Rutabaga's Reads 2021: Part 6

The books in this compilation represent my first middle-grade post for the year. I’ve been reading a lot of middle-grade (MG) fiction this year, so I expect three MG compilations for 2021!

Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes (Apr. 7, 2020) by Roshani Chokshi.

*This is the third novel in a pentalogy (originally a tetralogy).*

The reincarnated Pandava sisters (Aru, Mini and Brynne) have one mission: rescue two targets, one of whom is close to blurting out a prophecy which could spell victory for the Pandavas or the Sleeper. It turns out the “targets” are the remaining Pandava sisters: twins Nikita (sometimes Nikki) (has the gift of chlorokinesis) and Sheela (a clairvoyant). Their soul fathers are the Ashvin twins, meaning they’re the reincarnations of Nakula and Sahadeva, “the brothers famous for their beauty, archery and equestrian skills, and wisdom.” They rescue the twins, but the mission fails, because the Sleeper’s minions hear the prophecy, so the now-five Pandava sisters, Pandava adjacent Aiden (affectionately called “Wifey”) and new friend Prince Rudra (Rudy) of Naga-Loka (naga, yes, he’s a serpent prince) embark on a different mission. They must locate Kalpavriksha, the wish-granting tree that came out of the Ocean of Milk when it was churned by the asuras (sometimes good, sometimes bad semidivine beings). War between the devas (Sanskrit term for the race of gods) and the demons appears imminent, but Aru is convinced that she can turn everything around if she reaches Kalpavriksha first and makes her wish. Like the saying goes: Be careful what you wish for. What Aru may learn may cause her to hate the Sleeper, but what is obvious is that the world is complicated. Right and wrong are not “as easily divided as the black and white sections of an Oreo.” Plus, you know, the world is not a cookie.

            Of the stories I’ve read in the Rick Riordan Presents imprint, the Aru Shah books are hands-down my favorite. (They’re all good, truly, but I currently favor this series.) There’s no such thing as lag time in this story. It is lightning-paced and the magical Otherworld remains so believable that I continuously want to be able to jump into the story and visit all of the places. The author notes that the Hindu mythology focused on is but a slice of the mythology. Even with a slice, the story remains fully packed with action, legend and lots of words I need to look up in the Glossary. The characters are witty and pick on each other with fondness, battles are intense but not scary, and the entirety of the story is compelling, diverse and multifaceted. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to find me a lightning bolt that can transform into a hoverboard.

            Fun fact: The Ashvin twins are often depicted with the faces of horses. Nothing against horses, but, fortunately, Nikita and Sheela do not carry such physical traits as that.

            Book One in the Pandava series: Aru Shah and the End of Time

            Book Two: Aru Shah and the Song of Death

Never After: The Thirteenth Fairy (Dec. 1, 2020) by Melissa de la Cruz.

*This is the first book in a series.*

North Pasadena, California, is a place where nothing ever happens, according to 12-year-old Filomena Jefferson-Cho. But on the day that her way-too-overprotective parents finally let her walk to the bookstore by herself to get the 13^th and final book in the Never After series, not only is there no book, but a cute boy in a cloak who reminds her of Never After’s hero, Jack Stalker, follows her toward home and she saves them from an Ogre’s Wrath by using a fairy spell like is used in the series. (Mind. Blown.) Turns out, it really is Jack Stalker, and he’s accompanied by his loyal friend Alistair Bartholomew Barnaby, whom she recognized right away. Filomena isn’t quick to believe Jack, but is eventually swept up by the story come to life. It turns out the first 12 books aren’t only tales, but stories of a real place. Queen Olga, an ogre of Orgdale, wants Aladdin’s lamp for the powerful magic of the genie residing inside. She’s been driving away the fairies, but it’s the 13^th fairy, Carabosse, who’s not been seen since the day she cursed Westphalia’s baby princess (Eliana). The princess was never found, either. Carabosse knew she’d become reviled, but she accepted that to put her plan in motion to save Never After and her baby niece.

