Prisoner of Ice and Snow

Prisoner of Ice and Snow
by Ruth Lauren

From the publisher:
"When Valor is arrested, she couldn’t be happier. Demidova’s prison for criminal children is exactly where she wants to be. Valor’s sister Sasha is already serving a life sentence for stealing from the royal family and Valor is going to help her escape . . . from the inside.

Never mind that no one has escaped in three hundred years. Valor has a plan and resources most could only dream about. But she didn't count on having to outsmart both the guards and her fellow prisoners. If Valor’s plan is to succeed, she’ll need to make unlikely allies. And if the plan fails, she and Sasha could end up with fates worse than prison."

I really enjoyed this book, but had some concerns. The story is gripping from the first page. The main character, although somewhat likable, seems to make one stupid decision after another and drags people down with her when she fails. But the action is intense, the story interesting, and there was good world building. Everything moves along very quickly. I liked that it had closure with the possibility of more - kind of like Harry Potter in that way. I think middle school students will really like this first book in a new fantasy series, and that is who the book is written for.

Areas of concern:
* A lot of violence and abuse towards children in a prison. I found parts quite disturbing.
* A lack of good adults.

Suggested Ages:

Kirkus Reviews - Ages 8+

School Library Journal - Grades 4-7

Caraval

Caraval
by Stephanie Garber

From the publisher:
"Remember, it’s only a game…

Scarlett Dragna has never left the tiny island where she and her sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval—the faraway, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show—are over.

But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt-of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.

Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. Nevertheless she becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic. And whether Caraval is real or not, Scarlett must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over or a dangerous domino effect of consequences will be set off, and her beloved sister will disappear forever.

Welcome, welcome to Caraval…beware of getting swept too far away."

The feelings I have for this book are quite similar to those I had after reading The Night Circus, and there are actual similarities in the stories as well. So I will use some of the exact sentences I used for that book. "My 4 star rating doesn't really mean "really liked it", it's actually more like "amazing on many levels, but not sure how I really feel about it". What imagination and creativity went into this!" 
For a lot of the book I was thinking, "What the heck is going on?!", yet it was mesmerizing and I couldn't stop reading (once I really got into the story). The writing is incredible, so beautiful and gripping. So many secrets! Who to trust? Who to like? The setting of Caraval is amazingly unique and magical. I would like to see what the director of The Greatest Showman would do with a movie of this. There is one part where the main character starts seeing only in black and white, unless it is something really important for her to notice, and I can imagine that being put on the big screen - it would be beautiful!
This book has action, adventure, heroes and villains (although you're not always clear which is which), romance, magic, character growth, and above all - sisterly love. And that sounds like I just described Frozen, but it is nothing like that :) . It was amazing, but do I recommend it for middle school students? Maybe 8th graders, but no younger.

Areas of concern:
*Serious abuse.
*Steamy romance - although it was kind of more a feeling of steamy than actual graphic steaminess, if that makes sense.
*Several disturbing murders - one off stage and 2 right in front of us.

Suggested Ages:

Booklist - Grades 9-12

Publisher's Weekly - Ages 13+

Dividing Eden

Dividing Eden
by Joelle Charbonneau

From the publisher:
"Twins Carys and Andreus were never destined to rule Eden. With their older brother next in line to inherit the throne, the future of the kingdom was secure.

But appearances—and rivals—can be deceiving. When Eden’s king and crown prince are killed by assassins, Eden desperately needs a monarch, but the line of succession is no longer clear. With a ruling council scheming to gain power, Carys and Andreus are faced with only one option—to take part in a Trial of Succession that will determine which one of them is worthy of ruling the kingdom.

As sister and brother, Carys and Andreus have always kept each other safe—from their secrets, from the court, and from the monsters lurking in the mountains beyond the kingdom’s wall. But the Trial of Succession will test the bonds of trust and family.

