YA-D2 Dsytopian Reading Challenge

It is so hard not to join a reading challenge that speaks to one of my favorite genres and that is just what Bart's Bookshelf's YA-D2 Dsytopian Reading Challenge does.

The challenge starts October 1, 2010 and runs till December 19, 2010 so there is still time to sign-up. I have lots of books currently waiting to be read on my TBR shelf so I decided to go with level 3, which means I will be reading 5 books. 

Here is a list of books I am hoping to read for the challenge:

The Scorch Trails by James Dashner (scheduled for release Oct. 12, 2010 just in time)

Hunger by Michael Grant (I loved Gone and have been wanting to read the next one in this series)

Lies by Michael Grant (figure I might as well finish off the series)

The Other Side of the Mountain by Allegra Gooman (this is a 2011 Truman Nominee and is on my school's book battle list this year)

For the fifth book I am having a hard time deciding between these two. Both sound fantastic.

Candor by Pam Bachorz

or

Genesis by Bernard Beckett

So help me out, which one should I read?

Read-a-Series in September Challenge hosted by Rhiana Reads

My good friend and blogging buddy at Rhiana Reads is having a Read-a Series in September Challenge, with some fabulous prizes. The challenge is open internationally so make sure you go check out all the particulars.

This challenge comes at a a great time for me as I have several series I have been wanting to get to and have been putting off reading due to my ever growing TBR pile. 

So here is a list of what I am hoping to read during the challenge:

Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare ( I am more than halfway through Clockwork Angel, which is the prequel to this series).

The Gallagher Girls series by Ally Carter (I bought all four of these books when I saw Carter in June)

Carter Finally Gets It and Carter's Big Break by Brent Crawford (I signed up for the Contempt's Challenge and one of the books on the list is Crawford's third book in this series so I want to read the first two before I read the third).

Finally, Spy Glass by Maria V Snyder: I have read Snyder's other two books in her Glass Study Series and have been waiting to read this for a while.

I think I may be a bit ambitious trying to get through all these books by the end of September, but I love a good challenge.

Make sure you check out all the rules for the Read-a-Series in September Challenge and let me know what series you are going to be reading this September.

Taking Part in the Mockingjay Frenzy

While like most everyone who reads YA, I am no less excited about the release of Mockingjay this week. I absolutely loved Hunger Games and Catching Fire and am hoping that Mockingjay will be as awesome as the other two books were.

So I finally decided to decided to participate in Smitten With Books mini challenge and cast the role of Katniss, just one of many differnt challenges taking place throughout the blogosphere.

My pick for the role of Katniss is Alexis Dziena. First I think she has a face that is in many ways devoid of emotion, which I think Katniss would have, yet her eyes have an intensity that would appeal to the sponsors. Her overall appearence reeks of self-reliance and toughness, but also hints of committement and compassion for the people she is trying to protect.

She also looks like she has the ability and strength to survive,  wield weapons (especially a bow) and kill when necessary.

And Alexis looks great even when she is all wet and dirty, and if she is going to be Katniss, this is definitely a strong consideration when choosing the right girl for the role.


So what do you think? Could Alexis Dziena pull off Katniss?

Review/ Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok

When Kimberly Chang and her mother emigrate from Hong Kong to Brooklyn squalor, she quickly begins a secret double life: exceptional schoolgirl during the day, Chinatown sweatshop worker in the evenings. Disguising the more difficult truths of her life-like the staggering degree of her poverty, the weight of her family's future resting on her shoulders, or her secret love for a factory boy who shares none of her talent or ambition-Kimberly learns to constantly translate not just her language but herself back and forth between the worlds she straddles. (Publisher's comments from Powell's Books)

As part of 2010 EW Summer Challenge I wanted to read several books that were considered adult reads, but because of the protagonist’s age could also be considered crossover YA books. Jean Kwok debut novel Girl in Translation beautifully fits into this category.

Although fiction, Girl in Translation reads like a memoir. Kimberly’s voice drew me into her story from the moment I read the prologue. Her descriptions of the events of her everyday existence made it impossible for me to put the book down, or not become emotionally entangled in the story.  I became enchanted by Kimberly’s devotion to her mother and the strength it took for her to live in an apartment where mice and rats ran over her as she slept, cockroaches roamed the floors and walls, and the only heat came from a gas stove. I was furious at Kimberly’s aunt, who because she could, forced her mother and Kim to live a sub-human existence doing piece work in a sweatshop. Most of all I rooted for Kimberly as she struggled to overcome the disadvantage she had in school because of her limited understanding of the English language, and celebrated when Kimberly’s hard work helped her receive a full scholarship to a prestigious private school.

The reason I think this is an excellent YA crossover book is because it follows Kimberly throughout her high school years and authentically portrays how difficult life is for immigrant students. Kimberly’s mother does not speak English and many of the cultural aspects so foreign to American teens prevent Kim from having a normal adolescence. She cannot bring friends home, because of the way they live, she cannot date or hang out with friends because she must work everyday after school to eek out a less than living wage, and she has to study harder and longer in order to keep up her grades. Throughout the story, Kimberly never feels sorry for herself. Instead, the adversity she faces only makes her persevere more. Kimberly is a wonderful character and her story is so compelling, young adults who read it cannot help but come away with a greater understanding of how fortunate they are. I know I will certainly be more aware of the English Language Learners at my school because of this book.

Another aspect of this beautiful novel that will appeal to young adults is the romance that develops between Kimberly and Matt, a boy she meets working at the factory. Like Kim, Matt helps his mother at the factory so that they can earn more money. Their friendship develops over time and eventually turns into love. However, unlike Kimberly, Matt does not see education as his way out of the sweatshops. Instead, he works several jobs in lieu of going to school, and while I loved Matt’s character, I also feared that Kimberly’s attraction to him would sabotage her future. 

While Girl in Translation is not a fast-pace story, Kwok’s simple but elegant prose is so impressive that I read the book in one siting. The ending, although not a total surprise, was extremely satisfying. The strong themes of love, sacrifice, and perseverance in the face of adversity are seamlessly woven into the novel. This is a story that will stay with me for a long time, and I for one am anxious to read more from this talented new writer.