                        “Until one carrying my mark arrives–

                        Until the dragons rise–

                        And the wolves return–

                        To wake you all from nightmares deep.” --Carabosse (p. 175)

            I’ve enjoyed multiple books by de la Cruz, and I include this first book in The Chronicles of Never After series. One of the bits I loved immediately is that Filomena is adopted and, like me, has parents that love her. There’s a part where she thinks, “Maybe fairies would be nicer than most kids.” She’s referencing kids rudely wondering if she’s “black or Asian or white or what on earth was she (all of the above).” Filomena has “curly dark hair, dark brown eyes, and skin the color of maple syrup.” Her dad is Korean-Filipino and her mom is British. While I grew up an adoptee born in Korea (South) with Caucasian parents and didn’t have that exact rudeness flung at me, I do personally understand what it’s like to wonder about one’s biological kin. And, as an adult, that mostly translates to, “I wonder if there’s anything in my birth family medical history that I might wish I were aware of?”

            Happily, this story read quickly. It has elements that I expect of a middle-grade novel, such as middle-school angst, the latest cute boy and mean kids (who also exist as mean trolls, so that works well for them). And it has elements that I appreciate like a complex female protagonist, quirky but likable characters (main and supporting), magic and action that keeps the story moving swiftly forward. There are lines dropped that refer to other characters we are familiar with (or think that we are). Sure, the antagonists are a bit one-sided, but this story remains a refreshing twist to the fairy tales we learned about as kids. I’m pleased that no one ended up as “ogre toast,” so that I can look forward to the next installment.

One True King (June 2, 2020) by Soman Chainani.

*This is the sixth/final book in a series / final in a related trilogy.*

*SPOILERS included, though not major spoilers*

Camelot is a mess, and friends/allies young and older are dying. Japeth the Snake is masquerading as his twin brother, King Rhian, reigning over Camelot, trying to kill Tedros, Agatha, Sophie and the rest of their friends and allies. From Tedros, he wants Camelot’s ring, because if he destroys it, he believes he’ll become the One True King, able to destroy the Storian and use his own pen to write the stories he wants. Perhaps even bring back the one person he loved. Groups of friends are on other quests, but it’s not like the first stories. They’ve gone beyond Good and Evil (they’re dealing with an evil supreme, if that can be a thing). They’ve gone beyond Ever Afters. It’s still the Tale of Sophie and Agatha, but so many others are involved. One group needs to locate Merlin (and things turn very interesting with the Merlin they find). Others remain at the School for Good and Evil. Others’ whereabouts are unknown. But how are Evers, Nevers, the teachers that remain alive and the occasional outside ally going to defeat Japeth and all of the other kingdoms that are on Camelot’s side? Not Tedros’ Camelot, but Japeth-as-King-Rhian’s? How will Tedros win his late father’s (the King Arthur) tests when he can’t seem to decipher the clues and Japeth is always two steps ahead?

            I have been steadfast in my reading of all six of Chainani’s stories, but let me say right off that I truly hope that these stories are DONE. Certainly, the author has created a storybook empire, but it’s now teeming with so many characters outside of the main characters that I’m certain I couldn’t name them all anymore. Not only this story, but the series overall, I have found to be bewitching, dark, witty and thrilling. I’ve been abhorred by a main character that’s been frighteningly evil but has also shown goodness. I’ve detested many of the deaths but have also found it satisfying if a supremely evil character hasn’t survived. I applauded the Knights of Eleven when female knights were all chosen, I rejoiced that the series reached its version of a happily-ever-after, and my eyes may have misted when a character couldn’t stay a little longer because, “The work is done,” but mostly I’m happy that this series appears to be complete. These stories have showcased that true love is messy (though hopefully not this violently messy) and that Good and Evil isn’t simply black and white. There is a vast swath of gray in-between.

            Book One: The School for Good and Evil

            Book Two: A World Without Princes

            Book Three: The Last Ever After (did not review)

            Book Four (The Camelot Years 1): Quests for Glory

            Book Five (The Camelot Years 2): A Crystal of Time

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.

