Trisha’s April Roundup May 8, 2008

If I were better organized, I would have finished reviewing these books earlier (because I do think they all deserve long reviews), before giving the ARCs to teens or returning the books to the library. But all I did was make really brief notes about them, and it’s been a few weeks since I read some of them, so…

Airman by Eoin Colfer
When Conor Broekhart is unjustly thrown into prison, his thoughts naturally turn to escape. But his jail is Little Saltee Island. It’s a miserable place, where prisoners are forced to mine for diamonds in brutal conditions, and the only way he can escape is to construct a flying machine. Simply surviving is difficult, so how can Conor even hope to build his machine?

To compare Airman to some of Colfer’s previous books (and for the record, I am a huge Artemis Fowl fan), although it’s not as funny as the Artemis Fowl books or Half-Moon Investigations, it still has moments of humor and wit, as well as their fast pace and excellent plotting. What I loved most about Airman is the characterization of Conor. Here’s a kid who has everything going for him—a place in society, brains, ability, etc.—when the book starts, and he’s still likable. When he’s thrown into prison, Conor gets darker, realistically so, but never crosses the line that makes us stop rooting for him. A fantastic book.

Among the reviews: A Fuse #8 Production, Shelf Elf

Fancy White Trash by Marjetta Geerling
Abby Savage doesn’t want to end up like her mother and older sisters, none of whom have made it to their high school graduation without becoming pregnant, all of whom have made disastrous choices in love. So Abby created rules, the One True Love Plan (based on knowledge gleaned from soap operas), which she thinks will enable her to break free from the romantic/procreative history of the women in her family. She wants her life, and potential boyfriends, to be safe.

Abby’s thoughtful narration grounds the book, turning Fancy White Trash from what could have been a print version of The Jerry Springer Show into an examination of the family and friendships that have shaped a young woman’s life. Reminded me somehow of Carolyn Mackler, though I can’t say exactly why.

Also reviewed by: Flamingnet Book Blog, Once Upon a Bookshelf

Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr
I liked Wicked Lovely but was enthralled by Ink Exchange. It’s darker, more intense than Wicked Lovely, terrible in the “exciting terror, awe, or great fear” sense of the word. The age recommendation on the ARC was for ages 12 and up, but I think I’d feel more comfortable saying 14 and up.

As much as she wants a tattoo, Leslie has not found the design that was meant to be applied to her body. Then she sees a design that calls to her, but she has no way of knowing that the tattoo she gets will draw her into the faerie world. Leslie was ignorant of faeries despite being a friend of Aislinn. Just as Leslie had been keeping secrets from Aislinn, not admitting to anyone the truth about her home life or the extent to which her junkie brother would go to get a fix, Aislinn has been determined to keep Leslie from finding about the fey and Aislinn’s place with them. But the tattoo Leslie gets connects her to Irial, the ruler of the Dark Court, because he needs Leslie—or rather, the sustenance Irial has planned for the tattoo-bearer to provide—for the Dark Court to survive.

Among the reviews: Angieville, Teen Book Review, Urban Fantasy Land

Wake by Lisa McMann
Another book I would have adored as a teen.

Ever since she was a kid, Janie Hannagan has been falling into other people’s dreams. It’s turned her life practically into a nightmare. At work and at home, Janie can often isolate herself enough to lessen the effects of other people’s dreams, but that’s not the case at school. When people fall asleep and dream in school, Janie experiences the dream with them, even though the dreamer has no idea that Janie’s in their dream, observing what they see (and even though I’m not sure how exciting the dreams of students who fall asleep in school would be, since most vivid and memorable dreams occur during REM sleep, and REM sleep doesn’t occur until we’ve been asleep for about 90 minutes. Although I suppose you could make the argument that most teens are sleep deprived and hence would fall into REM a lot sooner when they fall asleep in school.).

In any case, my one question about sleep science aside (which didn’t actually occur to me until after I finished the book), Wake is a compelling book that grabs the reader from the very first page, when Janie falls into a classmate’s dream. I am definitely looking forward to the sequel, Fade.

