Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson

Steelheart
Brandon Sanderson
416 pages, 2013
High School

What would happen if super heroes used their powers to rule and oppress instead of help others? Imagine if Superman wanted to run the city, not save the city! That is the world that David lives in. 

At the age of eight, David sees his father and everyone else in the bank killed by Steelheart, an Epic- someone with super powers. Nobody knows what can harm Steelheart, no one has seen him bleed and survived to tell, except for David. Seeking revenge for his father's death, David joins the Reckoners, a underground group out to upset the tyranny of the Epics. But despite all their research and David's notes, they still can't figure out how to harm Steelheart. Yet someone has to try.

I really enjoyed this book. While it seemed to take me a while, it read really face. Great pace, lots of action, but also lots of emotion behind the action. Sanderson has created a great balance between the action/fighting/getaway scenes and the emotion that drives people. That creates an interest in the character, a need to know what happens next, plus a connection between character and reader. Excellent balance of these various elements. 

I will definitely be recommending this book to people. I'll say teenager, high school ages, mostly because of violence in it- lots of gun fights, injuries, high speed chases, that sort of thing. Not really swearing (at least what we consider swearing- they have their own made up stuff) or anything inappropriate. Great read if you like action movies!

InterWorld by Neil Gaiman and Michael Reaves

InterWorld
by Neil Gaiman and Michael Reaves
260 pages, 2007
Late Elementary to Middle School

Joey Harker's day started just fine.  His social sciences teacher is testing them on finding directions in the city, and he finally feels like he's got a handle on it.  He knows where he is, he's got a cute girl on his team, and even stood up the the bully.

And then he walked around the wrong corner and Walked into another dimension.  And then another.  Joey has the strange ability to walk through dimensions like most people walk to the park.  As he starts travelling, he starts meeting people that are strange versions of himself, humanoid and otherwise.  The more people he meets, the deeper involved in the bigger struggle he becomes.

When I first saw this I thought "How did I not know that Gaiman wrote something else???" I was super excited to read it and see what crazy world he came up with this time.  And Mr. Gaiman did not disappoint.

This was great! I had a hard time putting down.  The reader becomes quickly attached to Joey as the underdog, and you want to cheer for him.  He's the kid that is always trying to work hard and do the right thing, but it turns out wrong.  Many people will be able to relate to him.

I also liked the variety of Joey-like characters- so many different variations, but still have connections to him.  Very believable that they could be a Joey from another universe.

Overall- exciting, action-packed read.  Great characters, interesting multiple-universe structure, and fun to read.  Definitely will recommend to people, especially boys.

Mistborn

Mistborn
by Brandon Sanderson
643 pages, 2006
High School

Today we have something new!  I asked someone I know to do a review of a book he's read recently.  Here's what I got!

Review by Simeon!

Vin’s world is grey and black as the ash continues to fall every single day. The world is always dangerous for a street urchin in one of the largest cities, Luthedal, the seat of the Lord Ruler. She has been living with a street gang with a leader that only uses her as his ‘good luck charm’. However, street gangs and thieves are the least of her problems as rumors spread of a ‘survivor of hathsin’ and a mysterious man shows up to the street gang’s hideout. He uses her ‘luck’ to subdue all of the thieves. Curious, she decides to join them. However, things are stirring as Vin is learns of a daring, almost suicidal, plan that this mysterious man is doing. Can she trust this man enough to both learn her powers and to carry out this plan?

Where to begin with this book?

The characters feel real. Vin starts off not trusting other people. She is only staying with the crew master because he views her as something ‘useful’ and very much a loner. Then she meets Kelsier, where he introduces her to a whole new world, a world where people trust each other. Then Vin begins to change, very slow at first, then quicker until she seems a complete different person at the end of the book, a person that could trust her friends. Also, the banter between the friends is something that will leave you laughing well after you have read it. So, I like to repeat what I have said earlier, the characters feel real.

Also, the magic system is simple! Okay, maybe not as simple, but it was well defined, you know what’s going to happen and how it happens. It has advantages, and disadvantages, and there are ways to get around it. It doesn’t make the characters indestructible, or unbeatable (believe me, Vin gets beat on again and again throughout the whole series) however, it gives them that extra edge in battle that allows them to take on their opponents.

I will say one thing about Mistborn. It is dark. Imagine our world, where the sun is a blazing hot orb that would beat about the world in a wave of heat so suffocating that all life would eventually shrivel up to its relentless heat. Where mountains belch out ash day in and day out, making the sky an ugly grey black color. Ash falling constantly, there is no green plants. The fields are covered in black from the ash, the buildings, black as ash fall upon it day in and day out. The plant life, sick, and near death, struggling to survive in a hostile world. The humans… if noble born, always sneaking around each other in intrigue and sabotage, the workers, or more commonly known as the skaa. Are treated only a little bit better than slaves at best, at worst they are the slaves. Thieves fill the back ways of the most powerful city constantly trying to scrape off a living, stealing from the rich. This is the daily life in Mistborn. Yet despite all of this, the characters try to make it a better world of it. They try to fix it.