With their country and their hearts divided, Carys and Andreus will discover exactly what each will do to win the crown. How long before suspicion takes hold and the thirst for power leads to the ultimate betrayal? "

I have really enjoyed Joelle Charbonneau's other books, so I was looking forward to this one. I was very disappointed and almost didn't even finish it. I really hate it when I don't like the main characters. Why keep reading if I don't care what happens to these two stupid people? However, I soldiered on and did mildly enjoy the story and action, and did end up caring about one of the main characters when something was explained. 
I found the world building confusing and have no idea what the Xhelosi (I have no idea if I spelled that correctly, and I don't really care) were, or why or how they exist. I didn't understand how the kingdom and ruling family came to be, or how the kingdom interacts with other kingdoms. So many confusing things! 
I didn't hate this book like I thought I was going to for about 1/2 of it, but I definitely didn't love it. 

Areas of concern:
*A 17 year old main character who will sleep with anything in a skirt.
*Drug addiction in a character. 
*Some violence.
*Horribly dysfunctional family dynamic.

Suggested Ages:

Publisher's Weekly - Ages 13+

School Library Journal - Grades 7+

Going Vintage

Going Vintage
by Lindsey Leavitt

From the publisher:
"When Mallory’s boyfriend, Jeremy, cheats on her with an online girlfriend, Mallory decides the best way to de-Jeremy her life is to de-modernize things too. Inspired by a list of goals her grandmother made in1962, Mallory swears off technology and returns to a simpler time (when boyfriends couldn’t cheat with computer avatars). The List:
1. Run for pep club secretary
2. Host a fancy dinner party/soiree
3. Sew a dress for Homecoming
4. Find a steady
5. Do something dangerous
But simple proves to be crazy-complicated, and the details of the past begin to change Mallory’s present. Add in a too-busy grandmother, a sassy sister, and the cute pep-club president–who just happens to be her ex’s cousin–and soon Mallory begins to wonder if going vintage is going too far. "

A fun, albeit slightly forgettable book about one girl's decision to go offline after catching her boyfriend cheating on her with a "cyberwife". The main character, Mallory, is a normal high school girl who has kind of lost herself because of her complete involvement with her boyfriend. After discovering he was cheating on her, she decides that life was way easier for teenagers in her grandmother's time so she decides to give up all electronics and starts to live by a list her grandmother wrote back in 1962. Mallory is very close to her sister, Ginnie -  my favorite character - who is 2 years younger than her. After an argument, Ginnie takes away everything pre-1962 from Mallory's room so she can't cheat. It was pretty amusing to think about all of the things in our rooms that post-date 1962 :) . I really loved their relationship. 

“My mother makes up for all shortcomings because she birthed Ginnie. I might not have loads of friends, but Ginnie is enough. More than enough.”

One of the things I really liked about the book was the close family connections. Mallory and Ginnie are the best of friends and sisters, they have kind of weird, but united parents and a greatly loved and admired grandmother who unknowingly provides the catalyst for Mallory's decision to "go vintage". It was good to see Mallory find herself while working through her list of things to accomplish during her junior year. And I totally approved of the new boy interest. He was a great character and their interactions were always entertaining.

"“Because I like being around you.” He’s still looking out the window, and I wonder if he’s focusing on one object when he says this and what that object is. “I probably shouldn’t, but I do. And I can’t say why. I mean, I can think of a bunch of reasons why.”
Like? Like?
“But given … the obvious roadblock, I’m not sure how much we can get to know each other.” He rushes on. “As people, because you’re an interesting person and I value that in friendship. That’s seriously what I’m after, not that I’m after you and I’m not talking about, you know, ‘knowing’ each other. Like in a biblical way or anything, although you’re obviously pretty. I mean, very pretty and totally worth knowing both ways … Okay, shut it, Oliver. Shut it.”

And finally, I liked how it all came together at the end and culminated with another list - this time one that she made for herself. I don't want to spoil anything, but I appreciated where the author took the characters at the conclusion of the book. All in all, it was a fun book to read.

Areas of concern:
*I don't remember any cussing, there may have been one or two mild words.
*There was a lot of talk of making out and hooking up. Teenagers were seriously kissing in one of the characters bedrooms - nothing else happened.
*While there wasn't anything too graphic in this, I wouldn't call it a squeakly clean read. 

