The Lost Conspiracy

Hardinge, Frances.  The Lost Conspiracy.  New York: HarperCollins Children’s Books, 2009.  ISBN: 9780060880415.  US $16.99.  576 pgs.

Annotation:

      Hathin has always taken care of her sister Arilou who is one of the Lost, special people who have the ability to disconnect their senses from their bodies.  Then one day all of the Lost on Gullstruck Island are killed except for Arilou.  Haithin and Arilou begin a quest to find the murderer before the murderer finds them.  Recommended for ages 12+ because of some violence.

Cover from Goodreads.com

Book Talk:

            Gullstruck Island is a beautiful, vicious island that is home to several volcanoes and strong storms.  To survive these dangers the tribes of Gullstruck rely on the Lost, people with the ability to throw their senses out into the world. 

“Most Lost could move their senses independently, like snails’ eyes on stalks.  Indeed, a gifted Lost might feel the grass under their knees, taste the peach in your hand, overhear a conversation in the next village, and smell cooking in the next town, all while watching barracudas dapple and flit around a shipwreck ten miles out to sea.”

And then one day all of the Lost die except for one young girl.  Arilou has never been tested as a Lost and has hardly had any training.  In fact, she relies heavily on her younger sister Hathin for everything.  But each girl holds secrets that could change or save the fate of their world.   

 

Book Review:

            Hardinge borrows from many different cultures in this book but still manages to create a wholly new world filled with lively characters and an interesting if complicated plotline.  For the most part, The Lost Conspiracy moves quickly but there are parts in the middle where the action stumbles a bit before picking up.  Mainly this happened when Hardinge had to describe the superstitions and traditions that influenced a character’s actions.  Overall, this is a delightful book perfect for anyone 12+ who loves fantasy worlds and strong female characters.

Awards and Honors:

2009- one of Kirkus Review's Best Young Adult Books of 2009

          2009- one of School Library Journal’s Best Books of 2009

 Want to know more about this book or author?  Check these out:

 

Author Site: http://www.franceshardinge.com/

 

Other Reviews:

            Aug. 15, 2009 Kirkus Reviews

   Aug.26, 2009 Young Adult Books Central blog review 

 

Listen to an excerpt from The Lost Conspiracy
 

 

The Dragons of Noor

Carey, Janet Lee.  The Dragons of Noor.  New York: Egmont USA, 2010.  Hardback.  ISBN: 9781606840351. US $17.99.  416 pgs.

Annotation:

       Seven hundred years ago the dragons were exiled from the fairy world of Oth because they killed humans.  Now the Waytrees, the only bridges between the worlds of Oth and Noor, are dying.  Hanna and Miles Ferrell are asked to help the dragons save the Waytrees and both worlds.  Recommended for ages 12+ due to some scenes of graphic violence.

Cover from Goodreads.com

Book talk:

            In The Beast of Noor Miles and Hanna Ferrell battled the Shriker and saved Enness Isle from a terrible curse but now something else is threatening the world of Noor.  Children are being swept away by magic winds, the magic Waytrees are dying, and dragons are battling man. Can these two heroes save the day, and their world, again?

 

Book Review:

            Carey did a wonderful job creating an entirely new world in The Beast of Noor and carried it through in The Dragons of Noor.  While the previous book spent a fair amount of time split between the main characters, The Dragons of Noor is more of Hanna’s story than anyone else’s.  Although Hanna is an utterly good heroine she is still a believable character with doubts and quirks and Miles is still featured enough for anyone who likes their heroes flawed.      

            I’d recommend The Dragons of Noor to anyone 12+ who loves fantasies, quests, or dragons.  There are a few scenes of violence which are few and far between but can get a little bit graphic for those out there who are squeamish.  Although The Dragons of Noor was written as a sequel to The Beast of Noor, it can be read as a stand-alone book.

Awards and Honors: none

Want to know more about this author or book?  Check these out:

Author Site: http://www.janetleecarey.com/

Author Interviews:
      Oct.15, 2010 interview in The Book Crumbs blog

          April21, 2011 interview in The Spectacle blog

Read an excerpt from The Dragons of Noor (PDF)

Witch & Wizard

Patterson, James & Gabrielle Chaorbonnet.  Witch & Wizard.  New York: Little, Brown, and Co, 2009.  Hardback.  ISBN: 9780316036245.  US $17.99.  314 pgs.

Annotation:

       The world is changing around the siblings Whit and Wisty Allgood. A new government has come into power, one that loathes creativity, individuality, and above all magic.  Then one night the government comes for Wisty and Whit and they begin a race for survival.  Recommended for ages 11+. 