Review/ Glimmerglass by Jenna Black

It's all she's ever wanted to be, but it couldn't be further from her grasp... Dana Hathaway doesn't know it yet, but she's in big trouble. When her alcoholic mom shows up at her voice recital drunk, again, Dana decides she's had enough and runs away to find her mysterious father in Avalon: the only place on Earth where the regular, everyday world and the captivating, magical world of Faerie intersect. But from the moment Dana sets foot in Avalon, everything goes wrong, for it turns out she isn't just an ordinary teenage girl--she's a Faeriewalker, a rare individual who can travel between both worlds, and the only person who can bring magic into the human world and technology into Faerie. Soon, Dana finds herself tangled up in a cutthroat game of Fae politics. Someone's trying to kill her, and everyone seems to want something from her, from her newfound friends and family to Ethan, the hot Fae guy Dana figures she'll never have a chance with... until she does. Caught between two worlds, Dana isn't sure where she'll ever fit in and who can be trusted, not to mention if her world will ever be normal again...

I was totally engrossed by Glimmerglass. I found the setting quite interesting and unique perhaps because Avalon has the ability to conjure the very essence of magic for me. Dana is a really a strong character, whose decision to runaway was understandable. After all, a sixteen-year-old should not be responsible for an alcoholic parent. The book is so fast-pace that I was amazed at how quickly I was turning pages. This was because from the moment Dana arrives in Avalon she is dealing with one drama after of another, all because of fae politics, which includes both the Seelie and Unseelie court and the fact that Dana is a Faeriewalker. I was completely enthralled with Black’s imaginative world and was highly disappointed when it ended because I really wanted to read more about Dana. Unfortunately, I will have to wait for the next book in this great new series. Hopefully Ms. Black will write fast.

Review/ My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares

My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares is the most haunting love story I have ever read. Told in alternating points of view and jumping from past to present, Brashares evocative prose brilliantly intertwines plot, characterization, and setting to explore the realm of past lives and brings a new meaning to the phrase “undying love.”

The complexity of this novel’s plot is mind boggling. The fact that Daniel has lived more “than a thousand years” and has “died countless times” in and of itself would seem an impossible undertaking to explain in a little over three-hundred pages. However, Brashares masterfully weaves Daniel’s past with the present, including yet another layer to the story through Lucy’s point of view. At the beginning of the story, Brashares introduces Lucy, a seventeen-year-old girl who is inexplicably drawn to Daniel. When after two years Daniel finally approaches Lucy and tries to explain to her that she is Sophia (Daniel’s soul mate), Lucy becomes frightened and runs away, leaving Daniel desperately alone. From there, Brashares reveals, layer after layer, the emotional nature of Daniel’s unrequited love. In the meantime, Lucy continues with her life, but can never totally forget Daniel or her unexplainable attachment to him. As if Daniel’s need to find a way to connect with Lucy is not conflict enough, Brashares adds even more tension, which at the end had me riveted to the page in fear that the Daniel and Lucy were not going to connect yet again.

Daniel’s voice and story is mesmerizing. I was literally transported back in time to the different historical settings where Daniel’s new lives take him. His quest to find Sophia is fraught with disappointment after disappointment and his heartbreak became mine. It becomes clear that the only way Daniel’s soul could find peace is for he and Sophia to find happiness together. And so each lifetime he searches for his one true love. Unfortunately, unlike Daniel, Sophia does not have the memory of her past lives, so each time Daniel finds her he must find a way to explain their connection. At one point in the story as he is trying to convince Constance (one of Sophia’s lives) he begs ...

“Please believe me ... This didn’t happen by accident. You have been with me from the very first life. You are my first memory every time, the single thread in all my lives. It’s you who makes me a person.”

I don’t know about you but if someone ever told me that I would be melting like butter.

One of the most dazzling elements of this story was Brashares’ descriptions of Daniel’s memories and his understanding of life and death.

People sometimes talk about the power of first impressions, and believe me, there is truth to it. The path of your life can change in a n instant. Not just eh path of your life but the path of all your lives, the path of your soul. Whether you remember or not. It makes you want to think hard before you act.

Death is an unknowable place, but I have learned something about it over time. My state of consciousness after death and before birth is not like the normal state of waking and living, but I do have perceptions and memories from those times. It’s hard for me to gauge how time passes in those dark transitions.

and

In my shameless heart, I’ve always hoped that Sophia and I would become whole together. I hate that phrase (along with the term “soul mates”), but I can’t think of a better way to say it. I’ve always thought I could ease my sins and make myself a better person through her. I’ve had the gall to think I could love her better than anyone else could. I’ve always feared she would find completion without me, and I’d be around, stupid and unperfected, forever.

The only aspect of the novel that had me scratching my head was the introduction of Lucy's sister, Dana, who committed suicide before the action of the story began. While this fact did provide information about Lucy's background, I expected it to tie into the story later on, but it never did. 

My Name is Memory is a fantastic journey that explores the power love has even over death, and one I urge you to experienced for yourself!

Source: Purchased

Review/ Heist Society by Ally Carter

When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her to the Louvre...to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria...to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own--scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving the life for a normal life proves harder than she'd expected.

Soon, Kat's friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring her back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has good reason: a powerful mobster's art collection has been stolen, and he wants it returned. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat’s father isn’t just on the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat’s dad needs her help.

For Kat there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it’s a spectacularly impossible job? She’s got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in her family’s (very crooked) history--and, with any luck, steal her life back along the way. (Publisher's comments from Powell's Book)

The Heist Society is a totally fun and refreshing respite from many of the YA books I have been reading. The reason? Well, for one, the plot is rather unique. There are no vampires, werewolves, or faeries, it does not revolve around the mean girl scene, and romance is not the driving force behind the storyline. Instead Ally Carter combines her “love of con movies” and “fascination with bad guys who are the good guys” and gives her readers Kat, a member of a long-standing family of thieves, whose desire to escape the world she was raised in suddenly becomes complicated by her devotion to her dad. Added to this conflict, Carter provides a very scary bad guy, Arturo Taccone, historical references to Nazi lootings of masterpieces, and a mythical master thief, Visily Romani. When all these elements collide, you have an exciting adventure with an ingeniously crafted heist.

