Book Reviews: Middle Grade Marathon Part 2: For the Boys

It’s often lamented that it’s hard to get boys interested in reading. Here are three books that are squarely aimed at middle school boys which I hope will find success.

Alec Flint Super Sleuth: The Nina, The Pinta and the Vanishing Treasure by Jill Santopolo
Orchard Books (Hachette) Hardcover 192 pages

Alec Flint is a 4th grade super sleuth in training who hopes he doesn’t have to resort to doing a “sneaker stakeout” for lack of better cases. Fortunately, a big case does come along – the Columbus exhibit is missing from the museum – and Alec enlists classmate Gina to be his sleuthing partner.

So begins the case of The Nina, The Pinta, and the Vanishing Treasure (or as I like to call it, “The case of the incredibly inept law enforcement officers and even dumber criminals”). Despite the unrealistically bumbling nature of the cops and robbers, early elementary age kids will enjoy solving the riddles and encoded notes that Alec and Gina write to each other and the fact that kids are the heroes here. They’ll also learn a lot about Christopher Columbus as a pure side effect to this clever mystery story. GSZMPH QROO! (Translation: Thanks Jill!)

Ignatius MacFarland: Freqenaut by Paul Feig
Little, Brown Young Readers 368 pages

Iggy MacFarland is tired of being teased and imagines that escaping to outer space would solve all his problems. So he builds a rocket that “launches” him to another frequency, one which is run by former English teacher turned dictator Mr. Arthur. Can he save this world and return to his own (which no longer looks too bad)?

This novel started out with a lot of promise. Iggy is written with such an appealing voice and the beginning chapters had me in stitches laughing. The way he describes Mr. Arthur’s unhappiness on earth for example is priceless: “But nobody ever published his books or bought any of his plays…because, well, I guess the stuff he did wasn’t very good. I even heard that he made the drama club put on a musical he wrote that was so bad everybody left at intermission. But since he was such a nice guy, everybody told him the play was good and excused their having to leave by saying the cookies at intermission gave them food poisoning, which didn’t make him feel any better since he was also the person who baked the cookies.”

But once Iggy arrives in the new frequency, things started to sag for me. I did like the exploration of what makes a normal guy become a dictator and Iggy’s continuing unintentionally snarky observations. But the inhabitants of the new frequency were standard issue yawn inducing weird aliens and an extremely annoying teen girl Karen who also “exploded” into the frequency and turns mega radical.

I won’t give away the end, but it is left wide open for a series a la “Sliders” (the TV show). And since most of my quibbles had to do with the world creation (which may well be interesting for kids but doesn’t seem to me to have a lot of crossover appeal), I would definitely check out a sequel to see if the author improves in this regard.


RuneWarriors by James Jennewein and Tom S. Parker
Laura Geringer Books (HarperCollins) Hardcover 320 pages

On the eve of the Norse Festival of Greatness, Dane the Defiant earns his nickname by standing up to evil tyrant Thidrek. But when Thidrak kidnaps Dane’s beloved and goes after Thor’s hammer, Dane’s going to need wind, wisdom and thunder if he wants to ever be admitted in Valhalla and become a renowned RuneWarrior.

The authors spend the entire first third of the novel introducing us to Dane, his group of Norse boys (who have names like Jarl the Fair, Drott the Dim, Fulnir the Stinking) and Astrid, a knife wielding, headstrong beauty. And then around page 100 the “inciting incident” finally occurs and I nearly threw the book across the room: the plot is set into motion due to an incredibly stupid action, something which I do not forgive easily. I would have stopped reading immediately if the authors had not so effectively invested me in the characters. Good thing I kept reading as the book redeems itself with an enthralling quest and by making Norse mythology really come alive.

I very much enjoyed the writing style and humorous tone of the book, and didn't even mind the frequent use of anachronism. Jarl is teased for bringing his “prized collection of grooming combs and brushes” to use on his long “flaxen locks” during the sea journey. Ulf the Whale is often underestimated because “many made the mistake of believing if you were fat, you were oafishly stupid as well. As if the two things just naturally went together, like peas and carrots or hugs and kisses or weasels and weasel bites.”



And thus ends this installment of middle grade marathon. I may do it again soon, as I still have quite a pile of MG books to be reviewed...

