"The Maid of Ballymacool" by Jennifer Deibel

The Maid of Ballymacool (Feb. 21, 2023) by Jennifer Deibel.

*This is a standalone novel.*

Since she was a wee girl, Brianna Kelly has lived and worked at Ballymacool House and Boarding School for Girls under Mistress Maureen Magee, rigid headmistress with “hair pulled so tightly into a bun at the back of her head, Michael feared it would tug her backward.” In 1935 Ireland, Brianna is a gentle, Christ-centered, hardworking young woman who can’t ever do enough/work quickly enough/be perfect enough for harsh, demanding Mistress Magee. Brianna is less than staff, for at least they receive wages. She finds simple joy in collecting small “treasures” on her walks through the woods near the school. Her only friend is Finnuala, a beautiful-souled older woman, who lives within walking distance. This changes with the arrival of Michael Wray, of the ascendency class and the son of local gentry, who’s called upon to deal with his unruly, detestable cousin, Adeline. His arrival had hoped to calm things down at Ballymacool, but Michael finds himself “in the middle of a sticky thicket.” When Brianna’s cherished pendant goes missing – purportedly the only piece of her family that she has – Michael finds he has questions surrounding Mistress Magee. From the questions emerge a mystery, one involving Mistress Magee and the Ballymacool estate that could be hugely impactful in Brianna’s life going forward.

            This Christian, historical fiction novel is a “Cinderella” story set in the Emerald Isles. A new-to-me author, I found the story to be a quick read with well-fleshed-out characters, a lush atmosphere, an unfolding mystery and the sweetness that surrounds a budding romance that’s wrapped in historical details and God’s unceasing love. With the setting in Ireland, there are occurrences of Gaelic words and phrases and a delightfully handy glossary near the back. I’m an avid reader of Jen Turano’s novels, so for readers who are fans of her stories, they may fancy Deibel’s. Brianna’s mistreatment at the hands of Mistress Magee (literally, at times) is upsetting, but the history incorporated is fascinating, and the tale has gumption, compassion and faith. The story twinkles like bejeweled velvet.

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"Greywaren" by Maggie Stiefvater

Greywaren (Oct. 18, 2022) by Maggie Stiefvater. 

*This is the final novel in a trilogy.*

“Ho hey, the working day, the working day, the working day.” Parents Niall and Mór (Mór Ó Corra a.k.a. Marie Lynch née Curry) escaped Ireland for a new start, but got lost in what they found. Niall passed on (was murdered) and Mor joined Boudicca (before Niall died). Declan Lynch, as the eldest, has grown up the responsible, rigid one, seemingly uncaring but actually having a lot of love for his brothers, Ronan and Matthew. Ronan has grown up as the sharp, angry, middle brother, effortlessly indifferent while actually having a lot of love for his family and friends, especially Adam. Matthew has grown up as the happy youngest, the light in the room, created to be easily likeable, but what he’s learned makes him wonder and gives him his first rebellious streak. They’re the sons of a family with the power to make the world or break it, as the world isn’t meant for such a family. But they must save themselves and save each other, lest the world be doomed. 

            Hennessy’s just like her mother (except for the dead part). She doesn’t want Jordan, a dream with her face, to leave her. She is great at art but is not good at living and so badly wants to be. Jordan is good at living and is also great at art and even likes Declan’s company, pristine and boring as Declan appears to most. Carmen Farooq-Lane wants for someone else to have a plan, but she’d also like to be powerful and not only look powerful in a painting. And while she’s at it, Carmen would like the originator of the plan to be Ronan or Bryde, not a Zed who’s supposed to be dead, but whose handiwork she’d recognize anywhere. She’ll have to be the one to stop him. 

            The final novel of The Dreamer Trilogy is a triumph of marvelous plot, crisp dialogue, snappy prose and complicated characters. This YA tale is a fantasy seamlessly woven into the world as real as the one we live in, which in itself is a type of magic. It’s at once sophisticated and sarcastic, mind-blowing and moody, exciting and existential. It’s sensitive and messy, gripping, engrossing and uniquely creative. It’s a marvel of imagination, a web of intricate wonder set at an electrifying pace. It’s a story for dreamers, but really, it’s a story for every imaginative reader. 

