Review: The Tapestry series by Henry H. Neff

It's been too long since I posted a book review here. I guess it's been a while since I read one so worthy of the time it takes. This one is a Huge Winner! I am adding Max (and David and friends) to my favorite character list. I might even love him more than I love Harry. If you love fantasy this is a must read.

Amazon: The Tapestry series by Henry H. Neff   

Synopsis from Henry H Neff web site:

The Tapestry is a contemporary fantasy fiction series that follows the life of a boy named Max McDaniels. The series comprises four novels of which two, The Hound of Rowan and The Second Siege, have already been published and nominated for a number of awards. In addition to compelling characters and an epic story, the books are notable for combining a range of genres, including fantasy, history, mythology, folklore, and science fiction. Henry H. Neff both writes and illustrates the books.

The story of The Tapestry occurs in our world and during the present day. Old Magic is reawakening and a demon named Astaroth has returned to raise the stakes in an ancient war. This war threatens to consume not only cities and governments, but history itself.

Mankind's greatest hopes for independence and survival lie with Rowan Academy. Rowan is the last school of magic where those possessing special gifts are trained to serve as stewards of the arcane arts and guardians of mystic creatures that have faded with the modern age. From Rowan, powerful Mystics and deadly Agents continue the struggle against things that go bump in the night.

With Astaroth's resurgence, however, Rowan is overwhelmed. The battle passes into the hands of Max McDaniels and his roommate, David Menlo. The same Old Magic that is transforming the world also courses in their veins, making these two boys extraordinary even by Rowan's standards. While David's abilities rival those of the greatest sorcerers of the past, Max is believed by some to be a modern incarnation of the Irish hero Cúchulain. The two boys are called to combine their gifts and face a world marked by a new hierarchy of creatures great and small, which are pushing humankind beyond the fringes of civilization.

 

Watch a little video of the books here.         
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My Review:

I have just finished this series. Having never heard of it, the boys and I picked up book one, The Hound of Rowan, in audio format at the library. From the first 5 minutes we were hopelessly hooked on the series. We eagerly listened to the first four books, hanging on every word. To our great dismay, we discovered that the series finale, The Red Winter, is only available in e-book form. I am not sure what failure on the part of the publisher this was due to. But the fact that I had never heard of this book may be a sign of poor wide spread publicity, though they did receive several awards. This series is a fantastic blend of everything we love about Harry Potter and Percy Jackson rolled into one. I can honestly say this series may actually top Harry and Percy for me. And I, being a big fan, don't say that lightly. If it were publicized more it could have made some movie company, Harry Potter rivaling, mountains of profit.
In my opinion, any book you dream about nightly while reading and after, can't wait to get to reading time for, stay up too too late because you CAN NOT put it down, that's a very good book. That is The Tapestry series by Henry H. Neff.

Age:
My sons are 11 and 12. This book is appropriate for late elementary school age and above. I would not read it to or put it in the hands of a child less than 10 years of age. For one, they will skip the hard to pronounce words which is poor reading. (There is a pronunciation key, which is invaluable). There are deep concepts to navigate. The violence is more of a PG rating. It is also helpful to have read folklore and mythology from around the world, especially Celtic and European.

Some of the things I love about this book:

• Very well written and edited. A big plus these days.
• Does not shy from large and descriptive words.
• The diverse genres that it embodies.
• The seamless cohesiveness between books in plot, characters, and style.
• The sub characters, not just the main ones, flow into every book together. Or you at least can easily place where they come from.
• Well developed and endearing characters.
• Fantasy taken from mythology.
• Action packed. On the edge of your seat!
• Exciting plot twists that surprised us.
• Proper emphasis on family relationships and bonds.
• Excellent character traits embody the main character Max, who really is a worthy role model. He is humble, kind, loyal, honest, faithful to family and friends, brave even when afraid. He struggles, and succeeds, to master self control and do what is right. He is generous to others, fights for the underdog, he faces his failures and makes amends.
• Evil is treated as such.
• The concept of bias/prejudice is addressed and confronted in context of the story line.  It encourages discernment rather than pre-conceived assumptions about those who are different and even long standing oppositions.
• Romantic elements are G rated and tastefully endearing.
• There are no lulls or dead parts that drag in any part of the series.
• While many battles are fought, I appreciate that the gore is not overly descriptive. PG
• The ending is VERY satisfactory and does not leave you thinking that there should have been better closure, but it is a question as to whether or not that will happen right up to the end. I like that a lot. 

 Cautions:

• Read the pronunciation guides in each book. Many names and terms are in Gaelic.
• There is some mild cussing. None extraneous.
• There are a few characters who apparently are womanizers. They are not written as favorable characters.
• For those sensitive to such topics: there are witches, demons, and magic. Celtic in nature mostly. There is also positive mention of the one supreme God. This is in no way a religious book of any sort.
• I strongly recommend this as an outstanding book. And I strongly recommend to the publishers to print the last book, The Red Winter.

He is writing another book. May be a series? I will be interested in reading it.

