Shelf Life

Blackbringer cover image

Fairies, and Imps, and Devils– oh my! Not my usual choice for reading material, but wow! This is a great fantasy read. It was an unsolicited donation from the publisher along with an advanced reader’s copy of the sequel, Silksinger (which I can’t wait to read). Both are part of the “Dreamdark” series.

This one is tough to put down. It’s got Magpie Windwitch, a spunky, half-wild, adolescent fairy (she is only 100 years old) as the protagonist. Thousands of years have passed since the Djinn and the fairies won the devil wars, locking the “snags” in magically sealed bottles and tossing them into the ocean. Since then, the Djinn have withdrawn from the world they created and faeries have grown complacent and have been letting magic slip away bit by bit. Now new creatures, humans or “mannies”, have arisen and are accidentally releasing the captured devils. Magpie and her band of crows travel the world hunting down the newly freed demons. But the latest devil to escape represents a different type of evil and it may mean the end of the world. Can she stop the Blackbringer before it destroys everyone and everything?

Magpie is a great protagonist. She is coarse, tough, brave, and determined. She is surrounded by an engaging—and sometimes terrifying—mix of characters. The crows, the imps, the devils, and the other faeries all help bring the story to life. There is plenty of action to keep kids reading and just enough of the dark side to lure the vampire-addicts into a different genre. This is excellent fantasy—even for non-fantasy readers.

Highly recommended for grades 7-12.

by Mr. Doyle

Click to hear an excerpt.

This amazing debut novel was another impulse buy at Barnes and Noble (note to self: must trust my impulses more). In it Cashore has created a compelling story with memorable, complex characters—especially the protagonist, Katsa. The author has combined the best of fantasy and romance and created a story that will appeal to all readers (even teen boys—if they are brave enough to open it up).

Katsa is Graced. That is to say she has a talent of almost supernatural ability. Many Gracelings are feared and avoided because they are different, but Katsa is especially reviled because her Grace is killing. Against her will, she is used as a tool by her uncle, the brutal king Randa. At his orders she scares, tortures, and kills those who dare to defy him. Over time she has come to see herself as others see her—a brutal killer. She hates the king, hates her Grace, and, frequently, hates herself. She feels powerless to change her fate until she meets Prince Po, a Graceling fighter from a distant kingdom. He sees the real Katsa beneath the killer exterior and helps her to see herself differently. Together they embark on a dangerous mission to unravel the mystery of Po’s grandfather’s kidnapping. They push themselves to the limits of their considerable physical abilities, risking life and limb to free a kingdom from a tyrant and, in the process, discover their true selves and true love.

Cashore’s writing skill is impressive. While she is very descriptive, the story never bogs down. The book is peppered with enough action sequences to keep the reader in a state of anticipation but not overwhelmingly so. And Katsa is a heroine that you will not soon forget. She is reminiscent of the similarly named Katniss in Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games.

Highly recommended for grades 8-12.

By Mr. Doyle

Book 1 of the Gatekeeper Series

Horowitz’s Alex Rider series, beginning with Stormbreaker, is extremely popular, especially with boys. In Raven’s Gate he takes a break from the spy/thriller genre and delves into fantasy/horror. The result is a new series that will be just as popular as the Alex Rider books. It may also serve as a segue into another genre for his dedicated readers, leading them to meatier fare like Terry Brooks’ Shannara series and authors like David Almond and Kevin Brooks.

Raven’s Gate has everything a reluctant reader could want: a troubled hero with checkered past facing overwhelming odds, good vs. evil, and lots of heart-stopping action. The protagonist, Matt, is an orphan who is in trouble with the law. As an alternative to jail Matt is sent to a foster home in an isolated village, far from the temptations of the city. Matt lands in the home of Mrs. Deverill, a harsh, unsmiling woman with a bleak, run-down farm in the middle of nowhere. Matt soon discovers that something bizarre is going on. When he tries to get help people begin to die. Matt must either defeat the evil forces about him or become a tool in their sinister plot. The fast-paced action and the dark, foreboding atmosphere make this a real page turner and a fun read.

Highly recommended for grades 7-12.

By Mr. Doyle

I must admit that it was with a little trepidation that I started reading this book. Card’s “Ender” series and the companion “Shadow” series are among the best books I have ever read. I want to like everything Card writes but I just couldn’t get into his “Homecoming” series and I am not normally a fantasy reader (yes, I am one of those sf snobs who has to grit his teeth every time I walk into a bookstore and see all of the fantasy mixed in with the science fiction– they’re different genres!!). To top it off, this book features an entirely African-American cast of characters. Orson Scott Card is not African-American. Neither am I but my wife and kids are so I was actually afraid that Card would commit one of two common mistakes white writers make when writing African-American characters: create stereotypical, one-dimensional character or write white characters and call them black. To my relief he did neither. In the afterword Card explains why he wrote a book with African-American characters and how avoided these pitfalls. It’s an interesting story.

