There's always room for another dystopian YA series!

 

The Fire Sermon

By Francesca Haig

Series: The Fire Sermon (1)

Hardcover: 384 pages

Publisher: Gallery Books; 1st Edition (March 10, 2015)

ISBN-10: 1476767181

ISBN-13: 978-1476767185

Approximate Lexile: 1090

 

The Map of Bones

By Francesca Haig

Series: The Fire Sermon (2)

Hardcover: 416 pages

Publisher: Gallery Books (May 3, 2016)

ISBN-10: 147676719X

ISBN-13: 978-1476767192

Approximate Lexile: 1090

Publisher’s Blurb:

Nuclear war, dystopian unrest, a genetic mutation that divides twins in life and unites them in death—the “refreshingly nuanced” (Booklist, starred review) first novel in award-winning poet Francesca Haig’s richly imagined and action-packed post-apocalyptic trilogy “is poised to become the next must-read hit” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review).

Four hundred years after a nuclear apocalypse, all humans are born in pairs: the deformed Omegas, who are exploited and oppressed, and their Alpha twins, who have inherited the earth—or what’s left of it. But despite their claims of superiority, the Alphas cannot escape one harsh fact: whenever one twin dies, so does the other.

Cass is a rare Omega whose mutation is psychic foresight—not that she needs it to know that as her powerful twin, Zach, ascends the ranks of the ruling Alpha Council, she’s in grave danger. Zach has a devastating plan for Omega annihilation. Cass has visions of an island where a bloody Omega resistance promises a life of freedom. But her real dream is to discover a middle way, one that would bring together the sundered halves of humanity. And that means both the Council and the resistance have her in their sights.

My Thoughts:

It seems as though every writer who wants to make their name big in a hurry says, “Hey, I’ll write a dystopian YA trilogy.” Francesca Haig is a poet of some renown, and I have to wonder what made her decide on this genre.

That said, being a poet, where it’s all about saying more in fewer, but more potent, words, serves her well. Her writing is richly descriptive and the vocabulary is beautiful. She describes scenes and emotions vividly. (That would account for the higher Lexile of these books.)

 Yes, the formula is more-or-less followed. Young woman with a special gift, who feels responsible for some of the bad in the world around her. Oppressive society in which one group is pitted against another. No love triangle, at least.

In trying to stay with her twin, Zach, Cass inadvertently gives him a hatred of Omegas. He can’t exterminate them, though, for if one twin dies, the other does, too. They feel each other’s pain. But Zach comes up with a startling plan to make Omegas “disappear” nonetheless, and it is this plan which Cass and her associates discover and fight to stop.

The first book sets up the action, and is not without its climactic and heartbreaking moments. I received book two as an advance reader copy, and was glad that my library had the first book available. It’s a shame there wasn’t a longer wait for it—that means not enough people are reading it!

I could not have understood the second book without having read the first. The author does spend some time on exposition, but there is a lot that would have gone right past me without it. I look forward to reading the third installment.

 I recently reviewed the second book of another dystopian YA series, Glass Sword. This hits the mark in all the ways in which that one let me down. Yes, it’s a middle volume. They always consist of a lot of stage-setting for the climactic volume, but this one does so in a more satisfying way.

My biggest criticism is that a lot of time is spent in just traveling, in the first book and even more in the second. It’s somewhat like the final Harry Potter volume in that respect. It could probably have been tightened up and been even better.

Possible Objectionable Material:

A couple of same-gender couples. Violent deaths, not graphically described. Physical mutations described, such as missing limbs or having three eyes. A couple sleeps together; it is left to the reader to decide if they are lovers.

Who Might Like This Book:

Fans of the genre. Strong female protagonist, but shouldn’t put off the male readers if they can handle Katniss and Tris. Late middle-school on up. I’m older than the target demographic and quite enjoyed it.

Thank you, NetGally, for the ARC of The Map of Bones.

Adventure for Art Lovers

Behind the Canvas

By Alexander Vance

Hardcover: 336 pages

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends (February 23, 2016)

ISBN-10: 1250029708

ISBN-13: 978-1250029706

Grade Level: 5-8

Approximate Lexile: 840

 

Publisher’s Blurb:

There is a world behind the canvas. Past the paint of the canvas is a realm where art lives, breathes, creates, destroys.

