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Monday, August 31, 2015

Flunked by Jen Calonita

Pages: 242
Intended Audience: Tweens
Genre: Fantasy / Fairy Tale Parody
Notes for Parents: The violence is very mild.

The Back Cover
Would you send a villain to do a hero’s job?
Gilly wouldn’t call herself wicked, exactly…but when you have five little brothers and sisters and live in a run-down boot, you have to get creative to make ends meet. Gilly’s a pretty good thief (if she does say so herself).
Until she gets caught.
Gilly’s sentenced to three months at Fairy Tale Reform School—where all of the teachers are former (super-scary) villains like the Big Bad Wolf, the Evil Queen, and Cinderella’s Wicked Stepmother. Harsh. But when she meets fellow students Jax and Kayla, she learns there’s more to this school than its heroic mission.
There’s a battle brewing and Gilly has to wonder just how good these bad guys are.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:
This is the author’s first middle grade book and it’s the first book in a series.

What’s good?
This is a charismatic tale with an engaging premise and a fun cast of characters. Fairy tale references are tightly woven into this adventure story along with plenty of action, mystery, and humor. The main character, Gilly, is a spunky, high-spirited narrator who is easy to like, and she’s surrounded by a group delightful eccentrics. The plot is simple and straightforward, and the writing is strong and easy to read.
Best Part: Gilly’s family and their shoe.

What isn’t good?
This is, without a doubt, a middle grade novel meant for younger readers. There is no complexity to the plot, making it very predictable, and there is no depth to the characters, making them predictable. This is likely intentional, however, because this story is probably just meant to be good, clean fun.
Worst part: It’s very predictable.

Recommendation þþþoo
The best word I can use to describe this novel is “cute.” I was first attracted to the enchanting cover, and next to the promise of fractured fairy tales. The book delivered an entertaining story. This is a good start to what should be a charming series.

Calonita, Jen. Flunked. New York: Scholastic, 2015.

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Far Far Away by Tom McNeal

Pages: 369
Intended Audience: Teens and mature tweens
Genre: Supernatural / Mystery
Notes for Parents: There’s some mild violence and some scary situations that may be disturbing for sensitive readers.

The Back Cover
Jeremy Johnson Johnson hears voice—“strange whisperings”—so the citizens of the small town of Never Better treat him like an oddity and an outcast. When the town’s coltish, copper-haired adventuress takes a bit of a cake so delicious it’s rumored to be bewitched, she falls in love with the first person she sees: Jeremy.
In any other place, this would be a turn for the better for Jeremy, but not in Never Better, where the Finder of Occasions—whose identity and evil intentions nobody knows—is watching and waiting, waiting and watching…

What the cover doesn’t tell you:
Chosen as one of the best books of 2013 by Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, Amazon, and Horn Book Fanfare. It was the California Book Award Gold Medal Winner, the SCIBA Young Adult Book of the Year, the Booklist Books for Youth Editors’ Choice for 2013, and an Edgar Allan Poe Mystery Award finalist.

What’s good?
Great characterization, a quaint setting, and an intriguing storyline make this modern story feel like a fairy tale. The inventive premise involves the very likeable Jeremy, who is the only one who can communicate with the ghost of Jacob Grimm, one half of the famous Grimm Brothers. Jacob narrates the folklore-infused story of Jeremy, who has a plate is full of problems and no idea how to solve them. The charming town of Never Better is a picturesque setting for the adventure and mystery that Jeremy encounters. The writing is well-crafted, with a clever plot that twists and turns and a vocabulary that’s challenging but still easy to read. While the story was darker than I expected, it has an enchanting lightness, thanks to the quirky characters and delightful setting.
Best Part: Jeremy Johnson Johnson.

What isn’t good?
The pace was a bit slow. While plenty happens to keep the story interesting, there’s never a feeling of urgency in the writing or from the characters themselves. There was always a sense that no matter how bad things got, everything would turn out okay. Although I liked the end, many things felt unanswered. What exactly was the purpose of the Prince Cakes? What was up with Ginger’s grandfather? And Deputy McRaven? And what exactly is a Finder of Occasions? Did I miss the parts where the significance of all these things were explained?
Worst part: The loose ends.

Recommendation þþþoo
The start was slow, but the story always had my interest. For the last one third of the book, I was completely captivated. The writing was solid and the premise was good, I just wish there had been a bit more action and emotion. The characters are excellent, and the town and its people are wonderful. Despite the glitches, I enjoyed the story and recommend it.

McNeal, Tom. Far Far Away. New York: Ember, 2012.

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

All the Truth That's in Me by Julie Berry

Pages: 274
Intended Audience: Mature teens
Genre: Mystery / Romance / Historical
Notes for Parents: Contains scenes of violence; implications of sexual abuse

The Back Cover
Four years ago, Judith and her best friend disappeared.
Two years later, only Judith returned.
Now, unable to speak, and ignored by those who were once her friends and family, Judith is forced to make a choice.
Continue to live in silence…
Or recover her voice, even if it means changing her world, and the lives around her, forever.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:
This was a YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults Top Ten title, and was nominated for the MWA Edgar Award for YA. It was also “Best Teen Book of 2013 (Kirkus Review) and chosen one of the “Best of 2013” by School Library Journal. It was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal.

What’s good?
Good flow and an even pace highlight this story about a young girl’s arduous journey to regain her voice in a repressive town that ostracizes her when she returns a mute after being missing for two years. Judith is a strong, sympathetic main character. The short, often extremely short, chapters are told in second-person point of view as letter-like thoughts from Judith to a boy in the community named Lucas. The time shifts in the storytelling make the plot fairly complex, and the writing style creates an organic and emotional atmosphere. The setting is kept vague but is historical, providing a solid base for the mystery, suspense, action, drama, and romance that the novel offers.
Best Part: The twist at the end. It’s not so much of a twist as a slow turn. Well done.

What isn’t good?
The second person point of view took a little getting used to, as did the choppy, disjointed writing style, both of which eventually won me over. The plot is intricate, shifting between past and present, and is full of mis-directions that require the reader’s attention. It’s not an easy read, nor a fast one. The story builds slowly and the journey is a difficult one.
Worst part: The end. (I liked the “twist” but not the actual ending).

Recommendation þþþoo
This is an oddly compelling tale. Had I known what I was getting into, I probably would have skipped it, but I’m glad I forged ahead. Characterization is strong, the premise is unique, and the setting is captivating. It’s an emotional story with a lingering sense of bittersweet. I’m not sure I like the end. It felt like mental instability was confused with good intentions. Regardless, if you’re up for a challenge, this is a good read. Recommended.

Berry, Julie. All the Truth That’s in Me. New York: Speak, 2013.

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Through the Woods by Emily Carroll

Pages: 208
Intended Audience: Teens and mature tweens
Genre: Graphic Novel / Horror stories
Notes for Parents: There is nothing overly graphic, but these stories aren’t meant for sensitive readers.

The Back Cover
Five mysterious, spine-tingling stories follow journeys into (and out of) the eerie abyss. Come, take a walk in the woods, and see what awaits you there.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:
This is a collection of short, graphic (illustrated) horror stories that have the common theme of “the woods.”

What’s good?
These are five beautifully written, hauntingly illustrated, and wondrously dark short graphic stories. The writing is simple, yet poetic, and the words flow with emotive grace (e.g. “…its piano key teeth and burnt-out eyes would peer up from the bottom of the step.”). Vivid imagery and mesmerizing drawings complement each story’s compelling mystery. The various plots are evocative and well-paced. My favorites were “A Lady’s Hands are Cold” and “The Nesting Place.”
Best Part: “I married my love in the springtime…”

What isn’t good?
I didn’t “get” a couple of the stories although I was still thoroughly creeped out by them. Each ended more or less with a cliffhanger not meant to be solved and were more like poems or scary fairy tales than actual stories with plot and character development.
Worst part: Spending $20 on a book that takes 15 minutes to read is wrong.

Recommendation þþþþo
The stories aren’t gory or graphic, they’re just plain creepy! But creepy in a strangely delightful way. The stories are imaginative, the writing is superb, and the illustrations set a wonderfully sinister atmosphere. I absolutely loved this collection of short graphic stories despite not being a “horror” fan. Definitely recommended, but don’t buy it, borrow it from the library.

Carroll, Emily. Through the Woods. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2014.

Monday, August 3, 2015

Proxy by Alex London

Pages: 379
Intended Audience: Teens
Genre: Dystopian / Science Fiction / Thriller
Notes for Parents: There’s mild language and a fair bit of violence.

The Back Cover
Syd’s life is not his own. As a proxy he must pay for someone else’s crimes. When his patron, Knox, crashes a car and kills someone, Syd is branded and sentenced to death. Syd and Knox realize the only way to beat the system is to save each other, so they flee. The ensuing cross-country chase will uncover a secret society of rebels, test the boys’ resolve, and shine a glaring light onto a world of those who owe and those who pay.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:
The description is a bit misleading, but it gives you the general idea. This is the first book in a series.

What’s good?
This science fiction thriller is fast-paced and packed full of action. Set in a dystopian society where the rich pay the poor to shoulder the consequences of their misdeeds, the novel’s world building is unique and imaginative. The plot moves rapidly and while the storyline is fairly complex, it’s well organized and easy to follow. Characterization is well-done. The main character is likeable, and the supporting characters are imperfect but realistic. Many ethical questions and social issues are subtlety explored without overpowering the main adventure of the story.
Best Part: The orphans’ names – Sydney Carton, Atticus Finch, Tom Sawyer...

What isn’t good?
Materialism and barbaric practices in a technology-soaked world where the rich prevail and poor do not has been a trending storyline for a while. However, while the premise is getting old, the world itself is original and beautifully constructed. There’s a fair bit of “techno” speak that gets confusing at times, but it’s never to the detriment of the story. Finally, why was “the secret” kept a secret for so long? What were the rebels waiting for? Hopefully this question is answered in subsequent volumes because it was a glaring question I had through most of the novel.
Worst part: Nigeria? Detroit? A map would have been useful.

Recommendation þþþþo
I liked it. The feel of the story reminded me of Scott Westerfeld’s Uglies, only darker and more brutal. Syd, the main character, was instantly likeable and Knox, who was self-centered and blissfully unaware of the world’s problems, had a sincerity about him that allowed for redemption. The story was exciting and fast-paced. Recommended.

London, Alex. Proxy. New York: Speak, 2013.