Siege and Storm

Leigh Bardugo’s debut novel, Shadow and Bone, was my favorite fantasy read of 2012 and I have been eagerly awaiting book 2 – Siege and Storm. Once again Bardugo brings to life the dark and magical “World of Grisha”. Alina and Mal have left their homeland to hide out from the Darkling and to keep her amplifier (Morozova’s collar) hidden so others will not realize that she is the Sun Summoner. Rather quickly, the Darkling returns and takes them captive. Bardugo introduces us to new characters...ones we grow to like, but do not whole-heartedly trust. The Darkling now has the power to be with Alina without others seeing him. Alina’s powers seem to take over her sense of judgment– to the point that her relationship with Mal is jeopardized. Readers will be surprised as to how this second novel in the trilogy goes...the last half was difficult to put down. Hardest part for me is waiting for book 3 – Ruin and Rising – coming in 2014!

The Last Dragonslayer

Young adult literature fans are so excited that Jasper Fforde has started writing for them. The Last Dragonslayer is the first in a trilogy. The story is narrated by Jennifer Strange who is the acting manager of Kazam - a job agency for magicians. She took on the role when the popular when the most powerful wizard became disgraced. Today's magicians must find menial jobs as their abilities have faded over the years. For the past four hundred years, dragons and humans have been separated by lands in an agreement made by both parties. Dragons had stipulations they had to follow in order to be protected. There is now only one dragon left and there are visions of his death at a certain time by the last dragonslayer. Jennifer soon learns that she is being called upon to end the dragon's life. This causes great turmoil as different kingdoms plan to fight over the forbidden land. She becomes an instant celebrity, but wants to have nothing to do with killing the dragon. Will Jennifer accept her given role? Will war break out once the dragon is killed? Read this entertaining fantasy to find out!Look for the second book in the trilogy - The Song of the Quarkbeast - coming to the US on Sept 3, 2013.

The Spindlers

Lauren Oliver’s middle grade novel, The Spindlers, is a spooky fantasy that will leave readers on the edge of their seat from start to finish. Liza knows that her little brother’s soul has been taken by The Spindlers. She learned about these evil spider-like creatures from her babysitter and knows that she must stop them before it is too late. She must go Below to a new land full of secret forests and mosses. Her only assistant is a female rat who dresses up with makeup. The two encounter many frightening obstacles. I love that Oliver had so many fantastical creatures in her story – it made it read like a movie – a movie I would love to see. She also adds a touch of humor to a frightening story line. This is a great recommendation for Harry Potter and Percy Jackson fans. Listen to Oliver in the video below explain her inspiration for writing The Spindlers. This is going on my 6th grade Reading List next year.

The Unwanteds

Lisa McMann is well known for her high school novels - the middle grades are going to really enjoy her fantasy novel, The Unwanteds. Kirkus Review correctly states, "The Hunger Games meets Harry Potter." I would maybe add meets The Giver as well. The beginning of the book starts off in a plain land called the Quill - no creativity, no color, and no imagination exists in this land. It is forbidden. The annual event called The Purge separates thirteen-year-olds into three categories: Wanted, Necessary, and Unwanted. The Unwanteds will surely be put to death. When main characters - twins Aaron and Alex Stowe are divided, the outcome is no surprise to anyone. Aaron is labeled a Wanted while Alex is sent to the Death Farm with the other Unwanteds. Once Alex arrives, he finds out that the Unwanteds were chosen, because they were creative and threatened the Quill's culture of blandness. He and others are allowed to not only survive, but also attend a school of magic and learn warrior skills. Everything changes when Alex is convinced that two of the Unwanteds are going to return to Quill to avenge the wrongdoings of his twin Aaron. Choosing to help his brother creates an unexpected backlash and huge war. I can't wait to read Book 2, The Unwanteds: Island of Silence.

The False Prince

If you love books that have a huge twist in the plot then you are going to really like Jennifer Nielsen's The False Prince - the first book in her new trilogy (The Ascendance Trilogy). The story begins with an orphan boy named Sage who has just stolen some bread to help feed those in need at his orphanage. He is quickly nabbed by a man named Conner (a regent of the king’s court) and his men. Conner offers to buy Sage from the orphanage. Sage, along with two other orphans from different places, is brought to Conner’s estate. They find out they are to learn the ways of a prince in order to take over the kingdom. The king’s youngest son, Jaron, has been missing for years; presumed dead in another altercation. When the king, his wife, and eldest son die, the regents want desperately to find an appropriate replacement. Conner knows his only hope to obtain power is to find an imposter to fulfill the role of Prince Jaron. The orphans must train under scrutiny and hope to be selected for this role, or be put to death if they fail. My students and I are eagerly anticipating book 2, The Runaway King, being published on March 1, 2013.

Bewitching

Alex Flinn’s latest novel, Bewitching (Kendra Chronicles), is on the Texas Lone Star Reading List 2013-14. Readers of Flinn’s Beastly (made into a movie) will remember Kendra as the witch that placed a curse on arrogant Kyle Kingsbury. Kendra has returned in Bewitching and readers will be thrilled to learn her background story and her most recent spell-casting shenanigans. Flinn manages to successfully twist many fairy tales into this interwoven story. One of the main storylines involves a girl named Emma who has been raised by her stepfather from the age of three-years-old. Everything changes when her stepfather’s biological daughter, Lisette, comes to live with them. Lisette’s mother died recently and her father feels sorry for her. Is there an evil stepmother? You bet – Emma’s mother is awful to Lisette, but this isn’t your normal Cinderella story – maybe the stepsister isn’t all that bad. Twists and turns abound in this action-packed fantasy. As bewitching as Kendra is, some things don’t work out the way she had hoped. Fairy tale lovers will enjoy this one! Recommended for 8th grade and up. Other great books by Alex Flinn include Nothing to Lose, Fade to Black, Breathing Under Water, Cloaked, A Kiss in Time, and Breaking Point.

What Came from the Stars

Gary D. Schmidt crosses over to the fantasy genre with his What Came from the Stars. This novel is told in two alternating stories. One in a faraway galaxy where the Valorim people make a last ditch effort to save their culture's arts from the evil Lord Mondus by creating a chain that holds all the beauty of their world and casting it across space where it ultimately lands in sixth grader Tommy Pepper's lunchbox. The second story describes the hurts that Tommy, his little sister, and his father have endured due to his mother's death. Only Tommy knows how badly things ended the last time he saw his mother. He feels like he caused her accident. When Tommy slips the chain necklace on, he can miraculously paint pictures with moving objects and play the beautiful music that his mother loved. Even more special is that he sees his mother and hears her voice clearly. Horrible things begin to happen in his seaside town of Plymouth, Massachusetts. Someone from a distant planet is searching for the necklace and will stop at nothing until he gets it. He is leaving destruction in his wake and things become desperate when people end up missing as well. Will Tommy give the necklace back to stop the devastation or will he fight back like a warrior with the help of his close friends? Other great books by Gary Schmidt include Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy, First Boy, Trouble, The Wednesday Wars, and Okay for Now (one of my favorite books).

Shadow and Bone

I picked up Shadow and Bone Friday night when I realized that I would get to see the author, Leigh Bardugo, at the Austin Teen Festival on Saturday. Despite feeling under the weather, I read half of it Friday night and the rest last night after returning from Austin. Hands down, it is the best fantasy novel I have read in a long time. It reads like a movie - which is awesome considering it is going to be made into one. I really hope they don't stray from the original story which is filled with sorcery, good, evil, love, and loss – no Hollywood enhancements needed here. The setting is the harsh mountainous Russian landscape at the height of war which has left the region divided. Alina and Mal, orphaned children refugees, are taken in by a Duke and raised together. The two become inseparable. The Grisha, a powerful group of sorcerers and healers, come to test Alina and Mal. When they both fail to show signs of being Grisha, they are sent to serve in the King’s army. During a hopelessly dangerous mission to cross the Shadow Fold, a deathly stretch of water that must be crossed to hunt for valuable resources, their regiment is attacked by flying lethal creatures called Volcra which seek human flesh and blood. When all seems lost and Mal is seriously injured, Alina sees a flash of white light and passes out. The surviving soldiers realize that she has special powers that only the Grisha can possess. They bring her to the Darkling, the handsome powerful leader of the Grisha, and he takes her to the kingdom to learn how to enhance her magic. He needs it to defeat the Fold and save the people. Things are not what they seem. Will Alina be able to use her gift for good or will evil prevail? Can Alina stand up to the Darkling’s affections and fight to be reunited with Mal, the boy who knows her better than anyone? Book two, Siege and Storm, comes out in 2013.

Sweet Venom

This one is for all of you mythology lovers! Tera Lynn Childs' Sweet Venom is told from three points of view. Gretchen, Grace, and Greer are descendants of Medusa - triplets separated at birth. Gretchen has been taught how to fight the monsters from mythology that escape into the human realm. She is one tough cookie who will stop at nothing to find Ursula, the woman who has mentored her and has recently been abducted. Everything was normal for Grace until her family moved to San Francisco. Now she sees monsters...if it weren't for meeting Gretchen and having her train her for the tough battles ahead, she wouldn't make it. Both girls realize they are part of a prophecy, and there is a third sister named Greer. Greer, a pretty girl with a snobbish personality, has been raised with affluent parents. Parents who had her undergo hypnotherapy when she said she could see monsters as a little girl. Can these three huntresses with different personalities conquer the monsters that keep appearing? With a bounty on their heads, the job won't be easy. My students love this one! Look for book 2, Sweet Shadows, to see what happens next.

The Girl of Fire and Thorns

Rae Carson's debut fantay, The Girl of Fire and Thorns, is the first book in a trilogy and a finalist for the William C. Morris Debut Award for new authors of young adult literature. The beginning of this book was a little slow for me, but I am so happy that I stuck with it...after the first quarter of the book, it took off and I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. Narrated by sixteen-year-old Elisa who doesn't have good self esteem despite bearing the Godstone - a special jeweled stone that she was born with in her belly button. Those that possess the Godstone are considered chosen by God and it only exists each century. Overweight Elisa cannot believe that she is being married to a handsome king named Alejandro when her older sister, Alodia, is the smart and pretty princess. Alejandro takes Elisa to his kingdom, but keeps it secret that she is his wife. Once she is noticed as having the Godstone, she is kidnapped by a band of rebels hoping to save their people from imminent war. Elisa grows under their captivity and soon learns her destiny. This fantasy has sorcery, love, adventure, and war in it - a real page turner! Can't wait for book two, The Crown of Embers, coming on September 18th. Watch the book trailer below to listen to the author tell you more about her trilogy.

Entwined

Heather Dixon's debut novel, Entwined, is for all of you who love fairytales. Azalea, the oldest daughter of eleven girls, loves to dance and has been prepared by her loving mother the Queen for her first ball hosted by her parents. Prior to attending the Christmas Eve ball, she visits her sick mother. The Queen gives her a special handkerchief and makes her promise to take care of her rambunctious younger sisters if anything should happen to her. Her pregnant mother dies during the night and the stern King is left to deal with his grief and another baby – his twelfth daughter. Each of the princesses’ names begins with the consecutive alphabet letter of their birth order beginning with Azalea and ending with the baby Lily. As is customary, the King declares the entire palace to be in mourning – no dancing, no courting, and only to wear black for an entire year. The princesses are consumed with grief not only with the loss of their beloved mother, but also for their love of dancing which has been taken away by their strict father. When the girls stumble upon a forbidden magical pavilion on the estate, they finally find a secret place to dance the night away while their father is at war. The handsome host of the mysterious ball calls himself Keeper. Although Azalea is no stranger to magic, the forces that are behind the Keeper and the pavilion are darker than any she has ever encountered. Will Azalea have the strength to save her sisters and her father when the consequences of their nightly dances become evident or will Keeper win at the last dance – entwined? If this sounds familiar to you, it should - it is a modern retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses.

Paranormalcy

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White is the first in a supernatural trilogy complete with paranormals, danger, and romance. Imagine a world where faeries, vampires, werewolves, mermaids, and shapeshifters exist. Teenager Evie doesn't remember anything about her childhood or where she might have come from. All she knows is that she has the gift of seeing through paranormals' disguises - she can see what really lies beneath their magic and it usually isn't pretty. Her gift makes her one of the top paranormal taggers for the International Paranormal Containment Agency (IPCA). The most difficult issue that Evie ever had to deal with was her fallen relationship with a faerie named Reth. That was until a handsome shapeshifter named Lend is captured while trying to get information from the IPCA. Someone is trying to kill all the paranormals. That somebody wants Evie to join her. Lend, who leads a normal life disguised as a teenager, brings Evie home when she helps him escape and has her blend in his community as a normal teenager. Will Evie be able to be a normal teen for once in her life? Read what happens when powerful dark magic and the desire to belong consume Evie. A real page turner! The second book in the series is called Supernaturally. The third book, Endlessly, comes out on July 24th.

The Book of Wonders

The Book of Wonders is an exciting debut novel from author Jasmine Richards. The author transports the reader to an Arabian nights world packed with adventure. When thirteen-year-old Zardi and her friend, Rhidan, meet Sinbad the pirate they learn that Sinbad's mother, Sula, may know where Rhidan's family is. Rhidan with his unique silver hair, violet eyes, and magical silver amulet was found as a baby - never knowing why his parents abandoned him or where they came from. Zardi is devastated when her older sister is selected as the praisemaker - an unwed young girl kept for a season locked in a tower only to be released like an animal to be hunted down by the Sultan as part of his warped game. Zardi and Rhidan must go on a dangerous journey filled with deadly snakes, a hungry cyclops, and a metal warrior in order to release the magic djinni who may be able to save Zardi's sister before it is too late. All I can say is - "Wow" - couldn't put this one down! It is going on my 8th grade list in the fall.

Ruby Red

Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier (translated from German by Anthea Bell) is about two families that have the time traveling gene... everything goes awry when a boy and a girl from each family steal a chronograph (a device that controls where they are sent into the past) and run away to live in the past . The story take place in London where sixteen-year-old Gwyn has been feeling very peculiar. Her cousin, Charlotte (believed to be the one that has the time traveling gene) has trained all her life for the moment she will be transported in time. Unfortunately, it is Gwyn who is sent spiraling into the past without any knowledge of what to expect. Thankfully, the time she spends hiding out in the past is short-lived as she isn't prepared for it. When she finally admits her ability, her mother takes her to an important meeting between the two families. She joins Gideon (the arrogant male time traveler from the de Villiers family) in a perilous journey to the past. Will the duo be able to get the blood needed for the chronograph from each of the time travelers in their family? Who is the strange man that watches Gwyn from the street? My students are eagerly awaiting book 2, Sapphire Blue, which comes out October 30, 2012.

Hereafter

All of my students who have read Hereafter by Tara Hudson are eagerly awaiting publication of her second book in this trilogy. Amelia has been a ghost for as long as she can remember. Time doesn't flow the same way in her world and she has lost track of worldly time. She continues to relive her death - falling from a bridge and drowning - through nightmares. Everything changes when she sees a boy, Joshua, who has a near-death experience when his car veers off the same bridge and goes into the water. She is able to connect with him and ultimately saves his life. The odd thing is that he can see her, communicate with her, and even touch her. The two quickly develop a relationship. To Amelia's surprise, Joshua's grandmother, Ruth, can also see her and demands that she get out of Joshua's life. Ruth has told him all his life about the evils that lurk near that bridge. Will Joshua and Amelia be able to sustain the love they have for each other while Ruth and Eli, a controlling ghost who wants Amelia for himself, are out to end things once and for all? This book will appeal to those readers who like suspense, romance, and ghost stories.

The Dark City (Relic Master Book #1)

My students love Catherine Fisher’s Incarceron and Sapphique novels so I couldn’t wait to read her series called Relic Master, recently released in the United States. Book one, The Dark City, takes us to a new planet called Anara which is falling apart as the leaders of the Order are all but gone, the new evil governing power is called the Watch. One of the only surviving relic masters of the Order of Keepers, Galen, and his apprentice, Raffi, are captured by a dwarf named Alberic. Alberic takes their relic and demands that they must capture a Sekoi who has stolen gold from him in exchange. Galen is burdened with the secret that he has lost all his powers in a devastating explosion – he can no longer sense dangers or communicate with the living things around him. In their search for the Sekoi , the duo are told that the most powerful relic, the Crow, is in the dark city of Tasceron. The Crow is the only thing that can restore Galen’s powers, but the city of Tasceron is filled with deadly dangers. Early in the adventure, the duo is joined by a girl named, Carys, who deceivingly tells them that she is trying to rescue her father from the Watch. This fantasy has magic, suspense, and surprises throughout. Great recommendation for those who love fantasy novels.

The Cheshire Cheese Cat: A Dickens of a Tale

Curious about what life was like in Victorian London? Want to be introduced to some famous authors of that time like Charles Dickens? You need to read The Cheshire Cheese Cat: A Dickens of a Tale by Carmen Agra Deedy and Randall Wright and illustrated by Barry Moser. This amusing story transports the reader to Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese inn where the story is told through the relationships of its characters: a mouse named Pip who has learned to read and uses an enriched vocabulary, a friendly cat named Skilley who agrees to protect the mice in the inn while they protect his big secret, an injured raven named Maldwyn who once perched on the White Hill and would like nothing more than to return to his home, and a mean cat named Pinch who may ruin them all. Famous writers of that time frequent the inn. Charles Dickens intermittently chimes in and expresses the difficulty he has in writing the now famous first sentence in his Tale of Two Cities. It is evident that Deedy, Wright, and Moser put so much research into this story. I loved how the characters are named for characters in Dickens’ works and symbols of that time were used to enhance the storyline. A glossary of the challenging vocabulary words used in the story is included. A great supplement to this book is their amazing website which encourages participants to read more about old England and play games to see how much they have learned. This novel is on the Texas Bluebonnet Reading List 2012-13.

No Passengers Beyond This Point

No Passengers Beyond This Point by Gennifer Choldenko is a fantasy novel that keeps the reader guessing as to what outrageous thing could possibly happen next. Siblings – Finn, India, and Mouse – find out that their mother has lost their home due to financial problems and is sending them to live with their Uncle Red until she can finish her job and meet up with them. Unhappily, the kids get on the plane to their new destination. Each kid has unique characteristics that cause conflict between them. Finn is the man of the house since their father died when Mouse was being born. He is the conscientious one who worries about his mother and their situation. India is the social one who lets her friends get their way no matter the cost. Mouse is the scientific type that has to analyze each situation. The trio soon find themselves in a strange welcoming place that appreciates all the things they each value. Why would they ever want to leave a place like that? When things spiral downward, they each realize they only have a certain amount of time to come together and get back to the place they belong. I love that the book is told from each sibling’s point of view. Other great books by Choldenko include Al Capone Does my Shirts, Al Capone Shines my Shoes, A Tree Falls at Lunch Period, and Notes from a Liar and her Dog.

Tiger's Curse

Colleen Houck’s Tiger’s Curse (book #1) was a book that kept being recommended in various reading circles (middle school, high school, and adults). This fantasy romance is one that will keep many people talking. The book starts off with a prologue…300 years ago, an evil man in the pursuit of powerful amulets pits brother against brother in a duel for the love of a beautiful princess – the result is a powerful, cruel curse. Chapter one begins; Kelsey, who recently lost both of her parents in a terrible accident, finds a job with a traveling circus. Once she begins she immediately becomes enamored by the beautiful white tiger that she helps take care of. She is soon offered the opportunity to travel to India with the tiger to help him transition to a new wildlife preserve. Kelsey learns that the magnificent white tiger with the striking blue eyes is really a handsome prince named Ren who has been under a curse for hundreds of years. He believes she can save him. The two must endure dangers, his dark brother, and their own insecurities in order to save him. This novel has just the right history, romance, and magic to keep readers wanting to read the second novel, Tiger’s Quest. Recommended for 8th graders and above.

The Midnight Gate

I was given Helen Stringer’s The Midnight Gate as a preview book. I was disappointed that it was the second book of a series and I had not read the first book, Spellbinder. I would definitely recommend reading Spellbinder first. I know it would have helped me better understand why the main characters were in their current situation. The main character, Belladonna, is bullied by a mean girl named Sophie. While on a school trip Belladonna and her friend, Steve, are given a map and clues by a ghost at a monastery. Sophie, seeking revenge when Belladonna fights back, reports her to Child Protective Services. Belladonna, able to see ghosts, is secretly living with her dead parents. When CPS comes to investigate, they find that she is living alone when she should be living with her grandmother. Because her grandmother is missing, she is sent to live with foster parents who live in Shady Gardens, a building that had supposedly been demolished a few years ago. Dark shadows lurk around Shady Gardens. It is up to Belladonna and Steve to solve the riddle on the map and find the Queen of the Abyss before the Dark Spaces are able to enter the human realm. This has enough action and imagination to appeal to all fantasy lovers. The ending leaves us eagerly awaiting the next book.