A love letter to books that made me weep

I mentioned not too long ago that Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games was the first book in a while that made me all out weep. And we were talking about sad books in the comments on Wednesday's post about Beth Kephart's Nothing but Ghosts. There are lots of books that try (unsuccessfully) to tug at my heartstrings (Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer is one that comes to mind) but only a few that engage me so much and involve me so much emotionally that the tears just flow. Here are a few of them (all five star picks AND award winners).

Doomsday Book by Connie Willis
This is the story of Kivrin, a history student in 2048 who is transported to an English village in the 14th century on the eve of the Black Death. Meanwhile, there is an epidemic going on in the 21st century which may leave Kivrin stranded in time. Kivrin is taken in by a “contemp” family and learns firsthand more than she ever wanted to know about the plague. I’ve read this at least 5 times, and it never fails to make me cry. (Hugo and Nebula Awards)




Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
The less you know about this book going in, the better. All I knew when I started reading was that it took place at Hailsham, an elite school in the English countryside, where the pupils are told they are special. How special is something both they and the reader discover during the course of this heartbreaking dystopia. (Booker Prize Shortlist)






Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
This is “Stockholm Syndrome” at its’ best. When a birthday party to honor a visiting Japanese industrialist is stormed by a ragtag band of terrorists in an unnamed South American country, a group of over 50 people, including a world-renowned soprano is taken hostage. But as the days, weeks, months go by, captors and hostages (and the reader) begin to form unlikely bonds. (PEN/Faulkner Award)





The Tiger Rising by Kate Dicamillo
In this middle grade novella (and National Book Award finalist), 12-year-old Rob Horton finds a caged tiger in behind the run down motel he lives in with his father since his mother’s death. It’s a story about coming to terms with grief and being honest with yourself. It touched me deeply.







The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak
Narrated by death, this touching, original, and powerful novel is set in Nazi Germany, but with a focus on the hardships of ordinary Germans. It’s the story of Liesel who learns to read as a teen and discovers the power that books have to feed the soul. (Printz Honor Book)







So tell me, what books made you weep? I need some good suggestions!

Book Reviews: Middle Grade Marathon Part 1: Halloween Reads

I decided to set this week aside for a mini middle grade marathon, and the first books I read could all be great Halloween reading selections – perfect since that hallowed date is only 3 weeks away!

The Robe of Skulls by Vivian French
Candlewick Press Hardcover 200 pages

Lady Lamorna orders a new dress made out of black velvet with layers of blood red petticoats and rows and rows of little skulls sewn along the hem. But then she discovers she has no gold left, and non-payment will anger the ancient crones, so she has no choice but to go into the world and WORK. But what can a washed-up, reclusive old witch do? Cast nasty spells of course! And thus begins this playful romp through the fairytale world of the five kingdoms.

If you are familiar with fairytales and fantasy, there’s nothing here that will terribly surprise you, but it’s a perfect addition to the “humor-tinged gothic” category that’s emerged since Lemony Snicket. (Also see my reviews of PJ Bracegirdle’s Joy of Spooking Fiendish Deeds and Lois Lowry’s The Willoughbys). I had so much fun reading this and hanging out with the characters (my favorite was Marlon the bat), and was very satisfied with the way the story wrapped up. A definite keeper!

Storm: The Ghost Machine by E.L. Young
Dial Press Hardcover 320 pages

In this second action spy thriller novel of the Storm series, genius teens Will, Andrew and Gaia head to Venice to investigate a ghost cult and its’ criminal leader” Il Fantastma” in a purportedly haunted island castle. When their contact, the beautiful computer genius Cristina goes missing and they stumble onto a plot to blow up an important meeting of world leaders, it is going to take all their brains and cutting edge gadgets to prevent the world from plunging into chaos.

There seem to be quite a few series out now with genius kids saving the world (see my reviews for Shannon Greenland’s Specialist books one, two, three, and four) but I can totally see the appeal. Since I haven’t read the first book in this series, Storm: The Infinity Code, I didn’t have the benefit of complete character introductions, and only know bits and pieces of these three British teens’ backgrounds and motivations. Andrew’s a computer genius and rich kid, Will likes to build gadgets, has recently lost his father and owns a tricked out rat, and Gaia is all about chemistry and explosives and has an alcoholic father. But the setting and plot are spectacular and I loved learning the science behind “ghosts” and other experimental technology. Find out more about this fun series at http://www.stormoperatives.com/ Thanks to JL for the book!

