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 Thirteenth Child by Patricia Wrede
This story was a lot of telling without much substance, a lot of build up without a climax. The premise is alluring enough for a fantasy fan: Eff is a thirteenth child and the twin sister to a seventh born son. Potentially powerful and destined to turn evil according to Magical numerology, Eff is taunted by others, including family members, and staunchly protected by her twin, Lan.
I don’t know what Wrede was going for. The book took a long time to plod through but I felt I had gotten nowhere when I finished. There were some interesting characters (but the title character was not among their number) and it seemed like a great story was lurking below the surface, but it never emerged. As Sonderbooks states, the focus “is more on building an intriguing magical world than on the plot.” Well, I wanted both!
I really disliked Robin McKinnley’s Dragonhaven so it comes as no surprise that I’m not a Wrede fan. Both authors are long-winded and lost in the complexities of their own worlds. So, I’m currently rereading Fire by Cashore. She weaves a totally unique world around a delicious plot.
A lukewarm review at Fuse #8.
The Magician’s Elephant by Kate DiCamillo
“Magic is always impossible,” said the Magician. “It begins with the impossible and ends with the impossible and is impossible in between. That is why it is magic” (p 154).
In true and excellent DiCamillo fashion, the reader is introduced to an array of interesting characters in short vignettes that clearly and subtly endear them to the reader. Then, the characters, like pieces of a mosaic, come together, compliment each other, and form a beautiful piece of art. Like Dickens for children, with all his depth and humor and observational elegance.
Take, for example, our introduction to the countess Quintet and her husband (who plays hardly any role at all and yet his character and their relationship is at once as familiar to me as any one of Jane Austen’s). The countess speaks on page 57:
“I truly feel, I am quite certain, I am absolutely convinced, that I will lose my mind if I hear the word elephant one more time.”
“Elephant,” muttered the count.
“What did you say?” said the countess. She whirled around and stared at her husband.”
“Nothing,” said the count.
“Something must be done,” said the countess.
Or our introduction to Leo Matienne, who plays a larger role, on page 34:
Leo Matienne had the soul of a poet, and because of this, he liked very much to consider questions that had no answer.
He liked to ask “What if?” and “Why not?” and “Could it possibly be?”
Definitely one of the most distinguished books of 2009, but the most distinguished… not sure. It will certainly be discussed in OCL’s mock Newbery.
Publisher: Candlewick (September 8, 2009)
Fablehaven by Brandon Mull
I picked this up on a recommendation from Rick Riordan at Myth and Mystery. It’s also a best selling YA fantasy that completely escaped my notice – a rare thing, indeed!
Fablehaven is a refuge for mystical and magical creatures, both ‘good’ and ‘evil.’ I use those terms lightly as a Brownie may mistakenly be considered good when it repairs a broken vase. But it did not repair it out of the kindness of its heart, rather its nature is to repair. It does so without reward. Fablehaven is inhabited by creatures from disparate lore: fairies, naiads, golems, demons, and a giant cow. The story is engaging and evenly paced. The interactions between the siblings (Seth, the young risk-taker, and Kendra, the sagacious elder) are often humorous and always believable.
“Seth had never scared easily. This was the kid who had jumped off the roof under the misguided assumption that a garbage bag would work like a parachute” (p 46).
One of my favorite passages occurs early on (p 38), when Seth happens across a mangy witch tied up with a knotted rope and she invites him inside her shack.
“I better not,” he said again. “I don’t see how you could live out here like this and not be crazy.”
“Sometimes good people grow weary of society.” She sounded a little annoyed. “You happened upon me by accident? Out exploring?”
“Actually, I’m selling candy bars for my soccer team. It’s a good cause.”
She stared at him.
“I have my best luck in rich neighborhoods.”
She kept staring.
Seth’s adventurous spirit sets much of the plot in motion, but he also makes an excellent guinea pig for his older, more cautious sister. Passages like this were gold and so I finished this rather quickly. It didn’t have the excellent structure, buildup and bang ending like the Bartimeaus Trilogy but volume one has left enough breadcrumbs to keep me interested. And it had excellent illustrations (something I normally see in juvenile books). So I will be picking up the sequels… but not with same eagerness I grabbed Fire by Cashore.
The Tapestry: The Hound of Rowan by Henry Neff
I picked this up because the I like the cover (yes, I’m that shallow). I am glad I did. There are a couple reviews out, some that praise (KidsRead) and some that blast (Book Dweeb). I don’t agree completely with either.
The Tapestry follows Max McDaniels, a young boy with a force stirring in him. He is at the Art Institute when a tapestry illuminates in front of his eyes only to disappear (along with the room) as soon as he leaves it. He finds a letter in his pocket shortly after; he is a Potential and someone will visit him soon. A few chapters later, Max finds himself at a boarding school, learning magic.
Are there similarities to Harry Potter? Yes. Does Harry Potter resemble The Lord of the Rings? Yes. Does The Lord of the Rings resemble [fill in the blank and continue until you hit Homer, cave paintings, etc.]. YES! There is even an X-Men style Danger Room in Tapestry!
Sure, many of the resemblances were distracting (I’ve only read Harry Potter a dozen times). The strange occurrence, the letter, the stereotypical students (the Irish one, the black one, the pretty one, the plump one), and the magic and resurrection of Voldemort… I mean Astaroph. However, I was soon interested in where this story was taking me. I enjoyed the room configurations, the Sanctuary, and even Alex’s cruelty (Malfoy looks like a cuddly poodle in comparison). There were no wands. Max’s father was a part of the story, he didn’t disappear for the whole school year the way the Dursley’s did. And David (Max’s roommate) is the most interesting character. I am intrigued by him. And while there is something of a prophecy (because of his vision) surrounding Max, he is not an orphan, he does not really stand out among his classmates, he’s not really the martyr that Potter is.
It remains to be seen if Neff has the ability to weave a story as tightly as Rowling. Will I be returning to Book 1 to find those breadcrumbs? I hope so.