Suggested Ages:

Publisher's Weekly - Ages 12+

School Library Journal - Grades 7+

Counting Thyme

Counting Thyme
by Melanie Conklin

From the publisher:
"When eleven-year-old Thyme Owens’ little brother, Val, is accepted into a new cancer drug trial, it’s just the second chance that he needs. But it also means the Owens family has to move to New York, thousands of miles away from Thyme’s best friend and everything she knows and loves. The island of Manhattan doesn’t exactly inspire new beginnings, but Thyme tries to embrace the change for what it is: temporary.

After Val’s treatment shows real promise and Mr. Owens accepts a full-time position in the city, Thyme has to face the frightening possibility that the move to New York is permanent. Thyme loves her brother, and knows the trial could save his life—she’d give anything for him to be well—but she still wants to go home, although the guilt of not wanting to stay is agonizing. She finds herself even more mixed up when her heart feels the tug of new friends, a first crush, and even a crotchety neighbor and his sweet whistling bird. All Thyme can do is count the minutes, the hours, and days, and hope time can bring both a miracle for Val and a way back home."

Things I liked: 
* This book has an unusual premise with the main character (whose name is Thyme), earning alone time from her parents by doing things around the house to help. She is saving up her time slips in a jar she calls her Thyme Jar in the hopes that she will one day earn enough to be able to go home to San Diego to see her Grandma and best friend. Their family has been uprooted from San Diego to Manhattan in order for her little brother to be a part of a clinical trial for children with neuroblastoma.
* The family in this book is not perfect, and the parents, in trying to protect their children, keep a lot of secrets from them. However, they are loving and supportive parents who are just trying to keep their heads above water while dealing with their son's horrible disease. I love Thyme's parents!
* I LOVE Manhattan, so I really enjoyed all of the descriptions of life in the city. 
* The portrayal of friendship in this book is very strong and real. Friends have fights, but they get over it. And it's okay to make new friends when you leave your old ones behind. 
* The secondary characters are very well drawn. How can you not totally picture Mr. Lipinsky in his purple robe with Sylvie on his shoulder? How can you not love Mrs. Ravelli? Celia and Delia in their matching outfits? And on and on. 
* Val! Oh how I loved that little guy! He was so strong and loving while going through something no child should ever have to go through. 

Things I wasn't too fond of: 
* I hate reading about kids with cancer! Just like holocaust books, I can't take the feelings of hopelessness and depression. I will have to say, though, that this book and Jordan Sonnenblick's Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie treat childhood cancer with gentle hands. While understanding the dark, dark cloud of cancer that is always hanging over our characters, this isn't a sob fest out to gratuitously make you feel miserable. It is a story of lives that are going on while dealing with the unthinkable.
* I wasn't too happy with the ending. I like closure in my books and this one left too much unresolved. 

Areas of concern:

* The stress and strain on a family dealing with childhood cancer.

* The older sister exhibits some rebellious behavior (nothing very bad at all), and she gets suspended from school.

Suggested Ages:

Publisher's Weekly - Ages 10+

School Library Journal - Grades 4-7

The War That Saved My Life

The War That Saved My Life
by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

 From the publisher:
"A Wall Street Journal's Best Children's Book of 2015
A Newbery Honor Book

An exceptionally moving story of triumph against all odds set during World War 2, from the acclaimed author of Jefferson’s Sons and for fans of Number the Stars.
 
Nine-year-old Ada has never left her one-room apartment. Her mother is too humiliated by Ada’s twisted foot to let her outside. So when her little brother Jamie is shipped out of London to escape the war, Ada doesn’t waste a minute—she sneaks out to join him.
 
So begins a new adventure of Ada, and for Susan Smith, the woman who is forced to take the two kids in. As Ada teaches herself to ride a pony, learns to read, and watches for German spies, she begins to trust Susan—and Susan begins to love Ada and Jamie. But in the end, will their bond be enough to hold them together through wartime? Or will Ada and her brother fall back into the cruel hands of their mother?
 
This masterful work of historical fiction is equal parts adventure and a moving tale of family and identity—a classic in the making."