In addition to the unique plot, Carter’s characterization is beguiling. Kat the spunky main character is intelligent, loyal, with an intriguingly rational mind. One of the traits I liked best was her spontaneous banter and wit. Carter used carefully crafted dialogue to highlight this trait throughout the story. Hale, who is a bit of an enigma, is an alluring characters too. He is humorous with a roguish appeal that is hard to resist. Although Kat and Hale have only known each other for a couple of years, the ease in their repartee was a red flag that some deeper feelings were yet to be explored, and definitely something to look forward to in an upcoming sequel.

While on the surface Heist Society is about thieves, and may incur criticism about the morality of glorifying stealing, my answer to such criticism is that the story is really about family loyalty, and righting wrongs. Sadly, in our world, not everything is simply good or bad. Sometimes good people do bad things for the right reasons, which is exactly why I believe Carter created Visily Romani’s as the impetus that set Kat and her band of merry thieves off to right the wrongs of Arturo Taccone.  For me, this was a stroke of genius that made the Heist Society a Robin Hood tale with a twist. Carter definitely has a lot to work with, and I expect that the Heist Society 2 will bring back Visily Romani, and find Kat and her friends off to right more wrongs.

Source: Book Purchased

Review/ the Summer of My Skinny Dipping by Amanda Howells

Title: The Summer of My Skinny Dipping
Author: Amanda Howells
Release date: June 1st 2010 by Sourcebooks Fire
isbn1402238622   
Arc copy provided by Publisher


After getting dumped by her boyfriend, sixteen-year-old Mia Gordon is looking forward to spending a relaxing summer in the Hamptons with her glamorous cousins. But Corine, has better things to do—like ditch Mia at a party.

That’s when Mia meets boy-next-door Simon Ross. After devising a secret signaling system, Mia and Simon meet up nightly to swim in the cool, dark ocean and lie on the beach, talking and looking at the stars, Neither feels like they belong in the exclusive resort community.

Mia isn’t looking for love that summer, but she finds it. She finds a funny, artistic boy who lives boldly. She finds someone who understands her. And she finds herself (Publisher’s summary from back cover).

When I first read the publisher’s summary, I thought The Summer of Skinning Dipping was going to be a typical girl meets boy romance novel, and honestly, I am not a huge fan of that particular plot setup.  However, what I found was a much more complicated story about relationships and a few other surprises as well.

The first surprise is how much I really liked this story. Howell’s writing is descriptive and authentic.  She definitely has a strong sense of how to create characters you either love or really dislike. Mia’s is extremely likable. She has a strong sense of self and even though she lacks self-confidence in some areas, her evaluations about herself and those around her are usually spot on. After being dumped by her high school boyfriend the one thing she wants, besides being at the beach all summer, is to hang with her cousin Corine.  Unfortunately, the Corine Mia remembers from their childhood has grown up into a very self-centered snob.  Mia ends up being the country bumpkin, which exacerbates Mia’s feelings of inadequacies. The only problem I had with Mia was I really wanted her to go off on her cousins, and her mother long before she did. When she did finally speak her mind, she was a lot nicer than I would have been.

Another surprise was Simon and how Mia’s relationship with him played out.  I loved how he just showed up uninvited to Mia’s cousin’s party and how after Mia is ditched, Simon begins to discuss The Great Gatsby and call Mia, Daisy. As the story unfolds Mia and Simon begin spending nights together on the beach, and a strong friendship builds. Simon is a risk taker and helps Mia to stop being such a cautious person. Through their interactions Mia learns how great it feels to be more spontaneous.  In the end Mia realizes just how much Simon has come to mean to her, and without meaning to she falls in love with him.

The best surprise in this story was Howells’ insights into the precarious nature of relationships, and she uses these insights to create a much more complicated story than boy meets girl. Mia’s relationship with her mother for example is very strained. Her mother always seems to dote on Mia’s younger sister, who has her mother’s beauty while Mia is average looking. It doesn’t seem to matter to her mother that Mia is smart and has goals to become a marine biologist someday.  Another interesting relationship is Mia’s adoration of her aunt. Mia’s perception of Corine’s mother is very different than Corine’s. As the summer progresses Mia begins to see that not everything is as it seems even with people you think you know.  There is also the strained relationship between Simon and his father. Simon does not want to be like his father who is all about appearances and making money.  His father is tyrannical to the point of abuse, but Simon’s strength lies in his clear understanding of himself despite what others think.

The ending also reveals a huge surprise, which of course I will not reveal, but I will say that Howell crafted the ending in such a way that I didn’t see it coming.  Many of the relationship issues are revealed and some are resolved.  Howell did not rush to wrap everything up, which I found extremely satisfying.

The Summer of My Skinny Dipping is the perfect beach read.  Mia is a well-drawn character with a beautiful clear voice. She is very easy to relate and connect to, and the romance is one that drew me in.  I believe that the various relationships between the characters helped make this about more than a summer romance novel. So, if you are like me and want more than a romance novel to occupy your time this summer, then The Summer of My Skinny Dipping will definitely fit the bill.

In the Middle Monday Review/The Youngest Templar: Keeper of the Grail by Michael P. Spradlin

As an orphan, Tristan never dreamed he would travel the world or discover the truth about his past. But all that changes when the Knights Templar ride through the abbey on their way to battle. Suddenly, Tristan finds himself as a squire to one of the most respected knights. While exciting, it is also dangerous, as Tristan gets caught between rival knights desperate for power and entrusted with the most sacred relicathe Holy Grail. With the help of a young archer and a deadly warrior, can Tristan safely bring the Holy Grail back to England? Or will he succumb to the dangers of the evil men who follow in its wake? (Publisher's comments from Powell's Books)

The Youngest Templar: Keeper of the Grail is the first book in a series by Michael P. Spradlin that follows fifteen-year-old Tristan as he becomes a squire for Sir Thomas, a Knights Templar. The book is a 2011 Truman nominee, one of the Missouri Association of School Librarian’s award given to books that appeal to grades six through eight.

