Category Young Adult Books

Sep 19 2013
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Book Review: Wild Born by Brandon Mull

September 10, 2013

September 10, 2013

Title: Wild Born

Author: Brandon Mull

Series: Spirits Animals #1

Genre: Middle Grade

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

The Overview: Four children separated by vast distances all undergo the same ritual, watched by cloaked strangers. Four flashes of light erupt, and from them emerge the unmistakable shapes of incredible beasts – a wolf, a leopard, a panda, a falcon. Suddenly the paths of these children – and the world – have been changed for ever. Enter the world of Erdas, where every child who comes of age must discover if they have a spirit animal, a rare bond between human and beast that bestows great powers to both. A dark force has risen from distant and long-forgotten lands, and has begun an onslaught that will ravage the world. Now the fate of Erdas has fallen on the shoulders of four young strangers …and on you.

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The Review:

I want to start off by saying I love this author. He perfectly encapsulates the wonders of fantasy while reminding us how much fun it was to be a kid. He manages to do both of these things without sacrificing the quality of his writing (which keeps adult readers engaged and gives a healthy challenge to the younger ones). I am a huge sucker for fantasy books involving animals – after all, it was the Animorphs series by K.A. Applegate and the Redwall series by Brian Jacques that initially sparked my love of reading. So the idea of having my favorite kids author (aside from JK Rowling) tackle an animal story was the best news ever.

I was anticipating a robust, full-length novel… what I got was something slightly different. Turns out, it’s the first installment of a multi-platform series, sort of like The 39 Clues and The Infinity Ring. Brandon Mull wrote this first book and outlined the next five books, but other authors will tell those tales. While cool in its own right, it’s not exactly what I had in mind.

Even though it was different than I’d hoped, it was still a dang good (albeit quick) read. I especially loved the diverse range of characters – there was someone for everyone to root for, giving it a sort of global appeal. All the characters had compelling individual stories but also played really well off of one another – they were my favorite components in the book, and I’m really looking forward to seeing where their journey take them next.

The magic system was also a strong point – I love the magic involved with getting a spirit animal and the benefits that came from having one. The concept was just plain fun. Because it’s a multi platform book, you can read it then go join the adventure online – earning a Spirit Animal for yourself as you help recover the hidden talismans. Sounds like fun, right? I’m probably going to sign in just to see what my animal would be…

Overall, Wild Born was a great adventure that started out with a bang and didn’t let up the entire way through.

Recommended Reading: for those looking for fantasy adventure, excitement, and a whole lot of animal awesomeness! And, of course, for fans of Brandon Mull.

by Niki Hawkes

Other books you might like:

Sep 12 2013
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Book Review: Sky Jumpers by Peggy Edelman

September 24, 2013

September 24, 2013

Title: Sky Jumpers

Author: Peggy Eddelman

Series: Sky Jumpers #1

Genre: Young Reader

Rating: 4/5 stars

The Overview: What happens when you can’t do the one thing that matters most? Twelve-year-old Hope Toriella lives in White Rock, a town of inventors struggling to recover from the green bombs of World War III. But Hope is terrible at inventing and would much rather sneak off to cliff dive into the Bomb’s Breath—the deadly band of compressed air that covers the crater left by the bombs—than fail at yet another invention. When bandits discover that White Rock has priceless antibiotics, they invade. Hope and her friends—Aaron and Brock—might be the only ones who can escape to make the dangerous trek through the Bomb’s Breath and over the snow-covered mountain. Inventing won’t help her make it through alive, but with Aaron and Brock’s help, the daring and recklessness that usually gets her into trouble might just save them all.

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The Review:

Sky Jumpers is the perfect book to get your kids interested in futuristic (and somewhat dystopian) adventure stories – especially if they are a bit too young for Hunger Games and Divergent. Everything was perfectly engaging and exciting – from the great mission to save the valley to the trials of creating a good invention (my favorite part of the story – what fun!) and it was all just tame enough to be a good read for everybody.

