The Seismic Seven

Brianna is so excited that she has been chosen to work with a famous geologist at Yellowstone all summer.  She is hoping to learn a lot and film it all.  But, shortly after arriving she and 3 others find out that the geologist has other plans for them - stopping the supervolcano under Yellowstone from erupting.  Soon they are embarking on a dangerous mission involving digging tunnels and setting off explosives.  But who are the other teens who are working at night and who is the boy with the ferrets?  Things aren't making sense...  are they actually helping or hurting.

There was a lot of action in this and wondering who to trust.  For me, there was a lot of implausibility especially when the eruption started and they were only a mile away?  I think I read the book too close to the eruption of Volcan del Fuego in my beloved Guatemala and the fact that so many unrealistically were able to survive and stop the volcano bothered me. 

The Oddling prince

Aric's life as the prince is pretty good - his father is a good ruler and he is being trained to take his place.  But one day a mysterious ring appears on his father's finger and causes him to become ill to the point of death.  It isn't until Albaric appears mysteriously and is able to remove the ring that the king gets better - at least physically.  But Albaric's story is suspicious and threatening to the king.  It turns out that the king was kidnapped by a fairy queen and kept for many years - long enough that together they had a son, Albaric.  But the queen eventually tired of the king and their son and sent the king back - as if no time had passed with the ring on his finger.  The king doesn't want to accept the truth and becomes bitter and angry.  Aric meanwhile thinks of Albaric as a true brother.

Can the two men make peace with the king before his anger cause harm?  

This book was really interesting.  I was quite intrigued with the beginning.  I will say it lost a little steam mid way but then had some cool twists at the end.  All in all a decent read.  

Clem Hetherington and the Ironwood Race

Clem and her robot brother have run away from the orphanage where they have lived since their parents died.  Clem really wants to work as an archeologist but because she is only 14 no one takes her seriously.  That is until Kilburn, a former colleague of their parents shows up and gives them an assignment.  They can run in the Ironwood Race - a race designed to find long lost relics.  If they win they can do what they want with the relics - donate them to a museum which is what Clem wants or sell them on the black market which is what Kilburn wants.

Easier said than done though - the race is dangerous and not everyone is as they seem.  I liked this - action, adventure.  I am not sure I liked the choice Clem made at the end - questionable morals.  There will be more installments of this I am sure.

Amal Unbound

Amal loves her family and their simple life.  She enjoys school and dreams of being a teacher some day.  But, after an unfortunate incident where she talked back to one of the members of the most important family in the village, Amal finds herself indentured to the same family as punishment.  Is Amal destined to live a life of servitude?  Can she find the courage to speak out about something that happened?

This was a wonderful book.  It provides a glimpse into life in another culture without being too heavy.

A Whale in Paris

It is WWII in Paris.  Chantal and her father are struggling to make ends meet as are the rest of the Parisians.  One night, while fishing, Chantal sees a whale in the Seine.  Unbelievable.  Over the next fews days she confirms her sighting and makes friends with the creature.  She soon even begins offering rides to people - the result is a hopeful, joyous spirit so needed in wartime.  But, the whale also captures the attention of the Germans who want to capture it for a future aquarium in the city after the war.  Then, when Chantal's father and aunt are captured by the Germans Chantal must make a choice.  Save her family and save the whale...

This was a nice historical fiction - light enough to be a good introduction to WWII for younger readers with enough heart for slightly older readers as well.

The Book of Boy

Oh the controversy.  I heard a booktalk about this book in early May and had placed it near the top of my pile to read.  Then 2 other people on my committee read it and both raised "concerns" about the religious aspects.  So, of course I needed to read it.

If you don't already know.  I am a Christian.  My father is a pastor in upstate NY but I am a Christian because it is what I believe.  It is pretty uncommon really in my dual profession - teacher and librarian to be conservative.  I often feel like I am a long voice.

So why the religious concerns?  This book is set in the middle ages - a time of pilgrimages and superstitions.  Boy, a hunchback, is hired (loosely speaking) to accompany a pilgrim in search of religious relics.  Secundus, the pilgrim, has his reasons for wanting the relics and is not always honest in the way he acquires them.  At first Boy is hoping to get home in a few days but as he learns of the quest and the ultimate destination in Rome he decides to stay with Secundus and try to get his only wish.  I won't spoil what Boy wishes for or some of the surprises along the way.

So, Middle Ages and religious relics.  So there is a lot of talk of heaven, hell, St. Peter, St. Paul, superstition, etc.  Pretty typical for a book set in the Middle Ages if you ask me.  Is the concern that "religious" parents will find it offensive because it in some way mocks that era and the obsessive search for relics.  Or is the concern that it is too religious for those who want nothing to do with religion at all.  Honestly I found it funny and could appreciate the humor in it - so I wasn't offended.  But I guess I can't really speak for those who might find too much talk of heaven, hell, etc offensive.

In all, it was a pretty fun book.  It is not perfect and I think it would be a hard sell but as a historical fantasy it had some charm.

Crimson Ash

I liked the premise of the book and the beginning.  It is a Dystopian world ravaged by a virus.  Now there is city where people live predictable lives and there are soldiers who have been brainwashed.  As the soldiers find resistance or people outside the city they give them a choice - live in the city or die.  The book begins with Ember giving that choice to someone she knew from her old life and who is her sister's fiancee (Quill) - but she doesn't remember any of that and she kills him.  She is "rescued" soonafter and her memories are restored but now she has to live with what she has done - not only to Quill but to many others.  Then there is Solanine - she wants her sister back but the damage is extensive.