I would recommend this book to most people if they were into adventure, dark world’s settings, slightly humor, and a around good book. However, I must make a quick note, I would not recommend this book if people are a little squeamish, there is lots of blood and some rather grotesque killing involve.

Ender's Game

Ender's Game
by Orson Scott Card
352 pages
Middle School+

 At a young age, Ender Wiggin is drafted to fight the alien Buggers.  He's brilliant, a great strategist, and 6 years old.  After rejecting his older brother for excessive violence, and then sister for not being aggressive enough, Ender seems like the best hope for mankind against the next Bugger invasion.  With nothing besides the clothes on his back, Ender is sent off to Battleschool.

Up in the space station of Battleschool, Ender is not the only child prodigy.  He's not even the smallest, but he might be the best.  Quickly adapting to the life of classes and simulated battles, Ender excels.  He is innovative, bright, and beating students that have been there years longer than he has.  On the outside, life couldn't be better.

But Ender's life is lonely.  He misses his sister, his victories feel hollow, and the simulated games are losing their appeal.  If Ender really is mankind's best hope, then where is his hope and happiness?

Wow, what a book.  Super powerful, and even more the next time you read it.  Knowing what you learn at the end of the book (don't jump ahead!  Read it in order) makes the rest of it really interesting.  Like a lot of other books, the more times you read it, the deeper and more significant references and actions in the book are.  Definitely read this more than once.

This book is full of people doing bad things and withholding secrets for the "greater good."  Even within the book, there are consequences for these people, but how much suffering do we let people go through for their own good?  While ultimately, it saves the world, what damage does it do to Ender and his friends?  Is that trade off acceptable?  I could write papers upon papers on this book (not that I really want to, but hey, there are enough issues to keep a writer occupied for years).

I know they are doing a movie on this, and I have mixed feelings about how it will turn out.  While I'm excited for a lot of it, but I'm also not quite sure how they are going to get all of Ender's angst and personal struggles communicated to the audience.  So much of the book happens in Ender's head: are they going to change that?  Make him more reactive to people?  Should be interesting to see the movie!

So, overall, great book that makes the reader think.  Deep, thought provoking, and a little disturbing at times.  While the characters in the book are young, I would give this mostly to high school student, and maybe the occasional middle school.  Lots of violence in the book, both military and person to person, not to mention a little language.  Not knowing what the movie is like yet, don't know if you need to read the book before you seen the movie or not...  But amazing book!  Have fun and read it!


Quick note about sequels or companion books- I liked Ender's Shadow and that series a lot more than the Speaker for the Dead series.  To me, the books that followed Ender (Speaker for the Dead) just got weird and hard to read, but I last read them as a teen.  Ender's Shadow was much more interesting to me.  But that is just by opinion. 

The Nine Lives of Alexander Baddenfield

The Nine Lives of Alexander Baddenfield
by John Bemelmans Marciano
Illustrated by Sophie Blackall
144 pages
Late Elementary+

The Baddenfields are the worst people around.  Alexander's ancestors have done horrible things: blamed Abe Lincoln for chopping down a tree, spiked Rip Van Winkle's drink so he would sleep, and even tried to kill the last remaining black pygmy rhinoceroses!  As last of the Baddenfields, Alexander has to live up to his family name!

And Alexander has a fantastic idea: why must only cats have nine lives?  He wants nine lives too!  He searches everywhere for a doctor that will transfer a cat's lives to him.  After going through the best doctors in the world, he finally finds Kranstenenif, a crazy scientist who specializes in grafting different animals together, like a rabbittortoise (a hare wearing the shell of a turtle).  When he hears of Alexander's strange request, he is ecstatic! He knows just the organ to transfer.  After a successful operation, Alexander now has eight lives (one being spent in the operation) to use doing what he does best: being bad.

After trying all the foods he couldn't eat before (he might be allergic), he comes up with a great idea: let's see if the third rail on the subway really is fatal!  After that, he kind of drowns, really drowns, flies through the air, and even enters a bull fight.  But it's never enough for him.  Alexander must be as bad as possible.

So, first of all, I won this as an advanced uncorrected proof on Goodreads.  Yay for winning books!  I was very excited to get this and to read it!

Next, I laughed so hard while reading this.  Alexander is pretty much the most spoiled, rotten little kid you can imagine.  But what happens to him is pretty funny.  The humor is kind of grim (spoiler, he does lose all his lives), so while funny, it's a certain type of funny that will appeal to some but not others.  It's kind of grim and graphic, since Alexander dies 9 times, so I will be careful who I recommend it to.