Claudia Miravista loves art but only sees what is on the surface, until the Dutch boy Pim appears in her painting. Pim has been trapped in the world behind the canvas for centuries by a power-hungry witch, and now believes that Claudia is his only hope for escape. Fueled by the help of an ancient artist and some microwaveable magic, Claudia enters the wondrous and terrifying world, intent on destroying the witch's most cherished possession and setting Pim free. But in that world nothing is quite as it appears on the surface. Not even friendship.

 

My Thoughts:

 You have to understand. I visit art museums on purpose.  I like art. So I was ready to be enchanted by this book.

 

One of the fun things about the book is the notes from a fictitious art book explaining some of the artists and works that are referred to in the story. The quotes are humorous and insightful, and I would probably buy that book if it really existed.

 

This is well written, with some lovely figurative language. For instance [referring to the skyline]: “It stretched its arms wider and wider before the bus and then finally embraced it.” It is also well edited—and I had an uncorrected galley.

 

The story itself was fun, with interesting characters (I heart Cash!). Maybe the least interesting character is Nee Gezicht, the antagonist. I was never really clear on just why she is the antagonist. She wants power, okay, I get that. Why? Just to live forever? She says that’s not entirely it. So what is?

 

Overall, a fun story, particularly for those who feel they are misfits or for those who enjoy art.

 

Possible Objectionable Material:

Deception, lying to parents, perilous situations.

 

Who Might Like This Book:

The book is appropriate to the target group. Again, particularly fun for art-lovers and anyone who likes a good adventure. Boys and girls equally.

 

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC.

Great Universe, Disappointing Writing

Cogling

By Jordan Elizabeth

Paperback: 354 pages

Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press (January 25, 2016)

ISBN-10: 1620077396

ISBN-13: 978-1620077399

Approximate Lexile: 670

 

Publisher’s Blurb:

When fifteen-year-old Edna Mather tears an expensive and unfamiliar pocket watch off her little brother's neck, he crumbles into a pile of cogs right before her eyes. Horrified, Edna flees for help, but encounters Ike, a thief who attempts to steal the watch before he realizes what it is: a device to power Coglings-clockwork changelings left in place of stolen children who have been forced to work in factories. Desperate to rescue her brother, Edna sets off across the kingdom to the hags' swamp, with Ike in tow. There, they learn Coglings are also replacing nobility so the hags can stage a rebellion and rule over humanity. Edna and Ike must stop the revolt, but the populace believes hags are helpful godmothers and healers. No one wants to believe a lowly servant and a thief, especially when Ike has secrets that label them both as traitors. Together, Edna and Ike must make the kingdom trust them or stop the hags themselves, even if Ike is forced to embrace his dark heritage and Edna must surrender her family.

 

My Thoughts:

It started out so well. I loved the steampunk-ish, Dickensian world. The plot had some nice peaks and valleys.

 

But a lot about this book just didn’t wow me. Edna’s desperation to recover her brother at all odds really isn’t explained, except that she doesn’t feel “the evil” inside her so much when he’s around. So he’s basically your teddy bear but you don’t necessarily love him? And the author tried to be so coy about “the evil”, but it was quite obvious. Then, when she reveals what it is and where it came from, it’s really no big deal and Edna easily accepts it.

 

The falling action is much too neat and tidy, with no real justification for how it came about. Edna and Ike fall into a relationship far too easily. If a boy was sticking his tongue in my mouth the first time he kissed me, I’d smack him. It’s almost as if the author was told to “steam things up a little.”

 

There are some nice twists and turns. The narrative style is fine, although the editing really gets worse toward the end—lots of very obvious typos. This is not labeled as a pre-release galley; I hope this got cleared up. There was also a rather obvious continuity error,

 

The cover is beautiful, and I quite like the design of the chapter dividers.

 

Possible Objectionable Material:

Kissing scenes, chase scenes, peril and imprisonment.

 

Who Might Like This Book:

Definitely a middle/YA audience. Readers of either gender. Steampunk fans.

 

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC.

 

 

Magical Realism and Coming of Age Get Together

The Improbable Wonders of Moojie Littleman

By Robin Gregory

Paperback: 294 pages

Publisher: Mad Mystical Journey (November 1, 2015)

ISBN-10: 1942545002

ISBN-13: 978-1942545002

Approximate Lexile: 820

 

Publisher’s Blurb:

2015 Gelett Burgess Children's Book Award

Finalist Foreword Reviews Indiefab Best Book of the Year Award (2016)

Finalist Wishing Shelf Book Award (2016)

Set in the early 1900s, THE IMPROBABLE WONDERS OF MOOJIE LITTLEMAN is a heartrending, coming-of-age story, with a dose of humor and magical realism. After his mother dies, disabled Moojie is sent from the mythical American village of San Miguel de las Gaviotas to live with his grandfather at St. Isidore's Fainting Goat Dairy, where he discovers a clan from an alternate universe. Moojie shares more than supernatural powers in common with the ones who call themselves Light-Eaters. Anxious to re-create a family of his own, he undergoes life-changing trials, trials complicated by the girl he falls for, a bully-magician, a cantankerous, war-hero grandfather, and a meddlesome, Irish aunt. Moojie must decide who he belongs with. An earthquake forces him to make a harrowing rescue to save what family he has. A surprising destiny awaits him if he can survive one last terrifying trial.