Among the reviews: The Book Muncher, A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy

Ancient India by Anita Dalal (non-fiction)
Very attractively designed and includes everything librarians love to see in children’s and YA non-fiction, like a map, timeline, bibliography, further reading section, glossary, and an index. There’s even an interview with an archaeologist! But with all of that, not to mention all the photos, there wasn’t very much space for actual information. I hope this will get some readers interested in archaeology/ancient India, but anyone looking for specific info besides dates and locations, particularly past 7th grade, will probably be better off getting one of the books listed in the further reading section.

Trisha’s March Roundup April 3, 2008

A Curse Dark As Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce
As enjoyable as I find fairy tale retellings, I tend not to read them with much urgency. For me, familiarity with the source material often makes the retelling less compelling, more predictable. This was definitely not the case with A Curse Dark As Gold, which had me impatient, anxious, and racing through the pages to discover what would happen next. It’s not that there’s a lot of action, but the tension. Knowing that the story is based on Rumpelstiltskin actually made it more compelling as I wondered how Elizabeth C. Bunce would integrate the various motifs and characters of the fairy tale into her story.

Charlotte Miller is left to run her family’s financially troubled wool mill, Stirwaters, after the death of her father. Charlotte loves Stirwaters and understands how important it is to the village of Shearing. But no matter how hard she and her younger sister, Rosie, work, it seems as if they will lose the mill. Until a strange man calling himself Jack Spinner appears.

This is a fantastic book that deserves a full-length review, if only I could figure out how to write one that actually conveyed how good it is and how much appeal it has for both teens and adults. But it has been reviewed by a number of other bloggers, including Miss Erin, who also brought us this excellent interview, Bookshelves of Doom, and Teen Book Review, among others. Oh, and here’s another interview, this one with Elizabeth C. Bunce’s editor, Cheryl Klein.

The Swan Kingdom by Zoë Marriott
I have mixed feelings about the cover of this book. It does reflect the story well but there’s just waaaaay too much going on. Then again, maybe that makes it an even better match for the book itself, which is another fairy tale retelling (The Wild Swans). Not as good as A Curse Dark as Gold, partly due to the predictability factor, but also because there’s a bit too much going on, just like the cover. However, it is in some ways a more vibrant read than Curse, largely because of Marriott’s voice. And the cover is vibrant, too…

Anyway, Alexandra is devastated when her mother dies. Her father is also heartbroken, but one day he returns from a hunt with a strange woman, proclaiming his love for her and his intention to marry her. The woman, Zella, seems to have a mysterious ability to win over everyone in the kingdom except for Alexandra and her brothers. It’s a very dangerous ability since Alexandra’s father is the king and Zella’s desires have disastrous effects on the kingdom’s wealth, land, and the lives of Alexandra and her brothers.

I was probably trying to read too much into Marriott’s intentions, but in early parts of the book I did wonder if she was trying to make a statement about the environment and women’s roles in fairy tales. Then I decided that, yes, I was reading too much into it because if there was a message, it was getting very mixed.

Also reviewed at Scholar’s Blog.

Empire by James Laxer
Empire is part of the Groundwork Guides series of non-fiction. According to the publisher, “The Groundwork Guides provide an overview of key contemporary political and social issues. Engaging, concise and clearly written, these books tackle pressing and sometimes controversial topics, offering both a lively introduction to the subject and a strong point of view.”

This description definitely applies to Empire, which examines empires from the ancient world through the contemporary U.S. I found parts of it overly simplistic (especially the Red State/Blue State section in chapter 3, “The American Empire”—this was no Barack Obama 2004 Democratic convention speech—but at the same time it raised issues I hadn’t considered before), not surprising for a book so small and slim, and I don’t actually recall seeing a discussion of the French Empire in the section that was supposedly about British and French Empires. That said, it lived up to the concise, lively, and engaging billing. The author’s bias is obvious, but I thought it made the book more readable. (Although it probably didn’t hurt that I basically have the same point of view.) It’s Canadian, which gives it a slightly different perspective I appreciated, and while it’s exactly the kind of YA non-fiction I would have wanted to read as a teen, it won’t be flying of your shelves, either. Limited appeal, but solid stuff for those teens who are interested.

Trisha’s January roundup February 4, 2008

Geek High by Piper Banks
Miranda’s romance writer mother is going to England to do research, leaving Miranda behind with her father, whom she’s had little contact with since her parents divorced, and a stepmother and stepsister she does not get along with. Plus, not only is Miranda blackmailed into organizing her brainy school’s unpopular winter dance, her crush appears to be falling for her stepsister, Hannah. But Hannah does have a cute male friend who just may be interested in Miranda…

I’m not sure why, but for some reason I thought this was going to be a very lightweight, insubstantial read. It wasn’t, not as much as I was expecting, at any rate. But it was still the perfect post-Cybils read—entertaining, well-written, and, thank god, no one died or was abused.

The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray
I won’t say much about this one because I’m afraid of giving away too much of the story. (But if you want to talk, particularly about the denouement, I am so up for a chat about it.) And really, where hasn’t this been reviewed? I think it was even the lead book review in People a couple of weeks ago, if I remember correctly. I will say that there was enough to the story to satisfy me, and I absolutely love the last line of the book.

Also, I came up with a playlist for Gemma last year, around the time the book’s publication was first announced. But after reading the book, it changed significantly, so here’s what is currently on my TSFT playlist:

1. Incantation - Loreena McKennitt
2. Hope There’s Someone - Antony and the Johnsons
3. Woman King - Iron & Wine
4. To Let Myself Go - Ane Brun
5. Miracle - Craig Armstrong
6. It’s In Our Hands - Björk
7. The Mystery of Love - Marianne Faithfull
8. Maybe Not - Cat Power
9. Sé Lest - Sigur Rós
10. Icebound Stream - Laura Veirs
11. Faded from the Winter - Iron & Wine
12. Misery and Mountains, Arrows and Bows - New Buffalo

I realize I’m totally breaking a playlist rule with two Iron & Wine songs on the same playlist but I was unable to pick just one, and I think the sequence of “Icebound Stream,” “Faded from the Winter,” and “Misery and Mountains, Arrows and Bows” works perfectly, so there you go.

TSFT was reviewed by: Angieville, Becky, Bookshelves of Doom, Oops…Wrong Cookie, among others.

Reading Resolutions update:
Tea: The Drink that Changed the World by Laura C. Martin was the non-fiction book I read in January. Let’s see, I like tea, I like microhistories… Is it any surprise I picked this up? But as fascinating as I found it, it was too brief for my tastes, so I plan on reading The Story of Tea and Liquid Jade, as well.

And, as mentioned earlier, the translated book I read was The Redbreast by Jo Nesbø, translated by Don Bartlett. In 1999, a Norwegian detective makes a potentially embarrassing mistake. Transferred to a new department and position, he comes across a report that piques his interest. Full of twists that never feel forced, this book had me totally hooked, especially after the first World War II scene. There were occasional mentions of events that I am sure occurred in the previous (not yet released in the US) book, which once again really makes me wish publishers would bring these series over *in order*, like it appears Vertical is doing with Shinjuku Shark. (February’s rapidly becoming translated-from-Japanese month for me, since I’ve already got five such novels checked out/on hold.)

Jolene’s January Roundup February 3, 2008

Getting It by Alex Sanchez

Carlos is a fifteen year old virgin who feels the pressure to get laid after his three best friends score. He wants to hook up with Roxy the prettiest girl in school, but bombs every-time they meet. After watching Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, Carlos asks Sal a gay guy at his school to make him over and give him girl lessons. Sal agrees to help Carlos on two conditions 1.) Carlos pays him. 2.) Carlos helps him start a Gay Straight Alliance. Carlos agrees to the terms not realizing that Sal will change more than his appearance, but his whole outlook on life. Sanchez does a great of job of teaching acceptance through humor and developing characters that are believable.

The SpellBook of Listen Taylor by Jaclyn Moriarty

First of all I was confused as to whether this book should’ve been an Adult novel rather than YA. Then I found out my suspicions were right after reading a NY times review of the book. Most of the story revolves around the adult characters in the book, and there is only one main teen character Listen Taylor. Also the intertwining plot-lines revolve mainly around the infidelity between the adults. At first I was intrigued with the plotline which started off with Listen finding a spell book containing quirky spells, like how to make someone take a taxi or eat chocolate cake. However, I often found myself lost and bored with the senseless meandering between the 4 main characters. I thought the story would get more interesting, but for me it didn’t, and so I stopped midway through the book.

