Review: Fallen (audio) ~ by Lauren Kate

Review by Shellie for Fallen ~ by Lauren Kate (audio)

The first in a popular young adult/middle grade romance series about a teenage girl who is required to reside at a boarding school for troubled youths. But the students are not normal delinquents – they are fallen angels.

About:  Luce is seeing things that her parents and the other adults in charge (teachers and the police) think are not real. That she appears to be responsible for the death of a fellow classmate (he burned to death) does not help either.  It’s understandable that Luce is required to attend a school for damaged teens, a boarding school called Sword and Cross. 

Luce is depressed at her apparent bad luck, lost in the old school’s halls where she does not quite fit in with the other students. She feels conflicted about her responsibility for her classmate’s death, and is also experiencing things that are out of the normal but that she knows are real – even though no-one else believes. She misses her mom and dad and the students at the boarding school are not very nice to her. When she meets Daniel, she cannot forget him and has trouble understanding why he likes her one minute then ignores her the next. Soon she finds that Daniel is not what he appears and that they have a past which is way more complicated that she could ever imagine.

Thoughts:  This is my second go at this book. This time I listened to it in audio and enjoyed it. The reader has a pleasant young adult voice which I found easy to listen to. I abandoned the print version of the book in its arc format several years ago because it did not draw me in during the first several chapters. However, in its audio version I had no trouble completing the story.

As a person with a degree in education, I thought the book felt like a great one for middle-grade girls. It was easy to listen to, has light romance, and I would mark it as a “clean read” for early teens and pre-teens. There are some Christian and reincarnation themes which may be of interest to some, and just enough horror to keep most young readers interested.

Although I enjoyed the audio book, I personally do not feel a big desire to complete the other books in the series (there are another 5) and therefore give the book a 3 star. An enjoyable listen that I would recommend for tween girls, their parents and teachers looking for an intriguing dark romance for their female children/students.

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Read by Justine Eyre; Listening Library; 10 hours, 56 minutes; December 2009.

This completed series includes a prequel and 4 sequels. For more information about the author and her books link to Lauren Kate’s website: http://laurenkatebooks.net/

Review: In the Sea there are Crocodiles ~ by Fabio Geda

Review by Shellie for: In the Sea there are Crocodiles ~ by Fabio Geda (audio)

A purportedly true, but billed as fiction, tale of a young man’s harrowing travels out of Afghanistan into various countries. Struggling as an illegal immigrant he eventually obtains political asylum in Italy.

About:   Enaiat wakes up one morning to find his mother has abandoned him in Pakistan, after their small family’s flight from their home village in Afghanistan. Their village had been overtaken by the Taliban, who believe that Enaiat’s people have no value and treat them as such.

His mother, forced to leave her son for her survival, advises him on how to behave while he is asleep as she departs. So begins this young boy’s travels to many different countries where he is all but accepted. He finds that there are crocodiles not only in the sea but almost everywhere, with the title referencing an attempt to cross the Mediterranean in a too small rubber dingy to find relative safety. This is Enaiat’s amazing tale as he tries to find a home, sustenance and survival.

Thoughts:  A short and engrossing novel at only 224 pages, it’s been translated from Italian to English. Author Fabio Ceda tells Enaiat’s story to the reader from the boy’s perspective – in the first person with occasional interjections and questions for the boy by the author. Due to the nature of memory and the lack of concrete evidence to support a factual book, the story has been designated fiction.

I listened to the book in audio and found it was hard to put down. I couldn’t stop rooting for Enaiat while admiring his ability to get by in the most horrific circumstances. This is my favorite kind of narrator – one who overcomes the odds no matter how difficult the situation, and Enaiat’s experiences where at times terrifying.

This book is a testament to the human spirit and the will to not only survive but to thrive no matter the situation. Highly recommended to anyone who is interested in the Middle East and particularly Afghanistan. It’s a 3.5 star read in my opinion and is also done well in audio. Recommended for adults but especially teens.

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In the Sea There are Crocodiles ~ by Fabio Geda; Howard Curtis (Translator) US|UK|Canada. 224 pages; Doubleday (August 9, 2011.)

• For more about the book please see our Incoming Book’s section for July 8th, 2011.
• For a review for the book from the UK Guardian click this link.
• For more book where young adult are faced with difficult situations link to the UK Guardian’s - Top 10 Tough Stuff books for teens.

Thanks for reading.

Review: Cinder ~ by Marissa Meyer

Review by Shellie for: Cinder ~ by Marissa Meyer

A science fiction/fairytale with a strong female protagonist and a handsome prince. It’s a fun start to what looks to be very popular and exciting young adult series.

About:  In a future world, plague is ravaging the population and everyone lives in fear of being it’s next victim. The main character, Cinder, is a teenage cyborg - a human with artificial and computerized body parts, including a too small artificial foot that she is self conscious about and has had since she was ten. Sadly, as a cyborg, Cinder is not considered entirely human in this society and has very few rights. So the story starts with a special and discriminated against main character.