 

My Thoughts:

Overall, I enjoy magical realism, and this book definitely fits into that genre. It has the same “taste” as The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow, but I enjoyed that book more than this one.

 

Moojie, as the protagonist, develops nicely, becoming a more well-rounded, compassionate human being as the plot unfolds. It is the qualities he develops in order to leave with the Light-Eaters (his wish) that enables him to make the crucial choice at the climax of the story. His life is not easy, but it is rewarding.

 

The cryptic conversations of the Light-Eaters drive Moojie—and me—nuts. I don’t know if the author was just trying to be clever and not give anything away, but they were a little too incomprehensible at times.

 

Secondary characters, like Pappy, are microcosms of both the fictitious setting and the world in which we presently live.

 

Narrative is well done, nice figurative language, and the text is well edited. There are times at which the pace is a little slow, and this, combined with the occasionally puzzling elements, make this a book that is not for everyone. I will probably not feel compelled to read it again.

 

Possible Objectionable Material:

Ridicule of handicapped or disadvantaged people. Lying. Some violence, including the shooting of an animal and an abusive relationship. Minor cursing.

 

Who Might Like This Book:

Fans of magical realism. Those who like coming of age. Strong readers in the target group of middle grades to young adults. I think this book will appeal to both genders equally.

 

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC.

Second Book Syndrome Strikes

Glass Sword

By Victoria Aveyard

Series: Red Queen (Book 2)

Hardcover: 464 pages

Publisher: HarperTeen (February 9, 2016)

ISBN-10: 0062310666

ISBN-13: 978-0062310668

Approximate Lexile: 725

 

Publisher’s Blurb:

The electrifying next installment in the Red Queen series escalates the struggle between the growing rebel army and the blood-segregated world they've always known—and pits Mare against the darkness that has grown in her soul.
Mare Barrow's blood is red—the color of common folk—but her Silver ability, the power to control lightning, has turned her into a weapon that the royal court tries to control. The crown calls her an impossibility, a fake, but as she makes her escape from Maven, the prince—the friend—who betrayed her, Mare uncovers something startling: she is not the only one of her kind.
Pursued by Maven, now a vindictive king, Mare sets out to find and recruit other Red-and-Silver fighters to join in the struggle against her oppressors. But Mare finds herself on a deadly path, at risk of becoming exactly the kind of monster she is trying to defeat. Will she shatter under the weight of the lives that are the cost of rebellion? Or have treachery and betrayal hardened her forever?

My Thoughts:

 Honestly? Many of the things I praised in the first book are missing from this one. The present-tense narration is becoming annoying, but, of course, the author must stick with it because that’s how she started. More annoying is the derivative nature of the narration. District 13-type headquarters? Check. Heroine experiencing guilt? Check. Heroine and male love interest sharing a bedroom because they have nightmares? Check again. Major character sacrificing themselves to enemy control in order to save others? But of course.

 

I like the root story, and want to see where this world ends up with the addition of the “Newbloods” as a rogue factor in the Red vs. Silver society. I just really wish the author had found a more original way to tell the story. Instead, she got out the checklist from How to Write a YA Dystopian Trilogy Tetralogy and just made sure to tick all the boxes. Sad, because this could have been really fresh and exciting.

 

Possible Objectionable Material:

 Violence. Lots of it. Blood, both red and silver. As mentioned, characters sleep together, but the indication is that it’s not sexual. Another couple is definitely sexually active.

 

Who Might Like This Book:

 Fans of the genre, of course. Any boy who likes Katniss or Tris will be fine with this. Appropriate for tweens and up.

Kitty Goes to Sea

The Nine Lives of Jacob Tibbs

By Cylin Busby

Age Range: 8 - 12 years

Grade Level: 3 - 7

Lexile Measure: 1020 (What's this?)

