I continue to enjoy this series, The Seven Realms. It is fantasy with a medieval setting. Lots of horses and a feudal sort of society. Political intrigue and a struggle to retain/grasp power in the Seven Realms is the unfolding story. Although the plot line is familiar to fantasy readers, Chima does a nice job of making the story fresh with engaging characters who have enough development to keep sophisticated readers engaged.
The queen-to-be, Princess Raisa, has gone undercover to escape a planned marriage (I'm going to try and avoid spoiling the plot line of the first book, The Demon King. Meanwhile, the other major characters Han Alister, Hayden Fire Dancer, Amon Byrne, and Micha Bayar all end up together with Raisa (in disguise as Rebecca Morley) at the magic and military schools at Oden's Ford.
The love triangle (or is in a quadrangle?) between Raisa, Han and Amon continues with "doomed" love between them all. The fourth in the mix is Micha Bayar and he continues to play a part in the connection between the young protagonists in the book.
Of course there is magic involved. Han, Fire Dancer, and Micha are gifted magicians while Raisa and Amon are not. Much of the plot that keeps the reader going is how Han is learning about his magic and dealing with other magicians who would like to use him for their own purposes. Han has the Demon King's amulet as his magic "piece." The implication is that he is the heir to the Demon King's great powers. The Bayar's would like to regain the piece and its power.
While Han is learning about his magic, Raisa is learning about fighting and how to lead her country. There is a sort of "King Arthur" flavor to her learning about her kingdom in the role of a citizen rather than leader.
I will be finishing the series and will let you know if it falters. Otherwise, assume that I still find it worth recommending to young readers who enjoy fantasy. I think it would be a great recommendation to young adults who play World of Warcraft of League of Legends. The plot/settings will resonate with the video games they play and will encourage some reading.
Friday, December 28, 2012
Thirteenth Child by Patricia C. Wreded
2009, Scholastic
It pays to pick up random books at the library. One of the disadvantages of the "hold" system is that too often I just run in, pick up my holds, and leave. The stacks are a great place to be reminded of favorite authors and to make new finds.
I have been a passionate fan of Wrede's Enchanted Forest series (Dealing with Dragons etc.). I don't know how her works fell off my radar. She has three series out that I haven't read. It looks like I'll be spending some time filling in gaps in both this series (Frontier Magic) and the Regency Magic Series including Cecelia and Kate series and the Mairelon series (coauthored with Caroline Stevermer). I'm glad that I'm teaching YA lit in the spring. It will give me a good reason to explore these two series.
Wrede uses strong young women as her protagonists. In this book the main character, Eff (short for ??--Francine??--I'll fix this later!), is a twin to a 7th son of a 7th son. Her parents have managed to produce 14 children. Consequently she is number 13. Her uncle and several other family members are convinced that this is very unlucky and that she will bring doom upon all around her.
In part, because of this negativity, her parents decide to move to a college on the "frontier" where her father will teach and Eff will be freed of the negative expectations of her relatives.
Wrede has created an alternative history of the US. As I read it, she is paralleling the westward expansion in the US. The college is on the banks of the "Mammoth River" which I believe is the Mississippi. In this alternative world there is magic and Eff's father is a professor of magic at the university. It appears to me that the theme of the series relates to how cultures have combined in the US to create a new world (that is really new!, not just a salad of the cultures who have arrived here). Included is the challenge we all face with letting go of our expectations and seeing the world as it exists, rather than allowing our history to color or distort everything we see.
I am always impressed with Wrede's narrative skills. She slowly reveals the truth of her characters but keeps the reader going with "action" that intrigues. This is going to be a book I recommend to readers as a way to examine the "truth" of history. Although Wrede's world is fantasy, the alternative historical plot offers readers the opportunity to consider the truth of history. History is too often told by the "victor" and there are always alternative versions. Eff is a character that helps us consider how the "victors" in the US have perhaps overlooked some of the important elements of American History. She even throws in some gentle criticism of science and scientists.
A secondary theme that I suspect Wrede is exploring in this series is related to the magics that are present in the world. There are Aphrikan, Hirjer-Cathayan, and Avrupan magic traditions. I'll admit that it took me a while to do the phonics and understand that these might be considered African, Japanese-Chinese, and European magics. Regardless, Wrede does a good job of helping readers consider the value of embracing difference in any area of study (or world views).
I'll get back to you as I read the other books in this series.
It pays to pick up random books at the library. One of the disadvantages of the "hold" system is that too often I just run in, pick up my holds, and leave. The stacks are a great place to be reminded of favorite authors and to make new finds.
I have been a passionate fan of Wrede's Enchanted Forest series (Dealing with Dragons etc.). I don't know how her works fell off my radar. She has three series out that I haven't read. It looks like I'll be spending some time filling in gaps in both this series (Frontier Magic) and the Regency Magic Series including Cecelia and Kate series and the Mairelon series (coauthored with Caroline Stevermer). I'm glad that I'm teaching YA lit in the spring. It will give me a good reason to explore these two series.
Wrede uses strong young women as her protagonists. In this book the main character, Eff (short for ??--Francine??--I'll fix this later!), is a twin to a 7th son of a 7th son. Her parents have managed to produce 14 children. Consequently she is number 13. Her uncle and several other family members are convinced that this is very unlucky and that she will bring doom upon all around her.
In part, because of this negativity, her parents decide to move to a college on the "frontier" where her father will teach and Eff will be freed of the negative expectations of her relatives.
Wrede has created an alternative history of the US. As I read it, she is paralleling the westward expansion in the US. The college is on the banks of the "Mammoth River" which I believe is the Mississippi. In this alternative world there is magic and Eff's father is a professor of magic at the university. It appears to me that the theme of the series relates to how cultures have combined in the US to create a new world (that is really new!, not just a salad of the cultures who have arrived here). Included is the challenge we all face with letting go of our expectations and seeing the world as it exists, rather than allowing our history to color or distort everything we see.
I am always impressed with Wrede's narrative skills. She slowly reveals the truth of her characters but keeps the reader going with "action" that intrigues. This is going to be a book I recommend to readers as a way to examine the "truth" of history. Although Wrede's world is fantasy, the alternative historical plot offers readers the opportunity to consider the truth of history. History is too often told by the "victor" and there are always alternative versions. Eff is a character that helps us consider how the "victors" in the US have perhaps overlooked some of the important elements of American History. She even throws in some gentle criticism of science and scientists.
A secondary theme that I suspect Wrede is exploring in this series is related to the magics that are present in the world. There are Aphrikan, Hirjer-Cathayan, and Avrupan magic traditions. I'll admit that it took me a while to do the phonics and understand that these might be considered African, Japanese-Chinese, and European magics. Regardless, Wrede does a good job of helping readers consider the value of embracing difference in any area of study (or world views).
I'll get back to you as I read the other books in this series.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Drain You, by M. Beth Bloom
2012
This is one of the titles I learned about through "bookbub," an online notification system for value priced E-books. I've had relatively mixed results with this service. Some of the books are good reads, others not really worth the 0-4 dollars you pay for them.
I'm happy to recommend that this title as a promising new young adult series. It is about vampires but I find the characters and their development very intriguing and something innovative within the genre. The main character, Quinn, comes from a family of privilege in the Los Angeles area and is working part time as a punk/Goth/grunge clerk in a video rental store. (An element which is likely to date this book, in a few years readers are not going to remember what video rental stores were.) It took me a little while to become accustomed to Quinn's voice, but once I developed some hypotheses about how to read, I began to really appreciate her as a unique character.
Of course, Quinn falls for a vampire even though she has a very solid respectable young man who would like to be romantically involved with her. James, her vampire love interest, actually has a brother and sister with whom he lives. Set in the privileged, urban-punk/grunge milieu I can't really speak to the authenticity of the culture of that Bloom portrays. However, I can accept it as believable. I do wish that parents were not portrayed as quite so neglectful. Quinn's parents are preoccupied with their social events, although they are present and do seem to support and care for Quinn. Other parents in the book seem to have gone missing. James' parents are relatively famous anthropologists out on a "dig."
Bloom it is just beginning her career as a writer. As far as I can tell, this is her first published book. Although some have been critical about her character development, style, and plot development; I think that this will appeal to many young adult paranormal romance readers. She became relatively explicit about sexual encounters between Quinn and James. As a result, I cannot recommend this to all young adults (I would have to be selective and warn them about some brief "PG-16" scenes). However, even though the intercourse but is portrayed in some detail I don't believe it reaches unacceptable levels for mature adolescents. The parties that Quinn attends also include quite a bit of alcohol consumption and drug use is mentioned but not directly portrayed.
This is one of the titles I learned about through "bookbub," an online notification system for value priced E-books. I've had relatively mixed results with this service. Some of the books are good reads, others not really worth the 0-4 dollars you pay for them.
I'm happy to recommend that this title as a promising new young adult series. It is about vampires but I find the characters and their development very intriguing and something innovative within the genre. The main character, Quinn, comes from a family of privilege in the Los Angeles area and is working part time as a punk/Goth/grunge clerk in a video rental store. (An element which is likely to date this book, in a few years readers are not going to remember what video rental stores were.) It took me a little while to become accustomed to Quinn's voice, but once I developed some hypotheses about how to read, I began to really appreciate her as a unique character.
Of course, Quinn falls for a vampire even though she has a very solid respectable young man who would like to be romantically involved with her. James, her vampire love interest, actually has a brother and sister with whom he lives. Set in the privileged, urban-punk/grunge milieu I can't really speak to the authenticity of the culture of that Bloom portrays. However, I can accept it as believable. I do wish that parents were not portrayed as quite so neglectful. Quinn's parents are preoccupied with their social events, although they are present and do seem to support and care for Quinn. Other parents in the book seem to have gone missing. James' parents are relatively famous anthropologists out on a "dig."
Bloom it is just beginning her career as a writer. As far as I can tell, this is her first published book. Although some have been critical about her character development, style, and plot development; I think that this will appeal to many young adult paranormal romance readers. She became relatively explicit about sexual encounters between Quinn and James. As a result, I cannot recommend this to all young adults (I would have to be selective and warn them about some brief "PG-16" scenes). However, even though the intercourse but is portrayed in some detail I don't believe it reaches unacceptable levels for mature adolescents. The parties that Quinn attends also include quite a bit of alcohol consumption and drug use is mentioned but not directly portrayed.
Ashfall, by Mike Mullin
Tanglewood Press: 2012
This was one of those books that cause me to read late into the night and put my work aside. It is an apocalyptic story--Yellowstone, the super volcano, erupts and life as we know it ends. The story follows high school student Alex Halprin, as he travels cross country in hopes of reuniting with his family. His parents and sister have traveled from their home in Cedar Falls, Iowa to Warren, Illinois to visit Alex's uncle on his farm. Through the journey we meet the usual challenges of the apocalypse. Alex meets both helpful and life-threatening folks who are also struggling to survive in the wreckage of the world.
The story was especially enjoyable for me since Alex had to travel through the landscape and cities that I know from my young adult life. He passes close to the farm we lived on while my children were born.
I found a few of the events in the book a bit "over done." Of course, none of us know how humans will react to such a disaster. I hope we do better than Mullin envisions.
This was one of those books that cause me to read late into the night and put my work aside. It is an apocalyptic story--Yellowstone, the super volcano, erupts and life as we know it ends. The story follows high school student Alex Halprin, as he travels cross country in hopes of reuniting with his family. His parents and sister have traveled from their home in Cedar Falls, Iowa to Warren, Illinois to visit Alex's uncle on his farm. Through the journey we meet the usual challenges of the apocalypse. Alex meets both helpful and life-threatening folks who are also struggling to survive in the wreckage of the world.
The story was especially enjoyable for me since Alex had to travel through the landscape and cities that I know from my young adult life. He passes close to the farm we lived on while my children were born.
I found a few of the events in the book a bit "over done." Of course, none of us know how humans will react to such a disaster. I hope we do better than Mullin envisions.
This Dark Endeavor: The Apprenticeship of Victory Frankenstein, by Kenneth Oppel
2011
I'm still working my way through the recommendations for "Halloween" reading from Common Sense Media.
This book is a "prequel" to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Oppel has done a good job of assuming her Gothic style. Consequently, it may be a somewhat challenging read for many adolescents. The content and themes are clearly designed for adolescent readers. The book tells the story of Victor Frankenstein's beginnings as a "mad scientist." Oppel creates a twin brother for Victor, Konrad, a somewhat timid but brilliant friend Henry, and a distantly related love interest, Elizabeth. Konrad falls ill from a mysterious and deadly illness. Victor, Elizabeth, and Henry go in search of a cure from a disgraced alchemist after discovering a hidden and forbidden library of alchemy in the family castle.
It took me a little persistence to finish this book. It may have just been that I was preoccupied with many other tasks, but I worry that adolescents may find this Gothic style a little too challenging. On the other hand, were I wanting to introduce students to pastiche or fan fiction, this might be a good choice. Oppel uses the basic personality of Victor Frankenstein to create an original tale that is congruent with Shelley's work.
This might be a good companion read with historical material on the transition between alchemy and modern science. The details that Oppel includes of Switzerland and Medieval walled-cities will also help connect to European history. He creates an ominous tone throughout the book that students should appreciate. It will provide good teaching material for the study of voice and word choice. He is not heavy handed and clearly demonstrates the subtleties of creating mood and tone. It is also a good choice for a "stepping stone" into the more complex and challenging Gothic literature of Shelly, Stoker, Poe and even some of Dickens and Wilde.
This book is a "prequel" to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Oppel has done a good job of assuming her Gothic style. Consequently, it may be a somewhat challenging read for many adolescents. The content and themes are clearly designed for adolescent readers. The book tells the story of Victor Frankenstein's beginnings as a "mad scientist." Oppel creates a twin brother for Victor, Konrad, a somewhat timid but brilliant friend Henry, and a distantly related love interest, Elizabeth. Konrad falls ill from a mysterious and deadly illness. Victor, Elizabeth, and Henry go in search of a cure from a disgraced alchemist after discovering a hidden and forbidden library of alchemy in the family castle.
It took me a little persistence to finish this book. It may have just been that I was preoccupied with many other tasks, but I worry that adolescents may find this Gothic style a little too challenging. On the other hand, were I wanting to introduce students to pastiche or fan fiction, this might be a good choice. Oppel uses the basic personality of Victor Frankenstein to create an original tale that is congruent with Shelley's work.
This might be a good companion read with historical material on the transition between alchemy and modern science. The details that Oppel includes of Switzerland and Medieval walled-cities will also help connect to European history. He creates an ominous tone throughout the book that students should appreciate. It will provide good teaching material for the study of voice and word choice. He is not heavy handed and clearly demonstrates the subtleties of creating mood and tone. It is also a good choice for a "stepping stone" into the more complex and challenging Gothic literature of Shelly, Stoker, Poe and even some of Dickens and Wilde.
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