Cool Kids Read

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

2012-01-31T22:12:00.000-06:00

I wanted to read Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (Quirk Books, 2011) from the moment I saw the cover (forgive me for judging), but those old photographs from the early 20th century captivatingly creepy to me ... luckily, the novel's innards are just as captivating.

What might tell you even more than I can about this original and spooky YA novel is that Tim Burton is said to be in talks to direct the movie. Seems like a good fit to me.

This is the story of 16-year-old Jacob who lives in Florida and is close to his grandfather, who shared a shoebox of bizarre pictures with Jake taken at the orphanage on the tiny island where he grew up after fleeing the Nazi's. The pictures show fascinating images of people doing seemingly impossible things -- defy gravity, hold fire in their hands, reanimate dead objects. Nothing strange there, nope.

After his grandfather's death, Jake becomes convinced the island really exists and convinces his father that they need to travel there to deal with the grief of losing their patriarch. Off the coast of Wales, the island is far from the paradise his grandfather described, and Jake finds the former orphanage in ruins -- apparently destroyed during the war. From here, as Alice might say, it just gets curiouser and curiouser.

This strange story grabs you by the eyeballs and won't let go until the last page (thankfully, Riggs says there will be a sequel). Inspired by real-life "found" photos, the author strives to preserve this interesting (and speculative) part of our photographic history. Truly original, completely fascinating, MISS PEREGRINE is a fantastic read. (for 13 and up)

Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm

2012-01-22T13:54:00.000-06:00

As the 2012 Newbery winner will be announced tomorrow morning, I thought this was a good time to review one of last year's Newbery Honor books Turtle in Paradise (Random House, 2010).

Two-time Newbery Honor winner (the other was Penny from Heaven in 2007), Jennifer L. Holm taps into her family history for this honoree. It's 1935 and 11-year-old Turtle's mom is offered work as a live-in housekeeper. Unfortunately, her new employer can't stand children. With jobs scarce, Turtle's mom has no choice but to take the job and send Turtle to live with her sister in Key West, Florida.

Turtle is none to happy about this, less so when she discovers this means living with a bunch of boy cousins with strange names like Beans and Porkchop. Boys who call themselves The Diaper Gang and earn candy by watching neighborhood children. Boys who the live by the code NO GIRLS ALLOWED.

Slowly, Turtle finds her place in her mother's hometown, striking up an unlikely friendship with the grouchy Nana Philly, the local fishermen and artists (with a cameo appearance from Papa himself) and exploring the Keys with a treasure hunt that leads the Gang into a dangerous storm.

I found some of the similarities between Holms' book and the Newbery winner of the same year (Moon over Manifest) kind of odd (must have been a big year for kids-sent-to-live-in-their parents'-hometowns-during-the-Depression-books), but Turtle in Paradise is a delicious peek into Floridian life during a time when Little Orphan Annie ruled the funny papers and Shirley Temple was the darling of the silver screen.

Written for grades 4 to 6, it shows us that everyone's definition of such a place is a little different and that family is a more important treasure, even than pirate gold.

Dear Cinderella by Marian Moore and Mary Jane Kensington (ill. by Julie Olson)

2012-01-16T21:57:00.000-06:00

Entwining fairy tales (and fracturing them) is quite in vogue again (see ABC's delicious guilty pleasure Once Upon a Time and Wendy Mass's upcoming take on Beauty and the Beast and don't even get me started on Snow White and the Huntsman). Orchard Books (an imprint of Scholastic) was nice enough to share with me their upcoming picture book, which entwines two princesses in one step-mother filled tale.

Told through letters written by Snow White and Cinderella to each other, Dear Cinderella follows the traditional stories with a cute twist on the happily ever after part.

Julie Olson's colorful and friendly illustrations are definitely kinder-friendly will help young readers make familiar connections in the two stories. Moore and Kensington keep the text simple and approachable, and the letter-writing is a great way to help children understand point of view.

Written for ages 3 to 7, Dear Cinderella will appeal to any child who is head-over-glass slippers for tiaras and taffeta. Look for it this February.

Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool

2012-01-06T08:11:00.000-06:00

For the last couple of years, it's taken me a while to get around to reading the Newbery books -- not sure why that is, or why I don't ever seem to read them before nom time. Maybe I have some baggage from childhood, I only LOVED two Newbery books back when I was a kid (The Witch of Blackbird Pond and From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler) so I tend to resist. However, the last few years I've adored all the winners and this year is no exception.

Moon Over Manifest is a sweet but intense story of 12 year old Abilene who has spent her childhood "riding the rails" with her father. When he sends her away to live in the small town of Manifest with the Pastor who raised him, Abilene is confused and hurt. The story takes place in the summer of 1936 during the Depression, as Abilene searches the memories of the townspeople -- especially the town diviner, Miss Sadie -- for information about her father.

To give any more details would reveal too much, but with elements of social hardships, prejudice, and social injustice, Vanderpool creates an emotional and telling glimpse into early 20th century life in the midwest. Abilene is real and likable, taking the reader with her on her investigation into the town's secrets in a way that makes the book hard to put down.

Scaredy Squirrel at Night by Melanie Watt

2011-12-09T20:52:00.000-06:00

4th Grader Ben S. shares his book trailer masterpiece for Melanie Watt's Scaredy Squirrel at Night.

Thanks Ben! You're truly a Cool Kid!

The Books of Elsewhere: The Shadows by Jacqueline West

2011-10-23T09:30:00.000-05:00

Around Halloween, everyone likes to cozy up with a spooky book and this just might be the perfect one for the older set of middle grade readers (10 and up). Kicking off The Books of Elsewhere, The Shadows (Puffin, 2011) from debut author Jacqueline West whisks us away to a creepy world within some mysterious and magical artwork.

11-year-old Olive and her two mathematics obsessed parents move into the run-down mansion that is just as spooky inside as out. Seems the previous owner has died and left everything in it, including the artwork hanging on the walls. Olive immediately spots something strange about the paintings but she can't quite figure what is off about them, until she finds a pair of old spectacles that allow her to crawl into the paintings ... and into the world of Elsewhere.

As if that wasn't weird enough, she meets three talking cats that guard the house, and provide clues to what happened in the past. But as the house's mystery reveals itself, Olive starts to wonder whether the cats are really on her side, and whether the land inside the paintings is enchanting or dangerous.

Reminiscent of Neil Gaiman's Coraline, The Shadows will most definitely raise a few goosebumps, leaving readers eager for the continuation of Olive's story in Volume 2 Spellbound. The third in the series is set to release next summer. Thanks go out to spooky author herself, Jennifer Judd, for recommending the series. Loved it!

13 Gifts by Wendy Mass

2011-10-10T18:38:00.000-05:00

Okay, so I'm WAY behind in my reviews and I've been sitting on this one for a couple of weeks. Which means I should have told you way before now that this third installment — which brings together Amanda and Leo (of 11 Birthdays) and Rory (of Finally) with soon-to-be 13-year-old Tara — wraps up the series beautifully. And yes, that means we find out the story behind the lady with the duck-shaped birthmark.

Tara's parents have always moved around a lot, what with her mom being a scientist and all. And when Tara finally makes an effort to get "in" with a group of kids at school, she finds herself in trouble for playing part in a prank. Apparently her principal doesn't see the humor in students stealing the school mascot. (It's not like it was a REAL goat, or anything.)

Next thing Tara knows, she's kicked out of school and bumped from accompanying her parents on their summer trip to Madagascar. Instead, she'll be spending the summer with her aunt in Willow Falls, her parents' hometown. Needless to say, Tara's a bit cranky about this.

After a series of mishaps on her journey to Willow Falls, including getting all her spending money stolen, Tara starts making friends but then realizes she can't afford to buy one of them a Bar Mitzvah gift. After getting busted by a familiar face for trying to pawn one of her uncles collectibles for gift money, Tara is forced to work off her mistake by collecting a list of 13 special things. Tara heads out on her over-the-top scavenger hunt with the help of Amanda, Leo and Rory who suspect they know who is behind Tara's new responsibilities.

As all three storylines weave together, fans of this series will no doubt be itching to re-read the first two books to track back the clues Mass left behind. And in her classic style, Mass mixes laugh-out-loud moments with those that leave you misty-eyed for a satisfying (yet bittersweet) conclusion to a must-read middle grade trilogy. For readers 8 and up.

It's that time of year again....

2011-10-10T09:21:00.000-05:00

When spooky stories abound. Check out Eyeball in my Garden, a collection of spooky poems (some written and co-edited by my dear friend Jennifer Judd). It'll definitely get you in the mood for Halloween.

Lucky for Good by Susan Patron

2011-09-06T20:34:00.000-05:00

First, apologies for the long blogging absence. It's been quite a summer.

Second, I am thrilled to return to Cool Kids Read with a review of one of my favorite series. Third in the Hard Pan trilogy (which kicked off by the Newbery-winning Higher Power of Lucky) Lucky for Good is a satisfying and heart-warming wrap up to Lucky's tale.

Reading a much-appreciated review copy, I was immediately re-immersed in the desert world of Hard Pan, visiting with Lucky and her circle of friends Miles, Lincoln and Paloma.

But this is Hard Pan, so you know something's going to happen and something arrives in the form of a health inspector. Lucky's adopted mom Brigitte is in violation -- not because her cafe isn't clean but because the kitchen exists inside their trailer home. Will her cafe be closed down? Has Miles' mom returned from jail? Will the new kid at school continue to bully Lucky? Who is Sticks? Is there really a hell? And did her father ever love her? Lucky wants to know, but just maybe, some questions don't have answers.

Susan Patron is adept at writing sweet without an ounce of sap. Her youngsters feel real but simultaneously brilliant. The pages fly by to the point you almost forget you are reading (always a good sign). As Lucky discovers more about her family tree (and who should really be on it), it's practically impossible not to wish your name was on a branch as well.

Everlost by Neal Shusterman

2011-07-08T22:08:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I start a book and a couple of chapters in I'm struggling with the pacing or the voice or whatever and I'm JUST ABOUT to call it quits when something happens that makes me say, well okay, one more chapter... and next thing I know, I'm jonesing to get back to the darn thing.

Such was the case with Everlost by Neal Shusteman. This first book in his Skinjacker Trilogy introduces a plane of existence between life and death and the children's souls who are caught there. Each of the Afterlights, as they are called, somehow made a detour off the highway toward the bright light.

Nick and Allie are unfortunate travel mates after an accident between their two cars. Tripping over each other on the way to "get where they were going", they find themselves in Everlost. Slowly (a little too slowly for my tastes, see above) Everlost reveals her secrets, and Nick and Allie are caught up in an ages-long battle between a self-proclaimed caretaker and The McGill, a boogey-man like monstrocity who collects Afterlights like baseball cards.

The concept is cool, and will get kids thinking some pretty heavy thoughts about what comes next. The idea that when someone dies, or when there is an emotional tragedy, it leaves an memory of itself in Everlost, is intriguing. Shusterman does a nice job of bringing well-loved landmarks back to life, to the point that they almost become characters themselves. I particularly got a chuckle out of the inclusion of a famous haunted house on Long Island.

These same landmarks, however, may not have the emotional connection to a younger audience as they did for me. Hopefully some Google investigations about them will result.

Once the story hits its stride it chugs along quite nicely, with twist after turn carrying the reader down whitewater rapids of adventure. I wouldn't call it a huge cliffhanger, but Shusterman leaves enough undone to hook you for the next book, Everwild. A fun read for 12 and up.

Author Interview: Frank L. Cole

2011-06-28T18:39:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone, welcome Frank L. Cole to Cool Kids Read! Let's talk with him a little bit about his new YA book The Guardians of the Hidden Scepter ...

So Frank, how long have you known you wanted to be a writer?

I’ve loved writing and telling stories since I was a kid, but I didn't realize I wanted to try for publication until after I got married. I have memories of tape-recording my stories when I was in 4th grade.

Who specifically would you recommend Guardians to?

I think the book is perfect for the older middle grade readers. 4th grade and up, but I would include adults as well. This genre appeals to me as a reader. I love Fablehaven, Harry Potter, Percy Jackson and not just because my kids enjoy reading them. If you like action and suspense, but also enjoy laughing along the way, this book should appeal to you.

Who is your favorite character to write about in The Guardians of the Hidden Scepter?

I love Trendon. That dude cracks me up! I just enjoyed writing his sarcastic dialogue and imagining his curly hair flopping all about as he munched on anything he could clutch within his fingers. He definitely helps keep the situation enjoyable. During the times in the story when the suspense grew and the situation seemed so dire, Trendon's humor lightened things up quite a bit.

What has been your most rewarding experience since becoming an author?

I love seeing a book I wrote on a bookstore shelf, but I think the most rewarding experience has been whenever a parent or a teacher at an elementary school approaches me and tells me my books have helped ignite a love of reading within their child or student. That's what it's all about!

Did you have to do any sort of research?

Actually quite a bit. I wanted the story (though completely fictional and speculative) to have a realistic feel to it. The locations they travel to are real and researched. The food, culture, and superstitions they experienced in the Philippines were authentic. There's even a scene with an Androctonus Scorpion that can be found primarily in Turkey and Syria (places either mentioned or traveled to in the story.)

What are some challenges you faced on your road to publication?

I think I've been rejected well over 100 times from agents, publishers, family members, and strangers. You name it and they've rejected me. Granted, most of my rejections came from the first novel I wrote called The Gothian Box, which deserved every single rejection it received and then some. Probably the biggest challenge I've faced with publication is marketing my books after they're in print. That's a tough obstacle involving a ton of time and energy. How does one spread the word to the masses with only a facebook account and a blog? That, my friend, is the million dollar question and I wish I had the answer.

What advice do you have for aspiring authors?

Don't give up and keep writing. Rejection is part of the business. If you give up after the first or fiftieth rejection, you'll never realize what you could have accomplished. Don't stay married to your first novel. The best thing you can do is to keep writing and learning. You abilities will develop after each book you finish. It's likely your first novel won't be the one that receives the contract. So, start cracking out your second and third.  

If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, what would it be?

I was one of those kids that groaned whenever there were reading assignments in school. I always enjoyed reading, but I firmly believed the books my teachers recommended weren't for me. Then I read Lord of the Flies and Huckleberry Finn. Completely changed my opinions. Scary, funny, thought-provoking. After reading those books, I always considered my teachers’ recommendations as worthy of my attention.       

Thanks for stopping by Cool Kids Read, Frank! For more information about Frank L. Cole and his books, go here.

The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson

2011-06-26T12:08:00.000-05:00

Love me some Maureen Johnson. I'm a big fan -- discovered her through 13 Little Blue Envelopes. So I expected to like this much-anticipated sequel. And I did.

SPOILER ALERT (if you haven't read the first book, you might want to just go do that now instead of going on.)

At the end of 13LBE, Ginny has accomplished a great deal -- not the least being learning a little something about herself. Someone has stolen her backpack from a beach in Greece and now all the envelopes are gone, including the last unread one.

Back home in New York, Ginny struggles with impending life after high school, pines for Keith (the boy she met in England during her adventures), and wishes she knew what was in that last envelope. So when she hears from a boy named Oliver who has found her backpack -- and the envelopes -- she's excited enough to hop back on a plane to London to retrieve them.

But Oliver has a plan. He tracked Ginny down by reading all the letters, including the last one. He knows her recently deceased aunt's artwork sold for some nice bank and he wants a "reward" for returning the envelopes to her. So he's holding the last envelope, and its contents, hostage to ensure he gets a piece of the prize.

Another whirlwind tour of Europe ensues, made even more complicated when Ginny discovers Keith has a new girlfriend, and the two of them accompany Oliver and Ginny on the journey to solve Aunt Peg's final mystery.

I always go into sequels with high hopes, especially with stories I really adore. This sequel stands on its own, beautifully wrapping up the story begun in 13LBE. The two books could easily have been released as one long story.

Like it's predecessor, The Last Little Blue Envelope is for grades 8 and up.

Love-love-loved it.

Pottermore .... now we know.