So the characterization is well done but is the story worth reading? Absolutely. This is no Ender’s Game (but then, what books is?) but it is an original and very readable story. Card takes characters from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer’s Night Dream and inserts them into a middle and upper middle class African-American neighborhood in modern day Los Angeles. People’s wishes and dreams become weapons in a war between magical beings. At the center of the battle is Mack Street, a changeling found in plastic grocery bag in a flood basin by 12-year-old Ceese Tucker. Mack is taken in by Ms. Smircher who raises him with Ceese’s help, the older boy becoming a nanny/older brother to the unusual foundling. Mack discovers early on that he posses a powerful gift that, unchecked, hurts the people around him. So he learns to control it– at least he thinks he does.

On one of his habitual walks Mack notices something out of the corner of his eye. Imperceptible to everyone else, he has found an entrance into another world. He learns that this new realm is inextricably linked to the real world. He also learns that his unusual gift is to be used in a terrible battle that will cross the boundary between the two worlds and could destroy all those he knows and loves.

As in most of his writings, Card infuses the story with large doses of morality. And, as in Ender’s Game and other books Card makes his heroes and villains sometimes morally ambiguous. The climax has plenty of imaginative action and the writing is very good. This is a great addition to high school fantasy collections.

By Mr. Doyle

(Note: I read this last fall and never blogged it.)

Book 1 in this duet, Dreamhunter, ended seemingly in the middle of the story’s climax. It was one of those endings that makes you want to take the author by the lapels and yell, “why did you do that to me?!” Finally, after more than a year, the second book was released. There was no way I was going to wait for the paperback. Now I can forgive Ms. Knox. Dreamquake is every bit as good as book1, and this time the story has an ending.

This volume begins with the cataclysmic scene that ended the first book. Laura Hame, a young dreamhunter (someone who can catch and share dreams from the mysterious “Place”) overrides her famous aunt as she shares a pleasant holiday dream with thousands of people at the Rainbow Opera. The dream Laura shares is terrifying and it begins to expose insidious government corruption and abuse. Laura’s actions sicken and injure thousands of people and create turmoil. As Laura, her living sandman creation, and her cousin Rose, struggle to remain free and to show people the truth about the government’s plans, Laura must also deal with a larger and more profound mystery. What is “The Place”, where did it come from, and what does it want from her?

While there is a good deal of action and plenty of plot twists, it is the relationships that rule in this story. Knox is a pleasure to read and she creates some great characters, not least of which is Nown, the sandman. If you haven’t read Dreamhunter already you should definitely read that first. Highly recommended for stronger readers grades 9-adult.

By Mr. Doyle

I haven’t read the first book in the series (yet ) but this volume stands very well on it’s own.

As a war between Araluen and the forces of the evil Morgarath draws ever nearer, Will, apprenticed to legendary Ranger Halt, is sent on a diplomatic mission with warrior apprentice Horace and Ranger Gilan to seek military support from a neighboring kingdom. Their simple, peaceful mission soon becomes a desperate journey to prevent Morgarath from springing a devestating trap on the Araluen army. Will, Horace, and a mysterious young woman in disguise are on their own in hostile territory, facing an army of vicious Wargals and a band of Skandian mercanaries.

Will is a likeable character and the action scenes are gripping. The books ends with a setup for volume 3 in the series, The Icebound Land and the recently released book 4, The Battle for Skandia. It is fun read for fans of epic series like “Lord of the Rings,” “Guardians of Ga’Hoole,” and “Shannara.”

Mr. Doyle

The Once and Future King, by T.H White, is an amazing novel. Most definately one of my favorite books, it falls into a wide range of catagories, ranging from fantasy to romance, As all epic stories, this ends with the downfall of main character who tries his best to come out victorious. Though, The last sentence may have just ruined the ending for any readers who were going to read thise novel, the important thing about this novel isn’t whether King Arthur comes out the winner or not, but rather, how he fails. This novel tells the tale of the legendary King Arthur, the creator of the Round Table, and master of the greatest knight there ever was, Sir Lancelot. This novel is perfect for readers who enjoy tales of romance, betrayal, and perseverance.

By Amardeep Cheema

Ever wonder where vampirse come from, or how they can go about unnoticed? Well, if so here’s a novel for you. Vampire Mountain, by Darren Shan, is about a half-blooded vampire and his full-blooded instructor and how they travel to the home of the Vampire Princes in order to alert them of a coming new danger. Just as all his other novels, this is written for those of you who live for the excellent combination of suspense and horror.

