To Kill a Kingdom

To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Description from Publisher Fiewel and Friends: Lira, a famous siren, must prove herself by stealing the heart of the man, a prince, threatening their race in this dark and action-packed debut.

Princess Lira is siren royalty and the most lethal of them all. With the hearts of seventeen princes in her collection, she is revered across the sea. Until a twist of fate forces her to kill one of her own. To punish her daughter, the Sea Queen transforms Lira into the one thing they loathe most--a human. Robbed of her song, Lira has until the winter solstice to deliver Prince Elian’s heart to the Sea Queen and or remain a human forever.

The ocean is the only place Prince Elian calls home, even though he is heir to the most powerful kingdom in the world. Hunting sirens is more than an unsavory hobby--it’s his calling. When he rescues a drowning woman in the ocean, she’s more than what she appears. She promises to help him find the key to destroying all of sirenkind for good--But can he trust her? And just how many deals will Elian have to barter to eliminate mankind’s greatest enemy?

Alexandra Christo's debut is a dark and richly imagined take on The Little Mermaid that will leave readers breathless.

My Review: This novel has all the "biggies:" love, war, kingdoms, hate, alliances, and mythology. Who wouldn't love that? Princess Lira is a famous siren known as The Princes' Bane, and she is tasked to kill Prince Elian, who prides himself on being a siren killer. This novel is told in dual narrative, giving readers a glimpse into both Lira's and Elian's points of view. 

Because this was a take on "The Little Mermaid," I was a bit skeptical of how good the book would be, but the synopsis was intriguing and sounded unique enough to avoid cliches. I was immediately drawn into the story from the first line: "I have a heart for every year I've been alive." This book is well paced, and the action and character development are really good. I was enamored at the climax of the book, and even though I predicted part of the ending, the journey to the ending was what made it all worth it. 

Overall, I gave this book four out of five stars, and I cannot wait to read the next book from Alexandra Christo!

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The Raven Boys

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater - ⭐⭐⭐

Description

"'There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark's Eve,' Neeve said. 'Either you're his true love...or you killed him.'"

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive. Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them — not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her. His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble. But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can't entirely explain. He has it all — family money, good looks, devoted friends — but he's looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she's not so sure anymore.

From Maggie Stiefvater, the bestselling and acclaimed author of the Shiver trilogy and The Scorpio Races, comes a spellbinding new series where the inevitability of death and the nature of love lead us to a place we've never been before.

YA Fiction, YA Fantasy

Scholastic Press. (n.d.) The Raven Boys details. Retrieved from https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/books/raven-cycle-the-1-the-raven-boys-by-maggie-stiefvater/

My Analysis

I have had this book on my to-be-read list for a while, and I am sorry that I didn’t read it before now. I was hooked at the very first line, “Blue Sargent had forgotten how many times she’d been told that she would kill her true love” (Pg. 1). The characters were fairly interesting. Blue Sargent is the protagonist, and the three women she lives with, Persephone, Calla, and her mother, Maeve, are psychics. The Raven Boys, Adam, Gansey, Ronan, and Noah were fairly interesting as well. Blue thinks of them as “bastards” at the beginning of the book, and it was nice to see the character development deviate from her original opinion. The Raven Boys are on a mission to find a ley line, or corpse road, that is supposed to be full of energy that will help the Boys find the thing for which they have been searching. On their journey to find the ley line, Blue and the Raven Boys begin to bond, and they discover magic together as well as solve a mystery or two. Overall, I thought the plot and the story line were good. I also enjoyed reading the book through multiple points of view instead of just through the protagonist’s eyes.

I listened to the audiobook version of this novel. I wasn’t impressed by the narrator, and his voice was a bit monotone. I went back and reread passages as I was listening to the book, and I definitely liked reading the book better than listening to it. The audiobook would have been better had they used a full cast instead of one narrator.