The background for the story was really well built.  The reader gets a look at Baddenfield genealogy, but it's not boring like a back-story can be occasionally.  But it's necessary for understanding the story and why Alexander is the way he is, plus what Winterbottom serves Alexander the way he does.   Good use of introducing the story.

I also liked the illustrations.  Totally adds to the story, and breaks up some heavy seeming text blocks.  They really help the reader increase their understanding of the characters and get a good sense of the humor of the story. 

Overall, this was a fun book, great humor, great characters and back-story, and good balance with the illustrations.  Will appeal to the kids that like Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, or other books like that.  Kind of grim, so I will be careful who I recommend to, probably mostly boys that want a funny, scary book.

Divergent

Divergent
by Veronica Roth
496 pages
High School+

Long ago, the vices of men destroyed the world.  To prevent that from ever happening again, the factions were formed to bring out the best in people. At the age of sixteen you decide which faction you want to live in: Amity, Candor, Erudite, Abnegation or Dauntless become your family.  While some stay within the one they are raised in, others choose to change factions, leave their family, and start a new life.

Beatrice Prior grew up in Abnegation, always striving to be selfless and serve others.  While her parents and brother are great examples of this, she struggles to have the right frame of mind.  When her birthday comes, and she finally get to attend the choosing ceremony, instead of staying with her family, she leaves and joins Dauntless, the brave faction. On top of this, her brother, less than a year older than her and choosing his own faction, leaves to become an Erudite.

Life in the Dauntless compound is so wildly different than Beatrice could ever have imagined.  Guns and fighting classes are just the beginning.  Now known as Tris, she struggles to adapt but also hides a secret: when tested to see which faction she should belong to, her results were very abnormal.  She is Divergent, not really conforming to any one faction and able to think outside the traditions of any of the factions.  She thinks for herself, and that is dangerous.  If people learned about her secret, it could be very dangerous for her, and them.

So, I actually read this months ago, and decided to reread it since the third book is coming soon (October!) plus they are making a movie from it.  Looking back at my blog, I couldn't believe I hadn't blogged it back when I first read it.  I enjoyed it then, and I enjoyed it again, so great book!  Even knowing what happened the second time through, I had a good time reading.

Once again, truth and secrecy is a big theme in the distopian world.  Apparently the world goes to pieces because of secret plans the government doesn't want you to know about.  Even revamped governments get it wrong.  But even between individuals, truth can effect relationships.

Another big theme is bravery.  Dauntless is based on bravery but over the course of Dauntless history, the meaning of bravery has changed.  Tris sees what it has become, but isn't quite sure if she likes what she sees.  She has to discover what it means for her to be brave, personally.

Overall, great book.  I would definitely say high school or mature middle school aged, mostly because of lots of violence in the book.  While there is a little romance, it never really gets beyond kissing.  Great book, eager to see how everything gets tied up at the end!

The Saga of Rex

The Saga of Rex
by Michel Gagne
200 pages
Elementary+

On a world somewhere in the galaxy, the Shepherd Guardian initiates the ceremony: the gathering and trial of specimens from across the universe.  Of all the creatures brought from around the universes, only one will be chosen.

Little Rex the fox hardly expects his day to be different from any other day.  After chasing a little animal, he is swept up into an adventure that he can't begin to imagine.  He is carried away by some mystical force, meets a blue ball that morphs into a blue fox, and then set on some strange terrain he knows nothing about.

Thus begins Rex's adventures.  He sees strange lands, meets even stranger creatures and proves what he is made of.  His relentless curiosity aids him as he explores these unknown places.

I loved this book!  The beginning is a little wordy, but most of the story is told without words, and even the first part could be understood without the words.  The illustrations are a great balance between detail but not so much that it overwhelms the story; instead the illustrations enrich the story! While you can skim along, and get a general understanding of the plot, you can also take you time, enjoy the pictures and find fun little details in the story.  I loved watching Rex's expressions and feeling what he felt through them.

Overall, great book.  Girl or boy friendly, and a great twist on science fiction, without being too heavy on the science fiction.  Great book for teaching inference skills, but also good for teaching what sets Rex apart.  Definitely on my recommend list!

Sidekicks

Sidekicks
by Dan Santat
224 pages
Elementary+

Captain Amazing is just that: amazing!  But his pets at home miss him terribly when he is gone.  Roscoe the dog waits patiently by the door for him to come home, while Fluffy the hamster plays video games all day long.  One day, a box comes in the mail.  What's inside?  Seems like nothing.  Until a sneaky chameleon makes an appearance. Captain Amazing names him Shifty, for his constantly shifting eyes.  When Captain gets hit by peanuts (he's allergic, his one weakness!), he gets to stay home for several day with the boys.