2011-06-23T07:27:00.002-05:00

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger

2011-05-30T21:10:00.000-05:00

Yoda's powers are so vast, they encompass his very form -- even if that form is a folded piece of paper. Could this be true? Is Origami Yoda real? That's what Tommy, the sixth grade narrator of Origami Yoda (Abrams Books, 2010), is determined to figure out.

Collecting testimonials from various students about their interactions with the finger puppeteer Dwight, Tommy presents evidence (and commentary) for and against the idea that Dwight's Yoda finger puppet can indeed bestow wisdom far beyond its fibrous being.

Like his namesake, sometimes Origami Yoda's advice seems like some Jedi mind trick. Sometimes it's mysteriously accurate. But despite Dwight's lame Yoda impression, things have a way of working out just as Origami Yoda predicts.

Packaged as a case file "in case scientists ever decide to study Origami Yoda," this award-winning middle grade book is a fun and enlightening read that you don't have to be a Star Wars fan to enjoy (although some of the better jokes may be lost on you if you haven't at least seen taken a short visit to a galaxy far far away).

With a follow-up hitting the shelves at the end of summer — starring Darth Paper, of course — it won't be long before readers will be able to revisit Tommy, Dwight and their friends at McQuarrie Middle School. Who knows what trouble will accompany the dark lord's arrival? As fans of Angleberger's debut are well aware, sometimes you just have to let go and trust in the Force.

Guardians of the Hidden Scepter by Frank L. Cole

2011-05-24T08:49:00.000-05:00

Amber is a smart kid. Especially for a 14 year old. Good thing she goes to an advanced school where she gets to take cool classes, like independent archeology. But when her favorite teacher up and disappears, Amber has a feeling this final exam will be unlike any other. And she's right.

Guardians of the Hidden Scepter (Cedar Fort, 2011) takes Amber and her classmates on a global quest to find their missing teacher. By using the tricks of the trade Dorothy Holcomb taught them, they are able to follow the clues she left behind -- and ultimately the mysterious artifact she is determined to protect.

Frank L. Cole leaves behind the wacky misadventures of his middle grade series, The Adventures of Hashbrown Winters, for a more cerebral take on a Biblical legend. This journey is filled with twists, turns, and brain teasers, taking its heroes around the globe, encountering unusual cultures and evil bad-guys at every turn.

Fans of Indiana Jones will eat this up, and readers who enjoy an elegantly crafted tale populated by wicked creatures guaranteed to raise some goosebumps won't be disappointed.

There are definitely some creepy, intense moments, and the complex mystery may be a little much for anyone under 10, but middle school readers will be all over it. With an ending that keeps pages turning well into the night (and the lights on until morning), Guardians of the Hidden Scepter proves Cole is ready to serve up some YA adventures that will have readers hungry for more.

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

2011-05-22T08:39:00.000-05:00

So, yeah. I got to read the new Libba Bray book before it releases this week (May 24, Scholastic). And yes, you should be jealous. It. Totally. Rocks. Take my advice and head directly to your nearest book-purchasing outlet (such as the link on the left. I tell you this because I love you, my readers. It's just that good.)

Let me put it this way, if BEAUTY QUEENS isn’t already in pre-production, then Hollywood needs to snap to. This latest offering from the Printz Award-winning author of GOING BOVINE and the Gemma Doyle trilogy is the most fun I’ve had between the pages in quite some time. With its ideal-for-the-big-screen plot, deliciously snarky yet endearing characters, and Bray’s legendary searing, sarcastic wit, BEAUTY QUEENS has best-seller written all over it. In cherry bomb red lipstick, no less.

Bray credits editor David Levithan with throwing down the challenge: “A plane full of beauty queens crashes on a deserted island. And … go!” Amazing concept aside, this gloriously crafted satire of the beauty pageant universe, commercialism, and the unholy control that corporate America lords over the minds, bodies and self esteems of young women is quintessential Bray – delivering a punch-in-the-gut message without getting preachy.

Painted with shades of Tropic Thunder, LOST and teen-targeted shows bearing a CW logo in the bottom corner of the screen, BEAUTY QUEENS is more than a story of teenage pageant contestants who crash on a tropical island. It’s about survival, sure, but not just living without running water, flat irons or regular mani/pedis. It’s about surviving the pressures and expectations placed on young women about how they look, what they say, who they are, and the women they want to become. Sometimes literally.

The extensive cast of characters — who embrace stereotypes with a hug so powerful it turns those labels inside out —gives Bray a chance to comment on a wide range of issues from anorexia and gun control to differences of sexuality, cultural and religion — just to point out a few. But beneath it all rings a distinct and guttural Girl Power battle cry, loud and proud, fist defiantly in the air.

Infused with hilarious footnotes, public service messages, and Corporation-funded commercial breaks, BEAUTY QUEENS richly captures the teenage experience of heartbreak, disillusionment, green-eyed rivalry, the iron bonds of friendship, and how the discovery of inner beauty can supersede the desire for sashes and tiaras (e.g., the acceptance of others).

For 15 and up, I'd make BEAUTY QUEENS required reading for every high school girl (and boy, for that matter). It lands a solid placement as one of my Favorite Books of All Time. How Bray will top it, I can’t imagine. But, as always, I look forward to her attempt.

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

2011-05-06T21:36:00.000-05:00

Oh, how I wish I could meet Tiny Cooper. He is so the kind of guy I would have adored hanging out with in high school. Will Grayson thinks so too, he just doesn't realize it right away.

Will Grayson, Will Grayson (Dutton, 2010) is told in alternating first person point of view by two different boys named Will Grayson. Somehow, Green and Levithan weave their two stories along distant paths until circumstance brings them together. Both Wills end up playing a large part in the life (and in the play about the life) of the larger than life Tiny Cooper.

Tiny Cooper has been Will Grayson's best friend since they were kids. Will knew Tiny was gay long before Tiny told anyone. It was kind of obvious. And even though Will and Tiny drifted apart for a while, they are finding their way back into friendship. Tiny isn't the easiest person to be friends with -- he's loud, over the top about everything, and is known for speaking his mind.

Their friendship is tested as Tiny and Will wade through the dark waters of high school, making their way toward something that promises to be a bright future.

At the same time, the other Will Grayson is struggling to come to terms with his own sexual identity and mental health, the obsessive goth girl next door who wishes she were his girlfriend, an absentee father and an ongoing online crush.

There is a wonderful serendipity when these two teenage boys with nothing more in common than their names meet and end up helping the other figure out a few things about themselves. But of course none of it would have happened without Tiny Cooper.

I strongly recommend the book if only to meet this amazingly drawn character. How these two authors were able to build and sustain his personality in tandem is awe-inspiring.

But I would recommend this book regardless. WGWG is about so much more than what happens in high school, despite what happens in the book. It's the little details and underlying emotions that truly paint the picture of a time in life when every thing you do or say or wear or think can make you either a target for ridicule or akin to a god(dess). When the friends you choose to hang out with can make you or break you.

But as Will so eloquently demonstrates, you really can't pick your friends. Life picks them for you.

With strong language and themes, Will Grayson, Will Grayson is definitely a teen book -- 15 and up. 4 1/2 bookmarks. I recommend the audio book edition -- the two readers (MacLeod Andrews and Nick Podehl) are fantastic.

The Maze Runner and The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

2011-04-30T15:07:00.000-05:00

Many comparisons have been made with James Dashner's Maze Runner Trilogy (Delacorte 2009, 2010) and Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games series but in my opinion, James Dashner shouldn't be anything but flattered.

Yes, both are dystopian tales of young teens thrown into horrible, life-threatening situations that, as a reader, will make your skin crawl and the hair on the back of your neck stand at attention. And yes, they both suck you in from the very first page, grab you by the throat in a strangle hold, refusing to let go until the last cliff-hanging sentence when you finally take a deep gasping breath and wonder how in the world will you ever be able to wait for the next installment.

Yes, fans of one will most likely adore the other.

But as many young readers have discovered, Hunger Games is not just a girl's story. Neither is Maze Runner only for boys. Both are stuffed full of adventure and, yes, violence -- some far too disturbing for sensitive readers -- but Dashner's trilogy has an element of mystery and confusion that takes it in a different direction.

It's difficult not to reveal too much, but Maze Runner has definitely stepped into the void left by the final Hunger Games book, taking readers down a path with twists and turns so unexpected it's truly impossible to predict where this will all end up. Where the Hunger Games' intrigue stems from the relationships between Katniss, Gale and Peeta, and their challenge of surviving in the Games, Dashner has upped that tension by refusing to let his reader know what is actually going on. We don't know who threw these kids into the Glade, who built it, why they built it, or what the Gladers are supposed to do to escape.

Thomas' wiped memory gives us hints along the way, but even by the end of the second book, The Scorch Trials, we really aren't more sure of the answers to these questions. And it just doesn't matter, because the read is so out of control and wild, like riding a roller coaster inside a tornado, no knowing is half the fun. You just have to hang on and trust that in the end you'll roll to the platform in one piece and more enlightened for the experience.

Definitely not for the elementary crowd, The Maze Runner trilogy has put Dashner on the map. No doubt, Hunger Games fans are hoping the third book, The Death Cure (October 2011), wraps things up in a way that will not disappoint. I know I am.

Scumble by Ingrid Law

2011-04-03T13:58:00.000-05:00

Fans of Ingrid Law's Savvy (of which I am one) will enjoy Scumble (Dial, 2010), a companion book and sort-of sequel. It takes place years after Savvy, but follows the coming-of-age of another member of the Savvy "family", 13-year-old Ledger Kale.

With a savvy mother whose words are quite persuasive, and a father who is hoping Ledger's savvy turns him into a competitive runner, Ledge is horrified to learn that his savvy seems to be much less exciting than anticipated. Well, exciting it is, just not in a positive way.

Ledge's savvy is so powerful, things fall to pieces all around him, something he discovers as the family travels to Uncle Autry's farm in Wyoming. Ledge must learn to control, or scumble, his savvy with the help of Mib's big brother Rocket (who has been living on Autry's farm ever since the end of book one, for the same reason), their cousins and Ledge's little sister. At first, this might not be as difficult as Ledge thought, until he meets Sarah Jane Cabot, a girl with a thirst for tabloid news and a nose for the curious -- something there's quite a bit of on Autry's farm.

But when Sarah Jane's father starts foreclosing on properties all over town, and it looks like the farm is next, Ledge realizes sometimes things have to fall apart before they can come together in the right way ... and scumbling his savvy might be the key to saving the family farm.

Written for middle grade readers, (8 and up) Law's books are fantastical, warm and moving -- with an originality that sets her apart and certainly makes her one of my favorite authors.

As You Wish by Jackson Pearce

2011-03-26T16:32:00.000-05:00

I have wanted to read one of Jackson Pearce's books for some time. Between her vlog Watch Me Be and her Twitter feed, the hilarity and outrageousness that is Jackson Pearce the person convinced me that Jackson Pearce the author would be worth checking out. It has taken me four years to finally read one of her books and I honestly don't know what I was waiting for.

Let's just say it should have happened sooner and I hope you will learn from my mistakes that you should NOT put off reading Jackson Pearce for danger of missing out on one of the wittiest most entertaining YA writers to come along since Maureen Johnson and Libba Bray.

As You Wish seems typical on the surface (Ancient genie falls for mortal girl after being earthbound to bestow three wishes upon her) but like Maggie Stiefvater's Mercy Falls series or Cynthia Leitich Smith's Tantalize, Eternal and Blessed, As You Wish is one of those books that both benefits from and is cursed by a little vampire love story by Stephenie Meyer. With a ready-made fan base thirsting for more supernaturally star-crossed lovers, books like these are always in danger of being compared to Twilight. Luckily, like for Stiefvater and Leitich Smith (and others) Pearce's story stands on its own.

Viola is having a rough time being sixteen. Her boyfriend and best friend came out, and in doing so, broke her heart. The experience has left her feeling rather invisible. So she makes a heart-felt wish in Shakespeare class one day and unknowingly summons a jinn who cannot return to the "perfect" world of Caliban until his master has made all three of her wishes. Not one to wish without thinking, Viola takes her time to consider what is worth wishing for and Jinn finds himself in an interesting predicament -- falling for his master. This happens to be a big no-no in Caliban.

Wishing alters Viola's reality (and open her eyes to the true invisibilities in her life), while granting her wishes spawns a battle against the confinements and limitations of Jinn's world (and we're not talking about being stuck in a lamp, although that is a possibility). In the end, the story is a page-turning, fun romantic read that will put Pearce's books, including Sisters Red and its upcoming companion book Sweetly at the top of any teenage reading list. (And mine as well.)

For 15 and up -- 3 bookmarks.

Scarlett Fever by Maureen Johnson

2011-03-05T12:27:00.000-06:00

Scarlett Martin is just your average ordinary 15 year old, who happens to live in a overdue-for-renovation Manhattan hotel which is run by her family. But after her summer adventures working with the actress-turned-agent Mrs. Amberson, and a topsy-turvy romance with Eric, an actor in her brother's theater troupe, Scarlett is headed back to school and determined to mend her broken heart.

Not an easy thing to do when the heart-breaker keeps turning up on her doorstep. Plus, Mrs. Amberson is running Scarlett ragged, her sites set on signing young flavor-of-the-week Chelsea -- whose brother happens to be Scarlett's newest classmate.

How can Scarlett be expected to deal with all this pressure, along with her brother's newfound fame, her older sister's on-again romance with a rich New York socialite, and her little sister's unusually kind and caring behavior (which raises all sorts of red flags Scarlett doesn't have time to investigate)?

Author Maureen Johnson re-captures the fun of Suite Scarlett, (Scholastic, 2008) in this follow up, leaving readers hanging at the end (WARNING, it's a major cliff hanger), with no pub date in sight for the third book. Ms. Johnson is just mean this way, but no doubt the conclusion will be worth the wait. (And that maniacal laughter you hear? That's her. I told you, she's mean! MEAN!)

4 bookmarks. For 12 and up.

Shark vs. Train by Chris Barton (ill. by Tom Lichtenheld)

2011-02-28T20:59:00.000-06:00

Two little boys each grab a toy from a toy chest. One grabs a shark. One a train. In the competitive world of young boys, of course a battle ensues. The question is, who will win? Well, that depends.

And that is the real point behind Shark vs. Train (Little Brown, April 2010), that everybody has an edge somewhere. Shark and train take turns picking the locale of their face-off, then moving on to other comparative situations in which they might best their opponent. But when they come up against challenges that are too much for either champion, what happens then?

Chris Barton has come up with a glorious concept that boys in particular will love and Tom Lichtenheld's illustrations burst with personality and comic genius. The balloon comments and clever asides simply top off the giggle-fest.

Here's hoping this is the beginning of a series of "versus" books -- maybe Alligator vs. Monster truck next? Who knows, but if Barton and Lichtenheld team up to tell the tale, I have no doubt it'll be another hit.

4 1/2 bookmarks.

Monday Is One Day by Arthur A. Levine (Ill. by Julian Hector)

2011-02-20T09:51:00.000-06:00

I had the AMAZING pleasure this past weekend to meet one of the most famous and respected publishers in the children's book industry, Arthur A. Levine -- probably best known as the US publisher of the Harry Potter series.

Levine has recently stepped back into his author shoes with his first book in years, a picture book written for his son Max. Monday Is One Day (Scholastic, April 2011) speaks to both working parents and their children about how hard it is to be apart.

Counting the days in rhyme until the weekend when it's a full day of family time again, the book is illustrated by Julian Hector in vibrant color with, as Mr. Levine put it, "a sweetness" that perfectly compliments the emotion-filled (yet lighthearted) text.

As a working mom myself, I found the book delightful, not just in its depiction of a wide variety of family types but as a fantastic way to make sure children know that they are missed during the work week just as much as they miss their parents. 4 bookmarks (except for my signed copy, which isn't leaving this house!) Pre-order it at the link above.

Lament (The Faerie Queen's Deception) by Maggie Stiefvater

2011-02-05T09:56:00.000-06:00

After I read (and loved) Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater, a dear friend of mine gifted me with Ms. Stiefvater's debut novel, Lament (The Faerie Queen's Deception), which solidified the author as one of my favorites.

