well. Some of my favorite passages were the fairy tale stories within the story; cautionary tales of humans caught in fairy rings or by the fairy hunt or those who seek out Fairy Queen aid.
I enjoyed this retelling far more than A Curse as Dark as Gold so I wouldn’t be surprised if won, but I have yet to read the other nominees.
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
I’m very late to the party on this one, but a coworker’s enthusiasm pushed the book to the front of my To Be Read pile. If you want a hint of the plot, watch the trailer.
or read the New York Times review by Michiko Kakutani. I happen to agree with much of what it says. Ruth never sat well with me. I attributed her obsession with Susie to a crush that never ended due to Susie’s death. When Susie enters Ruth’s body, I was jolted. Now we were entering fantasy land, though her actions, once human again, were understandable.
The allure for me was the nature in which Sebold tackled Susie’s killer (though his demise was a little hard to believe, especially after all the build up via Hal, the police and Harvey’s brazen return to the Salmon residence). Some of it was tedious reading (some of the Salmon family past was excessive), but overall, a decent read.
I’m sure to make my way to the theater to see Jackson’s vision, though I have mixed feelings about the absence of a rape/murder scene. Early reviews applaud this absence (Good. Too many filmmakers revel in horror. The Sun) and others balk (The screen version, by contrast, is so infuriatingly coy, and so desperate to preserve the modesty of its soulful victim that it amounts to an ongoing clean-up operation. The Guardian).
Tempted: A House of Night Novel by P.C. Cast
He gave me his cocky grin. “Hey, I like it. Makes me think I’m in bed with a bad little Catholic schoolgirl from one of those twisted all-girl prep schools. Want to tell me about naked pillow fights you and your roommates used to have?” (p 110)
At the conclusion of Hunted, Zoey and her circle drove the fallen immortal Kalona and High Priestess Neferet from their ice-covered town. Tempted picks up right there and spans the next few days. The title refers, I believe, to the numerous times Zoey is tempted (usually in her dreams) by Kalona to join with him. There is also an overarching theme of free will and the temptation evil presents.
Stevie Rae’s story arc was my favorite. She stumbles across an injured Raven Mocker and her decision to save his life rather than finish him off will have consequences sure to play a major role in the future.
The series’ most irksome quality is that so little truly happens. While the books are slim as it is, so much text is wasted on inane musings and unnecessary description that I feel cheated when finished. Arg! Another year before we reach (I hope) the conclusion.
The Demon King (A Seven Realms Novel) by Cinda Williams Chima
In the land of seven realms, the northern most territory of Fellsmarch is ruled by a Queen. She is aided and advised by the High Wizard and protected by her Royal Guard. Both are bound to her in unique and magical ways.
In this world, some are born wizards. Some are born into clans. The wizards are powerful, but they need the amulets the clans people make to harness and control that power. This is how balance is kept.
In the streets of the Fells, former street lord Han (aka Hunts Alone) has worn silver cuffs since birth. They expand as he grows and no blacksmith can remove them. Not a member of a clan but not disassociated either, his only direction is dictated by his love for his younger sister and mother.
A very enjoyable read, Chima creates an array of interesting characters in a complex world of those who have and those who have not. While her exposition is a little too fact oriented, once the reader comprehends the world of the seven realms, there is no putting the book aside.
Those who enjoyed The Bartimaeus Trilogy, The Lord of the Rings, Graceling, and Fire will enjoy this book.
Read another review at Opps… Wrong Cookie.
The Prince of Fenway Park by Julianna Baggot
I thought the packaging for this book was very misleading. I did not anticipate a fantasy. It is the story of twelve-year-old Oscar, an adopted child of mixed racial parentage, whose adopted father turns out to be an elven descendant of the enraged Red Sox fan who originally cursed the team in 1919. There turns out to be many Cursed Creatures living under Fenway Park: a Banshee, Weasel-man, three odd aunts and even a Pooka. When Oscar arrives, he becomes tied to them, and must break the curse or it will forever endure.