Creepers by Joanne Dahme
Running Press Kids Hardcover 232 pages

13 year old Courtney and her family have just moved to an old house covered in ivy next to a graveyard. Courtney quickly becomes friends with Margaret, a girl her age and the daughter of a historian who gives tours of the graveyard. Margaret and her father seem obsessed with the story of as ancestor of theirs, Prudence, who died at 13, and her father, Christian who didn’t want to go on living without her. As Courtney gets to know them better, things start to get really creepy.

Preteens looking for a good ghost story might like to pick up this atmospheric novel that gives you chills but isn’t scary enough to give you nightmares (unless you have an acute phobia of creeping Ivy that is). The mystery surrounding Courtney’s new friends and their ancestors keeps you turning the pages though the resolution is rather vague and not wholly satisfying. Still, a good choice for those who like a spooky ghost story in the vein of “The Others” (movie with Nicole Kidman).

All three of these books are out now. Stay tuned for more reviews from my middle grade marathon (still going on).

Waiting On Wednesday (3) Nothing but Ghosts by Beth Kephart

Beth Kephart revealed this awesome cover for her next YA novel Nothing but Ghosts, which is due out June 2009, a couple of weeks ago on her blog. I couldn't find a summary anywhere, but it apparently involves the decoding of a mystery on the site of a reclusive gardener’s. Also, the main character, a high school senior, is grappling with the death of her mother. I'm actually a little afraid to read it because my mother died when I was a freshman in college, and if you've lived through that, you know it's something you never completely get over. But what Beth says about it in her blog post makes me think it's a MUST read:

"Nothing but Ghosts began life as a relentless finch and in the aftermath of my mother's passing. It went through countless iterations. It has emerged, it is emerging, as a book of which (forgive me) I am proud. A book that I hope says something."

UPDATE: From Megan's recent interview with Beth, I have learned that the main character's name is Katie. And that there's a bit of romance. The plot thickens!!

UPDATE 2: Thanks to my gentle urging, Beth has posted HarperTeen's official catalog description at her blog. YAY - Now I'm even more interested - check it out here.

What about you? Is this a book you'd like to read? What other forthcoming books are on your radar? Find out what other bloggers are looking forward to on Waiting On Wednesday's host Jill's post this week.

Library Thing Tuesday (22) + Pic of Emmy

This week's question: -LibraryThing's Recently Added feature: do you look at it? Do you use it for ideas? Is there something listed there now that looks interesting to you? What have you added to your LT library recently?

I love that I can see the covers of the last 17 books I added on my personal homepage on LT, but I usually don't notice what other members are adding unless they are my LT friends and I see them on the connection news. I like to check the early reviewers library around this time of the month to see if Abby has added the current month books on offer (not yet!). I add books as I read them, so if you can get an idea of what I'm going to review next by looking at my just added books. I will also add signed books without having read them. I am in the middle of a reading marathon to make a dent in my TBR pile because I thought my work week would be light. Sadly, I've been derailed by a couple of urgent projects today and poor Emmy getting spayed yesterday. Hopefully I can get back on track!


Since Emmy is not feeling like her normal self, I bring you a picture from my vast archives in which she looks very much like one of those bear rugs you see in hunting lodges. This is actually how she positions herself to get brushed (we do this twice daily).

October Book Contests

First up, Brooke Taylor, author of Undone (which I really, really want to read), is having A Monster Month of Giveaways at her blog. EVERY Thursday during October she will be holding a contest for awesome Halloween gift baskets loaded with cool YA books and themed gifts! How cool is that? You have time to enter the first themed contest (Vampires - which includes the House of Night books and tons of other goodies) until this Thursday October 9th.

AND also not to be missed: Kelly Parra and a bunch of YA authors are sharing secrets and giving away books to celebrate the launch of her book Invisible Touch. Just go here to join in the fun!

Book Review: The Emerald Tablet by PJ Hoover

Benjamin Holt is not a normal preteen and his summer will be anything but normal. He’s a telegen with powers mere humans don’t have and he has to go to summer school to hone his special abilities on the sunken continent of Lemuria, a sort of sister continent to Atlantis. And while there, a talking Emerald Tablet tells him only he can save the world as we know it.

Eleanor did a guest review of this book for me back in July (read it here) and she loved it. Now that I’ve read it I can see why. Although the dialogue (especially in the beginning chapters) is decidedly juvenile, the clever ideas are not. In addition to all the skills the characters have (telepathy, telekinesis, telegnosis, and regeneration, among others), PJ introduces some cool items like Geodines (a globe that can show you the entire history of the earth) and the Universal travel agent teleporter (wish I had one!). The school lecture scenes are fun, especially the one where a professor reveals a few historical figures as secret agents from Lemuria.