The story of Deirdre Monaghan, a sixteen-year old with amazing talents that go beyond her ability to play a mean harp, Lament is another take on star-crossed lovers, but written in a way that goes beyond the typical.

Deirdre regularly performs at weddings and other music events, but performance anxiety is an issue for her. In fact, he tends to get nervous to the point of vomiting before playing for an audience. It's during such an episode before a music competition that she meets Luke Dillon, a gorgeous boy who follows her into the bathroom to hold back her hair while she gets sick.

A sweet thing to do, but eww, not exactly a romantic setting for a first meeting. However, after comforting Deirdre, Luke joins her for an outstanding duet that wows the judges. That performance will change everything, and Deirdre finds herself growing more and more fascinated with this unusual boy.

Luke is just as obsessed with her, but Deirdre begins to suspect the boy may be more than he seems. Strange happenings and otherworldly powers point toward the truth — that Deirdre's life may be in danger and Faeries, ones nothing like Tinkerbell, may be the ones who want her dead.

Written for a teen audience, Lament and its companion book Ballad: A Gathering of Faerie will appeal to fans of Holly Black's Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale and Ironside: A Modern Faery's Tale. Also check out Stiefvater's continuation of the Mercy Falls Series begun in Shiver with Linger (Wolves of Mercy Falls, Book 2) and Forever (Wolves of Mercy Falls, Book 3).

As far as Lament goes, I give it 4 bookmarks, a great read and one that inspires me to keep reading whatever this author has to offer.

Al Roker's latest book club pick... ?

2011-01-31T18:17:00.000-06:00

Yep, Search for WondLa by the amazing Tony DiTerilizzi. Check out the whole story here.

Coming Soon

2011-01-27T06:57:00.001-06:00

Beyonders (A world without heroes) by Brandon Mull comes out in less than 2 months (on March 15). Apparently the cover has a cool 3D effect, too. Can't wait! What books are you looking forward to reading?

Artemis Fowl: The Atlantis Complex

2011-01-24T23:01:00.000-06:00

Say it isn't so. Artemis Fowl, teenage criminal mastermind, has grown a conscience? If committing his entire fortune towards a project that will save the planet from global warming is any indication, it's true. But LEPrecon Captain Holly Short suspects something has infected her young human friend -- the same psychosis that often infects fairies who can't face their own horrible deeds... Atlantis Complex.

Artemis's odd behavior and split personality is only the beginning of Holly's troubles, because someone from her past is trying to destroy the actual underwater city of Atlantis -- and if Artemis can't get his head together, this former foe just might get away with it.

Book 7 continues Eoin Colfer's brilliant series, and while this one may be one of my least favorites of them all, I still enjoyed revisiting Colfer's well-rounded and likable characters. Younger readers may find the storyline complex and difficult to follow at times, but seeing Arty's "good side" is well worth the read.

3 1/2 bookmarks. Still a fan.

A peek at the Wizard World of Harry Potter

2011-01-24T17:22:00.000-06:00

Me and the family toured Universal's Wizarding World last week and thought you all might like a look around ... for Harry Potter fans, it's a must-visit if you can!

Only the Good Spy Young by Ally Carter

2010-11-17T21:09:00.000-06:00

Those daring (and often snarky) Gallagher girls are back in Ally Carter's latest spy school caper, Only the Good Spy Young (Hyperion, 2010).

We catch up with Cammie and her pals in the middle of her junior year at the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women (where exceptional means they go to a boarding school for spies). Double agents abound and Cammie doesn't know who to trust, or what to believe.

Like her Cov-Ops teacher, Mr. Solomon. Or his replacement from MI-6, Mr. Townsend. And then there's that cute boy Zach, her maybe boyfriend who goes to Blackthorne, (the boy equivalent of the Gallagher Academy). Even Cammie's own mother may not be telling her the truth. (But what can you really expect when your mother is a spy, and your school's headmistress?)

Such is the life of a spy, even a 16-year-old one.

Cammie, Bex, Liz and Macey team up to uncover the answers to what's really going on in the world of espionage. What is the Circle of Cavan, and why do they want to kidnap Cammie? However, fans of the series may be disappointed not to find the answers they seek in the pages of the fourth book.

Look at it this way, a good cliffhanger only means another book to come.

4 bookmarks for lots of Gallagher Girl fun.

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly

2010-11-05T13:50:00.000-05:00

Confession time. As a kid, I despised History class. Social studies took a close second to math (which I still can't stand). But something interesting happened when I discovered genealogy. With the help of my mother and aunt, I traced my family tree and history came alive for me. I'd made a connection with the past.

Although I now have a soft spot for history, I don't often choose to read historical fiction. Not sure why. But every once in a while I stumble upon a book that sparks that amazement for the past again. Jacqueline Kelly's debut novel The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate (2009, Henry Holt) is just such a find.

A 2009 Newbery Honor book, Calpurnia's story takes place in a small central Texas town in 1899. Callie is 11, sandwiched between six brothers in a well-to-do family. As the only daughter, it is expected that she will "come out" into society and make her family proud with her sewing, knitting, and cookery.

Callie wants nothing less.

After discovering she has a mutual love for nature and science with her grandfather, a former Civil War captain and naturalist, Callie receives an expanded education including Darwinian ideas not commonly taught in school. But this is a time when women couldn't even cast an official vote. Callie is disheartened by the expectation that she is to grow up into a wife and mother even if what she really wants to be is a scientist. And nobody seems to appreciate the significance of what Callie is learning from her grandfather, not even when they discover what might be an entirely new species of plant.

Written with rich, gorgeous detail and a warm, approachable tone, The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate is a time machine intertwining science with history, and serves as a reminder about how lucky we are to live in the 21st century. It paints a picture of a gentle time when manners and culture were considered more proper than passion as the dawn of a new century ushered in great changes like automobiles, telephones and self-sufficient young ladies who were not just allowed but encouraged to follow their dreams.

For readers 3rd grade and up. Can't wait to see what Kelly tackles next. 5 bookmarks.

The Candymakers by Wendy Mass

2010-10-01T08:52:00.000-05:00

I was lucky enough to receive an Advanced Reader Copy from Little Brown of The Candymakers written by one of my favorite writers (and generally all around wonderful person) Wendy Mass. As I am not the only WM fan in my house the book was immediately commandeered by my 9-year-old son. After devouring it, he returned it with a beaming expression – and a review of high praise. I must agree.

The Candymakers may be one of the author’s finest books for the middle grade reader – infusing the imaginative deliciousness of a Wonka-esque candy factory tour with the rich nougat filling of an engaging mystery — and then swirling the whole thing in delicate spun sugar. Mass uses parallel tellings of the same story as four children compete in a national candy-making competition, each with their own reasons for wanting (or needing) to win it.

As with any Wendy Mass book, the characters are as clever and appealing as their stories. There is Logan (the Candymaker’s son) who has a gift for understanding chocolate; Miles, who seems to be allergic to everything including the color pink; Daisy, the girl with a big smile and unusual abilities; and Philip, the sour-faced and secretive (but well-dressed) bully. The characters’ stories are beautifully interwoven, each playing a part in the overall mystery. To say any more than that would be completely spoilery.

With Halloween just around the corner, this is the perfect time to enter Mass’s scrumptious world where lunch means chocolate pizza and friendship is always sweet.

5 candy corns… I mean, bookmarks.

Happy Birthday Percy Jackson!

2010-08-18T07:24:00.000-05:00

What better day than the birthday of Percy Jackson to post my review (finally) of The Last Olympian (2009, Disney Hyperion). This is one of my favorite kid's series, it ranks right up there with HP, Fablehaven and The Hunger Games as the best in terms of fantasy in my opinion.

They have something else in common, too -- they're all ended (with Mockingjay's release next week at least). I don't know why I put off reading The Last Olympian so long, except to say that maybe I just didn't want to see it end.

Rick Riordan visited my kids' elementary school right around the time Sea of Monsters (book 2) was coming out. He fit right into the "one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet" category and I remember thinking, I hope this guy finds success. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

It wasn't long after that the series took off and shot to the top of the New York Times bestseller list. (See? It pays to be nice to me!)

But I digress. The Last Olympian wraps up Percy's story and all the tension over the prophesy well. We revisit many of the colorful characters from the series as they all band together (with some surprising additions) to defend Olympus from a takeover by Kronos (now in full possession of Luke's physical form).

To say any more would be to give too much away, but it's an exciting, satisfying end to a fantastic series. (In fact, my youngest says this particular book is his favorite of all of them, but I'd lean more towards Titan's Curse.) I'm hoping the film series continues (because now I can't picture anyone but Logan Lerman as Percy and every time Riordan points out Annabeth's blonde hair I think, no, that's not right...)

So despite this review being a long time coming, I'd like to end it by thanking Rick Riordan for a wonderful trip through mythology and for teaching us all something -- not just about the Greek gods but about the importance of standing up for what's right. Oh, and to keep in mind that prophesies aren't always what they seem.

Only 11 more days....

2010-08-13T13:11:00.000-05:00

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

2010-08-05T08:04:00.000-05:00

If you go into Shiver (Scholastic Press, 2009) thinking it's just another Twilight wannabe, you'll be pleasantly surprised. I'd heard there was a lot of buzz about this book upon its release, and now I understand why.

Yes, it's about werewolves. Yes, it's a star-crossed teenage love story full of angst (but not the whiny kind, which was nice). Yes, there is action and a bit of gore, and yes, the story transports you to a world where you believe that being bitten by a wolf could actually transform you into something you weren't before. But in the hands of author Maggie Stiefvater, Shiver absolutely stands on its own.

As a young child, Grace was attacked by wolves and dragged into the forest behind her Minnesota home. Somehow she survived and now, years later, feels a connection with those same wolves — well, one in particular. She sees him only during the winter months, and pines for him until the weather turns cold again.

The autumn Grace is 17 is different. A boy in her school is killed in a wolf attack, but his body disappears from the morgue. His father organizes a hunting party and shoots some of the wolves, and Grace finds a wounded boy with yellow eyes on her back porch. She knows immediately that this is her wolf in human form.

The more Grace learns about Sam and his pack, and how he became what he is, the more she realizes she has a greater connection to the werewolves in her forest than she thought. The ending is somewhat of a cliffhanger, but odds are you'll have already bought the follow-up Linger (Wolves of Mercy Falls, Book 2) by then anyway. 4 bookmarks.

An Eyeball in my Garden (and other spine-tingling poems)

2010-07-30T21:08:00.000-05:00

The weather may be a bit warm to inspire thoughts of Halloween, but turn a few pages of An Eyeball in my Garden (Marshall Cavendish, 2010) and the goose-bumps raised might make you start hearing skittering leaves and a whistling wind knocking at your window pane.

This collection of "spine-tingling" poems (selected and edited by Jennifer Cole Judd and Laura Wynkoop) certainly lives up to its name. Haunting and horrific — with a pinch of tongue-in-cheek tossed into the cauldron for good measure — young readers with a taste for the macabre will enjoy every creepy, crawly page.

While Johan Olander's dark and twisted illustrations may be a bit much for some younger kids, no doubt many will adore his monstrous creations.

Whether it's October, or just any night that you feel like getting your hackles up, take a stroll through the misty graveyard Judd and Wynkoop have created. But don't be surprised if you end up sleeping with at least one extra light on. You've been warned.

Umbrella Summer by Lisa Graff

2010-06-29T21:40:00.000-05:00

I have a love/hate thing with books that deal with the death of a child's sibling/best friend/pet. Even more as a parent. They just make me sad, and even the best resolution doesn't change that the main character has lost someone close to them. I distinctly remember reading Where the Red Fern Grows and sobbing so hard I couldn't catch my breath. But these books often end up being some of my favorites because they of the way they reach right into your heart and attach themselves to your strings.

Such is the case with Umbrella Summer. Annie Richards's older brother Jared is killed when a hockey puck hits him in the chest. Turns out he had a rare heart condition, and now Annie deals with the knowledge that terrible things can happen when you least expect it. She is certain some horrific disease or accident is going to befall her, and she's obsessed with every scratch or bump, taking extraordinary precautions to prevent injury or illness.

Author Lisa Graff (The Thing About Georgie) handles a delicate subject with just the right amount of empathy, as Annie's obsession and grief affects her family and her friendships. Annie's fear is paralyzing -- she refuses to do anything that might be dangerous, and believes every ache and pain is a sign of her impending doom. As her friend tells her, she's no fun anymore. Just careful. Annie, in some respects, is refusing to live. Her parents are doing the same thing, in their own way.

Annie will break your heart as she learns to find her way back to the land of the living. A mysterious new neighbor and a very special book play a big part.

While the resolution doesn't change the fact that someone special has been lost, Umbrella Summer demonstrates that learning to live without those we lose is hard, but living in honor of them is what's important.

Parents should consider reading along and discussing with their kids -- especially if the kids are tender hearted. Appropriate for 9 and up.

Book donation resources around Brooklyn, New York?

2010-06-27T09:16:00.000-05:00

Last week I received the following email:

I have an 11 year old son who loves to read more then anything. He can read 5 to 10 books in a week.

He is home schooled due to a disability. He has a trachea and a feeding tube. He is very suseptable to infections and is not able to attend public school at this time.

He is not able to use the school library due to liability issues and our local libray is small and we are not able to utalize it due to too many doctor appointments for both of us.

I was wondering if there might be any resources that you can provide me that I can tap into so I can get some books for my son to read during the summer months where he will most times be home due to hot and humidity that he is not able to venture out.

I'm hoping a Cool Kids reader may be able to help me get more books into her sons hands.

Is there a resource near Brooklyn that has either donation or borrowing services for children's books? Maybe some sort of "leave a book take a book" kind of thing where books can get recycled and read? I'd love to hear some ideas.

If there are any authors out there who'd like to contribute their own books, please contact me and I'll get the mailing address to you.

Thanks!

Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen

2010-06-21T22:54:00.000-05:00

Ruby hasn't had the best of childhoods. Her dad left when she was young and she barely remembers him. Her mother has slowly fallen apart ever since, crawling ever further into her alcohol bottle. And her sister went off to college leaving her alone with this poor excuse for a mother, never to be heard from again.

With one more year before graduation, Ruby finally sees a future of independence ahead of her. Until her mother disappears and social services picks her up. Now, the sister who abandoned Ruby ten years earlier is taking her in. And everything Ruby thought she knew about her childhood is about to change.

Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen isn't just about abandonment. It's about family and all the various definitions of it. It's about the impact people can have on your life, both positive and negative, and the part you play in allowing either to happen. It's about the struggles of being a teenager, no matter your history.

Appropriate for 13+, Lock and Key gets 3 1/2 bookmarks.

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer

2010-06-11T12:40:00.000-05:00

Sometimes a character will make a brief appearance in a story and disappear. That's what happened with Bree Tanner in Stephenie Meyer's Eclipse, book three of the Twilight saga. Bree's appearance was a way to show us the vulnerability of the newborns, to help us empathize with them despite their horrific and violent ways.

But Bree was more than that to her author. Meyer wanted to dig deeper into the backstory of this young girl and how she ended up in a field with Edward, Bella and their family.

In the Short Second Life of Bree Tanne r, dubbed "an eclipse novella" and weighing in at 178 pages, Meyer explores the days leading up to the battle between the newborns and our friends from Forks and La Push. In true Twilight fashion, her story is gripping and emotional, and had me immersed from the first few pages.

It's been a while since I read the saga, but I was quickly reminded of why I loved these books. Like Anne Rice before her, Stephenie Meyer has a way of capturing the humanness of inhuman creatures and ironically bringing them to life. Even when you know where this story leads, which anyone who has read Eclipse will, it's impossible not to wish things turned out differently for Bree. After the last page, I was compelled to read the companion chapter in Eclipse from Bella's point-of-view -- which was interesting.

At the moment, the entire novella is available online to read for free, but $1 from each hard copy purchase goes to the Red Cross so I encourage you to make your Twilight Saga collection complete by buying one. No doubt sales will go through the roof without my encouragement, as Meyer has another hit on her hands with Bree Tanner.