As an adult reader (I use the term loosely), I found many things appealing: the overall concept, the atmosphere, and the characters. The only thing I could’ve used more of, at least in the beginning, was quicker pacing. The inciting incident didn’t take place until almost halfway through the book. Usually, that’s a big problem. In this case, it wasn’t totally detrimental to the story, but the book might’ve been stronger if it had more of a direction early on.

Here’s a couple of elements why, even without the inciting incident, I still really enjoyed the first half of the book: it had fun, engaging moments of mischief and great inner conflicts surrounding the main character. I really felt immersed into this girl’s world and her struggles to be a good daughter and a good inventor were more than enough to carry the story. Overall, it was a delightful read and one that I will definitely be suggesting to customers.

Recommended Reading: for anyone wanting to get absorbed in a fun adventure – especially those completely content picking up a middle grade book.

By Niki Hawkes

Other books you might like:

Jun 5 2013
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Book Review: Planet Thieves by Dan Krokos

bjhgTitle: The Planet Thieves

Author: Dan Krokos

Series: The Planet Thieves

Genre: Young Reader

Rating: 4/5 stars

The Overview: Two weeks ago, thirteen-year-old Mason Stark and seventeen of his fellow cadets from the Academy for Earth Space Command boarded the SS Egypt. The trip was supposed to be a short routine voyage to log their required spacetime for summer quarter.

But routine goes out the airlock when they’re attacked by the Tremist, an alien race who have been at war with humanity for the last sixty years.

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The Review:

What a cool book!

This was a a fast-paced story that just kept adding to the excitement with each page. My favorite was the very beginning: Krokos dropped in the inciting incident right away, told us what was important to the protagonist, and gave the audience a lovable character worth rooting for. All in all, it was probably the best intro to a book I’ve read all year.

Characterization was definitely one of this author’s strengths. I mentioned above how much I liked the main protagonist, but the side characters were just as good, adding a great deal of humor and entertainment to the story. Although I enjoyed the overall story and conflicts, the characters are what’s fueling my desire to read the second book – I just have to know what happens to them next!

This would be an excellent introductory book for kids wanting to try science fiction. It had all the elements of space travel, alien races, new worlds, and most importantly, laser weapon battles! Heck, forget science fiction – this is a great book to get kids interested in science. Krokos interspersed a good bit of facts on the laws of the universe and did so in a way that was fun and made you want to learn more.

Overall, for the younger audience, it was perfect – it emphasized good morals like loyalty and friendship and also had some really cool moments of wonder. It is not quite on the level of Ender’s Game as far as its ability to be appealing to both adults and children, (mostly because it lacked a little robustness and complexity) but it’s the closest thing I’ve come across since.

Recommendations: Even though it wasn’t quite the groundbreaking tale I hoped it would be, it was definitely a worthwhile book and one I will be recommending a lot in the future. My only caution for parents is that it did contain a bit of light profanity.

Other books you might like:

by Niki Hawkes

May 5 2013
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Book Review: Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

Title: Fablehaven

Author: Brandon Mull

Series: Fablehaven  #1

Genre: Young Adult

Rating: 5/5 stars!

The Overview: For centuries, mystical creatures of all description were gathered to a hidden refuge called Fablehaven to prevent their extinction. The sanctuary survives today as one of the last strongholds of true magic in a cynical world. Enchanting? Absolutely. Exciting? You bet. Safe? Well, actually, quite the opposite … Kendra and her brother Seth have no idea their grandfather is the current caretaker of Fablehaven. Inside the gated woods, ancient laws give relative order among greedy trolls, mischievous satyrs, plotting witches, spiteful imps, and jealous fairies. However, when the rules get broken, an arcane evil is unleashed, forcing Kendra and Seth to face the greatest challenge of their lives. To save her family, Fablehaven, and perhaps the world, Kendra must find the courage to do what she fears most.

