And the Winner Is...

The Ranger's Apprentice book 6 ARC goes to

Deanna H. of Once Upon a Time

Thanks for the two of you who entered! (I'll have to do another giveaway sometime and then Amy can win! ;)

National Library Week!!!

It's time for my favorite "nobody's heard of it" celebration: National Library Week (actually, started yesterday, call me a slacker).

To show my appreciation for libraries, I use them. In fact, here is a list of the books I currently have checked out of the librar(ies):

• Before Green Gables
  
• City of Ashes (reviewed here)
  
• Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow
• The 13th Reality, book 2: The Hunt for Dark Infinity
• Mister Monday
• The Mother in Me: Real-World Reflections on Growing Into Motherhood
• Midnighters #1: The Secret Hour
• Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary (so excited for this!)
  
• Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World: The Extraordinary True Story of Shackleton and the Endurance
• With Courage and Cloth: Winning the Fight for a Woman's Right to Vote
• The 39 Clues: The Sword Thief (on hold, haven't picked it up yet)
  
• Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream
• Ink Exchange (reviewed here)
  
• The Looking Glass Wars (almost finished!)
  
• My Fair Godmother (reviewed here)
  

As you can see, my library card is well-used.

Don't forget to stop by your local library and enjoy all the benefits of that magic little card. (And, of course, thank your friendly local librarian :)

Last Chance to Win a Copy of Ranger's Apprentice: The Siege of Macindaw

There is still a little time left to enter my wildly popular (ha) Ranger's Apprentice Book 6 ARC giveaway! Go here for details.

Book Review: My Fair Godmother by Janette Rallison

Description of My Fair Godmotherfrom Amazon:

"After her boyfriend dumps her for her older sister, sophomore Savannah Delano wishes she could find a true prince to take her to the prom. Enter Chrissy (Chrysanthemum) Everstar: Savannah’s gum-chewing, cell phone–carrying, high heel-wearing Fair Godmother. Showing why she’s only Fair—because she’s not a very good fairy student—Chrissy mistakenly sends Savannah back in time to the Middle Ages, first as Cinderella, then as Snow White. Finally she sends Tristan, a boy in Savannah’s class, back instead to turn him into her prom-worthy prince. When Savannah returns to the Middle Ages to save Tristan, they must team up to defeat a troll, a dragon, and the mysterious and undeniably sexy Black Knight."

This was such a fun, mostly fluffy, twisted fairy tale with romantic comedy thrown in. I really enjoyed Rallison's humor and also the excellent way she wove the fairy tales into this story. It is a quick and fun read if you are looking for something light, but also with a purpose! Watch soon for some of my favorite quotes from the book!

RATINGS:
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: none

Overall rating: ****

Book Review: City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

Description of City of Ashesfrom Amazon:

"Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who's becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go -- especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil -- and also her father. To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings -- and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace. How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?"

I loved this sequel almost more than the first book, City of Bones (reviewed here). The characters are engaging and the dialog often witty. It is an adventure throughout with a few twists and surprises. It is a very satisfying urban fantasy, similar in feel to the Wicked Lovely books (see here and here), though I liked this one a lot better. I can't wait to get my hands on the final book, City of Glass, which was just released.

RATINGS:
s-factor: !@
Teenagers.

mrg-factor: X
A few very mild references.

v-factor: ->->->
It is pretty violent, lots of action sequences.

Overall rating: ****

You still have time to enter my Ranger's Apprentice ARC giveaway: go here.

Quotificent #2

Whilst I was perusing my latest read, City of Ashes, I came across two most excellent passages that I thought worthy of quotificenting.

Watching Jace hug Isabelle, she tried to school her features into a happy and loving expression.
"Are you all right?" Simon asked, with some concern. "Your eyes are crossing."
"I'm fine." Clary abandoned the attempt.
"Are you sure? You looked sort of...contorted."
"Something I ate."

This is the kind of exchange I wish I had all the time with people. No, really.

Also:

"Mom. I have something to tell you. I'm undead. Now, I know you may have some preconceived notions about the undead. I know you may not be comfortable with the idea of me being undead. But I'm here to tell you that the unead are just like you and me." Simon paused. "Well, okay. Possibly more like me than you."

I am definitely enjoying the humor in this series. Watch for my review coming soon.