I thought this book did an exquisite job of showing how abuse affects a child. The main character, Ada, has been horribly abused her whole life, and all readers will be relieved when she escapes and has the chance at a new life. However, life doesn't suddenly turn rosy for her. She has trouble accepting kindness and compassion and feels completely out of place. Her new guardian reads the book Alice in Wonderland to Ada and her brother, Jamie, and this is what Ada thinks:

“It was us, I thought. Jamie and me. We had fallen down a rabbit hole, fallen into Susan’s house, and nothing made sense, not at all, not anymore.” 

It is both heartbreaking and heartwarming to watch Ada's journey to finding the strength in herself. Sometimes it is 1 step forward and 2 steps back, but slowly and surely she progresses. The patience of her guardian, Susan, is remarkable, but we are also shown how taking upon herself the guardianship of 2 abused children makes Susan grow and come out of herself. I thought the ending faltered a little bit, but all in all I really enjoyed this book. It doesn't match up to my favorite WWII-child-evacuee book, which is Good Night, Mr. Tom  by Michelle Magorian, but it is a pretty respectable second place. 

Areas of concern:
*Horrible abuse of a disabled child. Sensitive readers could be very disturbed by all of it.
*A handful of British cuss words.
*There is a very subtle inference of a homosexual relationship, but I'm quite sure the targeted age group for this book won't pick up on it.

Suggested Ages:

Booklist - Grades 5-8

Publisher's Weekly - Ages 9-12

I'll Be There

I'll Be There
by Holly Goldberg Sloan

From the publisher:
"Emily Bell believes in destiny. To her, being forced to sing a solo in the church choir--despite her average voice--is fate: because it's while she's singing that she first sees Sam. At first sight, they are connected.


Sam Border wishes he could escape, but there's nowhere for him to run. He and his little brother, Riddle, have spent their entire lives constantly uprooted by their unstable father. That is, until Sam sees Emily. That's when everything changes.


As Sam and Riddle are welcomed into the Bells' lives, they witness the warmth and protection of a family for the first time. But when tragedy strikes, they're left fighting for survival in the desolate wilderness, and wondering if they'll ever find a place where they can belong. Beautifully written and emotionally profound, I'll Be There is a gripping story that explores the complexities of teenage passions, friendships, and loyalties."

I was obsessed with this book once I got into it and could not put it down. The writing seemed a little bit off at the beginning, but once I got sucked into the story I didn't care, and now I can't even remember why the writing bothered me at the beginning. And, I might add, I have had the song I'll Be There stuck in my head for 2 days now. Luckily it's a great song! I think it is very cool that it plays an integral part in the story and wasn't just a random title for the book.

This is one of those books that has it all. Pathos, romance, humor, wilderness survival, high school drama and spine-tingling suspense. My feelings were all over the place with this one. My heart broke for Sam and Riddle on just about every page. I was so furious with their father that I desperately wanted a fatal accident to befall him. I wanted to hug Tom and Debbie Bell for their kind and wise parenting. I was very nervous about the oily Bobby Ellis, yet he made me laugh over and over again. (Kind of envisioning a Carrieprom king scene for a brief moment.) 

One thing I loved about this book is that it begins with a story about how everything is connected and how minor incidents can change the course of major life events. Then the book ends with different paragraphs about very secondary characters and how their lives were changed by the minor interactions they had with our main characters. That was really interesting. It makes you think about what minor incidents have changed the course of your own life. 

My one drawback was that there were very few instances where we were able to see Sam and Emily's connection. We were told there was a deep connection, but had very little to go on to see that for ourselves. However, that was a minor quibble. I definitely recommend this book and I think it will have a huge readership at our library. 

Areas of concern: (This was a really clean read for a young adult novel with intense situations. I was impressed.)
*About 4 or 5 uses of the *d* word. 
*An incredibly abusive and neglectful father.
*Intense survival scenes.
*Talk of going to the Motel 6 after prom, but the main character leaves after this is mentioned.
*A few mild kisses.
*A best friend tells the main character that she needs to hook up with a guy.
*A stalker who ingratiates himself into the main character's life.

Suggested Ages:

Publisher's Weekly - Ages 12+

School Library Journal - Grades 7+
(Booklist puts this one at grades 9-12.  There are definitely intense situations, so sensitive middle schoolers may need to stay away from it.)