She lives in what is now considered New Beijing with her unkind stepmother, two step sisters (one is evil and one nice), and a sweet robot helper. She works as a mechanic - the best in the overpopulated city. She is the forced provider for her family, though her stepmother allots her only a closet sized room and dirty oil stained clothes. Cinder however, while berated in her home and society, is reasonably comfortable in her less-than-human place in this future world’s hierarchy. Life is looking up since she has found a replacement for her too small foot and there is to be a coronation for the local prince with a ball to celebrate. When Cinder meets the prince unexpectedly (he needs help with a broken android) it appears as if the Prince likes her.

As things become complicated and drama ensues, it becomes clear that Cinder may be a factor in saving their world.

Thoughts:  This is a sweet and fun story and I just loved Cinder. She is imperfect and smart and stands up for herself. She works hard and gets beyond the grease and grime and does something of value other than fix her hair and make-up. She also has the gumption to tell off some evil and unkind people in the story, creating some excellent dialog that teens will love. Me too – it kept me rooting for this character. 

I listened to this book in audio as well as read bits here and there. It was done very well with the reader having a strong and pleasant voice, which helps make an audio book listenable for me. It’s an interesting and surprising take on the original fairytale, with some unusual twists, a strong and smart heroine, some interesting science, and paranormal aspects, all of which kept me happily reading/listening. The only negative aspect for this story is that it’s a cliff hanger – so if you read this book you will most likely be sucked into the rest of the series. Sad thing is that you will have to wait for the next several books in the series as this was just released. Nevertheless, it’s a great book for young adults and adults that love teen reads; a fun one too! In my opinion this sci-fi-ish fairytale re-working gets a 4.5 star rating.

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400 pages | Feiwel & Friends | Age 12 and up | January 2012

This book has been amazingly popular, has been given many wonderful reviews, and is well deserving too. Take a a look at this interesting review at io9 for Cinder.

For more information link to our - Incoming Books feature which includes Cinder.

Thanks for reading.

Children’s Choice Book Awards 2012 ~ Vote for your Favorites!

Share the joy of reading during Children’s Book Week ~  May 7th to the 13th.

You can support this fun and important week NOW with a vote for your favorites in the Children’s Choice Book Awards! 

For more information here is a clip taken from the Book Week Online web site:

 

 

One hallmark of Children's Book Week is the Children's Choice Book Awards, the only national child-chosen book awards program! The awards celebrate books, authors, and illustrators that capture the interest and imaginations of kids and teens.

Awards are given in six categories:

• Kindergarten to Second Grade Book of the Year
• Third to Fourth Grade Book of the Year
• Fifth to Sixth Grade Book of the Year
• Teen Choice Book of the Year
• Author of the Year
• Illustrator of the Year

Finalists for the younger readers are determined through the Children's Choices program, a joint project of the CBC and the International Reading Association since the 1970s. Teen Choice finalists are voted on by teen readers at TeenReads.com, an online home for teens to learn about new books and share their thoughts about what they read. Author of the Year and Illustrator of the Year finalists are compiled by the CBC from Bookscan, New York Times bestseller lists, and USA Today bestseller lists.

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Vote for your favorites at www.BookWeekOnline.com by May 3!

Here are the choices:

Kindergarten to Second Grade Book of the Year

• Bailey by Harry Bliss (Scholastic)
• Dot by Patricia Intriago (Farrar, Straus and Giroux/Macmillan)
• Pirates Don’t Take Baths by John Segal (Philomel/Penguin)
• Three Hens and a Peacock by Lester L. Laminack, illustrated by Henry Cole (Peachtree)
• Zombie in Love by Kelly DiPucchio, illustrated by Scott Campbell (Atheneum/Simon & Schuster)

Third Grade to Fourth Grade Book of the Year

• Bad Kitty Meets the Baby by Nick Bruel (Roaring Brook/Macmillan)
• A Funeral in the Bathroom: And Other School Bathroom Poems by KalliDakos, illustrated by Mark Beech (Albert Whitman)
• The Monstrous Book of Monsters by Libby Hamilton, illustrated by Jonny Duddle and AlekseiBitskoff (Templar/Candlewick)
• Sidekicks by Dan Santat (Arthur A. Levine/Scholastic)
• Squish #1: Super Amoeba by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm (Random House)

Fifth Grade to Sixth Grade Book of the Year

• Bad Island by Doug TenNapel (GRAPHIX/Scholastic)
• How to Survive Anything by Rachel Buchholz,illustrated by Chris Philpot (National Geographic)
• Lost & Found by Shaun Tan (Arthur A. Levine/Scholastic)
• Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt (Clarion Books/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
• Racing in the Rain: My Life as a Dog by Garth Stein (HarperCollins)

Teen Book of the Year

• Clockwork Prince: The Infernal Devices, Book Two by Cassandra Clare (Margaret K. McElderry Books/Simon & Schuster)
• Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor (Little, Brown)
• Divergent by Veronica Roth (Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins)
• Passion: A Fallen Novel by Lauren Kate (Delacorte/Random House)
• Perfect by Ellen Hopkins (Margaret K. McElderry Books/Simon & Schuster)