Vegan with a Vengeanceby Isa Chandra Moskowitz

I think most non-vegetarians have a preconceived notion that vegetarian cuisine mainly consists of granola and grass, but this is not the case when it comes to Vegan with a Vengeance. This book transforms everyday foods like pancakes, eggs, and bacon into vegalicious delights.  Moskowitz who hosts a cooking show via the internet has a knack for making vegan cooking simple, cheap, and accessible.  I am no domestic goddess so this book was perfect for me, and some of the recipes were so easy that even kids could do it.  In addition, the ingredients were easy to find and I could find them in any supermarket. I highly recommend this book if you’re considering becoming a vegetarian or just want to eat more healthy.  Some of my favorite recipes included the Lemon Cupcakes, Faux Hostess Cupcakes, and Corn Chowder. (Pictured below the tasty cupcakes I made!)

Trisha’s (belated) October Roundup November 15, 2007

Just one book, since most of the books I read are Cybils nominees and I may review them later.

Disenchanted Princess by Julie Linker
When her movie producer father is imprisoned for embezzling from his clients, West Deschanel is forced to move in with the only family she has left, her late mother’s sister and her family in Possum Grape, Arkansas.

West may be rich and spoiled, but she also has a good heart and manners, which was very refreshing. Toss in a humorous narration, budding friendships, an interest in fashion (as in making clothes, not just what to wear), and a hot guy, and you’ve got yourself an above average novel. I hate to use the term chick lit because so many people view it as a pejorative (though maybe I can get away with it because there really is a chick on the cover?), but this is really good example of the genre, and one that even people who don’t normally read it can enjoy.

In terms of other media, I have been listening to Iron & Wine’s The Shepherd’s Dog obsessively. Obsessively.

Jolene’s October Round-Up October 30, 2007

 

*Unfortunately I didn’t read any spooky tales for Halloween this year, but I am in the middle of reading Marked, which Trisha reviewed earlier. I just realized the three out of my four selections are sequels or part of a series, it was unconsciously done.

Breaking Up: A Fashion High Novel by Aimee Friedman

A “girlie” graphic novel which centers around the friendship of of four teen girls.  Chloe the artist/dreamer/nerd, MacKenzie the pretty social climber, Isabel the dancer with over protective parents, and Erika the musician with the horny boyfriend.  Overall, a fast read and I loved Christine Norris’s cute artwork.

The Extras by Scott Westerfield

Westerfield’s fourth novel in the Uglies series set in a post-apocalyptic world after Tally’s destruction of the Specials.  New characters and gadgets are presented in a fame-obsessed Japan.  Basically Westerfield’s novel is a commentary on societies current obsession with media and fame, and the downfall it may bring to future civilizations.

Kiki-Strike: The Empress’s Tomb by Kristen Miller

The second book in the Strike series focuses on the mysterious Oona Wong, who has all of sudden reunited with her father.  Oona’s father turns out to be the head boss of the asian gang who previously tried to destroy the Irregulars.  Ananka and the rest of the Irregulars must decide whether they can can trust Oona.  In my opinion, not as exciting as the first novel but still enjoyable for readers who like the characters.

All-In by Pete Hautman

Hautman’s fast paced novel a follow up to No Limit, takes you on a journey through the professional poker circuit.  Denn Doyle is a 16-year old poker prodigy who decides to try his luck in Vegas.  It is there Doyle falls in love with Cattie a teen-runaway who has a fast hand when it comes to dealing.  In the end Doyle loses it all and winds up in an all-in poker showdown with a bitter casino owner.  Will he lose it all or has he already lost everything? Hautman has a style of writing that is smooth and fast; with that in mind this it might remind some readers of a western.  There’s even a quote from Kenny Roger’s the Gambler somewhere in there.

