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January 17, 2007 5:14 pm
I want to start this up again, but I'm not going to make any promises. And I still have to sort out the whole side-link situation so... Well, Regents Week (State Exams are good for something) is coming up, so perhapse I'll have time to do it then. Anyway
Tam Lin
by Pamala Dean
Fantasy | 468pgs. As she starts Blackstock College, Janet Carter thinks that the most unusual part of her experiance will be that her father teaches there. But she doesn't count on the strange, secretive, and seductive Classics department. They have come from the realm of faerie, and carry danger with them, but this is something Janet won't find out untill senior year, when she's already entangled in their strange doings. Based on the Scottish Ballad Tam Lin, this is an enthralling book. THere are some things not fully explained at the end, and some of the plot connections with the ballad are hard to see, but that doesn't take away from this story. Some may think it takes a little long to get where it's going, but it's an enjoyable journey.
my rating: 4.5 | amazon.com rating: 4
November 8, 2006 11:28 pm
well, I don't know when this'll get going again, because I am very busy right now with college apps and such but for the time being, I'd like to quickly recomend Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marsha Peel, and Grendel by John Gardner.
Okay, see you soon I hope.
May 14, 2006 3:11 pm
The Wings of a Falcon
by Cynthia Voigt
Fantasy | 467pgs. A boy with no name lives on the Damall's island, where the Damall rules cruely over all the boys. He has learned to be the best of the boys, but still does not want to stay. So he excapes, taking his only friend, and they set off for the mainland and a new life. But it will not be so easy to find, because creulty exsists not only on the Damall's island, and the world beyond holds endless dangers.
A captivating novel, with a main character who is not always perfect, or even nearly perfect, and who wonderfully displays human nature. The plot flows without breaking from one episod to the next, and though it is often very dark, there is joy and hope as well.
my rating: 5 | amazon.com rating: 4
October 18, 2005 5:28 pm
Eyes of the Emperor
by Graham Salisbury
Historical Fiction | 240pgs.
As a Japanese-American living in Hawaii, Eddy Okuba knows that there's an underlying prejudice. When it surfaces, he joins the army to prove he's a loyal citizen, but after Pearl Harbor is attacked, he is met with suspicion even there. Treated as a prisoner for some time, and then given a secret assignment which, despite being told only they can do, he can clearly see the racism bubbling beneath, he just tries to survive his version of the war.
Told in first person, this is a simple story of life in the face of prejudice. The story and the characters seem to have a sort of quiet dignity about them. It flows very nicely and holds the reader's interest, but is not exceedingly touching or inspiring. Still, taken the right way, it could be powerful, and it's a good read.
Adam Canfield of the Slash
by Michael Winerip
Life / "Issues" | 326pgs.
Overloaded with activities designed to get him ahead, middle schooler Adam Canfield doesn't have time to be co-editor of the Harris Elementary/Middle School Slash. But his friend Jennifer's roped him into it, even though he'd much rather be star reporter. When a new reporter helps Adam and Jennifer stumble across a secret, it takes even more of his time, all his skills as an investigative reporter, and a good deal of bravery to get the truth - and the biggest story in the Slash's history.
An engaging book which I read straight through. It's a slightly lower reading level, but certainly doesn't suffer for it. Adam's struggles to do the right thing, and be on time for class, make for an enjoyable story with real characters, and plenty of distrust in grownups.
August 31, 2005 5:20 pm
Wintering
by William Durbin
Historical Fiction | 191pgs.
Peirre La Page is a young voyaguer spending his first winter as a hivernant - one of the canoer/trappers who spend the winter at a remote trading post in the Canadian wilderness. As he journeys on the rivers to the place his group will be building, and spends the winter there, he learns more of the world and the men he travells with. But along with the harsh lessons, he also finds friendship with a young brave from a nearby Ojibwe village, and thier commander, who shares with him the crates of books he brought.
Durbin's storytelling is very fine, and in this book the characters come alive in an extremely well-told tale which captivates as it shows not any spectacular adventure, but just what one young man may have experienced during a winter as a nineteenth-century Canadian fur trapper. It is certaintly a very satisfying read.
Tales of the Otori: Across the Nightengale Floor
by Liam Hearn
Fantasy / Historical | 287pgs.