I found the Keeper of the Grail an engrossing adventure. Spradlin weaves authentic bits and pieces of the history of the Crusades into the story, placing Tristan in the middle of the capture and recapture of the city of Acre, by Saladin himself. Tristan is sent from Acre just as the city falls to the Saracens. Entrusted with the task of taking the Holy Grail to Scotland and the Church of the Holy Redeemer, Tristan embarks on the quest to save one of the most important relics of Christendom; a very tall task for a young boy.

Tristan is a very dynamic character. He is hardworking, courageous, and compassionate. His loyalty to the Templar Knights is unfailing despite his inexperience and naiveness. Reluctant to leave Sir Thomas, he obeys the order to take the Holy Grail. Traveling only at night he meets up with Robard Hode, a King’s Archer who after serving his conscription is also on his way to England. Together they make their way to the city Tyre. They also meet up with Maryam, an Al Hashshashin assassin injured by Hode after she and other assassins attack. Tristan unable to allow Hode to kill her, takes her along and the three join forces.

The Keeper of the Grail is fraught with battles and skirmishes as well as intrigued. Spradlin, foreshadows throughout the book that Tristan’s identity is important, which makes me curious to find out more. The book’s cliff  hanger ending was peevish, but definitely ensures that I will be picking up book two in the very near future.

I believe that Keeper of the Grail is a book that will especially appeal to middle school boys. The adventure and the various battle scenes are exciting and make this book a fast read. I also love the setting and believe that for some middle school readers the book might even encourage a desire to learn more about the Crusades and the Knights Templar. 

Blog Tour Review/The Turning Book One: What Curiosity Kills

Mary Richards is a normal sixteen-year-old girl living in Manhattan. Well, almost normal. She goes to private school on the Upper East Side, having been saved from a life of squalor by an adoptive family. But she's also slowly transforming into a cat. Struggling to hide her physical metamorphosis, Mary discovers that she isn't alone. A whole race of cat people prowls the streets of Manhattan at night, including Mary's long-time crush, Nick. Aside from heightened feline senses, hanging out with Nick is the best thing about discovering her inner kitty. But Mary's transformation is special and could decide the outcome of a citywide turf war. She must decide whether to embrace her powerful feline side and become a pack leader or go back to being a normal teenage girl. Can she land on her feet or will curiosity be her downfall? (Synopsis from Powell’s Books)

I received an ARC of The Turning Book One: What Curiosity Kills  by Helen Ellis as part of blog tour. The plot revolves around Mary, a sixteen year-old girl, turning into a cat, and not any ordinary cat, but a ruler cat.  The originality of the storyline definitely intrigued me enough be curious about the rest of the book, and while I found Ellis' writing engaging and the book fast paced, there were aspects of the book that left me unenthusiastic.

Ellis’ characterization of Mary did not quite click with me. Mary seemed younger than her sixteen years. She had never had a boyfriend, never been kissed and she had been in foster care for a long time before being adopted. Because of this, I felt Mary should have been more street-wise than Ellis portrayed her. On the other hand, Octavia, Mary’s sister, seemed more true to life. She too spent several years in foster care before being adopted and came across as much more aware of herself than Mary. Octavia was, at least for me, more dynamic and by the end of the story seemed to change more that Mary did.

The fact that this is the first book in a series means that a lot of what was not explained will hopefully come to light in the next books. Obviously, since Mary was adopted, there has to be more background about her that will be revealed. Many references to other turnings were also made, but never fully explained either, so this was frustrating too. However, Ellis did set the stage for a great deal of conflict in her upcoming books as Mary and the reader learn more about upcoming turf wars between the doms, domestic cats who turn and the strays or pure-cats.

I did enjoy Ellis’ style of writing. The narrative was very straightforward and I think Mary has a great deal of potential to grow as a character. I also like Ellis’ secondary characters all of which added to the story in one way or another. I will definitely be interested in reading Ellis’ next book in this series to see how she develops Mary’s story further.

Review/Morpheus Road: The Light

"MacHale (the Pendragon series) launches the Morpheus Road trilogy with this creepy, tension-filled adventure, in which 16-year-old Marsh Seaver is terrorized by forces he doesn't understand. It's the first week of summer, and Marsh is all alone, his widower father out of town on business, and his best friend Cooper a few hours away at Thistledown Lake with his family. Things get seriously weird when Gravedigger, a skeletal comic book character of Marsh's design, starts stalking him. Convinced that only Cooper can help him, Marsh enlists the aid of Cooper's beautiful yet frosty sister, Sydney, to get to the lake. Once they arrive, they learn that Cooper is missing and true terror is just beginning. Spooky and fraught with peril, this ghost story evokes campfire horrors and classic slasher films with a relentless onslaught of macabre imagery and mortal danger. What is Gravedigger, what does he want, and how does it all tie into Cooper's fate? Unfortunately, as the first act in a larger piece, few answers are revealed, and numerous questions are left unresolved in anticipation of the next installment. (Publisher summary from Powell's Books)

I recently finished listening to D.J. MacHale’s, Morpheus Road The Light read by Nick Podehl, and believe me this will be one of my top ten reads for this year. Bar none, this is one creepy and tense reads, and I have a new love for MacHale’s craft as a storyteller.

Morpheus Road: The Light is the first in a trilogy.  The plot is extremely intricate and the suspense if heart-pounding. In fact, from the moment Marsh Seaver first physically encounters The Gravedigger, a skeletal comic book character Marsh draws, the reader is literally catapulted, right along with Marsh, into an insane world where illusions become threatening and deadly. Listening to the book, I felt like I was running a marathon because the terror never stopped long enough for me to catch my breath. At one point towards the end of the story, I even felt relief that the events were winding down, but boy was I fooled. Instead, MacHale was only lulling me into a false sense of security so that he could blow me away one last time.

Along with the truly macabre plot, MacHale’s characters jumped off the pages making this story much more real than I would have thought possible. From the first page Marshall Seavers, the narrator, begins to weave the events so matter-of-factly that I was immediately caught up in his narration. As one bizarre event after another begins to unfold, Marsh’s reactions were typical of any rational human being: he thinks he is going nuts. I really enjoyed his thought process, which  felt like asides directed at me. For example, in one scene he is investigating a noise in his house and he admits that he was “doing the same dumb thing that people do in the horror movies. They always go to investigate. It makes you want to scream out, “Don’t’ look in the basement. Get the hell out of there, fool!” 