I may not have gotten to know the characters as much as I would have liked to, but the plot zips along so nicely, I hardly noticed. And besides, I’ll get to hang out with them some more in at least two more books in the series.

The Emerald Tablet comes out on October 21st.

My contribution to the Sorted Books Project

Jena at Muse Book Reviews posted about the sorted books project and I immediately began looking through my books so I could "write" some stories of my own.

Here's my favorite from the project:

And here is my horror story 1 (featuring books by Martha Peace, Linda Fairstein, Laura Moriarty, and Janice Galloway):

And horror story 2 (featuring books from Katherine Neville, Gregory Maguire, Matt Ruff, Augusten Burroughs, Lois Duncan and Doris Lessing):

Anyone else want to join in the fun?

I'll keep a link list here of those that do:

A sad story from Kristin of We Be Reading

A romantic story from Alea at Pop Culture Junkie

A few good ones from Jeane at Dog Ear Diary

Two from Rol at Sunset over Slawit

A thriller from Inchy at Punch It Chewie!

Book Review: Fabulous Terrible by Sophie Talbot

You’re a foster kid who somehow manages to get a full ride plus expenses to Trumbell Woodhouse, the most exclusive boarding school in the nation. You hope you’ll fit in despite your secret: you get visions of the past, present and future that you can’t control. But even weirder, once you get to the school, you begin to suspect that the campus holds a secret as strange as yours and that someone’s out to get you…

That’s right, YOU are the main character of this story which is written entirely in second person. It’s a conceit that actually worked well for me – reading this book made me feel like I actually was attending this glamorous school. I picked up my brand new laptop, visited my mysterious advisor, did a difficult Greek translation and made some nice new friends.

I was really impressed with the writing. The dialogue and inner monologues were snappy and hip without resorting to the kind of pop culture name dropping that ages a book all too quickly. The supporting characters were painted with just enough brush strokes to make them distinguishable and memorable. Case in point: Emily, your friend from back home. When you’re applying to schools and start getting rejections, she suggests she burn them to make you feel better, even though she’s not allowed:

“Emily got in trouble for starting fires at recess. She was burning up her exams marked lower than a B-. Ever since, she has had to fight a pyromaniac rap.
She led you to the backyard and lit the letter and envelope with a match. She did seem to get a gleam in her eye while the paper burned. Actually, over the next week, she got that gleam five more times when she burned five more rejections.”

Many mysteries are brought up during the course of the novel but only one is really solved by the end. I guess this means I’ll have to read the sequel (which comes out Jan 25, 2009). It will be my pleasure.

NOTE: I just happened to pick up a copy of Libba Bray’s A Great and Terrible Beauty today (which I haven’t read yet – I know, a travesty, right?) and just by reading the jacket copy, I see some major parallels between its story and Fabulous Terrible (including the title!). Both have characters that have visions going off to boarding school and running up against secret societies. But I’m going to look at it as homage rather than rip-off. What do you all think?

Waiting On Wednesday (2) The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

Been seeing this one around the blogosphere a bit and I love the cover. Plus it's is a post-apocolyptic love story set in the wake of a zombie-creating global virus. And really, aren't those the best kind of love stories?

Here's a summary (edited down), taken from Author Carrie Ryan's actual query letter to her agent (read the whole letter at Fangs, Fur and Fey):

Generations after the zombie apocalypse known as The Return, Mary's life is as circumscribed by her community's strict religion as it is by the fences that form her village's only defense against the hordes of the undead -- the Unconsecrated -- who dwell in the surrounding forest.

When the Unconsecrated breach the fences and overrun the village, Mary has to brave the deadly Forest in an attempt to discover if there is a world beyond the Forest of Hands and Teeth.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth is not coming out until March 10, 2009 but lucky Sarah at Reading, Writing and Musing has a copy that she's reading RIGHT NOW! I hope she'll let us know how she likes it.

The book was also blurbed by none other than Scott Westerfeld (among others). He said "A post-apocalypse romance of the first order, elegantly written from title to last line." Read more about that at Carrie Ryan's blog right here.

Anyone else as excited about this as I am?

Want to see what other forthcoming books bloggers are lusting over or join in the fun yourself? Check out Waiting On Wednesday's host Jill's post for this week now.