Lucy has found the ultimate walk-in closet

I’ll bet you have got a closet.  What if you could actually step inside, and walk through it only to come out into a completely different fantasy world where animals could talk and time ran differently?  That is what happens for young Lucy during a stay at a professor’s house outside London during World War II.  A strange closet, or wardrobe rather, within that house is a portal to a lamp post in the land of Narnia, a country that has been terrorized by an evil White Witch.  The White Witch has cast a frigid spell upon Narnia, forcing all inhabitants to endure an eternal winter.  The Witch has both allies and enemies, and succeeds in winning the trust of one of the children, Edmund.  It is up to the other siblings, Peter, Susan, and Lucy, as well as some well-meaning animal friends, to rescue Edmund.  But soon their quest turns out to be great deal more complicated, resulting the greatest member of Narnia making ultimate sacrifice to help the children get their brother back.    

               

                For any reader looking for a deeply gratifying fantasy adventure does not need to look any further than C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.  Lewis dedicates this book to his goddaughter Lucy, and writes as though he is actually sitting with her- or you, telling you the story, and leaving no question unanswered, making this a wonderful choice for a read aloud, book group, or an exploration in writing style.  Audiences will be able to easily grasp concepts within the story such as sibling rivalry, bad versus good, and sticking together; all the while wishing they could find their own little portal to fight alongside Aslan the golden lion or seek advice from the wise professor.  The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is actually the second book in C.S. Lewis’ famous seven-book collection, The Chronicles of Narnia, but it is such an enduring story that its excellence stands alone, allowing readers to fully enjoy the book without having to read the prior volume, The Magician’s Nephew, though they most likely will want to.  Readers who love series ought to add these classic tales to their personal libraries.  Ages 9-12

Lewis, Clive Staples.  (1950).  The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.  New York, NY:  Harper Collins

ISBN:  0-06-440942-2

cover art link from ebay

Would you like to see a trailor from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe movie that was released in 2005?  Here you go! Enjoy!

The Troubled 12 year-old and Greek Mythology (yawn--well not really!)

A troubled 12 year-old learning Greek mythology sounds pretty boring right?  Well it's not.  Dyslexic Percy Jackson, also diagnosed with ADD, finds that Greek mythology isn't just made up stories.  They're actually true and he has to remember them well if he wants to survive.  Especially since Zeus thinks Percy is the one who stole  Zeus's lighting bolt!  On his quest to find the lighting bolt and to rescue a loved one, Percy meets monsters like Minotaurs, furies, and Medusa who are all out to get him.  If Percy fails his quest, then all hell will break loose and the world will come to an end.  Yikes, talk about pressure.  Hope you guys know Greek mythology well, if not, you can always learn it with Percy--that is, if he survives for long.

Review:

I loved the book because the author made Greek mythology contemporary.  It's more relatable to tweens and what's important is that the lessons are still there.  This book touches on issues like friendship, broken families, identity, and striving for goals despite the odds.  The Lightning Thief also has great riddles/mysteries to keep a tween's mind engaged.

Riordan, R. (2006). The Lightning thief.  New York: Hyperion Paperbacks for Children.

Ages: 9+

ISBN-13: 978-078683865-3

ISBN-10 078683865-5

Cover art link from http://www.rickriordan.com

Movie trailer:

You know that expression, "He was raised by wolves?" Well, Nobody Owens was literally raised by ghosts. He even lived in a cemetery!

Summary:
Nobody Owen's entire family was cold-bloodedly murdered in one night.  Luckily, Nobody (also known as Bod) was saved by ghosts in a nearby graveyard and was adopted by the Owens couple.  Silas, a mysterious being that is neither living nor dead, becomes his guardian.  Because he was given sanctuary in the graveyard, Bod is able to do special things that no human knew how to do.  The graveyard and Silas do their best in protecting Bod from the outside world, and from the killer that killed his family. 

Review:

The Graveyard Book is a bittersweet fantasy book about Nobody’s coming of age that will leave readers thoughtful and appreciative of Gaiman’s skills in interweaving the dead with the living.  Bod searches for his identity and learns a lot from the inhabitants of the graveyard.  Though the writing as a bit weird at times, it adds to the tone and feel of the book.  It helped to create an other worldy and paranormal feel that suited the book.  What I liked most about Bod was how strongly he believed in what was right and what was wrong.  When he made a decision, he stuck with it.  Also, the author did a good job in expressing how Bod felt.  When Bod was regretful or felt sorry for disappointing his adopted parents or guardian, as a reader I felt it too.  The mistakes that he made was what was endearing to me.  The Graveyard Book is not a typical book that.  After finishing it, I had a bittersweet feeling but found that I enjoyed the book.  It's definitely a nice book to recommend to tweens.

Gaiman, N.  (2008).  The Graveyard book. New York: Harper Collins Publishers.

Grade: 3-8.  Sunlink noted 5-8, but my cousin read this book when he was in 3rd grade, thus I’m stretching the age range.

ISBN: 978-0-06-053092-1

Cover art link from librarytalker.blogspot.com

Katsa's killing Grace

Summary

Katsa lives in a world where a person can have an extreme skill called a Grace. People with Grace are often exploited, which is the case for Katsa. Her skill is the Grace of killing. When she was eight she killed her cousin with one punch.  Her uncle, King Randa knows of her power and decides to train her in combat in order to create an exceptionally skilled assassin. Tired of her uncle’s abuse of her Grace Katsa creates a secret group that seeks justice over the exploitation and cruelty of power. In the midst of a secret mission she meets Prince Po. He can read minds and Katsa dislikes him instantly. Eventually Katsa agrees to help him free his cousin Princess Bitterblue from her demented father. Princess Bitterblue’s father has a Grace that proves dangerous to all but Prince Po. On her journey to save Princess Bitterblue Katsa discovers something new about her own Grace as well as her feelings for Prince Po. Katsa also discovers a secret that could potentially end all seven kingdoms. Grappling with all these new discoveries Katsa must resourcefully forge onward.