Two other characters in the book really helped bring out Marsh’s personality because they were total opposites. Marsh describes his best friend, Cooper, as completely different than him. Cooper never worries or thinks things through, he is great in social situations, loves to play sports, and doesn’t care what other people think. He is a risk taker and quite the comedian. Sydney, Cooper’s older sister, is the queen of snarkiness and ends up as Marsh’s side-kick as they search for Cooper. Her icy demeanor with her parents and Marsh hides a vulnerability that is eventually revealed as she and Marsh share some extremely scary moments. All three characters provide moments of comic relief that was certainly needed to offset the extreme suspense that fills each chapter of the book.

Morpheus Road:The Light is an extreme read right up to the very end. The tension and the suspense grips you so tightly that is near impossible to put the book down. If you love scary stories then trust me this is one of the best. Just make sure you keep the lights on as you read.

In the Middle Monday Review/Suddenly Supernatural by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel

As an eighth grade middle school teacher, I tend to read more young adult fiction than those often designated as middle school. However, as a committee member of an Area Wide Book Battle I am also responsible for finding books that will appeal to sixth and seventh graders too. Some young adult books, in my opinion work for all the middle school grades, but there are many that do not. 

Therefore, In the Middle Monday Reviews will be a place for me to specifically review middle level books geared for tweens. 

In the tradition of the loveable but flawed heroines from Louise Rennison's Georgia Nicholson Books, Kathleen O'Dell's Agnes Parker novels, and Lois Lowry's Anastasia Krupnik books comes Elizabeth Cody Kimmel's Kat Roberts. All Kat wants is to be normal, or at least to look that way to students at her new school. But her mother is a medium, and not the kind that fits in between small and large; Kat's mom is the kind of medium who sees spirits and communicates with them. And, even worse, Kat has just discovered that she can see spirits too. In fact, she seems to be the only one capable of helping a spirit at her school cross over successfully. The question is can she do it without needing to switch schools herself? (Publisher's comments from Powell's Book)

I picked up Suddenly Supernatural: School Spirit by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel because it is a 2010/2011 nominee for Missouri Association of School Library Mark Twain Reader’s Award. This means that teachers, librarians, students and parents felt the book was original and it’s literary value may enrich children’s lives. After reading the book I can see why it was chosen.

I found Kat, the main character, quite relatable and easy to connect with because she is like most seventh grade girls; she wants to fit in and have friends. Unfortunately, Kat has a few things that make fitting in difficult. First, she is relatively a newbie to the school; next, her mother is an “incense burning, Indian-skirt-wearing vegetarian who interacts with dead people;” lastly, ever since Kat turned thirteen, she has started seeing ghosts. Kat is unsure how to deal with her new ability, mainly because she feels that it will cause her be the brunt of jokes and untold other embarrassments from her junior high classmates.

Kat is joined by two other characters, who help make Kat’s adjustment to her ghost seeing ability easier. Kat’s mother is one. I loved the relationship Kat has with her mother. Her mother is very supportive and is quick to listen to Kat when she has a problem and her advice is solid. The other character is Jac, short for Jacqueline. Jac is even newer to school than Kat and she drags around a cello that is almost as big as she is. What I really liked about Jac was she could care less about being part of the popular crowd. Together Kat and Jac share each other’s secrets and a mysterious ghost helps both girls wrestle their inner angsts.

School Spirit is a cute story whose main message is about learning to accept one’s self. It speaks strongly about standing up for what’s rights instead of blindly following what is most popular. It is a perfect story for the tween audience. Kimmel also has three other books in this series, Crossing Over, Unhappy Medium, and her newest release Scaredy Kat.

I have included a video I found where Kimmel talks about her series. I will definitely be reading more from this series.

Review Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork

In Marcelo in the Real World, Francisco X. Stork introduces a different type of protagonist that forces the reader to redefine the incessant need to label people who are different from the norm. Marcelo, may not be able to read facial expressions with the accuracy most of us take for granted, or navigate city streets with ease, and his conversations might be stiff and self-conscious, but his story is one that will have you rooting for him to succeed.

The main conflict in the story is that Marcelo’s father, a successful Mexican-American Harvard lawyer, wants Marcelo to venture out of his protected environment and enter what his father sees as the “real world.” He makes a deal with Marcelo that requires him to work for the summer at his father’s law firm instead of at Paterson, Macelo’s private school for disabled children, taking care  the therapy ponies that Marcelo loves so much. If Marcelo’s summer job is successfully completed then in the fall Marcelo will be allowed to return to Paterson instead of attending a “normal” high school. This sets into motion Marcelo’s foray into a world of competition and deceit, and his success is threatened when he finds the picture of a young girl whose face is disfigured from a windshield manufactured by his father’s biggest client. Unable to forget this girl, Marcelo’s is forced to make a decision with painful consequences.

Marcelo is one of most extraordinary characters I have ever met. Despite the challenges he faces he understands himself in a way that I myself envy. He knows he is different and is able to explain his difference ...”I view myself as different in the way I think, talk, and act, but not as someone who is abnormal or ill.”  He has a “pervasive interest in God” and music and these special interests are a huge part of who he is.He has a child-like innocence when dealing with others, but he is also very attuned to what constitutes right and wrong. In the "real world" it becomes obvious that those special qualities might get lost. Throughout the story, I found myself greatly concerned and hoping that Marcelo does not lose himself as he develops the "street smarts" his father feels is necessary for Marcelo to survive.

As the story progresses and Marcelo interacts with various other characters in the book. He begins to form a relationship with Jasmine, the mailroom clerk who has been given the task of teaching Marcelo his job at the firm. Jasmine is a well-drawn character. She is patient with Marcelo, but she is also very straightforward, and genuine. She is quick to ask Marcelo what’s wrong with him. The intercourse that takes place as Marcelo explains to Jasmine about his differences, and special interests is definitely one of my favorite scenes. As the summer progresses a bond between Jasmine and Marcelo is formed.  With Jasmine’s help, Marcelo is able to figure out the right thing to do not only about the ethical problem he faces with his father’s law firm, but with his future.