Author of the Year

• Jeff Kinney for Diary of a Wimpy Kid 6: Cabin Fever (Amulet Books/Abrams)
• Christopher Paolini for Inheritance (Alfred A. Knopf/Random House)
• James Patterson for Middle School, The Worst Years of My Life (Little, Brown)
• Rick Riordan for The Son of Neptune (The Heroes of Olympus, Book 2) (Disney Hyperion)
• Rachel Renée Russell for Dork Diaries 3: Tales from a Not-So-Talented Pop Starz (Aladdin/Simon & Schuster)

Illustrator of the Year

• Felicia Bond for If You Give a Dog a Donut (Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins)
• Eric Carle for The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse (Philomel/Penguin)
• Anna Dewdney for Llama Llama Home With Mama (Viking/Penguin)
• Victoria Kann for Silverlicious (HarperCollins)
• Brian Selznick for Wonderstruck (Scholastic)

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There are some great books here, go on and vote for your favorites!

Review: A Long Long Sleep ~ by Anna Sheehan

Review by Shellie for: A Long Long Sleep (ARC and Audio) ~ by Anna Sheehan

A young adult science fiction novel that examines some of the moral issues around the ability to put humans to sleep for extended periods of time.

About:  Rosalinda (Rose) has been in “stas” (chemically induced sleep inside a tube) for 62 years. She was “forgotten” in a basement and awakes to a world very different from the one she left. Of course she doesn’t quite fit in. Understandably Rosalinda is weak, thin, and has difficulties relating to other teens because her mannerisms and language are old-fashioned.

Even more complicated is that there appears to be an unknown force that is stalking her and wants her dead. Rosalinda does not quite understand why and also doubts her perceptions that it could actually be happening. As she discovers who she really is and attempts to capture the heart of her “not so available prince charming” (there is a thin thread linking it to the fairy-tale sleeping beauty), the reasons become clear as to why she has remained asleep for so many years. Worse yet, perhaps it was not a mistake.

Thoughts:  First I want to mention that I particularly liked this little snippet from the book. It is where the main character Rose is conversing via a tablet of sorts to a friend, which allows a form of texting. She is asking this genetically altered male Otto (who has blue skin) about his girl friend Nabiki:

Is Nabiki interesting?

Very. She has many layers of thought. Which is why she can feel hostility and sympathy for you at the same time. ~ page 105

It was really fun to read a novel that has the blog name in it!

Interestingly, I read the first half of this book from Net Galley in its ARC ebook format. I finished it in audio which is the cover you see above. I also took a look at a paper copy and read several chapters that way too. I liked seeing the differences in the versions and will have to say that I enjoyed the first half of the novel in the ARC format the most. The published version had been changed a bit from the ARC and the audio version had a reader which presented Rosalinda as depressed, and whiney. I understand why this characteristic was used to depict her, however, it is one that I did not like listening to in audio.

All in all this book is one of the meatier young adult dystopian books that I read during the 2011 year. I liked that it had real science as a basis for the world’s technological advancements and that the author addresses some interesting issues, moral and legal, around the ability to be able to put someone to “sleep” for long periods of time. Most importantly and unusually she addresses what may happen when the sleeping beauty does not get the so called prince.

I give this young adult book 3.5 stars. I liked it a lot and wonder how it would have felt if I had completed the ARC version in the time allotted with the expire-able version. Conversely, reading these several versions made me curious about the differences between them and why publishers and editors make the changes they do.

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Bio:  Anna Sheehan’s A Long Long Sleep is her first novel. She lives in rural Oregon. For more information link to her website.  http://annasheehan.com/

Audio Edition Stats: Unabridged; read by Angela Dawe; Publisher: Brilliance Audio; 9 hours, 8 minutes; Release date: Aug 2011

This book was read mostly in 2011 and completed in 2012. It will be included in the Basics Challenge where I explore speculative fiction, and where I really need to update with a post for both blogs… sheesh!

Happy Wednesday.

Review: Eddie (The Lost Youth of Edgar Allan Poe) ~ by Scott Gustafson

Review by Shellie for:  Eddie - The Lost Youth of Edgar Allan Poe ~ written and illustrated by Scott Gustafson

An adorable mystery for middle grade readers – especially boys! It has incredible black and white line drawn illustrations. It can be seen as a book for literary minded and reluctant readers and as an introduction to this fine American author.

About:  Eddie is the nick name for Edgar Allen Poe and the story is based upon the author’s humble beginnings, as we find out more about how he was born, raised, and lived.

Young Eddie attempts to get himself out of trouble when a powerful next door neighbor’s prized rooster and the local tom cat are hung on a weather vein in a bag during the middle of the night. Eddie is blamed for creating the ruckus by the entire neighborhood and especially by his father.

