Read Love Reviews: Liesl & Po

Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver

Pub. Date: October 4, 2011
Publisher: Harper Collins
Format: Hardcover, 307pp
Age Range: 9 to 12

ISBN-13: 9780062014511
Source: Library

Synopsis from Goodreads.com:

Liesl lives in a tiny attic bedroom, locked away by her cruel stepmother. Her only friends are the shadows and the mice—until one night a ghost appears from the darkness. It is Po, who comes from the Other Side. Both Liesl and Po are lonely, but together they are less alone.

That same night, an alchemist's apprentice, Will, bungles an important delivery. He accidentally switches a box containing the most powerful magic in the world with one containing something decidedly less remarkable.

Will's mistake has tremendous consequences for Liesl and Po, and it draws the three of them together on an extraordinary journey.

From New York Times bestselling author Lauren Oliver comes a luminous and magnificent novel that glows with rare magic, ghostly wonders, and a true friendship that lights even the darkest of places.

My Review:

 

Liesl & Po reads like a fairytale. Young Liesl, hidden away in the attic by an evil stepmother, eventually finds her way to freedom and adventure. While there are common tropes here, the story is not derivative. Liesl & Po is a magical tale with a unique premise and original ideas.

The story feels at once period and timeless. While it seems at times like the novel could be Victorian, there is nothing that pins it down to any one time or place.  You'll instantly fall in love with the characters. Liesl is brave, artistic, and smart. She is befriended by Po, an unusual character whom I could never adequately describe. The reader is drawn to it with both curiosity and compassion. You really should find out for yourself what makes Po so loveably unique! Along the way, we also meet Will, who is taken with Liesl from the start. Each of her friends is drawn to Liesl for different reasons, but as the story progresses, the three are united in both mission and friendship.

The whole cast of characters, be they villainous or sympathetic, comes vibrantly off the page and into your imaginative space. You'll be transported into another world as you journey along with Liesl and friends. You'll laugh, sneer, cheer, and maybe even cry. For while this tale has sprinkles of magic, humor, and adventure, it is most importantly about love and relationships. At book's end when you discover the real-life inspiration behind the novel, you'll understand why Lauren Oliver put so much genuine heart its telling.

Lauren Oliver's Liesl & Po, with its spirited heroine, its fresh take on ghosts and "the Other Side," and its tender portrayal of love and loss is nothing short of a joy to read. 

Highly recommended!

Read Love Reviews: Erak's Ransom

Erak's Ransom by John Flanagan

Pub. Date: Sept 6, 2011
Publisher: Penguin Group, USA 
Format: Paperback, 273pp
Age Range: 9 to 12
Series: Ranger's Apprentice #7

ISBN-13: 9780142415252

Synopsis from BN.com:

What does it mean to earn the Silver Oakleaf? So few men have done so. For Will, a mere boy, that symbol of honor has long felt out of reach. Now, in the wake of Araluen's uneasy truce with the raiding Skandians comes word that the Skandian leader has been captured by a dangerous desert tribe. The Rangers are sent to free him. But the desert is like nothing these warriors have seen before. Strangers in a strange land, they are brutalized by sandstorms, beaten by the unrelenting heat, tricked by one tribe that plays by its own rules, and surprisingly befriended by another. Like a desert mirage, nothing is as it seems. Yet one thing is constant: the bravery of the Rangers.

In this red-hot adventure, winner of the Australian Book of the Year Award for Older Children, John Flanagan raises the stakes on the series that has already sold millions of copies worldwide.

My Review:

As this is the seventh in a ten-book series, I can't divulge too much without spoilers.  Therefore, I'm going to do a mini-review.  I'll tell you what I like about this series and what I enjoyed about Erak's Ransom in particular.

With the Ranger's Apprentice series, John Flanagan has created a host of endearing characters.  In this book, a great number of them are thrust together for the latest quest.  The strength of the series is these characters, so I was thrilled to see so many of my favorites in one book:  Will, Halt, Gil, Horace, Evanyln, and Erak.  The comraderie and humor shared by the characters is always a highlight, and there is plenty of that here.

Although number 7 in published order, according to the series timeline, Erak's Ransom fits between books 4 and 5.  Flanagan explains that he realized he failed to address a key moment in Will and Halt's story.  Glancing around the web, there are some readers grumbling that the author went backward in the timeline, annoyed by the knowledge that certain characters will survive, or frustrated at the delay in waiting to find out how the events later in the timeline will play out.  I am thrilled that Erak's Ransom rewinds.  For one, the story allows us to spend quality time with Halt whose presence was lacking in books 5 and 6.  And I always love those rowdy Skandians! 