Heist Society by Ally Carter

2010-06-06T10:13:00.000-05:00

Katarina Bishop wants a normal life. That's because she's grown up assisting her father in some of the world's most famous art thefts. She thinks she's left that life behind after conning her way into an exclusive boarding school. But now, her father's in trouble and Kat must use her unique skills to help him.

Think Gallagher Girls meets Oceans 11, with all the adventure, exotic locations and snark that makes both series so fun.

Carter rounds out Katarina's team with a cast of young thieves, each with their own special skills. She does a great job of giving the criminal elements inherent in story about stealing masterpieces the right amount of altruistic spin necessary, weaving it nicely with a message of family loyalty.

But beyond that, this story is 100% fun and falls into the category of "un-put-downable". Looking forward to Heist Society 2, now in the works. Definitely a new favorite series. 4 1/2 bookmarks.

Fablehaven: Keys to the Demon Prison

2010-05-29T13:25:00.000-05:00

So two of my favorite stories concluded this week. LOST on TV and Fablehaven on the page. I'm still not sure which one I'll miss more, but Fablehaven did a much better job of tying up loose ends.

After reading the final installment in Brandon Mull’s 5-book series, my kids and I reached the final bittersweet chapter and I closed the book with a satisfied nod.

The Fablehaven series was stellar in that each installment was so completely entertaining and captivating on its own, but Keys to the Demon Prison wove all the storylines together into one epic journey. Kendra and Seth Sorenson’s adventure wraps up perfectly and although Mull swears there will not be a Book 6, he does leave the story open for future revisits.

Picking up where Dragon Sanctuary left off, Seth, Kendra and the Knights of Dawn continue their quest to collect the mysterious artifacts before The Sphinx can use them to open the Demon Prison.

This is definitely the most action-packed of the five books, with its intense race around the globe, cool new characters, and final dramatic battle.

As sad as I was to see the series end, the wrap-up was just as wonderful a read as its predecessors. Without a doubt, this is one of my top ten favorite series for kids, and I look forward to Mull’s upcoming The Beyonders with relish.

If there is one message Mull leaves us with, its this: don't be afraid of life's adventure. Go ahead. Drink the milk.

Q&A with Ally Carter

2010-05-22T08:29:00.002-05:00

On a middle school visit yesterday, author Ally Carter took questions from the kids, and she was nice enough to let me share the answers with you.

BTW: For you Cool Kids in the Dallas area, she’ll be signing books at the Barnes & Noble/Southlake tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon
at 2 pm so get on out there!

Name: Ally Carter

Alma Mater: Oklahoma State University, but received her Masters from Cornell. (She was also co-valedictorian of her high school class.)

Fav Football Team: OSU (of course!)

When did you first start writing? She always wrote poems and stories, got really interested in middle school, but it wasn’t until her mid-twenties that she started writing books.

When did you realize you wanted to be a writer? When she read The Outsiders
in junior high. She grew up in Oklahoma near Tulsa, and when she found out that book was written by teenage girl living in Tulsa, she thought, wow that’s what teenage girls from Tulsa do… so she wanted to as well.

What was your favorite book to write? Heist Society: it’s the newest, and therefore the baby of the family, but she says that for an author, every book you write becomes your favorite at the time – besides, writing is always a learning process, you hope that you’re getting better with each book.

What was your first published book? Cheating at Solitaire (in December of 2005), then I’d Tell You I Love You But Then I’d Have To Kill You (in April 2006)

Who is your favorite character in the Gallagher Girls books? Cammie, because she’s the one Ally spends the most time with, but she likes writing them all. She finds it fun to write wacky characters. Tina is fun to write. Ally wouldn’t want to do an entire book about her, but she does like her when she comes around.

Where do you get your inspiration? Different ways: for one book it was while making spaghetti. For the Gallagher Girl series it was while watching the TV Show “Alias”, specifically the flashback episode where we see her sister in the orphanage. Seeing them running around that school in the dead of night made Ally think about a boarding school for spies.

For Heist Society, the idea came to her while she was listening to a book on tape. There was a line in the book “I was like a cat burglar in my own house” and it immediately made her want to write a book about a girl named Cat who was a burglar.

What is your thought/writing process? As she’s writing, Ally thinks of the book like watching a movie in her head. She started off writing screenplays, and learned a lot of things from that process like the technique of storyboarding – she gets a big white board and puts it on the wall, and when she has an idea for a scene or a line, she writes it on a Post It note and sticks it on the wall. Then she can go through and arrange and rearrange, like pieces of a puzzle, switching scenes around, and getting rid of others as she’s rewriting.

How do you come up your titles? The Title Fairy drops them off, ha ha. Ally says they just come to her somehow, and she’s very grateful for that. Some of them are harder than others to come up with, like Heist Society – the title occurred to her early on, and as she was writing the book she always referred to it as “Heist”… she supposes that word was always at the top of the brain, so that is why “Heist” ended up in the title.

As far as the Gallagher Girl titles – Tell You… Kill You, was always there from the beginning. Once that was out, then she knew she had to make the others fit the pattern, so she’d Google idioms and common sayings to find one that made sense for the book. She also says by time you get to the last page of the forthcoming 4th book in the series, Only the Good Spy Young, you’ll see the title makes perfect sense.

Then Ally divulged a bit about the book… it begins where Don’t Judge A Girl By Her Cover left off, with Cammie going on winter break with Bex in London.
(P.S., you can read the first chapter at the end of the paperback edition of Don’t Judge…) She says we find out a lot of information in this book. Although it’s one of the shorter books in the series, a lot happens in it. However, while Cammie does start figuring things out, this book will also raise more questions.

What’s the best/worst thing about being a writer? You get to work in your pajamas. It’s a cool benefit.

Worst part is the pressure – as wonderful a blessing as it is to have a successful series, there’s always people asking ‘when’s the next book coming out?’ You can read them faster than she can write them. And she wishes she could write them just as quickly.

What are you working on now? Heist Society 2.

What book are you most proud of? All of them in different ways, because they all symbolize something different. She was most satisfied with how Heist Society turned out, but Tell You… Kill You was special as it was her first foray into YA. Cross my Heart was hardest to write…

What do you do when you have writer’s block? First she asks herself which type of writer’s block is it? It’s either 1) you just want to lie on the couch and watch TV; you know what’s going on with the book, but don’t feel like writing, and your easily going to get sucked into stuff that has nothing to do with writing. When that happens, you just have to make yourself focus.

But 2) is more dangerous – that’s when you’re going and going every day and it’s like banging your head against wall, nothing seems to be right. You’ve gotten off track. This isn’t something you can write through, you have to write around it. Sometimes you have to take a break, back up and re-examine what you’ve done.

Which book took you the longest to write? Cross my Heart – It took a year and a half—she wrote it 3 different times with 3 different plots. Her deleted scenes file is 800 pages long!

Do you type or write longhand? A combination of the two. She has an Alpha Smart word processor, and all you can do is type on it. She uses this for her rough drafts because without email or the Internet there are fewer distractions and its cheap and light. She can carry it with her without having to worry about dropping it and breaking it. Then she downloads the rough draft to a real computer, because the Alpha Smart has a smaller screen.

Every now and then she’ll use pen and paper. Sometimes just the act of holding a pen fires something in your brain. If she gets stuck, she’ll write longhand sometimes.

Is Cammie going to meet a new boy in Only the Good…? No, but there are new characters.

What advice would you give to someone just starting out who wants to be a writer? Two things: read as much as you can, and write as much as you can. So many times she meets people, and when they find out she’s a writer, they say “I should write a book, I have a great idea.” But when she asks whether they read, they say no. That’s like saying, “I’m going to compete in the Olympics, but I don’t want to work out.”

Ally encouraged the kids to read a lot – not just the books you like to read, but all types of books. If you like Twilight, maybe pick up a high fantasy, mystery, thriller, or some non-fiction – read as widely as you can. You’ll learn something from every single book you read.

Are any of your books going to be made into movies? She can’t say for sure, but Heist Society is “under option” with Warner Brothers. Which means they have the right to think about making it into a movie, but they don’t have to make it if they decide not to. It’s kind of like reserving a senior prom date in your freshman year. The studio is working on a screenplay, and for now, it’s just wait and see. So far they’ve shown a lot of enthusiasm for the project.

Do you get to pick the actors/actresses/can I be in the movie? When you go to film something like this, you lose control of everything. In optioning her book she signed a contract saying they can turn the book into a movie, and they write her a check. This is a good deal, because checks are good, you can cash them and get money, pay the rest, etc.

The bad news is that you’ve relinquished control, so one day they can wake up and say, hey, you know how you have your girl going around the world looking for art, we think she should be looking for golden coins, or elephants because those are big right now… that’s the reason some movies made from books aren’t very good, because so many people have to sign off on a movie. Everybody has an idea and they all think they know better than the author. So you just sign it over with a hope and prayer that they get it. Sometimes they do and sometimes they don’t.

Do you want one of the books to become a movie? Yes, she loves movies and Hollywood, and she would love to go to a premiere, and visit the set, and meet George Clooney and marry George Clooney… She would really like to see Heist Society become a movie because she feels it is the most cinematic of all her books. The conflict in it makes for a better movie. With Heist Society, the conflict is more external, as opposed to being inside Cammie’s head.

What’s the best book you ever read? To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. It is a MUST read.

How do you come up with covers for the books? She has nothing to do with the covers. That’s true for all authors. Publishers have art departments, with art directors and designers. They mock up some ideas, send to the author, and if they don’t like the covers, sometimes it doesn’t matter. Luckily, she’s liked all her covers.

Finally by Wendy Mass

2010-05-15T21:48:00.000-05:00

Fans of 11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass can revisit Leo and Amanda's neighborhood (including some of its more interesting neighbors) in this companion book about one of their classmates.

Rory has been waiting a long time to turn 12, because her parents have said it is at this magical age that she will be old enough to do many of the things she has begged to do for years. In fact, there are so many things that her parents have forbidden until 12 years of age that Rory has quite an extensive list of things she wants to do once the big day finally arrives.

Rory believes that when she's able to do things like stay at home by herself, shave her legs, and get a cell phone, life will be grand and she will obtain a much cooler status in the school hierarchy. As you can imagine, Rory is in for more than one surprise.

Mass taps into tween angst as things don't go quite as Rory planned, but never without a smile to it. Finally touches on such middle-school struggles as navigating the new waters of boy-girl parties to saving face and cliques. And when Rory gets the opportunity to meet the Tiger Beat cover boy she's crushing on, no doubt many a 12-year-old reader will imagine a certain teenage pop star in his place.

As far as continuing the magical "Groundhog's Day" effect of 11 Birthdays, Finally doesn't go quite that far into the mystic, but there certainly are mystical elements at play here. Hopefully a third in the series isn't far behind Mass's upcoming Candymakers, due out this fall. 4 1/2 bookmarks. And be careful what you wish for.

Guest Reviewer: Andrew M, age 9

2010-04-27T14:40:00.006-05:00

To celebrate next week's release of Rick Riordan's new series, here is a review of the Percy Jackson books from Cool Kid Andrew M. Thanks, Andrew!

Rick Riordan brings you into a new world. For many people a educational but very good one. Percy Jackson is a normal 10 year old who finds out he is a demi god son of Posiden. Most people call it epic and it is true. It is many more things... too. Read it to find out!

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

2010-04-18T21:20:00.006-05:00

This year's Newbery Medal winner should finally put to rest whether or not the list only contains lofty books that are, according to one article in the School Library Journal "unreadable".

While many of my favorite books are Newbery Medalists, I have often wondered why it seems Newberys only go to "serious" books about "serious" subjects. Maybe all the discussion about this subject influenced the committee the last few years. Last year's The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman certainly wasn't a typical Newbery winner. And When You Reach Me (Wendy Lamb Books, 2009) doesn't quite fit the mold either.

I'm glad on both counts.

Stead's book released last summer to rave reviews from critics and bloggers alike. A complex mystery that takes place in 1979 New York City, it tells the story of 12-year-old Miranda who starts receiving strange, anonymous letters that successfully predict future events, and also warn about a tragedy on the horizon.

Stead portrays the last 70s perfectly, complete with Miranda's mother prepping for an appearance on The $10,000 Pyramid (a popular game show of the day for you younger readers). Miranda carries around a well-worn copy of Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle In Time, the plot of which plays its own role in the mystery that has become Miranda's life.

Far from "unreadable", I found When You Reach Me more like un-put-downable, and salute the Newbery committee on yet another well-deserved winner.

Appropriate for readers 9 and up. 4 1/2 bookmarks.

If You Hold My Hand by Jillian Harker (ill. by Andy Everitt-Stewart)

2010-04-08T21:01:00.004-05:00

(Reviewed by guest blogger Ben S., age 8)

If You Hold My Hand is written by Jillian Harker and illustrated by Andy Everitt-Stewart. It is a great kids book from ages 0 - 6 and I willingly would read it every night.

P.S. The main character is Oakey and is lives in "Rose Cottage".

Harry Potter: books vs. films

2010-03-27T09:26:00.002-05:00

Okay, CKR readers, I want to know: how were you introduced to the world of Harry Potter? Were you a reader first? Or did you see the movies? Scholastic has a commercial to introduce new readers to the book series (see below). What do you think?

Guest Reviewer: Leilani V., age 7

2010-03-24T20:15:00.005-05:00

The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

I really recommend this book for other kids because it really takes you into Narnia with Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy! This book also brings you with Mrs. beaver, Mr. beaver, Susan, Peter and Lucy to meet Aslan! And it makes you feel like you are hearing the new's that Aslan is in Narnia! And there are a few scary parts! But after you have read a bit of the book you know that everything is going to be OK!

-- Leilani V., age 7

Chains and Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

2010-03-02T08:22:00.011-06:00

How I have never read a Laurie Halse Anderson book before is beyond me. There are just too many good YA authors out there and not enough time to read ‘em all.

These last few weeks, I discovered that LHA is one of those rare authors who transcends the genre pigeon hole, dipping her pen into both YA and historical children’s fiction.
Example #1: Chains (S&S Children's, 2008), an amazing glimpse into the lives of slave children around the time of the Revolutionary War.

The research required to bring a story like this to life is mind-boggling. Anderson tells the story of Isabel and Ruth, two sisters sold to a cruel, wealthy Loyalist couple in New York City during the American Revolution. The history of America’s fight for freedom is a disturbing yet intriguing backdrop for Isabel’s determined fight for her own freedom. The characters are heartbreaking and real, the setting beautifully set.
For readers 6th grade and up, Chains delivers a historic lesson on many levels.

Example #2: the flip side is Wintergirls (Penguin Books for Young Readers, 2009) – an even more intense story, dealing with eating disorders.

18-year-old Lia and her best friend Cassie have had a falling out, but when Cassie turns up dead and alone in a hotel room, Lia fears she knows why. But what she believes is only a tip of the iceberg.

The first-person narrative makes this poignant and sometimes unbelievable story wickedly sharp. As a parent, it’s terrifying to observe how easily the eating disorder can take root in a young girl, and the parallel lines of need: for acceptance and to be the thinnest possible. I wonder what teenage girls think on reading this… for those who are living with eating disorders, I would imagine this would be a tough (but hopefully inspiring) read.

Lia’s obsession with numbers (from the calories in each food item to the numbers on the scale), and poetic description of her inner turmoil are gruesome. She struggles to come to terms with the ghost of Cassie, her guilt and the part she plays in the drama, and her relationships with her family.

Definitely more of a teen book, Wintergirls is a peek behind the curtain of an issue that probably doesn’t get enough of a hard look, and that parents of many teenagers sadly are in denial about.

Both books earn 4 bookmarks on my scale, and put Ms. Anderson on my list of authors to continue reading. Fever 1793, Speak, and Twisted are now in my “to be read” pile.

Have you read either of these books? I’d love for you to weigh in on how you felt after reading about these emotional yet very different stories.