Trisha’s August roundup September 6, 2007

Heartsick by Chelsea Cain
Oh. My. God. I’m tempted to bust out the profanities but will try to control the urge. If you’re a fan of dark thrillers and don’t mind reading about blood and guts, you must read this book. Tortured cop (literally) back on the job, leading a task force tracking a serial killer, even though he’s still haunted by what was done to him by another serial killer. It’s twisted, it’s sick, it’s disturbing, and it’s bloody—and I really mean bloody—brilliant. Available now, so go and find a copy! Totally worth missing an ALA program for.

Get Well Soon by Julie Halpern
Like Jolene, I really enjoyed this book. Halpern has a great voice that grabbed me from the first page. Who knew depression and mental institutions could be so funny?

Evil Genius by Catherine Jinks
So I didn’t love this book like Patti of Oops…Wrong Cookie or A Fuse #8 Production. I like long books, but in this case, the length worked against the book. On one hand, we get to read about Cadel as he ages from seven to fourteen and all the chaos he creates. On the other hand, the last part of the book totally made me roll my eyes, like the train sequence in Speed. Was it really necessary? But the sequel is coming out next year, so who knows, maybe it did need to end that way. Also reviewed by bookshelves of doom and a host of other blogs.

Lily Dale: The Awakening by Wendy Corsi Staub
Calla is spending the remains of her summer with her grandmother in the spiritualist community of Lily Dale, New York. Her mother died in a freak accident, her father’s leaving for California, where the family had planned to spend his sabbatical year, and there’s no way Calla’s staying in Florida with her best friend and her family, which includes Calla’s ex-boyfriend. But when strange things start happening to her in Lily Dale, how long will it take Calla to start believing in the supernatural?

I probably would have liked Lily Dale: The Awakening had it been published fifteen years ago. It’s reminiscent of those YA horror/thrillers I read as an adolescent and, yeah, I can see teens wanting to read it now. But it’s being published in hardcover, and in my opinion, it’s not worth that price. As a paperback original, sure. It’s one of those books to borrow from the library instead of buying your own copy.

Black Tuesday by Susan Colebank
Jayne is Miss Perfect. Even though she’s only a junior, she’s captain of her high school tennis team, has the top GPA in her class, and is well on track to achieving her goal, or rather, her mother’s goal, of getting into Harvard. Everything Jayne has done for as long as she can remember has been done with Harvard in mind. Until she answers her cell phone while driving to tennis practice. She hits another car, and the child in the passenger seat is injured and later dies.

Black Tuesday started off strong but lost momentum. Jayne is at first understandably depressed and despondent, but then just becomes lost, and the story loses its way along with her. There were a few too many coincidences involving the mean girls at school, I didn’t completely buy Jayne’s relationship with her (male) best friend, and everything was resolved a bit too neatly for my taste.

My Swordhand is Singing by Marcus Sedgwick
Publisher’s description:

When Tomas and his son, Peter, settle in Chust as woodcutters, Tomas digs a channel of fast-flowing waters around their hut, so they have their own little island kingdom. Peter doesn’t understand why his father has done this, nor why his father carries a long, battered box, whose mysterious contents he is forbidden to know.

But Tomas is a man with a past: a past that is tracking him with deadly intent, and when the dead of Chust begin to rise from their graves, both father and son must face a soulless enemy and a terrifying destiny.

I think this book was a victim of reader expectations. That is, I was expecting to read a spooky and scary story, and I wasn’t scared at all. So as much as I wanted to like the book, as much as I love the title and the British cover, My Swordhand is Singing was ultimately a disappointment. Mostly, I kept on waiting for Tomas to OPEN THE FREAKING BOX! It was shortlisted for the Booktrust Teenage Prize, though (via bookshelves of doom). It’s also the kind of story that probably would freak me out if it was a movie, even though it didn’t do much for me as a book.

Back to the cover. The American cover (which I cannot find online and my ARC is at work, so no picture here) is so blah. The British cover, on the other hand, is perfect. Spare, simple, and striking.

Jolene’s July Roundup August 9, 2007

*Due to Summer Reading madness my list is short, and the last book runs into August.

Cupid by Julius Lester-A light hearted rendition of the love story between Psyche and Cupid. Some might find Lester’s personal ramblings a little annoying, but I love rambling so I enjoyed it!

Harry Potter and the Dealthly Hollows-Will not spoil it for those who are still reading.  Some predictibility, but I was still not able to put book down.

Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer- I loved it! I’m still enthralled with this love story, which has now turned into a very complicated love triangle. I will say no more you should read the book to find out!  Below is a suggested playlist by Meyer for the book. Meyer is an avid Muse fan, she even credits them at the end of the book. (I think AFI’s Decemberunderground goes nicely with this book, there’s a lot of vampiric references on the album.)

Eclipse Playlist

• Mexican Standoff – Elbow
• Hamburg Song – Keane
• Clocks – Coldplay
• The Small Print – Muse
• Stab My Back – The All-American Rejects
• Overweight [edited] – Blue October
• Mr. Brightside – The Killers
• Newborn – Muse
• Love Me Like You – The Magic Numbers
• Vindicated – Dashboard Confessional
• Hysteria – Muse
• Uninvited – Alanis Morissette
• Yes Please – Muse
• Infra-Read – Placebo
• The Boy Who Blocked His Own Shot – Brand New
• Luv – Travis
• Blackout – Muse
• It’s A Disaster – Ok Go

• *Disappear – My Chemical Romance
• *Sleep – My Chemical Romance
• *Falling Away With You – Muse
• *Accident & Emergency – Patrick Wolf
• *The Well and the Lighthouse – Arcade Fire

*I couldn’t make up my mind about the last song on the playlist, so pick your favorite of these five!

Gayle’s Lame July Roundup August 8, 2007

I have a lame July roundup because I’ve been sharing as I’ve been reading this time around.  So if you look back at reviews, you’ll see what I have to say about the following:

• The Poisoned Apples by Lily Archer
• Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin
• Good As Lily by Derek Kirk Kim
• Clubbing by Andi Watson - Jolene actually reviewed this one and I think she gives a great assessment
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling *munch munch*
• Cool Jewels by Naomi Fujimoto - beading book for all you crafters
• Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale

Overall if you pick any of the lot, you’ll be a satisfied reader. 

Trisha’s July Roundup August 3, 2007

My Heavenly Hockey Club by Ai Morinaga
Why? Why couldn’t my high school years have been like Hana Suzuki’s? I mean, I love sleeping. I love food. I didn’t go so far as to feverishly study to get into a good school close to home just so I could have extra time to sleep, but honestly, proximity to home was the reason I ultimately chose the school I attended from grades 7-12. And I could do without getting hit by a car, have poor hand-eye coordination, and pretty much no athletic ability whatsoever, but still.

On her way to school one day, Hana gets in the way of a moving car. She’s unhurt, but the car is dented. The student being driven in the car proceeds to basically blackmail Hana into joining the school’s field hockey club. Other girls are jealous, but Hana is not too happy about it. Sure, she’s the only girl in the club, and she and the guys in the club (all of whom are attractive, of course) get to travel, eat good food, and somehow manage not to play a game, while finding themselves in crazy situations. But does that make up for having to get up insanely early to practice?

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
Aislinn can see faeries. Her whole life her grandmother has told her how dangerous this ability is, and the danger is only increasing. Keenan, the Summer King, has singled out Ash as his next queen, putting Ash in a more treacherous position than she thinks. She used to feel safe at her friend Seth’s home, surrounded by iron, but will it still be safe now that their relationship seems to be changing?

Wicked Lovely comes thisclose to making my list of YA romances for older teens. Thisclose! Alas, since the development of Ash and Seth’s relationship is not the focal point of the book, it’s an urban fantasy with a really, really strong romantic element. But whether you like romance or fantasy, and especially if you like both, you should definitely read this book. And, oh, the pretty cover.

Marked by PC Cast and Kristin Cast
Zoey was Marked after school as she talked to a friend. She was lucky; hardly anyone else was around. What appeared on her forehead marked her as a vampyre. Escaping from her mother and domineering stepfather that afternoon, Zoey ultimately ends up at the House of Night, a boarding school for teens in the midst of the transformation from human to vampyre.

Marked is the first book in the House of Night series. But while I enjoyed reading it (hello, it’s set in a boarding school, plus there’s a brief mention of the attractiveness of vampires. But really, Kenny Chesney?), I didn’t find it compelling enough to be all that excited that there are more books to come.