Raised among the Hidden, a persecuted religious group, Takeo was taken in by Lord Otori when Lord Iida ordered his village burned. But a mysterious group called the Tribe, who have special powers, also have a claim to Takeo. As he gains powers of his own they wish to stop him from using them to do the one
Powerful coming-of-age story of duty and choices, and love, for friends, family, and a certain girl. The author creates a complex world based on feudal Japan, in which the touching but only somewhat interesting, plot takes place.
August 17, 2005 4:19 pm
Valiant
by Holly Black
Fantasy | 314pgs
When Val finds her mom and boyfriend togethr, she takes off to New York City, with no plan in mind. There she meets Lolli, Dave, and Luis, kids living in a subway station, and learns from them about the faires who live in the city, in particular, a troll named Ravus whom they make deliveries for. She also learns that those fairies are being murdered. Soon, along with her new friends, she is thrown into the dangerous intrigues of the Realm of Faire, all while finding herself disturbingly attracted to that troll.
I bought the book because I loved Holly Black's previous book Tithe, and it didn't dissapoint. Full of thre dimensional characters, both human and supernatural, this book weaves a thrilling and intricate story encompasing both adventure and emotion. It's well worth the read, even if a look back is occasionally needed to clarify something.
July 10, 2005 1:23 pm
Private Peaceful
by Michael Murpurgo
Historical | 202pgs.
Private Thomas Peaceful is spending the night alone in a barn during World War I, trying to survive, and waiting for something. To keep awake, he recounts his childhood growing up with his older brother Charlie and their friend Molly, and the circumstances that lead to them joining the war, as well as what they have seen and experienced since.
Written so it seems as if Tommo is talking both to himself and to the reader, the simple story draws one in, entangling you in the characters and their lives, keeping you reading untill the surprising end. Touching and meaningful, not a book that will soon be forgoten.
June 28, 2005 3:59 pm
Mortal Engines
by Philip Reeve
Science Fiction | 373pgs.
In an era where cities and towns roam the world consuming eachother in a practice calle Municipal Darwinism, the young apprentice historian Tom saves London's Lord Mayor from an assasin. He expects to be treated as a hero, but instead finds himself left behind on the ground with the assasin, a mysterios girl named Hester Shaw, as London moves on. He only wants to get back home, but he needs Hester in order to survive away from the city, and with her he may learn that his heros aren't as virtous as he thought, and what exacatly the sinister plan they have for London is.
An engaging, easy to read book with an interesting but not overly complicated plot and a wide variety of characters. The point of view switches between a number ot them, givin the reader the whole story as to what's happening in this vividly imagined world.
Sloppy Firsts
by Megan McCaferty
Teen Diary | 280pgs.
Her best friend Hope has just moved away and Jess Darling doesn't know how she's going to survive without her. She has so many things to deal with, such as the superficial Clueless Crew, as she calls the other girls she and Hope hung out with, a variety of family problems, and of course, boys, all of which would be so much easier if her best friend weren't a thousand miles away.
It could have been just another typical teenage girl diary style book, but it's more than that. It's smart and funny and filled with great characters. And oh yah, a boyfriend is not the same as a happy ending. And did I mention that it's smart?
June 21, 2005 1:54 pm
The Witch's Boy
by Michael Gruber
Fairy Tale | 377pgs
Abandoned in a forest, Lump is raised by a witch, a bear, and a demon, sheltered from the world of humans and never realizing how ugly he is until he meets others in the forest and his heard grows cold. With ignorance of the world, and a taste for revenge, there are all kinds of troubles which the boy can cause for himself and his mother, and few ways in which he can fix them.
It takes quite a while for the story to really get moving, but once it does, it's a good one and engaging. A nice touch it the retellings of many traditional fairy tales throughout the story. Basically, starts slow, but ends up being quite good.
June 16, 2005 12:22 pm
So Super Starry
by Rose Wilkins
Teen Life | 230pgs
Octavia goes to a posh private school with kids of othe celebrities and semi-celebrities, but as much as her TV actress mother would like her to be, she's just not into the whole fame thing. She'd rather just live a normal life. But when she meets Alex, Octavia starts doing things for and with the girls she hates for their superficiality in order to stay on his good side. Of course, she and other characters have a few things to learn and some important descisions to make.
As much a story about her mother accepting her as Octavia doing what's right for herself, this is a very well-written book with all kinds of moments. The kind of book that, while not being anything entirely new or brilliant, just feels right.
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