The Lawnboy by Gary Paulsen

2010-02-24T17:10:00.005-06:00

If you've read "Hatchet" the classic Gary Paulsen book (and if you've been in sixth grade in the last decade or so, you probably have) then you might be surprised by Lawn Boy (Wendy Lamb Books, 2007). It's nothing like the survivalist tale that won Paulsen a Newbery Honor 22 years ago.

It's a simple book trying to tell a complex financial story, and it does a pretty good job. A 12-year old boy gets a ride-on lawn mower for his birthday. Through happenstance, he ends up spending the summer mowing lawns, and due to some neighborhood politics, quickly grows his business to a staggering level, makes tons of money, and learns about the beauty of a stock split.

This quick, under 100-page story gives kids a high-level idea of business (glossing over things like taxes and undocumented workers), but also has a bit of a dark side when a competitor wants to strong-arm the narrator out of his territory only to be thwarted by a professional boxer with a soft spot for his sponsor.

This leads to some fight scenes in the last sections of the book (some presented in a slapstick manner, some not) that raises the reading level for me a bit (School Library Journal lists it as Grades 4-7 which is a rather wide range if you ask me).

That said, it's an entertaining look at how a little money can make a lot of money if you know what you're doing... or if you can partner with someone who does. 3 bookmarks.

The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo

2010-02-08T14:25:00.004-06:00

Kate DiCamillo tells stories in such a timeless, original way it's almost as if she writes from another time period. Her latest book The Magician's Elephant (Candlewick, 2009) is no exception.

With more of a Journey of Edward Tulane feel than The Tale of Desperaux (two of her previous books), The Magician's Elephant is a tale of hope, love and magic. Peter Duchene lives a miserable life with his guardian, Vilna Lutz. His father died on the battlefield, his mother in childbirth delivering Peter's sister -- who was stillborn according to Lutz. But Peter has never really believed this, due to a fleeting memory of holding his infant sister before his mother died.

A fortuneteller confirms that his sister is indeed alive -- and that an elephant of all things will lead him to her. So when a magician performing at the town's opera house that very evening accidentally magics an elephant into existence (it falls through the ceiling) Peter knows this is the sign he's been waiting for.

DiCamillo tells Peter's story with such tenderness that you can't help but love him and want his dreams to come true. Yoko Tanaka's illustrations are the perfect compliment, not too sweet but touching -- just like the story.

Heavy emotional moments may be too much for the under-kinder set, or the sensitive early elementary reader. But for DiCamillo fans, this will be another favorite in a long list of modern-day fairy tales! 4 bookmarks.

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

2010-01-29T22:50:00.009-06:00

I'm not the only one. When I turn the last page of a totally amazing book (Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games for instance) and cement my fan-hood by immediately pining for THE SEQUEL, there are certain expectations that set in.

Sad to say, it is a rare instance that the follow ups hold a candle to the original. I must admit, I felt this way about Trenton Lee Stewart's continuation of The Mysterious Benedict Society. The first was just SO good that it was going to be a tough thing to blow me away again.

Not so with Catching Fire. I'm going to go out on a limb here, and say that this may be the best sequel I've ever read, any genre. Collins find a simply brilliant way to continue the story of Katniss, Gayle, and Peeta, and their involvement with the horrible Panem Capitol tradition of The Hunger Games. It's difficult to explain why it's so brilliant without giving away the storyline, and it's just too fun a read to deprive anyone of the glorious twists and turns of Book 2.

All I can say is if you're a fan of The Hunger Games, it's a must-read. If you haven't read The Hunger Games, maybe I can convince you to read both books with this review -- they go so far beyond their setting and genre to deliver a (often) disturbing message on the human condition. But they are also incredibly entertaining page-turners that will make you forgo your bedtime night after night.

Again, I would recommend this series for 14 and up, it's quite violent and while the love triangle element remains fairly innocent, there are situations that may be too adult for tweens.

The only negative is that Book 2 is a cliff-hanger that will leave you unable to believe you'll have to wait until August to find out what happens next. Consider yourself warned.

5 bookmarks. Yeowza.

Classic Review -- From The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg

2010-01-04T17:43:00.015-06:00

So I actually finished writing this review last week -- the first version of it at least. But when I hit publish, lovely Blogger decided to kick me off and subsequently lose my post.

WHHHAAAATTTT?????? (Needless to say, I wasn't happy.)

So it's taken me a few days to re-approach CKR and try to re-create what I'd already written. (I HATE IT WHEN THAT HAPPENS.)

But anyway, here goes:

If I had made a top 10 list of all-time favorite books as an elementary school kid, E.L. Konigsburg's From The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler would rank in the All-Time Top 5, along with Harriet the Spy and Little Women.

Written in 1967, Frankweiler won the 1968 Newbery and made its author E.L. Konigsburg the only author to have a winning book AND an Newbery Honor book (Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley, and Me, Elizabeth) in the same year -- a title no one has stolen from her as of this writing.

I've been wanting to read this with my kids for some time, but whether it was because they knew it was an "old" book or whether the cover/concept/title just didn't grab them, I'm not sure. Sometimes I wonder if that beautiful gold Newbery sticker acts more like a stop sign for younger readers (alarm! alarm! important book alert! morals to be discussed! heavy emotions involved! Bail Bail Bail!)

But I finally talked my 2nd grader into giving it a try (as in: let's read one chapter and if you don't like it we don't have to continue.) That's all it took.

Claudia, an 11 year old from Greenwich, Connecticut, decides she's going to run away from home (due to being taken for granted by her parents and that she's sick of being the responsible eldest sister) but because Claudia doesn't like the idea of running AWAY from anything, she decides it's important to run TO something: specifically New York City. She decides to take her younger brother Jamie as a partner, because he knows how to save his money, and that they will hide out in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Like I did years ago, both my kids thought it was way cool to spend the night in a museum locked in with all the antiquities and having free reign to step behind the velvet ropes. While everything doesn't come to life after hours in this museum, there is plenty of adventure for Claudia and Jamie as they have to figure out how not to get caught by the guards and then as they discover the mystery of the angel statue -- could it really be a Michelangelo? And could they have figured out a way to prove it to the museum curators?

In trying to figure out how to pass on their discovery (1967 was long before cell phones, email and the Internet) without giving themselves away, the children cross paths with the extremely rich and eccentric Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, who has collecting stories down to a science, and stores them away in a series of metal filing cabinets. (This is my favorite point in the book, not just because of how things play out but because I think once her character comes out of narrating, it truly shines. She's what my grandmother would call "a hoot".)

While Claudia and Jamie's parents are frantically looking for them, there really is no sense of the danger inherent in this business of running away. Perhaps this is because the book was written before the 1970's onslaught of After School Specials, but as a parent, it wasn't a happy thought thinking about my kids (about the same age as Claudia and Jamie) wandering NYC alone with less than $50.

The cost of living issue should spark some interesting discussion with your kids about how much stuff cost then vs. now. Be sure to talk about how the kids research Michelangelo by using (gasp) a card catalog and a library instead of Google.

We read the 35th anniversary edition which has a fantastic forward by the author (which comes afterward, incidentally). She discusses the differences between 1967 New York City and the big apple today. She touches on the kind of city it was then, before the World Trade Center was even built, compared to today's post-911 skyline. And she includes an eyebrow-raising story of life-imitating-art involving an angelic statue discovered in a building very near the museum itself.

All in all, it was everything I remembered. The kids loved it (even the jaded 11-yr-old who had recently returned from his own first venture to NYC) and I'm hoping that the next time I suggest a book from my list of childhood favorites, they won't balk as much... whether it has a Newbery sticker on the cover or not.

5 bookmarks (aka, wish I had a first edition signed copy...)

New stuff for the new year!

2009-12-27T08:32:00.004-06:00

Book release alert: Frank L. Cole's new Hashbrown Winters book (Hashbrown and the Mashimoto Madness) is available as of today -- ask for it at your local Barnes and Noble!

And check back soon for the premier episode of the Cool Kids Read podcast featuring an interview with Going Bovine and Gemma Doyle trilogy author Libba Bray!

Another reason to love Brandon Mull

2009-12-12T20:49:00.002-06:00

It looks like Channel 11 pulled the video story down, but I found this from his local Utah station. The boy is from Keller, not too far from me, and is a huge Fablehaven fan. He suffers from Cystic Fibrosis and may not live long enough to see the final book published. Brandon made a call to his hospital room to fill him in on some of the details.

Latest Trailer for Percy Jackson and the LIghtning Thief

2009-12-05T08:32:00.001-06:00

Saw New Moon last night (finally!) and caught the new trailer for Percy Jackson. If you haven't seen it, here it is:

Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott

2009-11-23T17:04:00.003-06:00

This is one of the most disturbing books I've ever encountered. There have been a few of these reads here over the past year: from Jay Asher's 13 Reasons Why to Sang Pak's Wait Until Twilight. But Living Dead Girl (2008, Simon Pulse) by Elizabeth Scott literally made my stomach hurt for the full week it took for me to make it through the audio book edition -- you could say it's the perfect book for future Jodi Piccoult fans.

Like those other books, I struggled to see it through the eyes of its intended audience and not an adult and mother. Listed for ages 16 and up (most definitely not for a younger reader), Living Dead Girl is the story of 15-year-old Alice (not her real name) who has spent the past five years enslaved by her kidnapper Ray.

To say the man has issues doesn't even scrape the surface on the extent of the abuse he puts poor Alice through. And she isn't the first to experience Ray's unique brand of "love". Ray killed the first Alice because she was no longer a little girl. Now, as our narrator is nearing the same precipice of development, Ray enlists her help finding a new little girl to take her place.

Told in haunting first person present, Living Dead Girl numbly recounts the events of Alice's last five years. Her fear/hope of what is about to happen is mesmerizing. Scott does an amazing job of retaining the gritty realism of Alice's horrific experience without graphic details. Like a Hitchcock film, it's what isn't seen (or said) that horrifies. Making it all the more horrifying.

Readers (myself included) may not be thrilled with how Scott saves Alice from her living death, but will probably be forced to admit it was destined to play out that way.

As a piece of writing, it is stellar. Scott completely captures the blank numbness of emotional resolution that must accompany such a situation. As a reading selection, I can only imagine it would cause young girls to realize in great clarity the consequences of a single careless decision or misplaced trust.

Beyond that, though, is the underlying message that so many adults who had a chance to help Alice chose not to see the truth before their eyes. Even the ones who asked questions and plainly knew something was not right with this girl, didn't do what it took to save her. And in the end, Alice has to save herself in the only way she knows how.

Living Dead Girl is a powerful book that will make you think (about things you don't want to think about). 4 1/2 bookmarks.

Going Bovine by Libba Bray (YA)

2009-11-18T14:51:00.009-06:00

If you like your quest adventures filled with existentialism and satire, Going Bovine (2009, Random House Children's Books) by the most-awesome Libba Bray will rock your world.

This is one. trippy. book.

Gemma Doyle fans take note: we are not in Victorian England anymore. Not one spec of lace to be found -- although there are plenty of feathers.

Eoin Colfer has (I hear) done a smashing job of continuing Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide, but Bray could easily pinch hit. Her dry wit and sarcasm are perfectly channeled through her teenage hero, 16-year-old Cameron.

Poor Cameron. He's not doing so well in school, he's not popular like his twin sister, he cuts class and hangs out in the bathroom with the pot-smokers... and then strange things start happening. Turns out, Cameron has Mad Cow disease, and before he knows it, he's in the hospital.

From there, things get stranger... Cameron's friend from school, a dwarf named Gonzo, ends up in the same hospital room. Encouraged by the vision of a fishnet stocking-wearing angel named Dulcie, they take off on a Don Quixote-like quest to find the mysterious Dr. X who might be able to cure Cameron and stop the dark forces he allowed to enter the world from destroying it. (pant pant)

There truly has never been a road trip like this one. Racing the clock to find Dr. X before the sand runs out of Cameron's hourglass, they "follow the feather" from Texas to New Orleans to Spring Break in Florida to Disney World, battling dark forces with the help of a dead jazz musician, a yard gnome/Viking and the world's most beloved (and mysteriously missing) rock band. And the thread running through it all: is this really happening? Or is Cameron's Mad Cow-infected brain creating this as it turns to mush?

Did I mention this is One. Trippy. Book?

Bray slices the teenage world wide open and hangs it all out there for examination. Each stop along the way presents Cameron with temptations that may or may not be positive one, painting an absurd world in which teenagers must learn to choose which is which. As in any good satire, it's often too close to the truth. Whether in the form of a smiling cult of do-gooders or the latest MTV generation of reality-show wanna be's, every encounter is an opportunity for Bray to make a statement. Luckily, she does it in her own subtle way, staying just this side of preachy.

Cameron's metamorphosis in character is extensive. You're not going to like him much in the beginning, but stick with the kid because he'll grow on you. Dulcie remains an enigma, with good reason I suppose, but I would have liked more of her character. Gonzo and the Viking god Balder (who is trapped in the form of a yard gnome) are the most interesting characters and play their parts well as Cameron's loyal buds.

I go back and forth about how I feel about the ending, and I won't say more here because it's impossible to do so without spoilers. But I have no doubt Cameron's fate is, and will continue to be, the subject of much debate for readers.

While the dust jacket says 14 and up, I have to play conservative on this one and recommend it more for someone old enough to drive due to R-rated language and more than a few scenes of mature subject matter. That said, high school readers (especially those who have studied Don Quixote) will soak up this mind-spinning journey. 4 bookmarks.

What does it mean to be Global? by Rana DiOrio with illustrations by Chris Hill

2009-11-15T14:45:00.004-06:00

Toddlers hear the adults around them use the words "green", "recycle" and "global", and if questions have come up around your house about these ideas, turn to Little Pickle Press to help make these big concepts more accessible to young ones. Specifically, What Does It Mean To Be Global?, written by Rana DiOrio, gives parents a springboard for discussing what it means to think "outside the neighborhood."

DiOrio doesn't try to hide the fact that she's written a teaching book, but makes sure to serve up that initial question complete with silly answers that will immediately engage young readers. With light-hearted illustrations by Chris Hill, "Global" encourages children to not only explore the world's various cultures, religions, languages, and traditions but to be respectful of them and hold them in as high regard as they would their own.

Practicing what they preach, Little Pickle Press not only prints on recycled paper with soy inks, and ships green (selling direct), but they also donate 10% of all book purchases to "non-profit partners dedicated to helping children in great need". What Does it Mean to be Global benefits Starlight Children's Foundation (starlight.org).

Other titles including What Does it Mean to be Green? and What Does it Meant to be Present? Learn more about Little Pickle Press (and watch a cute video of "Global") here.

With the holidays coming up, I always encourage the giving of books, and these titles would make wonderful gifts -- and have the look and feel of a much bigger press. I was very impressed with these books and the publishing company in general. 4 bookmarks -- check them out.

Stephenie Meyer on Oprah tomorrow!

2009-11-12T20:19:00.005-06:00

Twilight fans, set your Tivo's. Stephenie Meyer will be on the Oprah show tomorrow, November 13th, for a rare interview.

This is the only interview she's doing to promote New Moon, so why not do it with the Queen of all Media? Check out Stephenie's blog for the whole scoop and here for local listings to make sure you don't miss it!

Colonel Trash Truck by Kathleen Crawley (illustrated by Manuel Conde)

2009-11-08T09:17:00.006-06:00

Teaching children the importance of keeping a clean and green planet Earth, Colonel Trash Truck (2009, Big Tent Books) is a rhyming picture book that will appeal to the pre-school set.

Adults might notice the slight resemblance to Hogan's Heroes Colonel Klink (complete with monocle) but this Colonel is bent on making the world a better place.

Some of Crawley's rhymes feel forced, but kids will enjoy it when she eventually sinks to the gutter (so to speak) to talk about "doo doo" and nose-picking. This trash truck wants kids to keep their personal world clean as well -- although he doesn't tell them to throw away their tissues after using them, something MY kids could use a reminder about, frankly.

Conde's illustrations are bright and simple, and the Colonel's smiling face is friendly and appealing.