Oh, and enter to win my Ranger's Apprentice: the Siege of Macindaw ARC here!

A Ranger's Apprentice Book 6 Giveaway!!

The other day, I noticed a book I won from another librarian blogger. Not just any book, an ARC. And not just any ARC, but this one. I remember being so thrilled to read it, because the previous book (reviewed here) ended with such a cliffhanger that I thought I couldn't possibly wait until August for the sequel. Which, it turns out, I didn't have to. And as I remembered the awesomeness I felt in reading that ARC, I decided to share it.

So, I am offering my ARC of Ranger's Apprentice: The Siege of Macindawto one very lucky winner! (US addresses only, sorry.)

To enter, please leave me a comment telling me one of your favorite YA or children's fantasy books, series or otherwise.

For an extra entry, blog about the contest and then tell me in another comment.

Contest ends on 11:59 pm (MDT) on Monday, April 13th. A winner will be announced on Tuesday, April 14th.

Book Review: Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr

Description of Ink Exchange from Amazon:

"Unbeknownst to mortals, a power struggle is unfolding in a world of shadows and danger. After centuries of stability, the balance among the Faery Courts has altered, and Irial, ruler of the Dark Court, is battling to hold his rebellious and newly vulnerable fey together. If he fails, bloodshed and brutality will follow. Seventeen-year-old Leslie knows nothing of faeries or their intrigues. When she is attracted to an eerily beautiful tattoo of eyes and wings, all she knows is that she has to have it, convinced it is a tangible symbol of changes she desperately craves for her own life. The tattoo does bring changes—not the kind Leslie has dreamed of, but sinister, compelling changes that are more than symbolic. Those changes will bind Leslie and Irial together, drawing Leslie deeper and deeper into the faery world, unable to resist its allures, and helpless to withstand its perils."

Ink Exchange is the sequel (or rather companion volume) to Wicked Lovely (reviewed here). I enjoyed the story, but I was not very thrilled the mrg stuff and the drug references. I like some of the characters, though several of them were simply annoying additions. The most interesting person was Niall - he was complex, but believable. Also, I found that several sections of the book were simply confusing - too much vital information was witheld and not enough explained. But, since I became somewhat invested in the story, I will probably read the next installment.

RATINGS:

s-factor: !@

mrg-factor: XX
Plenty of passing references and situations, though not graphic.

v-factor: ->->
Violent and scary stuff happens.

Overall rating: **

Book Review: Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale

Description of Book of a Thousand Days from Amazon:

"When Dashti, a maid, and Lady Saren, her mistress, are shut in a tower for seven years for Saren’s refusal to marry a man she despises, the two prepare for a very long and dark imprisonment. As food runs low and the days go from broiling hot to freezing cold, it is all Dashti can do to keep them fed and comfortable. But the arrival outside the tower of Saren’s two suitors—one welcome, and the other decidedly less so—brings both hope and great danger, and Dashti must make the desperate choices of a girl whose life is worth more than she knows."

I absolutely adored this retelling. I had never even heard of this Grimm fairy tale before, but I doubt I would enjoy it as much as Hale's retelling. Dashti is a strong, independent, and amazing character, particularly when placed alongside Lady Saren. And, as with her other booksHale's writing is so rich that the setting on the central Asian steppes comes vividly to life. Her humor and wit is excellent as well.

RATINGS:
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: none

Overall rating: *****

Book Review: A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Courtis the hilarious story of Hank Morgan, a 19th century Connecticut man sent back 13 centuries by a blow to the head. After realizing his precarious situation in King Arthur's England, Morgan uses his modern knowledge and technology to elevate his position to Sir Boss.

I actually listened to an audio version of this story and it took me almost two months to finish it, mostly because I kept getting interrupted. This was a riot of a story, filled to the brim with Twain's sarcastic humor and social commentary on the way of life back in King Arthur's day. While meeting familiar characters from the round table era, Hank Morgan, aka Sir Boss, interacts and often clashes with their archaic way of life to hilarious conclusions.


RATINGS:
s-factor: !
A couple scattered throughout.

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->
Not terribly graphic, but some violence (you know, knights)

Overall rating: ***

Let the Wild Rumpus Begin!

I was so, so excited when I saw this!

What kid didn't love thisbook?

Only six months to wait!