Cover from Goodreads.com

Book Talk:

            One late night Wisty and Whit Allgood are kidnapped from their beds, taken by agents of a new world order where individuality and creativity are banned.  Something about Wisty and Whit Allgood scares the leader of this new government so they are thrown in prison with barely a trial but the brother and sister escape with the help of powers they didn’t know they had.  Now the siblings must find their parents, save the world, and discover if they really are the foretold Witch & Wizard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book Review:

 

            There seem to be a lot of gimmicks in this book rather than any deep characters or plot lines but the book is entertaining enough.  The book alternates between the view points of the main characters Wisty and Whit Allgood which is an interesting concept but is poorly executed at times just because both characters don't always seem to have a distinctive voice.  For fans of the Maximum Ride series by Patterson there are several references to the series used as an inside joke.  In many ways, Witch & Wizard reads like a movie probably because of the physical humor and descriptions used by Patterson.  I’d recommend this book to anyone 11+ who is looking for a quick, entertaining fantasy or adventure story.

"I really enjoyed this book because of its fast paced action and suspense. It has a equal amount of all genres like fantasy, fiction and ect. This book makes me feel sad and amazed at the same time." Christi R., 14.

Awards: none

Looking to find out more about this book or author?  Check these out:

Author Site: http://www.jamespatterson.com/
            
                   Follow Patterson on facebook

Author Interviews:        

        Jan 11, 2010 video interview by Hachette Book Group

        Jan 27, 2010 Telegraph interview with Patterson about writing

 

Watch the offical booktrailer created for Witch & Wizard:

 

 Find more videos like this on Max-Dan-Wiz

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Riggs, Ransom.  Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.  Philadelphia: Quirk Books, 2011.  Hardcover.  ISBN: 978-1-59474-476-1.  US $17.99.  348.

 

Annotation:

      Jacob grew up hearing stories of the orphanage his grandfather stayed in during World War II.  He didn't really believe them until his grandfather died sending him on a quest to find the orphanage and discover the truth behind the stories and himself.  Recommended for ages 14+ because of the overall aura of horror and some violence.

Book Talk:

            Sixteen year old Jacob grew up hearing stories about the orphanage his grandfather stayed in during World War II.   It was run by an unusual bird-lady who smoked a pipe and minded children with peculiar powers. There were girls who could float and boys who could lift rocks over their heads.  His grandfather even had pictures to prove it but Jacob knew those stories were just his grandfather’s way of explaining the horrors of the war.  But then his grandfather was killed by one of the monsters from his faerie tales which sends Jacob on a quest to find out the truth about the orphanage and himself.

 

Book Review:

            Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children is a beautifully sinister story made even creepier by the real photos displayed throughout the book.  The plot line does get a little complicated in the middle and the ending is obviously a set up for the next book but Ransom’s characters and descriptions more than make up for these flaws.  As the book progresses you go through all of the stages of grief, disbelief, and growth that Jacob does in a world that seems remarkably, fantastically real.  This book, especially the photographs included in it, has strong hints of horror making it most appropriate for those 14 or older who enjoy frightening fantasy novels.

Awards and Honors:

       2012- YALSA’s Reader’s Choice List for Sci-fi/Fantasy

Interested in finding out more about this book or author?  Check these out:

Author website: http://www.ransomriggs.com/

Author Interviews:
       July 2011 interview in I Like These Books blog
       Oct. 2011 interview The Book Rat blog

Feed

Anderson, M.T. Feed.  Listening Library, 2003.  Audible Audiobook.  ISBN: 9780756965785.  US $17.95.

Annotation: 

       In the future almost everyone and everything is connected to the feed, an internet connection hardwired into the brain. Titus is no exception and for him life is good until he meets Violet who makes him question everything he believes about the feed. Because drugs and alcohol are used in this book, it might not be suitable for those younger than 15.

Cover from Goodreads.com

Book Talk:

              Imagine a future where you’re physically connected to the internet all of the time.  All you have to do is think of something to know all about it.  You can chat with friends by just sending them a thought from anywhere in the universe.  For Titus,

“The braggest thing about the feed, the thing that made it really big, is that it knows everything you want and hope for, sometimes before you even know what those things are.  It can tell you how to get them, and help you make buying decisions that are hard.  Everything we think and feel is taken in by the corporations and they make a special profile, one that’s keyed just to you, and then they give it to their branch companies, or other companies buy them, and they can get to know what it is we need, so all you have to do is want something and there’s a chance it will be yours.” (pg 48)

Titus never questions the feed or the corporations who control it until he meets lovely, smart, different Violet.  But will Violet be able to open Titus’s mind to the dangers of the Feed?

