Jessica, the cool blogger from Musings + Teen Librarian, is doing a giveaway--more information here:
http://bookjessicalover85.blogspot.com/2011/06/100-followers-triple-book-giveaway.html
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Saturday, June 11, 2011
The Attolia series
There are four books (so far) in the Attolia series by Megan Whalen Turner, and I'd like to stress that there will be spoilers in this post! It's impossible to describe later books in the series without giving away spoilers for earlier books. So, if you don't want spoilers but you do want to read a great series, just trust me that you need to read them and DON'T read any summaries anywhere of them. Okay?
Book 1: The Thief
Recorded Books, 1997. 7 CDs(7 hr., 15 min.) Teen fiction
The magus of Sounis (the king's highest advisor) rescues a common thief from the king's prison and drags him on a long journey to find and steal (from the gods, no less) a mythical stone that gives the possessor of the stone the ultimate right to rule. However, Gen, the thief, is not quite what he seems.
Book 2: The Queen of Attolia
Recorded Books, 2007. 8 CDs (9 hr.) Teen fiction
Eugenides, the thief of Eddis, is captured in the kingdom of Attolia. As punishment, the queen cuts off his right hand and sends him home to Eddis, where he mopes and mourns the loss of his hand, and he thinks, his entire purpose in life. However, when he realizes that Eddis has gone to war with Attolia and that war with Sounis, their neighbor on the other side, Eugenides realizes there might still be something he can do to help his country--and himself.
Book 3: The King of Attolia
Recorded Books, 2006. 9 CDs (10 hr., 30 min.) Teen fiction
Having wed the Queen of Attolia, Eugenides must now try to win over her people. His attendents and royal guard all seem to hate him, including Costis, the young guard who goes so far as to strike the king. Rather than having him killed, Eugenides assigns Costis to his personal guard, and he, like other Attolians, comes to realize that there's more to the king than they initially saw.
Book 4: A Conspiracy of Kings
Greenwillow Books, 2010. 316 pages. Teen fiction
Sophus, the heir to the throne of Sounis, is kidnapped and sold into slavery. He must figure out how to escape, and following the death of his uncle (the king), unite his country, which is divided by civil war and subject to invasion by the Medes. He goes to Attolia to seek help from Eugenides and the queen of Eddis, and it will take all three countries to defeat the Medes and put down the civil war.
This is an intriguing series, with a fantasy world somewhat like Greece in its heyday. There are SOOOO many twists and turns that it's almost impossible to predict everything that's going to happen. I was hooked from the first book, and I actually think it might be my favorite of the series. I actually liked the fourth book the least, but I think that might be because we don't get to see as much of Eugenides as in the other books, since Sophus is the main character. Also, I got a little tired of all the political stuff--I guess I understand why kings and queens would have to act they way they do but sometimes it just doesn't seem so nice and I don't like that. It's accurate and probably necessary for the story...but still, not always easy to read...like when Eugenides doesn't seem quite so nice to Sophus anymore.
One thing that can be a bit jarring about the books is that the narration does change. Book 1 was Gen's story. Book 2 was mostly Gen with some of the queen of Attolia thrown in. Book 3 is mainly Costis's story, and book 4 is entirely Sophus's, and the point of view also changes--sometimes third person limited, sometimes omniscient, and sometimes first person.
I listened to the first three books on CD and really loved Jeff Woodman as the narrator. (I read the fourth one, and my head was a decent narrator ;) but not as good as Woodman). I highly recommend listening to this series if at all possible.
4.5 stars. Clean reads. Great series!! Check it out. I know my summaries didn't do them justice, but trust me: the books are well worth reading.
Book 1: The Thief
Recorded Books, 1997. 7 CDs(7 hr., 15 min.) Teen fiction
The magus of Sounis (the king's highest advisor) rescues a common thief from the king's prison and drags him on a long journey to find and steal (from the gods, no less) a mythical stone that gives the possessor of the stone the ultimate right to rule. However, Gen, the thief, is not quite what he seems.
Book 2: The Queen of Attolia
Recorded Books, 2007. 8 CDs (9 hr.) Teen fiction
Eugenides, the thief of Eddis, is captured in the kingdom of Attolia. As punishment, the queen cuts off his right hand and sends him home to Eddis, where he mopes and mourns the loss of his hand, and he thinks, his entire purpose in life. However, when he realizes that Eddis has gone to war with Attolia and that war with Sounis, their neighbor on the other side, Eugenides realizes there might still be something he can do to help his country--and himself.
Book 3: The King of Attolia
Recorded Books, 2006. 9 CDs (10 hr., 30 min.) Teen fiction
Having wed the Queen of Attolia, Eugenides must now try to win over her people. His attendents and royal guard all seem to hate him, including Costis, the young guard who goes so far as to strike the king. Rather than having him killed, Eugenides assigns Costis to his personal guard, and he, like other Attolians, comes to realize that there's more to the king than they initially saw.
Book 4: A Conspiracy of Kings
Greenwillow Books, 2010. 316 pages. Teen fiction
Sophus, the heir to the throne of Sounis, is kidnapped and sold into slavery. He must figure out how to escape, and following the death of his uncle (the king), unite his country, which is divided by civil war and subject to invasion by the Medes. He goes to Attolia to seek help from Eugenides and the queen of Eddis, and it will take all three countries to defeat the Medes and put down the civil war.
This is an intriguing series, with a fantasy world somewhat like Greece in its heyday. There are SOOOO many twists and turns that it's almost impossible to predict everything that's going to happen. I was hooked from the first book, and I actually think it might be my favorite of the series. I actually liked the fourth book the least, but I think that might be because we don't get to see as much of Eugenides as in the other books, since Sophus is the main character. Also, I got a little tired of all the political stuff--I guess I understand why kings and queens would have to act they way they do but sometimes it just doesn't seem so nice and I don't like that. It's accurate and probably necessary for the story...but still, not always easy to read...like when Eugenides doesn't seem quite so nice to Sophus anymore.
One thing that can be a bit jarring about the books is that the narration does change. Book 1 was Gen's story. Book 2 was mostly Gen with some of the queen of Attolia thrown in. Book 3 is mainly Costis's story, and book 4 is entirely Sophus's, and the point of view also changes--sometimes third person limited, sometimes omniscient, and sometimes first person.
I listened to the first three books on CD and really loved Jeff Woodman as the narrator. (I read the fourth one, and my head was a decent narrator ;) but not as good as Woodman). I highly recommend listening to this series if at all possible.
4.5 stars. Clean reads. Great series!! Check it out. I know my summaries didn't do them justice, but trust me: the books are well worth reading.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Heist Society
Heist Society
By Ally Carter
Brilliance Audio, 2009. 5 CDs (6 hr., 10 min.) Teen fiction
Kat Bishop comes from a family a thieves and cons, and although she conned her way into an elite boarding school in order to get away from that life, finds herself drawn back to the family when her father is accused on stealing some paintings from Arturo Taccone, an evil mobster. Kat's dad swears innocence, but Taccone doesn't believe him and he gives Kat two weeks to get his paintings back. So, Kat must assemble a team, figure out who stole the paintings and where he stashed them, and get them back to Taccone or the lives of everyone she loves are in danger.
There's not much not like about this book--there's adventure, suspense, a kick-butt protagonist with a good supporting cast, a bit of a love triangle, and a cool plot line. And, the audio version is great.
4 stars.
By Ally Carter
Brilliance Audio, 2009. 5 CDs (6 hr., 10 min.) Teen fiction
Kat Bishop comes from a family a thieves and cons, and although she conned her way into an elite boarding school in order to get away from that life, finds herself drawn back to the family when her father is accused on stealing some paintings from Arturo Taccone, an evil mobster. Kat's dad swears innocence, but Taccone doesn't believe him and he gives Kat two weeks to get his paintings back. So, Kat must assemble a team, figure out who stole the paintings and where he stashed them, and get them back to Taccone or the lives of everyone she loves are in danger.
There's not much not like about this book--there's adventure, suspense, a kick-butt protagonist with a good supporting cast, a bit of a love triangle, and a cool plot line. And, the audio version is great.
4 stars.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Small Acts of Amazing Courage
Small Acts of Amazing Courage
By Gloria Whelan
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2011. 217 pgs. Teen fiction
Rosy is a British girl living in India following World War I, as many Indians are starting to cry out for independence. Many of the British avoid the Indians, or employ them only as servants, but when Rosy rescues an Indian baby, sold to a cruel man when the family can't afford to keep him, she meets some British citizens who actually support Indian independence. Upset with his daughter, her father sends her to England for a proper education, but there, just as much as in India, Rosy comes to know her own mind and influence those around her.
This is a great piece of historical fiction, letting readers see what life was like in India in 1919. It's a brief story, but it's one that is well-written, with not a single wasted word, and readers will be enriched by reading it.
3.5 stars.
By Gloria Whelan
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2011. 217 pgs. Teen fiction
Rosy is a British girl living in India following World War I, as many Indians are starting to cry out for independence. Many of the British avoid the Indians, or employ them only as servants, but when Rosy rescues an Indian baby, sold to a cruel man when the family can't afford to keep him, she meets some British citizens who actually support Indian independence. Upset with his daughter, her father sends her to England for a proper education, but there, just as much as in India, Rosy comes to know her own mind and influence those around her.
This is a great piece of historical fiction, letting readers see what life was like in India in 1919. It's a brief story, but it's one that is well-written, with not a single wasted word, and readers will be enriched by reading it.
3.5 stars.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Eon: Dragoneye Reborn
Eon: Dragoneye Reborn
By Allison Goodman
Viking, 2008. 531 pgs. Teen fiction
In the fantasy world where Eon lives, there are 12 dragons, based on the Chinese zodiac. that affect the political system. While the emperor is the ruler, each dragon has a Dragoneye and an apprentice who will eventually become a Dragoneye. These men can tap their dragons' power and are major players in the country's political system. The apprentices are chosen from a group of hopefuls, selected by the dragons themselves. As the year of the Rat Dragon approaches, Eon hopes to be selected as the apprentice. However, Eon is crippled and, worse, a girl, Eona. Although she is disguised as a boy, if she is found out, she will be killed. Yet, she has the dragon sight, meaning she can see the dragons, and she knows that becoming the apprentice would change her life. What she doesn't know is just how much things will change and how dangerous her situation really is.
I don't consider myself to be a hard-core fantasy reader; I like fantasy like Harry Potter where there's a slow introduction to magical things but there are Muggles and everyday things to relate to. Well, this fantasy is NOT like that; readers are thrown into a foreign world. While it's skillfully developed, for some readers (like me), it will be difficult to follow all the intricacies of the world. However, Eon's struggle to find her place in the world and to stop the kingdom from falling apart is an intriguing story (although, really, it took her a long time to figure out the major point, which I won't mention because I don't want to ruin it). Overall, this might be a big investment for readers who aren't adept fantasy readers, particularly since the sequel is another hundred pages, but for readers who like fantasy, adventure, and a girl dominating in a male world, this is a good choice.
4 stars.
By Allison Goodman
Viking, 2008. 531 pgs. Teen fiction
In the fantasy world where Eon lives, there are 12 dragons, based on the Chinese zodiac. that affect the political system. While the emperor is the ruler, each dragon has a Dragoneye and an apprentice who will eventually become a Dragoneye. These men can tap their dragons' power and are major players in the country's political system. The apprentices are chosen from a group of hopefuls, selected by the dragons themselves. As the year of the Rat Dragon approaches, Eon hopes to be selected as the apprentice. However, Eon is crippled and, worse, a girl, Eona. Although she is disguised as a boy, if she is found out, she will be killed. Yet, she has the dragon sight, meaning she can see the dragons, and she knows that becoming the apprentice would change her life. What she doesn't know is just how much things will change and how dangerous her situation really is.
I don't consider myself to be a hard-core fantasy reader; I like fantasy like Harry Potter where there's a slow introduction to magical things but there are Muggles and everyday things to relate to. Well, this fantasy is NOT like that; readers are thrown into a foreign world. While it's skillfully developed, for some readers (like me), it will be difficult to follow all the intricacies of the world. However, Eon's struggle to find her place in the world and to stop the kingdom from falling apart is an intriguing story (although, really, it took her a long time to figure out the major point, which I won't mention because I don't want to ruin it). Overall, this might be a big investment for readers who aren't adept fantasy readers, particularly since the sequel is another hundred pages, but for readers who like fantasy, adventure, and a girl dominating in a male world, this is a good choice.
4 stars.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Ten Miles Past Normal
Ten Miles Past Normal
By Frances O'Roark Dowell
Atheneum Books for Young Readers, c2011. 211 pgs. Teen fiction
Janie lives on a mini farm with her parents, something she used to be excited about, but when she hit high school and had some embarrassing moments with hay in hair and goat poop on her shoes, the farm became a cause of embarrassment. She's just trying to blend in and not be noticed anymore, but when she starts learning how to play base guitar from a guy named Monster and getting to know a former civil rights worker, she realizes maybe she doesn't want to hide after all.
I didn't really feel like there was anything that really made this book stand out. It's good and fans of realistic teen fiction will like it, but it didn't do anything to really leave a lasting impression on me.
3 stars. Clean Read.
By Frances O'Roark Dowell
Atheneum Books for Young Readers, c2011. 211 pgs. Teen fiction
Janie lives on a mini farm with her parents, something she used to be excited about, but when she hit high school and had some embarrassing moments with hay in hair and goat poop on her shoes, the farm became a cause of embarrassment. She's just trying to blend in and not be noticed anymore, but when she starts learning how to play base guitar from a guy named Monster and getting to know a former civil rights worker, she realizes maybe she doesn't want to hide after all.
I didn't really feel like there was anything that really made this book stand out. It's good and fans of realistic teen fiction will like it, but it didn't do anything to really leave a lasting impression on me.
3 stars. Clean Read.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
The Boy Who Dared
The Boy Who Dared: A Novel Based on the True Story of a Hitler Youth
By Susan Campbell Baroletti
Scholastic Press, 2008. 202 pgs. Middle Grade/Teen fiction
In Nazi Germany, some people recognized Nazi propaganda and violence for what it was--a violation of civil rights and a bunch of lies to cover the truth. Helmuth Hubener, a teenager, was one of those people. Troubled by the Nazis and their beliefs and adhering to his own beliefs (he was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-days Saints) he only reluctantly participated in the Hitler Youth (a requirement for all German youth), and, after listening to illegal BBC broadcasts about the war, began writing and distributing anti-Nazi pamphlets. Caught, he was sentenced to death but was at peace with his decision to tell the truth.
Based on the true story of Helmuth Hubener (whose last name actually wasn't Hubener for much of his life), this book is an intriguing look at how those who didn't support the Nazis might struggle with their own conscience--on the one hand, they wanted to protect themselves and their families, but on the other, how could they stand by as the Nazi madness spread? This is an inspiring story, and while occasionally, the writing felt a little simplistic to me, the message is powerful.
(As a very small side quibble...I think it's weird to call the book " A Novel based on the True Story of a Hitler Youth." Um, German youth were required to be Hitler Youth, which means the vast majority of them were Hitler Youth...and I think there's a big difference between Helmuth and those who actually enjoyed being in the Hitler Youth. Bartoletti portrays him as not being that involved in the Hitler Youth; he wasn't some horrible bully who saw the error of his ways and then changed. In this story, he's never one of those kids who thrives on being a part of the Hitler Youth, or who sees that as a huge part of his identity. So, to me, that little addition doesn't quite fit. Perhaps a publisher's attempt at being dramatic? I don't know...but I don't think it's accurate in what it conveys.)
3 stars.
By Susan Campbell Baroletti
Scholastic Press, 2008. 202 pgs. Middle Grade/Teen fiction
In Nazi Germany, some people recognized Nazi propaganda and violence for what it was--a violation of civil rights and a bunch of lies to cover the truth. Helmuth Hubener, a teenager, was one of those people. Troubled by the Nazis and their beliefs and adhering to his own beliefs (he was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-days Saints) he only reluctantly participated in the Hitler Youth (a requirement for all German youth), and, after listening to illegal BBC broadcasts about the war, began writing and distributing anti-Nazi pamphlets. Caught, he was sentenced to death but was at peace with his decision to tell the truth.
Based on the true story of Helmuth Hubener (whose last name actually wasn't Hubener for much of his life), this book is an intriguing look at how those who didn't support the Nazis might struggle with their own conscience--on the one hand, they wanted to protect themselves and their families, but on the other, how could they stand by as the Nazi madness spread? This is an inspiring story, and while occasionally, the writing felt a little simplistic to me, the message is powerful.
(As a very small side quibble...I think it's weird to call the book " A Novel based on the True Story of a Hitler Youth." Um, German youth were required to be Hitler Youth, which means the vast majority of them were Hitler Youth...and I think there's a big difference between Helmuth and those who actually enjoyed being in the Hitler Youth. Bartoletti portrays him as not being that involved in the Hitler Youth; he wasn't some horrible bully who saw the error of his ways and then changed. In this story, he's never one of those kids who thrives on being a part of the Hitler Youth, or who sees that as a huge part of his identity. So, to me, that little addition doesn't quite fit. Perhaps a publisher's attempt at being dramatic? I don't know...but I don't think it's accurate in what it conveys.)
3 stars.
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