Book Review: Copper Sun by Sharon Draper

Description of Copper Sunfrom Amazon:

"Amari's life was once perfect. Engaged to the handsomest man in her tribe, adored by her family, and living in a beautiful village, she could not have imagined everything could be taken away from her in an instant. But when slave traders invade her village and brutally murder her entire family, Amari finds herself dragged away to a slave ship headed to the Carolinas, where she is bought by a plantation owner and given to his son as a birthday present.

Survival seems all that Amari can hope for. But then an act of unimaginable cruelty provides her with an opportunity to escape, and with an indentured servant named Polly she flees to Fort Mose, Florida, in search of sanctuary at the Spanish colony. Can the illusive dream of freedom sustain Amari and Polly on their arduous journey, fraught with hardship and danger?"

This book was haunting and awful and beautiful all wrapped up in one. Amari's survival through the brutalities and hardships she faces as a slave is just amazing. Throughout the book, I wondered how people could survive these horrors. The answer testifies to the tenacity of the human spirit - hope. I was blown away. I love how it shows Amari struggling to like any white person, even ones who show her kindness or help her. I imagine it was extremely difficult to overcome those feelings of revulsion. Though the part where they run away seems a little lacking in detail, I had to keep reading to know what happened to Amari, Polly, and Tidbit.

RATINGS:
s-factor: !
Mostly racial slurs.

mrg-factor: X
Rape is commonplace, but not described.

v-factor: ->->
Violent death and other cruelty to slaves. Not overly descriptive, however.

Overall rating: ****

Book Review: Savvy by Ingrid Law

Description of Savvyfrom Amazon:

"For generations, the Beaumont family has harbored a magical secret. They each possess a 'savvy'—a special supernatural power that strikes when they turn thirteen. Grandpa Bomba moves mountains, her older brothers create hurricanes and spark electricity . . . and now it’s the eve of Mibs’s big day. As if waiting weren’t hard enough, the family gets scary news two days before Mibs’s birthday: Poppa has been in a terrible accident. Mibs develops the singular mission to get to the hospital and prove that her new power can save her dad. So she sneaks onto a salesman’s bus . . . only to find the bus heading in the opposite direction. Suddenly Mibs finds herself on an unforgettable odyssey that will force her to make sense of growing up—and of other people, who might also have a few secrets hidden just beneath the skin."

This award-winner was a fun and hilarious romp through and through. I laughed out loud many times and couldn't help but love the characters, particularly the quirky ones (which was most of them). I love Law's language and many of her word choices: catawampus, scumbling, higgledy-piggledy, and many more. Her highly original voice just colors the whole story in the perfect way. Plus, who wouldn't want a personal brand of special powers?

RATINGS:
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: none

Overall rating: ****

Book Review: The Alchemyst: the Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott

Description of The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamelfrom Amazon:

"The truth: Nicholas Flamel was born in Paris on September 28, 1330. Nearly 700 years later, he is acknowledged as the greatest Alchemyst of his day. It is said that he discovered the secret of eternal life. The records show that he died in 1418. But his tomb is empty.

The legend: Nicholas Flamel lives. But only because he has been making the elixir of life for centuries. The secret of eternal life is hidden within the book he protects—the Book of Abraham the Mage. It's the most powerful book that has ever existed. In the wrong hands, it will destroy the world. That's exactly what Dr. John Dee plans to do when he steals it. And if the prophecy is right, Sophie and Josh Newman are the only ones with the power to save the world as we know it.

Sometimes legends are true. And Sophie and Josh Newman are about to find themselves in the middle of the greatest legend of all time."

I have to admit I had a hard time getting into this book. At least at first. The beginning seemed a little stilted - like too much background information and character description was happening at random times. The story, however, is very fun. The excitement never lets up. This book will keep you riveted to the page. And dying for the next installment.

RATINGS:
s-factor: none
(that I recall :)

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->->
Not terribly violent, but pretty intense - and there is fighting.

Overall rating: ***

An Exceptional Giveaway

I wish it were mine :(

However, if you love Jodi Piccoult (and I know there are many fans) go here for pretty much the ultimate giveaway! Seven signed copies of her books!

Go, quickly!