Book Review:

            This was an interesting story just for its blatant warnings about the dangers of consumerism and technology addiction.  If you are not a big believer in the evils of technology or consumerism, Feed could either make you very angry or cause you to rethink your stance on the subject.  Whichever way you lean in the matter Anderson has created a wonderfully horrible dystopian future with characters who do not fit your standard hero mold.  Titus is content to follow all of the current trends but the ending also comes as a shock for those use to a happily ever after.  The only thing I found vaguely annoying about this audio book was the actor’s constant use of a surfer dude/slacker voice.  Although it nicely reflected Titus’s outlook on life I often had to concentrate to make myself listen to the words rather than just the uncaring monotone put on by the actor.

            Putting aside my grievance with the voice actor, Feed is a magnificent book that I would recommend to anyone 15 or older looking for dystopian fiction or who is questioning the growth of technology.  Drugs and alcohol are used in this book so it might not be suitable for those younger than 15.

 

Awards and Honors:

       National Book Award Finalist

       Los Angeles Times Book Prize Winner

       New York Times Book Review Notable Books of the Year

       Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards – Honor Book

      Publishers Weekly Best Books of the Year

      Chicago Public Library Best Books for Children and Teens

      American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults

      Horn Book Fanfare

      Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books – Bulletin Blue Ribbons

      Booklist Editors’ Choice

 

Want to know more about this author or book?  Check these out:

 

Author website: http://mt-anderson.com/

 

Author Interviews:

       March 13, 2007 interview on Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast blog

       April 2008 interview on Imaginary Blog

 

Get to know M.T. Anderson on this Meet the Author YouTube clip by AdLit.org

 

 

The Beast of Noor

Carey, Janet Lee.  The Beast of Noor.  New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2010.  Kindle edition.  ISBN:  978-1442443389.  US $7.99.  522pgs.

Annotation:

       There is a monstrous beast that has been wandering Shalem Wood killing those it comes across for over 300 years.  It is up to Miles and Hanna Ferrell to defeat it because afterall it was their ancestor who created this monster.  Recommended for ages 11+ because of some violence and scary atmosphere.

Cover from Goodreads.com

Book Talk:

“Do not wander in the deeps,

Where the Shriker’s shadow creeps.

When he rises from beneath,

Beware the sharpness of his teeth.”

The Sheen family is hated throughout Enness Isle because three hundred years ago they brought a curse down upon the area.  Every month when an eclipse occurs a huge monstrous dog roams the woods at night killing whoever gets in its path.  For 50 years there has been peace but now the Shriker is back and only those who carry Sheen blood can defeat it.

Book Review:

            Carey excels at creating fairy tales that seem to have been around forever right down to the snippets of songs and legends she includes at the beginning of each chapter.  The world of Noor is well thought out and utterly believable as are her main characters; 15 year old Miles and 13 year old Hanna Ferrell.  The one drawback is the pacing towards the middle of the book which lags a bit before picking up again.  Overall, this is a great read for those 11+ who love fantasy, fairy tales, and a smidge of horror. 

 
"When a boy gets turned into a giant wolf and he's in an alternate dimension, you know it's going to be awesome!"  Steven C., age 13.

Awards and honors:
       2006 - NYPL Books for the Teen Age

Interested in finding out more about this book or author?  Check these out:

Author site: http://janetleecarey.com/

Other Reviews:

       Kirkus Review
       Young Adults Book Central Blog

Listen to the Legend of the Shriker from The Beast of Noor

Enchanted Ivy

Durst, Sarah Beth.  Enchanted Ivy.  New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2010.  Print.  ISBN: 9781416986454.  US $15.99.  310 pgs.

Annotation:

       Lily has always wanted to go to Princeton so when she is offered the chance for automatic acceptance she jumps at it.  All she has to do is find an ivy key somewhere on the campus.  But Princeton is turning out to be a little more magical then she had thought.  Recommended for ages 13+.


Cover from Goodreads.com

Book Talk:

~ A family legacy at Princeton

~ A quest for an ivy key

~ A boy with tiger-striped hair

~ Gargoyles that talk

~ A magic gate that opens onto a whole different Princeton

~ Creatures that feed on magic

~ And Lily has to find the key to saving both worlds

 Book Review:

            Durst makes no attempt at transforming Princeton into Hogwarts which I found refreshing.  Instead she weaves an engaging story about a high school junior with a family legacy at Princeton who is offered the chance for guaranteed acceptance if she can find an ivy key.   Along the way Lily discovers that there is more than one Princeton and that magic really does exist.  I really wanted to like this book since the jacket blurb seemed to offer a different spin on the idea of magic schools and I did enjoy it for about the first half of the book.  The second half of the book is crammed full of magical action sequences that seem to go on forever and don’t seem to further the plot.  Durst does a good job of developing Lily’s reaction to finding out about this alternate magic Princeton and all of the fantasy creatures it contains but once Lily’s comes to terms with this (again about the halfway through the book) all character growth seems to stop.

