Tyger Tyger: A Goblin Wars Book by Kersten Hamilton
Publisher: Clarion Books
Publication date: November 2010
ISBN: 9780547330082
Source: e-book provided by NetGalley
Teagan Wylltson is content with how her life is going - she's on track to get into a great college and loves her job working with animals. All that changes when Finn Mac Cumhaill shows up. Suddenly, a world that only existed in her mother's paintings and story books is coming to life. Finn is a goblin fighter and Teagan learns the goblins are very real. Can Teagan fight for her life and the lives of those she loves against something mythical?
Things I Liked:
The book is rich with mythology and strange creatures. I loved the world of Hamilton brings to life, filled with Irish legends. Mamieo and Finn and others tell fabulous tales of mythology and then we see them happen in Teagan's life. I definitely thought these creatures and the myths were the best part of the book.
Things I Didn't Like:
I found that I didn't much care for any of the characters, except possibly Aiden. I wasn't interested in what happened to Teagan or Finn. Despite the great myths, there was a little too much going on. Too many characters and creatures and myths to keep straight. It became confusing and I didn't really want to spend time figuring things out when I just didn't much care for the story. The romance didn't really capture my interest either. Interesting premise and great fantasy details, but I didn't like the execution.
Read-alikes:
Reminded me a bit of the Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa
Also Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston
BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@
a few here and there
mrg-factor: X
talking mostly, no actions
v-factor: ->->
some violence, definitely some frightening images
Overall rating: **
What kind of mythology do you love in stories?
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The Day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan
Publisher: Voice
Publication date: August 2009
ISBN: 1401340970
Source: review copy sent by author
Things I Liked:
I loved the setting of this book, World War I in Niagara Falls, Canada. The story of the falls is woven completely and effortlessly into the lives of all the characters. I loved hearing the stories of daredevils and industrial wrangling surrounding that magnificent location. I've only been to Niagara once, on the US side, but it left a big impression on me. Not only does it have this setting, but a sweet and strong love story as well. I liked how realistic the relationship between Bess and Tom was - everything was not smooth and certain. Things didn't just work out for them. A very well done debut.
Things I Didn't Like:
Often, there was a bit too much river detail. It sometimes left me distracted and a little bored. Also, it isn't really a happy book and I found Bess' loss of faith rather disconcerting. I expected it to at least resolve in the end, but was not pleased with the resolution offered. It cast kind of a negative look at religion and God, which made me unhappy.
Read-alikes:
Reminded me a bit of A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly
BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@
some, not overwhelming amounts
mrg-factor: XXX
quite a few descriptive passages
v-factor: ->->
some descriptions of death, not gory just realistic
Overall rating: ****
In celebration of Veteran's Day, let me know your favorite book about war.
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This is not exactly one of my double features, since I'm not comparing the books. But I've got two shorter books and not much to say about them. So, two for the price of one!
Bogus by Karla Oceanak
Publisher: Bailiwick Press
Publication date: October 2010
ISBN: 9781934649060
Source: review copy sent by publisher
Bogus continues the writing and drawing adventures of Aldo Zelnick, artist extraordinaire. When his grandmother Goosy gave him another art book to fill, he decided to include lots of new b-words as well. This book chronicles the adventures Aldo and his friends have when they discover a totally bogus diamond ring. Or is it?
These are fun, simple, and easy to read graphic novels. They are a great choice for reluctant readers who prefer a comic-book style read with plenty of pictures and not too many words. They also manages to include some hopefully new vocabulary that will help kids learn a bit too. Even the definitions of the words at the back are humorous enough that kids will probably want to read them. The series doesn't quite have the kid-oriented feel the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books do - it feels too much like an adult writing stuff they think kids will enjoy. I think kids will enjoy much of it, but it doesn't have quite the same appeal as those books.
Read-alikes:
Read Artsy-Fartsy first
Diary of a Wimpy Kid books by Jeff Kinney
_________________________________________
Flat Stanley's Worldwide Adventures #5: The Amazing Mexican Secret by Jeff Brown
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication date: September 2010
ISBN: 9780061429989
Source: Review copy sent by publisher
Flat Stanley is in an all-new adventure - this time traveling to Mexico to get a secret recipe. He must defeat angry bulls and angry chefs in order to find the very old woman who keeps that secret. But, no worries, he is Flat Stanley after all!