All in all, the book's aim to teach kids to be more green is one to be commended. Worth checking out to introduce your truck-loving pre-schooler to concepts of recycling and waste management. 3 bookmarks.

Another Cover Release -- Rick Riordan's new series

2009-11-01T21:47:00.002-06:00

It's been a weekend for glimpses at new covers and here's another one (note that it's "not final") -- the new series from Rick Riordan. For all you Percy Jackson fans who have been waiting for Mr. Riordan to pen another series, here's something to look forward to.

Barnes and Noble already has it for pre-order, but it doesn't come out until May.

Fablehaven: Keys to the Demon Prison revealed!

2009-10-31T07:51:00.003-05:00

Brandon Mull hosted a fantastic live chat last night and revealed this mind-blowing cover to the final Fablehaven book.... look for it on the shelves next year!

First look at the new Fablehaven book this Friday

2009-10-27T15:43:00.002-05:00

Brandon Mull posted this for his fans on Facebook today so I thought I'd post it here as well. Make note of the date for THIS FRIDAY for a Live Chat with the author and a reveal of the cover of the last Fablehaven book!

One of the most exciting parts of preparing my books for publication is seeing the new cover. I've been getting questions for about a year concerning what color the final book in the Fablehaven series will be, and what image it will depict. For much of the past year, I've also been asking those questions myself.

Brandon Dorman has illustrated all of my books so far, including my latest release, our picture book PINGO.I’m always excited to see what images he will create. He’s so talented that he seems to always exceed my expectations, but I think he saved the best for last. I got to help plan the cover for Fablehaven 5, but still the image he created blew me away. I think it visually helps reflect the content of the book, which contains the most action and adventure of any story I have written so far.

I will be conducting a live Q&A online this Friday, October 30th, at 6 p.m. Mountain Standard Time.

During the live Q&A I will be revealing the new cover for Fablehaven 5, as well as answering questions about my books, my future plans, and of course the upcoming finale of the Fablehaven series. If you have the evening open, be sure to drop by and shoot me a few questions.

Please join me this Friday. You can watch it athttp://www.ustream.tv/channel/fablehaven or athttp://www.fablehaven.com/ustream

The broadcast will be through the web site Ustream.com. If you have a Ustream account (totally free to create) you can ask questions live. Otherwise, email me questions at brandon@fablehaven.com and tune in Friday at 6 p.m. MST.

Thanks a lot,
Brandon

Don't Judge A Girl by Her Cover by Ally Carter

2009-10-24T14:02:00.004-05:00

I am a big fan of The Gallagher Girls series. Equal parts teen romance and adventure story, the first two books by Ally Carter — I'd Tell You I Love You But Then I'd Have to Kill You (Hyperion, 2006) and Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy (Hyperion, 2007) — were highly entertaining reads, ones I recommend for readers 10 and up.

Book #3 in the series — Don't Judge A Girl by Her Cover (Hyperion, 2009) — is unfortunately my least favorite of the three. Cammie Morgan (aka The Cameleon) and her entourage of Gallagher Academy girls are about to enter their junior year at the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women — a super secret training school for young female spies.

Their newest BFF, Macey McHenry, has spent the summer on the campaign trail with her father who is running for vice president of the United States. To wrap up summer break, Cammie joins her friend in Boston, where, a kidnapping attempt puts their training to a life and death test.

Back at school, with Secret Service hovering around Macey 24/7 and a personal body guard in the form of Cammie's aunt Abby, the girls' cov-ops lessons start hitting a little too close to home.

As the mysteries pile up around her, Cammie uncovers secrets about her family and her school, and the boy she's crushing on... all leading up to a cliffhanger ending that will have fans marking their calendars for book #4.

While I wasn't as swept up in this story as I was in the previous books, Carter does a good job of continuing the arc, feeding us hints about Zach, Mr. Solomon and even Cammie's father that make us wonder.

As Cammie often says, Gallagher Girls know that nothing is ever as it appears. But it's quite clear that Cammie's story is certain to have more twists and turns to come.

3 1/2 bookmarks.

Picture Book Flashback: Cook-A-Doodle-Doo! by Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel

2009-10-21T21:22:00.005-05:00

Budding chefs (or anyone with a sweet tooth) will eat up this delicious picture book from illustration/author team and sisters Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel (1999, Harcourt Brace & Company).

Okay, no more foodie words, but kids interested in concocting things in the kitchen will truly enjoy this retelling of the Little Red Hen.

Great, grandson of the hen mentioned above, Rooster is sick of chicken feed. He wants to make something yummy, and he's got his Great-Granny's cookbook to help him do it. Of course, Dog, Cat and Goose refuse to help, but luckily, Rooster has Turtle, Iguana and Pig. Now what child wouldn't want those three to help out in the kitchen?

The book takes readers through the process of preparing a strawberry shortcake in a very sweet (sorry, I did it again) and informative way, with interesting sidebars with cooking tips and culinary education. Repetition and engaging banter make for a fun out-loud read. And if the story inspires your little Rachel Ray or Gordon Ramsey, the sisters have included the recipe on the final page.

A classic Texas Bluebonnet award winner, COOK-a-Doodle-Doo gets 4 1/2 bookmarks. Yum.

Fablehaven The Movie -- casting rumors.

2009-10-19T11:57:00.005-05:00

Apparently there are some rumors flying about some sort of casting call in Salt Lake City for a Fablehaven movie. Wanting to find out the truth, I went straight to the source: Brandon Mull himself. Here was his response:

"No casting news yet. There is still no production schedule for Fablehaven. They are still rewriting the screenplay. I'll definitely post about it on my websites and my Facebook if such info ever becomes available.

So the rumor was false!

But Fablehaven 5 will be out March 23, and I'm thrilled with how it turned out. I believe it will take readers on the best ride yet!"

I know I, for one, was disappointed to hear we are still so far away from what will no doubt be an EXCELLENT film.

On a positive note, March 23rd is only months away, so put the release date on your calendar and start re-reading the first four books NOW in preparation!!

The Demon King out tomorrow!

2009-10-05T08:14:00.003-05:00

Fans of the Warrior/Wizard/Dragon Heir trilogy take note! Cinda Williams Chima has a new series and the first book hits bookshelves tomorrow so hop on out and pick one up! I'm reading it now so keep an eye out for a CKR review in the near future.

The Sorceress by Michael Scott

2009-09-26T14:19:00.006-05:00

Ah, Michael Scott. He's done it again. The "Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel" series of books gets better with each installment. Topping The Alchemyst (2007, Random House/Doubleday) wasn't easy, but he did it with last year's The Magician and followed it with this May's The Sorceress (Random House). I'm a huge fan of this series and highly recommend it to readers 10 and up.

Once again, Scott draws on his vast knowledge of folklore, legend and myth (particularly Celtic) as he continues to expand this story of Nicholas and Parenelle Flamel, the immortal couple charged with protecting the codex of Abraham the Mage, and seekers of the twins of legend.

Picking up where The Magician left off, Nicholas must flee Paris with the twins Sophie and Josh after the destruction of his beloved city by John Dee and Machiavelli. The dark elders have the codex, all but the last few pages, but those pages aren't enough to keep the Flamels from aging. Parenelle is trapped on Alcatraz, Scatty is missing and the sword Josh carries, Clarent (twin sword to Excalibur), is having an odd effect on Josh.

Speaking of the twins, they've both been awakened and need to learn more of the elemental magics and Nicholas must find an elder to teach them before Dee catches up with them again.

Scott weaves well-known characters into this tale such as Shakespeare, Billy the Kid, Gilgamesh and King Arthur, as well as an intense race to Stonehenge and a horrifying twist for two characters that will be tricky to undo.

With three books left in the series (The Necromancer is due out in May of 2010, followed by The Warlock and The Enchantress), there's lots of time to do so, and readers have lots of adventure and fantasy to look forward to.

An enthusiastic 4 1/2 bookmarks.

Great Interview with Wendy Mass on Cynsations

2009-09-15T14:06:00.001-05:00

Wanted to share a link to a great interview with one of my favorite authors, Wendy Mass. Enjoy!

Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed by Mo Willems

2009-09-13T14:10:00.004-05:00

The great author/illustrator Mo Willems knows how to engage his readers. Who doesn't love listening to the Pidgeon proclaim why he should drive the bus, or why he needs a puppy? Who can resist the appeal of the Knuffle Bunny?

Naked Mole Rat may be one of my favorite MW characters. In Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed (Hyperion Book for Children, Jan 2009), Wilbur is the naked mole rat who loves wearing clothes. Unfortunately, this makes him an outcast among the mole rats who are naked. Ew and yuck, they say.

But Wilbur knows that putting on different kinds of clothes allows him to done different personas: fancy, funny, cool... or even an astronaut. But Wilbur's sarcastic brethren won't let it go, and take the problem to the Grand-Pah, the oldest, greatest and most naked mole rat ever.

This divine picture book will have Mo Willems fans laughing out loud at the perils of Wilbur as he strives to proclaim his individuality. They might even learn a lesson about trying new things.

Just right for a k-3 reading level, and the perfect read-to book for the pre-k set, Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed joins my Willems' bookshelf of stellar picture books. 4 bookmarks!

The Adventures of Hashbrown Winters by Frank L. Cole

2009-09-04T11:55:00.005-05:00

Things are kind of odd at Pordunce Elementary. A sixth grader runs a protection racket out of the teacher's lounge. The Oracle, a kid who's been stuck in a locker for seven years, shells out advice for Rip Strapinkski baseball cards. Just about all the kids have earned themselves a nickname that defines their personality. (And when that includes kids named Whiz, Bubblegum and Hambone, you know you're in for something a bit off the wall.)

Off the wall is what Frank L. Cole delivers in his debut middle grade novel The Adventures of Hashbrown Winters (2009, Bonneville Books). Hashbrown narrates his tale in a tone that lands somewhere between Ralphie Parker in A Christmas Story and Sean Astin's Mikey in The Goonies. I also felt the influence of The Sandlot in there somewhere, with a sense of marble-clacking nostalgia that rings true despite the wacky story line.

The cast of characters, led by 5th grader Hashbrown Winters (who earned his moniker by winning a hashbrown-eating contest), are as quirky, odd, and likable, as their school. The adventures begin when Winters accidentally squishes the pet cockroach of Hambone, the school bully. Not just any cockroach, mind you, one named Phil.

While Phil miraculously survives, Hashbrown now has a price on his head. Will his prized marble Ball Basher be enough to get him out of this "raspberry jam" or will something greater save the day?

I have no doubt that this book will appeal to third - sixth grade readers, and boys in particular (especially considering how Snow Cone got his name... ewwwww). The story is filled with zingers that will make kids and their parents alike laugh out loud, and just when you think it's all just too much, more hilarity ensues.

I hear a second adventure is in the works, so get on the Hashbrown bandwagon early because this one has cult classic all over it. A solid 4 bookmarks on the Coolness meter. And remember, if you ever visit Pordunce Elementary, stay out of the sandbox.

Libba Bray sings Prince in a cow suit. (Would I joke about something like that?)

2009-08-26T20:28:00.004-05:00

Fans of Libba Bray (A Great and Terrible Beauty, Rebel Angels, The Sweet Far Thing) have been anxiously awaiting her next book which is mere weeks away from hitting the shelves.

To celebrate the upcoming release of the Publishers Weekly red-starred Going Bovine (Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 2009), the ever-hilarious Ms. Bray has taken cow videos to the next level. I laughed, I cried, I stood up and mooed... It was MUCH better than CATS.

Enjoy "Between the Covers" starring Libba Bray. And look for an upcoming review of Going Bovine. I can't WAIT to read it.

The Thing About Georgie by Lisa Graff

2009-08-09T10:02:00.006-05:00

The thing about 9 year old Georgie is... he's a dwarf. But as the narrator of this story will tell you, that doesn't mean he's small in things like personality, talent and smarts. In fact, kids will quickly learn that the main thing about Georgie is that he's a lot like them.

For instance, Georgie is coming to terms with the fact that he's going to be a big brother. He's been the center of his parents world, and, on top of that, he's worried that it won't be long before his "little" sibling will be taller than him. On top of everything, he's had a falling out with his best friend, Andy... and the incredibly infuriating Jeanie the Meanie won't leave him alone.

This is a wonderful story that gives kids a glimpse into the world of a child who they may consider "different". Every kid wants to fit in, but for Georgie it goes beyond that. He has to adapt to a world made for taller people while he's trying to fit in, and his story is a nice lesson about walking in someone else's shoes.

What I really like about Graff's writing style is that the narrator's voice is very conversational and approachable, making the reader empathize with Georgie without being preachy. A surprise reveal to the narrator's identity at the end brings a smile.

Overall, kids will find themselves relating to someone they might not have thought they could relate to. Kids 9 to 12 will enjoy reading Georgie's story although I thoroughly enjoyed it as well. 4 bookmarks!

Graff's newest book, Umbrella Summer, is also in bookstores now. I'll definitely be adding it to be "to be read" list. Hope you will, too.

Final Fablehaven book release date announced!

2009-08-06T09:06:00.002-05:00

Brandon Mull posted on Facebook last night that Fablehaven 5 (Keys to the Demon Prison) will go on sale March 23, 2010.

Start counting down now!!

Also, his first picture book for younger readers is out: Pingo. Perfect for little brothers and sisters of Fablehaven fans.

YA/Teen Review: Wait Until Twilight by Sang Pak

2009-08-01T21:45:00.007-05:00

If you read this blog often you'll know that I mostly review middle grade or young-ish YA books. But every so often I come across a book for older teens that makes such an impact on me that I want to share it. 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher was one. Wait until Twilight by Sang Pak is another.

Make no mistake, this is a gritty, extremely disturbing coming of age novel. There were moments while reading it that I thought I wouldn't be able to continue. But by time I reached the end, I was glad I hadn't given up.

Wait Until Twilight (2009, HarperCollins) is the story of Samuel, a sixteen year old boy who lives in rural Georgia. It begins a year after Samuel's mother has passed away and it's clear he still has issues. A school project exposes Samuel to a set of deformed triplet babies whose mother believes they were immaculately conceived. He becomes obsessed with them and their family situation. As he deals with the last few weeks of sophomore year, Samuel feels continually drawn back to the babies' home, sensing they are in danger from their older brother (an adult who is seriously warped).

The author's background in psychological studies is apparent, and he does a wonderful job in capturing the mental struggles Samuel faces trying to deal with not only his grief but a series of life-changing encounters.

The dialogue is so real sometimes that it seems jagged and disconnected, and I struggled with why Samuel doesn't go to some authority figure (his dad? his brother?) when things cross a dangerous line with the triplets' brother. It's beyond creepy. But in the end, Samuel does what he needs to do to right wrongs and the resolution brought tears to my eyes.

As I said, this is not a book for younger readers, but the language, disturbing themes, violence and adult situations are (unfortunately) probably not unfamiliar to those kids old enough to drive a car.

It's being compared to Catcher in the Rye, and Samuel does have that intelligent rebelliousness of Holden Caulfield. I doubt this will be the last we hear from Sang Pak. 3 1/2 bookmarks. A debut worth catching. Hits bookshelves August 4th.

13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson

2009-07-20T21:20:00.004-05:00

Okay, I'm a bit late discovering the books of delightfully snarky Maureen Johnson (but I've followed her on Twitter for some time thanks to Libba Bray and MJ's strong stance against banning books, does that count?) After reading 13 Little Blue Envelopes (2005, Harper Collins), I plan to be a fan for quite some time.

For grades 8 and up, the story of 17-year-old Ginny Blackstone is the perfect summer read: especially for those of us who would love to tour Europe but are shackled to home thanks to the big bad recession.

So, three years ago, Ginny's Aunt Peg up and left for Europe. Sure, there was the occasional postcard, but mainly, she was off being the flaky artist that Ginny had always known her to be. Then Ginny learns her runaway aunt has died of a brain tumor, leaving her favorite niece 13 little blue envelopes. The first one contains $1,000 and a set of rules that include Ginny's packing a bag and hopping a flight to London. She is only to open one envelope at a time, and never without fulfilling the instructions of its predecessor. Ginny, being the rule-follower that she is, goes along with it.