Thoughts:  I just loved this cute short story, the drawings are lovely black lined and delicately done and will break up the reading for younger or reluctant readers. The story is cute and has a deeper appropriate age level message – which states “if you know who you are and are honest and truthful that is what matters most - even if others do not believe you”. 

The story has a touch of the speculative. Our young hero has his own personal imp - which is based upon one of Poe’s stories “The Imp of the Perverse” (actual story is linked via the text). Eddie experiences the human conundrum where one often chooses to follow an internal voice (called by Poe the “imp”) rather than a better and more reasonable form of logic, therefore creating many human problems. Poe believed that it is human nature to follow this “imp” which persuades us to wait until the last minute to accomplish important responsibilities.

This book can be seen as a roll model for children, as well as for youngsters whose interest are literary rather than athletic or social. An important story about one of my favorite classic authors. 3.5 stars for this perfect Halloween “treat” rather than a bag full of candy – or in addition too!

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Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849)  was an American author, poet, editor and literary critic. Best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre, Poe was one of the earliest American practitioners of the short story and is considered the inventor of the detective fiction genre.

Born in Boston, Massachusetts; he was orphaned young when his mother died shortly after his father abandoned the family. Poe was taken in by John and Frances Allan. His publishing career began humbly, with an anonymous collection of poems, Tamerlane and Other Poems (1827).

In January 1845 Poe published his poem, "The Raven", to instant success. On October 7, 1849, at age 40, Poe died in Baltimore; the cause of his death is unknown and has been variously attributed to alcohol, brain congestion, cholera, drugs, heart disease, rabies, suicide, tuberculosis, and other agents. Poe and his works influenced literature in the United States and around the world, and his work appears throughout popular culture in literature, music, films, and television. A number of his homes are dedicated museums today.

There is a new movie coming out in 2012 with John Cusack as Poe – article and trailer here via Criminal Element dot com.

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Are we all getting that wonderful chilling feeling that is so perfect for the season? Have a great day!

EAP picture source and bio info – Wikipedia

Review: The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of her own Making ~ By Catherynne M. Valente

 

Review by Shellie of  ~ The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making ~ by Catherynne M. Valente (illustrated by Ana Juan)

A sweet and whimsical tale with images of strength, valor and courage. It’s a poetic and fantastical hero's journey especially for girls (and some boys too!)

About:   September is twelve and like many children of that age she is bored and confused about life; feeling stifled by her chores - especially washing the household’s flowery china teacups. It does not help that Dad is off fighting for the country and mom is working in the war efforts; tough times for a young girl, creating the natural desire to escape the perceived drudgery which is normal for all youngsters of that age.

In her imaginings of something beyond her regular world she is visited by a Green Wind in a smoking jacket and whisked off to Fairyland. There she looses her heart and a shoe while meeting a variety of diverse fairies and fantastical creatures, while learning a thing or two about herself, the true meaning of friendship, and what is truly important in life.

Thoughts:     With whimsical and imaginative prose akin to poetry (Catherynne Valente has an unusual grasp of language and is actually a poet),  the book has meanderings with deeper archetypal and metaphorical threads creating a story that has wording that is often like a poem.

Contrastingly the story has “real life” issues placed strategically in it, where the main character faces tough situations which are not glazed over or skirted. There are sections which touched me deeply, creating a giggle or a heart-tug from September’s experiences.

Perhaps seen as an introduction to fairy lore for the uninitiated, or a revisit for the more advanced reader, the book contains many different fantastical creatures. Since I have never heard of a Dryad, Spriggans, Pukas, Marids, and perhaps a Golem, it was a lesson for me. There is an intriguing theory around the evolution of fairies – from frogs; which I liked so much. (Macmillan has a downloadable document; a bestiary for the book which is lovely and amusing.)

Will tweens and teens like it? I think most will. However, as one of the “uninitiated” adults (I have not read a lot about fairies), I found the text esoteric in areas - which may have changed since it I read the book in an arc format. So I would recommend it for precocious youngsters beyond their reading level (due to its vocabulary – check out widdershins!), older tweens and teens, children well versed in fairytales and their language, or to teachers and parents to read out loud to students or children. I would have loved having this read out loud to me as a youngster.

As a story for most age levels, it is a tale about fairies with old fashioned yet relevant ideals which may help solidify and reestablish it - strong girls/children become strong women/adults; perseverance does make a difference; and one’s home is the best place to be (mostly). I loved this whimsical and special book and rated it 4 stars.

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The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making ~ Young Adult - Grade Range: 5 to 9, Age Range: 10 to 14 ; Hardcover: 256 pages; Feiwel & Friends (May 10, 2011) For some brief information link to see our preview for it.     US|UK|Canada.

Catherynne M. Valente ~ is the author of over a dozen books of fiction and poetry, and is best-known for her urban speculative fiction. This, her first novel for young readers, was posted online in 2009 and won the Andre Norton Award. Cat Valente lives on an island off the coast of Maine with her partner, two dogs, and an enormous cat.

Ana Juan ~ is a world-renowned illustrator known in this country for her wonderful covers for the New Yorker magazine, as well as the children's books The Night Eater, and Frida, written by Jonah Winter. She lives in Spain.

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More fun stuff:

• Cat Valente will also be touring the Western states in the next several months and will be at BEA. Check out her schedule at the Macmillan site.
• The best is the book’s trailer – it is short and sweet with lofty and whimsical music and illustrations. Highly recommended 1 1/2 minute of your time! 
• You can purchase it’s music for $1 dollar at ~ S. J. Tucker’s site where they have other fun tunes to sample. If you have a few minutes it is well worth your time. (I am thinking to buy one album for a post birthday present.)

This book will be included is a variety of challenges – The Basic Challenge; I think it may fit into the Myth Challenge. (Text links to our current challenge list if you are interested or want to join.)

Thanks for reading!

For Children’s Book Week (May 2nd till the 8th) ~ links to reviews of books we enjoyed!

 

It’s Children’s Book Week!

Since 1919, Children's Book Week has been celebrated countrywide with author & illustrator appearances, parties, storytelling, and other book-related events in schools, libraries, bookstores, clubs -- anywhere where kids and books connect.

It is sponsored by Children’s Book Council – CBC  and Every Child a Reader.

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One of life’s special pleasures is reading – so in an effort to support literacy and a love of reading, here are a bundle of reviews of books for children, tweens and young adults. Click on the book covers to access our reviews!

Book Crush: for kids and teens ~ by Nancy Pearl US|UK|Canada. 

A perfect reference book if If you are looking for  recommendations for books that kids, tweens and teens will want to read. Every parent, teacher and librarian should have access to this easy to handle small soft bound book with wonderful lists galore!   

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Young Adult:

Wither (Chemical Garden Trilogy # 1) ~ by Lauren DeStefano  US|UK|Canada.

With a gorgeous and perfectly fitting cover, Wither is a dark young adult dystopian novel for older teens.

Delirium ~ by Lauren Oliver  US|UK|Canada.

Set in a future US, where love is considered a disease and the cause for all social ills. Everyone is to be “cured” by the age 18 via an operation which is not entirely safe or effective.

Pathfinder ~ by Orson Scott Card US|UK|Canada.

It’s a dryly humorous young adult science fiction novel which includes the elements of time travel and the building blocks of an amazing and science-filled world.

Neverland ~ by Douglas Clegg US|UK|Canada.

What happens when the horrors of family relationships cause innocent boys to seek refuge in a dark, dank place which has its own secrets and a terrible past?  A nice creepy southern gothic tale of innocence lost.

The Hunger Games ~ Suzanne Collins US|UK|Canada.

This is a clever and intriguing story with a strong character that you really root for.

The Prince of Mist ~ by Carlos Ruiz Zafon US|UK|Canada.

A diabolical entity—the Prince of Mist—can play tricks with time even on film.

Inside Out ~ by Maria V. Snyder US|UK|Canada.

A wonderful introduction to science fiction and dystopian society for younger teens - especially girls.

The Last Survivors Trilogy ~ by Susan Beth Pfeffer

A young adult trilogy in which an apocalyptic event has occurred - the moon has been knocked off its orbit. Two separate stories which come together in a heartbreaking conclusion.

1. Life as We Knew It ~ US|UK|Canada.
2. The Dead and The Gone ~ US|UK|Canada.
3. The World We Live In ~ US|UK|Canada.

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Children and Tweens:

The Tempest ~ rewritten by Ann Keay Beneduce US|UK|Canada.

This is a child’s picture book and is a retelling of Shakespeare’s play.

The Arrival ~ (a wordless novel) by Shaun Tan US|UK|Canada.

With realistic and lovely pictures, done in shades of sepia and greys, this graphic novel - without words – is a speculative representation of the immigrant experience.

The Bat Scientist ~ by Mary Kay Carson US|UK|Canada.

Bats are an endangered species all over the planet. As a way to understand that they are not scary and mean, but important to our planet’s health, this book can help.

 

Mommy’s Black Eye ~ by William Bentrim US|UK|Canada.

Two wonderful non fiction books by self published author William Bentrim.

 

Daddy Goes on a Trip ~ by William Bentrim US|UK|Canada.

Keeper ~ by Kathi Appelt US|UK|Canada.

An almost ten year old girl who lives on the beach by the gulf of Mexico in Texas decides to look for her “mermaid” mother on a boat trip out to sea.

 

The Magic Warble ~ by Victoria Simcox  US|UK|Canada

Kristina is a smart girl on the verge of being a teenager. Before Christmas vacation her teacher gives her a mysterious present – an unusual and light filled globe.It is the “Magic Warble” which will save a fantastic realm from a very evil and heartless queen. 

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Remember the covers link to our review posts for each of the books above which we read and loved.

Happy Reading!

Review: The Arrival ~ (a graphic novel) by Shaun Tan

 

A review by Shellie for: The Arrival ~ (a wordless novel) by Shaun Tan

With realistic and lovely pictures, done in shades of sepia and greys, this graphic novel - without words – is a speculative representation of the immigrant experience.