I did have a few problems with the book. I went into reading this book thinking that it would be more of a fantasy romance because of the opening line and the prophecy about Blue killing her true love with a kiss. While I did enjoy the book, this plot line was barely touched upon, and I was disappointed by this because the novel went in a different direction. The character development and the plot weren’t as fleshed out as I think they could have been. I was confused through some of this book, and I am still not sure where this series is going. Because the plot can be a bit confusing, I would recommend reading this book instead of listening to the audiobook so that you can refer back to previous chapters. Because the character development wasn’t fully realized, I didn’t find myself with a particular attachment to any of the characters. Out of all the characters, Gansey is probably my favorite because he is the most “fleshed out” of all the characters. He has a quirky sense of humor and a large vocabulary, which is humorous at times. I am going to finish the series, because I think that it will improve in the next book. This one seems to be focused on setting up the series and building the magic in the world of the novel.

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City of Bones

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare - ☆☆☆☆☆

I know I am VERY late reading this series for the first time, and I am very behind in the series! I really enjoyed learning about Nephilum, or Shadowhunters, and the world that they inhabit. Cassandra Clare did an excellent job of setting up and describing the world in this book, and I was drawn in from the very beginning of the book. 

The story centers around fifteen-year-old Clarissa "Clary" Fray and her introduction into the world of the Shadowhunters, The book opens with Clary and her friend, Simon, going to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, and Clary witnesses a murder committed by three tattooed teenagers with strange weapons. The body of the murdered victim disappears into thin air, and Clary discovers that only she can see the teenagers, and Simon can't. She then learns that the victim was a demon and that Shadowhunters rid the world of evil demons. One of the teenage Shadowhunters is Jace, who is handsome, witty, and sarcastic. Following this incident, Clary's mother is kidnapped, and Clary is attacked by a demon in her home. The rest of the novel unravels the mystery behind Clary's mother's disappearance and how Clary and the Shadowhunters intertwine. 

Cassandra Clare's writing is excellent and flows really well. The character development is really well-done with dynamic characters. The book was well-paced, and the characters were relatable. Readers will be able to see what drives them or why they feel or act a certain way. Overall, this was an amazing read. I was so into the book that I read it in less than two days! 

***SPOILERS***

I was really rooting for Jace and Clary to become romantically involved until about halfway through the book when I started to guess that they were somehow related. I actually wasn't disappointed by this because Clary seems to be really good for Jace, by building him up and supporting him. Clary and Jace make each other grow as characters, and I am interested to see where their relationship goes in the future books. 

I was suprised that they had the same father, Valentine. I thought Jace may have only been a half-brother. I was also really surprised that he was so easily pulled into Valentine's game at the end of the book and at how hard Clary had to fight for him to come back and realize that he was her family and that he wasn't abandoned by his mother on purpose. 

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The Star-Touched Queen

The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Roshani Chokshi has written a wonderfully magic tale of light and shadow that is sure to enchant readers. The novel centers around Mayavati, or Maya. The lives in her world are guided by horoscopes given at birth, and her horoscope said that she would be "partnered with death." Even though she is the Raja's daughter, she is an outcast among the women in the harem due to her cursed horoscope. Her father arranges a marriage of convenience, giving Maya the choice between fifteen suitors. Saving her from her father's request, the Raja of Akaran, Amar, helps Maya to escape her kingdom and become his wife. Soon after arriving in the realm of Akaran, Maya learns that not all is what it seems, and Amar is keeping secrets from her despite his promise that they would be equals. Eventually she starts to suspect that she is in danger and that Amar is going to kill her to serve a purpose. Maya has to go on a journey of self-discovery to solve an ancient mystery in order to save herself, Amar, and the realms. 

I chose this book based solely on the title and the gorgeous cover, and I was not disappointed. Roshani Chokshi's writing is beautiful and lyrical. The way she writes draws you into the magic of the novel. Her character development is good for the length of the book. I was spellbound from the beginning, and I could not put the book down! Overall, this was a magical book that I highly recommend. 

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Release

Citation

Ness, P. (2017). Release. New York, NY: HarperTeen.

Description

Inspired by Judy Blume’s Forever and Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway, this novel that Andrew Smith calls “beautiful, enchanting, [and] exquisitely written” is a new classic about teenage relationships, self-acceptance—and what happens when the walls we build start coming down. A Kirkus Best Book of 2017!

Adam Thorn doesn’t know it yet, but today will change his life.

Between his religious family, a deeply unpleasant ultimatum from his boss, and his own unrequited love for his sort-of ex, Enzo, it seems as though Adam’s life is falling apart.  At least he has two people to keep him sane: his new boyfriend (he does love Linus, doesn’t he?) and his best friend, Angela.