            While not my favorite fantasy book of all time, Enchanted Ivy was an entertaining enough read especially for anyone looking for something in a similar vein to the Harry Potter series.  The action sequences do get a bit graphic so this book would be best for teens 13+.

Awards and honors: none

Author site:   http://sarahbethdurst.com/ 

            Like Durst on facebook


           Follow the author on Twitter


Author Interviews:
       May12, 2010 interview on Miss Print blog
       Dec. 2010 interview on  Between the Covers blog

Take the Enchanted Ivy tour on Durst's blog:

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Haddon, Mark.  The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.  New York: Vintage Books, 2004.  Kindle edition.  ISBN: 9781400032716.  US $11.99.  226pgs.

Annotation:

       Christopher Boone is a 15 year old autistic boy who loves math, science, and puzzles. He doesn’t engage well with strangers but when his neighbor’s dog, Wellington, is killed he decides to track down the culprit. Along the way he brings to light secrets that change his life forever. Recommended for those 15+ who are looking for well written characters with social/ learning disabilities.


Cover from Goodreads.com

Book Talk:

            Imagine doing something so far outside your comfort zone that you barely even want to think about it.  For 15 year old Christopher that’s talking to strangers but when his neighbor’s dog is killed he decides to face his fear and track down the murderer.  But his life contains more mysteries than just The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

Book Review:

            There is some debate about whether this book accurately and fairly represents people who are autistic or who have Asperger’s Disease.  I am not an expert on the subject so cannot talk to the validity of Christopher’s character in that regards.  I did think that Haddon did a remarkable job of getting into the head of an extremely socially awkward and self involved teenage boy.  While Haddon did a great job developing his character’s the mystery aspect of this book was less than inspired.  The case was solved in the first half of the book leaving the rest of the book to deal with Christopher’s character while he runs away from home.

            If you’re looking for a mystery to read I would advise skipping this book but for anyone searching for well written characters outside of the “normal” social culture this is a great choice.  There is a little bit of offensive language in this book making this book more appropriate for high school age teens.

 

Awards and Honors-

         2004- Alex Award
         2004- Boeke Prize

Interested in learning more about this book or author?  Check these out:

Author website: http://www.markhaddon.com/

Author Interviews:
        April, 2004 article by Haddon in "The Guardian" about writing The Curious Incident 

        June 15, 2005 NPR podcast interview with Haddon:

Aya

Abouet, M. & Clement Oubreie.  Aya.  Trans. Helge Dascher. Montreal: Drawn & Quarterly, 2007.  Hardback.  ISBN:  9782070573110. US $19.95.  96 pgs.

Annotation:

       Aya is a beautifully drawn graphic novel that chronicles the life of 19 year old Aya as she grows up on the Ivory Coast in the 1970s. Aya, a dedicated student with ambitions of being a doctor, seems to be the voice of reason among her two best friends who always seem to get into trouble. Recommended for anyone 16+ due to sexual situations, drinking, and teen pregnancy.

Book Talk:

The Ivory Coast during the 1970’s was prosperous and beautiful.  For Aya, a 19 year old Ivorian girl, this was a time when her dreams of becoming a doctor seemed within reach (pgs 1-3).  Her best friends, Adouja and Bintou, however don’t have the same ambitions and always seem to be getting into bad situations (pg 15).  They sneak out at night to go dancing and fight over boys leaving Aya to be the voice of reason (pg 85).  Can Aya realize her dreams and keep out of trouble?

Book Review:

 Aya is the first installment in the Aya series by Abouet and Oubrerie.  As the first in the series it does a wonderful job of drawing readers into the life of Aya, her friends, family, and Yop City but the ending leaves very much to be desired.  It isn’t much of an ending per se as it is a cliff hanger meant to entice readers into getting the next installment.  For anyone interested in reading Aya I would suggest getting the next two installments of the series as well- Aya of Yop City and Aya: The Secrets Come Out.



           Although Aya is suppose to detail the life of Aya as she reaches adulthood on the Ivory Coast she very rarely seems to make an appearance in the book at all. Despite this, Aya offers a beautifully drawn glimpse into the culture of the Ivory Coast of Africa as well as the seemingly universal dramas of teenage girls. 

