What I Read in November 2015 Part VIII ...

What I Read in November 2015 Part VIII ...


The Doll People Set Sail (Doll People #4) by Ann M. Martin and Laura Godwin, illustrated  by Brett Helquist-- Middle Grades fantasy

Kate has big news for the doll people - they have to be boxed up for a time while the girls' rooms are renovated. Kate regrets this very much but assures her beloved doll people will return to their house in her room after the humans return from vacation. Even little Nora will miss the Funcraft Family. Annabelle is upset at having to be boxed up and worried that Kate will forget about them or outgrow them and leave them in the attic for the next generation - or worse - there won't be a girl in the next generation. What happens next is straight out of Annabelle's nightmares!(Or Disney's Toy Story). The doll people find themselves on a ship to England and two of the Funcraft Family members and Nanny get lost! It's up to Annabelle and Tiffany to organize a search party and figure out how to find their loved ones and get back to Connecticut.

The premise for this book is borrowed from Toy Story 3 but slightly different. The plot is full of adventure and excitement yet I never really felt the danger was really thrilling. I was a little surprised but not surprised at the ending. There are some new characters that I found really stupid and strange but will be popular with the 5-8 year-old readers. Annabelle and Tiffany learn some valuable lessons which are imparted gently. I didn't find this story as fun as the previous books in the series. The illustrations are pretty close to the original illustrator's design. I think the target age would really like this more than their parents/other adults.

Miss Davenport's Christmas by Marion Chesney-- Regency Romance

Mr. and Mrs. Davenport, the strictest of all Puritans, are in despair. First a regiment of redcoats was posted in their Yorkshire neighborhood posing a threat to their teenage daughters, Miss Jillian and Miss Amanda. Then, a smallpox outbreak chases them from their London home. The Davenports turn to their acquaintances, Sir John and Lady Harrington, to take Jillian and Amanda into their home with strict instructions to avoid participation in Christmas. The Harringtons, sensing the girls need some holiday cheer, take Jilly and Mandy home and rush headlong info a fun season of holiday cheer. Lord Ranger and Lord Paul, attending a house party nearby, are delighted with the innocent, fresh young ladies but are cautioned that the Davenports will be choosing their daughters' husbands and the rakish sons of Dukes are not on the approved list. Bold Jilly and shy Mandy are having the time of their short lives but when they lose their hearts they fear that their parents will show up and crush their dreams. If only Lord Ranger and Lord Paul would propose and whisk them away.

This story has much darker undertones than most of Chesney's Regencies. The heroines have been abused by a cruel maid and their dour, unfeeling parents. Their fear of repercussions for any kind of behavior that their family would consider unseemly (anything fun) runs through the story. In the beginning the Davenport girls have a hard time accepting kindness. It puts a different spin on the romance aspect of the story. I could have done without the jealously plot. There was enough going on here without it. I think the ending is improbable. The "villains" are vanquished too easily. The author steps out of the story a lot to explain the history of Christmas customs. I learned a lot about the history of Christmas celebrations but it was a little too much history and could have been worked into the plot better. This story is missing Chesney's trademark humor. It made me smile in places but not laugh out loud.

The romance in this story just didn't work for me. I can see why the rakish heroes would fall in love with such fresh, innocent girls and why the girls would fall for any man who was kind of them, but for a story about a passionate girl, there is surprisingly little chemistry between the heroines and heroes. Most of the romance is told to us from the point-of-view of one of the characters. There is a bit of showing the growing friendship but no real chemistry. I don't need sizzling heat, but some connection would be nice. I thought there was going to be a big misunderstanding plot towards the end but thankfully Chesney refrained from that trope. 99% of this story is kisses only. At the very end, the last scene he takes off her clothes, then his and lays his naked body over hers- fade to black. Chesney's trademark is a naked person!

The characters are rather two-dimensional. The heroines are, of course, good looking, sweet, kind and very innocent. The heroes are supposedly rakes but they don't exhibit any rakish tendencies in the story. I did have sympathy for Jilly and Mandy and wanted them to be happy. I especially liked Lady Harrington and how she dealt with her rival and I also liked the Colonel's story. Lady Harrington and Sir John are wonderful people that I would like to live with. Lady Harrington is the only older adult with any real warmth. Lady Tenby has a large personality but is rather stereotypical.

The reader is very good. She speaks in an upper-class British accent and pitches her voice for different characters. However, I couldn't really tell any of them apart without listening carefully to the words explaining who was speaking. Overall, this is a pleasant sort of read. Not exactly a heartwarming Christmas story but a nice read for a snowy or rainy afternoon.

What I Read in October 2015 Part V/What I Read in November 2015 Part I

What I Read in October 2015 Part V ...

In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters-- Young Adult Paranormal Historical Fiction/Romance

Sixteen-year-old Mary Shelley Black is fleeing her Portland home to live with her Aunt Eva in San Diego. San Diego - where the weather is warmer and she'll be safe from the deadly Spanish flu and San Diego - where no one knows her father is in jail for being a "traitor." San Diego- where Mary's childhood sweetheart, Stephen Embers lived before enlisting in the U.S. Army. San Diego - where Stephen's older brother Julius, a renowned "spirit photographer" has made Mary Shelley famous by using a photo of her with a so-called spirit in his ads. With the deadly flu raging everywhere, people are desperate for answers; desperate for a message from their lost loved ones. Mary Shelley hates being stuck in the house hiding from the flu. She hates that she must be separated from those she loves most- her father and Stephen. Aunt Eva works in the shipyard by day and by night she chases after Julius and his spiritualist friends. Mary Shelley is a scientist and she's skeptical about the so-called spirit photographs, especially since Stephen had told her how his brother cheats; but she's a scientist and research is her specialty. Then when the world seems bleakest and the unthinkable happens to Mary, she begins to see things differently - literally and figuratively. She believes the spirit of someone close to her is reaching out to her to find out how they died and solve the mystery of their horrid nightmares about blackbirds. Mary Shelley must summon all her will to survive and reject her long-held beliefs to solve the mystery.

This story is very dark. The Spanish Influenza pandemic was nothing like we've ever experienced in most of our lifetimes. Having grown up around modern medicine, the folk remedies used during WWI to ward of the deadly flu seem silly and unnecessary to me. It's hard to imagine the hysterical fear of this dreadful disease. The writer perfectly captures the horror, even among the educated. She obviously did a ton of research on the Spanish Influenza pandemic and you will really feel like you're there watching the drama unfold. The author really excels at researching, bringing in World War I trench warfare and PTSD. You will feel like donating to the Wounded Warrior Project by the time you finish this novel. It's dark and heartbreaking in many places. I didn't quite expect the supernatural element. It got a little too gothic and supernatural for my tastes. I didn't really understand how the supernatural element worked. It didn't make a lot of sense and I didn't care for some parts of it. I wasn't crazy about the romance plot either. It went a little too far for my taste and was too unusual. I did like the relationship though. At first I didn't get it but later on it was explained how the two characters met and connected and why they continued to be close despite their geographic distance. I really wanted everything to work out happily but thought the story might have a dramatic ending that I couldn't handle. It had enough crazy elements to please teenage readers and lovers of supernatural stories but enough realism for adult readers.

I liked Mary Shelley a lot. At first she seemed prickly but given the circumstances she has every right to be. I grew to like her because she's a scientist and interested in the way things work. I liked her because she's had a rough year and deserved some happiness. She makes some stupid choices and some good choices. She's old for her 16 years but still has some growing up to do. I liked how she turned her stubbornness to good use to fight for those she loves.