Coming of Age, Fantasy

HarperTeen. (n.d.). Release details. Retrieved from https://www.harpercollins.com/9780062403193/release (Links to an external site.)

Scholarly Review

I was tempted to leave my review at 'it's Patrick Ness--he never writes the same book twice--you're going to want to read this'. But actually that wouldn't be doing this beautiful, beautiful book justice.

Taking its literary inspiration from Woolf's Mrs Dalloway with a healthy dose of Judy Blume's educative Forever thrown into the mix, this is the story of Adam Thorn. Trapped in rural small town America, son of preacher parents and weighed down by their expectations, the novel's title looms large over the narrative. On the Saturday during which the book's action takes place, Adam crosses paths with friends, family and lovers as well as enduring a skin crawling encounter with his employer; it brings revelations, goodbyes and the tantalising possibility that Adam's world might be reshaped by the end of it.

Interwoven with Adam's story is the otherworldly tale of a murdered girl and a mythical Queen who move through our reality seeking answers, revenge and their own particular brand of 'release'. If this sounds off-putting, do not fear -this is Patrick Ness remember: it just works. Though the connection between Adam and the Queen is glancing, the two narratives accelerate in harmony, propelling one another towards the day's final denouement. As Adam navigates the real world, the parallel narrative hints to the extraordinary terror and beauty which might underlie the everyday and between the two we see the miraculous--the world stopping, world just beginning--possibilities and hardships of being a teen. In the messy confusion of relationships, love, loss, family and friendships nothing is trivialised, rather it is marvelled at. As with all Patrick Ness's books it's devastating, it's optimistic but is above all it's truthful. You are going to want to read this.

Ryder, L. (2017, Autumn). [Review of the book Release by Patrick Ness]. School Librarian, 65(3), 190. Retrieved March 28, 2018 from Book Review Index. http://link.galegroup.com.ezproxy.uky.edu/apps/doc/A506957524/BRIP?u=uky_main&sid=BRIP&xid=ac835d88 (Links to an external site.)

My Analysis

Release follows the story of Adam Thorn, a teenager in a small town in Washington who is nursing a broken heart. His parents are evangelical Christians, and his father is a preacher. Adam is also gay, but hasn’t come out to his family, so he is constantly switching between hiding his true self from his family and being his true self with his friends. One day Adam seems to go through one issue to another, including sexual harassment from a boss, huge news from his soon-to-be-a-preacher brother, and the loss that comes with dear friends moving away. Intertwined with Adam’s story in the novel is a parallel story of a girl who was murdered and is now looking for answers.

I can see what Patrick Ness was aiming for by intertwining the story of Adam and the story of the girl because their feelings of not belonging and not being worthy are similar; however, I don’t think he quite pulled it off. I was really drawn into the story of Adam, and I could relate to many of his feelings and experiences, I found the story of the girl pretty boring and rushed through those so I could get back to Adam. Despite this, I would still recommend this book because Adam’s story is so, so good. The writing is well done and flows easily.

Hashtags

#selfacceptance

#comingout

#parallelworlds

#findyourvoice

Usage

I would like to use this as a book club book for Pride week or in tandem with another LGBTQ event. I think many readers will relate to Adam, and the book also touches on issues LGBTQ people face on a daily basis. By using this book, my goal would be to raise awareness as well as use the book for a focused discussion.

Awards

None

Censorship

None

References

HarperTeen. (n.d.). Release details. Retrieved from https://www.harpercollins.com/9780062403193/release (Links to an external site.)

Ryder, L. (2017, Autumn). [Review of the book Release by Patrick Ness]. School Librarian, 65(3), 190. Retrieved March 28, 2018 from Book Review Index. 