            Book One: Call Down the Hawk 

            Book Two: Mister Impossible

Rutabaga's Reads 2023: Part 1

The amount of middle-grade (MG) novels that I’ve been consuming in recent years hasn’t slowed. To showcase this fact, here’s already the first MG compilation post of 2023. It’s also my first compilation post of this year.

Serwa Boateng’s Guide to Vampire Hunting (Sept. 6, 2022) by Roseanne A. Brown.

*This is the first​ novel in a middle-grade debut series.*

Fireflies are dangerous. Not all, but some are actually adze​, shapeshifting vampires that can transform into fireflies and possess the human mind (and could then shift into that human and no other human would know it’s hosting an adze). No vampires of the sparkly variety in Ghanaian folklore. As the daughter of two of the best Slayers, 12-year-old Serwa Boateng is one of the best Slayers her age, but her parents won’t let her take the Initiation Test to become a fully fledged Slayer of the Abomofuo (“hunters in Twi¹. An organization dedicated to defending the world from the forces of black magic. Comprised of Slayers, Middle Men, and Okomfo.”). Slayers don’t only dispatch adze, but any creature of black magic. This includes obayifos (witches). One in particular, Boahinmaa, somehow breaches the magical barriers (which are formed using Adinkra, symbols that represent specific things and are often tied to proverbs). She and her parents escape, but narrowly. There is history between Boahinmaa and her mom, but neither her parents nor Boulder, her father’s mmoatia​ (forest spirit), will divulge any details of how they know one another. The gods (Nana Tegare: god of hunters, Nana Tano: god of war, Nana Bia: god of the bush) send Serwa’s parents on a mission to defeat Boahinmaa and Serwa assumes she’s going along as she always has. Instead, she winds up in Rocky Gorge, Maryland (a.k.a. Nowheresville) and its Rocky Gorge Middle School with her “Auntie” Latricia and “Cousin” Roxanne (not related by blood). She’s traded in Nokware (a sword) and her crossbow for a mean girl (Ashley) and schoolwork. Or has she? When an adze infiltrates her school, she knows it’s up to her and the GCC (Good Citizens Committee) to find who the adze has inhabited and defeat it. The GCC is an unlikely team in personalities alone, but Serwa, Roxy, Mateo, Eunju and Gavin - together with Boulder - are the only ones who can save Rocky Gorge. When Serwa uncovers a secret about her family, she’ll have to decide which side is her side.

            From tween hijinks to Serwa’s savvy narration blended with Ghanaian folklore (some of which may be familiar if one’s read the Tristan Strong​ series), this series starter is fast-paced, action-packed and serves a magical punch. This story gives readers a fresh take on vampires, which is good, because when I first read the title and saw Vampire Hunting, I had doubts. I thought, “Oh no, is this Van Helsing but as a middle-grade story?” Not at all, not even close! Brown’s story has deep layers striated with fantastical mythology and emotive characters, especially Serwa and her outburst at the story’s clearly-a-cliffhanger ending. While I don’t love the story like some of the others within the Rick Riordan Presents imprint, I am happy that I picked up this book and navigated obstacles, detention, adze-hunting, a major secret, family relationships and finding new friends with Serwa. Like middle school isn’t hard enough without firefly-slash-vampires and life-changing secrets!

            ¹: (chwee) a dialect of the Akan language spoken by millions of people in Ghana and around the world. Not to be confused with the first syllable in Twitter or Twilight.

            P.S. There is a glossary of Ghanaian words and pronunciations (love those glossaries) + an Adinkra dictionary (love that, too).

            P.P.S. For others who have read this story, I am curious to know your thoughts on the GCC consisting of students of color, implying and noted by their supervising teacher (also of color), Mr. Riley, that students of color are singled out for detention when Caucasian students are not. Do you read it as something that is relatable and current? Or do you think that sort of focus in a story perpetuates enmity and mistrust?

Tiger Honor (Jan. 4, 2022) by Yoon Ha Lee.