These are fun and short books that early readers will enjoy. They have a nice mix of silliness, culture, and action to keep boys and girls interested enough to finish it. Plus, there is a whole series of adventures Flat Stanley to entertain kids with. While they seem like they will be formulaic (I actually haven't read any of the others), kids will enjoy following the adventures of a familiar friend.
Read-alikes:
Lots of other Flat Stanley books
Magic Tree House books by Mary Pope Osborne
Do your students or kids like these books?
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Name that Book is a biweekly game where you get to guess a book title from the photo clues. Occasionally there will be prizes for the winner.
Since I'm planning to have two giveaways later this month, I won't be having a prize this time. But, feel free to deliver your guesses on these two titles:
Book 1:
Book 2:
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Today's topic is about Broadway musicals and theater? I've seen two Broadway shows in my life (and neither time did I pay for them - otherwise, I might not have seen any). The first was when a friend of mine invited me to see Annie back in 8th grade. I love the songs and the story of this one, so it was a lot of fun for me. Not that I actually remember much from it, though. Still, I kept the program somewhere, so I must have enjoyed it.
The second was Phantom of the Opera, which I saw locally. My church youth organization somehow managed to take a group of us up to see this when I was in high school. Mind you, we were located pretty far back and to the side. But, since I also adore the music to this one, it was a fabulous experience for me.
My husband and I prefer to see local theater, mostly because it's cheap and, well, local. While some of the shows at our favorite outdoor theater are better than others, it's always a fun experience to go. Just yesterday, we attempted to buy tickets to a local showing of The Scarlett Pimpernel. Unfortunately, all of the performances are sold out - weeks in advance. Needless to say, whatever kind of talent they have, local or not, we like to see it anyway.
What about you?
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Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication date: August 2010
ISBN: 9780312649913
Source: ARC provided by publisher
Things I Liked:
I was really impressed with this new twist on a vampire story. In a market saturated with paranormal romance and vampire stories, Maizel was able to come up with something original and interesting. I especially loved her portrayal of the pain and constant torture it is to be a vampire and to exist in that form. Lenah is definitely not a typical teenager, being plagued with her centuries of memories and former deeds. I was a bit skeptical of the way the book was going, seeing that the ending seemed inevitable and I didn't think Maizel would pull it off. But, I was truly impressed with the way she wrapped it up, not taking an easy way out. A well written story with a unique vampire premise (which I really didn't think was possible). Some interesting quotes:
My vampire past was a secret lodged in my heart. I wanted to tell Tony so that someone would really understand me, see into my soul. Vampires are haunted by pain, longing, and anger. Every imaginable sadness is pressed upon their shoulders. They are victims of torment and they cannot escape. p 42 of ARC
"Maybe this is why humans are so caught up in their own thoughts," I said, still keeping my gaze forward. "They can't see what the world is really like. If they could, they would look beyond their own dreams and preoccupations." p 211-212 of ARC
Things I Didn't Like:
I was somewhat disappointed in the romance of the book. I preferred Tony and thought he really go short-changed through the whole thing. Justin was ok, but he didn't thrill me very much. Their romance seemed rather underdeveloped, especially compared to her time with Rhode and even Vicken. Her contemporary life was not as well written and developed as her life as a vampire. Also, because of Lenah's past, she was fairly hard to relate to as a human and a teenager. The beginning was rather slow as well, things didn't get too exciting until well near the end. But, still intriguing enough that I'll read the next one.
Read-alikes:
A bit like The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller
BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@
some throughout
mrg-factor: XX
quite a few instances, though none described in detail
v-factor: ->->->
what do you expect from a vampire book?
Overall rating: ****
Have you found anything recently in the paranormal genre that stands out?
