BOOK REVIEWS
Reviews done for a personal book blog, and for the Southern Maine Library District Review Committee. Most books were added to the Wells Public Library collection at no charge after reviewing.
The Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
This was an epic, haunting, mythological story. Karou is the main character, a high school student living in Prague. She attends a high school for the arts. However, her life is strange, even for an art student. She was raised by a magical creature called Brimstone, who might possibly be a demon. He calls on her at all hours to run weird errands all over the world (through magic portal doors – I want one!). He requires teeth – human and animal, and the payment is wishes. Karou doesn’t really question this – after all, she grew up with it, but she does have a lot of questions about her origins, and these errands are starting to overwhelm her. Her best friend is a wonderful, feisty character called Zuzana who keeps Karou rooted in the real world. While Zuzana has seen Karou’s sketches of Brimstone and the other strange creatures in her life, she assumes they are fantasies. Karou is starting to feel a bit put-upon and rebellious towards Brimstone, when suddenly an errand goes terribly wrong, and she ends up in a fight for her life with an incredibly beautiful angel. The angel, Akiva, is working with a group of angels called The Fallen to close the magic portals and get rid of Brimstone and the other Chimera. However, even as the portals burn, Akiva finds himself leaving his fellow Seraphim and going to find Karou. They are drawn to each other, but soon Karou discovers they are mortal enemies in a supernatural and ancient war. Regardless, they fall in love. Such a good love story. Can’t say too much or I’ll spoil it, but this is not your run of the mill Romeo and Juliet story. This is the first in a series, which I didn’t know until the end of the book came like an unexpected wall in the dark. I was so swept up in the gorgeous writing and the epic plot, then WHAM. Over. I think I actually gasped a little when I realized I wasn’t getting any more answers. This whole world opened up, and you just get a glimpse, and then it’s gone until the next book. Karou is a fantastic character. She’s smart and sarcastic, but genuine and loyal to the people she cares about. Her apartment is decorated with finds from markets all over the world. One of her wishes from Brimstone gave her bright blue hair without needing dye. She jaunts around the world like it’s no big deal, having had these portals since childhood – she actually grumbles about having to go to Paris. I just loved her, and I want to be her. And the writing – oh, it’s beautiful. Classic Laini Taylor. There were sentences I just had to read again and again to savor the words. So lyrical and unusual. I can’t say enough about this book! So many stars! It’s so unusual in such a good way – the setting, the characters, the language – it’s nothing we’ve seen before, thank goodness! In a world full of copycat books, this is a pure original.
Shine by Lauren Myracle
This was an extraordinary and haunting book. Cat and Patrick had been best friends all their lives, growing up in a tiny town in the hills of North Carolina. When Cat is 13, she suffers a sexual assault, and withdraws from everyone in her life, including Patrick. Therefore, she watches from the sidelines as he enters high school and is tormented daily for being gay. Three years later, Patrick is attacked and left for dead at a gas station. Cat is furious that the local police are not making much effort to solve the hate crime. So, as Patrick lies in a coma, Cat sets off to investigate on her own, and starts to come to terms with her own assault and it’s aftermath. She starts talking to people again, trying to get to the bottom of the crime, and also getting to know her town and classmates again. Things start getting tense and dangerous as she gets closer to the real attacker, and Cat realizes she might need allies after all. This was such an amazing book – an important book. I read it all in one sitting, and haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. The characters are stunningly real – flawed and scared and good and wonderful all at once. I read a negative review of this book today that said the author forgave too much. I respectfully disagree – there was a lot of forgiveness in this book, but that was the lesson, the whole message. There had been so much violence and upheaval in that town already, and I really felt like the characters reached a peace that could not have been achieved had there been a horrible witch hunt. I respect them for being able to forgive, when there was so MUCH to forgive. This is a big book – a book that should be taught in schools, read with families, talked about with friends. It made me realize exactly how much hate and pure ignorance still exists, even in our modern times. That people are just plain clueless about what it is to be gay, and are afraid of what they don’t understand. I know that’s not news, but it shocks me, still. That is why this book is so important – so these conversations can happen, and bring some light to the ignorance. Go get this book – talk about it with young people, talk about it with older people – think about it’s messages.
Lauren Myracle read this review and responded: Lauren Myracle -@teens_wpl Oh my goodness. Yr review made me teary. Wow...and thx. :)
Sophia’s War by Avi
An intriguing look at the Culper Spy Ring working to expose the betrayal of Benedict Arnold during the Revolutionary War. These historic events are seen through the eyes of fictitious Sophia, a fifteen-year-old girl determined to serve her country and avenge her patriot brother’s cruel death. In a tense race against time, Sophia must journey alone from New York City to West Point to warn the Americans of Arnold’s plot. An excellent classroom read-aloud. The historical aspects are all well-researched facts, and Sophia is neatly woven in around the truth.
Wonder Show by Hannah Barnaby
A dark tale of a girl alone in the world trying to survive during the Dust Bowl. Abandoned by her father, she is left at the creepy McGreavy’s Home for Wayward Girls under the too-watchful eye of the sinister Mister. Portia must uncover the truth of Mister’s past and find the courage to escape and set the other girls in the home free before she goes to find her father. Upon escaping, she spends some time in a traveling carnival and meets a colorful cast of performers who help her discover the meaning of belonging to a family.
The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth
A coming-of-age tale set in rural Montana in the 90s - a hard place to be if you are discovering that you are a lesbian. Cameron is a complex character dealing with the sudden death of her parents and getting used to living with her born-again Christian aunt. When a romance goes wrong and everyone suddenly learns Cameron’s secret she is sent to a Christian reform camp to “cure” her of her lesbian feelings. There she must find an inner strength to choose a life for herself. This is an excellent book, but readers should be aware of strong language, some drug use, and sexual scenes.
The Cavendish Home For Boys and Girls by Claire LeGrand
A deliciously creepy mystery. Victoria is a perfectionist, and enjoys helping her friend Lawrence learn some social graces. But when Lawrence vanishes into the disturbing Cavendish Home, Victoria must confront disorder, bugs, and disobeying rules to infiltrate the home and steal Lawrence back. Miss Cavendish is a seriously horrific villain determined to “cure” the children in the Home of their faults or unique qualities. She uses a combination of magic and torture to control her charges, and it is up to Victoria to break the spell.
The Far West by Patricia C. Wrede
Though this is the third book in a wonderful series it does stand alone well. In this volume, Eff has gained control of her magic and had discovered a deep love of studying magical animals. She joins an expedition to the wild frontier to catalog the new animals discovered there. Along the way she must also contend with both an unwanted suitor and someone she just might be falling for. Eff is a fantastic heroine who neatly deals with the potential love triangle in about a paragraph - so refreshing for YA these days. The reimagined American history is fascinating.