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The Goose Girl

Citation

The Goose Girl

Description

Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee, Crown Princess of Kildenree, spends the first years of her life listening to her aunt's stories and learning the language of the birds, especially the swans. As she grows up Ani develops the skills of animal speech, but is never comfortable speaking with people, so when her silver-tongued lady in waiting leads a mutiny during Ani's journey to be married in a foreign land, Ani is helpless and cannot persuade anyone to help her. She becomes a goose girl and must use her own special, nearly magical powers to find her way to her true destiny. 
From the Grimm's fairy tale of the princess who became a goose girl before she could become queen, Shannon Hale has woven an incredible and original tale of a girl who must find her own unusual talents before she can lead the people she has made her own. 
Recognition 
A New York Public Library "100 Titles for Reading and Sharing" A Texas Lone Star Reading List Book A Josette Frank Award Winner A Utah State Book Award Winner (YA) A Utah Speculative Fiction Award Winner A Beehive (Utah) Young Adult Reading List Book School Library Journal starred review A YALSA Top Ten Teen Book Nominated for the 2006 Garden State Teen Book Award (New Jersey)

Fantasy, Fairy Tale

Bloomsbury. (n.d.). The goose girl details. Retrieved from https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/the-goose-girl-9781582348438/ (Links to an external site.)

Scholarly Review

Gr 7 Up–“…[B]orn Anidori-Kiladra…Crown Princess of Kildenree,…she did not open her eyes for three days,” perhaps sensing her inadequacy for her royal role. Betrayed and forced to become a goose girl, the feisty Ani learns to face her foes and claim her rightful place. A lyrical fleshing out of the Grimms’ tale. Audio version available from Full Cast Audio.

Menaldi-Scanlan, N. (2009). [Review of the book The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale]. Metafiction: the inside story. Retrieved from https://www.slj.com/2009/11/collection-development/focus-on-collection-development/metafiction-the-inside-story/ (Links to an external site.)

My Analysis

Shannon Hale’s The Goose Girl is based on a Grimms’ fairy tale and follows the story of Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee, or Ani. Her mother, the queen, arranges a marriage to the prince of the neighboring kingdom of Bayern. On the journey to Bayern, Ani and her guards are betrayed and attacked by members of their group, and Ani manages to escape and find her way to Bayern. She then becomes “the goose girl” who manages the king’s geese with a boy, Conrad. The rest of the story details Ani’s journey to regain her rightful throne and her relationships with the lower caste of Bayern. I found the overall plot to be very enjoyable, but the story moved too slowly for my personal taste, so I probably will not continue reading the Bayern series. I do, however, think that younger readers would enjoy this book very much because it does have romance, action, royalty, and humor with a sweet ending. The story is clear and straightforward, and Shannon Hale’s writing style is easy to follow.

Hashtags

#grimmsfairytale

#goosegirl

#regainthethrone

#betrayal

Usage

I would use this book in conjunction with another teacher or as part of a book club to study fairy tales and the tropes that are in them. In the library, we can research elements of fairy tales and even use them as part of a guided inquiry unit.

Awards

Josette Frank Award

Utah State Book Award Winner (YA)

Utah Speculative Fiction Award Winner

Censorship

None

References

Bloomsbury. (n.d.). The goose girl details. Retrieved from https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/the-goose-girl-9781582348438/ (Links to an external site.)

Menaldi-Scanlan, N. (2009). [Review of the book The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale]. Metafiction: the inside story. Retrieved from https://www.slj.com/2009/11/collection-development/focus-on-collection-development/metafiction-the-inside-story/

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Little Brother

Citation

Doctorow, C. (2008). Little brother. New York, NY: Tor.

Description

Marcus, a.k.a "w1n5t0n," is only seventeen years old, but he figures he already knows how the system works–and how to work the system. Smart, fast, and wise to the ways of the networked world, he has no trouble outwitting his high school's intrusive but clumsy surveillance systems.

But his whole world changes when he and his friends find themselves caught in the aftermath of a major terrorist attack on San Francisco. In the wrong place at the wrong time, Marcus and his crew are apprehended by the Department of Homeland Security and whisked away to a secret prison where they're mercilessly interrogated for days.

When the DHS finally releases them, Marcus discovers that his city has become a police state where every citizen is treated like a potential terrorist. He knows that no one will believe his story, which leaves him only one option: to take down the DHS himself.

Science Fiction

Tor. (n.d.). Little brother details. Retrieved from http://www.torteen.com/books/little-brother-cory-doctorow/

Scholarly Review

In this unapologetically didactic tribute to 1984, Marcus—known online as w1n5t0n (pronounced "Winston")—takes on the Department of Homeland Security.

It's only a few years in the future, and surveillance software is everywhere. Monitored laptops track students' computer use; transit passes and automated toll systems track travel; credit-card networks track consumer purchasing. A terrorist attack on San Francisco is all the excuse the DHS needs for a crackdown, and Marcus is swept up in the random post-bombing sweeps. But where arrest and torture break 1984's Winston, they energize w1n5t0n. Released from humiliating imprisonment and determined to fight those who say that the innocent have nothing to hide, Marcus becomes the driving force behind a network of teenagers fighting the surveillance state. Long passages of beloved tech-guru Doctorow's novel are unabashedly educational, detailing the history of computing, how to use anti-surveillance software and anarchist philosophies. Yet in the midst of all this overt indoctrination, Marcus exists as a fully formed character, whose adolescent loves and political intrigues are compelling for more than just propagandistic reasons.

Terrifying glimpse of the future—or the present (Kirkus Reviews, 2010).

Kirkus Reviews. (2010, June 24). Book Reviews. [Review of the book Little Brother, by C. Doctorow]. Retrieved on March 26, 2018 from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/cory-doctorow/little-brother-2/

My Analysis

Little Brother was an interesting read. It is something I would not normally pick up or choose for myself, so it was refreshing to read a book that is different from my usually book choices. I found this book to be very relatable, and it is also relatable to 1984 by George Orwell. Even if readers have never read 1984, I think most will be familiar with Big Brother and see the connections between both novels. The main character, Marcus (online alias: w1n5t0n), he describes the high-tech surveillance of his high school and how he maintains his privacy by circumventing the school’s software and monitors. After a major terrorist attack destroys the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Marcus and his friends are in danger and are taken by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), who use torture tactics to gain information. When Marcus and his friends are finally set free, Marcus decides he will fight the surveillance and the DHS. Through is fight, Marcus learns that every action has consequences and that sometimes peaceful protests or situations can turn dangerous or deadly. On top of the main story line of fighting “Big Brother,” there is a more subtle, underlying story of Marcus and his first love. While this isn’t my favorite novel, I did find the story interesting and fast paced. The topics and themes covered are very relevant, and I think readers will relate components of the story to their own lives and the turns that technology is taking today. I found the technical jargon interesting, although I can see where Doctorow’s descriptions could be problematic for less “tech-savvy” readers. Overall, this was a good book, and I would definitely recommend it to others, especially those that are interesting in technology and politics.

Hashtags

#bigbrotherisalwayswatching

#littlebrother

#privacyisalie

Usage

I would like to use this as part of a library lesson on digital literacy and how nothing we put on the internet is private or erasable. This book would give students a look into how others can access and use their internet usage and data.

Awards

John W. Campbell Memorial Award - Winner

CYBIL Award

Hugo Award - Nominee

Philip K. Dick Award Winner

Prometheus Award Winner

Censorship

Students at Booker T. Washington High School in Florida were originally assigned Little Brother as part of a summer reading assignment, to be discussed when school was back in session. Despite the novel being approved by the school administration, the school principal cancelled the summer reading assignment due to the novel’s content, stating that it contained “endorsed hacker culture and questioned authority.” While it isn’t completely banned from the school, it is an optional read for advanced 11th grade students. When author Cory Doctorow heard about this incident, he sent 200 copies of his novel to the high school and recorded a video directed at the school’s students. His book is also available as a free download under a Creative Commons License.

Kellogg, C. (2014). Florida school pulls Cory Doctorow’s book, he sends it to students. Retrieved from http://www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-et-jc-cory-doctorow-book-pulled-from-florida-schools-20140610-story.html

References

Kellogg, C. (2014). Florida school pulls Cory Doctorow’s book, he sends it to students. Retrieved from http://www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-et-jc-cory-doctorow-book-pulled-from-florida-schools-20140610-story.html

Kirkus Reviews. (2010, June 24). Book Reviews. [Review of the book Little Brother, by C. Doctorow]. Retrieved on March 26, 2018 from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/cory-doctorow/little-brother-2/

Tor. (n.d.). Little brother details. Retrieved from http://www.torteen.com/books/little-brother-cory-doctorow/

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