So off she goes, traveling through Europe, following the same path Aunt Peg took as she discovered herself, her art, and the illness that would eventually claim her. Ginny makes a few friends, learns a lot about both herself and her aunt, and experiences the kinds of things only a teenager backpacking through Europe with a ATM card and a passport can experience (read: boys).

Johnson's writing style is light and totally sucks you in, with descriptions of Rome, Paris, London, Amsterdam, Copenhagen and Greece that are a vacation in themselves. (How I envy the author her research trip!!)

Other books (including Suite Scarlette, Devilish and the Bermudez Triangle) are now on my radar and will be voraciously consumed as soon as they are in my grasp. 4 bookmarks as I look forward to more.

Have you seen HP6 yet? Let me know what you think...

2009-07-15T13:01:00.003-05:00

Cool Kids Read wants to know your likes/dislikes about Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (the movie). Better than the book? What did they change for the movie that they shouldn't have? Who's your favorite character? Favorite scene? Was it scary? Do tell!!!

The Lightning Thief -- trailer

2009-07-14T17:11:00.002-05:00

I've never wanted President's Day to get here so fast! This gave me goosebumps!!

The Lightning Thief trailer

Fablehaven 4: Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary

2009-07-12T09:14:00.007-05:00

Okay, it took me a few months to read the newest Fablehaven installment, Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary, but that was only because of previous reading commitments and a heavy schedule. Now that I've finally finished it, I'm thrilled to be able to post a glowing review. Because it ROCKED!

I took a few of my young reader friends to Brandon Mull's booksigning when he came through Dallas and the most gracious author not only did a great job of fielding questions, but signed stacks of books with enthusiasm.

Almost all of those young readers had finished the new book by that following weekend, and all told me how great it was. One even said it was their favorite one in the entire series. I was a little worried that over-hype might set in (you know, when everyone tells you something is SO great that your expectations are way too high) but, luckily, Mr. Mull came through in spades.

If you haven't read this series, check out the Wikipedia page for background. And see my review of Book 3 (Grip of the Shadow Plague) here.

Continuing Kendra and Seth's story, SODS picks up right where Shadow Plague leaves off. There are more artifacts to be collected, the Sphinx and the Society of the Evening Star are still out there, and Kendra's special fairy talents continue to put a target on her back.

Mull introduces new magical elements that keep the story zinging along as the gang must find their way to Wyrmroost, one of the frightening Dragon Sanctuaries, to keep the Sphinx from obtaining a key which will open the demon prison and allow the Sphinx to RULE THE WORLD (mwah ha ha ha).

Seth is his rule-breaking self, although he seems to have matured a bit, especially when faced with an emotional shock. Kendra is faced with more challenges than ever, dealing with the heavy responsibilities Patton has placed on her shoulders.

IMHO, this series ranks right up there with HP and Artemis Fowl for young fantasy readers, and book four continues to build the adventure stunningly -- complete with a "no way!" cliffhanger ending that will make waiting for the Fablehaven: Keys to the Demon Prison achingly difficult. I know it will be for me.

Look for future news on these books being made into movies. If Hollywood doesn't do right by these, it will be a real shame.

4.75 bookmarks (because I do lend them out quite frequently). Sometimes intense, these adventures are most appropriate for readers 8 and up.

Audio Book Withdrawl

2009-07-03T09:38:00.002-05:00

Okay, I'm in trouble. The CD player in my car is out (which somehow coincided with getting my brakes fixed, what's with that???) so I am without CD for a couple of weeks... well, it actually works it's just that when it's on and I go over a bump in the road, my entire electrical system shuts down and that makes it very difficult to steer.

So ANYWAY, because of this I'm forced to listen to THE RADIO (gasp) which I rarely do because I spend an hour a day commuting and this is when I get most of my "reading" done.

While this has been a great chance to catch up on current events on NPR and with Kidd Kraddick (I have to admit, I DO love that radio show), I'm even slower than usual at getting through my reading list.

This is all a very round about way of pleading for guest bloggers. Have you read a YA or middle grade book this summer that you want to share? Write up a recommendation (think of it as book report practice on a book you enjoyed reading!) and email it to kimberlyjsmith1@mac.com. I'll let you know if it's going to be posted, and I might even be able to connect you with the author for an interview... no promises, but I'll try.

I also re-post my reviews and interviews to my blog on Dallas Morning News NeighborsGo, and they often pick them up and put them in the printed version, so who knows, you could see yourself in print as well!

So answer my plea for help, won't you? It could be the beginning of your own blogging career!

Author Interview: Susan Patron

2009-06-26T14:18:00.006-05:00

I'm a big fan of Susan Patron, Newbery award winning author of The Higher Power of Lucky. She was kind enough to take some time away from writing to answer a few questions for Cool Kids Read. You can read my review of Lucky Breaks here. Thanks, Susan!

(Be sure to visit Susan's website, too: www.susanpatron.com)

Cool Kids Read: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

Susan Patron: I was eight and our teacher had just finished reading Charlotte's Web aloud to the class. It left me consumed with a longing to write stories that would have a powerful effect on readers; I hadn't known it was possible to do that and I wanted to try.

CKR: What did your experiences as a librarian teach you about the children’s genre?

SP: That children live in the same world we do; they want reliable information, they want to escape, they want entertainment, and many want books that will help them figure out questions of mortality, morality, shades of meaning: life.

CKR: Who are your favorite authors to read, past and present?

SP: This is off the top of my head: Anne Tyler, John Updike, Anne Lamott, Stewart O'Nan, Elmore Leonard, Nancy Farmer, Theresa Nelson, James Marshall, Beverly Cleary, E.B. White, Beatrix Potter, William Steig, John Green, Geraldine McCaughrean…

CKR: What inspired the idea for The Higher Power of Lucky?

SP: It took over ten years to write the book, and a lot of my own life experiences played into it. For instance, my mother died in 2003 which made me realize—I hadn't known this before—that Lucky had lost her mother and was longing for her. Also, my husband and I spend a lot of time in California's Eastern Sierra area, which became the setting for the story and strongly affected its events.

CKR: What affect did winning the Newbery have on your writing?

SP: I feel, every single day, overwhelmingly grateful. At the same time, as I explain to children in presentations, you would think that winning a major award would be the highest validation of your work, and would free you from self-doubt and writer's block. Well, yes, of course it's hugely validating, but paradoxically the self-doubt and fear were magnified rather than banished. Writing the next book (Lucky Breaks) was enormously difficult because it felt as if a giant critical spotlight was shining on every page.

CKR: Do you have one particular character you enjoy writing more than the others?

SP: I love writing about Miles, who is loosely modeled on my little sister, Georgia.

CKR: Lucky Breaks continues your story, and I understand you are working on the third in the series. Did you always plan this to be a trilogy?

SP: No; I envisioned the first book as an entity but when I finished it I couldn't bear to leave Hard Pan. Then the same thing happened when I finished Lucky Breaks; I wanted to continue to explore the characters' stories. Writing this final book of the trilogy is satisfying because I get to tie up all loose ends (which I hadn't been aware were loose ends as I wrote them). I'm the kind of writer that discovers how it works as I go groping along, taking stabs and making a lot of mistakes, trying to figure out how best to tell the story.

CKR: Any hints you’d like to drop about what happens in the third book?

SP: Miles gets caught in a difficult, untenable situation; Brigitte faces an enormous challenge; the town of Hard Pan changes; and Lucky makes some discoveries that shift her understanding of the world.

CKR: The Higher Power of Lucky has been optioned – any news on when the film will be made?

SP: No news yet; stay tuned!

CKR: Anything else you'd like to share?

SP: Here are a couple of excerpts of letters from kids. They give the writer in me the courage to face the blank page and get on with the work.

"The first book was really good. It really got my attention. It made me want to read more and more. I also can't waite until it's time for the next book of Lucky."

"It is good that you used a lot of incredible vocab. I thought the book had a good meaning it was funny to. I just wanted to take this time to thank you very much."

"The book that I am reading is the very first book I have read by you. I think it is good because I can relate to all the characters. Have you ever been to Harrisburg? You should go sometime it is a good place and you can do a lot of other interesting things. I can connect to Lucky because my mom also died and I felt just like her."

It just doesn't get any better than that.

Alex and the Ironic Gentleman by Adrienne Kress

2009-06-21T20:53:00.007-05:00

I stumbled upon the audio version of Alex and the Ironic Gentleman (Weinstein Books, 2007) which is read gloriously by Christopher Lane, btw. I am a couple of years late coming upon it (its sequel, Alex and the Wigpowder Treasure came out last year, so it obviously did well at the bookstore).

[update: Adrienne Kress let me know that this title is actually the UK title for Alex and the Ironic Gentleman and that the sequel is Timothy and the Dragon's Gate, which is out now, see below. Thanks for the clarification, Adrienne and I apologize for the confusion!]

There is a great deal of good to say about this story. For one, Adrienne Kress has a magnificent, snarky storytelling voice, and she unfolds the tale with a sarcasm and wit I thoroughly enjoyed.

The first few chapters hooked me immediately -- tomboy Alex Morningside is a great character, and I love it when the main character in an adventure story is a girl.

Typically orphaned, 10 year old Alex lives with her uncle and before long, her beloved sixth grade teacher, Mr. Underwood, ends up moving in with them as well. Turns out, Underwood happens to be the descendant of a famous pirate, and only living heir, to a lost treasure.

So begins Alex's involvement in helping Mr. Underwood find the missing treasure map, and subsequent treasure. That is, until Alex's uncle is murdered by another band of pirates (led by the dreaded Captain Steele who is also trying to get the treasure). And, as if that wasn't bad enough, the beloved Mr. Underwood is taken prisoner.

And here's where the train jumped the tracks a bit for me (lucky, it re-railed itself near the end). As Alex heads off, determined to rescue Mr. Underwood, the story veers off in odd directions, like David Lynch at the Mad Hatter's Tea Party. She has one odd encounter after another, with quirky characters who do bizarre things.

Alex boards a train that travels for hours but never gets anywhere, but carries an ever-shrinking group of people who seem to be living the same party over and over. And don't even ask what's in their champagne glasses. When she finally escapes that scene, she discovers a hotel deep in the woods, complete with talking appliances. This journey to save Mr. Underwood is packed with an offbeat oddness that I eventually warmed to, but at first found unsettling.

That said, I found myself re-hooked throughout the last quarter of the book, right up until the Last Chapter, "in which all the strings are tied up". The sequel, Timothy and the Dragon's Gate (2009, Weinstein Books) will be making my to-be-read list. Seriously, a combination of dragons and Kress' writing style has got to be good.

Listed for 10 and up. I agree, maybe even older for the more sensitive reader.

3 1/2 bookmarks, leaning toward 4. If you've read this book, what did YOU think about it?

Things May Be Slowing Down A Bit

2009-06-18T20:33:00.005-05:00

You may have noticed I haven't posted as many reviews lately. That's because I'm going full throttle (finally) on writing my new book and I tend to not read as much when I'm writing.

I do hope to have some guest bloggers throughout the summer, however, and if you would like to be one of them, please email me at kimberlyjsmith1@mac.com.

In the meantime, I'd like to share an article about YA literature that was published in the Wall Street Journal last week. Since it featured "13 Reasons Why" (see my review here) I thought it was worth posting.

Here it is.

Also worth sharing is a letter to the editor in response by Lisa Von Drasek (Children's Librarian, Bank Street, Library of Education, New York):

"Although I was thrilled to see a full-page article on young-adult books ("It Was, Like, All Dark and Stormy," Weekend Journal, June 6), I am sorry that it misses the point.

The waters of adolescence are dark and stormy. The issues of eating disorders, cutting, depression and, yes, suicide are present in what looks on the outside to be the most normal, typical teen. The gift of literature is the ability of the author to let us into the thoughts and point of view of the characters.

You lost an opportunity to do a deeper reading. "If I Stay" isn't just another dead-girl book; it is about exploring who we are, how we define our family and how we are connected to our community.

"Wintergirls" isn't a how-to manual on eating disorders, but examines the downward spiral of addictive behavior as family and friends watch helplessly from the sidelines. "Hunger Games" isn't just a dystopic fantasy of teens battling each other to the death but an examination of materialism, celebrity culture and the world-wide gap in access to resources like food, health and education.

Contrary to your statement that librarians "want to keep the book off the shelves," librarians are on the forefront of buying these books, writing and talking about them and handing them to teens. The shelves of the young-adult section of the library are packed with a variety of materials: the supernatural romance of "Twilight," the comic response to that in the "Reformed Vampire Support Group," the thoughtful contemporary fiction of Sarah Dessen and the award winning coming-of-age novels of Sherman Alexie."

Lucky Breaks by Susan Patron

2009-06-03T16:57:00.002-05:00

Anyone lucky enough to take in Newbery winner The Higher Power of Lucky (2006, Simon & Schuster) will be thrilled to know that Susan Patron’s follow up, Lucky Breaks (2009, Simon & Schuster), is equally as well written and just as touchingly introspective as its predecessor.

Lucky is back, and she’s about to turn 11. A much more intrepid age than 10, to be sure, at least that’s what Lucky thinks. Brigitte (her French-born adoptive mother) is bringing the entire dusty little dessert town of Hard Pan together to celebrate. Miles and Lincoln return, and Lucky makes her first female BFF in Paloma, daughter of an archeologist digging near Hard Pan.

As before, the relationships are really the story here. Lucky’s feelings are all over the place, as any 11 year old’s would be. She’s not sure how she feels about Lincoln, he simultaneously intrigues and flabbergasts her. Miles is a less central character, but just as cute and brainy. But it’s Lucky’s new friendship with Paloma that makes this book so delightful to read.

“Higher Power” stirred up some controversy with a particular biological word (a controversy which IMHO is narrow-minded and petty), and if that offended you, be aware, that word is here again. But if you can look beyond that word to the bigger picture, you’ll find a story that touches the heart and captures the essence of childhood as it sits with its feet in the cold pool of adolescence, trying to gather up enough courage to plunge in. 4 bookmarks.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

2009-05-17T16:54:00.005-05:00

When I heard that The Graveyard Book won the Newbery Award this year, I was thrilled. It isn't often that a supernatural mystery or a fantasy book wins this kind of award. It usually goes to "important" books that deal with deep themes. Or books where the main character's struggle teaches the reader an essential lesson.

So you see, I was thrilled because the Newbery committee recognized that this kind of book can deliver all those things as well. And after listening to the audio book version of The Graveyard Book, I can see why it won.

This is a murder mystery from page 1, when through a twist of circumstance, a toddler escapes the fate of the rest of his family at the hands of the Man Jack, a knife-wielding murderer sent to exterminate the entire family.

Wandering out of the house and up the hill to the local graveyard in the dead of night turns out to be the one thing that saves the tot, as he is rescued and "adopted" by a couple of ghosts. They give him the name of Nobody (but generously call him Bod) and while the way the child ends up in the graveyard might be a stretch, it matters not. Because once the body is taken in, the story truly begins.

With the help of the mysterious Silas, the graveyard folks raise Bod as their own, and throughout the years Bod learns history from the long-time inhabitants, and even meets up with other humans. How all the stories intertwine is Gaiman's special brand of magic as we finally discover why Bod's original family was targeted, and Bod realizes his place in the world.

I was fortunate enough to listen to the author himself reading (performing) his work, which gave it an even richer dimension. There is most definitely darkness woven throughout this story (between the murder and the beasties and secrets of the graveyard), so it isn't for a timid younger reader. It's listed for 10 and up, and I would probably agree.

That said, the ending is full of hope and bittersweet self-discovery which in my opinion overshadows the dark setting. From a parents' perspective, The Graveyard Book is a glorious metaphor about raising children, knowing that ultimately they belong out in the world and not at your side. And so as an "important" Newbery book, it fits quite nicely.

This is one of the best books I've read this year, and I'm giving it a strong 4 1/2 bookmarks.