*This is a sequel ​ novel.*

*FYI: Sebin is nonbinary, so I will use they/them pronouns to refer to the character.*

What do you do when the one you look up to most is declared a traitor in the eyes of the Thousand World Space Forces? Sebin, a tiger spirit “cub” from the Juhwang Clan on the planet of Yonggi, plans to clear Uncle Hwan’s name, restoring the clan’s honor. And, like former Captain Hwan, Sebin wants to captain their own battle cruiser one day, though they know they’ll be expected to scrub floors and tend to the hydroponics as a cadet at the bottom of the totem pole. Sebin expects structure and maximum security, but things are off as soon as they arrive at Starbase Borasaekbam. Sebin and new cadet, Jee, are to report to the Haetae immediately, according to Special Investigator Yi and Yi’s assistant Kim Min. Sebin doesn’t have time to be sworn in by Captain Chaewon before an explosion rocks the ship. Communications are down. It’ll be up to Sebin, Yi, Min, Jee and two other cadets, Euna and Namkyu, to discover who’s sabotaging the cruiser.  But how is Sebin to help when they’re accused of colluding with the enemy and are put in the brig?

            Family loyalty vs. honor and duty. In this second space opera featuring Korean mythology, nonbinary tiger spirit Juhwang Sebin must decide where their loyalties lie: to family or the Space Forces, whose commitment to the latter supersedes all else, even family oaths sealed with blood. “Tiger Honor” is an engaging middle-grade story with fast pacing and twisty turns, an excellent choice for readers looking for sci-fi adventure. Readers of the first Thousand Worlds novel will recognize Kim Min. I have been on a mythology kick since I read Rick Riordan’s “Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief,” so I’ve been gobbling up the varied stories within the Rick Riordan Presents​ imprint in addition to what Riordan writes. Women in positions of military power and the inclusion of nonbinary characters are commonplace. Multiple characters would’ve benefitted from further character development, but that shouldn’t stop anyone who’s drawn in by [Korean] mythology, space fights and journeying with a main character who’s faced with a family-versus-integrity dilemma. Considering how popular anything K-related has become – from k-pop to k-dramas to k-food – the combination of action-adventure and cultural elements should have wide appeal.

            Book One: Dragon Pearl

The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy (Oct. 12, 2021) by Anne Ursu.

*This is a standalone novel (as far as I can tell).*

No one notices Marya Lupu, because her older brother, Luka, is destined to become a sorcerer. Where girls in the land of Illyria on the continent of Dovia are groomed to become wives and mothers, caregivers to younger siblings, maids, cooks or weavers, boys all hope they’ll become sorcerers, able to wield magic to protect Illyria from the Dread, the Ilvanians, the Kellians and the creatures of the Fantoma Forest, amongst other threats. It’s after a visit doesn’t go as expected that a letter arrives informing the Lupu family that Marya will attend Dragomir Academy, a school for wayward girls. Girls like Marya, who always seems to do the wrong thing even though it feels right at the time. They’ve got to learn the history of Dovia, of course, but they’re also taught how to sit, how to walk, how to eat soup and how to hold a fork. A pall descends on the Rose Hall girls when one receives a letter from her parents stating that they no longer consider her their daughter. She’s their only child. There is something about Dragomir Academy that Marya can’t quite put her finger on. How are all of these girls troubled? When the Dread wipes out the village of one of her classmates, more questions arise. Why were the sorcerers unable to track the Dread’s formation and evacuate all villagers? The Dread normally forms over a forest, but that wasn’t the case this time. What’s causing it to change and why? Why does magic purportedly manifest in males only?

            In the patriarchal Kingdom of Illyria, girls are of little consequence compared to the boys of the realm. Readers are frustrated right along with Marya as high-ranking men treat her words as frivolous or, worse, accuse her of being bewitched by a friend accused of being a witch. Marya’s character is a raw word picture of the emotional and psychological results of living in a patriarchal world, of a girl who isn’t, instead, a second son, and has a mother whom she can never please, a mother who’s all but given up on her. She carries so much guilt, shame and self-doubt, but this middle-grade novel is remarkable. The curious protagonist learns to question “who the story serves” while making friends for the first time. This is a novel that ensorcelled me with its thoughtful writing, skilled-tapestry world-building and intricately-woven plot. It’s a subtle fantasy novel, not big, loud and epic, but one that is empowering and generous. It’s an original story from an author who must have magic of her own, gifted storyteller that she is.