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Virals by Kathy Reichs
Publisher: Razorbill
Publication date: November 2010
ISBN: 9781595143426
Source: ARC provided by Traveling ARC Tours
Tory lives an unusual life, as the daughter of a scientist working on a secluded island. When she and her friends rescue a dog that has an experimental virus, they don't expect to catch it. Not only do they catch the virus, but it causes them to gain some unusual powers - superior vision, hearing, and sense of smell. But, what they least expect is that they've stumbled on something much bigger and more dangerous - something that others would kill to keep hidden.
Things I Liked:
It had a quick and exciting plot. The story kept you guessing and moved at a fast pace throughout. I liked the scientific details and the fact that our main characters were not afraid to be nerds. It felt a lot like a crime drama, keeping my interest with its unexpected twists and turns. Tory was a spunky and cynical character, but also had a sweeter side as well.
Things I Didn't Like:
Since it read like a crime drama, I found that I didn't enjoy the way it was written. It felt like it was written as though a person was thinking or saying things to a friend - in a very informal, fragmented way. It bothered me enough that I had a hard time enjoying the story. I also thought that while I enjoyed the scientific details, it didn't feel realistic enough to suspend my disbelief. I'm not generally a fan of popular action-adventure fiction, and this one definitely fit that description for me. But it will appeal to those who do like these kinds of books and to those who like the TV show Bones.
Read-alikes:
A bit like Dull Boy by Sarah Cross
BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@#
plenty
mrg-factor: X
some minor references
v-factor: ->->->
lots of action violence
Overall rating: ***
Do you generally enjoy these types of books? I'm starting to feel alone in these sentiments :)
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Annexed by Sharon Dogar
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Publication date: October 2010
ISBN: 9780547501956
Source: e-book provided by NetGalley
Things I Liked:
The second part of the book, the part about the prison camps, was much more powerful to me. It had a stronger punch, even if it was based on fewer "facts" about Peter. I did like how Dogar was able to create the atmosphere of suffocation and uselessness of being in hiding and unable to do anything. How dreadful it was to live there, and yet how they felt bad for hating it because they were alive and technically free. I thought it was also interesting how they wondered if Anne's depictions of them in her diary was accurate. I found the book interesting, but not quite the same as the real thing, ie Anne's diary.
Things I Didn't Like:
I found myself a little bit bored with the first part, especially when Peter was feeling sorry for himself or just lying around in bed dreaming of Liese. Essentially, I didn't much care for the depiction of Peter at all, however accurate it might have been. I definitely prefer to read Anne's own words, since she's more of a character I like and her vivacious personality was the most interesting part of the first half. I know lots of other people have enjoyed and loved it, so it could just be my own reactions to the book. It did definitely made me want to read Anne's diary again.
Read-alikes:
Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@
some
mrg-factor: XX
Peter thinks about girls a lot, but it's pretty discrete
v-factor: ->->
the privations, violence, and plain horror of their inhuman treatment
Overall rating: **
Anybody else read this and enjoyed it as much as or more than Anne's version?
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Despite my reading and blogging slump, I've been thinking about this post for a while. This fall, I've attended a LOT of author events and developed my author love. So, I'm thinking I should at the very least shout out a giant thanks to the many authors who have recently brightened my reading experience:
First, we have local author James Dashner's visit to one of my local libraries (actually, almost all of these are authors who visited one or the other of my local libraries).
If I was better prepared or just felt like carrying a camera around, I'd have photos of these events, but I don't. All author photos were stolen. Anywho, at the request of my friend Suey of It's All About Books, James came to our library as part of their fantasy author events. He talked about his soon to be released (but has since been released) sequel to The Maze Runner, The Scorch Trials (which I have started but not found the time to finish yet). It's been about a month since the event, so I don't remember many particulars. I do remember he was funny, as usual. He also secretly revealed the title of his next series of books, but told us not to reveal it. Good thing I've forgotten it already (should have written it down). I only wish I hadn't already gotten my copy of The Maze Runner signed, since I didn't have anything for him to sign. I'm hoping he'll do something local again soon, so I can bring my copy of The Scorch Trials.