But all is not well in Metro City.  Dr. Havoc is running a muck, an unknown villain is sneaking around, and Captain Amazing is out of commission for a few days.  What he needs is a sidekick!  While he sets up auditions for a new superhero, his pets are left at home, missing him again.  What Captain doesn't know is that they might want to try out for the auditions.  While living with the Captain, his pets have each developed super abilities.  But will their abilities be enough to save the day?  And just who is that sneaky cat that keeps watching Fluffy like he's a tender morsel to eat?

This was a super fun book!  Think of it as "The Incredibles" meets animals!  The feel of the book was very kid friendly, which isn't always the case in super hero books, but it also has some great themes that takes it beyond just fighting bad guys.  These themes make it much more meaningful and thoughtful.

I really enjoyed the artwork and how it helped convey the mood at the moment.  The backgrounds go from bright and sunny to dim to dark as night.  Very expressive through the colors, and while there is lots of detail and color, I never felt overwhelmed or that it was messy.  Great balance of art to words, where the art aids the plot along. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this.  Great book for boys, especially some of the younger boys that still want the super hero books.  It still has a little fighting (especially the last big scene), but I think the values that it enforces is worth it.  I will definitely recommend for both girls and boys!

The Elite (Selection Series #2)

The Elite, A Selection Novel
by Kiera Cass
323 pages
Middle School+

America Singer has survived the cut, and is now in the top 6 left competing for the hand of Prince Maxon and to become the next queen of Illéa.  Still confused about her feelings for Maxon, she's not quite sure how much she really wants to stay or why she wants to stay.  Her feelings for Maxon have grown over the past weeks, to the point where she would miss him if she left.

Added to the mix is America's old boyfriend, Aspen.  He is in the palace serving as a guard.  While he had broken up with her right before she started the Selection, he claims she still has his heart.  Every time he is near, she is flustered and giggly.  Torn between Aspen and Maxon, America isn't sure what to feel about either one.

And on top of all of this, she must compete with the other girls.  While naturally friends with some, others will never be remotely close to her.  Pressure from them, plus the royal family, starts getting to her.  With rebels attacking, secrets being revealed, and visiting officials from other nations, America has never been so stressed.  How can she decide what she feels when she never gets a moment to think about it?

Can I just say, grrrrrr!  The first book was a complete cliff hanger, and this one wasn't much better.  A few things are resolved, but not enough.  Still so many unanswered questions, and things up in the air.  So aggravating!  And now I have to wait again for the next book.  Grrrrr!

Okay, getting over that, let's move on.  I was continually bothered by America's fickleness on who she likes.  When she kisses Maxon, she likes him, but when she's with Aspen, she likes him.  While I can understand her uncertainty when it comes to wanting to be a princess (and queen), I have the hardest time accepting that she is always flipping between the two.  Just choose and get it over with!

Other than that, I really enjoyed the book.  Very gripping, kept me wanting to read, and I like some of the developments and background that we are getting.  I get the sense that the rebels will be very important, but nothing significant has really happened with them yet.  America is starting to develop a greater purpose that just being there for the competition, and I hope to get more in the next book.  While the Selection is the reason America is there, I really want to see more in the other areas, not just this silly love triangle.

Overall, pretty good book, but aggravating at times.  Will definitely appeal to girls more than boys, and those looking for romance more than action.  I will recommend sparingly, but definitely need to read the first one before this one.  Good, but be prepared to be left hanging!

Partials

Partials
by Dan Wells
480 pages
Middle School+

Kira Walker somehow survived the Partial War and RM- the disease that wiped out over 90% of the population when she was a child.  Banding together with other survivors, they struggle on, trying to avoid the attention of the Partials as well.  Partials are superhuman constructs, that look human but have capacities far beyond the normal human.  Scared of Partials and of RM, humanity huddles and hopes for a uncertain future.

Kira, now 17 years old, works in a maternity ward, watching babies being born, but almost immediately dying of RM.  Heart broken and tired of watching babies dies, she starts researching about the disease and how it can be stopped.  Searching through past research, she can tell almost everything has been tried, with no results.  But she gets an idea.  What about going to the source- the Partials that gave humanity RM?

After approaching her superiors with the proposal- catch a Partial to study it- and being straight away turned down, she can't give up the idea.  This is the only thing that hasn't been tried, why won't they let her try it?  Instead of taking no for an answer, Kira plots to cross into Partial territory, capture one, and study it.  Together with some friends, she sets out.

This was really good!  Took me a little while to get into, but after getting into it, it grabbed me.  I had heard positive and negative reviews, but I am glad I read it!  And I definitely want to find the sequel- while it's not a cliff-hanger ending, there's definitely more to do, and more to discover!  I want to read the next book, which is always a good sign.

One of the huge themes in this book is truth and transparency.  The government is definitely not telling the people the whole truth, let alone being clear on the reasons for their actions.  Kira is keeping secrets, and learns more throughout the book.  Truth changes her, the community, and more.  Truth is a very powerful possession in this book.

