How to Ditch Your Fairy by Justine Larbalestier

How to Ditch Your Fairy by Justine Larbalestier

When I was in high school (back in the dark ages known as the late 90s), there were two special programs for gifted high-school students here in Virginia Beach (yay IB!).   By the time I graduated from college and moved back here, almost every high school had some specialty; legal studies, fine arts, marine science, global studies...  Personally, I thought it was a bit over the top -- I mean, should 13 and 14 year-olds really have to specialize?... but I digress.

In Justine Larbalestier's fictional world of New Avalon, the high schools are even more specialized, and 14-year-old Charlie attends the sports high school, taking classes in subjects like public relations, sports accounting, and, of course, a variety of sports including cricket and basketball (Charlie's favorites). 

There are a few other things that are a bit weird about the citizens of New Avalon -- such as the way they worship their celebrities, the way they never even think about what might go on in other cities (a nod to insularity of the US, perhaps?), and, most importantly, the fact that many people have fairies.

Charlie's fairy, for instance, is a parking fairy, which helps her to get the best parking space (not very useful, since she can't even drive).  Her best friend Rochelle, on the other hand, has a shopping fairy that helps her get the best deals.  Charlie, being driven crazy by her fairy, decides to do whatever it takes to get rid of it.

While the story is a bit predictable at times, How to Ditch Your Fairy is light and fun, and was a wonderful distraction on my flight to New York last month.  The world that Larbalestier has created is recognizable, but just different enough to make the reader want to go exploring (sequels perhaps? about students at some of the other high schools?).  And the Shakespearean-ish slang is genius (e.g. a hot guy is referred to as "pulchry" -- short for pulchritudinous).

Definitely recommended, for middle school and older (I wish this book had been around when I was in middle school!).

Readers may also enjoy other titles about unusual high schools:
I'd Tell You I Love You but then I'd Have to Kill You and Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy by Ally Carter  (a spy school)
Fly on the Wall by E. Lockhart (an arts high school)
I know there are others, but none are coming to mind.  Feel free to add any in the comments?

Around the blogs:
Emily Reads, The Compulsive Reader, Reviewer X, YA New York, Bildungsroman, The Ravenous Reader, Bookshelves of Doom, Reading Rants!, The Book Muncher, Kits Lit, Librarilly Blonde

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Graceling by Kristin Cashore
I'm always a little wary of reading novels that have been getting a lot of buzz, afraid that they might not live up to my expectations, but like The Hunger Games,  Graceling certainly lived up to the hype.

In the world of the Seven Kingdoms, some children are born with special gifts, or graces.  These children can be easily recognized by the fact that they have two differently colored eyes (Katsa, for example has one green and one blue, while Po has one gold and one silver).  Katsa's grace is one for killing, and her uncle, King Randa, has used her gift to intimidate his adversaries.  Katsa has found her own rebellion, however, and using her powers to help those in need.  As the novel opens, she meets Po, a young man with a grace for fighting, and they form a rather unusual friendship.

I loved it.  I loved the way Cashore depicted the relationship of Katsa and Po and the worries of Katsa that an intimate relationship would, in some way, mean giving up her independence, the idea that marriage is not necessarily the only option for a happy relationship.*  For me, the adventure and action in the novel, as exciting as it is, takes second place to the exploration of Katsa and Po's relationship.

And I'm completely torn between the US and UK covers.   And about whether this should be a teen book or an adult one (Cashore actually discusses this issue on her own blog ).  The main characters ages are never mentioned (that I can recall, correct me if I'm wrong!) -- though I was imagining Katsa as being in her late teens or early twenties.  There are some intimate scenes in the novel, that while very tasteful, might be seen by some as not appropriate for teens, but are not as graphic as what may be found in adult novels.   This novel may in fact be part of a trend towards more older YA novels (as described by Jonathan Hunt in Hornbook)  Either way, I'd recommend the novel to both teens and adults, and I've already pawned it off onto several of my co-workers.

There have been obvious comparisons made by other reviewers to Tamora Pierce and Shannon Hale...but besides those, readers might also enjoy The Princess and the Hound by Mette Ivie Harrison and Summers at Castle Auburn and the Safe Keeper's Series, both by Sharon Shinn.  Any other titles that you think Graceling readers might enjoy?  Leave a comment!