A Nearer Moon

A Nearer Moon
by Melanie Crowder

From the publisher:
"In a small river village where the water is cursed, a girl’s bravery—and the existence of magic—could mean the difference between life and death in this elegant, luminous tale from the author of Parched and Audacity.

Along a lively river, in a village raised on stilts, lives a girl named Luna. All her life she has heard tales of the time before the dam appeared, when sprites danced in the currents and no one got the mysterious wasting illness from a mouthful of river water. These are just stories, though—no sensible person would believe in such things.

Beneath the waves is someone who might disagree. Perdita is a young water sprite, delighting in the wet splash and sparkle, and sad about the day her people will finally finish building their door to another world, in search of a place that humans have not yet discovered.

But when Luna’s little sister falls ill with the river sickness, everyone knows she has only three weeks to live. Luna is determined to find a cure for her beloved sister, no matter what it takes. Even if that means believing in magic…"

This is a book that tries very hard to be mystical and lyrical, but for me it was more illogical and confusing. I'm not sure the target audience will be willing to stick with it. I didn't understand the world of the sprites, and couldn't picture what they looked like. I also couldn't understand why people stayed living on the sour swamp that killed them. Just move, for heaven's sake! I did like the sisterly love in the dual stories, but couldn't stand the unloveable mother. I think we needed more back story on her to be able to feel anything for her besides contempt for how she neglected her children. I know the whole thing is meant to be allegorical, and it was mildly enjoyable, but I don't see this one getting checked out very often.

Areas of concern:
Not really anything. If I had to stretch to find something, there is a swamp "monster" that makes the swamp sour and lethal if you swallow the water.

Suggested Ages:

Kirkus Reviews - Ages 9-12

School Library Journal - Grades 5-8

Love, Lucas

Love, Lucas
by Chantele Sedgwick

From the publisher:
"A powerful story of loss, second chances, and first love, reminiscent of Sarah Dessen and John Green.

When Oakley Nelson loses her older brother, Lucas, to cancer, she thinks she’ll never recover. Between her parents’ arguing and the battle she’s fighting with depression, she feels nothing inside but a hollow emptiness. When Mom suggests they spend a few months in California with Aunt Jo, Oakley isn’t sure a change of scenery will alter anything, but she’s willing to give it a try.

In California, Oakley discovers a sort of safety and freedom in Aunt Jo’s beach house. Once they’re settled, Mom hands her a notebook full of letters addressed to her—from Lucas. As Oakley reads one each day, she realizes how much he loved her, and each letter challenges her to be better and to continue to enjoy her life. He wants her to move on.

If only it were that easy.

But then a surfer named Carson comes into her life, and Oakley is blindsided. He makes her feel again. As she lets him in, she is surprised by how much she cares for him, and that’s when things get complicated. How can she fall in love and be happy when Lucas never got the chance to do those very same things?

With her brother’s dying words as guidance, Oakley knows she must learn to listen and trust again. But will she have to leave the past behind to find happiness in the future?"

I probably shouldn't say I enjoyed a book that is about a beloved brother dying of cancer, so I'll just say I was immediately caught up in it. I cared about the characters and felt Oakley's pain and confusion about life going on after you lose a loved one. I thought the way she would try to keep living, and then push people away again was very believable. If your children are wanting to read stories about love and death but you don't want them reading the language and content of a John Green book, or a Gayle Forman book - this is the book to point them towards. There is a sweet romance that doesn't go beyond kissing, there is little to no bad language, and even though the loss of a brother is tragic, it shows a girl learning to live through that experience. There is quite a shocking occurance towards the end of the book that really amps up the excitement level. But all ends as well as could be expected. 
I need more books like this in my middle school library. I will definitely be recommending this to my students.

Areas of concern:
Death of a loved one.
Possible divorce of parents.
A violent accident that involves blood, but is not too graphic.
Sweet romance with some kissing.

Suggested Ages:

School Library Journal - Grades 7-10

House of Secrets

House of Secrets
by Chris Columbus &
Ned Vizzini

From the publisher:
"The Walker kids had it all: loving parents, a big house in San Francisco, all the latest video games . . . but everything changed when their father lost his job as a result of an inexplicable transgression. Now the family is moving into Kristoff House, a mysterious place built nearly a century earlier by Denver Kristoff, a troubled writer with a penchant for the occult.