Book Review: Lorna Doone by R.D. Blackmore

Description of Lorna Doonefrom Amazon:

"First published in 1869, Lorna Doone is the story of John Ridd, a farmer who finds love amid the religious and social turmoil of seventeenth-century England. He is just a boy when his father is slain by the Doones, a lawless clan inhabiting wild Exmoor on the border of Somerset and Devon. Seized by curiosity and a sense of adventure, he makes his way to the valley of the Doones, where he is discovered by the beautiful Lorna. In time their childish fantasies blossom into mature love—a bond that will inspire John to rescue his beloved from the ravages of a stormy winter, rekindling a conflict with his archrival, Carver Doone, that climaxes in heartrending violence."

I loved this book! I read this forgotten (at least I'd never heard of it before) classic a while ago, but I was just amazed at how much I enjoyed it! The story is interesting and I had never really read a good classic book that had humor. Ridd was just so funny, particularly in reference to himself. The language is not easily accessible, but that is true of most works of the time period. And there was a lot of descriptions of countryside, but I still managed to enjoy it - a lot. If you haven't heard of this or read it, I recommend you do it. Now.

RATINGS:
s-factor: !
Probably a few of the kind common at the time (though, I honestly don't remember).

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->->
There was some fighting.

Overall rating: *****

The Science of Harry Potter?

Since I am currently a librarian at a health science college (collective gasp) I was super thrilled to see the National Library of Medicine involved in this adventure. It looks so awesome! Hopefully it will make a stop near you (and me)!

(And now you're wondering why an academic librarian is reading all these YA and children's books...)

Book Review: Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

Description of Jellicoe Roadfrom Amazon:

"Abandoned by her mother on Jellicoe Road when she was eleven, Taylor Markham, now seventeen, is finally being confronted with her past. But as the reluctant leader of her boarding school dorm, there isn't a lot of time for introspection. And while Hannah, the closest adult Taylor has to family, has disappeared, Jonah Griggs is back in town, moody stares and all. Nothing is as it seems and every clue leads to more questions as Taylor tries to work out the connection between her mother dumping her, Hannah finding her then and her sudden departure now, a mysterious stranger who once whispered something in her ear, a boy in her dreams, five kids who lived on Jellicoe Road eighteen years ago, and the maddening and magnetic Jonah Griggs, who knows her better than she thinks he does. If Taylor can put together the pieces of her past, she might just be able to change her future."

I enjoyed the mystery aspects of this novel most. Jellicoe Road recently won the Printz award for young adult literature, and very obviously deserved it with its engaging descriptions and interesting story. I found there were parts that I thought were a little over the top and a bit too melodramatic, but it also seemed very real in other parts.

RATINGS:
s-factor: !@#$
A lot of swearing.

mrg-factor: XX
Some situations and scenes, fortunately not graphic.

v-factor: ->->
Some disturbing and violent parts.

Overall rating: ***

Quotificent

As promised, I present to you a fantastic quote from Princess Ben. It will give you a taste of the fun:

"Night soil oozed onto my cloak, and I wondered why all my adventures involved foul odor. Why could I not for once frolic in a meadow of flowers or escape in a hamper of fresh laundry?"

I believe I snorted in a very ladylike way at that part.

Doesn't that just make you want to read it?

It inspired me to create a new word:

quotificent [kwo-ti-fi-sent] - a magnificent quotation shamelessly stolen from a favorite book

Book Review: Princess Ben by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Description of Princess Benfrom Amazon:
"Benevolence is not your typical princess and Princess Ben is certainly not your typical fairy tale. With her parents lost to unknown assassins, Princess Ben ends up under the thumb of the conniving Queen Sophia, who is intent on marrying her off to the first available “specimen of imbecilic manhood.” Starved and miserable, locked in the castle’s highest tower, Ben stumbles upon a mysterious enchanted room. So begins her secret education in the magical arts: mastering an obstinate flying broomstick, furtively emptying the castle pantries, setting her hair on fire . . . But Ben’s private adventures are soon overwhelmed by a mortal threat facing the castle and indeed the entire country. Can Princess Ben save her kingdom from annihilation and herself from permanent enslavement?"

This was such a delightfully fun story, I couldn't stop reading it! Ben is not your typical fairy tale princess and her story follows no such form. I love the humor sprinkled throughout and the quirky characters and story. I also loved the slight resemblance it has to several different fairy tales. A sweet and funny twisted fairy tale. Watch for a post of my favorite quote from this book (a laugh out loud moment).

RATINGS:
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->
A little violence.

Overall rating: ****