I would not have stuck with this book if it wasn’t on OCL Mock Newbery list. As it is, I merely glanced over the last few chapters. It wasn’t the subject matter; I could see what Baggot was going for. I’m a baseball fan. I got it.
It wasn’t for lack of a few interesting characters. The potential was great.
It wasn’t the commentary on race, though it was a lot in your face in the beginning. Or race in professional baseball. I really like what she was saying about parents failing to address race with their kids. They think it doesn’t matter and so doesn’t warrant discussion. How wrong they are.
It was the writing.
It never drew me in. It was too long.
I thought the Door to the Past played its role when Oscar first visited Babe Ruth circa 1919… but no! When Oscar repeatedly tried to get the red thread from an even younger Babe, the concept was abused. I thought the Pooka ride was the climax. But no, there was a ridiculously drawn out conclusion involving a Field of Dreams baseball game.
I almost threw the book from my bed several times in frustration. This is the first book on the list I wanted to renig on.
Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
So how to explain Leviathan? It is set during 1914 in an alternate world in which Charles Darwin discovered biotechnology. So the British Empire was built on the backs of strange, fabricated beasties while the Germans and the Austro-Hungarian Empire bulked at such blasphemy and relied on machines instead, earning them the title of Clankers.
Reading it on the heels of Howl’s Moving Castle, I couldn’t help but imagine the book coming to life in the hands of Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli. The was an element of mecha anime – the “clanker” machines used by that walk around like AT Imperial Walkers (think of Howl’s Castle). Then imagining the blend of machine and animal employed by the British; what the creators of Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke could do with that!
It is the first in a series of three books (published October 2009, 2010, and 2011) and one full-color guidebook, The Manual of Aeronautics. It includes illustrations by Keith Thompson “because back in 1914, almost all books were illustrated, and I wanted it to look and feel like a book from that period. Plus, there are so many weird animals and machines in the world of Leviathan that I wanted to show them” (Scott Westerfeld).
According to the Akron-Summit County Public Library, “Steampunk is a genre with a huge underground following… but it has yet to become mainstream. Scott Westerfeld may help to change that. His newest title, Leviathan, takes history, fantasy, adventure, animals, Star Wars and the women’s movement, tosses them in a pot, swirls them around, and creates an absolutely delicious feast of a story.”
Read the great review at A Chair, A Teacozy and a Fireplace that made me pick this one up.
Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
Sophie, the eldest of three girls, believes herself destined to fail in the fairy tale world she lives in, for isn’t that always the way in fairy tale stories. When Sophie insults the Witch of the Waste, she is turned into an old woman and cursed. So she sets out from home (a Hat Shop) to make her fortune and lands in Howl’s moving castle. The Wizard Howl has the reputation as the eater of young woman’s souls, thanks to Howl’s apprentice Michael. Sophie is soon at home with Michael, Calcifer the fire demon whom powers the magical castle, and Howl whom has created many different names and reputations in order to avoid the Witch of the Waste.
So goes this intricate, humorous and puzzling tale of fantasy and adventure which should both challenge and involve readers. Jones has created an engaging set of characters and found a new use for many of the appurtenances of fairy tales: seven league boots and invisible cloaks, among others. Sara Miller, “School Library Journal”
I was afraid I wouldn’t enjoy Diana Wynne Jones but I was wrong. I adore this book. It poked fun, had an intricate plot line with a most satisfying ending, and great writing. I fell in love with Howl right along with Sophie.
I am going to pop Miyazaki’s anime adaptation into my DVD player and make sense of the film! This is a great fantasy read for 7th graders and up.
The Ranger’s Apprentice Series by John Flanagan
This is a great series for middle grade readers. Clean content. It will appeal to boys but includes female roles, one especially strong female. The dialog is humorous and the characters well-developed if not a little stereotypical. Tamora Pierce’s Protector of the Small series comes to mind as a strong pairing. Kids who have enjoyed the Pendragon series or The Books of Umber as well.
With a story line that keeps things moving, kids will be eager to read on. I have finished the first four volumes and checked out the website. Lots of fans already and maybe a movie from United Artists (funding, of course, is the road block).