About: This is a graphic novel told only in shaded colorless pictures, with contrasting elements colored in cool for darker aspects of the journey and warm for happier. It is a book for everyone but especially children; it tells of the many difficulties, complications, and of course the joys of the universal experience when immigrating from one country to another. With realistic pictures contrasted with fantastical images it mixes the familiar with the alien, which is a metaphor for the immigrant experience. It is realistic yet speculative in nature.

Thoughts:  This book has gorgeous drawings showing the main characters experiencing a range of emotions when arriving in a place completely different from their known home. It shows the difficulties of trying to communicate without knowledge of the new language, the sorrow felt when separated from family members, and of course the inevitable fear of the unknown. With images which are fantastical it is easy for a young person to relate to the “alien” feel when arriving in a different country.

Apparently, the author spent 5 years researching the book in his attempt to show the “universality of the immigrant experience”. With its pictures it “translates” for the reader in a way that is understood without language; It’s the first book I can remember “reading” that does not have words. With its talented artist/author, I recommend it highly for use in classrooms as well as homes, where an explanation is needed for around experiencing different cultures. This is a lovely and important book which I liked a lot; I’d give it 3.5 stars.

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Amazon purchasing links for US/UK/Canada; Ages 9-12; 128 pages; Arthur A. Levine Books (October 1, 2007)

The Arrival was borrowed from our local library. We love ours, support yours!

It will be include in the Graphics Novel Challenge, Speculative Fiction Challenge, The Basics Challenge, and New Author Challenge.

Thanks for reading.

Review: The Tempest ~ retold by Ann Keay Beneduce, illustrations by Gennady Spirin

 

Reviewed by Shellie:  ~  The Tempest ~ rewritten by Ann Keay Beneduce with movie tie in information and more!

We are such stuff as dreams are made on…..

About:  This is a child’s picture book and is a retelling of Shakespeare’s play. It is about Prospero, the Duke of Milan, and his small daughter who are set adrift on the sea by the king of Naples and Prospero's evil brother. They are conspiring to acquire his land and holdings, but do not murder Prospero and Miranda since the evil doers do not want to be blamed for their deaths.

However, Prospero is a magician of great talent and he and Miranda survive the incident. They are washed up on an enchanted island inhabited by a variety of magical beings – both good and bad. Taking refuge in a cave, they try to live a peaceful and happy life. As Miranda comes of age Prospero knows she will need the companionship of others, so he conjures up a storm which blows his brother’s traveling ship onto the rocks around the island. He and the remaining crew are brought on shore, but because this includes the conspiring king as well as the king’s son, the story has just begun.

Thoughts:  Ah Shakespeare, the incredible and articulate bard from days of yore. What I would not give to understand his wonderful and archaic language. Difficult as the verbiage it is for adults, it is much more so for children. With consideration to the many wonderful tie-ins around this fantastical story, it’s a shame not to have a simpler basis on which to build an understanding. That’s where a book like this can come in, as a way for adults to help children understand and to introduce them into the language of old England, and the wonders of ~ The Tempest.

With lacey and old fashioned illustrations from Gennaday Spririn, the co-author has included current language which is understandable for children (and for adults like me). Yet for authenticity she has included some brief and easy to understand quotes from Shakespeare’s actual work – like the one prefacing this review. (I have always wondered where that familiar line had originated). Helped by the illustrations, it is a way for children and adults to further understand the basis for Shakespeare’s complex story lines and language. I liked this book a lot and give it 3.5 stars.

I am actually surprised there are not more picture books as well as a graphic novel for the tale published. If  there are I could not find one (hint to artists and publishers).

Purchasing links for this out of print book - US|UK|Canada; Ages 9-12; Hardcover: 32 pages; Philomel; 1st Ed. edition (March 19, 1996)

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A new movie version has just been released (PG-13), with an incredible cast including Helen Mirren (as Prospera – I like the gender switch) and Russell Brand (as Trinculo – who is not mentioned in the above book). We are very excited as we love these English actors. I have included the movie trailer; the movie was out on December 10th (in the USA). It’s the perfect family holiday film!

 

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Here are two books which I hope to read soon, which are based upon The Tempest from Tor. We see Miranda here on these amazing covers. I think Tor has the best covers for fantasy. Don’t you?

• Prospero in Hell ~ by L. Jagi Lamplighter; Amazon US/UK/Canada
• Prospero Lost ~ by L. Jagi Lamplighter; Amazon US/UK/Canada

For publisher’s blurbs see Layers of Thoughts preview for the L. Jagi Lamplighter series on Prospero.

For more Shakespearean spin-offs and a very fun post link to io9 ~ for the Coolest Shakespeare Riffs in Fantasy and Science Fiction.

Have a great day ~ its almost Christmas!

Review: The Christmas Knot ~ by William Bentrim (illustrations by Christi Schofield)

 

The Christmas Knot ~ by William G. Bentrim  (illustrations by Christi Schofield)

A young Hardy Belch, his cousin Mardi and his dog Tiny discover even problems can end up beautifully at Christmas.

Shellie’s thoughts:  A self published book, it is a short story with cute illustrations that helps children to realize that no matter how hard we try, at times things don’t always work out as planned. But even if they don’t, it is not always a bad thing. With a slightly Christian theme in the story, which includes the Nativity scene, it is a pleasant story for the season that children and parents will love. I liked this cute light story with a positive message and would give it 3.5 stars.

Unfortunately the cover pictured here does not do The Christmas Knot justice, and is not very clear. However, you can see how nice it is from a YouTube review which the author has created about the book. It only lasts a little over two minutes and is quite funny with a little skunk giving the review that children will love.

Amazon purchasing links for US|UK|Canada; Ages 9-12; Paperback: 30 pages;  CreateSpace (July 10, 2010)

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Bill’s other children’s books reviewed here:

• Review for ~ Mommy’s Black Eye; Amazon links US|UK|Canada.
• Review for ~ Daddy Goes On a Trip: Dealing with Travel and Deployment; Amazon links US|UK|Canada.

I loved the above books, with their difficult subject matter and sweet yet sad illustrations. They are important additions to homes and families in transition, as well for professionals who work with families.

Previewed here:

• Preview for ~ The Adventures of Hardy Belch (Volume 1);  Amazon links US/UK/Canada.
• Preview for ~ What About Me? (illustrations by Christi Schofield); Amazon links US/UK/Canada.

Reviews for the above books coming soon!

William G. Benetrim is our friend. He has several blogs where he does short and interesting reviews in a variety of genres – mostly mystery, science fiction and fantasy. To contact him you can link to one of his personal blogs ~ Pick of the Literate, The Azure Dwarf, Money Saving Tech Tips, his professional website, or his author’s page on Goodreads.

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The holiday stuffing (for the turkey and yourself), family fun, and partying is almost here. Do you have all your shopping done?

Review by Shellie: The Bat Scientists ~ by Mary Kay Carson

 

A great book with incredible pictures. It is perfect for the Halloween and fall season.

Synopsis:  A preteen and children’s book based upon a group of people whose aim is to educate children (and adults too) about our fellow planetary inhabitants - bats.  It is written by scientists with a love of this special but ugly animal.

Bats are an umbrella species –  if they are protected then it naturally extends to the protection of other species, helping them to thrive and survive. Sadly many species of bats in the US and around the world are in danger of extinction due to habitat loss, incorrect beliefs and myths, as well as a mysterious disease called white nose syndrome which is addressed in the book.

This book helps to teach by giving children and young adults science- based information about the importance of  bats to local ecosystems. It also includes some disgusting and buggy scatological information which children love.

My Thoughts:  I love love love bats. They are so cute – ugly cute.  Most with faces only a mother could love. They are also an indicator species. Their health is an indication of our planet’s health, our warning – the figurative “canary in the coal mine”.  You can’t help asking the question, if bats are dying, what’s next?

This book is simple and intriguing, with some incredible pictures, and a bunch of enlightening facts that everyone should know. Its a great fall read for the classroom and a trick or treat gift instead of candy or sweets. And besides, did I mention that I love bats - 4 stars. 

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Amazon purchasing links are for US/UK/Canada. This book has just been released.

For more information on the book and the authors please see Layers of Thought's preview for The Bat Scientists. Its the 4th book down on the post.

Some additional interesting links to peruse – Bat Conservation Trust in the UK, Organization for Bat Conservation in the US. Please feel free to link any other organizations for bats in the comments and I will add them to this list.

This book was requested for review from NetGalley, and then granted access by the publisher. Its a great place to go if you have an ereader to find interesting and eclectic books for review.

Don’t you just love this time of year? We do, waiting all year long for the cooler weather here in the AZ desert. Have a lovely day!

Preview: ZAN-GAH ~ Book One and Two by A. R. Shickman

 

A note on previews:  This is a series preview for two young adult books. It contains publisher data, author bio, and purchasing links. A review is coming with personal opinions and thoughts.

About:  In book one - the hero, Zan-Gah seeks his lost twin in a savage prehistoric world, encountering suffering, captivity, conflict, love, and triumph. In three years, Zan-Gah passes from an uncertain boyhood to a tried and proven manhood and a position of leadership among his people.

This book includes themes on - survival, cultures, gender roles, psychological trauma, nature's wonders and terrors

About:  In book two - the prehistoric saga continues in Zan-Gah and the Beautiful Country, the sequel to the award winning Zan-Gah: A Prehistoric Adventure. In this story, Zan s troubled twin brother, Dael, having suffered greatly during his earlier captivity, receives a ruinous new shock when his wife suddenly dies. Disturbed and traumatized, all of his manic energies explode into acts of hostility and bloodshed. His obsession is the destruction of the wasp men, his first captors, who dwell in the Beautiful Country. When he, Zan-Gah, and a band of adventurers trek to their bountiful home, they find that all of the wasp people have died in war or of disease. The Beautiful Country is empty for the taking, and Zan s people, the Ba-Coro, decide to migrate and resettle there. But the Noi, Dael s cruelest enemies and former tormentors, make the same migration from their desert home, and the possibility develops of contention and war over this rich and lovely new land. 

Bio: ZAN-GAH  author Allan Richard Shickman conceived Zan's adventure after thousands of miles of travel through mountains, deserts and forest land.  The idea for this exciting story was born in a cave deep beneath the earth— in the company of hundreds of bats.

Allan is an artist, teacher, actor, author, historian, gardener, and former Boy Scout.  He has published articles in The Art Bulletin, Art History, English Literary Renaissance, Studies in English Literature: 1500-1900, Notes and Queries, and Colby Quarterly.  He was also Art and Music Bibliographer for Shakespeare Quarterly.  He has had many letters in various newspapers, including a dozen in The New York Times.  Allan taught the history of art at the University of Northern Iowa for three decades.  He now lives and writes in St. Louis.

For more information about the author and his books go to the website for ZAN-GAH.

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Paperback: 160 pages

A Prehistoric Adventure:

• Publisher: Earthshaker Books (July 15, 2007)
• Amazon purchasing link in US/UK/Canada

And the Beautiful Country:

• Publisher: Earthshaker Books (September 26, 2009)
• Amazon purchasing link in US/UK/Canada

These books were sent by Earth Shaker Books for review. Thank you Bonnie!

Review by JD: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

 

This is a clever and intriguing story with a strong character that you really root for

John’s Thoughts:  With a little prompting by Shellie I read my first Young Adult novel, a dystopian story by a New York Times bestselling author – and I must say that I enjoyed the read.

It is set in some undisclosed time in the future, a long time after America (and the world?) has been beset by some catastrophic events. The specific cause and nature of the catastrophic events are not disclosed, but what we do know is that in the remnants of the land that used to be America, there now exists the nation of Panem – an autocratic Capital city with twelve distant districts that it rules with a rod of iron.

There used to be a thirteenth district, but after they staged an unsuccessful rebellion against the rule of the Capital, the thirteenth district was totally destroyed to teach them all a lesson. Furthermore, to serve as a constant reminder of the social structure and to help keep the districts in their place, the Hunger Games are initiated. Each year every district has to send one boy and one girl to the Capital, to take part in a televised fight to the death. The competition takes part in a different arena each year, and the Gamemakers ensure the game takes several days and is full of surprises to keep the viewers entertained. The last living competitor wins personal fame and relative fortune, not to mention kudos and prizes for their district. The Games are the social and entertainment highlight of the year, and no efforts are spared in the buildup to each year’s event.

Katniss is a young teenage girl who lives in the downtrodden twelfth district, which specializes in coal mining. Her father died in a mining accident and she has become the main breadwinner for the family, leading to a life of illegal hunting in the woods surrounding the district. This makes her tough and resilient and she feels particularly protective of her weak younger sister, Prim. When Prim has the misfortune of being chosen as district twelve’s girl competitor in the Games, Katniss has no hesitation in volunteering to take her place. And so begins the strange process leading up to the Game and the desperate struggle to stay alive. The story builds to a climax, where the competitors try to maintain some dignity and pride and even start to rebel against the Gamemakers.

This is a clever and intriguing story line and Katniss is a strong character that you really root for. While she has some strengths and skills that can help her, Collins makes her a very human and believable figure, and she clearly has weaknesses too. Katniss doesn’t believe that she has any real chance of winning, but she keeps on plugging away. Importantly, she learns two lessons. While she hates doing it, she has to play to the camera which can result in some small assists to help give her an edge. She also realizes that the only way to keep progressing is to team up with other smaller/weaker competitors – despite the fact that only one person can ultimately survive.

This is a strong book that I think many people will relate to – either young adults or older adults. It’s a powerful story that certainly makes you think. And however outrageous the Hunger Games may sound, you can look at what has happened to reality TV over the last twenty years and you can’t help but fear what it might be like twenty years on from now.

On the downside, there are one or two key characters that didn’t quite feel right, and the book ended with some irritating loose ends that were not tied up. It wasn’t until I got to the end that I realized this was the first book in a series. Even if a book is part of a series, its always nice if the book stands on its own and you don’t feel pressured to have to read the next one.

Overall I’d rate this 3.5 stars. I’d recommend it to anyone who likes dystopian fiction. I’d also recommend it to anyone who likes a strong female lead – Katniss is a great character.

• The Hunger Games
• by Suzanne Collins
• ISBN-13: 978-0-439-02349-1
• Pages 374: hardback
• Scholastic Press, 2008

Links for purchasing:

• Amazon purchasing links for The Hunger Games #1 are US/UK/Canada.
• Purchasing links for Catching Fire #2 are US/UK/Canada.
• Purchasing links for Mockingjay #3 are US/UK/Canada.

As always John/JD will be addressing your comments. He almost always responds,  so please remember to check the follow up box.

Thanks for reading Layers of Thought.