This is a wonderful continuation of The Lunar Chronicles (CINDER, SCARLET, CRESS, WINTER) series, only in graphic novel form. This all new story features Cinder’s best friend, the android named Iko. There has been a peace agreement between Earth and Luna, but rogue packs of Levana’s wolf/human hybrid soldiers still roam the Earth, causing trouble. The people of Earth are getting upset by their continued presence, so Iko takes it upon herself to go to Earth and hunt the soldiers down. I very much enjoyed the previous books in the series, and it’s nice to see the characters take shape in a different format (even though some of them didn’t look a thing like I had pictured them!)
Archives: Book Reviews
Every Day by David Levithan
A wakes every day in a new body-male, female, transgender, addict, jock, mean girl, etc. The change happens at midnight and A is helpless to stop it. This has never been a problem since this is the only life A knows but then A falls in love with Rhiannon. Never having shared the secret of this unusual existence with anyone, A is trapped and full of longing to be with the beloved, to be known, to share a history. A has always been careful of, and respectful to, the bodies inhabited, but now starts “kidnapping” them to visit Rhiannon. Is this fair to the bodies? Is this fair to Rhiannon who has a stranger pop up in her life every day? And then A learns another secret that could change several lives.
The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
Lois McMaster Bujold is justly famous for her classic Vorkosigan Saga in science fiction, but this book shows she is a master of fantasy as well. A disgraced and crippled former knight returns to court to tutor the royal princess. There, he must battle old enemies and rivals, while seeking to dismantle the curse that overshadows the entire royal family. Magic, suspense, intrigue, romance…what more could you want? The EPL Science Fiction & Fantasy Book Discussion Group selection for November 2015.
The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner
The Serpent King takes place in a very small town in the south. It’s a town named after a prominent KKK member. The story is told from three different point of view: Dill, Lydia and Travis. The story focuses the most around Dill, but all three characters are developed. Dill’s father was a preacher who led a signs ministry, where snakes were handled and poison drank during church services. Dill’s father also had a fondness for child porn and got caught and sent to jail. Dill’s statements on the witness stand were key to why his father ended up in jail. Both of Dill’s parents blame him for his father being in jail and having a father in jail doesn’t bode well for surviving high school. Luckily, Dill found Lydia and Travis.
Lydia runs a wildly successful fashion blog and can’t wait to leave town and go to NYU and leave small town closed mindedness behind. She often struggles with who she is online and who she is in real life. Travis and Dill have never been mentioned on her blog, because they’re not fashionable. Lydia is very witty, intelligent and an amazing friend. She has a warm loving family. But she often struggles to see things from Dill and Travis’s perspectives.
Travis was my favorite character. He is a big kind hearted guy with a sweet mom, dead brother and a mean alcoholic father. He is obsessed with Bloodfall, a book series that is eerily similar to The Song of Ice and Fire series. Travis spends time on Bloodfall discussion boards and even starts regularly texting with a girl on there.
The Serpent King takes the reader through the three friends’ senior year, from the high points to the darkest lows. It looks at how friends and love can carry you through the dark times and how following your dreams can take you to new places, but leaving your past behind can be hard.
The Matchstick Castle by Keir Graff
In Keir Graff’s delightful and creative middle grade adventure, a boy named Brian hopes to have an exciting summer playing soccer with his pals. However, his scientist dad must fly away for a once in a lifetime chance to work in Antarctica, and sends him to stay with his uptight uncle, aunt, and cousin Nora in Boring, Illinois. Little does Brian know he’s about to experience one of the wildest times of his life when he discovers a strange, oddly proportioned house in the nearby woods. Graff packs his whimsical tale with humor, heart, and heroics, and the reader cannot stop turning the pages! This book has some seriously funny dialogue and situations, but it also gets the heart racing as Brian fights to save the dangerous and yet oh-so-lovable Matchstick Castle in a race against time.–Mr. Brian
The Magicians by Lev Grossman
A meta-fantasy book for those who grew up loving fantasy books, and always harbored the secret hope that one day a wizard would show up on their doorstep with a quest, or a letter of admission to Hogwarts, or a magic wardrobe. This book explores what happens when that occurs, and you get everything you ever wanted…and then find out it isn’t at all what you thought it would be. Also the basis for the tv series of the same name!
Three Parts Dead by Max Gladstone
When your god dies, it’s time to call in a Craftswoman or Craftsman to resurrect what they can – and find out who murdered him. Fantastic world-building and compelling characters make for a great start to a new series!
He Said, She Said by Kwame Alexander
Kwame Alexander’s “He Said, She Said” is a hilarious and enlightening realistic fiction that blends social justice and high school romance. Omar “T-Diddy” Smalls is the star quarterback, a lady’s man, and is very unfamiliar with the word “NO.” In comes Claudia Clarke, a Harvard bound activist, investigative journalist and lover of the word NO especially when it towards Mr. T-Diddy himself. Initially, T-Diddy was determined to “get” Claudia Clarke in order to prove to his friends that he could do so but soon his plan to add another notch on his belt results in him falling head over heels for her and becoming the face of a protest to bring arts back to their school. While being the face of the protest, Omar learns that he is not only fighting to get Claudia’s affection but also fighting for what’s right. Will Omar prove to Claudia that he is more than a misogynistic jock or will his efforts go unnoticed?
The Vast Fields of Ordinary by Nick Burd
The Vast Fields of Ordinary is amazing because it manages to realistically portray teenage protagonists as flawed, daring, and honest people. This Stonewall award winner follows Dade in his last summer at home before college where his relationship with Pablo, a closeted football player, is problematic and where he meets someone who may turn it all around. I don’t want to say too much more about the plot, because I don’t want to give it away, however, I will say that this book does take quite a twist at the end.
I think my favorite part about this book is the characters. It takes a talented author to make me interested in a book that doesn’t have a ton of plot to it. So, if you like spending time with people, you will probably enjoy this book.
Fair warning, this book does get some flak for drug and alcohol usage. I think the way it happens is handled maturely, but I’d talk with a parent before reading this one if you think they’d be against it.
Sunshine by Robin McKinley
A refreshing change from the usual vampire novels. This is a much darker and edgier version, and very well-written. But be forewarned: this book will leave you with a near-obsessive desire to get your hands on some fresh, homemade cinnamon rolls. Try to read in the vicinity of a bakery, if possible.