Another big theme is personal rights versus survival of the group as a whole.  There is a law in this world that women must be pregnant, in order to help continue the existence of the human race.  And they keep lowering the age; in the novel it starts at 18, and by the end it is lowered to 16 at one point.  Women specifically are expected to give up their person rights in order to just try to continue the human race.  When do individual rights become less or more important that survival?

Overall, pretty good book.  I enjoyed it a lot.  A few things seems a little cliche (evil government officials, evil Partial that might not be so evil), but I liked the style and the overall story.  I will recommend to teens, probably more the later middle school to high school age.  Boys might enjoy, for the action, but I can see girls being more into the issues than boys.  Good book!  If they like The Hunger Games or Maze Runner, this would be another good pick!

Vortex

Vortex, A Tempest Novel
by Julie Cross
368 pages
High School+

Jackson has sacrificed everything for Holly's benefit, and now she doesn't even know he exists.  Or at least she isn't supposed to.  Jackson has began his training as a Tempest agent, learning multiple languages and skills in merely a few months.  Everything is different, but the same for him.

And in walks Holly.  The girl he changed time for, the girl he would give anything for, is dating a football jock.  Their chance meeting releases all the memories and feelings that Jackson has been trying to oppress.  He wonders if he really can avoid her and Adam, and if he can live without seeing her again.

All through this, Jackson has more questions than he is getting answers for.  Is Tempest really the good guys?  And what are the Enemies of Time really trying to accomplish?  And how is that little girl really connected to him?

Just like Tempest, Vortex is a super faced paced, action packed story of intrigue and twists.  Jackson is struggling, just like the reader, to make sense of what is going on, to answer questions about what is happening in his life and how he can make a difference.  Jackson helps the readers understand what is going on and how everything is connected because he is working it out for himself as well. 

I really like the journal entries, plus the narrative, in his voice.  Sometimes the first person narrative is annoying and limiting, but Jackson's voice is genuine- when he's confused, he lets you know!  His reactions are believable, and help the reader connect with the story.

Great book for teen boys (or girls!), but make sure they read the first one, Tempest, before this one.  Otherwise they would be super lost.  I read it a few months ago, but still trying to remember everything that happened.  New revelations, new surprises, but stays true to the feeling and mood of the first.  I will definitely recommend this series for boys.  Stayed with the high school age target, mostly because of the complexity and language.  Great sequel, glad I read it!

Meanwhile: Pick Any Path

Meanwhile: Pick Any Path. 3856 Story Possibilities
by Jason Shiga
80 pages
Elementary+

Jimmy has a simple choice: chocolate or vanilla ice cream?  But this one small choice leads to another, which leads to another.  Before you know it, the entire world is at stake! 

You, the reader, get to decide which path Jimmy takes, which machine he tries to use, how far back in time to go.  With over 3000 possibilities, can you find a happy ending?

So, if you remember the "Choose Your Own Adventure" books for a while ago, this is exactly like that!  Jimmy has different decisions to make, and the reader gets to decide which plot line to follow!  Instead of telling you to go to whatever page, there are tabs with pathways to follow.  Lots of fun!

This is an interesting way to teach kids the consequence of their actions in a fun way.  While the pages occasionally got messy and your eye wants to dart around the page, it was really engaging to read.  It is only 80 pages, so not too overwhelming, but it can be read in so many different ways, it takes more time than you would think.

Over all, lots of fun!  Simple yet engaging art, you create whatever plot line you want, plus there is a page you can't get to by following the paths!  Have fun exploring possibilities with Meanwhile!

A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel

A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel
by Madeleine L'Engle
Adapted and illustrated by Hope Larson
392 pages
Elementary+

Meg hasn't been happy since her father disappeared.  She is struggling in school even though she is smart, has issues with other kids, and tries to get along with her family.  Everyone wants to pick on her quirky little brother who is brilliant, but has issues interacting with people other than Meg.  All in all, Meg is miserable, and doesn't have much hope that it will get better any time soon.

One night, when Meg can't sleep, her little brother Charles introduces her and her mother to Mrs. Whatsit, a strange, wandering old woman who speaks as strangely as she looks.  They snack on some food, and as Mrs. Whatsit is leaving, she mentions something about a tesseract.  Meg's mother pales, and tells Meg and Charles that their father was studying tesseracts before he disappeared.  Confused by this random comment, Meg tries to continue on with life.

The next day at school, Meg meets Calvin, a local boy almost as quirky as Charles.  They talk on the way, and meet Charles in the woods near their house.  Charles leads them into the woods to see Mrs Whatsit again, and meet Mrs. Who, another strange woman.  Together, they start on an adventure to find Meg's father, and join the battle of light versus dark.