Awards and Honors:

            2006- Best First Album at the Angouleme International Comics Festival

Interested in learning more about this book, author, or illustrator?  Check these out:

Author/Ilustrator Sites:

       Author/Illustrator Page through "Drawn and Quarterly"

       Oubrerie Blog (in French)

Author Interviews:

        Jan 31, 2010 The Brown Bookshelf interview with Abouet

        

        Wild River Review interview with Abouet

Upstate

Buckhanon, Kalisha.  Upstate.  New York: St. Martin’s Griffin, 2005.  Paperback.  ISBN:978-0-312-33269-3.  US $11.95.  247pgs.

Annotation:

       When Antonio is sent to prison for murdering his father the only way he has to communicate with his girlfriend is through letters. Upstate, told in letter form, follows the couple as they each grow up separately but fighting to stay together.  Recommended for ages 16+ due to sexual situations and language.


Cover from Goodreads.com

Booktalk:

       “Baby, the first thing I need to know from you is do you believe I killed my father? I need to know if you believe what everybody is saying about me because I need to know if you got my back.” (pg1)

       Seventeen year old Antonio and sixteen year old Natasha are in love.  It seems like nothing can tear them apart until Antonio is convicted of stabbing his father to death.  He’s sentenced to ten years in jail, ten years where they’ll barely see each other.  So they write letters, lots of letters, trying to keep each other in their lives.  But are letters enough to keep their relationship going when Antonio is Upstate?

Book Review:

       Told complete in letters between Antonio and his girlfriend Natasha this is a beautiful, sad story of two teens growing up and apart due to bad circumstances.  Buckhanon does a wonderful job of showing the growth of each teen not just in age but also in their character development.  Parts of the story do seem too obvious but are easily forgivable since the book is more about the characters than the plotline.

       Both Antonio and Natasha have a strong voice making this book appealing to both guys and girls who are looking for books about relationships, growing up, or life in prison. Language and graphic references to sexual situations make this book more appropriate for older teens and adults.

Awards and honors:

2006- ALA Alex Award

         Audio Publishers Association Award in Literary Fiction

         nominated for the Hurston/Wright Foundation's Debut Fiction Award

         one of YALSA’s Best Books for Young Adults

Want to find out more about this book or author?  Check these out:

Author website: http://kalishab.blogspot.com/

                  Follow the author on Twitter

Author interview:
        Interview in Mosaic magazine Fall 2008

Listen to an excerpt from the book:

Two-Way Street

Barnholdt, Lauren.  Two-Way Street.  New York: Simon Pulse, 2007.  Paperback.  ISBN: 978-1-4169-1318-4.  US $8.99.  288 pgs.

Annotation: 

       Recently broken-up teens, Courtney and Jordan, take a three day road trip to Boston. Along the way they learn a lot about themselves, each other, and that there are two sides to every breakup.  Recommended for teens 15+ due to some sexual situations and alcohol use.

cover from Goodreads.com

Book Talk:

       High school sweethearts Courtney and Jordan broke up two weeks before they were suppose to drive up to Boston together to start college.  Courtney was shocked and devastated when Jordan broke up with her and that he already has a new girlfriend.  Jordan has secrets that Courtney can’t find out about.  But the two teens reluctantly decide to still drive up to Boston together.  Along the way they learn a lot about themselves, each other, and that relationships are a Two-Way Street.

 

Book Review:

            Two-Way Street alternates chapters between the viewpoints of main characters Courtney and Jordan which lets the reader gain insight into both perspectives.  However, neither character is very likeable or believable.  Courtney is whiney, selfish, and neurotic where as Jordan is a spoiled player who spends most of his time running away from his problems. This wouldn’t be a problem if either of the characters really spent anytime growing over the course of the book but any development they go through is very minimal.  Both characters react to situations (which are unlikely to happen) in unrealistic or totally over the top ways.  All in all the book reads like a bad teen drama with unrealistic plotlines and devices.  To top it off the book refers to television shows, such as Laguna Beach and The O.C., as well as the social site MySpace which date the book tremendously.  If you’re looking for a book about relationships or break-ups look elsewhere.

Awards and Honors:

2008- NYPL "Books for the Teen Age"

2009- YALSA Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults

Interested in learning more about this book or author?  Check these out:

Author Website: http://laurenbarnholdt.com/

Other reviews of this book:

       Teen Ink
      Chicklish


Here's a booktrailer by AVillagomez13 on YouTube: