Review: The Prince Who Fell From the Sky by John Claude Bemis

Title: The Prince Who Fell From the Sky [Amazon|GoodReads]
Author: John Claude Bemis [Website|Facebook]
Standing: Stand alone novel.
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Post-Apocalyptic
Published: May 22nd, 2012 by Random House
Format: Kindle edition; 272 pages
Source: ARC from publisher via NetGalley
Challenge: YA/MG Fantasy Challenge

In Casseomae's world, the wolves rule the Forest, and the Forest is everywhere. The animals tell stories of the Skinless Ones, whose cities and roads once covered the earth, but the Skinless disappeared long ago.

Casseomae is content to live alone, apart from the other bears in her tribe, until one of the ancients' sky vehicles crashes to the ground, and from it emerges a Skinless One, a child. Rather than turn him over to the wolves, Casseomae chooses to protect this human cub, to find someplace safe for him to live. But where among the animals will a human child be safe? And is Casseomae threatening the safety of the Forest and all its tribes by protecting him?

Middle-grade fans of postapocalyptic fiction are in for a treat with this fanciful and engaging animal story by the author of the Clockwork Dark trilogy.

Anyone who’s been reading my reviews for a while now has probably realized that I love when a book puts a spin on my traditional way of thinking.  I don’t always agree with the spin, but I like knowing it’s out there affecting the way people think about things.  The Prince Who Fell From the Sky was one of those books.  I was worried on more than one occasion that it would cross the line into ‘big message’ territory and make me groan, but it didn’t!  John Claude Bemis weaved his tale with a deft hand in a way that made me think without making me feel like I was being judged.  Not completely easy for a story about post-apocalyptic earth where the humans live no more and animals pass down stories of the Skinless Ones’ cruelty to the Forest.

The Prince Who Fell From the Sky was an interesting weave of native mythology, animal fantasy, and the currently popular post-apocalyptic setting.  The main character, Casseomae (or Cas for short), is an aging bear with the instincts and desire to be a mother.  Unfortunately, all of her cubs have been stillborn.  As a result, she feels very protective of all those in need, saving each member of the band repeatedly throughout.  When the Skinless Ones fall from the sky (presumably in some sort of space craft) and a child emerges, Cas refuses to let the hierarchy of the Forest kill him, despite the risk.  The only memories creatures of the forest have of the Skinless Ones are of killing and destruction. She sets off with the companionship of a somewhat knowledgeable rat, a Faithful dog, and the ‘cub’ in tow.

The Prince Who Fell From the Sky is the story of unlikely partnerships between animals of different standing and relation to humans.  It seems that each type of animal has their own stories and myths about humans, and I loved to see the alternate takes that the animals had.  The greatest humor of the book sprouted from Dumpster, the rat who begrudgingly journeys alongside Cas in search of his Mischief and the Havenlands.  He is the Memory for his Mischief, the one who is supposed to remember all of the stories and history.  As such, he considers himself the authority on all things human, but of course, at least half of his ideas are laughably ridiculous and nonsensical to our human minds.  For example, the idea that people had fire escapes on buildings so they could escape fire on the ground and run up to safety.

The relationship between Cas and the ‘cub’ is powerful.  Despite a language barrier (and I honestly loved that the human and animals couldn’t talk with one another), she manages to impart wisdom and respect for the Forest into him.  This, she hopes, will make him a part of the Forest and unlikely to cause the destruction that all of the animals fear he portends.  The ending of The Prince Who Fell From the Sky is unequivocally perfect.  It’s realistic, heartwarming, and sad all wrapped into one.  Plus I have to say, that I totally dig this cover.

While I obviously have many kind things to say about John Claude Bemis’s The Prince Who Fell From the Sky, I will admit that this story didn’t really grab me.  It was well done, unexpected, and made me think from a new perspective, but at the same time it was very easy to put down, and didn’t have me longing for more.  I feel descriptions of this one as a post-apocalyptic Jungle Book are fairly on the nose, though that is another story I was never enraptured by.  Personally, I could take it or leave it, but I do feel that it will be a better fit for many young readers.

Likelihood that I'll be back for more:  This was my first John Claude Bemis, and while I enjoyed it, I didn’t fall madly in love and am not sure I will be picking up the Clockwork Dark trilogy.

Recommended for: They’ve pitched this one more to fans of post-apocalyptic fiction, but I personally feel it’s a better fit for fans of animal fantasy such as Redwall, Wattership Down, The Jungle Book or the Warriors series.  Nice crossover appeal! 

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Review: Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

  Title: Howl’s Moving Castle [Amazon|GoodReads]
  Author: Diana Wynne Jones [Website|Facebook]
  Standing: First in the Castle trilogy, can be read as a stand alone.
  Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy
  Published: April 22nd, 2008 by Eos (first published April 14th, 1986).
  Format: Paperback; 429 pages.
  Source: Borrowed from my local library.

Sophie Hatter is certain she is doomed to a boring life.  As the eldest child, she is bound to fail while her younger sisters go on to happiness.  This inevitability seems to come to fruition when their father dies.  Lettie, her middle sister is sent to apprentice at the town’s bakery where she is likely to catch a fine husband, and Martha, the youngest, is sent to Mrs. Fairfax to apprentice the witch and learn her spells and power.  Sophie, fatefully enough, is stuck managing the family hat shop with her step-mother.  Resigned to her woeful inheritance, Sophie breaths life into her work, creating hats of beauty that bring in business from all corners.  Intrigued in her skills, The Witch of the Waste pays a visit to the shop, where she ends up cursing Sophie with old age, while ensuring that she won’t be able to tell a soul.  Sophie determines that there’s little point in staying around, and decides to strike out and seek her fortune.  As her fortune would have it, she ends up at Howl’s door.

This book.  I loved this book.  It was so much fun, full of fantasy and wonder, I honestly don’t have a bad word to say about it.  This is the kind of book that makes me cry over not having read it as a child, and I want to push it into the hands of anyone and everyone I know who loves middle grade and fantasy, no matter their age.  Diana Wynne Jones’s writing is so very whimsical and smart.  I love middle grade authors that are so utterly intelligent.  I feel like too many times the age group gets written down to, but not in this case.  In fact, the characters in Howl’s Moving Castle aren’t even middle grade themselves!  Sophie is eighteen (or about 90, respectively), Howl is in his 20s; in my mind Howl’s Moving Castle brilliantly includes characters of all ages, managing to write them faithfully to their differences and similarities. 

Sophie is timid, and lacks confidence as a young woman, but almost instantly upon becoming 90, she sheds the uncertainties and delicacies of youth.  She doesn’t have to be self-conscious of the things a teenager does, and so Sophie allows herself to be the hardened, nosey, insistent woman she really is.  I love it.  I love that Sophie is constantly doing things she knows will upset Howl, but she never lies about them when he confronts her, she just owns up.  Howl, of course, is a wonderful character.  What he appears to be on the surface, and what he really is underneath don’t quite line up, but yet he manages to be completely himself at all times.  They’re both rather saucy really.

The other characters in the castle, Michael and Calcifer, are equally wonderful.  Michael is the 15 year old apprentice boy, and Calcifer is the fire-demon who helps to power Howl’s moving castle.  Calcifer entreats Sophie to stay (and she very much wants to, because honestly, where else would she go?) and break the contract locking him and Howl together.  Michael, obviously annoyed with Sophie initially, quickly softens and begins to take to her.  So many of the characters in this book seem to have such large hearts, despite their appearances (and possibly their intentions). 

The story of Howl’s Moving Castle is full of magic, whimsy, and spectacle.  I loved that while the story stayed strictly tacked on to Sophie, it was very clear that everyone else was having marvelous adventures as well.  I find it enchanting that we get to know this, to glimpse these other stories, without really being privy to the details.  Also, I found Howl’s Moving Castle to be pleasantly unpredictable.  I was never sure quite which way the story was going, and I loved that Sophie and the others seemed to figure things out before I did.  I hate always being the first to know!  I really couldn’t recommend Howl’s Moving Castle more, and I’m certain I’ll be reading it again in years to come.

Likelihood that I'll be back for more:  Even though Howl’s Moving Castle can be read as a standalone, I already can’t wait to read more stories from Ingary.  I’ll be picking up Castle in the Air next time I pillage the tween stacks.

Recommended for: Anyone who loves MG, fantasy readers, people who enjoy whimsy and hats.

Real life repercussions of reading this book:  While I absolutely adore the movie Spirited Away, and really liked both Ponyo and Princess Mononoke, I’ve never actually watched Miyazaki’s Howl’s Moving Castle.  Consider that remedied as soon as I finished this book!  I also haven’t seen Castle in the Sky, which apparently has nothing to do with Castle in the Air despite the similarities…will have to check it out as well.

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Audio Review: Fever Crumb by Philip Reeves

Title: Fever Crumb [Amazon|GoodReads]
Author: Philip Reeve [Website|Twitter]
Standing: First book in the Hungry City Chronicles prequel trilogy.
Genre: Young Adult, Futuristic, Sci-Fi
Published: March 1st, 2011 by Scholastic Inc.
Format: Audiobook; 7 hours. Read by Philip Reeve.
Source: Borrowed from my local library.

Fever Crumb is a girl who has been adopted and raised by Dr. Crumb, a member of the order of Engineers, where she serves as apprentice. In a time and place where women are not seen as reasonable creatures, Fever is an anomaly, the only female to serve in the order.

Soon though, she must say goodbye to Dr. Crumb - nearly the only person she's ever known - to assist archeologist Kit Solent on a top-secret project. As her work begins, Fever is plagued by memories that are not her own and Kit seems to have a particular interest in finding out what they are. Fever has also been singled out by city-dwellers who declare her part Scriven.

The Scriveners, not human, ruled the city some years ago but were hunted down and killed in a victorious uprising by the people. If there are any remaining Scriven, they are to be eliminated.

All Fever knows is what she's been told: that she is an orphan. Is Fever a Scriven? Whose memories does she hold? Is the mystery of Fever, adopted daughter of Dr. Crumb, the key to the secret that lies at the heart of London?

Haunting, arresting, and astonishingly original, Fever Crumb will delight and surprise readers at every fast-paced, breathless turn.

Philip Reeve has created a most intriguing world in Fever Crumb, the first installment of a trilogy preempting his Hungry City Chronicles (also called the Mortal Engines series--the prequel trilogy was written after).  Now, I haven’t read the Hungry City Chronicles, so I can’t really speak to that effect, but I will say that Fever Crumb was a delightful, quirky, futuristic steampunk-like read.  Fever Crumb appears to be set in our own world, but so far in the future that electronics and such are referred to as creations of the ancients.  While I would argue that Fever Crumb is not technically steampunk, and is rather just straight up sci-fi, it does have a very steampunk-like quality in that the world has a Victorian feel, and thus it will appeal to fans of that genre.

I picked up Fever Crumb on audio after seeing it on YALSA’s Best Fiction for Young Adults list.  The title alone grabbed me, and when I read the premise I was drawn in.  The audiobook is read by the author, Philip Reeve, and I am almost always a fan of audiobooks read by their authors (see Libba Bray’s Beauty Queens).  I’m happy to say that Fever Crumb did not disappoint!  Philip Reeve’s narrative was excellent, and with an accent matching Jim Dale’s it was easy to be charmed into enjoying the audio of Fever Crumb.  His futuristic London held some laugh out loud quirks for me, like the use of the term ‘blogger’ as an insult, or instead of Hari Krishna cults on the street there were cults chanting ‘Harry Potter’.  In fact, my initial reaction shortly into listening was ‘why haven’t more people I know read this book?!’  I’m sad to say, however, that my initial interest in Philip Reeve’s London waned by the end.  I did enjoy Fever Crumb, but it turns out I liked the entire storyline significantly less than I liked the idea up front.

Fever Crumb is also one of those books that, at least for me, sits on the precipice between Middle Grade and Young Adult.  It is technically categorized as Young Adult, but reads very much like a Middle Grade book.  I’d put it on the brink with books like Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy, or C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia.  I enjoy this age range, though I find it difficult to peg down at times, but sadly Fever Crumb didn’t grab me in near the same way as the other series mentioned.

The character I most enjoyed in Fever Crumb was, no surprise, Fever Crumb.  Fever is practical and logical to a fault; so much so that she seems almost robotic like.  She won’t drink hot tea (because the transportation of tea is impractical), she shaves her head every other day (hair is an unnecessary vestige of our ancestors, and creates a home for lice), and she certainly doesn’t go in for things like fairy tales or fun.  I think this is why the beginning of the book was so much more enjoyable to me than the end.  I loved seeing Fever’s reactions to things, and observing her thought process.  As the story goes on, she inevitably learns that it is okay to feel, and honestly I found her less interesting when she became more personable. 

The overall story of London, humans, and the scriveners was most assuredly an interesting set up, but I am uncertain that I was caught up enough to carry on.  Philip Reeve does have a unique and charming way of putting a Victorian style on Science Fiction that is different from the steampunk genre in which we normally see this union. 

Likelihood that I'll be back for more:  I did enjoy Fever Crumb, especially in its audiobook format.  However, since my library doesn’t have the rest of the series on audio, and I don’t feel invested enough in the series to purchase it on audio, I do not know that I will be continuing on.

Recommended for:  Those who enjoy older MG/younger YA books, steampunkers.

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Review: The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy

Title: The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom [Amazon|GoodReads]
Author: Christopher Healy [Website|Twitter|Facebook]
Illustrator: Tod Harris
Standing: First in a series, but can be read as a stand alone.
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy
Published: May 1st, 2012 by Walden Pond Press
Format: Kindle edition; 419 pages
Source: ARC from publisher via Edelweiss.
Challenge: YA/MG Fantasy Challenge

Prince Charming is afraid of old ladies. Didn’t know that, did you? Don’t worry. There’s a lot you don’t know about Prince Charming: Prince Charming has no idea how to use a sword; Prince Charming has no patience for dwarfs; Prince Charming has an irrational hatred of capes. Some of you may not even realize that there’s more than one Prince Charming. And that none of them are actually named Charming. No one is. Charming isn’t a name; it’s an adjective.

For anyone who’s ever thought:

• Why is ‘Prince Charming’ such an ambiguous title?
• Does it really have to be ‘true love’s kiss’, or would any old kiss do?
• Why’s it always the damsels in distress?
• Why aren’t there enough fairy tales staring the men?
• Beavers have the potential to be truly terrifying.  Okay, maybe this last one is just me, but ever since I learned that there were six foot beavers back in the day, I’ve been much more leery of the animal in general.

The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy is the book for you! 

Welcome to the League of Princes!  Princes Charming that is.  Not to be confused with Prince Charmings.  Prince is the noun, after all, it’s what gets pluralized.  Like Attorneys General or Culs-de-sac.  Actually, the later is French and I sucked at French for the one semester I took it, so I can’t tell you if ‘cul’ is a noun, but I can tell you that the plural of cul-de-sac is culs-de-sac and not cul-de-sacs as is often said.  *Sigh.*  *Removes Grammar Nazi hat.*

Ahem.  Anyway.  The Princes Charming, as you know them, are better known in their own circles as Frederic (that’s Cinderella’s prince), Gustav (that’s Rapunzel’s prince), Liam (that’s Sleeping Beauty’s prince), and Duncan (that’s Snow White’s prince).  Unfortunately for them, the bards didn’t give two licks about their fame, and composed the songs all about the ladies, completely leaving out any identifying markers and causing the ambiguous ‘Prince Charming’ title.  They’re all a bit put out about it (and rightly so), but they each have some bigger issues to contend with.  Frederic is afraid of, well, everything, Gustav is always one to fight first and ask questions later (or never), Liam’s head is getting a bit big what with all the hero work and praise, and Duncan is, for lack of a better term, weird.

Ella (that’s Cinderella’s real name) wants adventure, Rapunzel wants to help people, Briar Rose wants to marry her Prince Charming (but she is absolutely horrid and needs to learn that you can’t always get what you want even as a princess), and Snow White just wants some ‘me’ time.  Thus, feeling alone, cast out, or on the run, the Princes Charming come together to save the day and put names to their fame.  Of course, this means battling the evil witch Zaubera, destroying her Supreme Scheme for Infamy, and putting a stop to her Grand Finale of Doom.

The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom is about as much fun as anyone can or should have reading a book.  The villains are dastardly, the heroes are flawed, and quite frankly any author who pushes foreshadowing on over into the spoiler territory gets a win in my book.  It’s not quite like Shakespeare flat out telling you how Romeo and Juliet is going to end, but it does paint an interesting picture when you’re starting out. 

All of the characters in The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom are wonderful.  I loved them all.  The good, the bad, and the ugly.  Okay, I hated Briar Rose, but I loved Zaubera (I mean come on people, she has a thesaurus spell so that she can insult people more creatively), The Bandit King, and Reese.  I love that Healy points out (repeatedly) how silly the notion is that you could love someone you’ve never even met, that his damsels are not in distress, and that his hero’s heroics are questionable.  Ella, Rapunzel (I’m hoping to see more of her in the next book!), and Lila (Liam’s little sister) are all strong young women who aren’t afraid to save themselves.  The princes, with the exception of Liam, are all victims of circumstance more than anything else.  Liam, the one true ‘hero’ among them, isn’t perfect either, he has a lot to learn about utilizing others’ assets and diplomacy.

The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom can teach anyone a lot about fairy tales, and a lot about life.  It’s fun, adventurous, and informative!  I highly recommend it to middle grade and fairy tale lovers of any age.  I also have to say that the art is wonderful, but unfortunately, the e-galley copy that I had only had art for the first few chapters, so I can’t say much about it other than that I liked what I saw!  I loved the cartoony look, and the reality that the princes were not all handsome, and the princesses were not all perfect.  I do plan on purchasing a hard copy so that I can reread and view to my heart’s delight!

Likelihood that I'll be back for more: I cannot wait for the sequel to this one!  Healy mentioned it in a video interview for Fairy Tale Fortnight on The Book Rat and I am all over that!  Also the entire time I was reading this I kept thinking ‘this book needs a movie deal…omg somebody please make this into an awesome animated feature!’ and I totally called it!  Fingers crossed, I so hope they do a good job with this one, it has the potential to be amazing (I’m thinking like How to Train Your Dragon awesome here).

Recommended for: I want to start shoving this book into so many kids’ hands, and kind of want to have a baby and instantly age them to an appropriate age that I can read this to them.  That’s a justifiable reason to have kids, right?  Any fairy tale fans will love this one, particularly if you also enjoy middle grade and some light, adventurous fun!

Real life repercussions of reading this book:  I just have to say that Walden Pond Press is quickly becoming one of my favorite imprints.  After reading this, Neversink, and Breadcrumbs, I am beginning to wonder if they can put out a book I don’t love.

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Review: Neversink by Barry Wolverton

Title: Neversink [Amazon|GoodReads]
Author: Barry Wolverton [Website|Twitter|Facebook]
Illustrator: Sam Nielson
Standing: Stand alone novel.
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy
Published: March 27th, 2012 by Walden Pond Press
Format: Hardcover; 287 pages.
Source: Borrowed from my local library.
Challenge: YA/MG Fantasy Challenge

Birds of the Northerly World

Excerpted from THE WALRUS GUIDE TO LESSER CREATURES, Sixteenth Edition

Puffin: Smallish, squidgy, improbable looking.  Relatively quiet and well-mannered, expect when provoked.  Not to be confused with a penguin, or a parrot, or a cross between a penguin and a parrot.

I would hug this book if it weren't physically impossible for a human and a book about a puffin, a walrus, and a hummingbird to embrace.  It has everything I love about a fantastic middle grade book.  Adventure, fun, wit, illustrations, a dastardly villain, love, friendship, PUFFINS, and of course, a map:

Neversink by Barry Wolverton tells the story of an improbable hero, Lockley Puffin, and his adventure that comes full circle.   Neversink is an island populated by auks (a family of fish-eating birds that includes puffins, razorbills, murres, and guillemots) lying off the coast of the mainland, Tytonia, where, if you will forgive the expression, the owls rule the roost.  When the fear arises that the small animals owls consider food are infected with the sickness, one ambitious owl takes it as an opportunity to oust the king and put the auks of Neversink back under the owls’ thumb (yes, I know owls don’t have thumbs, it’s a figure of speech!).  Rozbell, the new owl ruler with a Napoleon complex, enacts a fish tax, indulging in the scrumptious delights that are Lucy Puffin’s fish smidgens.  It would appear, however, that Rozbell’s appetite cannot be quenched (while of course, those around him continue to be quite peckish), and soon the demands upon the auks rise.  Lockley refuses to let such a burden fall upon his people, particularly upon his wife Lucy.  But with a population of birds who have many mottos about not making waves, how will a squidgy puffin, a scholarly walrus, and an excitable hummingbird save the day?

Oh friends, I loved this book.  Barry Wolverton’s writing was so unabashedly clever and full of wit that I found myself constantly smiling and chuckling while reading Neversink.  It’s the type of book that is written perfectly for the intended age, and yet has so many quick references and jokes in it that an adult will most assuredly appreciate them as well.  Taking place before the appearance of humankind on the globe, Neversink is full of funny lines that reference things we know as familiar (like pants), and then reminders that those things don’t exist.  Egbert, our dear walrus, even has some good Beatles and Alice in Wonderland references up his metaphorical sleeve. 

Not only was the writing fun and clever, but the story and characters were as well!  I appreciate it so much when a middle grade author doesn’t shy away from realities such as death.  Barry Wolverton doesn’t make it ghastly or inappropriate, but he doesn’t do the Disney thing and have characters just fall from high places never to be seen again either (I suppose when the bulk of your characters can fly, this tactic would be rather misguided).  His villain, Rozbell, has depth, and isn’t just a mad-bird lusting for power for power’s sake—you can really see how he becomes corrupt, and understand his thought process, even if it’s selfish and cruel.  I love a well-done bad guy!     

And of course I was going to love a book where our hero was a puffin!  Do you remember how excited I was when I brought this one home?  I just love them so much!  Even if they can be rather indignant at times.  It would seem that calling a puffin a penguin, is much akin to calling a Scott English.  Lockley and Lucy were both perfect heroes in my mind because they didn’t set out to be.  They’re scared, they don’t want to make trouble, make things worse, or defy authority, but we all know that everyone can be pushed too far.  When pushed too far, some characters break, but heroes push back. 

In the end we see that like Neversink, not every good story needs a moral.  Some adventures just need to happen.  Sam Nielson’s illustrations are whimsical and perfect for the setting, as mentioned I am a particular fan of the map.

Likelihood that I'll be back for more:  Neversink was such a fantastic debut!  I would love to see other stories from Tytonia (like one involving badgers perhaps?), but will happily check out whatever Barry Wolverton comes up with next.

Recommended for: Anyone who enjoys great middle grade, in particular animal fantasies like Redwall or Legend of the Guardians.  Because apparently some owls are inherently evil.

Real life repercussions of reading this book: The boyfriend said we can dress up our squidgy Wocket as a puffin for Halloween!  What do you think, can he pull it off?

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Audio Review: Princess Academy by Shannon Hale

Title: Princess Academy [Academy|GoodReads]
Author: Shannon Hale [Website|Twitter|Facebook] 
Standing: Stand alone novel.
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy
Published: November 1st, 2007 by Full Cast Audio (First published January 1st, 2005 by Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books).
Format: Audio; 7 hrs, 30 mins. Read by Laura Credidio
Source: Borrowed from my local library.
Challenge: Award Winning Reads Challenge

Miri lives on a mountain where, for generations, her ancestors have quarried stone and lived a simple life. Then word comes that the king's priests have divined her small village the home of the future princess. In a year's time, the prince himself will come and choose his bride from among the girls of the village. The king's ministers set up an academy on the mountain, and every teenage girl must attend and learn how to become a princess.

Miri soon finds herself confronted with a harsh academy mistress, bitter competition among the girls, and her own conflicting desires to be chosen and win the heart of her childhood best friend. But when bandits seek out the academy to kidnap the future princess, Miri must rally the girls together and use a power unique to the mountain dwellers to save herself and her classmates.

Unfortunately, Princess Academy is one of those books for which my enjoyment suffered because of the format I chose.  Now, I’m not saying I didn’t enjoy Princess Academy, I most certainly did, but I would also almost certainly have enjoyed it more had I read it.  The audiobook of Princess Academy was produced by Full Cast Audio, and like their name, they use a full cast to read their books.  Instead of a book narrated from different perspectives using various narrators (which I am fine with), Princess Academy had a main narrator for the text, and then each character had a different cast member voicing them.  The main narrator, Laura Credidio was fine, but I was uncomfortable with the structure of the dialog.  I’ve never listened to a book like this, and was trying to push myself out of my comfort zone.  It wasn’t terrible, but I’m happy to retreat back to what I know I like.

I think where the full cast structure hit me most, was in my ability to like Miri.  The girl doing her dialog made her come across as very whiny.  As such, I wasn’t really able to root for her the way I normally would such a character.  I did think that most of the other voice actors did a good job, this was just clearly not the format for me.

Princess Academy was a very cute and touching non-traditional fairy tale type story.  It was funny, when I picked it up, I was actually thinking that the premise sounded a bit like the forthcoming book The Selection.  However, Princess Academy panned out nothing like The Bachelor, for which I was quite grateful.  I loved that the academy gave these girls a chance to come into their own, and find meaning and purpose in their lives beyond what they had expected or what was planned out for the girl selected for marriage by the prince.  In fact, the prince was such a menial part of this story, it was very little romance and a lot of girl power!

The girls, Miri in particular, show their ingenuity by applying the facts and information they learn at the academy to better the lives of their townspeople, and their own lives in learning.  The magical element in Princess Academy, quarry speak, is so unique and wonderful I absolutely loved it.  The concept was that workers in the quarry had this method of communicating non-verbally with one another to invoke memories that elicited messages or warnings.  Miri, who has never worked in the quarry, has felt as if she were lacking and not really a part of her community.  With determination and perseverance she is able to better understand and manipulate quarry speak, allowing it to play an important roll throughout the girls’ story.

Princess Academy was a charming story about finding one’s place, following one’s heart, and the power of relationships.  Certainly a recommended read, and surely an enjoyable audiobook for those who don’t mind this unique narrative structure.  Maybe it’s better for kids who might otherwise have a difficult time keeping the characters strait by voice?  I’m not sure.

Likelihood that I'll be back for more: I did like Princess Academy, but I didn’t love it.  I’m planning for my next Shannon Hale read to be The Goose Girl, as that is the book that gets talked about the most highly about the blogosphere.

Recommended for:  People who like this narrative style, anyone who enjoys non-traditional fairy tales and a focus on female relationships, friendship, and family.

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Review: Ordinary Magic by Caitlen Rubino-Bradway

Title: Ordinary Magic [Amazon|GoodReads]
Author: Caitlen Rubino-Bradway
Standing: Stand alone novel.
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy
Published: May 8th, 2012 by Bloomsbury USA
Format: Kindle edition; 288 pages.
Source: ARC from publisher via NetGalley.
Challenge: YA/MG Fantasy Challenge

In Abby’s world, magic isn’t anything special: it’s a part of everyday life. So when Abby learns that she has zero magical abilities, she’s branded an "Ord"—ordinary, bad luck, and quite possibly a danger to society. The outlook for kids like Abby isn’t bright. Many are cast out by their families, while others are sold to treasure hunters (ordinary kids are impervious to spells and enchantments). Luckily for Abby, her family enrolls her in a school that teaches ordinary kids how to get around in a magical world. But with treasure-hunting kidnappers and carnivorous goblins lurking around every corner, Abby’s biggest problem may not be learning how to be ordinary—it’s whether or not she’s going to survive the school year!

I tried with Ordinary Magic, I really did. I read every word of this book even though I kind of wanted to add it to the DNF pile long before the last page. I was so disgusted, appalled, and confused by the world that Caitlen Rubino-Bradway built that I could not click with Ordinary Magic at all. When I first saw this title pop up on NetGalley, I decided to try it because I love middle grade, and it sounded cute.  To me, I was imagining that it would be like “Story of a Squib”—the tale of an unmagical kid born into a magical world.  I didn’t realize how abhorrent the story would be.

 

Here’s the deal: “ords” in this society are nothing.  They’re worse than just a disappointment to their families, because most of the time, they’re no longer even considered people.  This made zero sense to me.  I get that you could compare it to some families’ reactions to finding out their kid is homosexual, or compare it to how slaves were treated in this country’s early history, but none of that could really add up for me.  I can’t understand how an entire society could find it acceptable to treat ord kids—kids they had raised and loved as friends, siblings, children until the age of 12—like worthless property.  It was generally accepted that these children could be sold, used for dangerous tasks, and they were despised to the point of people not touching them as if they were catching—this later treatment reminding me of the horrible way those with AIDS can be treated.  I guess I see what Caitlen Rubino-Bradway was doing here in turning these children into social pariahs, but I just don’t buy that these extremes could ever crop up, particularly in a society that seems very modern.

 

And that’s another thing I didn’t get about this book.  When it is determined that Abby is an ord, at her Judging at age 12, her family has to drain magic from the house so that she can access things (like the sink) without help, since all of these things are usually controlled by magic. This makes no sense given that prior to finding out, she wasn’t allowed to use magic and would need help for these same things…so she was 12 and could never get a box of cereal from the cupboard or wash her hands after she peed? Right…

 

Then there’s the reality that magic can not directly affect ords.  It can affect things around them (aka, you could light their clothing on fire), but not them.  And you can buy magic-proof clothing.  So essentially, all of these magic people are running around with no idea how to fight physical fights, and the ords could kick their butts handily, but don’t.  I get the whole, they’re the vast minority, and society represses them in part because they are scared thing, but again…it doesn’t add up for me.  If a society has become this advanced, there’s a pretty good chance that such an oppressed group with such potential power would have at some point banded together and rebelled.

 

I thought the school could be fun and cute, but honestly I found it rather boring.  The only highlight being that they taught kids to kick the crap out of one another.  It seemed as if there should have been a storyline developing from Abby working in the kitchen, but it never really came to anything.  In fact, I expected Abby and the other ord children to find some inner power and strength that was magical in its own right, but I didn’t really feel like they ever did.

 

I was glad to see that this society was changing, that the King had outlawed the selling of ords and the authorities seemed like good people, but I just expected more from this story.  I will say that Abby’s family was fantastic and the best part of this book.  Her parents loved unconditionally, and she had four older siblings—two sisters, two brothers (just like me!) that were all fun, unique, and invested in their little sister.  I think my favorite thing about Ordinary Magic was Abby’s brother Gil, who wrote popular romance novels under a woman’s name.

Likelihood that I'll be back for more: Slim to none.

Recommended for: Eh, I have a hard time recommending this one to anyone to be honest, but I will include links to some more positive reviews which I encourage you to check out so that you can decide for yourself.

Get a second opinion:
Stephanie Burgess’s Blog
Chronicles of a Book Evangelist
Page in Training

Waiting on Wednesday: The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There by Catherynne M. Valente

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcomign releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There – Catherynne M. Valente

October 7th, 2012 –Feiwel and Friends

September returns to Fairyland to reunite with A-Through-L, Saturday, and Gleam, and to confront her shadow-self, who has become the queen of Fairyland-Below, the upside-down world beneath the Fairyland of the first novel, filled with creatures of water and shadow, tales of ancient Fairyland before the human world was born, and not a few hungry buffins, blind birds of ice and moonlight. The yearly revels of Fairyland-Below climax in a mysterious rite September must avert or else lose her shadow forever.

Did you guys see this?!  Did you?!  Last week, the cover for the upcoming sequel to the beloved The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making was released and I just about died.  Died I say!  I adore the art in this series so so much, and I am happy to see that this cover is at least as gorgeous and breathtaking as the first.  I like that it’s a bit more creepy!  I cannot even express my excitement at seeing this book come out, and I wait impatiently for the day that it is in my hands.

Audio Review: The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens

Title: The Emerald Atlas [Amazon|GoodReads]
Author: John Stephens [Website]
Standing: First in The Books of Beginning series.
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy
Published: April 5th, 2011 by Listening Library/Knopf Books for Young Readers
Format: Audiobook; 11 hours 38 minutes.  Read by Jim Dale.  
Source: Borrowed from my local library.

Kate, Michael, and Emma have been in one orphanage after another for the last ten years, passed along like lost baggage.

Yet these unwanted children are more remarkable than they could possibly imagine. Ripped from their parents as babies, they are being protected from a horrible evil of devastating power, an evil they know nothing about.

Until now.

Before long, Kate, Michael, and Emma are on a journey to dangerous and secret corners of the world...a journey of allies and enemies, of magic and mayhem.  And—if an ancient prophesy is correct—what they do can change history, and it is up to them to set things right.

The Emerald Atlas brims with humor and action as it charts Kate, Michael, and Emma's extraordinary adventures through an unforgettable, enchanted world.

Now we all know Jim Dale is the boss when it comes to audiobooks, and The Emerald Atlas was fine, but even Jim Dale couldn’t charm me enough to keep me from thinking ‘Geez this book is way too freaking long!’.  Seriously people, what is with the 400+ page middle grade books these days?!  I’m glad that we have the confidence in our young readers to expect them to slog through these epics, but personally, I go to middle grade reads when I need a bit of a break and want to finish a pleasant story in one sitting.  The Emerald Atlas was not that story.  Okay, okay, that’s not to say that The Emerald Atlas was bad, it wasn’t, and I did enjoy it.  I’m just not sure it was astounding enough to justify that kind of time stamp, and I feel like I invested more into this book than I got in return.

The Emerald Atlas had a lot of elements that I liked.  I enjoy the focus on the bond of siblings, I liked the incorporation of many different fantasy characters like wizards and dwarfs, creepy monsters, and if I had known there was time travel in this book, I totally would have picked it up earlier!  I won’t reveal the details, or the mechanism, but I will say that if you’re a time travel lover and enjoy middle grade reads this could be a good book for you.  The Emerald Atlas takes place in a reality where the magical world used to be entwined with our own.  It has retreated into its own, but there are places where crossover between the mundane and magic worlds remain. It is one of these crossovers that engulfs the children in adventure.

The siblings Kate, Michael, and Emma each had their own strong personality characteristics and I loved that while they found one another annoying they would staunchly defend one another against anyone outside of their family.  They share a strong belief and hope in the love of their unknown parents, and are open to loving adults despite the cruelty and neglect they have experienced in their time. There was, however, a pattern throughout the book where one sibling would get separated from the other two and drama would ensue, and this got to be a bit wrote for me by the end.  I did like the uncertainty I felt at the book's close.  Were these kids ‘destined’ for adventure, or did they create their own destiny through time travel?