Review

Graceling brims over with adolescent anger and confusion as Katsa struggles to find her own way. The novel is about fighting for what you believe in and standing your ground even if that means going against an adult. In this way Katsa grows and becomes more aware of her true self. There is also a tumultuous awakening in Katsa after meeting Prince Po one that leaves her bewildered and exhilarated all at once. Graceling is a great story that introduces a girl who breaks away from tyrannical constraint to bring on her own righteous uprising. She is tough, quick-witted, and compassionate—in other words a girl to look up to.

Grades 8-12

Cashore, K. (2008). Graceling. Orlando, FL: Harcourt, INC.    

ISBN: 978-0152063962

 

 Cover art link: fay school

Vampires? Who cares!? Bring out the wolves!

Summary

When Grace was three years old she was pulled from her backyard by a pack of wolves. Before being devoured she stares intently at a wolf with piercing yellow eyes. The yellow-eyed wolf then guards Grace from the rest of the pack and when they back off he takes her home. She shares an unexplainable bond with this wolf and always looks for him. He too watches her. At fifteen a wolf attacks a boy in her high school and townsmen gather to hunt it down. Scared they may hurt her wolf she tries to find him. Unsuccessful she trudges home only to find a wounded naked boy at her back porch.  His name is Sam and his eyes are the same piercing yellow as her wolf’s eyes. In that instant she knows that this boy is her wolf. Grace soon finds herself romantically involved with Sam, but struggling to keep Sam human and the secrets of the pack could change her involvement with Sam forever.

Review

This novel is reminiscent to Romeo and Juliet as well as contemporary favorite Twilight. Stiefvator's well-written story involves an unconventional love affair that will entice tweens and teens. There is also a wonderful weaving of mythology surrounding the wolves. The novel is suspenseful, thrilling, and heartbreaking with intelligent and resourceful characters. 

Grades: 5-12

Stiefvator, M. (2009). Shiver. New York, NY: Scholastic Press.

ISBN: 978-0545123266 


Cover art link: urbansophistication

Who is the Folk Keeper really . . .

Summary

Only a boy can be a Folk Keeper. Through cunning and devious behavior Corinna Stonewall changes her name to Corin in order to train and gain the position of Folk Keeper of Rhysbridge Home.  Keeping the Folk at bay requires various charms and in depth knowledge of the Folk and their malicious ways. Corinna prides herself at what she does, but worries about growing up and losing the ruse.  Mysteriously her hair grows two inches every night. She also has the ability to tell time. A dying man visits her and hires her to be the Folk Keeper at his estate called Marblehaugh Park. Excited by this new endeavor Corinna finds more than she bargained for at the now deceased man’s estate. Surrounded by the sea Corinna develops an interesting craving for fish, befriends the deceased man’s son, and learns of the hidden secrets of Marblehaugh Park. In grappling with the mysterious of Marblehaugh Park Corinna begins to open up to her true identity and link to the sea. Understanding what she is she must now make the decision to stay the Folk Keeper or relinquish her role in order to embrace the sea.

Review

This coming-of-age tale looks into one girls struggle for self-identity. Borrowing from the selkie myth this novel highlights Corinna’s self-denial and self-discovery by figuratively and literally shedding her skin. The Folk Keeper is a dark tale that includes murder, secrets, magic, and love. Corinna’s acknowledgement of her true self is a gripping climax that keeps readers going to the revealing end.

Grades: 4-8

Billingsley, F. (1999). The Folk Keeper. New York, NY: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

ISBN: 0-689-82876-4

Cover art link: Capitol Choices

A strange world, a strange school, and a strange kid. Now, that's my kinda book!

Summary

In a quiet English town Harry Potter lives under the stairs at his uncle and aunt’s house. His cousin Dudley is a spoiled menace. Ignored is how Harry is treated, but deep down he knows he is special. Harry receives a letter, which has never happened to him before. However, his uncle snatches it from him before he gets a chance to look inside. His uncle’s maneuverings cannot stop the owls from delivering Harry’s important letter. On the night before Harry’s birthday his uncle uproots the family to an isolated seaside cabin in an attempt to avoid the delivery owls. Later that night Hagrid, a half-giant half-human, breaks down the door and rightly gives Harry his letter of acceptance to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Hagrid also informs Harry that he is a wizard and that his uncle and aunt have been lying to him the whole time. Harry travels to Hogwarts where he finds himself a celebrity due to the evil wizard Voldemort who brutally killed his parents, but could not kill Harry. He quickly friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. Once at Hogwarts Harry is sorted into Gryffindor by the Sorting Hat. He also sees all the professors of the school as well as the headmaster Professor Dumbledore. Strange occurrences begin to happen around Harry as he comes into his power. With the help of Ron and Hermione Harry unlocks some of the mysteries surrounding him and finds himself closer to Voldemort than he ever realized.

Review

The great thing about this book is its protagonist. Harry is not extraordinary at school or even in his wand abilities. In fact he is rather average, but what sets him a part is his drive and motivation to learn. He has gumption and a set of great friends. Harry may be average, but really aren’t we all pretty average? He is accessible in that regard because he has to work hard to achieve the answers and skills he wants. Harry is a character worthy of any young person’s admiration. 

Grades: 3-6

Rowling, J. K. (1997). Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. New York, NY: Scholastic Press.
ISBN: 0-590-35340-3

Cover art link: I Write A lot Blog

Here's a peek at the film version of the book, but it's up to you to read the book first and then watch the film or vice versa! Enjoy . . .