I wasn't crazy about Aunt Eva. Like Mary Shelley, I admired her for working in a shipyard but I didn't like how desperate she was for love from a man. She wanted marriage and family too badly and couldn't make rational judgments. In many ways her teenage niece was smarter. I also didn't like all the onions and garlic she used to ward off the flu. It seems a little weird that her sister was a doctor and yet she still believes in folk remedies. I didn't like how she reacted to Mary Shelley's supernatural experiences but I understand her fear.

The women in the book come off better than the men! Julius is a charming scoundrel. I didn't believe his sincerity but I couldn't figure out what his interest in Eva was. His friends and relations aren't much better. Stephen is a likable character once you get to know him. I certainly felt sorry for him and he reminded me a lot of my brother in many ways. Yet at first I didn't really get his obsession with Mary Shelley. It seemed a little creepy and stalkerish but once the story got going and I understood him better, I understood his need for her.

This is very much a teen book. I don't think many adults will enjoy this one but the history behind the story is fascinating.

What I Read in November 2015 Part I ...

Why Is This Night Different From All Other Nights? by Lemony Snicket-- Middle Grades Fantasy 

The final volume in Lemony Snicket's prequel series for his popular A Series of Unfortunate Events. Snicket knows that a train is leaving Stained-by-the-see tonight and he must be on that train to free his sister, meet his associates and deal with Hangfire once and for all. Of course with a chaperone like his, it won't be easy.

This book is filled with dramatic tension and a few surprises. I figured out who Hangfire was just before his identity was revealed but I don't really understand WHY. I was pleased with the way in ended. It was much more satisfactory than the ending of ASOUE. The characters begin to be more complex than previously realized and VFD is better explained. It sets the stage for ASOUE. I especially loved the literary references (some of which the target audience won't get) but I'm stumped by one: who is Brown?

Now I need to go read the entire series again plus his autobiography. I'm glad I saved them all. I may listen to more on audio.

What I Read in May 2015 Part I

What I Read in May 2015 Part I ...

Emma by Alexander McCall Smith -Austenesque Contemporary Fiction

This modern retelling of Emma has way too much backstory. The first quarter of the book is all about Mr. Woodhouse and his history, then how Miss Taylor came to live with them (with a Sound of Music reference - love it!) and how Isabella met John. Finally, about halfway through we meet Emma, recently returned from University in Bath with a degree in design and nothing to do. She hosts a dinner party for the neighbors and decides to fix up her former governess, Miss Taylor, with widower James Weston. She also invites Harriet Smith, a young woman who assists the English as a Foreign Language teacher Mrs. Goddard. Emma, fresh from her success with the Westons turns her attentions to Harriet. You know the rest or you think you do but there are some surprises towards the end. Most of the plot is removed to make room for backstory and I really wish he had included more plot and less pondering because I liked the writing style. The writing sort of mimics Jane Austen's cadence a bit without being ponderous or old-fashioned,it's witty, like Jane Austen. At times though there were some really odd passages that stuck out - Emma pondering on sex and physical attraction - that I didn't feel fit in with the tone of the story. Also the moral at the end was too much for a modern book. It didn't need to be spelled out. I wanted more plot.

Mr. Woodhouse's story is cute and funny and I really liked him as a character. I also loved Mrs. Goddard aka Mrs. God, the hippie teacher. She's a lot of fun. Harriet is a sweet girl and deserves happiness. Mr. Knightly is barely in the book. George is Mr. Woodhouse's friend and neighbor but he doesn't spend much time with Emma. He's very kind and generous and more empathetic than his brother. Emma is portrayed as controlling. From her childhood to the revelation at the end, she insists on controlling everyone in her life. I have never seen Emma that way - just spoiled, selfish and bored. This Emma is not quite as lively and witty as the original. Maybe if there was more plot she would have been. As in the original, there's no good reason why she doesn't like Jane Fairfax except for jealousy. Frank Churchill appears here too but in a limited role. He's not quite the same as the original - not fully developed and appearing briefly to advance the mystery of Jane Fairfax plot.

I preferred other retellings of Emma over this time. Even the webseries Emma Approved grew on me over time. I will try to check out some of the author's other books because I did like his writing style.

Content some might find objectionable:
discussions about sex, homosexuality
nudity
brief contemplation on physical attraction
hinted drug use
characters living together before marriage 

The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer -- Middle Grades Fantasy


Twins Alex and Connor are as different as can be. Alex is an overachiever. She does well in school, but is miserable because all the other kids are mean to her. Connor is an underachiever, a wisecracking kid who often falls asleep in class. The one thing they have in common is their love of fairy tales. Their dad used to tell them stories to make them feel better and read to them from the big Book of Stories at their grandmother's. Now their dad is dead and their mom is too busy trying to pay bills to be with the twins much. After a school lesson in fairy tales, Alex discovers The Book of Secrets acting strange. She can't figure out what to do. She really wants to peer inside the fairy tale world but clumsy Connor accidentally knocks them both into the book! Now they're stuck in the fairy tale world with no way home. They meet a frog who tells them about the Wishing Spell which will help them get home if they gather the right objects together. Off they go on a quest for magical objects in the land they know so well - or think they do anyway. They're unprepared for the dangers they face from their beloved tales. Will they ever make it home again?

I loved Chris Colfer on Glee and when I saw he narrated his own book, I had to listen to it. The story isn't all that new - at times it reminded me of Harry Potter and of course it involves fairy tales, but I enjoyed the trip through the fairy tale world. Alex and Connor's adventures start and stop a lot. They find themselves in danger but somehow manage to get out of it too easily. It wasn't until part 7 that I got really into the story and couldn't put it down. There were some surprises along the way though I had already guessed right away what took the kids half the book to figure out.

I wanted to like Alex because she's me at that age but I found her a bit too soft for my tastes. She's not Hermione, always coming up with the answer. She's kind and empathetic and sometimes that isn't what is needed. I liked clever, wisecracking Connor better. He's smarter than he thinks he is and saves the day more than once with his quick wits. My favorite characters are Goldielocks because she kicks some serious butt and Red Riding Hood because she provides the humor. Though I absolutely hated seeing women fighting. We have a hard enough time in life and should support one another not fight each other. It sent the wrong message to kids.

Chris Colfer's narration surprisingly left a bit to be desired. His delivery of the narration was too rushed. He excelled at doing character voices though, especially the female ones. He's horrible at accents and I couldn't figure out if some of the characters were sometimes speaking in a southern accent or an English one or some combination. The voices themselves were a lot of fun though and add a lot to the story.

Middle Grades Reviews

Past Middle Grades Reviews

Cleaning house and moving some reviews around.

Dragon Flight by Jessica Day George -- Middle Grades fantasy
When the king learns that another kingdom has mounted an army on dragon and plans to attack, he asks Creel to help save the kingdom with the help of local dragons. Upset at the king's attitude towards dragons, Creel sets out to prove that the enemy dragons are not fighting of their own free will. Together with her friend Marta, Martha's betrothed Tobin, Prince Luka and her favorite dragons, Creel sets off to spy on their enemies in Citatie. Creel and Marta uncover a dangerous and deadly secret that leads to The Second Dragon War and it's up to the girls to save the day. I wasn't crazy about this book either. I guess I'm not much of a fan of dragons. The action took a long time to set up and then the battle took up only a brief amount of space before the long ending. I could have used more about the dragons and a longer action sequence. The romance parts were sweet and I really liked the wedding scene. One important thing to note is the glossary in the back, which I didn't discover until after I had read the book. I found many of the names and place names too difficult to pronounce on my own without the glossary and wish I had seen in before I started reading.

Dragon Slippers by Jessica Day George -- Middle Grades fantasy

Creel is an orphaned country maiden with a gift for embroidery and a dream of leaving the village to become a professional needleworker. However, her family is poor and her aunt decides the best way to reverse their finances is to sacrifice Ceel to a dragon so a knight can rescue her, marry her and support the whole family. Creel's adventures don't turn out as planned - for one thing, the dragon refuses to eat her! Instead, Creel befriends the dragon and recieves a beautiful pair of slippers from the dragon's hoard. She then sets off for the King's Seat, dismisses the knight, meets more eccentric dragons and discoveres a dangerous secret that could be the end of all she cares about. I didn't like this story as much as I thought I would. I liked like Creel rescued herself but I was expecting more pluck and wit from her. The story picked up towards the end when the kingdom was in danger. I would recommend this book to 9-12 year olds but maybe not to adults. I do plan to read the sequels though and hope I like them.

I Put a Spell on You by Adam Selzer -- Middle Grades mystery/school humor

I picked this up because the author's wife is an online acquaintance of mine and I'm not sorry I read it! 6th grade Hall Monitor Chrissie Woodward has always been on the right side of the law, that is, the side of the Principal, but as the community prepares for the big spelling bee, Chrissie begins to suspect the principal's office of being corrupt! She sets out to gather evidence from her peers in this amusing adventure. The story is told from the points of view of the kids involved in the spelling bee: the know-it-all, the homeschool transfer, the class clown, the kid who will eat anything and the girl whose parents want her to win more than anything. This book seems to be based on Watergate, which I'm not sure kids would get, but it reminds me so much of the books my teachers used to read to the class in elementary school that it doesn't matter if kids get the little nods to history. Each of the kids in the story is so intense and the adults are all crazy and "bad," but since the story is told from the point of view of the kids, I can see how they would see adults as "bad." I enjoyed this book a lot and couldn't put it down until I finished the mystery and saw who won the spelling bee! I also learned a lot of new words that I have never even heard of!

What I've Read This Week

What I've Read This Week . . .

Dark Mirror by M.J. Putney  (Dark Mirror 1) -- Young Adult Historical Fantasy/Romance

In 1803 Lady Victoria Mansfield is all that is expected of a daughter of an Earl until she turns sixteen and unexpectedly comes into forbidden magic powers. She thinks she can hide her powers from everyone but she's forced to make a decision between her comfort and another's safety and so she reveals herself as a mageling is front of all her friends and family. Tory is cut dead by most everyone, except her mother and sister. Her mother is too weak to stand up to Tory's father who demands Tory be sent away to Lackland Academy, a strict boarding school which "cures" magic. At first Tory finds life at Lackland oppressing and dull. She keeps her head down and tries to stay inconspicuous so she can return home soon. Then she discovers a group of rebel teachers and students who secretly work at practicing magic so they can protect Britain from French invasion if needs be. Tory finds her own inner strength and sense of purpose working with the Irregulars. She makes new friends, even commoners, and feels an instant connection with the handsome, mysterious Marquess of Allarde. One night Tory discovers the existence of a hidden mirror that takes her on a journey through time to 1940 where she meets Nick Rainford, a modern teenage descendant of one of the Irregulars. Though magic has all but been forgotten in 1940, Nicki believes Tory. He has to because he needs her help. Britain is at war once again and preparing for invasion. This time the invasion could be more deadly than in Tory's time and the Rainfords are desperate to learn all they can to help. Tory and her friends learn a powerful lesson about embracing their magic and must do all they can to save the day during the dangerous new war. I liked this book much more than I thought. At first it was difficult to read the snobbish attitudes towards those with magic and the beliefs about women but much of the story's action takes place outside of that world. I really admired Tory. At first I couldn't relate to her desire to return home to a cruel and stifling society that didn't accept her but I began to think differently once I realized what a difficult decision she had to make. Once she begins to study with the Irregulars she grows and learns a lot, and not just magic. Cynthia is a stereotypical snobby rich girl on the surface but she has surprising hidden depths. I really liked Elspeth who accepts who she is and embraces her magic. Allarde is a swoony sort of hero that I think teenage girls will love. The plot is engaging but starts and stops too often. I was expecting major action but instead there's lots of minor action with the major action happening in the last few chapters. Then I couldn't put the book down though I had the feeling I had read that part before... This book is a cute way to introduce teens to the Regency world and teach English history. Some of the morals are a bit heavy handed so this novel is not for every adult reader. I would recommend it mainly to 12-14 year old girls who have graduated from Tamora Pierce's Circle of Magic series. I'm moving right along to the sequel because I have to know what happens next!

Dark Passage by M.J. Putney  (Dark Mirror 2) -- Young Adult Historical Fantasy/Romance

In this sequel to Dark Mirror, the story alternates points-of-view from Tory to Cynthia. Tory is madly in love with Allarde but she discovers that he has a strong magical bond to his family's ancestral estate. She has to decide whether she has the courage to push him aside for his own good or whether she can ask him to risk everything to be with her. Cynthia, alone and miserable on Christmas, is invited to a party at the Rainfords. She's reluctant to spend time with commoners but Lily Rainford has hearth magic and Cynthia is freezing. The farmhouse is warm and cozy and Cynthia is treated like a hero and a friend. Jack is as infuriating as ever, so why then does Cynthia feel sparks around him? Cynthia tries to push him away but Jack refuses to give up until he's unlocked the secrets of Cynthia's heart. When Nick Rainford suddenly appears through Merlin's Mirror, the Irregulars know that something must be dreadfully wrong in 1940. Nick has a premonition that he needs to rescue a Jewish scientist from the Nazis. Dr. Weiss is on the verge of a medical breakthrough that may save the life of one of Nick's loved ones. Tory, Allarde, Elspbeth, Jack and Cynthia reluctantly agree to help Nick find another magical mirror in France to rescue Dr. Weiss. They find themselves right in the middle of a Nazi compound and desperate to get back home. Their mission is filled with danger and they may not make it out alive. Half of this story is character-driven. I really liked the narrative from Cynthia's point-of-view. Tory and Allard are a bit boring and too noble to carry a whole story, though their romance is sweet and Allard still swoony. Cynthia's story is filled with fascinating secrets that are revealed slowly and a wonderful romantic build-up. The second half of the book is heart-in-your-throat, can't-put-it-down adventure. I stayed up way too late reading it to find out what happened next. Unlike the first book, once this adventure starts it doesn't stop until the end. It does seem a little silly that 5 kids head right into that kind of danger and mess with Nazis. I'm not sure if that's very foolish or very brave but I got caught up in the adventure so it didn't seem to ridiculous. The characters all sound and act much more mature than their ages which I will chalk up to their experiences but sometimes they sound more like adults. That's really my only criticism. Even the moral of the story wasn't as heavy as it was in the first. I'm dying to read the third volume and I may even download the short story about Allarde. This book contains a lot of violence and slightly more intense romantic feelings than the first. I'd recommend it for ages 14-16.

A Prince Among Frogs (Tales of the Frog Princess) by E.D. Baker -- Middle Grades Fantasy

In this final volume of the Tales of the Frog Princess, Princess Millie is preparing to wed her true love Audun but her mother is too busy being the Green Witch and running the kingdom to help plan the wedding. Plus, Millie's new baby brother Felix takes a lot of their mother's time and attention. Then Millie's Aunt Grassina and Uncle Heywood run off to deal with magical matters and never return, Emma and Eadric go off to look for them leaving Millie and Audun in charge. Millie isn't sure she can help anyone with magical matters not being a witch but when a wicked villain kidnaps baby Felix, Audun tries to convince Millie she can save the say. Millie learns she has strength she didn't know she possessed and with Audun by her side, she can do anything. This is a sweet, charming end to the series. It brings the story back to the roots of the original fairy tale The Frog Prince. It also brings back characters from previous novels and introduces some new quirky magical people. The mystery kept me engaged though I knew before Millie who the villain was. I couldn't put the book down until I found out how the villain was vanquished. The romance is so sweet. I love Audun. He's a perfect prince. The message is a very positive one for pre-teen girls who may need a little confidence boost. I enjoyed this series and would recommend it to kids, mostly girls, ages 11-14. 

What I've Read This Week

What I've Read This Week . . .

The Fool's Girl by Celia Rees -- Young Adult Historical Fiction

Will Shakespeare is a struggling poet, actor and sometimes playwright in London in 1601 when he comes across a little fool and his clown performing in the streets of London. In need of a new fool for his latest play, Will makes the acquaintance of the pair. The clown is actually a young lady, Violetta, daughter of the late Duke of Illyria. Violetta and Feste the Fool have a dark and difficult story to tell of a maiden sprang from the sea, mistaken identities, love, jealousy and betrayal. All that Violetta loves and cares for in Illyria has been destroyed through the jealous machinations of her Uncle Sebastian and the villain Malvolio who calls himself a Jesuit priest. While Sebastian was content to bring down Illyria, Malvolio has greater aspirations. He has stolen a beloved and sacred chalice from Illyria and with it he plans to rally Catholic support in England to kill Queen Elizabeth and place a Catholic pretender in her place.Violetta is determined to stop him with help from Feste and Will Shakespeare. The plan is difficult and dangerous and she may lose everyone she's come to care for, especially her beloved, Stephano. Did you ever wonder what happened to the characters of Shakepeare's Twelfth Night after the play is done? This novel imagines the events of the play as real events and what happens next is not a comedy as I was expecting. The events of the story are dark and tragic and tinged with magic and superstition. Will Shakespeare hears the story of events in Illyria from Violetta, Feste, and Violetta's kinswoman Maria. Much of the story is given over to those past events. The book is a little short on action as a consequence. The action sequences are fairly brief except for the final confrontation. There is lots of violence and bloodshed and no funny moments. Shakespeare fans and scholars will recognize situations, people and lines from his plays that the reader must believe influenced his works.  What I really liked about the book were the descriptions of Illyria and the creation of the culture of that land. I also loved the depiction of Elizabethan England with one foot rooted in superstition. The author weaves in magic and superstition to create a fully believable world. I came to care about Violetta and her homeland but I wanted a bit more action in the story. I felt that it concluded too quickly. Fans of Celia Rees's other books will not be disappointed by this one.

Little Women and Me by Lauren Baratz-Logsted -- Middle Grades Contemporary Fantasy/Historical Fiction

Emily March is a typical 21st century teen. She goes to school, does homework, fights with her sister and dreams of getting together with the cute jock with whom she eats lunch every day. Emily feels sorry for herself though. She's the middle sister and never gets anything she wants, not even the boy, for he has a crush on her older sister! When Emily's English teacher gives an assignment to change something about a favorite book, Emily knows she wants to write about Little Women. She identifies with Jo and wants to be a writer like Jo. She cried when Beth died and was outraged when Laurie married Amy. Emily decides that she's going to change Little Women and make sure Laurie marries Jo. As she prepares for her assignment by rereading the book, there's a noise like a vacuum cleaner and suddenly Emily is swooshed back into time and sucked into the pages of the novel. Once again Emily finds herself the middle March sister and she does not like it. She's jealous of Meg and Jo and can't stand snobbish little Amy but Beth, as sweet and loving as always, she can't help but love. Emily experiences all the dullness and privation of the daily life of the March sisters trying to get home, until a boy enters the picture. With the introduction of Laurie, Emily begins to compete with Jo for his affections. Emily decides her purpose is not to get Laurie and Jo together but to save Beth. Soon she finds that even the best stories get away from their authors and things may not turn out as planned. This is a cute story that will appeal mainly to tween and young teen girls. Emily is very selfish and obnoxious but that's the point of her character. She learns lessons along the way that shape who she will become as an adult later on after the story ends. Until then, she's very unlikeable. My favorite March sister, Jo, is also an obnoxious teenager. She doesn't come across as the fun-loving tomboy I grew up loving. She's in desperate competition with her sisters with occasional moments that shine through from the original. The story is interesting though and kept me reading late at night to find out how it turned out. The ending is a bit rushed but there's a big surprise there that I didn't see coming. The author tries a little too hard to impart a moral at the very end that I think could have been left out. Overall though, I liked the story and I think girls in the target age range who love Little Women will enjoy this book.

What I've Read This Week Part I

What I've Read This Week Part I . . .

Belladonna by Mary Finn -- Young Adult Historical Fiction

Sent back home to his native village after failing school, Thomas Rose finds a girl hidden in the grass. Curious, Thomas seeks her out. The girl's name is Hélène but in England she goes by Ling, for in 1757 France and England are at war (as usual). Spirited Ling has run away from her home in a traveling circus in search of her beautiful white horse, Belladonna on whose back she rode and did tricks. Belladonna is Ling's best friend and family and the loss of her horse tears Ling apart. She's determined to find Belladonna and steal her back and enlists Thomas's aid. Thomas, besotted with the lively French girl, agrees to help. Their search for Belladonna brings them closer together and introduces Thomas to new people and new ideas. I expected to read a fun adventure tale but this novel is exactly the opposite. This is a coming-of-age novel for young Thomas as he learns to open his heart and his mind to love and acceptance. The prose is written in a lyrical, almost poetic way. I found it difficult to read and others may have a There are many characters and situations described so thoroughly that it sometimes bogged down the action of the story.  hard time understanding the author's descriptions of things that are unfamiliar to Thomas. There is also quite a lot of French dialogue which the reader can guess by the context and some Romani (Gypsy) words too. The story is slow moving and there is not a lot of action. Thomas tells the reader of his feelings for Ling but I didn't feel there was much real chemistry between them but he was besotted by the exotic young woman. I'm not sure this book would appeal to the target age market but adults might enjoy it.

The Book of Story Beginnings by Kristin Kladstrup -- Middle Grades Fantasy/Adventure

In 1914 young Oscar lives on an Iowa farm with his family. He dreams of adventure and becoming a writer. When he finds a mysterious old book locked in his mother's trunk, he can't resist writing down his ideas for story beginnings. One night the sea appears on the Iowa bluffs and Oscar rows away never to be seen again. Many decades later, his great-niece Lucy and her parents move to the same Iowa farmhouse Oscar's younger sister bequeathed to them. Oscar's sister spent her whole life trying to figure out what happened to Oscar. She was certain it was something magic and experimented with alchemy. Lucy's father, a chemist, can't resist trying his hand at Great-Aunt Lavonne's experiments while Lucy tries to solve the mystery of the missing boy. When she discovers the book of story beginnings and jots down her own story beginning, she begins an adventure she never dreamed of. This is a cute, charming fantasy story along the lines of E. Nesbit's turn-of-the-twentieth-century classics. The adventure is a lot of fun though mostly predictable. The scary factor is very minimal. The bittersweet ending has a bit of a heavy-handed message. I think the timeline of events from 1914 to Lucy's time is a lot off but I'm very nitpicky about that sort of thing. I think middle grades children and children at heart will enjoy this book.

What I've Read This Week Part I

What I've Read This Week Part I . . .

Ruby Red (Ruby Red trilogy book 1)  by Kerstin Gier, translated by Anthea Bell -- Young Adult fantasy

Sixteen-year-old Gwynneth Shepherd is an average teenage girl living in London and attending high school. She just happens to be able to talk to ghosts. That's not the only weird thing about her. Her great-aunt has visions and her cousin is expected to inherit the time travel gene that is passed down through the female line of the family. Beautiful, intelligent cousin Charlotte Montrose has been raised with the secret knowledge of the time travel society to which the family belongs. However, the Montrose family is in for a shock became it's not Charlotte that has inherited the gene, it's Gwen! Gwen unexpectedly and uncontrollably finds herself traveling through time. Gwen is suddenly thrust into a world of which she knows nothing about. Secrets come to light and questions are raised about her past. Gwen wants nothing to do with time travel but she begins to see the benefits thanks to the beautiful costumes she gets to wear and the handsome young man who has been assigned to time travel with her. Together Gwen and Gideon must visit their ancestors in the past to obtain the blood needed to run the chronometer (the device which makes time travel happen). They must also discover the whereabouts of Gwen's cousin Lucy and Gideon's relative Paul who stole the original chronometer long ago. Gwen's mother puts doubts in her head about whether to trust this secret society or not. Through it all her best friend Lesley is an enthusiastic supporter, willing to research whatever is necessary to help Gwen figure out what's going on and who to trust. The book ends with an action packed cliffhanger and more secrets that cause more questions. Despite the rapid pace of the story and the endless questions it raises, I loved this book. I'm hooked on trying to solve the mysteries, especially as the reader is privy to information Gwen is not. I loved the costumes and the adventure, the quirky characters and the gorgeous cover of the novel. This book is a must-read for young adults and those young at heart. If you think you know time travel stories, think again and read this book! I can't wait for the next two volumes to be released.

A Tale of Two Castles by Gail Carson Levine -- Middle Grades Fantasy

Elodie has been sent from her home on a farm to the city of Two Castles to apprentice as a weaver. Elodie has other plans for herself. She dreams of becoming a mansioner (actor). Mansioning is her passion and she's constantly reinventing her life to make it into a mansion. It's a good thing to because her first day in Two Castles doesn't go as planned. First she's dressed differently than everyone else, then she's robbed and finally, she's told there is no place for a free mansion apprentice. Luckily for Elodie, she's befriended by a dragon Masteress Meenore. IT (only dragons know their own gender) offers to hire Elodie to proclaim IT's prowess at deducting and reasoning to solve mysteries. Business is slow until the ogre Count Jonty Um comes to Masteress Meenore for help. Elodie quickly realizes that Count Jonty Um is warm and friendly but the citizens of Two Castles don't see him that way and he fears his life is in danger. Masteress Meenore sends Elodie to Count Jonty Om's castle to solve the mystery of who has been robbing him and who wishes him dead. Elodie finds her mansioning skills put to the test in addition to her new found skills of deduction and induction as she races to solve the mystery before the kind ogre is no more. This is another adorable middle grades fantasy novel by the author of one of my favorite books ever, Ella Enchanted. It features a fully developed medieval type world complete with peculiar speech patterns and accents. I love detail oriented authors who develp fully fleshed out worlds. It's much easier to become engaged in the story. I found Elodie charming despite her youthful enthusiasm and empathized with her struggles. Mastresss Meenore is a great multi-dimensional character and Count Jonty Um is not at all like Shrek though they are both ogres. This book teaches kids lessons on acceptance, using common sense and perseverance. I enjoyed this so much, I hope it becomes a series. I highly recommend it for ages 8 and up.

What I Read This Weekend

What I Read This Weekend . . .

The Sable Quean (Redwall) by Brian Jacques -- Middle Grades Fantasy

The latest threat to the peaceful woodlanders of Mossflower comes from Vilaya, the dangerous Sable Quean who commands hordes of vermin called ravagers. Vilaya and the dangerous sable Zwilt the Shade are out to conquer Redwall Abbey. Vilaya has devised a plan to kidnap the Dibbuns and other woodland babes in order to blackmail her way into the Abbey. Meanwhile, Buckler Kordyne, the rebellious, restless young blademaster at Salamandatron, is advised by the great badger Lord Brang to go on an adventure to visit Redwall Abbey and Buck's brother and sister-in-law who live near Redwall. Buck brings along his pal, the always hungry, Subaltern Meliton Gubthorpe Digglethwaite. When Buck and Diggs set out on their journey, they have no idea of the adventure and experience that awaits them. Assisted by a crew of shrews, a traveling troupe of hedgehog actors and warriors of Redwall, Buck and Diggs vow to return the missing children and destroy the vermin. The vermin soon learn what it means to mess with Redwallers and their friends. The adventures continue in this latest tale from Redwall. The plot of this new story does not exactly follow the usual formula, so it kept me intrigued far into the night! I like the departure because I felt that the books were getting too formulaic and predictable. The story revisits Mossflower history and faithful fans will delight in figuring out the mystery ahead of the Redwallers and new fans will enjoy learning about the history of Mossflower for the first time. Jacques always excels at creating colorful characters that live on in the reader's memory even after the last page is finished. Though you know the Redwallers always win in the end, getting there is the fun part and this book is no exception. Another great yarn from Mr. Jacques!

A Scandalous Journey by Susannah Carleton -- Regency Romance

George Winterbrook, Lord Weymouth, wakes up to find himself in an unfamiliar place with his hands and feet bound. He doesn't know where he is or how he came to be there. He soon learns that he has been abducted by his friend's former wife, who wishes to coerce Weymouth into marrying her. George refuses to marry without love, but Lady Arabella is persistent and threatens George's young niece Isabelle if he doesn't comply. Beth Castleton also awakens in an unfamiliar location with a throbbing headache. Her maid, though kind, does not know how Beth came to be in Scotland nor for what purpose. Beth is led to the book room where she will be able to speak with her hostess and get some answers. There George encounters Beth reciting square roots to calm her nerves. He hopes she will help rescue him, but doubts she will because she was rather frosty towards him when last they met at his cousin's house party. Beth agrees to help rescue young Isabelle and if possible, George too. Plans go awry and the journey back to London is difficult and dangerous but George is determined to protect both his niece and the intrepid young lady who did not hesitate to help him. Once safely back in London, Beth dreads the coming Season. She feels like a curiosity because she is American and doesn't fit in because she prefers mathematics to gossip. Weymouth introduces Beth to his family and friends to help calm her nerves. The one thing that can mar Beth's happiness, is the knowledge that she traveled unescorted with Weymouth. Though she enjoys his company, Beth refuses to force George to marry her unless he loves her. They may not have a choice if Lady Arabella has her way. This is a rather unusual story. There is no exposition, the hero and heroine have already been introduced, and the plot picks up right away. Yet, I still felt the story was rather slow and I didn't really care what happened once the scandalous journey was over. The hero is a paragon. He's the exact opposite of a rake. He's a little too good to be true. I really liked Beth for being an intelligent and intrepid heroine but a little too prone to turn into a watering pot for lame reasons. If you're looking for something different and don't like rakish heroes, then try this one. It seems to be part of a series but background information is revealed throughout the story so those who have not read the previous books (like me) can enjoy this as a stand alone.

What I've Read This Week

What I've Read This Week . . .

An Accomplished Woman by Jude Morgan -- Regency Fiction
Though set in 1799, this book could have been written by Jane Austen or Georgette Heyer, therefore, I place it in the Regency category.
Thirty year-old Lydia Templeton in as accomplished woman, a bluestocking, well-educated in the classics and coolly determined not to let her heart, or any man, rule her. Though Lydia dreams of travel, she is happy at home with her father in the country,writing literary criticism and trading verbal jabs with their cynical bachelor neighbor, Lewis Durrant, whose hand she rejected nine years ago. Lydia is reluctantly talked into chaperoning her godmother's ward, the beautiful young heiress Phoebe Rae, in Bath in order to help the young woman choose between two suitors. Mr. Durrant has also come to Bath in search of a wife in order to cut his extravagant nephew out of an inheritance. Soon Lydia and Phoebe are involved in a social whirl, making new acquaintances and forming and reforming opinions of old ones. Finally, Lydia discovers that she has a heart after all. The first half of this novel reads very much like a Jane Austen novel. It reminded me a lot of Emma. However, the pace is extraordinarily slow and not much happens, much like Emma. The second half of the novel could be a new Georgette Heyer novel with romantic entanglements and quirky characters. None of the characters really appealed much to me though. As much as I really wanted to like Lydia, I found her too cynical and hardened to be the heroine of a romance. I would have preferred it if she didn't make the decision she did. The ending of the story almost belonged to a different book entirely. Many of the characters were reminiscent of Jane Austen characters and there are a few little winks to Jane Austen fans who will immediately recognize the references. I think this is a good read for Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer fans. Those who prefer the more modern, sweet (or spicy) romance novels would do best to avoid this one.

Dragon Kiss (Tales of the Frog Princess) by E.D. Baker -- Middle Grades Fantasy
Audun is an ice dragon who has lived for 15 years in the Icy North without ever meeting anyone outside his own dragon family. Just a few weeks ago, Princess Millie, the human/dragon daughter of Princess Emma and Prince Eadric, saved Audun and his family from an evil spell and now Audun is madly in love with Millie. Of course their families object to the match and Millie is taken away from Audun. Audun turns to the Dragon King for help in learning to become human. Before that can happen, Audun must complete three dangerous tasks for the Dragon King and avoid being trapped into marriage with a lovely young Dragoness. Audun learns that being human means more than changing his body and it's up to him to help the dragons with one more difficult task before he can return to Millie and seek her hand in marriage. This is the 7th (and second-to-last) novel in the series but works well as a stand-alone. The plot is overloaded with adventure, danger and sprinkled with humor. There are lots of new wacky characters to enjoy and some old ones too. Audun's story is a classic hero/coming-of-age tale told in an unusual way. I can't wait to find out what happens next!


Strawberry Hill by Mary Ann Hoberman -- Middle Grades Historical Fiction
Because of the Great Depression, Allie's dad loses his job in New Haven and takes a new one in Stamford. Allie, her little brother and their mother must leave their apartment and move to a new home in Stamford. At first Allie doesn't want to leave her best friend Ruthie and their cozy apartment, but she's cheered by the prospect of living on a street named Strawberry Hill. Strawberry Hill turns out to be rather disappointing for Allie but soon she makes friends with Martha, the Catholic girl next door. Martha tells Allie that the other Jewish girl in the neighborhood, Mimi, is a "crybaby" and Martha avoids her. Allie is excited to have a new friend but when Martha's best friend Cynthia returns from summer vacation, Allie learns a person can not have TWO best friends. Cynthia's prejudices cause conflicts in the neighborhood and Allie has to figure out what makes a good friend and how to be a friend. This is a sweet, old-fashioned kind of story that modern kids can relate to and learn from. Allie is an appealing character because she's very realistic and her conflict is one every kid goes through. I also liked Mimi and her story was sweet though maybe unrealistic. I do have an issue with the way the friendship conflict was resolved and the message it may send to kids, but I think it's more realistic and less preachy that way. I recommend this to kids 8-12 and their parents.

What I've Read This Week

What I've Read This Week . . .

The Underneath by Kathi Appelt and David Small -- Children's fiction National Book Award Finalist, Newberry Honor Book
The Underneath is a safe haven under a titled house in the bayou on the Texas/Louisiana border where Ranger, an old abused hound dog lies waiting for his owner to throw him some scraps of food. Along comes a calico cat, heavy with kittens and abandoned by her owners. Ranger invites the cat to share his space Underneath. Ranger, the calico cat and her two kittens, Sabine and Puck, are a happy little family, hiding from Gar Face, Ranger's neglectful, abusive owner. It's safe in the Underneath and the kittens are warned never to leave. Meanwhile, deep under an old pine lies a creature, trapped in a clay jar for 1000 years, waiting for revenge. In the bayou lives an old alligator, hungry for flesh. The stories intertwine to tell a haunting story about love, loss and betrayal. This is a dark book, probably not suited for young children. Nothing much happy occurs in the plot, just lots and lots of misery. The subplots are confusing until they come together in the end and I found the book kind of boring and unmemorable. I wish I could like this book, but I just couldn't. It took me several days to finish it, if that tells you anything. I think the author would do a better job writing for adults.


The Squire's Quest (The Squire's Tales) by Gerald Morris -- Middle Grades Fantasy
The latest in the series of Arthurian legends based on little-known French tales. It's ten years after Terence first comes to Camelot and he's still a squire. He's served Arthur faithfully and will continue to stay in Camelot as long as Arthur remains king. Terence feels uneasy because he hasn't had any contact with the Other World for a long time and fears that a wicked enchantment may be preventing the connection and he distrusts Mordred, a young man with a secret past who has come to Camelot in hopes of becoming a knight. King Arthur admires Mordred's diplomatic ways but Terence can't help but feel something is not right. Alexander, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire comes to Camelot and makes a nuisance of himself by falling in love with Terence's friend Lady Sarah, but also proves himself to be a loyal and just friend. Alexander's brother, Cligés claims his own subplot as the minstrels songs about courtly love influence the young man and his uncle's young bride to act the part of star-crossed lovers to the detriment of the Empire. Terence's adventures takes him all over the Empire and to the Greek underworld before he discovers the fate of his beloved Arthur and Camelot. This book is the ninth in the series and if you haven't read the others, you may not like this one very much. Though Morris has the characters explain past events, the current events are a bit confusing without knowing the characters and their backgrounds. Like the previous books in the series, this one is irreverent and there's lots of bawdy humor and crude jokes. This story is darker and bloodier than all the rest and I didn't care for the battle scenes or the strange mixing of mythologies. What I liked best about the previous books, and what's missing in this one, is the tongue-in-cheek humor that's the hallmark of Morris's writing. I was a little disappointed in this latest (final?) chapter of the Squire's Tales.

The Sisters Club: Rule of Three by Megan McDonald -- Middle Grades Contemporary Fiction
Sisters, Blisters and Tongue Twisters! The Reel sisters are back in a new book. Oldest sister Alex, the drama queen is excited to try out for the school play but this time she has competition from middle sister Stevie, who has a much better singing voice but hates to act! Stevie is also thinking of entering a cake bake-off. Will she be able to do both? Little sister Joey is obsessed with Little Women and mom is in danger of losing her cooking show, Fondue Sue. The tension rises as the sisters compete against each other for the starring role in Once Upon a Mattress while Joey is placed in the middle. May the best sister win! Stevie shares the ups and downs of sisterhood as Alex's thoughts come in the form of a script and Jo's (don't call her Joey!) as notebook lists and doodles. This charming little book is sort of a contemporary Little Women. It's very much a story about sisters, first and foremost, with the plot secondary in importance. The Reel sisters are incredibly believable and I can relate to sensible Stevie as my sister is a DRAMA QUEEN! I loved Joey's obsession with Little Women and how she's able to relate situations involving her own sisters to the novel. Though this is a sequel, it works fine as a stand-alone novel. The Sisters Club stories are a nice break from the angst and drama of typical pre-teen and teenage literature these days. I highly recommend them and hope to see more about the Reel sisters in the future!

What I've Read This Week

What I've Read This Week . . .

The Dragon Princess by E.D. Baker -- Middle Grades Fantasy
This installment of The Tales of the Frog Princess continues the story of Emma and Eadric fifteen years after we last saw them. This time, the unconventional heroine is their daughter, Millie. At 15, is a typical teen, she loves hanging out with her friends and believing her parents don't understand her. She is desperate to find a husband but keeps scaring off her suitors due to the unfortunate tendency to turn into a dragon whenever she loses her temper! When Millie does the unthinkable and shows her true self to her magic-hating paternal grandparents, Millie is advised by the witch Mundine to seek out the Blue Witch for advice on how to control herself. While her parents are preoccupied fighting sea monsters, Millie sets off on a journey to the icy mountains of the far north accompanied by her wannabe knight cousin Francis and her best friend Zoe, the vampire as well as a two-headed troll. Their adventure takes them to the top of a frozen mountain where they are attacked by an army of snowmen. Millie needs to use her strength and skills to help save herself and her friends and learn how to harness her inner dragon. This is a light, fun adventure but not as charming as some of the earlier books in the series. The ending was somewhat unfulfilling but I know there's another volume on the way soon. I most enjoyed learning what happened to the characters from the previous books in the series and seeing how their children are following in their footsteps while trying to maintain their own identities.

Hidden Voices: The Orphan Musicians of Venice by Pat Lowery Collins -- YA Historical Fiction

In early 18th century Venice, the three narrators belong to the Ospedale della Pietà, an orphanage which trains girls with extraordinary musical talent. Growing up in the Ospedale della Pietà often feels like a prison for pretty Rosalba, who dreams of love. Anetta is happiest caring for the babies in the nursery. Lucia longs for the love of her mother, a courtesan. The three girls look after each other and stand up for one another in the rigid orphanage/school environment. Anetta especially worries about Lucia and feels an overwhelming need to have Lucia by her side to protect her. Rosalba is rebellious and schemes to leave the confinement of the Pietà and find her mythical dream lover which eventually leads to trouble. Anetta struggles with her feelings for Lucia when Lucia is struck by a terrible illness and sent away to recover. Through it all the friends strive to achieve the very best in their musical professions, helped by the kindly, but absent-minded Father Vivaldi. This is a coming-of-age teen novel set against the backdrop of Venice. The vivid descriptions of the city are wonderful as well as the details of the music school and life at the Ospedale della Pietà. While the historical details are wonderful, I found the story somewhat difficult to read. It was hard to keep track of the different narrators because they all sounded the same to me. They were naive and whiny and self-entitled, typical teenagers, I suppose, but I expected more about their music and schooling and thought Vivaldi would be a greater presence in the novel. Instead, the plot seems unrealistic and overly full of difficult issues which are more common in novels set during the present day. The drama overpowered the story of the three girls coming-of-age in this music school in 18th-century Venice. This book could easily end up being challenged in some schools for the mature content. The book should come with a CD so the reader can listen to the magnificent Vivaldi compositions mentioned in the novel.

A Man of Her Own Choosing by Nina Pykare -- Regency Romance
Linnet Hungerford and her beautiful, beloved sister Fanny have been left orphaned with very little money under the infrequent care of a guardian who reminds them to live "abstemiously." Linnet is happy in the country raising horses but believes Fanny should be taken to London for a Season to find a wealthy husband. When Linnet, disguised as a stable boy, rescues the handsome Lord Henry from a carriage accident, she quickly realizes that he could be the one for Fanny and brings him home to meet the Hungerford sisters. Stephen discovers Linnet was the stable boy and expresses his disapproval of Linnet's behavior and Linnet soon realizes that the high-handed Stephen is not the right man for Fanny. Stephen manages to make the sisters feel at ease and promises to persuade their guardian to bring them to London. He quickly makes good on his promise and the sisters come to London and find that their guardian, Stephen's uncle has passed away and Stephen has inherited the guardianship of the Hungerford sisters! He insists that Linnet make her come out along with Fanny and when Linnet disagrees, he threatens to withdraw his sponsorship of Fanny. Forced into accepting a Season, Linnet still finds all the men dead bores except for Stephen's best friend whom Linnet thinks will make an excellent husband. Stephen seems to disagree with Linnet's assessment because the two are continually coming to cuffs and Stephen seems determined that each of the sisters will marry a man of her own choosing. The happy ending arrives fairly smoothly without much romance or drama. Linnet spends much of the book putting herself down and crying, which make me want to strangle her when I would otherwise like her and empathize with her feelings about the Season. Stephen has a hot temper and can be controlling and manipulative and I fail to see how that makes for a good relationship. I was also bothered by the serious breaches in correct behavior in the first chapter, some which were not deliberate. This is a fairly tame Regency without much plot or original characterization. Skip this one if you're looking for another Georgette Heyer.

The Sealed Knot by Elizabeth Law -- Traditional Regency
The heroine of this novel, Sparrow Harvey, is a young woman who knows her own mind and has been brought up to ignore conventions. When Sparrow first encounters the hero, Simon Adair, he is accosting a young urchin to whom Sparrow has just dropped a wrapped parcel. Needless to say, it sets Simon and Sparrow off on a path of banter and bickering over each others' behavior. When Sparrow's father breaks his leg trying to ride an untamed stallion, Sparrow learns that this incident is only the latest in a series of bad luck and she is determined to find employment to help pay their creditors. Sparrow first thinks she'll earn her living as a temporary governess, but has difficulty finding a position that would meet her terms. Then Sparrow comes across a young woman in distress; Marie Sinclair has lost her lover - literally! Adam Stuart left Marie to visit his great-uncle in Scotland and hasn't been heard from since. Marie hires Sparrow to go undercover to Scotland and find Adam. Sparrow lies to her family and to Simon about her real reasons for going to Scotland and heads off to the wild moors and is taken in as a companion for Lady Agnes Stuart. Sparrow uncovers some terrible family history and tries to figure out who Marie's Adam is and how the handsome, flirtatious young tutor Charles Roe fits in. Soon she discovers a plot that extends beyond a mere romance and threatens the monarchy. Sparrow must decide what to do about it and figure out if she can trust Simon, who has unexpectedly turned up in Scotland on the arm of a beautiful woman. The intrigue plot is a bit complicated for an American who doesn't know much about Scottish history. A sharp reader could probably figure out the mystery but that doesn't take away from the amazing descriptions and witty banter. I loved the dialogues between Simon and Sparrow but as in most traditional Regencies, the romance is rather light. The back jacket indicates that this was to be the first in a series featuring Sparrow and Simon which could explain the lack of conclusion in their relationship. Unfortunately, I can not find evidence that the author wrote more books about Sparrow and Simon which is a pity because I enjoyed their witty back and forth banter. This is a great read for those who love the traditional plots and for those who like witty dialogue.

What I've Read This Week

What I've Read This Week . . .

Igraine the Brave by Cornelia Funke -- Middle Grades Fantasy
Soon-to-be 12-year-old Igraine dreams of being a famous knight but instead she must contend with two eccentric parents who own the Singing Books of Magic and think Igraine should learn magic like her older brother. Igraine finds magic boring. In fact, she thinks her whole life is boring - despite a castle called Pimpernel with gargoyles that swallow arrows, stone lions that roar and snakes in the moat - nothing ever happens. Nothing happens until Igraine's birthday, when the Baroness of Darkrock's Master of Horse rides over to tell Igraine's parents that the Baroness is missing and her greedy nephew Osmund is planning an attack on Pimpernel to steal the Singing Books of Magic. Igraine is confident her parents can easily deal with Osmund with magic, however, an accident befalls them leaving Igraine's parents unable to do magic! Igraine must summon her courage and act like a real knight in order to save her family and her home. She starts on a quest to retrieve a magical ingredient that will restore her parents and along the way meets a friendly giant and The Sorrowful Knight of the Mount of Tears who teaches Igraine how to be a knight and helps her defend the castle. Igraine's bravery and cleverness make this a great girl-power story! The prose is witty and light-hearted. The charming illustrations are done by the author and enhance the details of the description. I enjoyed this story and highly recommend it for 8-12 year old girls or 8-12 year old girls at heart!



The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly -- Middle Grades Historical Fiction
"Practically twelve"-year-old Calpurnia Virginia Tate, Callie Vee for short, is the only daughter of a prominent Texas cotton merchant. Callie Vee is sandwiched in between three older brothers and three younger brothers, which makes it difficult to act like the lady her mother expects her to be. During the long, hot summer of 1899, Callie Vee enjoys slipping off to paddle in the river and observe the natural world around her. Her oldest brother provides her with a notebook in which to record her observations and launches Callie off on an adventure she never expected. Her scientific observations help her bond with her cantankerous, eccentric grandfather, a charter member of the National Geographic Society, who enlists Callie's help distilling pecans into whiskey. With the help of Granddaddy, Callie becomes a budding naturalist and discovers her true calling, despite her mother's best intentions for making Callie into a proper domestic lady. This charming novel is told from Callie's point-of-view and shares her humorous thoughts and conflicted feelings about being a girl at the turn-of-the-century. The characters are all well-developed and very funny. Callie is spunky and bright and delightful character. I hope Ms. Kelly writes more about Callie and her family as the enter the new century. This is a wonderful story for anyone aged 11 and up.

Fire on the Wind by Linda Crew -- Middle Grades Historical Fiction
Thirteen-year-old Estora (Storie) is proud to be a logger's daughter in 1933, during the difficult times of the Great Depression. She loves everything about the woods that are her Oregon home, especially the animals and the peaceful vales. Her biggest problem is that her father doesn't seem to understand that she's growing up or he understands something she doesn't about growing up, Storie isn't sure which, but she knows she wants to go to High School to study literature and she likes sharing poetry with the handsome Irishman Flynn Casey, both things her father doesn't approve of. Storie also worries about her little brother, who dreams of being a logger and keeping him from getting into man-sized trouble. When a forest fire breaks out miles away from her home, Storie and the other kids aren't too worried, until the fire spreads and their fathers go off to fight the fire. Soon the fire is a raging inferno and threatens everything Storie loves. Storie must grow up quickly and be brave enough to stand whatever happens. The story concludes in 1994, with Storie sharing the events of that fateful summer with her grandchildren and teaching them about the reforestation project. Linda Crew's writing style is a little terse but her stories are full of excellent detail. I could easily picture the logging camp, the forest and the horrible fire. I could identify with Storie's love of animals and literature and her worries about the future. The final chapter is especially good because it tells what happens to the characters while still maintaining plot and characterization. The subject of the Tillamook Burn of 1933 is not something I have read about before so I found this novel compelling reading.


Streets of Gold by Marie Raphael -- YA Historical Fiction
In 1901 Marisia and her family live peacefully on a farm in Poland. Poland is under the czar's rule and Marisia's older brother Stefan is drafted into the Czar's army much to the dismay of her parents who have already lost one son to the Czar's army. When Stefan deserts and returns home, Marisia's Papa decides the family should go to America where the Czar's rule can't touch them. Their journey out of Poland is illegal and dangerous and once on board the ship there are more dangers as well as illness and injuries to contend with. Marisia befriends and older girl named Sofia, who is kind and beautiful, but her proud and tyrannical father has trained her to be a lady in order to marry a wealthy man and has his sights set on an American man. Unfortunately, Marisia's little sister Katrina is rejected at Ellis Island and Mama, Papa and the younger children have to return to Europe. Stephen will stay in America but Marisia must make a difficult decision - stay in America or go back with the rest of the family. Marisia decides to make her way in America with Stefen. She's strong and plucky but America isn't what she thought it would be. Circumstances draw Marisia and Sofia closer together and Sofia teaches Marisia how to be a lady and Marisia shows Sofia how to stand up to her father. When it finally seems like Marisia is going to accomplish her dreams, she is forced to make another tough decision about her future and hopes her natural grit and Sofia's lessons will help her make the right choice. This isn't the most captivating immigrant story and the writing isn't very special but I liked the book because it's a little different from the typical Ellis Island novel. Little emphasis is placed on the journey and Ellis Island and the details of life in New York seem realistic. I was interested in the characters but found their insights a little corny. I liked Sofia and her story more than I enjoyed Marisia's story and wished for more about her. I recently visited Ellis Island and enjoyed being able to picture Marisia and her family passing through there.


Orphan of Ellis Island (Time Travel Adventures) by Elvira Woodruff, read by LLoyd James-- Middle Grades Historical Fiction/Fantasy
On a school trip to Ellis Island Dominic Cantori feels uncomfortable and lies about his family heritage because he's embarrassed about being an orphan in foster care without much knowledge of his real family. Shamed by his lie, fearing to be caught, Dominic hides away in a closet in Ellis Island. When he wakes up, the museum is closed and no one is around. He wanders the museum and picks up a telephone receiver in an exhibit and listens to an old man share his memories of growing up in Italy and coming to America through Ellis Island. Scared and lonely, Dominic reaches out to this only form of human contact and is surprised to find that the old man can hear him! Dominic falls asleep and when he wakes up, he is discovers that he is in the village of Avaletto, Italy in the year 1908! Dominic is befriended by three orphan brothers, Francesco, Salvatore and Antonio Candiano and their always-hungry goat Violetta, and learns how the boys struggle to live by their wits and are waiting for a sponsor to bring them to America and give them a family. Together, the four boys become a little family, looking out for each other and surviving any way they can. During his adventures in Italy, Dominic learns about tragedy and how to survive against all odds. Most importantly, he learns about family and how to open his heart to someone else. He also discovers something important about his own history. The books contains interesting facts about Ellis Island, immigrants and immigration. One needs to overlook the obviously silly elements of the story and the time-travel concept to really get into the story. I enjoyed the part of the story that takes place in Italy and could imagine my own ancestors bustling around in the background. I disliked the narrator. His narration voice was pleasant and soothing but his "old man" voice was terrible, like Mr. Miagi or something out of a poorly acted movie. He didn't attempt an Italian accent at all or any attempt to distingish between the two languages. I would recommend this for 3-5 grade readers but probably not for adults looking for quality literature.