Suddenly the siblings find themselves launched on an epic journey into a mash-up world born of Kristoff’s dangerous imagination, to retrieve a dark book of untold power, uncover the Walker family’s secret history and save their parents . . . and maybe even the world."

I did not like this one, but I kept soldiering on and finished. The concept seems amazing, and I think it could have been, but there were so many ridiculous situations it lost my interest. Actually, I don't think it ever had my interest. I thought a book written by the director of the first 2 Harry Potter movies and blurbed by J.K. Rowling must be good. However, now that I look back on what J.K. Rowling said, I realize that it is like when someone who hasn't been a very good employee asks for a letter of recommendation. You try to make them sound good without really committing yourself.
"A breakneck, jam-packed roller coaster of an adventure about the secret power of books, House of Secrets comes complete with three resourceful sibling heroes, a seriously creepy villainess, and barrel loads of fantasy and fear." 
All of those things are technically true, but it left out anything about loving the book or thinking it was amazing. Well played, J.K.Rowling.

A few positives of the book are that the siblings learn to really love and look out for each other. The character of Will was intriguing because of where he came from. The idea of being inside books is always a fun theme. 

It is possible that middle school boys might get a little enjoyment out of this because it is horribly gory. However, they will never be able to keep all the plot points together. I have no desire to read the sequel, especially when the publisher says, " ...they'll be tested in ways that cut deeper than before..." . How do you "cut deeper" than vivisection (which was a main plot point in this first book)? I'm just glad I am done with it.

Areas of concern:
The violence and gore are way overdone for a middle grade book. Vivisection, eyeballs pulled out in front of children, friends killed while children watched, parents missing and presumed dead.... I could go on and on. 
There are a handful of cuss words.
Skeletons keep coming alive and when they do they are naked and standing in front of the children, who proceed to have conversations with them first and then get them clothes.

Suggested Ages:

Publisher's Weekly - Ages 9+  

School Library Journal - Grades 4-8
*Mrs. Duke disagrees with these suggested ages because of the extreme violence.  Possibly 7th or 8th grade and higher.

Life (Citizens of Logan Pond, #1)

Life
(Citizens of Logans Pond)
by Rebecca Belliston

From the publisher:
"Her home. Her parents. Her freedom. Gone. 
His dreams. His sister. Himself. Lost.
Two people.
One future.

The economy crashed, the country is floundering, and Carrie Ashworth struggles to keep her siblings alive. She has two jobs in her newly-formed, newly-outlawed clan: grow crops to feed thirty-six people, and maintain contact with Oliver Simmons, their local patrolman. Carrie’s life is almost content when Greg Pierce shows up. A man with the ambition to help them survive. A man determined to hate her.

Greg sets to work devising systems to protect the clan from the new regime, but it doesn't take long to realize the true reason for their safety. Patrolman Simmons has fallen for Carrie. When a government raid nearly wipes out their clan, Greg takes it upon himself to give the socially-awkward patrolman what he wants. Only Carrie doesn’t like Greg throwing her in Simmons' path, especially when Greg’s brusque exterior melts and she catches a glimpse of the real man underneath. Carrie is forced to choose: follow her heart or save her clan.

Life won't let her choose both."

It's hard to review this book because I was so immersed in it that I felt like I was living it. I was scared, I was heartbroken, I was cold when it snowed, I was in pain when the main character was hurting, I missed my parents; but I also loved my neighbors, felt joy at new growth, and loved the sunshine. To me that means that this was an amazing book. At one point while reading, I actually stood up to put my light jacket on and go to work when I said to myself, "Oh this isn't a warm enough coat when it is snowing outside". It was 60 degrees at the time, but it was snowing in the book. That's how in thrall I was while reading.
I loved the main character, Carrie. She was so good, loving, loyal, innocent and giving. I wish I was more like her. It made me wonder how I would react given the same circumstances. I will say that I'm still not sold on the main love interest - he is such a jerk at the beginning. I understand that he has gone through horrors in his life, but he is very cold-hearted at the beginning and I had a hard time getting over that.
I found the whole premise of the book a little scary because it felt like something that could really happen. A lot of the dystopian/post-apocalyptic books I have read have dealt with things like a pandemic, nuclear holocaust, alien invasion... This one simply had the dollar fail. There was a run on the banks - the banks failed. The government took over in a drastic way. Yikes! Maybe that was one of the reasons it was so engrossing, because it felt like something that could really happen to me and my family. Anyway, this was a great book and I highly recommend it. Now we wait for book 2, entitled Liberty , and it is being released on the 4th of July. Pretty cool. And I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that the final book in the trilogy will be called, The Pursuit of Happiness .

