Rutabaga's Reads 2019: Part 16

Being more up on my blog this year has cemented that I read a lot of middle-grade stories. I knew that, but this fourth compilation of 2019 helps put it in perspective. Anyone else reading books geared for 8-12-year-olds? If so, what are you reading? Which authors have you discovered?

A Crystal of Time (Mar. 5, 2019) by Soman Chainani.

*This is the fifth in a series / second in a related trilogy.*

It’s all falling apart. A false king sits upon Camelot’s throne. Its true king, Tedros, has been sentenced to death. Agatha has escaped (barely), but does not know where she can go to find even one ally. Sophie is caught in King Rhian’s trap. Japeth is more twisted in the head than probably his own brother realizes. Merlin is missing. Clarissa Dovey is amongst the captured. Secrets long-buried are being unearthed, and the group learns more about the Storian, though Rhian has Lionsmane, a golden pen of his very own, which is actually a scaly black scim. Still, that won’t stop him from creating his own tales told by the pen, except the pen doesn’t choose the tale; Rhian does. Friends are freed, reunited and separated again. Lives are lost, though on the side of good, they are lost valiantly. But Agatha, Tedros, Sophie and company seem to be fighting a losing battle. So many are turning to Rhian’s false promises of protection because of his lies. As people turn away from Camelot’s true king, they destroy their rings, which are inexplicably linked to the Storian. What happens if every single ring is destroyed?

            Due to the sheer size of this novel (624 pages), I did as I had with the previous book and read one chapter a day until I finished it. Although I read one chapter at a time, it read as swiftly as a dramatic waterfall plummeting over a steep cliff. The landscape of the entire novel is generally very serious, as danger lurks most everywhere. The lives of all of the protagonists are fraught with peril, and death can be intense. Middle-grade though this is, it’s not for the tender of heart. Sometimes the death is written almost beautifully, violent as it is: “I shatter to a million crystals,” but oftentimes it’s just violent. I suspect the author is gearing readers up for an epic conclusion, and I hope we aren’t disappointed. Or we’ll find our own pens!

Luciana: Braving the Deep (Dec. 26, 2017) by Erin Teagan.

*This is the second book in AG’s Girl of the Year series for 2018.*

For a girl wanting to be the first female to go to Mars, attending youth astronaut training camp as one of the “Fail Smart” kids is perfect. Luciana Vega is one of six youth in the astronaut training portion of the camp, but only three will be chosen to dive to Cetus, an underwater habitat where astronauts train for life in space. Her other teammates in the program will be the mission control group. Luci passes each of the three skills tests on the first round. Her chances of making the dive team seem bright until she accuses one of her teammates of sabotage in front of the entire group. Suddenly, even her good friend and fellow teammate is treating her like the problem, and Luci begins to wonder if that’s true. When an underwater crisis seems to affect Luci negatively, can she conquer her fears? Or will Luci’s dream to be the first female to Mars end before it’s barely begun?

            As with any American Girl (AG) story, this is a sweet story with a good message. In this story, the main character isn’t only overcoming a fear, but also wading through a tough situation with a best friend. She might have always thought trust was an untouchable core of their friendship until it’s rocked by a newcomer who’s like a bright, shiny new phone (and also has a world-renowned dad whom the friend is a fan of). When it comes to the astronaut training camp, the author’s research appears thorough, as all aspects of the camp – from learning to snorkel to descending with a tank to hydroponics – were believable and specifically-detailed. For the 8-12 age set who prefer less complex stories, who are fans of American Girl or who want an uncomplicated read featuring empowered female youth, these stories from American Girl may be for them.

Red: The (Fairly) True Tale of Red Riding Hood (Apr. 12, 2016) by Liesl Shurtliff.¹

*This is the third book in an unofficial series.*

When Granny gets sick, Red fears she is dying and takes it upon herself to find a cure. Granny is known as The Witch of the Woods and is adept at anything from everyday cure-alls to complex spells and curses. One would expect Red to be as adept, but Red actually fears using magic. Her most spectacular fail could’ve once killed Granny, and since then, she’s avoided the simplest magic. Even to save her grandma, she prefers a cure which doesn’t require her to incant a spell. So she sets off into the Woods. An annoying human-turned-friend named Goldie (yes, like that Goldie, but not actually that Goldie; however, names have power) comes along on her quest, even though Goldie loses her most recent memories at one point, and she befriends an unexpected tagalong in a wolf who, forlornly, has no pack because of the huntsman called Horst (he is that huntsman). “Monster!” the wolf communicates. They meet an angry bear, a witch with a youthful face but no memories, a grumpy dwarf name Borlen (he’s young, only 276 years old) and a Beauty-turned-Beast. The one person they can’t seem to ditch is Horst. Does he sense the wolf is with them? Can they protect each other and cure Granny?

            Although not part of a named series, this is the third middle-grade story by Shurtliff revolving around the same Woods. Red and Rump are actually good friends. The thing I like about Shurtliff’s fairy tale mash-ups, including this one, is that they can be read by a wide audience without worrying about content or a mature reading level. Additionally, the story is not long and can be swiftly read. Red finds she is braver than expected, and Goldie is as brightly innocent as sunlight glinting off her bouncy golden curls. Good magic and bad magic alight in this sweetly clever and sassy story, where danger may come in a beautiful red rose and friendship in an intimidating wolf.

¹To dispel any confusion, there is a minor difference in the titles based on whether one reads the hardcover or paperback versions. The title you see above is on the paperback version; the hardcover’s title is: “Red: The True Story of Red Riding Hood.” I have previously read “Rump” and “Jack,” and their titles reflect the hardcover versions, though they were paperbacks that I once purchased through Scholastic.