Another character Marcelo interacts with is Wendell, the son of his father’s partner, who is also working at the firm for the summer. Wendell is a self-serving, rich snot whose arrogance is almost comical and clearly understood each time he interacts with Marcelo. Where Wendell is conniving and deceitful, Marcelo is genuine and forthright, and it was very satisfying to see how Marcelo eventually bests Wendell.  Both Jamsine and Wendell provide a great deal of insight into Marcelo’s character and allows the reader to see Marcelo’s growth in the story.

I was enthralled with Marcelo in the Real World. Stork truly understood his characters and while this is not a fast-paced book, it was never a boring read. I loved the layers the plot offered and how important each character was to the story. If you have not read Marcelo in the Real World,  I strongly recommend that you do as it is a wonderful book with a wow factor worthy of five cherries.

Review/ MagicKeeper: The Pyramid of Souls by Erica Kirov

It was stolen from Alexander the Great. To keep it safe, Edgar Allen Poe bargained away his sanity. And somebody suckered P. T. Barnum to get their hands on it. It's the most closely guarded secret in the magician community. And it's missing.

What would you do to protect your family from an ancient pyramid capable of stealing your very soul?

Nick Rostov finally has the life he's always dreamed-and he'll do anything to protect it.

Nick has only now discovered he is part of an extended Russian family of magicians: the Magickeepers. He lives with his eccentric new relatives at the Winter Palace Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, where they perform daring feats of magic to a packed house. Real magic.

But Nick and his family face a new danger in the form of a stolen relic, the Pyramid of Souls. The tiny pyramid has traded hands many times throughout history. Its power can steal a magician's very soul.

Nick knows who took it: Rasputin, leader of the Shadowkeepers. Using his unique ability as a Gazer-one who can see into the past-Nick enlists his cousin Isabella to help him find it. Soon, the two are hot on the evil sorcerer's trail...until Isabella's soul is trapped by the very relic they're trying to find.

Nick will do anything to rescue Isabella and recover the Pyramid of Souls. But will it be enough to save his family?(publisher's summary from Powell's Books)

In the second book of the Magickeepers’ series Erica Kirov once again has created a charming magical story about Nick Rostov and his unusual family. The plot revolves around an ancient relic that has the ability to capture the souls of magicians so that their magic can be used for evil.

Nick is still learning about his magic along side his cousin Isabella, whose magical gift allows her to communicate with animals. The head of the family Damian Rostov, is hosting a magical convention and when the Pyramid of Souls is stolen, and Isabella literally disappears, Nick risks his own life to save the ancient artifact and Isabella.

Although I did not read the first Magickeepers book, Kirov did a fantastic job at providing enough background about Nick’s past so that I did not feel lost. Nick is a typical thirteen-year- old boy except of course for his ability to see into the past, and make things disappear. He prefers pizza to borsch and tends not to practice his magic as much as his Uncle Damian expects him to. He also enjoys staying up late with his cousin Isabella and playing cards.  Nick is smart though and when Isabella’s very soul is at stake, Nick, despite the risk to his own safety, manages to come up with a plan to trick Rasputin, the head of the Shadowkeepers, and retrieve both the Pyramid of Souls and Isabella.

The Pyramid of Souls is a perfect middle school adventure filled with characters that are easy to relate to and magic that is straightforward and fun. I loved Isabella’s pet Siberian tiger, Sascha and the different references to Edgar Allen Poe, PT Barnum, and Sir Issac Newton. Nick is brave and impetuous, but manages to save the day. The ending, although fairly predictable, does have a surprise turn to it, which I thought added just the right amount of suspense. I think the Magickeepers series is one that will delight the tween audience and would recommend it as an additional to all middle school libraries.

Review/ The Prince of Mist by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

It's wartime, and the Carver family decides to leave the capital where they live and move to a small coastal village where they've recently bought a home. But from the minute they cross the threshold, strange things begin to happen. In that mysterious house still lurks the spirit of Jacob, the previous owners' son, who died by drowning.


With the help of their new friend Roland, Max and Alicia Carver begin to explore the strange circumstances of that death and discover the existence of a mysterious being called the Prince of Mist--a diabolical character who has returned from the shadows to collect on a debt from the past. Soon the three friends find themselves caught up in an adventure of sunken ships and an enchanted stone garden--an adventure that will change their lives forever. (Publisher's summary from Powell's Books)

Although I found The Prince of Mist mildly scary, it definitely was a suspenseful read. From the moment the Carver family arrived in the small coastal town and their new home, strange things occur. Each new mysterious event serves to propel the story forward, and as the characters learn about the “mysterious being called the Prince of Mist,” an extremely creepy villain, the spook factor certainly rises. 

Zafon’s writing makes this book a true horror story. There is an eerie atmosphere that pervades the setting, and creeps into the consciousness of the reader very much like a mist. This is achieved through the author’s sensory details. Most of his description provides strong visual, auditory, tactile, and even olfactory experiences geared at provoking an emotional or psychological response.

The Prince of Mist is suspenseful with interesting characters that have the ability to hold the story together. The mystery is intriguing enough to maintain the reader's attention through out. While I liked the book, I did not love it. I definitely wanted a bigger scare factor and for me this fell short. 

Review/Storm Glass by Maria V. Snyder

As a glassmaker and a magician-in-training, Opal Cowen understands trial by fire. Now it's time to test her mettle. Someone has sabotaged the Stormdancer clan's glass orbs, killing their most powerful magicians. The Stormdancers--particularly the mysterious and mercurial Kade--require Opal's unique talents to prevent it happening again. But when the mission goes awry, Opal must tap in to a new kind of magic as stunningly potent as it is frightening. And the further she delves into the intrigue behind the glass and magic, the more distorted things appear. With lives hanging in the balance--including her own--Opal must control powers she hadn't known she possessed...powers that might lead to disaster beyond anything she's ever known. (Publisher's comments from Powell's Books)

Always playing catch-up, I came to Maria V. Snyder after seeing tons of reviews on Storm Glass, Sea Glass, and her new book, Spy Glass, which is due for release in September. Like all curious book bloggers, I wanted to read for myself the reason so many other bloggers rave about this series. Therefore, with high expectations, I borrowed Storm Glass from my local library and am happy to add my name to the long list of satisfied readers.