So, the synopsis is taken from my post about the regular novel because it follows it very closely!  From what I saw, I wasn't able to discern any differences in plot line from the original novel.  I like it when adaptations or reinterpretations stay true to the original!

As for the artwork, I really liked the cover, but was slightly disappointed with monochromatic inside.  If the entire book had have color, I think I would have loved it.  It was okay, but not fantastic.Clear pictures, without being messy or cluttered, which I did like.  I just like a little more color in my graphic novels!

Overall, I really like what they did with the adaptation, I like the story, but wish the illustrations had a little more color.  Great story, and oldie but goodie!  This would be a great way to introduce the book to a slightly less confident reader.  If they like the graphic novel, you could have the read the regular novel, or even other books in the series!  Good book!

Scarlet (Book 2 of The Lunar Chronicles)

Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles)
by Marissa Meyer
464 pages
Middle School+

Cinder is a cyborg.  She is also a Lunar, despised by the people of earth that she grew up with.  And on top of all that, she is now a fugitive from the law.  Breaking out of prison with Captain Thorne, they fly off in his spaceship in order to avoid capture or worse.  Cinder must find time to process the fact that not only is she Lunar, but she is the lost Lunar princess, and rightful heir to the throne.

Meanwhile, in small town France, Scarlet Benoit is trying to live her normal life.  It's hard though when her grandmother has been missing for the last two weeks.  When the police cease their investigation, due to lack of evidence, Scarlet is furious and determined to find out the truth. As she delivers fruit to a local restaurant, she meets Wolf, a fighter that defends her in a brawl.  Not quite trusting him, she declines his company home.

After finishing all her deliveries, Scarlet heads home, only to find her long lost father there, tearing the house apart. He is frantically searching for something, not knowing exactly what.  Looking closer at him, Scarlet notices wounds and burns on him.  After he admits to being tortured by the same people that have her grandmother, Scarlet is more determined than ever to find out who took her grandmother and what these strangers want.  Her only clue is a tattoo that her father saw, the same type of tattoo that she saw on Wolf's arm.

So, I heard some people say they weren't as satisfied with this book as they were with Cinder, but I liked it just fine!  The adventure is continuous, the plot twists and turns plenty, plus there is tons of foreshadowing and hints at what may come.  I'm very excited to see Cinder grow and change in the next book.  This book occurred over such a short time frame (about a week) that characters faced struggles, overcame them, but the longer growth wasn't as visible.  I want to see how Cinder is going to balance her new powers with staying true to herself and her own values.  I also want to see Cinder and Prince Kai connecting again...

I really like both Cinder and Scarlet for the way they retell the fairy tales.  Who would have thought of a cyborg and Lunar Cinderella!  I love that while she has used the tales for inspiration, Meyer is not afraid to go outside the traditional story and really makes the story her own.  I can't wait for Cress  in 2014, and see what she does with that story!

Overall, great story, great series!  I can see mostly girls liking this, but boys I think would get a kick out of the cyborg part of the story.  Recommended for middle school kids and up, mostly for the length.  Later elementary readers could probably take it on if they are interested and love to read.  Go out, read this series!  Definitely read Cinder first, otherwise you would be very lost in reading Scarlet.  

Etiquette & Espionage

Etiquette & Espionage: Finishing School, Book the First
by Gail Carriger
307 pages
High School+

Sophronia is a youngest daughter, completely uncultured, and hopelessly interested in how the dumbwaiter works.  Her mother despairs of her ever becoming a sophisticated woman.  Imagine the surprise of both of them when she is invited to attend a prestigious finishing school, Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality.

On the way to the school, Sophronia eyes are opened.  Her carriage mates inform her that this is definitely not your typical school.  Not only is the headmistress NOT the actual headmistress, but flywaymen (similar to highwaymen, but using balloons) try to steal something from them.   The pretend headmistress faints, the coachman is knocked out, so Sophronia must take control of the situation.  Rescuing herself, plus the others, they manage to elude the flywaymen and make their way to the school, minus only their luggage.

Thus begins Sophronia's unique and highly interesting education.  Instead of merely learning etiquette, manners, and how to curtsy, she is also learning stealth, poisoning, information gathering and tumbling (most unusual!). Sophronia actually enjoys her time there and finds the classes very interesting.  But what exactly were the flywaymen after?  And what will they do if they don't get it soon?


Oh my goodness, I laughed so hard in lots of places on this book!  Carriger's humor comes through, and is wonderful.  I had a hard time putting it down!  One of my favorite lines, fairly early in the books is: "Pillover is terribly bad at being bad, if you take my meaning.  Our daddy is a founding member of the Death Weasel Confederacy, and Mummy is a kitchen chemist with questionable intent, but poor Pillover can't even bring himself to murder ants with his Depraved Lens of Crispy Magnification."  This sentence had me laughing so hard people were looking at me weird.