Percy Jackson (first 5) Rick Riordan

Ok, I know, I know, I am a late comer to the world of Percy Jackson. Why? Well I really can not tell you. I have no good excuse, especially now that I have read them all and am glad I finally got around to it!

The first 5 books, a series called Percy Jackson and the Olympians is AWESOME.

Ok, I said it. I love Percy Jackson as much as Harry Potter and Frodo and Sam and Gregor.

So, just in case you haven't read it yourself, here is my review.

This book series follows a boy, Percy, from age 12 to 16 as he learns the shocking and unsettling fact that his father is a Greek god from mythology. He learns his demigod powers and place in the world including his flaws, weaknesses and strengths.
Percy has a lot to overcome. He has moved schools every year because weird things he can't explain keep happening to him. In the first book he learns that there are monsters who try to kill him at every turn. He is raised by his mother and step father who is a vulgar and abusive man. Making friends, let alone keeping them has been a source of sadness for Percy and he has never felt he belonged anywhere. In this series he learns the meaning of family, loyalty, truth and doing what is right even when it is hard. Each book gives Percy a new challenge to work through that develops his character and faith in who he is. By the end Percy has really grown up and is a true hero and good role model in many ways for the kids who read about him.

What I like:
Family bonds. Loyalty to friends and family. Seeking truth. Doing right even if it is hard and not what you want at all. Looking beyond yourself for what is right and good to do. Literary and historical facts thrown in all these books. Mythology and the classics. Greek stuff. To be honest, what kid does not dream of the what if of legends. What if I had super powers, what if the myths were real, what if the mythological gods did have kids with mortals, what if? It's fun to dream. The good guys always win. There are hard challenges to face. It is hard to guess accurately what is going to happen.

What I don't like:
Ok, from a Christian perspective, the kids saying oh my g---. Is not really what I want to be reading or having my kids pick up on. So, depending on your take on things this may be a conversation worth having. While I understand the place this has in the books, I was not comfortable with it. That is the only thing.

Age of reading:
I would say that a kid in 4th-5th grade could read this. It certainly appeals to kids in JH and HS as well. And, well, obviously me too and so that could include adults. :)
I think both boys and girls will like this book, but it has a particular draw for boys. I like that the co- main character is a girl though. A tough one, who is very likeable. 

Appropriateness of content for what age: PG
These books do contain a lot of violence and some of it is somewhat graphic. The books are also very intense with the battles and monsters, etc. So, I would say you have to gauge how your child's personality is. Sensitive kids will need to wait. No harm in that!!! Younger kids might not get the development of Percy and Annabeth's relationship in later books, it is pretty subtle.

Educational value:
This book series is an awesome accompaniment to any curriculum that has your child studying Greek mythology. It is helpful to have had some lessons on this already. It really brings to life some of the stories and ideas of Greek Mythology that the kids learn. If you have a Core Knowledge curriculum at your your school this is going to be 3rd, 5th and 6th & 8th grade. I would say wait until after 3rd and maybe have them read the first book at the end of 4th just before 5th grade and then all of them by 8th grade.  (A good follow up is the next series called Heroes of Olympus and it adds Roman Mythology to the mix).

I read them all in about a month. You can get them anywhere or your library or library kindle loans. 

So, go meet Percy Jackson, he's worth knowing.

Ledgends of Karac Tor by Dean Barkley Briggs: review

I was in a bookstore and on the $5 table was the first book in the series called The Legends of Karac Tor. The Book of Names. The description on the back intrigued me. Five dollars, hey it could be good. Good is an understatement, it sucked me in. It left me hanging and I did not even know it was a series! I guess i did not read the back very well. So, come to find out it was written a while back, but the stores don't carry the rest of the series. Who could just leave it there? I had to know the rest of the story. So, to Amazon I went. The next two were on Kindle so I read them fast, the fourth book came out mid February. I had to wait for it to go on Kindle. All were around the $5 price for Kindle version. Great buy. Now that I have finished the fourth book, I have to wait until Mr. Briggs finishes that fifth book. Grand finale. I can't wait.

The series consists of :
The Book of Names
Corus the Champion
The Song of Unmaking
The Raveged Rhelm
The War of Swords- coming

You can find them on Amazon
You can learn more about the author and the series at Hidden Lands website 

General overview:
The basic gist of the story is that things are not as they may seem. Maybe, this world, what we see is not all there is. Maybe, just maybe the histories of our world are interrelated more than we care to admit. Perhaps there are other worlds, what if they intersected, what if they interrelated. What if?
The Barlow family has recently lost mother/wife. They have also moved. Chasing a dream of their archaeologist father.
What happens next is nothing any of them expected, not even the dad, who has been researching this a long time. The boys one by one stumble into another world, become and intricate part of it. Dad follows. Their lives are changed, by hardship, grief, joy and promise. It is a clear and beautiful picture of what happens when we acknowledge God as the master story teller, the author of our unique stories, so distinct and so intertwined. He reveals, he heals, he makes all things new. This is a great story about our journey, our story, the hand of God. I also really like the example of gifts. God gives gifts to his children and the Barlow's and Odessa's clan have gifts too. I like that.