Other Blog Reviews:
Shelf Elf (and author interview), Fantasy Book Critic, Abby (the) Librarian, Kids Lit, Sandstorm Reviews, Bookshelves of Doom, AmoxCalli, Avid Teen Reader, The Magic of Ink, Omnivoracious (author interview)

*I could make a snide comment here about another fantasy novel, but I'll refrain.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The book world has been buzzing about The Hunger Games since early June, and more impressively, the reviewers have been giving it the highest of praise:

• "The hype surrounding this book is well deserved."
• "I picked up her book and did not put it down unless forced." 
• "Highly recommended, this is a contender for the best science fiction for teens this year." 
• "It stands equal to Westerfeld's Uglies series" 
• "a completely scintillating book and wholly promising start to what's sure to be a spectacular trilogy."
• ... and many, many more  (I have yet to see a single negative review!!!)
  

So, obviously, I was a little bit excited when my copy finally arrived at the library, and now, having devoured it in one sitting, I have to agree completely.

As the novel begins, we meet 16 year old Katniss on the morning of the Reaping.  The Reaping is the first stage in a nationwide, televised reality competition -- The Hunger Games-- where 24 teens (one male and one female from each district of Panem) will literally fight to their death.  And I'm sorry, but that's all I'm going to tell you plotwise.

Katniss, our protagonist, has her flaws, but is strong and intelligent and thinks for herself  (which is more than can be said for certain recent YA heroines *cough*Bella*cough*).  The pacing is perfect -- no long flowery descriptions, not a single dull moment.    Collins seems to have a knack for introducing completely unexpected plot twists exactly when they're needed (wasp attacks, teens turned wolves, etc). The novel ends, nail-bittingly, on a cliff-hanger, and I, for one, am now anxiously awaiting Sept. 2009.

Just read it.  Now.  Get to the nearest library (or if you absolutely must, one of those bookstore places), and read it.  Immediately.

Readers might also enjoy:
The Uglies trilogy by Scott Westerfeld
Tomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden

Beastly by Alex Flinn

Beastly by Alex Flinn
I'm baaaaack! (and it is technically still the beginning of May, right?). I'm going to try to keep the next couple reviews short and to-the-point, so, here goes it:

Kyle Kingsbury is a jerk. He is superficial, mean, and messes with people for the fun of it. And, you can't really blame him, since he has clearly inherited these traits from his father. After playing a trick on goth-classmate- Kendra and pretending to invite her to a school dance, he finds himself turned into a beast. Literally. Hair, claws, the whole works. The catch? He has two years to find (and kiss) his true love.

Set in New York City, this modernized version of Beauty and the Beast plays with the conventions of the fairy tale (Kyle planting roses, having a magic mirror, etc), while also poking fun at society today. For example, in one of the most humorous scenes of the novel, Kyle is trying to find his "true love" by browsing on my-space, and starts using his magic mirror to spy on some of the "teenage girls" that he finds, only to find that one is a 10 year old girl, one a 40 year old man, and so on. At the same time, Flinn accurately portrays Kyle's coming-of-age and his developing friendships.

While I would definitely recommend this novel to fans of fairy-tale re-tellings (and I'm beginning to get the sense that there are a lot of us out there), I think that it could potentially appeal to fans of urban YA romantic titles, such as Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist. Other blog reviews: The YA YA YAs, Cysnations (author interview), YA Authors Cafe (author interview), YA@heart, Mrs. Hill's Book Blog, Read, Read, Read, The Book Muncher

General Winston's Daughter by Sharon Shinn

General Winston's Daughter by Sharon Shinn

[I actually wrote this post almost a month ago, but somehow forgot to publish it!]

I know my posts have been sporadic* of late -- this past week, I started a new job (which is basically the same job I had before, except full-time, and at a different branch). The good news is that I will actually be working a regular schedule, so hopefully I'll be able to post more regularly too. So, today, I'll start trying to cut down my backlog of reviews, starting with Sharon Shinn's General Winston's Daughter.

I discovered Sharon Shinn soon after I started working at the library -- back in those innocent days when my library card wasn't always full, and I could roam the shelves and pick books at random. I highly recommend her YA trilogy (starting with The Safe-Keeper's Secret) and Summers at Castle Auburn, though I've never really been able to get into her adult series. General Winston's Daughter, however, is a stand-alone novel, and, while taking place in an different universe from ours, reads more like a historical novel than a fantasy.

As the novel begins, Averie, our heroine, is in route to Chiarrin, a neighboring country that has recently been colonized by the Aebrian army, to join her father (the general mentioned in the title), and her fiance Morgan. On the long boat trip, however, she becomes acquainted with Lieutenant Ket Du'kai, who is also a member of the Aebrian army, but is from another neighboring country that was colonized a hundred years earlier, and from her discussions with him, she begins to question her country's role in these other nations (and, of course, she begins to have feelings for him). Once in Chiarrin, she becomes enamored with their culture and even begins dressing like a Chiarrizi woman. But things aren't all as they seem in Chiarrin, and a revolution is brewing...

This novel can be read on multiple levels. On the surface, it is an engrossing romantic read, a story of a young girl and her choice between two very different men. But, digging a little deeper, Shinn also presents a thought-provoking discussion of colonialism, and, perhaps, even a veiled criticism of our current occupation in Iraq. This is not a topic that I've seen before in YA lit (though if you know of any other examples, please, leave a comment), and while I hate to suggest that any novel is "good for" teens**, I do think this is an important topic for them to be introduced to. At times, this lesson seemed to be a little too overt, but this may be my own academic background (I majored in Hispanic studies -- which is basically cultural studies in Spanish), and teens might not find it to be quite as obvious.

I'm curious to see what other readers though of this one. Anyone else read it yet? Let me know in the comments.

*And by sporadic, I mean non-existent.

**In the sense that eating your vegetables is "good for you"

Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale

Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale

Winner of the 2007 Cybils Award for Science Fiction/Fantasy!

Personally, I think Emily's review sums it up quite nicely, but, as with all of Shannon Hales novels, I absolutely loved Book of a Thousand Days.

The novel, written in the form of a diary, begins as Dashti and her mistress are being locked away in a tower for one thousand days. Dashti's mistress, Lady Saren, has refused to marry her suitor, for reasons that she is unable to explain, and is therefore imprisoned. As a lady's maid, Dashti's role is to care for her mistress, but she soon finds herself fighting for their survival. Dashti, like Hale's earlier heroines, is strong and feisty and resourceful, and is just the type of heroine to inspire today's teen girls*.

Like all of Hale's novels, the writing is lyrical and wonderful, but at the same time, completely convincing as a diary. And, the best part is, (to quote Justine Larbalestier), that "At the same time they manage to be about class and power and the battle of the sexes, which I think some readers of hers manage to miss. I’m trying to figure out if that’s a good or a bad thing." I believe that this must be a good thing, as even the readers who miss these issues may still pick up on them subconsciously, or, you know, absorb them through osmosis.

And, after you finish reading Book of a Thousand Days, be sure check out Shannon and Dean Hale's adorable story of their first kiss in First Kiss (Then Tell).

Other Reviews:

Miss Erin

Wands and Words

Kids Lit

Deliciously Clean Reads

Reading YA: Readers' Rants

Bookshelves of Doom

The YA YA YAs

*Every time I read one of Shannon Hale's novels, I find myself wanting to buy a copy to save for any future daughters I might have in the far, far future.

Christmas shopping... help!!!

So, here's the thing: I already figured out one Christmas present for my boyfriend, but I wanted to get him one other little present, and this is where I need your help...

But first, I don't think he reads this often, but just in case... (Matt, if you're reading this, STOP RIGHT NOW!!!)

Anyway, what I want is to find him a new fantasy series.

He's just finishing Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth Series (I just checked the last one out for him today), and has read most of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time. But besides that, he's kind of picky, and starts fantasy series only to find something wrong with them (read one Terry Brooks and liked it, but then didn't like the next one, and so on). Specifically, he likes books where each character has a different power or ability (a la WoT), but also prefers that they are realistic within the world that the author has created (so characters don't just suddenly happen to have the exact power that they need or the exact tool at exactly the right time!).

Science Fiction might be okay too; he's read some Vonnegut, and Scott Westerfeld's adult sci-fi (and yet, for some reason, I can't get him to read Midnighters). And, he generally won't read YA, unless I just happen to have something lying around, but he has enjoyed A School for Sorcery (and sequels) and Epic.

I don't read a lot of fantasy, or even much adult fiction, so all I can do is look on Novelist and Amazon and get ideas, but I was hoping that with all of your collective expertise, you might be able to give me some suggestions (and suggestions for where to look are also welcome!).

(Oh, and if you're wondering, the picture is of Warwick Castle in England)

Extras by Scott Westerfeld

Extras by Scott Westerfeld

When I was in college, there was this tradition, called "blow-out," that on the last day of classes, many students would start drinking first thing in the morning (or even the night before), and then go to class, water bottles full of alcohol in hand. There were rumors of professors doing shots with their students, and it was a common sight to see students walking around campus with plastic cups*.

Now, I was not exactly a big drinker (or legally old enough to drink, for that matter), so what was I doing on the very last day of classes in my college career?

I was curled up in bed, reading a book that I had randomly checked out from the local public library. And that book was Uglies, the first book in Scott Westerfeld's wonderful futuristic "trilogy."

I put "trilogy" in quotes because, you know, trilogies are supposed to have 3 books... and this specific trilogy ended up having an Extra volume (pun intended).

Extras takes place about five years after the mind rain at the end of Specials, in a city halfway across the world. In this city, which is probably in Japan, the mind rain has resulted in a whole new culture, one based on face rank and feeds, one full of different cliques that try crazy new things (truth surgery, for example).

Fifteen year old Aya has grown up learning about Tally Youngblood and the mind rain in school. Aya, with a face rank of 451,369, is in search of a great new story to kick, and happens upon the Sly Girls, a group of girls who do crazy tricks (like surfing on top of a mag lev train), and try to keep their identities hidden. But when Aya joins their group, she discovers something even more interesting -- something that could mean the destruction of her city.

Like the first three books in the series, Extras is a quick, suspenseful read. What Westerfeld does so well though, is to write these very readable books that are, at the same time, thought-provoking. For example, the society in Extras with the feeds and the face ranks could easily lend itself to a very interesting discussion of today's social networking culture. This would be a great pick for teen book clubs, and, while part of a series, can definitely stand on its own.

*There were also e-mails sent out every year from the administration asking us to "please party safely" and warnings that one could be arrested or expelled. But, as far as I could tell, these warnings were generally ignored.

Spells and Sleeping Bags by Sarah Mlynowski

Well, you see, my copy of Lean Mean Thirteen just happened to appear on my shelf at the library... and then that little movie about our favorite boy wizard* was showing in the theater, so my plan to get caught up sort of went out the window.

I read the first book in Sarah Mlynowski's Magic in Manhattan trilogy while I was in college. I'm not sure how I heard about it, but I remember staying up way later than I should have because I just couldn't put it down. I wasn't especially impressed by the writing, but I just couldn't wait to see how it would end.

So, when I got Spells and Sleeping Bags from the library, it jumped to the top of my ever-growing to-be-read pile. I actually ended up reading it all afternoon on the 4th (so patriotic, I know), and completely ignoring my boyfriend (though I found him a book to read**, so he didn't seem to mind). And I enjoyed this third entry in the series just as much as the first two.

WARNING: If you haven't read the first two, stop reading immediately and head to your local library. This may contain SPOILERS!

Okay, so Rachel, who has finally gotten her powers, and Miri, her little sister who is also a witch, are headed off to Camp Wood Lake. Rachel is very excited; after all, this is the camp that Raf (her crush) has been attending for years. But of course, things are not exactly smooth-sailing for Rachel (or Miri). She can barely swim, her bunk-mate Liana seems to be trying to steal both her crush and her little sister. Not to mention that her mother, her father, and her new stepmother are all coming for visitors day.

I think I may have actually enjoyed this a little more than the last two, and I was definitely laughing out loud at times. For example, when the campers have movie night, they watch the newest Harry Potter movie, and Rachel says something about how she was hoping for a romantic comedy, not the story of her life. (I was going to include the actual quote, but I already returned my copy to the library, and all the copies are now checked out). And the banter between Rachel and Miri reminds me so much of my own conversations with my younger step-sister.

My only complaint is that this seems to be the last book in the series (the author's website does refer to it as a trilogy after all). But the ending seems to leave it open enough for more (or maybe a series about Miri... please!!). A perfect beach read for younger readers (I know my middle-school self would have adored these books), this is a fun antidote to all the heaviness of Harry Potter (and all the other young-hero-has-to-save-the-world fantasies).

*Loved it, by the way.

**Epic by Conor Kostick -- I'm working on convincing him to guest-review for me

Dreamhunter and Dreamquake by Elizabeth Knox

In the Dreamhunter Duet, Elizabeth Knox has created one of the most original fantasy worlds I've visited in a very long time. In this world, which seems to be based on early 20th century Australia, dreams are a commodity, a form of entertainment. The dreamhunters are a special group of people who have the ability to go into the Place, where they pick up dreams to take back to the cities where they dream them for paying audiences.

When the story begins, Laura and Rose, our two heroines, are getting ready for their Try, or the test where they find out if they are dreamhunters. Laura's father Tziga, and Rose's mother Grace, are both well-known dreamhunters, but then Tziga goes missing and both girls become embroiled in the politics of the Dreamhunting world. I don't want to give away any more of the plot, but there's intrigue and romance and enough plot twists to keep one guessing until the end.

Knox's lyrical storytelling gives the novels a dream-like atmosphere, and both are perfect reads for lounging on a summer afternoon. I would highly recommend this for fans of Phillip Pullman (while I still haven't read His Dark Materials*, I was reminded of the Sally Lockhart trilogy which I adored) and Justine Larbalestier**.

Be warned, however, that the first novel ends rather abruptly, so be sure to have the second one on hand!

And now, for a little eye-candy, I present: the Australian cover-art. Is it wrong to have cover-art envy?

*But I have it checked out. That has to count for something, right?

**I actually first heard about these books from Justine Larbalestier's blog

Reviews are coming later today. I promise.

But I just had point out that Justine Larbalestier has won the second ever Norton Award for Magic or Madness. If you head over to her blog, you can read her thoughts on winning the award (and her thoughts on why the world will end if Harry Potter dies in Book 7)

Also, if you've already read Magic or Madness, check out the other titles on the Norton Shortlist

• Devilish by Maureen Johnson
• The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
• Midnighters 2: Touching Darkness by Scott Westerfeld
• Peeps by Scott Westerfeld
• Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

I've read all of them except for The King of Attolia (only because I still haven't read the first two books in that series... yet), and I would highly recommend all five.

Magic's Child by Justine Larbalestier

I am such a library geek: Do you know what made me read this series? Not the fact that it's fantasy, not the fact that the author is married to one of my other favorite authors, but this:

"Apparently, calling my first novel, Magic or Madness was a big fat mistake. It’s the “or” that’s the problem, with certain searches it brings up lots of results that get in between you and finding my book. That can’t be good. And of course no one can spell my surname . . . " (From the author's blog)

There are certain authors whose books automatically jump to the top of my "to be read" pile, and Justine Larbalestier is definitely one of them.

Am I a horrible person if I tell you absolutely nothing about the plot? The thing is -- I really can't tell you anything about the plot of the third book without spoiling the first two completely and you absolutely must read those first (Though there may end up beings spoilers in the comments).

However, the general premise of the MorM world is this: Like all fantasy novels, some people are born with magical abilities. But there's a twist, they only have so much magic, and when they use it up, they die. There's an alternative, but it's not much better: if they don't use their magic, they'll go insane. (Thus the title). Reason, our 15-year-old heroine, has lived her whole life with her mother, who chose the second option. But when her mother tries to kill herself and is therefore institutionalized, Reason is sent to live with her grandmother, who at 45, is nearing the end of her magical life. The magical abilities are also not what one expects -- Reason has an amazing aptitude for math and patterns. Her friend Tom can create magical clothing, and Jay-Tee's magic is in movement -- like running and dancing. (None of this, ooh-look-at-me-I can-fly-or-read-minds... etc.)

Magic or Madness is hands-down one of the most original fantasy trilogies I've read in a very long time. I'll admit, I've gotten a little tired of the whole, hero-finds-out-that-he-has-magical-powers-and-must-go-on-a-very-long-quest-to-save-the-world type novels, so this series is a breath of fresh air.

If you haven't read this trilogy yet, run (do not walk, do not pass go, do not collect $200) to your nearest library and read it now.

And definitely check out the author's website and blog for all kinds of interesting things, like the very first draft of the first chapter of Magic or Madness, and this adorable story of her romance with her husband, Scott Westerfeld

Harry Potter VII covers released!!!

Via Bookshelves of Doom:

If you head over to Leila's blog (see above link), you can see the UK versions too, but do you have any idea how happy this makes me???

And the color seems rather... hopeful? (or maybe that's just my subconcious begging: "please don't kill Harry... or Ron... or Hermione... or Ginny!")

Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Don't read this book on an empty stomach!

I'm serious. In the very first paragraph of the first chapter, we find Quincie, our heroine, eating fettuccine with scallops and garlic. I think my mouth actually started watering at that point.

Okay, so Quincie is 17, starting her senior year of high school. Her parents died a few years earlier, leaving her heir to an Italian restaurant (which is currently being redecorated with a vampire theme). Oh, and her best friend, Kieren (who she has been in love with for years) just so happens to be a hybrid Werewolf.

One night, however, while Quincie is in the back of the restaurant, waiting for Kieren (and hatching up plans for how to seduce him), the chef is murdered in the kitchen. And it doesn't look like the killer was human...

There are of course, obvious comparisons to be made to Twilight and New Moon. And personally, I liked Quincie a bit more than Bella. Bella just moped around too much for my taste (especially in New Moon); Quincie has more spunk. Fans of Stephanie Meyer will definitely eat this one up.

And isn't that cover just gooooorgeous?