Storm Glass is a well-crafted book. The plot, which is intricately layered with background and present action, was mesmerizing and presented several interesting twists and turns that kept me quickly turning pages. One of the many complications I liked was Opal’s attraction to Kade. Timing seemed all wrong for these two. I was also completely caught up with the on-going investigation into the problems over the storm glass, and where the investigation led Opal.

However, it is Opal’s character that made this book so enjoyable. Opal’s need to be more than a one-trick-wonder kept me rooting for her to succeed. I liked her venerability because it made her perseverance and self-discoveries more realistic. Opal’s interactions with the men in the book was interestingly developed and certainly made Opal’s adventures more exciting.  Kade, the stormdancer, of course was and is still my first choice as Opal’s love interest, and the ending did satisfy my desire that this relationship would evolve into more than the hit and miss encounters the two seemed to have throughout the book. Ulrick, who Opal meets and encourages to step out of his mother’s shadow, at first appeared to be a possible love interest too, until he turns obsessively protective. But, the most intriguing male figure in the story, Blue Eyes, definitely fascinated me in a scary "oh no he isn’t" kind of way.

Since I came to this series first, I now understand that Opal’s background comes from Snyder’s Poison Study series, and Storm Glass does frequently refer to the events and characters from those books. It took me a while to digest some of the background as I read, but it never caused too much disorientation. I liked the world created in this book and will certainly read Sea Glass before the third book, Spy Glass, is released.

Review/ The Knife That Killed Me by Anthony McGowan

Paul Vanderman could be at any normal high school where bullies, girls, and annoying teachers are just part of life. But “normal” doesn’t apply when it comes to the school’s biggest bully, Roth a twisted and threatening thug with an evil agenda. When Paul ends up delivering a message from Roth to the leader of a gang at a nearby school, it fuels a rivalry with immediate consequences. Paul attempts to distance himself from the feud, but somehow Roth keeps finding reasons for him to stick around. Then one day Roth hands him a knife. And even though Paul is scared, he has never felt so powerful. (Publisher's summary from book flap)

I first posted about The Knife That Killed Me on one of my Waiting on Wednesday posts. I had picked up Jack Tumor, Anthony McGowan’s funny but poignant book about a boy with a talking tumor and mentioned in my WoW post that if The Knife That Killed Me was anything like Jack Tumor then I really wanted to read it. Surprisingly, McGowan left a comment on my post to tell me that his new book was definitely not humorous but in fact a “dark, dark, thriller with an unpredictable twist.”  Boy was McGowan right!

The Knife That Killed Me is a compelling read. McGowan hooked me in the very first page, by describing an ancient knife with magical runes made from a meteorite and forged in Persia. The cursed knife’s history spans generations and as I read I was sucked into the narration, which then makes a 180 degree turn when the narrator’s voice turns and admits the knife that killed him wasn’t a special knife at all, but a kitchen knife from Woolworth. With this turn, McGowan begins to build Paul’s voice, which is strong and real. The tension in the story is palpable and builds continually through out.  Paul describes vividly each incident in a series of events that leads to the startling climax and conclusion of this dark tale, and his commentary is grippingly honest about how being bullied feels...

“I could feel my self blushing. That might seem weird to you, but one of the main things about getting picked on is it makes you ashamed. I felt a pressure building up inside me, made out of the shame mixed up with anger and fear. Some of the other kids in the class noticed what was happening. Some of them looked at me and then looked away, feeling bad, feeling pity. Some joined in with the sniggering, glad it wasn’t them.”

Rotha, the bully, in the story is one of the most evil characters I have run across in a novel. He is not a bully you can ignore and he will just go away. He is brutal, yet clever at manipulating those around him through shrewd intimidation. Paul falls victim to Rotha’s manipulation describing  the experiences as a “soft intimate” encounter that gave him a “warm glow…a kind of happiness warmth and peace” at not being the victim of  Rotha’s brutality. Instead, Rotha pulls Paul into a devious plot to engage a rival gang in a fight that leaves in its wake the innocent murder of one of Paul’s friends. While I definitely see Rotha as the villain in this story, Paul’s choices cannot be overlooked, and although in the end I did feel compassion for Paul and even understood on some level why he acted as he did, I also was aghast. My strong reaction is a testament to McGowan’s skill as a writer. This is definitely not a story for the faint of heart, but I think it is a story that needs to be read and would hope the experience would make teens think twice before allowing a bully to terrorize them or to indulge in bullying others.

 Book purchased from Amazon.

Review/ Mistwood by Leah Cypess

In the forest of Mistwood lives a legendary creature with the ability to change from human form into a wolf, bird, cat, even mist. As an immortal creature, the Shifter has one purpose: to protect the King of Samorna whenever there is a need to do so. But when Rokan, the current heir to the Samorna throne asks Isabel to be his Shifter and swear her loyalty to him, Isabel is unable to remember anything about the past or her ability to shift.  Without her abilities how will she be able to protect Rokan?

When I first heard about Mistwood I was very excited. The premise of the story totally intrigued me, and I really liked the idea of a Shifter as a main character. However, while I enjoyed the book, I felt that it had some flaws that kept me from really loving it.

 On the positive side, I think Cypess did a terrific job creating an interesting plot. Being a huge fan of courtly intrigue, Mistwood presents all the great elements needed to hold the reader’s attention. There is of course the soon to be crowned King, Prince Rokan, who fears that his life is in danger because his father killed the previous Samorna King and his family. Then there is Rokan’s sister, Clarrise, whose loyalties are suspect since if Rokan is killed, she would become Queen.  Besides the Shifter whose magical abilities are definitely lacking, there are magicians, attempts on Rokan’s life and a murder. The intricate tale has some definite twists and surprises that make this plot extremely complicated and engaging till the end.

On the down side, I was not wholly enthralled with any of the characters, except Clarrise who elicited a strong disliked in me emotionally.  While Isabel’s character was an interesting idea, I never really connected to her on a personal level. She seemed two dimensional. I kept hoping that her shifting abilities would manifest and was disappointed when they didn’t. I was also disenchanted with the relationship between Rokan and Isabel. I kept thinking that something more between these two characters would occur and yet emotionally there never seemed a real motivation for those feelings. I did find the animosity between Isabel and Clarrise heady. Every time these two women interacted sparks flew.  However, I wanted those same sparks to fly romantically between Isabel and Rokan and all I felt was a smoldering ember that fizzled.