Hardcover: 272 pages

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (February 2, 2016)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0553511238

ISBN-13: 978-0553511239

 

Publisher’s Blurb:

Captain Natick does not want to take a kitten on board his ship when it sets sail in 1837, but his daughter convinces him that the scrawny yellow cat will bring good luck. Onto the ship the kitten goes, and so begins the adventurous, cliff-hanging, lucky life of Jacob Tibbs. At first, Jacob’s entire world is the ship’s hold, where the sailors heave their heavy loads and long-tailed rats scurry in the darkness. But before long, Jacob’s voyage takes him above deck and onward to adventure. Along the way, Jacob will encounter loss and despair, brave thunderous storms at sea, face down a mutiny, survive on a desert island, and above all, navigate the tricky waters of shipboard life and loyalties.

 

My Thoughts:

The general tone of this book reminded me a great deal of Black Beauty, which I first read over 40 years ago. The story is told by the cat himself, in the first person. The cat has great understanding of human things, including reading text—just suspend your disbelief. The author must be a cat person; her descriptions of cat behavior are very real.

 

The story itself is all right. While there are some exciting moments, there is nothing to carry the reader away. Overall editing is good, with a few minor hiccups. The characterization is probably the best part of this story, from Jacob to Captain Natick, the feelings and personalities are real.

 

Overall, a pleasant read, but nothing that says “I’ve gotta read this again.”

 

Possible Objectionable Material:

Violent storms, killing rats. Some characters are castaways on an island for a while and must make do in primitive conditions.

 

Who Might Like This Book:

Those who like cats, sailing ships, and historical settings. Boys or girls. (Actually, there are only two female characters, neither of whom is in the book for very long, plus a couple of wives that we meet at the very end.)

 

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC.

A Totally New View of Peter Pan

Six Points of Light: Hook’s Origin

By Kalynn Bayron

Paperback: 206 pages

Publisher: Booktrope Editions (January 13, 2016)

ISBN-10: 1513706454

ISBN-13: 978-1513706450

Approximate Lexile: 810

 

Publisher’s Blurb:

St. Catherine’s is a place for misfits, for the forgotten; it is also the only place fifteen-year-old James Cook has ever known. Abandoned on the front steps as an infant James is raised by Sister Maddie who loves him like the mother he never knew. James possesses a genius level intellect and a kind heart but his constant state of ill health has meant that he has never had an invitation to leave the orphanage and join a family. One evening, a young boy is delivered to St. Catherine’s in the arms of his distraught mother. In her dying moments she calls out to her son the words that will set James and the young boy on a collision course with destiny, ‘Never grow up Peter.’ As James and Peter forge a seemingly unbreakable bond, James learns that his new friend is not who he appears to be. Peter is manipulative, mischievous and dangerous. As it turns out Peter is also harboring a secret whose repercussions will echo through time and pierce the veil that separates reality from make believe. Before he was Captain Hook, he was simply James, and as it turns out, he was not such a dastardly villain after all. Join some of the most beloved characters in literature as their roots are laid bare and the truth of their humble beginnings is revealed.

 

My Thoughts:

This is not your typical retelling of a well-known story’s origin. Instead, it turns everything you thought you knew on its head, and I’m not sure I like it. This retelling is dark, and Peter Pan especially suffers for it. James Cook (eventually Hook) is a little too good to be true, as is his instant love for Wendy (a pet peeve I’ve documented in other reviews). It takes liberties with some basics of the story, as well.

 

The storytelling is…fine. There’s some good description. There are also some rather preachy bits, such as when James is being told he needs to forgive both Peter and himself. It seems as if James is going to take that advice to heart but then…maybe not. In the end though, Hook is no villain, and this narrative does nothing to explain why he would be thought of as one.

 

Probably the most interesting part is the little plot bomb dropped at the very end, and it’s why I will probably read the sequel when it’s available.

 

Overall though, to be honest, this read like fanfiction. Some fanfiction out there is actually pretty wonderful. This is not that kind. A few editing errors, hopefully, are cleared up in the final publication copy.

 

Possible Objectionable Material:

Magic, fairies, suicide, fighting, murder, dishonesty.

 

Who Might Like This Book:

Those who like familiar stories retold. As I said, it’s dark, and although it’s probably accessible to late elementary on up, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it to them.

 

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC.

Dickensian steampunk fun

Alistair Grim’s Odditorium

By Gregory Funaro

Age Range: 8 - 12 years

Grade Level: 3 - 7

Series: Odditorium

Hardcover: 432 pages

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion (January 6, 2015)

ISBN-10: 1484700066

ISBN-13: 978-1484700068

Approximate Lexile: 1060

 Publisher’s Blurb:

Grubb, age twelve (or thereabouts), has never known anything beyond his miserable existence as a chimney sweep, paid only in insults and abuse by his cruel master.