Next up on my local-author-visits-local-library is Brandon Mull. I've met Mull on several occasions before (I'm one of those who is having him sign the Fablehaven series for me one book at a time - I've still got the last book to go.) Anyway, since he's such a popular author, the place was packed and we had to sit at the very back. Still, he can entertain an audience and definitely has lots of great ideas for more books. I'm especially looking forward to his new series, Beyonders, which he talked about a bit. And, once again, I don't remember much else since it was quite a while ago too. Still, another example of how many excellent local authors we have here. Here's the book I got signed this time:
I'd tell you who everyone is, but instead, I'll link you to Suey's post and Jessica of The Bluestocking Society's post, both of which have more info. Ally was very sweet and a lot of fun to listen to. We talked about how there weren't many people in attendance, but thought that by this time next year, the place would be packed to hear her. Matched is getting a lot of publicity and praise already, so I'm betting it will garner her fan base a lot. Ally was also kind enough to drop by a few minutes at our book discussion. We asked her some questions, some of which are noted in Suey's post. I enjoyed talking with and listening to Ally and expect great things for the rest of the series. In good news for you, I got both of my ARCs signed and plan to give one away later this month. Hooray!
This last weekend, I attended a fabulous and fun event at another local library with lots of teen authors. The keynote and main attraction was the exceptional Scott Westerfeld. I've been a fan of his Uglies series for some time now (and have an interesting double feature review of that book in the works). I've also recently enjoyed Leviathan and Behemoth (and now officially know how to 
pronounce those titles). His address was a lot of laughs. He talked about how a Japanese illustrated edition of Uglies inspired him to seek an illustrator for the Leviathan series. And boy am I glad he did, because I love those illustrations. The images he showed us were just fantastic (or funny). He was really kind when I got my books signed, not even laughing at me when I mentioned I pronounced the titles incorrectly. Suey snapped a photo of my and my savvy author talking skills (be sure to check out her post about the event):
Who are you author-loving this week?
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Call Me Kate: Meeting the Molly Maguires by Molly Roe
Publisher: Tribute Books
Publication date: November 2008
ISBN: 9780981461953
Source: Review copy provided by publisher
Things I Liked:
It was a very interesting and unique look at a familiar time period, a look at the Irish immigrant and coal mining experiences at the start of the Civil War. I really liked Katie for her intelligence and determination to do what she could for her family and friends. The setting is really the best part about the book. It felt very complete and helped you feel like you were right there experiencing everything Katie did. Times were hard, yet the people were resilient. While the main character is somewhat older, I think it will appeal to tweens more. An good story with some interesting history.
Things I Didn't Like:
The ending was a little too neat. Though, I did like Katie's romantic choice, which was not what one expected. It's great with its unique portrayal of time and culture, but doesn't have quite the spark and character to stand out from other narratives of the time period.
Read-alikes:
the Dear America series by various authors
BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none
mrg-factor: none
v-factor: ->
some, but not a lot
Overall rating: ***
Any historical fiction from Civil War era that you particularly love?
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It's official. I'm in a rut. I've been trying to plow through lots of books recently, both library and review copies and I'm just plain tired. I'm feeling sad that I feel like I have to "plow" through books at all. I need some kind of literary pick-me-up. Something that reminds me of just how much I love reading. I'm open to your suggestions, cause I've got nothing.
Not only is it a reading slump, I'm feeling very unmotivated to blog as well. You may have noticed a proliferation of book reviews and not a lot of anything else.* That is a symptom of my slumpage. I've just been taking my huge back log of reviews (from July - yes, I'm almost four months behind on my reviews) and posting them once a day. It's almost as tiresome for me as it is for you.
What I'm really hoping will pull me out of both slumps is a chance to mingle with some awesome local and one awesome non-local YA authors this Saturday. My library is having a teen book festival of sorts, and I'm hoping I'll at least get some food for thought if not my excitement for reading back. I've got an author-love post brewing on my back burner and this event might just move it out of the dark recesses of my mind and into the public view.
But, until then, I've only got more reviews from way back when (and a few from not-so-way-back-when) to post. Thanks for sticking with me, everyone!