Rutabaga's Reads 2019: Part 7

If you read middle-grade, have you paused to consider how it can vary so drastically? Within YA, themes of violence or romance are common. But how about looking at a light middle-grade novel versus something more intense? Two of the books in this second middle-grade compilation post of 2019 are bookends representing this. Though both geared for the 8-12 age range, “Gabriela” is soft and light compared to “Quests for Glory.” The latter includes violence and terrible death. I don’t think reading one over the other makes you soft or brutal; I’m simply recognizing the light-years-apart difference in content.

Gabriela: Time for Change (Sept. 26, 2017) by Varian Johnson.

*This is the third book in an AG Girl of the Year series.*

Dreams aren’t limited to one Big Dream, which is good, because Gabriela McBride has more than one. She’s passionate about poetry and is looking forward to her first poetry slam. She’s a newly appointed co-ambassador for her 6^th grade class at Kelly Middle School and is determined to do well. She’s been dancing since forever, primarily tap, but she’s started training to go en pointe, which is such a milestone! With all of those Big Dreams comes more work, more responsibility and more time needed. Gabriela has to make two Halloween costumes, one of which is her themed costume idea with her best friend, Teagan (a “social” butterfly), but she also has two poems to fine-tune (a solo and a duet) and ballet homework on top of regular schoolwork. There isn’t enough time in the day! With getting pulled in many directions, certain things move to the bottom of the totem pole. When it negatively affects those around her, how can she hone her time management skills and bridge the hurts on both sides?

            Like other American Girl (AG) stories, this one shows growth and learning of the character, while also empowering her. It isn’t a fluffy story; Gabriela learns a hard lesson in time management, which, let’s be honest, isn’t exactly a cakewalk when you’re an adult, either. To add to the stress, Gabriela’s relationships with her closest friends suffer, and she doesn’t at first understand why her best friend is put out with her. It’s easy to say that the problem is with the other person, so it’s a huge accomplishment to be able to assess the incidents and conclude that you yourself have been a part of the problem, too. The woe-is-me mentality can be grating, but not unexpected for her age range. Overall, a sweet story of lessons learned, growth of responsibility and figuring out how to have more than one close friend.

Quests for Glory (Sept. 9, 2017) by Soman Chainani.

*This is the fourth book in a series / first in a related trilogy.*

Contrary to what Sophie believed, their quests are all failing. Every. Single. One. Someone claiming to be King Arthur’s son – who is not Tedros of Camelot – is causing mayhem, destruction and death in the surrounding realms. This unknown character has even gotten to the Lady of the Lake, which was believed to be impossible. Their current quests all changed when they realized other questers weren’t checking in with Professor Dovey, Dean of the School for Good and one of their classmates was killed. Murdered. Slain. Sophie, Dean of the School for Evil, does not want to participate in a quest when she cannot find how it revolves around her. But she changes her stance when she’s reunited with her best friend, Agatha, who’s also Tedros’ fiancée, even though she has ignored all of Sophie’s letters regarding wedding plans. There are others on the quest as well, including Hort, who has a ridiculous infatuation with Sophie, and Nicola, a first-year from Gavaldon who has a ridiculous infatuation with Hort. They locate the body of their classmate and eventually end up captured by pirates.

            The situation turns even more intense whence they congregate at the Four Point. They now know where all of their fellow questers are. It’s dire. They could all die, and not everyone makes it. While everyone is looking to Sophie and Agatha and Tedros and Camelot to save them, it’s not any of them who comes to the rescue. Instead, it’s a handsome newcomer named Rhian who saves the day with fearlessness, litheness and skill. He claims only to be a humble servant of Camelot. But who is Rhian? He’s in no records that Professor Dovey can find. What will Merlin discover?