All of that changes the day he stows away in the coach belonging to a mysterious guest at the inn that he is tasked with cleaning. Grubb emerges from Alistair Grim's trunk and into the wondrous world of the Odditorium. Fueled by a glowing blue energy that Grubb can only begin to understand, the Odditorium is home to countless enchanted objects and an eccentric crew that embraces Grubb as one of their own.

There's no time for Grubb to settle into his new role as apprentice to the strange, secretive Mr. Grim. When the Odditorium comes under attack, Grubb is whisked off on a perilous adventure. Only he can prevent the Odditorium's magic from falling into evil hands-and his new family from suffering a terrible fate.

Grubb knows he's no hero. He's just a chimney sweep. But armed with only his courage and wits, Grubb will confront the life-or-death battle he alone is destined to fight.

 Alistair Grim’s Oddaquaticum

By Gregory Funaro

Age Range: 8 - 12 years

Grade Level: 3 - 7

Series: Odditorium

Hardcover: 448 pages

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion (January 5, 2016)

ISBN-10: 1484700074

ISBN-13: 978-1484700075

Approximate Lexile: 1060

 Publisher’s Blurb:

When Grubb, an orphan and runaway chimney sweep, entered the wondrous world of the Odditorium, his life changed forever. Apprenticed to the mechanical marvel's strange proprietor, Alistair Grim, Grubb unfortunately must settle into his new position on the lam, as the whole of London is convinced that Alistair Grim is a villain bent on mass destruction. Grim, however, has come up with a plan to expose the real villain: Prince Nightshade, a wicked necromancer who wants the Odditorium's power source for himself. With the evil prince hot in their trail, Grim, Grubb and the rest of the Odditorium's crew embark on a perilous adventure to find the legendary sword Excalibur: the only weapon capable of penetrating Nightshade's magical suit of armor. As expected, their quest turns out to be anything but ordinary. Not only can the Odditorium fly, but it can also swim! And so the crew battens down the hatches and sets off on an underwater voyage to the otherworldly realm of Avalon, home to Excalibur. Along the way, they must battle a banshee assassin, sea monsters, and a witch who seeks revenge on Alistair Grim for stealing her magical objects. But that's not all. Unbeknownst to Grubb and the others, their fate has been written in an ancient Avalonian prophecy—a prophecy that holds the key to a destiny not even Alistair Grim could have possibly imagined.

My Thoughts:

Take a little bit of Dickens’ Oliver Twist or David Copperfield, mix in some faeries and Arthurian legend, then throw in some crazy steampunk inventions for good measure, and you get the world of Grubb and Alistair Grim.

I received the second book as an ARC, but soon realized that I would enjoy it more if I had the backstory from the first book which, fortunately, my library had. It definitely made a difference.

The story of Grubb’s life and travels, with the friends and family he makes along the way, is one that late-elementary and middle-graders are sure to enjoy. There’s magic and adventure galore, along with plenty of emotion. The characters are varied, but each is a unique character. (I particularly like Dalach and Nigel.) The mystery will keep readers guessing, and a third book must be coming, because there are plenty of loose ends still to be tied up.

The writing is descriptive and accessible, though the Lexile level is a bit high for the intended age range, possibly because of the somewhat Dickensian style of writing. The story is told in first person, through Grubb’s eyes, and chapters often end with a bit of foreshadowing of the “If I had only known” variety. Grubb gets into dangerous situations frequently, although it’s rarely his fault, but it pushes the edges of belief that he always gets out of them.

I think I enjoyed the second book more than the first, but whether that’s because the characters had a chance to more fully develop or whether it’s because I’m a sucker for Arthurian myth, I’m not sure.

The illustrations add to enjoyment of the story. Of course, this being from Disney, it’s also well-edited.

Possible Objectionable Material:

Ghosts, magic, fairies, traveling to alternate dimensions. Grubb was born out of wedlock. A love triangle of sorts. The bad guy is pretty scary, and there are perilous situations galore.

 Who Might Enjoy These Books:

 The target age range is appropriate, although those in lower grades will have to be strong or enthusiastic readers, due to the length and the higher Lexile. This will probably be of equal interest to boys or girls, as there are several strong female characters, even though the cast is male-dominated. Anyone who loves steampunk, Dickens, and faerie magic will probably enjoy this.

 Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC.