Clariel Abhorsen series prequel by Garth Nix Fantasy * * * Stars (Pretty good) Clariel longs for her former home when her family moves to the city to further her mother’s ambitions in the Goldsmithing Guild. Clariel’s dream is to become a Boarderer and live in the Great Forest, but everyone else seems to have other plans for her – like setting her up as a puppet Queen. When she encounters a Free Magic creature, … Read more
Champion Legend series #3 by Marie Lu Dystopian Science Fiction * * * Stars (Pretty good) June and Day have been apart for a year when Day gets a message that June wants to see him. The Republic is in trouble. If it can’t produce a cure for the plague that is sweeping through the Colonies, they will attack. The Republic has no such cure, but its leader believes they can develop one if they … Read more
The Eye of Zoltar Last Dragonslayer #3 by Jasper Fforde Fantasy * * * * Stars (Great!) In order to safeguard her dragon friends from the Mighty Shandar, Jennifer Strange must undertake an information-seeking expedition (not a quest!) into the perilous Cambrian Empire to uncover the last resting place of the Eye of Zoltar – a powerful pink jewel that may or may not exist. She and her companions encounter most of the dangers the … Read more
A Brief History of Montmaray The Montmaray Journals, book #1 by Michelle Cooper Historical Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) Sophie is one of the last of the FitzOsbornes – a little known family of royals living in a dilapidated castle on the tiny island of Montmaray somewhere off the coast of Spain. She begins chronicling her life on the island after receiving a journal for her 16th birthday. It’s 1936, Hitler and his … Read more
The FitzOsbornes in Exile Sequel to A Brief History of Montmaray by Michelle Cooper Historical Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) In Sophia FitzOsborne’s last journal entry in A Brief History of Montmaray, she described the traumatic exodus she and her family made as the Germans bombed their island kingdom of Montmaray. Forced to take refuge in Great Britain with their Aunt Charlotte, the FitzOsbornes are having some difficulty adjusting to High Society. Also, … Read more
Four Companion novel to Divergent series by Veronica Roth Adventure Dystopian Romance Science Fiction Review #1 * * * * Stars (Great!) This is a book based from the Divergent series also by Veronica Roth. In this book, Four, otherwise known as Tobias Eaton, is telling the story through his point of view. This book is addicting and interesting/fun to read, but is lacking a lot of details. I understand that details are not as … Read more
I Kill the Mockingbird by Paul Acampora Realistic Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) Lucy, Elena, and Michael are best friends who will be starting high school in the fall. They lost their 8th grade English teacher, Fat Bob, to a sudden heart attack earlier in the school year and to commemorate his memory and celebrate Lucy’s favorite book (which is also on their summer reading list) the three become literary terrorists and begin … Read more
Reached Matched #3 by Ally Condie Dystopian Romance Science Fiction * * * Stars (Pretty good) The revolution is finally taking place. The Rising has released a water-borne plague which has brought the Society to its knees. The Rising has the only cure, and is distributing it as quickly and as widely as possible. Its leaders plan to take over where the Society has left off once the populace is cured. But their plans … Read more
Pen Pal by Francesca Forrest Realistic Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) Emlee (Em) lives in a tiny community known as “Mermaid’s Hands” in a sort of houseboat in the mudflats just outside of Sandy Neck. One day she decides to write a letter – a message in a bottle – which she gives over to the Seafather (the ocean) and which eventually finds its way into the hands of one Kayamanira Matarayi who … Read more
Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick Fantasy Interwoven stories Printz award winner * * * Stars (Pretty good) This collection of interwoven stories spans years and multiple lifetimes of two inseparable souls – Eric and Merle (spellings differ). When they are first parted Eirikr vows to return, “‘You cannot kill me. Do you not know my name? I am Eirikr. The One King! Forever Strong, and though you kill my body today, I will live again! I … Read more