            Honestly, I was okay with The School for Good and Evil  trilogy as a trilogy. But since I’d read the first three, I felt I should see what’s in store for The Camelot Years. Looking at the sheer size of the middle-grade novel (the hardcover version is 568 pages), there is a lot going on. The story did not need to be that long. Length aside, “Quests for Glory” is another wedge in this inventive fantasy pie. There is nothing whimsical about this tale. Any moment that might look like marshmallow fluff can turn to poison or a bloody death in an instant. As learned in the first trilogy of the series, appearances can be deceiving. The Lion could be the Snake. And the Snake might be the Lion.

Secrets and Scones (Nov. 6, 2018) by Laurel Remington.

*This is the first book in a series.*

Life has handed her lemons, and Scarlett is not making lemonade. Once outgoing, a member in clubs and activities and a willing participant in class, Scarlett has become as boring and solitary as a wall in order to give her mom as little ammunition as possible. Apparently, everything that is embarrassing or that can be twisted to embarrass Scarlett is fair game to her mom, a rising superstar in the blogger-verse whose shtick is parenting advice. But Claire’s advice is callous, bordering on cruel, even driving away Scarlett’s best friend in her post “Psst…Want to Know a Secret? My Daughter’s Best Friend Is Really Dull.” When her neighbor, Rosemary Simpson, is unexpectedly hospitalized, Scarlett steps in to take care of her cat, Treacle. She encounters a gorgeous kitchen fully stocked with fresh produce and an army of ingredients. Although she’s never baked before, she undertakes the challenge of making scones. Baking triggers a surge of confidence, is a highlight of her life (albeit a secret one) and introduces her to a new friend in new classmate Violet Sanders. Scarlett is almost manic about keeping the baking a secret, though. The last thing she wants is to give her mom more material to twist against her. But how long can a secret last when their neighbor’s politician nephew (Emory Kruffs) knows they’re there and their Secret Cooking Club is shared with others?

            The intergenerational rapport Scarlett and her friends build with Rosemary, folded into the discovery of a thrill for creating homemade food from a carefully handmade cookbook, easily makes this into an uplifting middle-grade story. I like the detail of all of the recipes, which, considering it’s the first book in the Secret Recipe Book Series, is to be expected, but I was disappointed by the lack of actual included recipes (there’s only one). The book could use any diversity (all of the main and supporting characters appear to be Caucasian; someone please comment below if you know that to not be the case), but its absence doesn’t take away from the story’s pleasant vibe. For younger readers overwhelmed by stories with action-heavy sequences or too much violence, this tale is a temptingly sweet and refreshing break. “Secrets and Scones” is as heartwarming as a homemade scone right out of the oven.

"A World Without Princes" by Soman Chainani

This post is about the sequel to “The School for Good and Evil.” Spoilers are included. Not much more so than what is implied by the title or found on the dust jacket, but if you’re planning to read this someday and haven’t yet, you may want to conclude reading this post right now.

A World Without Princes (Apr. 15, 2014) by Soman Chainani.

Both Agatha and Sophie, of Woods Beyond, are back home, where they should be living out their happily ever after, but they aren’t. Both girls make a wish unbeknownst to the other, but it is Agatha’s that propels them back to The School for Good and Evil. Except that it isn’t anymore. Princesses are mixing with witches and princes are chumming with henchmen: Evergirls and Nevergirls, Everboys and Neverboys. Girls versus boys. The School for Girl Education and Enlightenment; The School for Boy Vengeance and Restitution. The School Master’s Tower has moved, following the new School Master and the Storian. The new School Master is a certain muscular, golden-haired boy with his father’s glinting sword sheathed at his side. A boy named Tedros. There isn’t much time to dwell, as the girls get thrown into classes despite missing most of the school year. There’s a mysterious new girl named Yara who doesn’t speak, and the new Dean of the girls’ school, Evelyn Sader, is a “tall, ravishing woman” that’s more dangerous than she lets on.

            Agatha wants to undo her wish and send herself and Sophie safely back home. Too bad someone’s erased “The End” from their happy ending, and the Storian is missing. A new ending is up for grabs, and they all know that the villain always dies in the end, but who’s the villain? Is it Sophie? Tedros? Evelyn? Agatha? They need to restore the schools to Good and Evil. The tricky part will be making that happen without bloodshed, and unfortunately, blood will be shed in this world without princes.

            The best way I can describe this tale is to dub it epic middle-grade fantasy. Because it is. But which may sound strange, considering it is middle-grade. If you read the first one, you won’t want to miss this installment, and if you haven’t read the first one yet, what are you waiting for? This is middle-grade that is not meant for little kids or the faint of heart. Their second year’s Trial by Tale pits boys against girls, and the side with the most left standing wins. It’s as simple as that, except the trial could turn as deadly as a Hunger Games arena. Since The Hunger Games has already been done – quite dramatically and violently – I can’t say I liked the unoriginality of this trial format. But the trial is not the sole point of the story, and overall the book is a rousing, action-filled tale where good and evil are sometimes so skewed that it’s hard to tell who’s good and who isn’t. It is classy in its brilliance. It isn’t just a battle of lightness versus darkness, either. Sometimes it’s light versus light that battles. And at the end of the day, with true love on the line, who will prevail?

            Book One: The School for Good and Evil

"The School for Good and Evil" by Soman Chainani

The School for Good and Evil (May 14, 2013) by Soman Chainani.

The School for Good is all light and pristine and clean while the School for Evil is all dark and decrepit and dirty, so why would anyone ever want to be Evil? In this book, you don’t get a choice. 120 students per year are chosen by the School Master based on the Pure Good or Pure Evil that resides within them. All of them are descendants of fairytale characters – familiar and non – except for two. There are two Readers, and both hail from Gavaldon of the Woods Beyond. The School Master comes every four years, and every four years the people of Gavaldon worry about their children being kidnapped. But Sophie is not worried. Blond-haired, doe-eyed and pretty-in-pink, Sophie wants to be taken and dropped off at the School for Good so she can meet her prince. Her sort-of friend, Agatha, doesn’t believe in fairytales. Still, she doesn’t want Sophie to be taken. When she is, she tries to protect her, but is swept away with her …

            … And lands in the School for Good. Sophie is dropped unceremoniously into the School for Evil. Sophie is convinced that she is in the wrong school, and even Agatha feels out-of-sorts with Good. She’s like an ugly duckling in a roomful of swans, while Sophie is the swan with the ugly ducklings. Sophie is convinced that her fairytale lies with the School for Good, so what is Agatha doing in her school wearing her pink clothes and eating her dainty food? Agatha just wants to return home, but the only way that might happen is to live through a fairytale. The tricky thing, though, is that the villain always dies in the tale. But who’s the real villain?

            There are books I read swiftly because I read them posthaste, and there are those that I read swiftly because I want to. This middle-grade story falls into the latter category. I loved this book. I would recommend this to anyone with a love of fantasy and fantastical stories, especially if you like those that draw from fairytales. I recommend this especially for those who have middle-schoolers or those who teach middle-schoolers. The book is geared for ages 8-12, but I’d recommend 4^th graders on up, perhaps younger if the students are advanced readers.

            “The School for Good and Evil” is wonderfully imaginative, though Sophie drives me crazy sometimes. She’s a very selfish girl who does “good” for all the wrong, selfish reasons, yet she believes that she is truly a good person, both beautiful on the inside and out. Agatha is much more down-to-earth, perhaps because she’s always viewed herself as plain and ugly, but that is part of her character’s appeal. She is more relatable.

            Chainani’s story is not a Disney fairytale, though I suppose it is a fairytale of some sort. There is darkness in it, and one part of the story made me so mad, but I won’t go into it, lest I give something away. The action is intense, the characters are well-developed, and the plot is both fairytale-familiar and completely-other at the same time. This fantasy tale is sophisticated and is quite the debut from this author. I need to get my hands on the second book asap! I don’t normally grade books, but I give this one an A!