Erak's Ransom introduces a new desert landscape and three groups that inhabit it:  the Arridi, the Bedullin, and the Tualaghi.  With this new world and new people, we have an opportunity for a different kind of adventure.  And we meet various people, gaining new friends and allies, as well as facing new foes and creating new enemies along the way.  I like that Flanagan's worlds and races are loosely based on our own.  This can be a good opportunity for kids who are reading the books to use them as a launching point to study real-life people and their histories.  For instance, the Arridi are an Arab people, the Bedullin informed by the Bedouin, and the Tualgahi based on the Tuareg.

I highly recommend both this book and series! It's full of adventure, bravery, honor, and action, while also alive with humor.  Clean and intelligent, these books are never dumbed down and are always fun! Think The Lord of the Rings meets Robin Hood for a young audience.

The Time Will Come (7)

 

"The Time Will Come"  is a weekly feature hosted by Jodie from Books for Company.

Each Thursday, we share a book that might be sitting unread on our shelves for now, but we do intend to get to! 

(Thanks go to Jennifer @ It's Fay, Not Fey! for the graphic!) 

I was so excited when I saw Gifts by the legendary Lady Le Guin on the shelves at the store! And just as excited that it was part of a series with really cool cover art!

You can't go wrong with Ursula Le Guin, so I can't explain or understand why I haven't yet read this! I guess every time I pick it up and glance at the first few pages, it feels more dense in terms of world-building than I had anticipated and I'm just not feeling in the mood.  One thing is certain:  If you pick up a book and force yourself to read it when your mood and desire is not there, the experience will be less than satisfying.  So, knowing that a good series like this is waiting to be read, I patiently bide my time.

Any sci-fi/fantasy folks out there who've read the Annals of the Western Shore series? I'd love to hear about it!

Read Love Reviews: Troubletwisters

Troubletwisters by Garth Nix and Sean Williams


Pub. Date: May 2011
Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
Format: Hardcover, 293pp
Age Range: 8-12
Series: Troubletwisters #1

ISBN-13:  9780545258975

Synopsis:

When their house mysteriously explodes and they are sent to live with an unknown relative named Grandma X, twelve-year-old twins Jaide and Jack Shield learn that they are troubletwisters, young Wardens just coming into their powers, who must protect humanity from The Evil trying to break into Earth's dimension.

My Review:

Because Garth Nix is one of the authors for Troubletwisters, I went into this reading with lofty hopes.  Herein lies the problem with great expectations:  They can set you up for disappointment.  Yes, I was a little disappointed.  Troubletwisters is not a bad book, mind you.  It's a good book, and I enjoyed reading it.  But in the end, I was left wanting more.  Though to be fair, I'm not the targeted audience.  Unlike Sabriel, my favorite Nix novel, Troubletwisters will not find broad appeal among all ages.  However, in the hands of a child, especially a nine- or ten-year-old boy, this is likely a four star book.

Jack and Jaide are twelve-year-old twins whose appearances are as different as night and day.   At the story's beginning, you find them bickering and competing as all siblings do.  They seem like ordinary kids.  But when their Dad finally shows up (late again!) and the twins get a mysterious letter from their grandmother, the reader is curious and eager to learn more.

One thing the novel does well is address the questions that a reader might have in a manner that keeps the plot twists and turns from feeling contrived.  Many times the answers to these questions are grounded in logic.  For instance, when the twins ask their mother how long they will stay with their grandmother after their house explodes, her answer makes sense:  Long enough to wait for the insurance money to come through and the house to be rebuilt, she says.  This realistic detail lends credibility to the plot.  And, pay close attention, because things that are mentioned in passing may come into play later.

Troubletwisters also succeeds in setting up a mystery and building suspense.  As the twins learn more about their unusual grandmother, whose strange house (complete with talking cats) is vividly drawn, both their experiences and Grandma X become increasingly creepy.  Might she be a witch?! The narrator shares Jack's worry: "it could be the gingerbread house all over again, and mad or not, he didn't fancy being Hansel...."  The details gradually unfold as the twins gain more knowledge.  Grandma X is at once fascinating and frightening.  She seems omnipresent, faster than she should be, and she talks to cats! The cats -- Ari(stotle) and Kleo(patra) -- are great characters, by the way.  To some degree, I was more intrigued by Grandma X and the cats than by the heroic twin duo.

Once the mystery is revealed, the story pales a bit.  Troubletwisters left me wanting more imagination and originality.  Though the early promise is there, it never quite comes to fruition.  Young readers' interests, however, will increase as the novel progresses and the action builds.  And once the adventure begins, the reader is in for loads of creepy, skin-crawling descriptions of evil-possessed ants, flies, rats, cockroaches, piercing white eyes, and other sometimes scary, but always icky stuff.

This is a story of two gifted children who are caught in the classic struggle of good vs. evil.  Over the course of Troubletwisters, Jack and Jaide learn who they are, what their gifts are, and how to use them.  And, perhaps most importantly, by story's end they've learned to work together.  Their magical gifts complement each other like yin and yang.  And it's in working together that they are strongest.

By the conclusion, most of Jack and Jaide's questions have been answered, but there is some lingering mystery.  And there are characters like Grandma X's friend, Rodeo Dave, and the town schoolteacher Mr. Carver, or "Heath," as he insists we call him, whom we are merely introduced to.  Troubletwisters is the first in what is to be a 5-book series, so I'm sure we'll see more of them.  And this is where I hope my expectations will find fulfillment.  This series could be one of those instances where the first installment serves to lay the groundwork for greater things to come.  And I look forward to finding out what's in store.

"Waiting On" Wednesday (5)

 

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly chance for bloggers to share books we can't wait to get our hands on.  

It's hosted by Jill from Breaking The Spine. 

Available in Paperback October 25:

The Fourth Book of Bayern

How do I love Shannon Hale? Let me count the ways! 

I love, love, love, love  The Goose Girl ! While the books may be marketed for ages 12 and up, you need to be a bit older to really appreciate the beauty with which Shannon Hale crafts her stories.  She has created modern fairy tales with this series.  I haven't read beyond The Goose Girl yet -- not because it wasn't great, but because it was.  I am afraid to gobble it all up too quickly, because I don't want it to be over.  That said, once Forest Born is released in paperback, my set will be complete.  And I might allow myself to delve into Enna Burning. 

I mean, come on....could these covers be any more beautiful??

That's what I'm waiting on! Now how 'bout you?

The Time Will Come (3)

 

"The Time Will Come"  is a weekly feature hosted by Jodie from Books for Company.

Each Thursday, we share a book that might be sitting unread on our shelves for now, but we do intend to get to! 

(Thanks go to Jennifer @ It's Fay, Not Fey! for the graphic!) 

I know Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse series was a hit before the HBO series True Blood ever began.  And while I haven't seen a single episode of the TV series, I understand that it made the books even more popular.  Still, I never got around to reading it.  Sometimes when something is all-the-rage, I check it out to see what the fuss is about (Twilight).  Other times, popularity makes me a little more hesitant.  In this case, for whatever reason, I must have had doubts, because Dead Until Dark has been sitting on my shelves for a long time! I plan to get to it, though.  Maybe another October selection?

If you have read this and loved it, please let me know.  I could use a little poking and prodding!

Got any books you've decided have gone unread for too long? Do share!

Love This: Goodies From Garth Nix

I'm sure you're familiar with Garth Nix, author of awesome fantasy books Sabriel, Lirael, and Abhorsen, as well as works like The Keys to the Kingdom series, Shades Children, and The Seventh Tower sequence. Mr. Nix's latest book, a collaboration with Sean Williams, is called Troubletwisters.

US, UK, and Australian covers

* Click here for my review of Troubletwisters *

Garth recently ran a giveaway on his Facebook page asking fans to post a picture of themselves reading Troubletwisters in public. Three folks won US, UK, and Australian editions of Troubletwisers signed by both authors, as well as 10 other signed books from both authors -- 13 books in all! What we didn't know was that Garth would decide to send a prize to all of the participants! How cool is he??! So, take a look at the beyond cool package that was waiting for me yesterday when I got home!

The front of the envelope.  Check out the stamps of the Royal newlyweds.

 

 The back of the envelope.  I was so excited by the signature on the customs sticker! 

(And don't worry! I checked to be sure his address was public before sharing this photo!)

The awesomeness inside was wrapped in "first pass" pages from Lord Sunday.

 I carefully unwrapped these to find none other than Sabriel, my absolute favorite Garth Nix novel! 

And it was autographed!

 

It was amazing to come home from work and find such wonderful goodies waiting to be unwrapped! 

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Garth Nix!

I'm touched to see the time and care taken to make this a really special treat! This is the first time I've ever received anything like this, and I'll not forget such a kindness! Garth Nix, sir, you sure know how to make your readers feel loved.

Friends, if you haven't checked out Garth Nix's Sabriel or his newest title, Troubletwisters,  run out and buy a copy of either -- or both -- today!

"Waiting On" Wednesday (1)

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly chance for bloggers to share books we can't wait to get our hands on.  

It's hosted by Jill from Breaking The Spine.

Available In Paperback September 6:

It feels like eons that I've been waiting to get my hands on these puppies! The Ranger's Apprentice series is a New York Times Bestseller! I absolutely adore John Flanagan's characters and the world they inhabit!

The problem is that the 10 book series is now available in its entirety in hardback.  However, I started buying these in paperback, so I'm committed to the smaller format.  I like my sets to match.  The good news is that both books 7 and 8 will be out on the same day! That's great, because I generally buy the newest installment the day it is released (or earlier if I can get it!) and take it straight home where I devour it whole! 

No summaries for these 'cause I don't want to see anything that will ruin my anticipation or give away the plot.  Also, this is the middle of a series so I don't want to give anything away to folks who may be just beginning.  If you haven't yet read any of the Ranger's Apprentice books, what are you waiting for?! You'll love them!

Read Love Reviews: The Castle in the Attic

The Castle in the Attic by Elizabeth Winthrop

Pub. Date: August 1986
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Format: Paperback, 179pp
Age Range: 9 to 12
ISBN-13: 9780440409410



 

Synopsis from the book jacket:

William has just received the best present of his life. It's an old, real-looking stone and wooden model of a castle, with a drawbridge, a moat, and a finger-high knight to guard the gates. It's the mysterious castle his housekeeper has told him about, and even though William is sad she's leaving, now the castle is his!

William can't wait to play with the castle--he's certain there's something magical about it. And sure enough, when he picks up the tiny silver knight, it comes alive in his hand!

Sir Simon tells William a mighty story of wild sorcery, wizards, and magic. And suddenly William is off on a fantastic quest to another land and another time--where a fiery dragon and an evil wizard are waiting to do battle . . . .

My Review:

I enjoyed The Castle in the Attic so much that I read it in one sitting, breaking only for dinner.  Having been bogged down in lengthy books, I wanted to read something fun and uplifting.  I picked up and quickly discarded several things, unable to concentrate or focus long enough to be drawn into the stories in those books.  So, emboldened by the fact that this was a slim volume, and recaptured by the imaginative promise of the book cover, I began to swiftly, but not hastily, plow through to the conclusion.

Terrific! Magical! These were some of my responses during and immediately after reading.  The Castle in the Attic inspired a sense of wonder in me, similar to the reaction I had when I read the first book in the Harry Potter series*. That's not to say that this book is comparable to Potter in the scale of its imagination or its world-building.  The Castle in the Attic does not focus on world-building.  While that might have made it more epic, its brevity gives the story a focus that makes it easy to get swept into the tale and follow the plot along.  It was nice to read a book that is taut.  In today's post-Potter world of dictionary-sized volumes, there is much fat that is often left untrimmed by publishers and authors alike.

I think this charming story reads like a small-scale Lord of the Rings quest.  Good triumphs over evil.  And there are lessons learned--most importantly, that one already holds the best weapon for fighting any battle in the love and strength within his own heart.  It is the values inside this story that made my reading so enjoyable.  Since this tale involved castles and knights, the story's morality is neither awkward nor intrusive, for they are intrinsically housed in the knight's code of chivalry, which focuses on virtues and ideas like honor, loyalty, compassion, love, and faith.

While good does triumph over evil, the story ends with the hint that we may not have seen the last of the enemy.  Indeed! for there is a companion book:  The Battle for the Castle.  But, alas, that's a story for another time!  

*Incidentally, Harry Potter was my first foray into kiddie lit as an adult--I was one of those kids who quickly graduated out of kids books, dabbled in YA for a brief time, and then dove hard and fast into adult literary fiction.  In short, I had become a "book snob".  Thank you, Ms. Rowling, for helping me see that not only was it okay, it was necessary to read purely for fun at times.