Likelihood that I'll be back for more:  Eh...maybe 50/50?  I liked The Emerald Atlas, but I didn’t love it, and I don’t feel invested in the series.  That said, if Jim Dale records the next one, I may still pick it up.

Recommended for: People who don’t think twelve hours is too much of your life to spend on a middle grade book (I'm really sorry I'm being snobby about this, I know, I'm a lazy reader at times), and those who love Jim Dale and/or time travel enough to go there.

Real life repercussions of reading this book: I listened to maybe ⅓ of this book while hopelessly lost on Long Island one day.  I was so angry/upset that that may have leaked over into my impressions of this story. DON'T WORRY. After I called the bf crying, he purchased me a GPS for Valentine's Day.

Review: How to Make a Golem and Terrify People by Alette J. Willis

Title: How to Make a Golem and Terrify People [Amazon|GoodReads]
Author: Alette J. Willis [Website|Twitter|Facebook]
Standing: Stand alone novel.
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Published: January 23rd, 2012 by Floris Books (Originally published in the UK, November 17th, 2011).
Format: Kindle edition.  
Source: ARC from publisher via NetGalley.
Challenge: YA/MG Fantasy Challenge

It’s easier to believe in things after dark.

Edda the Mouse is turning thirteen, and her greatest birthday wish is to shed her demeaning nickname and become Edda the Brave.  This is hard when she’s moved around so often she’s constantly the new girl, ruthlessly picked on by Euan, and worst of all, her family’s house is broken into and robbed while her and her parents are out for her birthday dinner.  Edda loses her presents, her stereo, but more than that she loses her sense of safety in her own home.  When she meets the new kid at school, Michael Scot, he seems to present the opportunity Edda is looking for--a way to lose her fear.  But could Michael Scot’s plan to make a golem to protect Edda and her home be real?

I first heard about the wizard/alchemist Michael Scot when I recently read The Thirteen Hallows.  I didn’t love that book, but my favorite aspect of it was the folklore it presented, and Michael Scot was one of the people mentioned that I spent some time reading about.  Thus, when I saw How to Make a Golem and Terrify People with its adorable cover and synopsis mentioning the famed alchemist himself, I knew I had to read it.

How to Make a Golem and Terrify People was a heartwarming book that presented some very real issues--dealing with fear, bullying, personal safety in one’s home--in a magical way.  Losing one’s sense of safety at home is such an invasion, and this book reflected it well in both Edda and her mother’s strong reactions to the act.  Edda wants to feel safe again, but she also doesn’t want to abandon the place that for the first time in her life is beginning to feel like home.  For the first time Edda has a best friend, and even though she is picked on by the bully, Euan, she wants to stay.  Everybody tells Edda she has to face her fears and stand up to Euan, but she just can’t, and if she can’t stand up for herself to a boy in her class how is she supposed to confront her fear of the burglars that ravaged her home?  Her encounter with Michael Scot presents a timely and in/appropriate solution to her problems by offering Edda the chance to become Edda the Brave in various ways.

This book was more complex than I expected, and though some of the characterizations were a little cliche (like Euan the bullied bully), I didn’t feel like this weakened the story.  In fact, to me, the climax was unpredictable, and much more fun than I would have thought possible, though I did feel the story could have been wrapped up a bit faster in the end.  I very much enjoyed experiencing Edda’s transformation from Edda the Mouse into Edda the Brave, and loved to see the changes and developments of the other characters throughout the story as well.  I did feel that Edda read younger than 13, but she herself admitted she was small and timid in a way that might make her seem younger than she was.  This seemed more appropriate as Lucy and Euan were both believable 13 year olds.  Besides which, they’re Scottish!  Who doesn’t smile and think adorable thoughts at little Scottish kids mucking about?

In the end, I felt How to Make a Golem and Terrify People was a charming story about the power of friendship and self-worth, and I very much enjoyed watching Edda learn and grow in her quest to defeat fear.  This book proclaims that ever-true montra: be careful what you wish for.

“The first thing you need to do, if you want your wish to come true, is to say it as though you mean it.”  He opened his book and started reading again.

“Fine,” I said, to the messy-haired top of the pompous twit’s head.  “I wish I wasn’t afraid all the time.”

“Good,” he said, looking up.  

“What’s the second thing?”  I asked.

“You have to say it in front of someone who can answer your wish.”  He smiled like he knew something funny but wasn’t going to let me in on the joke.

“But who...Oh,” I said, understanding finally.  “That’s you, is it?”  He nodded, still smiling.  “You think you’re a fairy godmother or something?”  I asked.

“Or something,” he agreed.

Likelihood that I'll be back for more:  This book was really cute!  I’d love to read more like it.  I especially enjoyed the Scottish setting, as this is something I’ve rarely seen make its way over to the U.S.

Recommended for:  I wish I’d had this book a year ago when my sister’s house got broken into over Thanksgiving.  This would have been great for her to read with the kids.  

Real life repercussions of reading this book:  I will be very careful about what I sculpt in the future.  Strictly rainbows and unicorns for me.