Ok, now the story line overview:
Reggie Barlow has recently lost his wife. He has four boys. All are in varying stages of grief. They move to a small town to a farm. While clearing a field of thorns a mystery unfolds. I won't spoil it for you.... but one by one the boys find themselves in another world, then dad too. This takes two books. The boys find that in the transition they each acquire a new gift that is very useful in the many quests and adventures they find themselves in. They make some really great new friends and find a new home and purpose in the land of Karac Tor. The boys and dad are intricate parts of the end time saga of this world or other dimension.

In the first book, The Book of Names, Hayden and Ewan must help to defeat an evil enchantress who desires to cast the world of Karac Tor into darkness and evil. Does she work alone or is there another behind her evil work? Will the boys accept the call or will they go home? Can they?

In the second book, Corus the Champion, the twins, Garret and Gabe have made it to the Hidden Lands. All four boys have a part to play. The enchantress is at work again and someone worse is rising up. A long lost champion must be retrieved from the clutches of evil before it is too late and a long sleeping King of another world must be awakened to stop the spread of evil and destruction. Will the boys rise to the challenge, even if it cost them greatly? Will they find a way to their father?

In the third book, The Song of Unmaking, dad finally makes his way through the portal and into Karac Tor, grief torn over his wife and the seeming loss of his four sons, he takes an entire book to find the strength to stand and be part of the story. Meanwhile his sons are off and running, adventure at every turn. A dark evil threatens Karac Tor. A machine, an army of unliving beasts. Will they find the strength in faith to do what they have been called to do?

In the fourth book, The Ravaged Rhelm, two plots unfold and intertwine in book one and book two of this novel. The song has unleashed a fury of destruction and change for those given to evil and those given to good. The rest must decide who leads them, will the king from another world hold them together? Will the humans turned monster destroy the people? Will the Barlow brothers even survive this? Lost and wandering each finds their own mission and works hard to follow the call. What of their father? He just disappeared along with one of the rulers and three of her children. The second half of the book follows them in their journey, a call to find the last voice of prophecy required for the end times of Karac Tor. This can't be the end for Reggie though as he finds he is falling in love again.  The book ends with some solidarity and and answer, much of the riddle the books are based on is solved. We await the end in book four, The War of Swords.

Critique:
Good: This series is a great read. Captivating and engaging. The author uses great words to challenge the vocabulary of the reader. I like that. He uses just enough description to lead us into our own imagination. Each book ends at such a place that there is sufficient closure but leaves you hanging so you just must read the next book. The characters are developed in such a keen and personal way that you really feel that you know them. I found myself laughing out loud, crying and clutching the book in stressful anticipation. I also really liked the historical and mythological aspects that Briggs brought to the book, makes one think about things a little deeper. I liked the mirroring of different cultures and language use (some of that needed some translation), it is refreshing to have a cast of characters who are multi cultural.  I also really appreciated the spiritual aspect of the book, showing us the story line God has for us is not always, well, rarely is, what we think it is. The artwork on the covers of these books are quality, eye catching works of art showing care and consideration for the story.

Not as good: Well, the only negative comments I have for this series is in regard to flow and editing. While the author really does the story, the editor helps to put things in an order that makes sense and I think either the editor was off or I got an unedited copy. The third book does not flow as well as the first two, leaving you hanging for more than one or two chapters with some of the characters as they go back and forth between what is happening in different parts of the story for longer chunks of time. Not too bad really, you still get a well rounded idea of what all the characters are up to and how they are feeling. The fourth book has a few more issues. I am guessing that something happened in the upload of the kindle version from the publisher and a previous edition was put out instead of the final edit. There were multiple editing errors in spelling and phrasing and actually once a totally different name was used for one of the twins. This did not bother me, but it could be a distraction for others, land is unprofessional. I am pretty sure this was an error on the part of the publisher and will be fixed soon. I just don't have that new official copy. The other issue with the book, it is an editing issue as well, is that it started out going back and forth between two parties (three of the brothers) then went and focused on one of them entirely for many chapters. In the first part of the book there was little mention of dad, who had suddenly disappeared at the end of the third book. Also Hayden was only mentioned in the first and last chapters and we have only an inkling of an idea what he has been up to, he was our main character in the first book and it seemed unfair to readers to leave us hanging with out so much as a minor chapter in between to let us know what he was up to. Ewan also seemed a secondary character and he was just re-developing his skill and I would have liked to see more of his personal struggle with this. We did get to know Gabe and Garret more in the first part of this book, especially Gabe. The second part of the book (and they are broken into book one and book two), we follow dad, Reggie, and Odessa, a ruler on Karac Tor, and three of her kids as they traverse worlds looking for the prophet to bring commencement to the end times on Karac Tor. While this was interesting it felt disjointed. It also brought a budding romance to the scene with characters we had not previously gotten to know and love, so it seemed awkward, though by the end I was certainly rooting for them and glad for the outcome. Looking forward to more closure to that in the last book. Considering that this book is for teens, the adult thought process of love and commitment, grief and hope are a bit out of context for the general audience. Not a problem for adult readers who will understand. Given that this is semi autobiographical in that the characters and relationships reflect real ones it is understandable, but not really what a teen audience is interested in. Now, if say, Hayden or Ewan had fallen for Odessa's daughter, now that is a good teen story, and would also have been unrelated to the real life characters. I prefer the back and forth of the first two stories and even the third. The second really felt like the two separate books it was broken up into, which does not fit the style of the first three books of a series. Usually a series sticks with the same format. I wanted to know more about the other characters and what they were doing and how they were developing in their new calling and life on this other world. I missed them in the second half, and somewhat in the first. Despite the critique here I still really enjoyed the book, I just thought the editing could have been better in how the story was put together in chapters, alternating rather than grouping. These issues did not take away from the message or quality storyline of the book, and that is a good thing since it is such a fabulous story.

I think that D Barkley Briggs is a very fine and noteworthy author who deserves a better editor or maybe a publisher who checks which edition they put out there for sale. 

Reader level: I would put this book at a Junior High/High School reading level. It uses big words which is great. It is a complicated plot line and it uses some logic and historical connections that are at a more advanced reading level.

Reader appropriateness: I would give this a PG rating for kids under JH because of the violence of battle and Reggie grappling with grief and love.

Alerts: I have no cautions for parents in this VERY clean book. No bad language, sexuality or convoluted witchcraft that could be confusing. The violence is aptly described for war scenes and is not over the top, but would not be appropriate for kids under 5th grade.


While this book has a good story line for both boys and girls it would be quite well received and related to by boys in particular.

 All in all, I loved this book series and can't wait for the final book to come out later this year.

Starfish by James Crowley

Blackfoot Nation children Lionel and Beatrice steal a horse and run away from their boarding school to spend nine months hidden in a cabin in the Montana mountains, surviving in the old ways, thanks to the teachings of their grandfather and the help of an African American fugitive. Set in the early twentieth century, this appealing adventure includes horseback-riding feats, fights and children's games, and narrow escapes. Crowley's filmmaking experience is evident in this first novel. The pacing is solid, and both setting and action are clearly described and easy to picture. From nine-year-old Lionel's point of view, his 12-year-old sister, Beatrice, is larger than life: she looks like a warrior on the stolen horse and she goes her own way. In addition, the adults are complex characters—not all boarding-school officials are evil. This slightly romantic but well-written survival story includes an author Q&A that discusses his contacts in the Blackfeet Nation and a list of resources. Grades 4-8. --Kathleen Isaacs

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This book is a fairly easy read. I read it in three evenings. This is a fiction book based on historically accurate era information. What I like about this book is the development of relationships between the characters and the strong family bonds.  The emotion Mr. Crowley is able to get us to feel is significant. The details he provides and historical accuracy is good and really gives life to the story and makes you feel that not only are you there but that this could be a "for real" story too. This book carries a lot of emotion. For me, being a person with a rather strong sense of justice and mercy, this holds some strong emotion for me. I hate injustice. It is one thing that will fire me up every time.

I rate this book PG because of violent thematic elements as well as the undercurrent of racism. It is a late elementary to middle school reading level and content. It would be a great book for a kid to read to enhance a school lesson on the early 1900's and the creation of reservations and the mis-treatment of Native American's. It does warrant a parent-child discussion on racism and the wrongness of violence used for any reason.

For his first book James Crowley has done quite well. I hope he keeps writing. 

Heroes of Olympus series: Lost Hero by Rick Riordan

Jason has a problem. He doesn’t remember anything before waking up on a school bus holding hands with a girl. Apparently she’s his girlfriend Piper, his best friend is a kid named Leo, and they’re all students in the Wilderness School, a boarding school for “bad kids.” What he did to end up here, Jason has no idea—except that everything seems very wrong.

Piper has a secret. Her father has been missing for three days, and her vivid nightmares reveal that he’s in terrible danger. Now her boyfriend doesn’t recognize her, and when a freak storm and strange creatures attack during a school field trip, she, Jason, and Leo are whisked away to someplace called Camp Half-Blood. What is going on?

Leo has a way with tools. His new cabin at Camp Half-Blood is filled with them. Seriously, the place beats Wilderness School hands down, with its weapons training, monsters, and fine-looking girls. What’s troubling is the curse everyone keeps talking about, and that a camper’s gone missing. Weirdest of all, his bunkmates insist they are all—including Leo—related to a god.

Rick Riordan, the best-selling author of the Percy Jackson series, pumps up the action and suspense in The Lost Hero, the first book in The Heroes of Olympus series.  Fans of demi-gods, prophesies, and quests will be left breathless--and panting for Book Two.
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They're not joking. Jason and friends are thrown into action without knowing anything, right away! The pace never slows down and surprises lurk in every chapter. True to his past writing Rick Riordan has done it again, another series shaping up to be a great read! This book is better for kids who are good readers, who have studied some mythology or read the Percy Jackson books (but not necessary) and are 10 and older. Younger teens will enjoy this book series as well. Written with action and personality, you are going to love these new characters and be rooting for their success as if it were your own.  I have the second one on hold and the third one on PRE hold as it is not out yet. Can't wait to read them all.

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My 15 year old and I have now read three of these. Great books! We are eager to read the fourth one when it comes out next fall. Too long to wait! They held our attention well. Not to mention when we went to see an exhibit on Pompeii we actually had an understanding of Greek and Roman society and gods and godesses, etc. that we would not have had. Good education couched in a fiction book. Double good.

Thanks for another great series Rick Riordan!

The Door Within Trilogy by Thomas Batson

The Door Within trilogy by Thomas Batson
Aidan Thomas is miserable. And it's much more than the strange nightmares he's been having. Just when life seemed to be coming together for Aidan, his parents suddenly move the family across the country to take care of his wheelchair-bound grandfather. When strange events begin to occur, Aidan is drawn into his grandfather's basement where he discovers three ancient scrolls and an invitation to another world.
No longer confined to the realm of his own imagination, Aidan embarks on an adventure where he joins them in the struggle between good and evil. With the fate of two worlds hanging in the balance, Aidan faces Paragory, the eternal enemy. Will Aidan be willing to risk everything and trust the unseen hand of the one true King? The answer comes from The Door Within.

The Rise of the Wyrm Lord 
Separated from his friend by a thousand miles and unable to return to The Realm of Glimpses himself, Aidan Thomas needs a way to reach Robby with the message of King Eliam, the one true King.
Enter Antoinette Lynn Reed, a bright but headstrong young lady who believes in the Scrolls of Alleble and has a passion for full-contact Kendo. When Aidan discovers that Antoinette has been called to enter The Realm, he solicits her help to find Robby's Glimpse before it is too late.
When she arrives in Alleble, Antoinette finds the kingdom is in turmoil. Alleble's allies are inexplicably beginning to turn away, renouncing former ties with King Eliam. And there are rumors that the dark Prince of Paragory is seeking an ancient evil to crush Alleble once and for all.
Can Antoinette and a team of Alleble's finest knights learn the secret of Paragory's growing power? And will they be able to stop the Rise of the Wyrm Lord?

 The Final Storm
Still staggering under Paragor's relentless attacks, Alleble's remaining allies flee from the four corners of The Realm to safety within the Kingdom's walls. But there is little time for Alleble to mourn before Paragor, the Wyrm Lord, and the deadly Seven Sleepers unite against the followers of King Eliam. As Alleble begins to lose hope, Paragor unleashes The Final Storm. Will anyone survive to see the dawn?
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 Talk about a gripping series!!!! I could not read them fast enough. While the first book started out a bit slow and vague it picked up very fast and the beginning was a necessity for the story to flow right. My 14 year old daughter read this book, at 12 and has been after me to read it for a couple years! Why I was so slow to pick it up I will never know. It is really a great series and well worth the read. This book is good for boys and girls who are good readers, ages 10 and up. There are some gripping and suspenseful scenes, as well as battle graphics that would not be appropriate for a younger reader.

Return to Exile, The Hunter Chronicles by EJ Patton

ONE BOY. UNTOLD ENEMIES. WEAPONS MADE OUT OF GARBAGE.

SERIOUSLY, WHAT COULD GO WRONG?

Eleven years ago, a band of ancient hunters battled an army of monsters in the town of Exile, and Phineas T. Pimiscule rescued his nephew, Sky, from a terrible evil. For eleven years, Sky Weathers has studied traps, puzzles, science, and the secret lore of the Hunters of Legend, believing it all a game. For eleven years, Sky's parents have dragged him across the U.S. and back again, moving from city to city in an effort to hide him from dark enemies while, unbeknownst to Sky, his uncle Phineas sacrificed everything to protect him.

For eleven years, Sky Weathers has known nothing of that day.

But on the eve of Sky's twelfth birthday and his family's long-awaited return to the town of Exile, Phineas disappears. To find him, Sky joins forces with a ragtag group of teenaged monster hunters who trap creatures using weapons made out of garbage and know even less than he does. But Phineas's disappearance is just the beginning; if Sky can't solve the riddles his uncle left for him in the next two days, Exile will burn. Sky's only hope for a solution lies in confronting the mysterious secrets he's denied for so long: Why did his family leave Exile on that day eleven years ago? What, exactly, has Phineas been preparing him for? And, the biggest mystery of all, who is Sky really and why does everyone want to kill him?!

Featuring lively characters, quirky humor, and an action-packed plot that covers the gamut of every monster you've never heard of, Return to Exile--a modern day fantasy adventure--is brimming with boy and girl appeal and is a gem for reluctant young readers and adults young and old. 

Artwork by Caldecott-honoree John Rocco, illustrator of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Heroes of Olympus, The Kane Chronicles, and the Caldecott-nominated Blackout.

Return to Exile is the first book in The Hunter Chronicles series.

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This was a good book. At first I was not really sold on it. A bit slow and vague, I felt lost and confused. But, that was how the character felt too. I think the author was just drawing me in to the character feelings and life. Background would have given away the story and the point of the book is to discover the background story. So, as I read and discovered more I really liked the characters and the plot. Monsters abound in this book and you grow to understand them more through Sky and his strange connection to them. In the end you are really rooting for him to win and for the kids to befriend him for real. No one this intriguing should be without a band of friends to solve dangerous riddles with.

This is not a hard book, easy to read. It is not overly graphic and the plot is not thick or complicated.  Monster alert with some minor gore. Riddles are the key to this book, so if riddles are your thing, this book is for you! I would suggest this book for an advanced younger reader in 2nd -4th grade. It is also good for a moderate reader in older elementary or middle school.

Matched by Allyson Condie

Matched is the first of a dystopian Trilogy written by Allyson Condie.
The official summery is:

All her life, Cassia has never had a choice. The Society dictates everything: when and how to play, where to work, where to live, what to eat and wear, when to die, and most importantly to Cassia as she turns 17, whom to marry. When she is Matched with her best friend Xander, things couldn't be more perfect. But why did her neighbor Ky's face show up on her match disk as well?

The story is great for Teens. This series has some romance in it, a bit more than I would prefer for my daughters, but nothing over the top or graphic. Really just kissing and hand holding. Ok, I am in denial that they are teens. And they both liked the first two books. Anyway, the story follows a teen girl who lives in a society that is completetly fabricated to keep people safe and perfect. Safe. This is a relative term that could be good or bad. What are they kept safe from? Maybe they are not as safe as it would seem. Maybe the society is not all it is made out to be. Journey with Cassia, Xander and Ky as they grow up in a society that has controlled every possible aspect of their life. Explore with them if this is a good thing or bad and what can be done. 

The first book moves more slowly than warranted. It is largely 3rd person, which is not my preferred style of writing. Loads of description. It really sets the stage for the following book, Crossed, and so it is really important to read it to get the whole picture. It ends with a bang and leaves you hanging. The second book is all action and suspense. Lots of description here too. It also leaves you in a bind. What choice will Cassia make? What do I want her to decide? Ahhhh............ The third and final book, Reached, comes out this November and the library does not have it available for reserve yet. So, I might have to wait a while, which is going to be suspenseful in and of itself. I am eager to read it and see how things turn out!

We have now read all three. This is a great series. My 13 year old and I really enjoyed it. It moved too slowly for my 15 year old. I think that this is a great book and it will provoke kids to think about society and the purpose of it.

The Trilogy by Ally Condie

Matched
Crossed
Reached
 

Scumble by Ingrid Law

OOOO this is a GOOD book.
I picked this one up to see if it would be a good read aloud for my 6 and 7 year olds. YES YES YES!!! This is  a super book and I think I will read it aloud and the companion book Savvy too.

Scumble by Ingrid Law is a winner. This family is just like yours and mine, well, almost. They have super powers but not like The Incredibles. This is just plain fun and entertaining. Have you ever played that game with your kids, what if I could pull anythign out of my pocket I thought of? What if I could jump super high? What if I could use mind control to get my kids to behave? Fun game. This is the book! Here, it is real. How cool is that.
Ledger turned 13, the age when people in his family get their savvy (special power) and wow is his a whopper, will he learn to scumble (control/embrace) his savvy before he causes a really huge disaster? Is his savvy a gift or a curse?  I love the simple story that gets a complicated twist and weaves in the everyday with the super. Ledger is not so unlike us, he must learn to master his fears before he finds that his talent is truly a gift. Hmmm, sounds like the author knows what it is like to be normal, and to realize that none of us are truly all that average. We all have a gift to use and to do it well, there are things to be conquered.  This book is fun, it is cool, it is awesome and I am SO reading all of them! Out loud.

This book would be appropriate for any age. It is written at an older elementary reading level.

This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel

This Dark Endeavor, The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstien by Kenneth Oppel is a teen fiction book for sure. I would not recommend a child under the age of 13 to read this book.
This book is very well written. It crafts an intriguing story out of the ordinary, which is the most captivating. While there was nothing outrageously grabbing about this story it was more than a page turner. This being the case, I would pose some cautions about the book's content. It is dark, it is foreboding, it dabbles in dark magic of ancient times, not made up fantasy stuff. The choices of the characters are real and dramatic and not so unlike any of us if presented with the same set of circumstances. For this reason I recommend parental preview of this book and a good bit of caution. While this book does not have anything to do with vampires and the like, it is going to appeal more to those who are interested in that genera than those who liked Narnia, Fablehaven or even Harry Potter. This book ends like it is the begining of a series. I have not found info on any further writing of a series, so for now it stands alone. And maybe, despite it's being so well written, it should be left there.

Beyonders, A World With No Heroes by Brandon Mull

Beyonders is a new series by Brandon Mull (of the Fablehaven book series). This is the first book in the series. A World Without Heroes starts off a bit clouded. I could not tell where it was going for the first few chapters and almost put it down. A certain bad vibe for getting my teen to read it. However, it picked up quite nicely after a few chapters and knowing Brandon Mull's other works really held me to the reading to see what he brought forth this time. By the time the main character had fallen into another world and discovered a strange............. oh, I can't tell you that would ruin it! Anyway, by that time, I was snatching every available minute to read. The turn of events were clever and surprising, there is much more to be written in this story. I am intrigued with the series and will be reading every one of them as they come out.

And you should too. I even think my teen will make it through the first few chapters and be hooked.

This would be an appropriate book for kids in grades 3-12
Moderate violence, but nothing graphic. Mild romantic interest between the main characters. VERY mild.

Book Review: Blessed Child by Tom Dekker and Bill Bright

 Tom Dekker and Bill Bright put together an amazing novel in Blessed Child that captivates the reader from start to finish.  This book is about a child of mixed races growing up in an Ethiopian Orthodox Monastery, until he has to be taken out of the country.  Why?  This mysterious child is known to few for his working of miracles.  When in America though, problems arise. At this point the book becomes more suspenseful when his life is endangered by those pursuing him.

    Blessed Child gives wonderful details and makes it possible to fathom all the crazy things going on.  It also gives you a desire to have a relationship with God like the boy does.  If that is what he has. I would recommend this book for anyone who wants to give it a try who likes some suspense. There are a few scary parts.  This book is one of the best I have ever read.
~ Phoebe (13)

This book is appropriate for mature teen and adult reading.

Book Review: The Dark Hills Divide, Land of Elyon Series

The Land of Elyon is a series of books written by Patrick Carman, the books in the series are as follows.
Book 1: The Dark Hills Divide
Book 2: Beyond the Valley of Thorns
Book 3: The Tenth City
Prequel: Into the Mist
Book 4: Stargazer

I loved this book and plan to read the rest of the series. It is the story of a 12 year old girl who lives in a walled world. Three cities all walled and connected by walled roads. Why? A misunderstanding gone much awry. Can curious Alexa find her way out of the walls to satisfy that burning curiosity of what is out there and why is it so scary? Does she even know the purpose her young life is going to play to forever change the world she is in? The book is captivating, I picked it back up every chance I got. The characters were developed enough for me to really get attached to them and to feel glad and sad for them and with them. It is a good mystery set in a sort of fantasy theme of yesteryear or other landness as you will. There are surprises unexpected in many chapters leading up to the conclusion. I especially love the way she described the woodland animals. There is enough description to form the characters and town but not too much that you can not make it up yourself. The story does not wallow in details you can imagine for yourself. It carries well and is intriguing. It was a fast read for me (an adult). I would say this book is reading level grade 4th to 8th and would be appropriate content for a super good second or third grade reader.

Here is the official review of this book by the publishers:
"This enthralling new series is set in a fantasy world in which animals can talk and enchanted stones can predict the future. In Book I, The Dark Hills Divide, the heroine, 12-year-old Alexa, has spent her life living behind the four-story walls that surround her village and the three others that make up Bridewell Common. Even the roads between the towns are walled in to keep its citizens safe from the unknown. But Alexa's curiosity for what lies in the hills and forests on the other side sends her on a daring adventure into a secret world in which nothing is as it seems to be.
Children love this lush story, because it's filled with mystery, unforgettable characters, intriguing plot twists, and moral issues that are relevant to their own lives.
The exciting new Land of Elyon series was crafted by the father of two young daughters who conceived it both for their entertainment and to impart important moral lessons he and his wife wanted to convey."

You can learn more about the series here on Scholastic and play some games and learn more on it's very own site, here. You can even read the first chapter on this site.

Book Review: The Stowaway, by RA & Geno Salvatore

I have read several books in the last few weeks. I finished a great series and wanted something new. So, I picked up one of four different series.

I will review for you The Stowaway (first book in the series Stone of Tymora) written by RA and Geno Salvatore.  This is a great book and a very quick read as it is so captivating. I will be reading the rest of the series to dig up more of the story, which is very elusively left out to add to the mystique of the series and the intrigue of reading more.

Young Maimon is an orphan. Found and raised by mysterious people who are secretive about his origins. He wants to know more, but will learning these things really satisfy or will they just create more questions?  Just after his 12th birthday his guardian gives him a gift.  This item is bound to his soul in a magical way and this story begins to to open the mystery that Maimon seeks to solve. Who is he and why is he here? What is this gift and what is it's connection to him?

This book is full of action and mystery and plenty of magic and fantasy creatures, both good and bad (although the bad certainly do play a larger roll as of now against Maimon and his mystery). I have a feeling the whole series will be a must read if you get caught up in the story, it certainly ended with a lot left to know. Of course I think at the end of this book there was a lot left for Maimon to learn and we are following him. Like reading the first chapter in a great novel.... must get to the next one.

For kids who have trouble following a mixed plot line, this may not be the best read. The book is not typical or straightforward. It starts in the middle and Maimon tells what he knows of his story, which is not much, while flashing back to his current situation. This could be confusing for a kid who is not really good at reading mixed plot lines.

For this reason and for the depth of evil presented I would not recommend this for kids younger than 11 or 12. This is a good book for fantasy lovers. Geared toward 5th to 8th graders.

Book Review: Guardians of Ga'Hoole 1-15

I have now read this series cover to cover and find it to be a great set....... long..... 15 books to be exact. I am not sure most kids are tenacious enough to read them all, but if they are they will have a good read. It ends well. Throughout the series good and bad are clearly distinguished with common characteristics to our world today. Lording it over another is bad, thinking one type of owl is better than another is bad, senseless violence, cruelty, etc......  valor is good, defending the helpless is good, doing right is good, loyalty, working together, equality, conviction, etc.
Being such a long series and written in two or three sections there are a few gaps in the story line and such. However, the details left out are not key to the story line and do not detract. There is ample opportunity for the reader to use his or her own imagination without loosing anything in the plot or story.
In the books there are different kingdoms of owls who are threatened by various groups of owls who would like to take over for the sake of power, they use "purity of species", brainwashing and owl-napping along with violence and under described cruelty to reach their ends. The Guardians pledge to preserve the freedom to think freely, live safely and equitably. They consistently defeat the enemies each time. A bit predicable, but none the less captivating for the new ways they solve the problems in battle. The battle scenes are all a bit short, and lack graphic description, compared to the lengthy build up to the battle scenes, which is the actual story. They hold enough description to keep the attention but not enough to give bad dreams or vivid images.
 
The only objection I have to this book is in the few books where the main owls are youngsters and use some bad language. None of it is "real" bad language but certainly correlates to certain phrases in our culture which are actually bad language, at least to some.

The relationship to the movie is minimal. They crammed the first 7-8 books into one movie missing huge chunks of detail and things that were really pertinent. All in all it adds up for a pretty different story than the books tell.  I liked the movie and the owls are totally endearing. The image of Soren was just like I thought he was and made him all the more endearing to me.

I would say this series would be content appropriate for boys and girls in grades 3rd through 8th. The reading level is about average late elementary.

List of books in the series:

• Guardians of Ga'Hoole Book 1: The Capture (2003)
• Guardians of Ga'Hoole Book 2: The Journey (2003)
• Guardians of Ga'Hoole Book 3: The Rescue (2004)
• Guardians of Ga'Hoole Book 4: The Siege (2004)
• Guardians of Ga'Hoole Book 5: The Shattering (2004)
• Guardians of Ga'Hoole Book 6: The Burning (2004)
• Guardians of Ga'Hoole Book 7: The Hatchling (2005)
• Guardians of Ga'Hoole Book 8: The Outcast (2005)
• Guardians of Ga'Hoole Book 9: The First Collier [from Legends of Ga'Hoole] (2006)
• Guardians of Ga'Hoole Book 10: The Coming of Hoole [from Legends of Ga'Hoole] (2006)
• Guardians of Ga'Hoole Book 11: To Be a King [from Legends of Ga'Hoole] (2006)
• Guardians of Ga'Hoole Book 12: The Golden Tree (2007)
• Guardians of Ga'Hoole Book 13: The River of Wind (2007)
• Guardians of Ga'Hoole Book 14: Exile (2007)
• Guardians of Ga'Hoole Book 15: The War of the Ember (2008)
• Guardians of Ga'Hoole: A Guide Book to the Great Tree (2007)
• Guardians of Ga’Hoole: Lost Tales of Ga’Hoole (2010)

Amazon

Gregor the Overlander for teens

My teenage daughter just finished the Gregor the Overlander series. She loves them so much she is thinking there is no book that can rival them and they are stuck in her mind.......... that is a good book. Go check them out at your local library.

Guardians of Ga'Hoole

I have been interested in this book series and picked up the first three books from Scholastic. WOW! I am nearly through book one and am hooked. I see that there are something like 16 of these. If they are all as good as the first one I will have reading for quite some time. Hopefully the library has several copies now that the movie is out they will be in high demand. Of course they are about $5 a book too, so.........

The basic gist of the books is that there is a world of owl kingdoms. There are ordinary owls and there are evil owls and there are those who work for the evil and there are heroic owls who guard and protect all that is valuable to owldom and aim to keep the kingdoms unified and free. Ok, sounds like a typical plot. But, with owls and the uniqueness that brings, creative twists and plots and characters you develop feelings about quickly. An easy read for adults and teens, appropriate for elementary age kids and still able to hold the attention of a Jr. High student. In general a typical reader in the 3rd or 4th grade will be able to read this. An advanced reader in younger grades if the parents felt the content was appropriate. The first book certainly has nothing objectionable in my opinion and I am pretty choosy.

I read the first three on the way to Australia and during our time there. On the way home I watched the movie on the plane. I am now reading the fourth one. Good books, super fast read for an adult, maybe not enough action for older kids, certainly not teens. Great for elementary kids. Ideal age would be 3rd through 5th grades and older if interested.  My only complaint with this book is that the owls have bad words in owl language that they use. I think that is unnecessary and detracts from the book, the bad owl language increases as the series goes on. No "real" bad words though. Readers should discuss this with their parents and understand their parents views on language use, slang, bad words, etc.   
The movie was loosely like the book.  It would be hard to pack 15 volumes in to one movie. They did a decent job. The books are much better.

Amazon link
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