Rutabaga's Reads 2012: Part 2

This is Part 2 of Rutabaga’s Reads 2012. I would enjoy reading your comments on any of these books you have also read. What did you like or not like about the book? Or if you haven’t read the books, tell me which one captures your interest. And definitely clue me in on any books that you’ve read that have captivated you or really made you think.

13 Treasures (Apr. 12, 2010) by Michelle Harrison.

In this middle-grade fantasy novel, debut author Harrison introduces readers to Tanya, a 13-year-old with the second sight. She can see fairies, but not the adorable pixies we’d expect in Tinker Bell’s world. No, these fairies are mischievous and sometimes downright mean. She is sent to live at her unfriendly grandmother’s place, Elvesden Manor, the wooded area around it which is replete with fairies. After an unplanned, but still forbidden, trek into the woods with the groundskeeper’s son, Fabian, Tanya and Fabian become interested in the identity of the “ghost” they encountered. With the help of Red, a girl who also has the second sight to see fairies, and Mad Morag, who many in the town deem to be a witch, Tanya learns more about the mystery of Hangman’s Wood and a fifty-year-old story.

            While I did not love this story, I still found it to be an interesting take on fairies. Harrison creates a masterful world around Elvesden Manor, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys upper middle-grade fantasy works. Maybe wear some red, though …

Bad Girls Don’t Die (Apr. 21, 2009) by Katie Alender.

In this YA supernatural thriller debut from Alender, Alexis Warren is a typical angst-y teen who’s anti-social and anti-cheerleader. She likes to dye her hair (pink makes a good statement) and wreak minor havoc (like stage an anti-fashion show during a school club’s fashion show). She feels she can go full steam ahead in her own way and on her own time by herself. But when she notices strange glowing light around their house, and her sister, Kasey’s, blue eyes occasionally go green, she knows that she can’t handle this on her own. She gains the help of two people she’d never purposely plan on crossing social paths with: Megan Wiley, cheerleading captain and [covert] class clairvoyant, and Carter Blume, class vice president and … potential boyfriend?

            While there were moments when the book felt very obviously contrived, for the most part, it was a solid supernatural read for the YA set. Alender gives Alexis an authentic teenaged voice, which is also humorous. This book would be a choice read for girls who want to be spooked, but only a little.

Cleopatra’s Moon (Aug. 1, 2011) by Vicky Alvear Shecter.

A YA novel following Cleopatra VIII Selene, the only daughter of Cleopatra the VII and Marcus Antonius. She was named Selene for the moon, while her twin brother, Alexandros Helios, was named for the sun. This historical fiction novel is told through the eyes of Cleopatra Selene beginning with the undoing of her family and the Egyptian empire on through a live-in in the court of Octavianus, the Roman ruler who caused her and her family much heartache, loss and loss of life. Cleopatra Selene vows to defeat him and return to Egypt. Like her mother, she wants to present herself as the great and powerful queen her mother was.

            Cleopatra Selene is a compelling female protagonist; she is a heroine. I found this story to be riveting; Shecter writes Cleopatra Selene’s character so well that you’ll wish history had ended up much happier for Cleopatra Selene, her brothers and their parents. But with their history being one that it is, be aware that there are many characters – even in this one story alone – and some have such similar-sounding names that it may sometimes be difficult to keep them straight. But if you can do that and appreciate historical fiction with its adventure, danger and romance, you will appreciate this book, too, as I did.

Entwined (Mar. 29, 2011) by Heather Dixon.

Azalea Wentworth of Eathesbury, Princess Royale, is the oldest of twelve princesses. They are named in alphabetical order of flowering flora “as the King liked everything very much in order.” In Dixon’s debut novel, Azalea and her sisters endure a mourning period (no colors, sunlight, suitors or dancing) after their mother’s passing, but Azalea and her sisters love to dance. And indeed, “Entwined” is based on “The Twelve Dancing Princesses” by the Grimm Brothers. Azalea finds a secret passage to a magical pavilion and the Keeper, who invites them to use the pavilion to dance as much as they want. It’s a nice relief from the Mourning above and the prospective suitors to see Azalea on “Royal Business.” But still, Azalea notes that the Keeper is not as wholly amicable as he seems. What does he want?

            Dixon did a fine job of moving the plot forward with light romance, magic, danger and communication (both fun and strained). The YA fantasy novel is reminiscent of “The Twelve Dancing Princesses” and is created in a fairy-tale world that would almost be pleasing to inhabit if it weren’t for the Keeper. I found this book to be charming and funny (especially in scenes involving Princess Bramble and/or Lord Teddie). This is a delightful read for anyone who enjoys fairy tales, but it would appeal more to girls than boys.

The Grimm Legacy (July 8, 2010) by Polly Shulman.

In this, the central character, Elizabeth Rew, is a newly hired page at the New York Circulating Material Repository, where patrons can check out a variety of rare objects. Secret objects as well, which lie in the repository’s basement and include items from the Grimm Collection. That room contains the magical items of the Grimm Brothers fairy tales, such as the Magic Mirror from Snow White and the seven-league boots. For a gal who’s been miserable at home and at a new school – save for the teacher who suggests the job to her – her work life is exciting and adventurous. But something is wrong. The magical items are beginning to disappear. Can Elizabeth and her friends find out who’s causing the disappearance of the missing artifacts?

            Reading like an upper middle-grade novel, “The Grimm Legacy” is fast-paced and entertaining. Fans of fantasy and especially, the Grimm fairy tales, will delight in this read, though without all the darkness of the actual Grimm tales or even the hit TV show “Once Upon a Time” (which I thoroughly enjoy). I recommend this to anyone looking for a fantasy read or just a good book!

 

I Was Jane Austen’s Best Friend (Sept. 28, 2010) by Cora Harrison.

That would be Jenny Cooper, also Jane Austen’s cousin. A real person (though her actual name was Jane Cooper), she is an orphan who lives with the Austen family in the year she meets the dashing Captain Thomas Williams. But Jenny is a shy girl, so how is a shy girl to go about grabbing the attentions and affections of a potential love interest? Answer: Jane Austen. Good thing Cousin Jane is around with her bevy of knowledge regarding courtship in their day with plenty of wit to go with it.

            The first thing that came to mind when I finished this YA story was that it is a cute story. One can tell that Harrison completed extensive research so as to represent the time period properly, not just in speech, but manners and attitudes as well. The book is good parts carried in fact and fiction. A charming historical romance, I anticipate you’ll like this book if you’re an Austen fan or like charming stories.

In a Heartbeat (Feb. 2, 2010) by Loretta Ellsworth.

“In a Heartbeat” goes back-and-forth between two main characters: Eagan, a rising star in the figure skating world, who’s recently died after a freak skating accident, and Amelia, who’s in need of a heart transplant due to congestive heart failure. Amelia receives Eagan’s heart and begins to notice newly acquired tastes and characteristics. For example, she craves the color purple when she hated it before. It’s Eagan’s favorite color. So now Amelia’s adjusting to a future she thought she might not have – and it includes a boy named Ari – but Eagan in her afterlife is not ready to let go. How will Amelia start to adjust? Can Eagan let go?

            I chose this book because a description of the book had said that fans of Lurlene McDaniel would enjoy this story. (In my teen years, I read multiple books by Lurlene McDaniel.) While I can’t say I for sure agree with that, I will say that it was a stirring read. Even though the matter is intense stuff, Ellsworth’s writing is simple enough for younger readers to understand. It might even get readers thinking about the magnitude of organ donation and the theory of cellular memory.

The Kneebone Boy (Sept. 14, 2010) by Ellen Potter.

The Hardscrabble children are a strange sort. There’s Otto, who’s been mute since their mother disappeared; Lucia, who’s fiercely honest and protective of Otto; and Max, who is the cogs-turning-thinker of the three. They are sent by their father to stay at an aunt’s house, but it turns out she’s on vacation, so they detour to their great aunt’s house in Snoring-by-the-Sea. The great aunt turns out, not to be a wizened old woman, but a young and somewhat eccentric woman who lives in a castle folly. The full-sized Kneebone Castle is across the way, and they learn of a half-human prisoner (the Kneebone Boy) and perhaps find answers to their own family mystery.

            Potter tells the story from a narrator’s perspective. Although it is one of the Hardscrabble trio, it doesn’t assuredly mention which one, though I’d wager anyone who read it would have a very good guess. She writes with enough twists and turns to keep the reader’s interest, but also imparts humorous asides to garner the reader’s laughter. That’s needed to get them through to the end. This is a fun choice for middle-grade readers or anyone, really, who likes a book with a moody cover. Who all noticed the five-legged cat?

Sing Down the Moon (Sept. 28, 1970) by Scott O’Dell.

A Newberry Honor Book, this small book tells the big story of Navaho (or Navajo) Indian Bright Morning. She gets kidnapped, along with her friend, Running Bird, by Spanish slavers. A determined young girl, she escapes with her friend and Nehana, a Nez Percé girl. But not long after her return, the Navaho are driven away from their homes by the Long Knives (Americans with swords who want their land). What happens to Bright Morning and her people?

            The book may be short, but the story is not. The time setting takes place between 1863 and 1865. In 1864, The Long Walk of the Navajo occurred, a 300-mile-long (according to the book) walk. The story is bitter and moving and full of tension and courage all at once. I would guess it has been popular in classrooms over the years.

            Has anyone used this story as a history lesson in their classroom? If so, how did it go? Bright Morning and the other young people like herself were very hard workers from a very early age, quite different than most young people today. Do they understand the enormity and fear and danger of life back then? Do they understand that O’Dell created “real” characters? Though the book is fiction, the story isn’t wholly. It is rooted in reality in all its peril, bitterness and endurance.

Switched: A Trylle Novel (Jan. 3, 2012 trade paperback ed.) by Amanda Hocking.

Hocking is a native to Austin, MN. And in her Trylle (a.k.a. trolls) world, trolls aren’t strange little things with shocks of bright hair or large ugly things that carry wooden clubs. They are remarkably attractive creatures that live in Förening, which happens to be located in MN bluff country near the Mississippi River. To the disbelief of Wendy Everly, this is where she ends up with fellow Trylle, Finn. She grew up with a mother who was convinced that Wendy was a monster and that she’d been switched out with her actual child.

            In Förening she meets her birth mother, a stunningly elegant and beautiful Trylle. She’s also adamant that Wendy learn the ways of the Trylle and get rid of her horridly “ordinary” name. Naturally, Wendy is expected to learn years’ worth of knowledge in a short matter of time before her very own debutante ball. There’s also the threat of a rival Trylle tribe after her, the Vittra. And her friendship with a mänsklig is vehemently discouraged. Why? What’s a mänsklig and what is the significance of the one she befriends?

            Hocking is something of a poster child for the self-publishing world. The Trylle trilogy is an e-book bestseller. I found the idea of pretty trolls to be an interesting concept, but also found this first book in the trilogy to be too predictable. I think that if you are a big fan of the “Twilight” series, this could be a trilogy to add to your bookshelf. But I’d recommend you try something else if you’re not a “Twilight” fan or have had enough of ridiculously attractive/stunningly beautiful creatures.

Rutabaga's Reads 2012: Part 1

This is Part 1 of Rutabaga’s Reads 2012. I have no intention of blogging about every single book I’ve read, but I do plan to blog about a fair share of them.

            Which of these books have you read? Which might be of interest to you? Do you have any recommendations for me? Let me know your thoughts about books in the Comments section.

The Books of Elsewhere: The Shadows (June 15, 2010) by Jacqueline West.

A middle-grade novel that pits eleven-year-old Olive Dunwoody against foes in paintings. She senses more to them and finds she can even venture into them when she finds a certain pair of glasses. She can travel into the disquieting world of Elsewhere. There is something ominous about the place and the paintings are not all as they are depicted. She gains a few interesting cats by the names of Horatio, Leopold and Harvey (they came with the house). She even finds a sort-of friend in Morton, one of the boys in a painting, though at times he seems like a really annoying brother.

            It was a fun book to read and a fast read as well. It would be a good read for someone who likes the length of chapter books, but perhaps isn’t fully ready to cut oneself off completely from pictures (of which there aren’t many, but there are still pictures, nonetheless).

 

The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod (2007-2010) by Heather Brewer.

I read this series after all five books were available: “Eighth Grade Bites,” “Ninth Grade Slays,” “Tenth Grade Bleeds,” “Eleventh Grade Burns,” and “Twelfth Grade Kills.” If you’re not familiar with this series, but think it sounds like it has something to do with vampires, you are absolutely right. Vladimir Tod is a teenaged vampire. However, he can go out in the sunlight without bursting into flame, turning to dust or sparkling, though it does take a healthy amount of sunscreen. He’s got a human best friend, falls for a human girl, uncovers secrets about himself (as the Pravus) and his family and, of course, has to defend himself from multiple foes, including – what else? – vampire Slayers. Being a teen can really bite sometimes, you know?

            Some of you might be thinking, “More vampire books? Really?” But give this series a chance, for this isn’t a story about devastatingly handsome or ridiculously good-looking people, immortal or not. It’s written for teens and reads as such. Brewer has a cohesive storyline through all the books and didn’t lack in humor. Give one, two or all five of these books a chance if you can stomach more vampires!

Dark Souls (Aug. 1, 2011) by Paula Morris.

Miranda Tennant sees dead people. And now she’s visiting York, England, supposedly the most haunted city in the world. There she meets an intense boy named Nick who knows all of York’s nooks, crannies and histories. She is distracted by him, but even more distracted by another attractive and mysterious boy who stays in the house across from where Miranda is staying with her family. As Miranda explores York’s mysteries, she discovers that something dangerous is being planned. Can she stop it?

            This young adult (YA) novel read fast for me, though it felt more like upper middle-grade than YA. While not an overly surprising book, it represented ghost stories finely. The book was somewhat creepy, but not in a way that would give one nightmares or even remotely bother anyone. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a ghost story, though I expect it’d appeal more to the female set than the male.

Daughters of the Sea: Hannah (Sept. 1, 2009) by Kathryn Lasky.

Hannah Albury is an orphan who discovers she gets sick the further away from the sea she is. She comes across as a modest, yet determined, young lady. She gets back to the coast and receives a job as a scullery maid with a well-to-do family with three daughters, though the oldest is a troubled sort who gives Hannah more trouble than anyone deserves. How does Hannah cope with the eldest daughter and the girl’s strange cat? Furthermore, the wealthy family commissions a painting by a young and very up-and-coming artist by the name of Stannish Whitman Wheeler. He harbors his own secret and makes Hannah feel like he knows something about her. What is his story and how will it affect Hannah?

            I’d recommend this to the female teenaged set. It’s a good novel for upper middle-grade and early YA readers.

Daughters of the Sea: May (Mar. 1, 2011) by Kathryn Lasky.

May Plum is an adoptee, found by her father floating in the sea. She is a patient and obedient daughter, though her patience wanes as the call of the sea seems to get stronger. She lives on a small island and helps her loving and caring father keep the lighthouse. Her mother is an overly dramatic woman who’s likely a hypochondriac, always claiming medical afflictions. May catches the eye of the predatory Rudd Sawyer and the intelligent and kind Hugh Fitzsimmons. There is even a connection to Hannah. What is it? How does May handle her mother? How differently does she react to the attentions of Rudd and Hugh? Does she answer the call of the sea?

            As with “Hannah,” I’d recommend this book to the female teenaged set. It would also be a good novel for upper middle-grade and early YA readers. You wouldn’t have to read these books in order, but it would be easier to, as there are references to characters in “Hannah” not introduced into detail in “May.”

The False Prince (Apr. 1, 2012) by Jennifer A. Nielsen.

This is Book One in Nielsen’s The Ascendance Trilogy. The sequel will be out next spring. It follows an orphan named Sage who was chosen by Conner, a conniving nobleman of the Carthyan court. Sage, along with three other orphans, are to compete for the role of Prince Jaron, lost four years before after the ship he was on sank after being attacked by pirates. Sage may be an ideal candidate for the role of false prince, except for his less-than-winsome personality. He has bad manners and a defiant nature. His character would rather reek of mischief than maturity.

            “The False Prince” is a medieval fantasy. It read to me as a book between upper middle-grade and YA. Nielsen writes the book from Sage’s perspective deftly and with plenty of humor. There are some well-executed twists and the book held my attention throughout. It would be a terrific read for anyone, but especially reluctant male readers.

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (June 7, 2011) by Ransom Riggs.

Sometimes I do judge a book by its cover -- or its title, which is exactly what I did with this book. Interesting title, and I wanted to read it. This novel incorporates unique photographs into the story. As in, each photo is tied to the story and has a story behind it, and the stories were told to Jacob by his grandfather. These were stories that in later years Jacob believed to be the product of imagination and not fact. But when a terrible tragedy occurs, Jacob goes searching. What will he find? Was his grandfather telling the truth?

            True to the title, the book was a peculiar read. It’s definitely not like any book I’ve read before (due in large part to the photographs), and for that reason I appreciated this book. If you’re in the mood for an unusual read, you should pick up a copy of this book.

Ruined (Aug. 1, 2009) by Paula Morris.

Rebecca Brown is sent to New Orleans to stay with her tarot-card-reading aunt while her dad is overseas on business, and her discomfort is an understatement. Despite the impressive backdrop of New Orleans, Rebecca thinks that NYC is the only great city in America. After all, what could New Orleans provide her that she hasn’t come across living in NYC? For one, the very appealing Anton Grey who’s taken an interest in her. And two, a bunch of rich girl snobs who attend the same snooty prep school she’s stuck attending (so maybe that’s not new, but it isn’t in NYC!). And three, a new friend named Lisette.

            The thing is, Lisette is a ghost. She’s not just any ghost, though. She’s a specter with a secret over a century-and-a-half old. And as Rebecca gets caught up in the story of cover-ups, curses and family secrets, she learns that her own history may be tied to it. Can Rebecca make sense of the past before it’s too late?

            As with “Dark Souls,” “Ruined” is a YA ghost story. Rebecca’s voice comes across as the teenager that she is, making her seem like an authentic character. The novel isn’t one made to make you think deeply about ghostly plotlines, so if you’re looking for lots of foreshadowing, you’ll be disappointed. But since I wasn’t looking for that, I found “Ruined” to be a fast, enjoyable read. Additionally, I felt that Morris painted a wonderful literary picture of the vibrant and intriguing city that New Orleans is.

The Traitor’s Smile (Sept. 16, 2011) by Patricia Elliott.

This is a teen read that takes place during the French Revolution. It is the sequel to “The Pale Assassin” and further follows the striking and wealthy aristocrat Eugénie de Boncoeur. In this novel Eugénie has arrived at the home of her uncle and cousin in England. She finds that she has differing views from her cousin based on what she has lived through in France, and surely the Pale Assassin’s minions must be on the hunt for her. Additionally, her brother, Armand, is stuck in a prison awaiting a dishonest trial which will surely send him to the guillotine. What’s a girl to do?

            Like with any war or revolution, there is blood, and things are messy. Sides are taken and double-crossing isn’t a new occurrence. This book has that with its historical fiction thriller stance. If you’re a fan of such books, check it out from your local library. I didn’t muddle through the book, but it definitely picks up a bit more steam halfway through the book when Eugénie, her cousin and a balloonist ultimately find themselves in France.

 

Tuck Everlasting (Jan. 28,1975) by Natalie Babbitt.

For those of you who have seen the movie but never read the book, the movie pretty closely follows the book. I suppose it helps that the book is less than 140 pages and not, say, 500 pages long. But as short as the story is, Babbitt fits in wonderful storytelling, laying out the storyline of young Winnie Foster, who ended up having a remarkable summer starting on one sticky day in August when she met the immortal Tuck family (no vampires involved!). Winnie learns they drank from a certain spring, and she hears stories of what it’s like to never age, never get sick, never be hurt. In the end, she’ll have to decide which road to follow: the one with an end or the one without.

            “Tuck Everlasting” is a terrific read. If you don’t have this little book on your bookshelf, it needs to be there. Though the story takes place in the late 1800s, it really is a timeless literary treasure.

"Endlessly"

YAY! I am pleased to say that I am FINALLY getting around to summaries/reviews of books I've read this year! Well, one, anyway, to start off. This is the most recent book I've finished reading. Enjoy!

            Are your days full of normal? Would you like a little paranormal in your day? If so, I encourage you to check out the Paranormalcy trilogy by Kiersten White. All three books are now available for purchase. The trilogy begins with “Paranormalcy” (Aug. 31, 2010), which is followed by “Supernaturally” (July 26, 2011), and concludes with “Endlessly” (July 24, 2012). This summary and review focuses on the final book.

            In “Endlessly,” Evie wants nothing more than to lead a normal life – or as normal a life as a paranormal Empty One can. Her normal plans involve hanging out with her [paranormal] boyfriend, Lend, her human friend, Carlee, and pushing to make pink the “neutral” color for the winter formal as opposed to navy. But whose plans ever tend to go exactly according to plan? … Exactly. She encounters scores of other paranormals, including a rather temperamental dragon, the new director at the International Paranormal Containment Agency (IPCA), who doesn’t play nice, and the Dark Faerie Queen, who is all sunshine and rainbows. Ha. Or most definitely not.

            What is the new IPCA director all about? Does the Dark Faerie Queen aim to harness whatever power Evie has or simply do her harm? Will Evie finally find herself on the wrong end of a Taser? And why are there so many paranormals, many of which she’s never encountered before, congregating at the lake? Because it surely can’t be for a neighborhood block party.

            I found “Endlessly” to be a swiftly-moving conclusion to this trilogy. This trilogy is perfectly paranormal and is geared for the teen set, so beware if you’re not a fan of one, the other, or both. Evie is faced with much turmoil and a lot is placed on her shoulders, which seems so totally unfair to her, to be thrust into it all and have such expectation upon her, but also seems to be necessary for the safety of others. Friends and loved ones may be lost, and she has to grapple with a very tough decision, near the end, about what to do. Can Evie do what’s best for the whole and do it selflessly and by her own choice? Or, in the end, will it come down to further manipulation?

            Will she have to say good-bye?