The Dragon Heir by Cinda Williams Chima

2009-05-10T13:08:00.005-05:00

I am a big fan of this trilogy, and felt that The Wizard Heir was a fantastic continuation of the original story CWC introduced us to in The Warrior Heir. The Dragon Heir tells the tale of how the two episodes merge and wraps things up nicely.

In this world, magical people are born with a weir stone near their hearts, and this stone indicates which magical guild you belong to -- guilds that were created centuries ago when the magic was first given to the humans as a gift from a dragon.

Jack, the warrior heir, and Seph, the wizard heir, are now leading a team of wizards and ana-weir, hoping to defeat the Roses for good. Madison Moss, introduced in book 2, plays a bigger part in this story, as does Seph's friend Jason.

I was disappointed that the characters of Leander Hastings and Linda Downey aren't featured more prominently, as I enjoyed them in book 2. That said, I think CWC did a wonderful job of rounding out the story and rolling it along to an explosive conclusion.

This series is solid YA, appropriate for an older tween or, for the more sensitive, teen reader as the story features a war, and many battles and bloodshed. The underlying story of good versus evil is well done. You could say that CWC has created a more mature, intense wizarding world that Harry Potter fans can graduate to in their middle and high school years.

I was sad to see this series end, but now we have CWC's new series to look forward to: The Demon King, out later this year.

Percy Jackson -- the movie -- in production!

2009-05-08T21:47:00.002-05:00

Now that The Last Olympian is out (and on my nightstand to be devoured soon) my pining can turn to the Percy Jackson movie, aka the film version of The Lightning Thief. Rick Riordan has posted a wonderful and descriptive account of his visit to the set on his blog. It sounds like they are really doing the story justice. Let's hope!!

My Peanut(s) and I Fly Southwest

2009-05-08T12:05:00.001-05:00

Okay, this has nothing to do whatsoever with children's books, but Southwest Airlines is having this cool promotion where they're giving away a family set of four tickets, so, all you have to do to participate is post this cute little picture and let them know...

Here are the details if you'd like to join in the fun!

Author Interview: Jay Asher

2009-05-07T16:57:00.004-05:00

I was so impressed with 13 Reasons Why that I tracked down author Jay Asher and begged him for an interview. He graciously complied. Thanks Jay!!

Cool Kids Read: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

Jay Asher: I knew I wanted to be a writer when I realized I couldn't draw. Back in elementary school and junior high, my dream was to write and illustrate my own comic strip. Charles Schulz was my idol! I was working on a strip called Nate the Gopher and having a lot of fun, but it definitely wasn't going to get me anywhere. In high school I decided to try my hand at journalism...which also wasn't going to get me anywhere. In my first year of college, I took a course called Children's Literature Appreciation and was reintroduced to my love of children's books. From then on, nothing was going to stop me from getting published in that market.

CKR: 13 Reasons Why is your debut novel. Tell us a bit about how you became published.

JA: Trial and error. I spent nine years writing picture books, early chapter books, and middle grade novels...all humorous. I went through three agents in that time with lots of nibbles from publishers and even won awards for my manuscripts. But I could tell there was something wrong. I hadn't discovered my natural voice. Then I began writing my first non-humorous book, which was also a book for teens, and knew immediately that I'd found my voice. In the three years it took me to write Thirteen Reasons Why, I was still submitting my earlier manuscripts (and some new ones). About a month-and-a-half after signing with my current agent, I had a contract!

CKR: The “listening” format of the story is so original, and combined with the subject matter, makes for a gut-wrenching story. What made you want to use this technique to tell a story about teenage suicide?

JA: I once took an audiotour of a mock-up of King Tut's tomb. Once the tour was over, I went searching for a story to tell in a similar format, with one narrator being a recorded voice and the other being the thoughts of the person listening. Around that same time, a close relative of mine attempted suicide. Several years went by before both events clicked together, and I knew the pairing worked well. The audiorecordings weren't just a cute gimmick, but actually enhanced the story. It also allowed me to talk from the point-of-view of a suicidal character while also getting another person's perspective on the events being discussed.

CKR: The technology of Hannah’s using cassette tapes draws upon the past and gives the story a grittiness that new technology might not have. Did you consider telling her story any other way (video? Emails? Etc.)

JA: I considered many forms of technology, though cassette tapes were how the story originally came to me. One, I thought cassette tapes gave my character more tangible elements to work with. Two, and more importantly, cassettes would keep the book from seeming out-of-date a little while longer. Sounds weird, I know. But if I'd used the most up-to-date technology, and the characters acted as if everything was up-to-date, it wouldn't be modern for long because the way we speak about technology changes quickly. Yet if the characters acknowledged that the means of recording were dated, suddenly the book is contemporary.

CKR: Which authors did you read as a child? Today?

JA: The only author I read a lot of as a child was Ray Bradbury. Everything else was book-by-book, not because of the author's name. But now I've read and enjoyed several books by Chris Crutcher, Jerry Spinelli, Louis Sachar, Carolyn Mackler, Laurie Halse Anderson...

CKR: When can we expect another Jay Asher novel?

JA: When I finish it, then a little while after that. (Tee-hee!)

CKR: Any news about a 13 Reasons Why movie deal?

JA: There's been a lot of interest, and we're currently talking to a few people...so keep your fingers crossed.

Only a few days until The Last Olympian!

2009-05-01T19:22:00.002-05:00

We don't have long to wait, Percy Jackson fans! For a great article in the Wall Street Journal about Rick Riordan and his wonderful series....click here.

The Lightning Thief movie -- casting report!

2009-04-23T16:47:00.007-05:00

More news from Rick Riordan about the casting for the film based on his book The Lightning Thief.

One of my favorite actresses, Catherine Keener, is set to play Percy's mom, Sally. And Jake Abel will play Luke.

Filming is underway in Vancouver!!

Cinda Williams Chima's new series... the cover art

2009-04-22T14:52:00.004-05:00

One of my favorite authors, Cinda Williams Chima (author of the Warrior/Wizard/Dragon Heir books) will be releasing her new high-fantasy series next fall (specifically 10.13.09). Here's a peek at the cover art of the first installment, The Demon King.

The cover is gorgeous, and while it does have a similarity to the Heir Chronicles, it's my understanding that the Seven Realms series will be a total departure from those stories.

To learn more about this series, you can visit the author's blog here and check out my interview with CWC here.

And check back in the coming weeks for my review of The Dragon Heir, the third book of her Heir Chronicles.

13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher

2009-04-18T09:47:00.005-05:00

I've struggled over the past week as to how I review this book. No question, 13 Reasons Why (Razorbill, 2007) is a stunningly written novel. Listed for grades 7 and up (due to mature themes and language), this debut from author Jay Asher made quite a stir when it was released, earning rave reviews. While I'm a bit late on the bandwagon, this is one of those books that I have no doubt will be around a long, long while. And for good reason.

It's important.

There are some books that, as an adult, you think: if only every teenager would read this and take it to heart, maybe things would be different. The subject of teenage suicide is a difficult one, but Asher tackles it head on with an engaging premise that not only hooks you from the first page, but drags you along through the trainwreck to follow. And by trainwreck, I mean Hannah Baker's life.

High school student Clay Jensen comes home to find a package waiting for him. Inside are a bunch of cassette tapes. He's able to listen to these antiquated recordings thanks to the old cassette player in the garage. Curious, he pops one in and hears the voice of a girl he'd crushed on for years. A girl who committed suicide a few weeks before.

Hannah Baker has left a detailed suicide note in the form of these tapes, and on them are her 13 reasons why she's decided to end her life. The people involved (each star in their own personal cassette side) are told pointedly by Hannah how they contributed to her downfall.

After listening to all the stories on the tapes, they are instructed to send them on to the next person. Hannah has even taken steps to ensure everyone hears her words by making a second set, which will be publicly released if the tapes don't continue their journey to the end.

Clay is stunned. He can't imagine what he could have done to Hannah to be included on this horrific list. But he's compelled to listen, not simply because it is required, but because he's desperate to understand why Hannah did what she did.

Asher tells the story alternating between Clay's first person POV and Hannah's voice on the tapes, and the result is captivating. The audio edition, which I listened to, was mesmerizing in the performances and that you feel as if you are listening along with Clay.

But back to the importance of this book. High school is not the easiest time in anyone's life, and even for the privileged and popular, it can be tough. Struggling with self-discovery, it's too easy to overlook the little things we do to each other that can be hurtful. If this story does anything, it points out that everyone has a chance to make another's life better, or worse. Everything affects everything.

Hannah's downward spiral is slow and painful, and listening to it is, as I said, like watching a trainwreck happen before your very eyes (or ears). Clay's anguish and helplessness are palpable and while the ending does offer some hope, most of this book is horribly depressing. But it should be. A story about someone ending their own life absolutely should be depressing, and teenagers in particular need to always remember that small kindnesses can be a glimmer of hope to someone in pain.

While that sounds preachy, Asher's book is anything but. One of the many reasons why 13 Reasons Why should be required reading for high school freshmen. This story has stuck with me for days now, I keep thinking about how high school really hasn't changed that much since I was there -- and that the human element of the way certain people are treated never seems to change. Asher captures this so well through the voices of both Hannah and Clay.

A strong 4 bookmarks.

Sneak Peek at Being Nikki, Sequel to Airhead by Meg Cabot

2009-04-17T17:31:00.003-05:00

The always lovely Meg Cabot has posted a sneak preview of her upcoming sequel to Airhead (see my review here) on her website. Interested? Click here

The book will be out May 5th. Can't wait!!

Eternal by Cynthia Leitich Smith

2009-04-12T20:19:00.005-05:00

Oh my. Oh my oh my oh my.

Stephenie Meyer, honey, watch out. Twilight fans, you are gonna l-o-v-e Eternal (2009, Candlewick) -- the follow up/prequel to Tantalize -- written for ages 14 and up by Cynthia Leitich Smith (read my interview with her here.)

Take one guardian angel, Zachary, who happens to be crushing on his charge: Miranda. Although Miranda's number has come up and she is meant to stumble into an open grave while exploring a local graveyard, Zachary does the unthinkable to save her from breaking her neck -- he appears.

This begins a string of events that leads to Miranda's kidnapping and ultimate conversion into a vampire... by the reigning Dracula, no less.

A year later, and now the heir to the Drac empire, Miranda is living the high life, but still has a smidgen of goodness left in her. Zachary, now a "fallen" angel since he broke the rules, is given an earthly assignment to hunt down and destroy Miranda's new "father figure". Without realizing he will find Miranda there, Zach finds his way to Chicago and Dracula's castle, landing a job as Miranda's new personal assistant.

The relationship between the angelic boy and vamp girl develops in alternating first person chapters delivered by both Zachary and Miranda, which is the perfect way to showcase the author's trademark dry wit. Like in Tantalize, this is a world where vampires and were-wolves (and were-any animal, including armadillos) are known to exist. However, these creatures of the night remain on the fringes of society -- feared and, for those trying to live among us, prejudiced against. As in Tantalize, Smith draws this world so naturally that when a character turns out to be were-something or other, you don't blink an eye, you just go with it.

Zachary and Miranda have an on-the-page chemistry that just might rival Edward and Bella, if only due to the lovely twist surrounding their polar opposite origins. Zachary won me over in the first chapter, and if it took me a bit longer to warm up to Miranda then that might have something to do with her cold-bloodedness early on.

This is a vampire book, and their bloodlust is not sugarcoated whatsoever, but the message of good triumphing over evil shines throughout. A true page-turner, I can't imagine any fan of gothic suspense/romance not thoroughly enjoying this -- and not just YA readers either. I am eagerly awaiting the final installment, Blessed, where we return to Austin and Sanguini's to find out how all the characters are connected. 4 1/2 bookmarks!

Gregor the Overlander Series: The Code of Claw by Suzanne Collins

2009-04-06T13:28:00.004-05:00

Make no mistake. Suzanne Collins' The Underland Chronicles are about war. The atrocities of war. The soul-crushing horrors of war. Which can be a little much for middle graders, except for the fact that this last installment wraps up the message so well.

Throughout the first four books, young Gregor has fallen into a world beneath New York city populated by humans, mice, rats and bats, then he found his lost father, nearly lost his baby sister and mother, and discovered that he himself is The Warrior featured in a prophecy surrounding the war between his new friends and the rats. A prophecy which states that The Warrior must die for the war to end.

Not too much to put on the shoulders of a 11 year old boy, but Gregor is a warrior. A rager, to be exact, which means he has an intensity of fighting that, once controlled, makes him the ultimate weapon. And in this final book, that weapon is put to the test.

Now, dealing with his feelings about the war, Luxa, Ripred, and the loss of many friends, Gregor continues his struggle to save Regalia from the Bane, even though he knows to do so means he will not come out alive (at least, according to the Prophecy of Time).

I am a huge Suzanne Collins fan and in The Code of Claw (May, 2007) she does a wonderful job of concluding the series in a touching, inspiring and optimistic way -- despite the violent last lap this installment takes.

Parents should note that these books are quite violent and action-packed, making them very appealing to young boys. This last one was the darkest of all five. But as the end is near, it becomes apparent that, for Gregor, it is darkest before the dawn.

I recommend this series with 4 bookmarks, but IMO it's more appropriate for the top end of the middle-grade set (closer to 12 than to 9).

Brandon Mull Rocked the House!

2009-04-04T06:59:00.004-05:00

Took the kids and some of their friends to see Brandon Mull at the Plano book-signing last night and he fielded some great questions from the audience. He was SUPER nice and took the time to sign stacks of books from everyone, talk earnestly to all the kids and even pose for pictures. The kids now have their noses stuck in his latest book "Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary" and look for a review very soon right here at Cool Kids Read.

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

2009-04-02T21:15:00.006-05:00

Graceling (2008, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), Kristin Cashore's debut novel, is a popular YA fantasy romance that is definitely for an older middle school/high school reader, IMO. Fans of Stephenie Meyer (Twilight), Melissa Marr (Wicked Lovely) and Cassandra Clare (City of Bones) will eat this up.

Talk about girl power. Katsa has it in spades. Thanks to her "Grace".

In Katsa's fictional medieval world (that reminded me of Eragon in a way) there are some who are "Graced". What that Grace is depends on the person, but when you come into your Grace, your eyes change -- to two different colors -- so all will know you are a Graceling.

Katsa's grace showed itself when she was 8. And since her Grace is an amazing ability to fight (and even kill), it puts her in a precarious position. She is the niece of the King, and as his strong-arm, the now-grown Katsa is forced to threaten, torture and sometimes execute in the King's name.

And then, you guessed it, she meets a guy.

But not just any guy. Po is a prince. A Graced price. She knows this because of his eyes (one silver, one gold). Apparently, he likes her one blue eye and one green eye just as much, because he's one of the few people who will look her in the eye -- and who can give her a challenge in a fight.

He becomes her sparring partner of sorts, and although the characters are well-drawn and likable, and the action is tight, I wasn't finding anything special about this book.

And then I hit the halfway point.

Po and Katsa discover that a neighboring king is Graced as well, but with a Grace to manipulate the way people think. He has used his Grace to get away with unspeakable acts, but Po, because of his own secret Grace, is immune to the mind-control. Po's aunt is the King's wife and in order to save his cousin, Princess Bitterblue, Po and Katsa must not only rescue her, but find a way to kill the King or no one will be safe.

And of course along the way, Po and Katsa fall madly in love, with a passion that rivals Bella and Edward's.

The thing I liked most about this book was Katsa. She's uber tough, like seriously you would not want to mess with her. She has every man in the book terrified of her, yet she has a femininity and, dare I say, grace that transcends the violent nature. Her struggle to control her power, to come to terms with what it means for her future, and her feelings for Po, mirrors the same kinds of things the young women of today struggle against -- about how they look, how they behave toward boys, and fighting against stereotypes.

The entire last half of the book I just raced through, I couldn't put it down. 4 bookmarks and I look forward to more from this author.

PercyJacksonBooks.com

2009-03-30T17:23:00.003-05:00

If you haven't been to the Disney-Hyperion site for Percy Jackson yet, GO! Click here. You'll find a great video of Rick Riordan talking about the next book, The Last Olympian, and some extras you won't find anywhere else.