Areas of concern:
When I bought this book for our library, I thought it was a Young Adult novel. The book does begin with the main character being 17 years old, but then it fast-forwards 5 years, so it is actually not a YA book. However, it kind of had a YA feel to it, and it was very clean, so I am not concerned about having it in the library. In fact, several students have read it and really liked it.
There is no bad language.
There is some talk of girls needing to sell themselves to keep their families safe, but it is done in as non-offensive a way as possible.
There are intense situations where characters fear for their lives.
There are corrupt and very scary government officials.

The Witch's Boy

The Witch's Boy
by Kelly Barnhill

From the publisher:
"“A lightning bolt erupted from the cloud and aimed directly at Ned’s heart. He couldn’t cry out. He couldn’t even move. He could just feel the magic sink into his skin and spread itself over every inch of him, bubbling and slithering and cutting deep, until he didn’t know where the magic stopped and he began.”

When Ned and his identical twin brother tumble from their raft into a raging, bewitched river, only Ned survives. Villagers are convinced the wrong boy lived. Sure enough, Ned grows up weak and slow, and stays as much as possible within the safe boundaries of his family’s cottage and yard. But when a Bandit King comes to steal the magic that Ned’s mother, a witch, is meant to protect, it's Ned who safeguards the magic and summons the strength to protect his family and community.

In the meantime, in another kingdom across the forest that borders Ned’s village lives Áine, the resourceful and pragmatic daughter of the Bandit King. She is haunted by her mother’s last words to her: “The wrong boy will save your life and you will save his.” But when Áine and Ned’s paths cross, can they trust each other long enough to make their way through the treacherous woods and stop the war about to boil over?

With a deft hand, acclaimed author Kelly Barnhill takes classic fairy tale elements--speaking stones, a friendly wolf, and a spoiled young king--and weaves them into a richly detailed narrative that explores good and evil, love and hate, magic, and the power of friendship."

This beautiful fairy tale of a book will keep me thinking for a long time.  It is not only magical, it is lyrical, humorous, mystical, and really an allegory that teaches noble ideals without you even being aware of it.  The author uses this kind of storytelling to teach things like the power of words, the power of forgiveness, the power of family, the power of the individual, and many more.  I think this would make a great read-aloud because of all the discussions that could arise.  But I also think it would make a fantastic movie!  I could picture that last battle scene on the big screen so clearly (possibly because of all of my Lord of the Rings marathons), from the Stones clear down to the feathered soldier.  Peter Jackson - take note!


Probably my favorite thing about this book was the well-drawn characters.  My heart broke for Ned and Àine (pronounced Anya), they both had so much to overcome.  The secondary characters were equally endearing.  I found it intriguing that there were several characters that were never named -  Sister Witch (how I loved her and ached for her!), the Bandit King, the feathered soldier, the red-haired bandit (actually I think he was eventually named, but mostly just called the red-haired bandit).  What an interesting storytelling technique.  I also adored the characterization of King Ott.  He was evil, pathetic, and hysterical all wrapped up in one young person.  And then there were the other elements of the story that became actual characters.  The magic, the forest, the Stones, the wolf - they were all incredibly lifelike and I loved them all. I've never read a book by Kelly Barnhill before, but I will have to keep my eye on her in the future.  Don't go into this book thinking it is a quick read.  This is one to go slowly with while savoring the whole essence.  I don't think everyone will feel the same way about it, but I hope my students will give it a chance.

Suggested Ages:
Booklist - Grades 5-7
Publisher's Weekly - Ages 9+
*Mrs. Duke says that it is a tale for the ages!