By Amardeep Cheema

When Eragon finds a blue stone in the forest, he thinks it is a lucky discovery for a poor farm boy. But when the stone brings a dragon hatchling, his life is shattered. The world he lives in suddenly takes a plunge into an old legacy. The novel Eragon is about a young teenager Eragon who finds a dragon egg. He plans to use the egg to buy meat for the winter but little does he know that the egg is a dragon hatchling. When the Empire realizes that a simple farm boy has become a rider, it attacks. Eragon’s uncle is killed and Eragon is forced to flee with his dragon, Saphira. His only hope is to find the Varden before the Empire finds him.

This novel is really great. It is an adventure story that you must read. The novel really makes me feel like I am in a different world. It is so full of details that you can see the story take place right before your eyes as you read it. This novel also teaches a moral on the importance of friendship and family. I give this novel two thumbs up and recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading.

By Gurpreet Kaur

Wicked is a thrilling novel about the Wicked Witch of the West and the Wizard of OZ. The novel gives the reader a thrilling chase through OZ and a new point of view.
 
     The novel starts out with the birthing of Elphaba and her life as an infant with a fear of water, unnaturally green skin, and razor sharp teeth. The novel then sh\kips ahead to Elphaba’s college days where the reader meets Galinda, Nessarose, Elphaba’s sister, and various other characters. Also in this section the reader is introduced to the Wizard of OZ and his various “crimes”.  Elphabas true personality comes out as the reader follows along her adventures and mistakes, and growing friendship with Galinda.  In the next section of the book, Elphaba becomes known as the Wicked Witch of the West by her own choice, Nessarose has become the Wicked Witch of the East behind her back, and Galinda becomes the Good Witch Glinda. Dorothy is also introduced and we follow along a familiar path in a new light.
 
I personally loved this book. It shines a new light on an old story and give the reader a new perspective.

By Gracie Goodman

Meg Cabot’s The Mediator is a novel series made for teens. It follows the story of Suze Simons, who is a high school student and a mediator. Mediators talk to the dead and solve their problems so that they may move on past the earthly world. Suze has to balance her education and her job as a mediator. She battles unruly spirits and often times, gets into trouble with the law. She also has to deal with a different kind of problem. She has fallen hard for the very handsome ghost that haunts her bedroom. This book is great for those who like teen adventure and teen drama. I would recommend this book to those looking for a fun and different kind of novel.

By Jaspreet Singh

In the book A Great and Terrible Beauty, by Libba Bray, Gemma Doyle is taken from her home in India, and sent to a finishing school in London. While she is there, she learns about the schools history, and the death of two girls and a teacher that happened many years before she arrived.This book has mystery, supernatural powers, and a good storyline. It is a really interesting book and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys mystery or supernatural stories.

By Kim Davis

Do you like a story full of mystery, adventure and fruit? In the novel Black, Thomas Hunter, the protagonist, is a writer that has found himself in trouble with the Mafia. One night, they find him and a chase ensues. A stray bullet clips Thomas’ head, and he is knocked unconscious. When he wakes up, he is another world full of black. The sky is black, the trees look like they have been burned, and thousands of hostile black bats cover the trees. They attack him, and he faints. When he wakes up, he is back in Denver with a massive headache. He soon finds out that whenever he falls asleep, he wakes up in another world. Now he is caught between the two worlds, each on the brink of destruction. In one, a virus threatens to destroy the whole world. In the other, a massive battle between good and evil threatens the entire planet, and only Thomas can save them both.

This is the first book in the Circle Trilogy. I know that every book review says that their book will keep you on the on the edge of your seat, in suspense until the last page, so I won’t (but it does). This book is like a cross between the Matrix and Lord of the Rings, with action and romance so it’s perfect for the ladies as well. I greatly recommend this book for anyone who is sick of studying theme, symbolism or anything else that the English teachers try to cram into us, and just want some brain candy.

By Ian Naldi

What would you do if you had the chance to live forever? You may be thinking this only occurs in fairy tales. Well that’s what the Tuck family thought before they drank water from a spring that turned them immortal. They soon meet Winnie, an overprotective child, who they become good friends with. She becomes real close to the Tuck family and they soon tell her their secret. She learns the great problem they are faced with. They are forced to hide from the world because if anyone figures their secret out then the world would completely change. Now Winnie has to decide if she should drink from the spring and stay the same age forever.

By Elizabeth Cisneros

This novel was about a young boy name ken who’s sixteen year old that lost his bests friend in a plane crash. When his friends dies ken wants to be invulnerable he met Cherri buttercups she was a voodoo priestess who charge ken only $50 dollars for his soul. Ken sold his soul to Cherri buttercup at first ken though it was cool because he couldn’t get hurt nothing couldn’t hurt him. He when with his parents to st.caolo for vacation in there he met a girl name Sabine. Ken when to st.caolo to surf and to see the sharks he went deep in the water he saw a shark the shark try to bite ken in the leg but nothing happened to him and the shark left Sabine was behind him and she saw everything ken then got out of the water and told Sabine everything Sabine told him that he needed to get his soul back before Cherri buttercup had control over his soul he had to get his soul back

By angelica vasquez

Just last year, I read the novel, A Wrinkle in Time written by Madeline L’Engle. This novel is one of the most creative and interesting science fiction books I’ve read so far. And I HATE science fiction! A Wrinkle in Time is a compelling novel in which the boundaries of time is put into question. The protagonist, a young girl named Meg, travels through time in search of her father. But this “travel through time” novel is like no other. This novel explores the idea of traveling into creative and unseen worlds. I think this book is great and it can make even those who shiver at the very thought of science fiction, warm up to its unique story line.

By Gabriella Medoza

Breeanna Brewer wrote:
The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman was one of the best books that I have ever read. The Amber Spyglass is the third book in a three part series. The books start out with Lyra, the protagonist, being given a magical compass that will answer any question that it is asked. Lyra goes on a journey to find her friend, but later on he is killed and so she follows her dad through a doorway to a different world. In the second book Lyra meets Will. Will has the subtle knife which has the power to cut into other worlds allows him to travel to any worlds that he wants to. Lyra teams up with Will to help him find his father, but in the end she is captured by her evil mother. This is where The Amber Spyglass begins.

In this part of the series Will decides that he is going to rescue Lyra. After he rescues her they decide to go to the underworld so that they can talk to Will’s father, since he died in the second book. They learn that the underworld is a horrible place and they want to help set the people down there free. The rest of the book is about them trying to set the poor people free. What Lyra doesn’t know is that there is a prophecy about her saying that she will be the key to what happens in the future, and what she does will affect all of the worlds. The end of the book explains all of this and concludes with answering everything that you need and want to know.
The Amber Spyglass is a mixture of adventure, mystery, religion, and romance.
It is the ultimate book. The Amber Spyglass is full of action and it keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole time. When you read this book you don’t want to put it down. This story is full of many surprises and when reading it you never know what is going to happen next. The Amber Spyglass is the ultimate adventure story that will keep you reading for hours. If you want to read a book that will take you into another world and let you experience one of the greatest stories ever then The Amber Spyglass is for you.

A three part tournament that has not been played for centuries, due to numerous deaths, is resurrected to be played once more. The location of choice, Hogwarts, a school of witchcraft and wizardry, and two international schools, Drumstrang and Beauxbatons, send potential participants for it’s a tournament between schools.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, by J.K. Rowling, has Harry and his friends’ fates spell bound. A participant for the tournament, one from each school, a champion, is selected in a mysterious way with only a name on parchment from the start. Harry doesn’t put his name in the Goblet but some how ends up being Hogwarts second champion. The first part of the tournament proves to be difficult as it is and the next two continue to be more challenging and require more strategy. Each champion attempts to out do each other to lead their school to victory. Just before a victor would rise, the unexplainable happens and tragedy strikes when the return of the dark wizard that brings havoc in the wizarding and nonwizarding world. This adversary has a longing desire for something; the school needs a victor that is if it still exists.

By Ant M?

Marlfox, by Brian Jacques, is an excellent novel about determination and perseverance. The novel begins with the introduction of a new danger to the creatures of Mossflower, a breed of Marlfoxes. They attempt to take anything and everything simply in order to please their Queen, who is attempting to outwit death. The Marlfoxes set their eyes on Redwall Abbey, the home of all the woodland creatures who wish to live in peace. However, the Marlfoxes soon find out that they’re more than just a simple group of peace loving animals.

Through all the horror and mayhem which occurs in the beginning, the tapestry of Redwall is stolen, and four brave young ones head off to take it back form the greedy paws of the Marlfoxes.

Exciting, breathtaking, and full of adventure, this is one of the best novels Jacques has ever written, and I suggest to anyone who enjoys exciting novels to read this one.

By Amardeep Cheema

Watership Down by Richard Adams is a book about a group of rabbits that leave their warren, their home, to find a better place to live and start another warren. This book is an interesting mix of excitement, laughter and suspense as Hazel and Fiver lead the way through the valley’s and accross the rivers to the perfect place for their group ro settle down. Along the way, the rabbits encounter many challenges that threaten their chances of suvival. This is a good book for people who like to get caught up in the fictional world of adventure.

By Michelle Benziger