I liked the fist half of the book but then things started going back and forth - captured, escape, under mind control, not under mind control and there were so many issues - cutting, suicide, death, regret.  It was pretty heavy.  In addition, the pov changed from 1st to 3rd depending on whether it was Emmy or Solanine and it was jarring.

We Own the Sky

As anyone knows who reads or follows this blog (anyone?) I read primarily for the Maine Student Book Award - meaning recent titles intended for grades 4 - 8.  Yes, I sometimes delve into young adult or adult fiction especially between March and May but rarely at other times.  That said, I really have no idea how this one got on my list.  It was on NetGalley and I must have requested it probably back in November or December which is a tricky time.  At that point I am furiously reading the last of that year's MSBA contenders but am already seeing the next year's titles on NetGalley and Edelweiss so I start requesting and downloading and then can't really read them til March after the list is done.  So I requested this, then never got to it and it actually was archived and wasn't available on my Kindle, so I got it from the library (I am kind of obsessed with reading/reviewing all books I get approved for).  But, when I started reading it I realized it is not a children's book or a middle grade book or even YA.  So why did I request it in the first place???  No clue...

The book is about Rob, Anna, and their son Jack who is diagnosed with brain cancer.  Rob is desperate to find a cure and turns to a questionable clinic against his wife's wishes.  In the end the clinic is a fraud, Jack dies, and Anna leaves him.  The book tells of his struggles through the cancer, treatment, Jack's death, and Rob's eventual healing.  It was really good and I am glad I took the time to read it.

Voices From the Underground Railroad

Told in alternating voices of poetry this is the story of Jeb and Mattie as they escape from slavery from Maryland to Connecticut.  The characters are young and it is pretty simplistic but it is a good introduction.

Illegal

This was an unexpected graphic novel from the author of Artemis Fowl.  In this book Ebo and his brother leave their country of Libya, cross the Sahara, and cross the Mediterranean Sea in an attempt to get to Europe.  Their main reason for leaving is to escape poverty and to find their sister who left before them.  This was a well done look at some of the ordeals that refugees encounter as they try to find a better life.

Captain Superlative

Janey has learned that in middle school it is best to blend in, not stand out or you risk becoming a victim of Dagmar's bullying - like Paige.  But then, all of a sudden, Captain Superlative arrives in her blue wig, cape, and good deeds.  She stands up for the bullied, holds the door open for kids, helps people with tests.  She is amazing and soon Janey finds herself joining Captain Superlative.  Soon she is noticed for all the right reasons and Dagmar seems to be losing her command.  But then Janey learns Captain Superlative's secret and is confused, angry, and scared.  Can Janey find the courage to take up Captain Superlative's mantle?

I have really been struggling to find time to read.  Long days at school - some stresses and disappointments - and then too tired to focus on my reading.  I have been chipping away at this for about a week and had only got 1/2 through.  But then tonight I really dove in and became entranced.  Yes, it has some flaws - I find it hard to believe that Dagmar's situation was allowed to go on as long as it did - but it was a good story.  There was good growth in the characters and a good message.

The Thrifty Guide to the American Revolution

This book is exactly what every time traveler needs before going back to the American Revolution.  It details important events and what you will see and experience, helpful tips, people to meet, and more.  Told in 2nd person this is a really interesting concept and has quite a bit of good information about events surrounding the Revolutionary War.  My 4th graders study the Revolution so I think it will be a great book to have around and 2nd person is not used often so it's good to have a few around as models.  I am not sure the book entirely lived up to its potential but it was a bit of a lark.

Spindrift and the Orchid

Spindrift was found in a boat in the ocean.  Her parents were drowned in an attack.  Now she lives with her grandfather who collects and sells oddities and magical items.  One day, while her grandfather is out, a man comes looking for a black orchid.  She doesn't know what he is talking about but she soon discovers that it is something hidden in a sphere that was found with her in the boat.

It turns out that the sphere contains the black orchid which is one of the Seven Sages.  Almost like a genie in a bottle, this orchid turns into a woman that can grant wishes.  How wonderful - and there is no limit.  Spindrift also starts to learn more of her parents' story through letters that were exchanged between her mother and grandfather.  Spindrift soon discovers that there are more orchids, that her mother was trying to find them all and it pretty much drove her crazy, and now someone else is after them as well.

Can Spindrift find the missing Orchid's before the other man gets them and can she resists their lure?

This was a good adventure with a decent lesson.  Spindrift was a strong character as were her two friends.

Spell Speakers

First, I do not think the cover matches the book at all.  The main character is Darian not Cayla.

Darian has been raised by his mother in a hidden village that resists the king.  When his mother dies he finds out that his father is actually a commander in the king's army and that he has a brother.  Darian is now forced into a life of serving the king.  Soon he meets a girl Cayla and he falls for her, not knowing she is the queen's daughter.  Can Darian stay true to himself and resist the king from the inside?

Lots of espionage and a bit of romance.  My main issue with this is that as an introductory novella it is pretty short and leaves many things hanging and unresolved.  The reader can sense that the author is laying the groundwork but I don't think there is enough there yet.

Ride On

Seph has been alone in the wild since his father was killed in front of him many years before.  He rides his horse in the wild trying to avoid others and survive.

Avery lives with her twin brother Finn in a mining town.  The mine isn't producing what it should and Finn is taken by the lawmakers as payment.

Soon both Avery and Seph find themselves in the hands of the lawmakers too.  Can they escape, rescue Finn, and survive the wild without losing themselves to violence and fear?

This was a pretty good dystopian tale.  Probably a bit too much romance for my audience as well as implied threats of cannibalism.