I really enjoyed this book (if you couldn't tell!).  The characters stay true to themselves, the plot was interesting, but not overwhelming, plus it was fun to find the connections to Carriger's other books.  This one is set in the same world as the Parasol Protectorate series, but has its own characters and plot lines.

Overall, I will definitely recommend this book.  Unlike Carriger's other books, this is definitely appropriate for teens of almost any age. I put high school as my recommended level for two reasons: interest (I have a hard time seeing middle school or elementary school students interested in this) and also because it might lead the teens to Carriger's other books, which I said were more late high school or college age.  The book is funny,  interesting, and is definitely building a foundation for more adventures.  I can't wait for the next one!

Earthling!

Earthling!
by Mark Fearing
248 pages
Elementary+

When Bud moves out to the New Mexico desert with his scientist father, he feels like he is moving to the middle of nowhere.  No friends, nothing ordinary, and most of all, a new school he has to attend.  And of course, on his first day, he's almost late for the bus!  Luckily, he catches it just in time.

But did  he really catch the right bus?  Instead of being full of kids, the bus is loaded with aliens!  The bus is really a spaceship picking up all the alien kids from random planets for Cosmos Academy, the best space school in the galaxy!

Bud quickly makes a new friend in Gort, an friendly alien that helps Bud blend in, make even more friends, and not eat what looks to be a pile of food but is really a fellow student.  On top of all of this, they discover the nefarious plots of the principle to use the school as a weapon. Together, they have to figure out how to get Bud home before the principle figures out that Bud is really an Earthling, the worst type of alien there is.

This was a funny example of being the new kid in town.  Bud has to go through hazing, trying to stand up to bullies, making the bullies his friend, and even trying out for the sports team!  Any kid that has been the odd one out would enjoy Bud's antics, and recognize a kindred spirit.

I also really enjoyed the attitude of trying something different if the first thing didn't work out.  Bud and Gort have to try several different things before they finally get Bud home.  This is a great example of perseverance  and persistence. I think more kids need to learn not to give up if the first thing you try doesn't go right.

Over all, really fun book, lots of great morals but told in a way that it doesn't bash you over the head with them.  Bud and Gort do get into mischief, but it would be hard to name a book that they don't get into mischief!  Great book for boys, and it's actually fairly substantial, so keeps them occupied for more than 5 minutes.  Fun read, I'll recommend it a lot!

Soulless

Soulless
by Gail Carriger
384 pages
Late High School+

Alexia Tarabotti has resigned herself to the life of a spinster.  At the age of 25, she is past the typical marrying age, plus she is half Italian.  Rather than being the blond, slender and timid, Alexia is tan, robust, and has a rather forceful personality.  On top of all of this, she is soulless, complete opposite of the vampires and werewolves now accepted into polite Society. 

When Alexia accidentally kills a vampire at a party, an investigation ensues.  And sent out to resolve the matter is Lord Conall Maccon, Scottish werewolf, and leader of the London pack.  He and Alexia have not gotten along ever since the hedgehog incident, and he is very disgruntled to find her at the center of this mess.  Try as he might, Lord Maccon can't avoid what she does to his sensibilities.

As Alexia and Lord Maccon look into the issues, more questions start arising.  What was that vampire doing at that party, in a cheap shirt and half starved?  Who continually tries to abduct Alexia?  And who or what is the wax-faced person that keeps coming after her?  As they try to resolve all this conundrums, Alexia must fend off the increasing amorous advances of a werewolf losing control as the full moon approaches...

So, this is definitely something that I would wait until late high school, or even after to recommend. Alexia and Lord Maccon get into several slightly compromising positions, plus (SPOILERS!) they get married and he seduces her in the carriage.  While not as graphic as some romances, it still gives more detail than most teenagers want.  So, keep it to late teens, or even out of high school before reading it.

Other than that, this is such a fun book.  The word play between Alexia and Lord Maccon is great, the writing if fun, and it's a very interesting and innovative world.  Set in Victorian England, it is based on the idea that werewolves and vampires are integrated into Society.  One of Alexia's good friends is a vampire, that she only visits after dark, of course.  They even have a branch of government dedicated to them. 

I also like the idea of what Alexia is: a preternatural, or someone with a complete lack of soul.  Vampires, werewolves, and ghost are most likely created in someone with an excess of soul, usually someone involved in artistic careers.  Alexia is their opposite, and can actually cancel their abilities through her touch.  So, if she touches her vampire friend, he becomes mortal again while in contact with her.  Such a great idea, and the author has fun with that!

Overall, this is a really fun book!  I have gone back a reread it several times, that's how much I have enjoyed it.  I would wait until late high school or after to recommend it, due to some sexual innuendos and scenes.  But very witty and fun, a great read for the supernatural scene!

Lio: There's a Monster in My Socks

Lio: There's a Monster in My Socks
by Mark Tatulli
224 pages
Late Elementary+

Lio, with his hair sticking up, in many ways is just like many boys: likes gross things, hates chores, and is excited to get a C on his homework instead of an F.  But, in many other ways, he is definitely NOT normal: instead of a pet dog, he has a pet squid, and he likes the monsters under the bed.

Follow Lio as he creates time machines, raises Godzilla, and has science experiments go wrong!  Will aliens abduct him before he can take over the earth???

So, this made me laugh out loud as I was reading it. In a library.  Not the best place to laugh out loud.  But it was just that funny.  I really enjoyed reading it, and can think of tons of boys that would totally laugh at it.  It reminds me a little of Calvin and Hobbes, but a little more modern, not as philosophical, and still tons of fun.

Most of the panels are just a page in length, making the reading go really quick. Plus, there is not a ton of vocabulary, so this would be good for a reluctant reader.  I put it as later elementary, mostly because of some scary looking monsters and mischief that Lio gets in.

Overall, this was so much fun to read!  I would definitely give it to almost any boy, especially those into science and monsters.  Quick read, quirky humor, and great expressions.  Since there isn't a ton of text, the facial expressions really help fill that gap.  Check it out!

A Wrinkle in Time

A Wrinkle in Time
by Madeleine L'Engle
245 pages
Elementary School+

Meg hasn't been happy since her father disappeared.  She is struggling in school even though she is smart, has issues with other kids, and tries to get along with her family.  Everyone wants to pick on her quirky little brother who is brilliant, but has issues interacting with people other than Meg.  All in all, Meg is miserable, and doesn't have much hope that it will get better any time soon.

One night, when Meg can't sleep, her little brother Charles introduces her and her mother to Mrs. Whatsit, a strange, wandering old woman who speaks as strangely as she looks.  They snack on some food, and as Mrs. Whatsit is leaving, she mentions something about a tesseract.  Meg's mother pales, and tells Meg and Charles that their father was studying tesseracts before he disappeared.  Confused by this random comment, Meg tries to continue on with life.

The next day at school, Meg meets Calvin, a local boy almost as quirky as Charles.  They talk on the way, and meet Charles in the woods near their house.  Charles leads them into the woods to see Mrs Whatsit again, and meet Mrs. Who, another strange woman.  Together, they start on an adventure to find Meg's father, and join the battle of light versus dark.

This is an older book, but still great!  Has some great themes in it, and helps reach out to kids or teens that feel lonely and outcast.  Meg feels things most teens feel, and finds ways to overcome them.  The journey they go on is as much about understanding themselves as rescuing her father.

Another huge theme is light versus dark.  The enemy's influence is shown by a shadow over a world, the lose of light.  The worlds that have been overcome are signified by loss of light.  The brighter the star, the less influence this enemy has.  Inside that theme, there is definitely a Christian or religious interpretation.  Much like the Chronicles of Narnia, this book, and its sequels, can be read as simply adventure books or as metaphors for religious symbols.

With the light and dark theme, is also the theme of individual thought versus conformity. In their adventure, they come across a city that every home is exactly the same, the kids bounce the ball at the same time, and the mothers call the kids in at the exact same moment.  Everything is standardized and breaking away from the standard is punished.  The author really pushes the idea that thinking for yourself is the best thing to do.

Overall, great book with lots of interesting themes that could be discussed.  While published years ago, still has modern value and application.  Many other themes could be discussed, such as family relationships, bullying, hope, bravery, and second chances.  Very good!  I would recommend this for boys and girls, later elementary and older.  Nothing inappropriate, just probably more interesting to that age, rather than earlier.  Any scientific concepts are explained, so science is not a barrier to understanding the book.

Explorer: The Mystery Boxes

Explorer: The Mystery Boxes
Edited by Kazu Kibuishi
128 pages
Elementary+

This is a collection of short stories, told in the graphic novel format.  The underlying theme: what's in the box?  Each story has a different box with something different inside.  we see everything from wax dolls and magic boxes, to aliens and visits from the dead!  Endless variety awaits any who dare to open the box!

Kind of like non-fiction, it's hard to write a good desciption for a set of short stories!  The editor of this set is Kazu Kibuishi, the same creator of the Amulet graphic novels which I loved!  We do get a story by him, but there is also a lot of other variety.  I liked all the stories, which is kind of rare to like everything in the collection, but I did like some more than others. 

I did like this for the exposure to different styles of graphic novels.  Some of the styles were similar to others graphic novels I had read, but there were new ones too.  I will probably look up a couple of these other authors, such as Jason Caffoe and Stuart Livingston.  I really liked the one called "Whatzit," and think kids will like that one a lot!

Overall, this would be a great way to introduce new readers to the genre.  This is as super simple as some graphic novels, but later elementary aged kids would be fine.  Since the stories are shorter, would be useful to have discussions about each one as a group, since reading time would be short.