*I'm even so slumpy right now that I can't even think of a nice picture to include to break up the dull text of this post.
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The Cardturner by Louis Sachar
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Publication date: May 2010
ISBN: 9780385736626
Source: Library
Things I Liked:
There is definitely nothing I've ever read quite like this story. While telling us the story of what happens, Alton throws in short sections describing how the game of bridge works, rules, tactics, etc. I loved how Alton felt like a real person - he would have been someone I would want to be friends with in high school. His sometimes snarky and sarcastic style of narrating kept the laughs coming, even when you didn't really think you would be interested in more information about bridge. I was a big fan of Trapp as well (Uncle Lester) simply because he was so stubbornly ornery about everything. And he had an interesting history. Sachar really has a way of making you like the book because you like the characters, even if you think it is a boring topic. A fun, interesting, and very unique story. Some favorite parts:
Have you ever been in a situation where you've been with someone for a while and you don't know that person's name? It's too late to ask, but you know the longer you go without asking, the more awkward it will become. ...That's how I'm feeling right now, only in reverse. By the way, my name is Alton Richards. A talented author would have skillfully slipped that in earlier, probably on the very first page. p 7
I realize it's a cliche for a teenager to be embarrassed by his parents. Cliff often complained about his paretns, but I always thought they were pretty cool. Was it possible, I wondered, that there was somebody, somewhere, who thought my parents were cool? p 89
Things I Didn't Like:
I admit that about half-way through, when a certain event happens, I lost a bit of interest in the story. I thought it went a little wacky from there, which was probably what it intended to do, but it made it less enjoyable for me. Interesting, yes, but just not where I would have taken the story.
Read-alikes:
probably just because it is also by Sachar, but it felt a bit like Holes
Aces Up by Lauren Barnholdt
Big Slick by Eric Luper
BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
very few (impressively enough)
mrg-factor: X
a hint or two, nothing much
v-factor: ->
a little mention of domestic violence
Overall rating: ****
Anything you've surprisingly enjoyed recently?
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It Started with a Dare by Lindsay Faith Rech
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin (Graphia)
Publication date: September 2010
ISBN: 9780547235585
Source: e-book provided by NetGalley
When CG Silverman moves to a new town and a new school, she's determined to be a new person. When she manages to worm her way into the good graces of the most popular cliche at the school, she must maintain her new persona of rebel and dare devil. But, she finds lying about her past, her present, and just about everything else is required to maintain all those intricate and complicated relationships she has. Will she be able to keep all her secrets?
Things I Liked:
The book showed a complicated look at popularity and the kinds of things people will do to be popular. It was also quite interesting in its depictions of the carelessness we feel toward other peoples' feelings. CG was not a person I liked or related to at all, especially in the way she treated others, but I did see that I can become just as cavalier with the feelings of other people. It played kind of a cautionary story for me.
Things I Didn't Like:
I actually really didn't like the characters or story much. CG is a sarcastic, crass, potty-mouthed jerk, to pretty much everyone throughout. She toys with people over and over and doesn't even seem to care, until she loses friends. I really got tired of her. The story was fairly interesting, but held nothing original or terribly entertaining to me. When CG does "figure it out," the message is pounded into our heads so obviously that it lacks any kind of subtlety. In short, I just wasn't impressed.
Read-alikes:
The Real Real by Emma Mclaughlin and Nicola Kraus
Snap by Carol Snow
BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@#$
plenty throughout, some strong
mrg-factor: XX
lots of discussion of it, not much actual descriptions
v-factor: none
Overall rating: **
I really liked the cover of this one, but it seems a bit deceptive. It looks light-hearted and even sweet, but totally isn't on the inside. What covers have you seen that seem deceptive?
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Name that Book is a biweekly game where you get to guess a book title from the photo clues. Occasionally there will be prizes for the winner.
Hopefully these ones will at least give you some pause before you can rattle off the answer. Feel free to make your guesses in the comments, I don't have a prize this week.
Book 1:
Book 2:
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by Just Bieber (which I will promptly donate to a school library, particularly because I had NO idea who he was :)
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