For your next literary voyage forget Wonderland, and come to UnLondon!

Deeba and Zanna have discovered a portal in a London housing project basement that can transport them to a place where the city’s garbage and outcasts reside- UnLondon- London’s “abcity.”  Strange objects and signals, and a very talkative book belonging to UnLondon’s Propheseers have named Zanna the chosen one, or the Shwazzy, who will rescue the abcity from the Smog which threatens to poison and kill all of UnLondon’s inhabitants. Before Zanna can even complete the mission she chooses not to accept, the girls are returned to London, and their bizarre experience seems but a dream- until Deeba stumbles upon a mysterious link between the London she knows and the UnLondon she now feels compelled to return. Only Deeba knows the real reason why UnLondon is in even greater danger than its inhabitants originally thought. But how will she- a twelve-year old from a London housing project, the true Shwazzy’s funny friend, the UnShwazzy- convince UnLondoners that they are being tricked by an evil force posing to be benevolent? Luckily, a half-ghost named Hemi and an animated milk carton named Curdle have joined her crusade, but even with her two best allies she still needs more help to warn UnLondon and escape the Smog’s minions. Her journey is filled with narrow escapes from death, the most bizarre citizens, and one mysterious UnGun.

UN LUN DUNis an imaginative and fresh novel that is filled with great classic themes such as friendship, mistaken personas, (false) prophesy, and heroism. The book also alludes to the threat of pollution and how it affects political attitudes and actions. From the first chapter readers will be captivated by Meivilles’ original and witty writing, all the while feeling as surprised as Deeba by the unique cast of characters and bizarre but entertaining scenarios. UN LUN DUN is like an updated and edgy version of Alice in Wonderland and is a wonderful reminder that even the most unlikely characters can be heroes, or heroines. Grade 3 and up.


Mieville, China. (2007). UN LUN DUN. New York: Del Rey Books, an imprint of Random House
ISBN: 978-0-345-45844-5
Cover art from Random House, http://www.randomhouse.com/

Travel to the North Pole with Lyra, her dæmon Pantalaimon, a talking polar bear, witches, and a wild hot air balloon ride!

Summary

The story begins in Oxford where 11 year-old Lyra and her dæmon Pantalaimon (a shape-shifting animal extension of Lyra’s soul) sneak into the Retiring Room at Jordan College to hide and snoop. Her mischievous behavior helps her save her intimidating uncle Lord Asriel’s life after she watches the Master pour poison into the ceremonial wine. Once she stops Lord Asriel from drinking it he quickly hides her in the wardrobe where she overhears him discuss the mysterious Dust with the scholars. Fascinated with Dust Lyra makes it her mission to find out what this mysterious substance is. However, some kids in her neighborhood are being kidnapped and when her best friend Roger is taken by the infamous Gobblers she intends to find them and rescue all the kids! Her attentions are temporarily diverted when she meets and later works for the stunning Mrs. Coulter.

Before she leaves with Mrs. Coulter the Master gives Lyra a mystical device called an alethiometer. Unsure on how to use it the Master simply tells her to learn it and keep it away from Mrs. Coulter. But Lyra’s journey doesn’t end there! After Mrs. Coulter shows her true colors Lyra does some investigating and runs away to the North Pole with the Gyptians who also want to rescue the missing children. En route Lyra meets Iorek a talking armored bear with great wisdom, who is hired by the Gyptians to aid them in their voyage. Close to their destination and traveling by hot air balloon Lyra and the rest meet with danger, excitement, and witches! Will Lyra succeed in saving the children, out run the deviously cunning Mrs. Coulter, find Lord Asriel, and discover what the mysterious Dust is? Pick up this book today to find out!

Review

The Golden Compass is the first book in Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy. Readers will attach themselves to the plucky heroine Lyra and her beloved Pantalaimon as they did with Harry Potter and his beloved Hedwig. Lyra is older beyond her mere 11 years and experiences extreme cases of danger and adventure. Lyra is an orphan who uses her wit and bravery to get to the bottom of the mysteries surrounding her. Though “tough as nails,” Lyra is also very compassionate and loving to all the good people and animals that aid her in her journey. Readers can easily sink into Lyra’s world of magic and mystery without feeling so far from home. And yet, there’s just enough distance to want to escape there on more than one occasion.

Grades: 6-12

Pullman, Philip. (1995). The Golden Compass. New York, NY: Knopf.

ISBN: 978-0-375-84722-6

Cover art link: Amazon.com

If you love the book here's a trailer to the film version, but be warned some say the book's much better . . .

Lions, Tigers, and Bears...no...Dragons, Elves, and Dwarves--and um humans?--Oh my!

Booktalk:
Would you like to take an epic adventure with dragons?  Or get transported to a world with magical creatures, heroes, and evil villains?  Well this book is for you!  Come experience this exciting tale of Eragon, a 15 year-old human boy who finds a mysterious blue gem in the forest.  As he travels back home, he finds that no one is willing to buy the large gem, especially something that he found in the Spine forest--rumored to be a place of weird occurrences and sightings of magic.  Something magical occurs.  The blue gem is actually a dragon egg!  When it hatches, Eragon's life is forever changed because he is now a dragon rider.  Eragon is then thrust into a series of exciting perilous adventures and a quest to save the world.  During this time he meets elves, dwarves, and evil creatures while he learns how to fight and use magic.  Can a small town 15 year-old farm boy bear all the pressure and really save the world?

For those who loved the Lord of the Rings series, this a great read-a-like for you to enjoy.  And for those who are curious, take a ride on the wild side dragon!  It's going to be a thrilling ride, so strap yourself in your dragon saddles (or your bed, chair, or choice of seating).  You won't be disappointed!

Side Notes for Booktalk:
Eragon is the first book to the Inheritance cycle trilogy by Christopher Paolini.  Paolini started to write this book when he was 15 years-old, yes 15!  The same age as Eragon.

It's great to emphasize that this book was written when the author was a teen himself.  It shows that the book has context that might be relevant to what tweens and teens find interest in.  It also shows what tweens and teens are capable of achieving.

Review:
Unlike other high epic fantasy books I have read, Eragon has a clear writing style that is easy to understand but is still well written.  Many people from different age groups will like this because it ismore "reader friendly" than the classic high epic novels.  His characters were well developed and thought out.  The growth of Eragon and his understanding of his world was a delight to read.  In that sense, Eragon is struggling to grow up and become a strong individual who will eventually fight against evil.  His conscience, morals, strive for justice, and empathy of others reinstate to the reader what a good hero should be and that it isn't always about strength or brawn.  There were low points and high points to Eragon that made him realistic as a teen.  A very thoughtful teen, but still a teen.  I think Paolini did well in making the reader understand who Eragon really is.  The relationships involved were bonuses.  Eragon's relationship with both his dragon and the storyteller Brom was touching.  Paolini stressed the intricate relationship between the dragon and the dragon rider as more of a mutual friendship and partnership.  As for Brom, it was nice to see a father figure.  Eragon and Brom's relationship was often  mixed in with frustration, but there was strong acceptance and support from both sides.  The plot was great.  It was action packed with dangerous moments that kept me on my toes.  Another positive is that it wasn't too complicating, just enough complexity to have my appreciation.

Paolini, C.  (2002).  Eragon.  New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
ISBN: 0-375-82668-8
Cover art link from randomhouse.com

Help Mibs to blow out 13 dripping candles and discover her "savvy."

All Mibs wants for her 13th birthday is to blow out thirteen dripping candles. Well, that, and to discover her savvy. A savvy is the special talent bestowed upon most Beumonts on their 13th birthday. One brother generates electricity; the other hurricanes. The Beaumont family had to move to a desolate area between Nebraska & Kansas to avoid causing natural disasters. All goes awry in the Beumont household when Mibs’ poppa is in a near-fatal car accident. Instead of her anticipated birthday party, the adults go to the hospital and she is undertaken by the local preacher’s wife. Worried about her Poppa and hoping that her yet-to-be-discovered savvy may be just the thing to cure him, Mibs stows away with her siblings and the preacher’s kids on a traveling salesman’s pink bible bus. Ingrid Law takes the reader on a thrilling roller coaster ride where the situation goes from bad to worse, as the bus travels in the wrong direction and Mibs finally discovers her true savvy. 

If you enjoyed The Lightning Thief, you are likely to enjoy this title too. Law narrates the story with humor and compassion for the awkwardness felt by preteens discovering their talents while their bodies are changing. Movie rights have been purchased for this title making it a good choice for book-to-movie clubs. Grades 4-8.

Law, Ingrid. (2008). Savvy. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers.
ISBN: 0803733062
Cover art link from ALISCat - a catalog of public libraries in Nassau County, NY.