Although I found Mistwood’s story well thought out even complex in the various plot twists, I was disappointed with the characters.  I do however, think that Cypess is a talented writer and look forward to reading another book by her in the future.

2010 EW Summer Books

I am a blog hopper. I love checking out a ton of blogs to see what new things they have posted. I am currently following a lot of blogs and it is almost a full time job making the rounds at least once a week. Naturally, I have my favorites as do most bloggers, and sometimes I admit I still lurk, but since I really love when other bloggers stop and leave comments, I do my best to leave a comment when I stop by.

Anyway, today I hopped over to Beth Fish Reads, which has been on of my favorite blogs early on. Beth writes great reviews and is fairly eclectic in her reading tastes. Today she was posting about yet another challenge that was started by Julie at Booking Mama and while I need another challenge like I need 10 more pounds, I took a look at some of the titles and decided since I already planned on reading a couple of them why not go for it. So here is the plan:

I will be reading 4-6 books which places me in the Guppy level.

Here are the books I have chosen for the challenge:

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Lucy by Laurence Gonzales

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephanie Meyer 6/11

Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok

The Passage by Justin Cronin

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender 6/10

I opted for books on the EW list of  "18 Books We Can't Wait to Read" (which is where Julie got her inspiration for the challenge) that either had young adult or children as character even though they are not all considered YA reads.

So you need yet another challenge check out Booking Mama and sign up. Summer is just around the corner.

Review/Gringolandia by Lyn Miller-Lachmann

Daniel’s papá, Marcelo, used to play soccer, dance the cueca, and drive his kids to school in a beat-up green taxi—all while publishing an underground newspaper that exposed Chile’s military regime.

After papá’s arrest in 1980, Daniel’s family fled to the United States. Now Daniel has a new life, playing guitar in a rock band and dating Courtney, a minister’s daughter. He hopes to become a US citizen as soon as he turns eighteen.

When Daniel’s father is released and rejoins his family, they see what five years of prison and torture have done to him. Marcelo is partially paralyzed, haunted by nightmares, and bitter about being exiled to “Gringolandia.” Daniel worries that Courtney’s scheme to start a bilingual human rights newspaper will rake up papá’s past and drive him further into alcohol abuse and self-destruction. Daniel dreams of a real father-son relationship, but he may have to give up everything simply to save his papá’s life. (Summary from book jacket)

Gringolandia is a story that from the very first page had me riding an emotional rollercoaster. I was aghast at the inhumane treatment Daniel’s father suffered. I felt ashamed that I knew nothing about the historical events that Lyn Miller-Lachmann so carefully researched. I ached for Marcelo and his family as they all tried to adjust and come to terms with the six years taken from them. I was proud of the way Daniel continued to care about his father despite his destructive nature, and I was happy and satisfied with the story’s outcome.

There are several reasons why Gringolandia affected me so intensely. One is certainly because I found the plot so complex. Miller-Lachmann had to show several years within a short period of time. No easy task without making the reader either bored or dizzy. However, her effective use of flashbacks and alternating points of view to weave the various events together in order to produce a beautiful and vivid story of people definitely had a great deal to do with playing with my emotions.  

The two major themes in the story were certainly another reason why I felt so emotionally involved. First, the book looks at survival. Marcelo survives unimaginable torture during his imprisonment. The idea that one man could continue to endure so many atrocities without breaking is beyond my comprehension.  Knowing the pain he suffered made his character much more real to me. It also helped me understand his inability to give up and accept the safety of life in the United Sates once he was released and ordered out of the country he so obviously loved. However, Marcelo was not the only one who had survived. His wife and children, Daniel and Tina, were also survivors. Coming to the U.S. after Marcelo’s arrest could not have been easy. Not speaking the language, fitting in at school, finding work, all of these things that I take for granted were huge obstacles they faced when they had to relocate from their home that now threatened their very existence. 

The other theme that tugged at my emotions was Daniel’s desire to have a relationship with his father. For me, this is the element in the story I connected with the strongest. Daniel’s desire is also the main conflict. First, Daniel has to overcome his feelings of guilt over his father’s arrest. Then when Marcelo is released and comes to America, Daniel has to find a way to reconnect with a father whose memory does not match the reality of the person he is now. Early in the story Daniel expresses this conflict after listening to his father describe his reasons for his actions:

“Papa’s words race through my mind. I want to think of him as a hero and me as the son of someone who did great things. Like investigating secret prisons and bearing witness to what went on there. But there’s a huge empty space in my chest when I think of all the time we missed together. Five years, three months, and sixteen days, to be exact. And when I walk out of the studio, my fists are again clenched, and my neck and shoulder ache, as I think of  how he put us in danger, ordered us out of the country⎯and still wants to go back there.”

The disparity between Daniel and his father continues for most of the story. Daniel has adjusted to life in America while it is obvious that his father will never accept "Gringolandia" as home. However, as Daniel begins to understand more about his father, the gulf between their beliefs begins to shrink. In the end, Miller-Lachmann provided me with an understanding of just how important it is to bridge the differences that parents and children often have with each other.

Gringolandia is a luminous novel. Miller-Lachmann’s prose is vivid, her command of plot structure amazing, and her ability to create characters whose voices are so real they jump off the page is dazzling.  Every time I tried to write this review, I found it impossible to convey the power I felt on every page. This is not a book to be missed.

About the Author:

Lyn Miller-Lachmann is the Editor-in-Chief of the MultiCultural Review, author of the award-winning reference work Our Family, Our Friends, Our World: An Annotated Guide to Significant Multiculteral books for Children and Teenagers and the eco-thriller Dirt Cheap, and the editor of Once Upon a Cuento.

Gringolandia  is a 2010 American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults and has been named a finalist in the ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year contest in the YA Fiction category.

Also be sure to check out a really great interview with Lyn Miller-Lachmann over at The Rejectionist and her review post on Readergirlz of Dreamer Girl by Pam Munoz Ryan.