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The Review:

I have been trying to write this review for at least three months. Everything I put to paper just doesn’t do the series justice, and I’m stuck staring at a full page of notes not knowing the best way to put them together. Suffice to say, I love everything about this series and am now reading it again for my fifth or sixth time (which is really saying something given how many books I have on my TBR list). It is one of the best series I’ve ever read even compared to all the mainstream adult fantasy out there. Let’s put it this way, it’s not quite Harry Potter epic, but it is the closest thing I’ve come across since.
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What Brandon Mull does so well is offer adventure and wonder at every turn to capture your imagination and make you feel like a kid again. Every few pages he introduces something fun and creative, but it’s never frivolous. Every scene takes us farther and farther into this brilliant world which only continues to build off itself and get more exciting with each book. I found every last moment captivating and am in awe at Mull’s ability to tell such a great story. It’s weird, too, because he keeps the plot simple enough for kids to really get into, introducing rounded, relatable characters, but writes in a sophisticated enough manner for adults to enjoy just as much if not more than the kids. It’s not a fluke, either. I saw him do the same thing in the Candy Shop Wars – he just knows how to weave wonder and magic into his story in a way that’s accessible to all ages.
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Overall, I’m not sure what else to say without absolutely gushing – it’s clear I love this series. Most people have usually already read it, and I’m assuming that if you’re reading this review you probably have too. All I can say is, if you enjoy fantasy and children’s literature and have not yet picked this one up, it should definitely be next on your list!
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Recommendations:  I recommend this to anyone who says they loved Harry Potter or Percy Jackson. It’s also the first one I gravitates to when parents are trying to get their kids more into reading (provided said child likes fantasy). Personally, I don’t think this series has any age limit so I recommend it to anybody wanting to go on an adventure and feel like a kid again!
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Other books you might like:
Apr 21 2013

Book Reviews: Animorphs -The Encounter / The Message

a1Title: The Encounter

Author: K.A. Applegate

Series: Animorphs #3

Genre: Young Adult

Rating: 5/5 stars!

The Overview: When Tobias, Jake, Rachel, Marco, and Cassie were given the ability to morph, they were also given one very important warning: Never stay in a morph for more than two hours. It seemed a small price to pay, since the kids know that humans everywhere are being forced to let slimy, spineless creatures creep into their brains. And the only way the kids can fight back is not to be human. But Tobias stayed in his morph too long. And now he’s a hawk — with a boy’s mind — forever. Tobias knows they can’t give up. That they all made a promise. So now it’s four kids and a hawk against a force that’s determined to destroy them. Or die trying…

The Review:

There’s something incredibly fascinating and heart-wrenching about someone’s struggle to hold onto their humanity after a horrific event. The books from Tobias’s viewpoint always have a different, more introspective tone then the rest of the series. I guess you’d be pretty insightful too if you spent every day alone with nature and your thoughts. I don’t think I was old enough to appreciate its depth as a kid, but I sort of do now. Back then, I was mainly just disappointed that the potential to try new animal morphs was gone. This time around, however, I’m enjoying it more than ever before… and that’s an exciting thing (I also notice more plot holes than ever before.  I guess when you’re writing a series like this in under 100 pages it’s difficult to be completely thorough… right? Just go with it – lol.)

a2.0Title: The Message

Author: K.A. Applegate

Series: Animorphs #4

Genre: Young Adult

Rating: 5/5 stars!

The Overview: It all started with the dreams. But Cassie didn’t pay much attention to them. She and her friends had all been having weird dreams since they’d first learned to morph. Maybe it was just some crazy side effect. That’s when Cassie discovers that Tobias has been having the exact same dreams. Dreams about the ocean. And a strange feeling that someone is calling to them. Calling for help. Now Cassie, Tobias, Jake, Rachel, and Marco have to figure out if the dreams are a message – or a trap. And if it is a trap, it could mean the end – for everyone…

The Review:

After careful consideration, I’ve made a decision (which, of course, is subject to change at any given moment): Cassie is my favorite Animorph. She gets along with everyone, is humble, hard-working, and compassionate. But what I love most about Cassie is her remarkable affinity for animals. She is the character I always envied because she knows the most about animals out of the group and she can control her morph on how amazing would it be to be able to control your morphing – how cool is that. As far as the books go, her stories aren’t always the most action-packed, but they are often the most powerful and profound. At least for me.

by Niki Hawkes

Mar 24 2013

Book Reviews: Animorphs – The Invasion #1 / The Visitor #2

c1Title: The Invasion

Author: K. A. Applegate

Series: Animorphs #1

Genre: Young Reader

Rating: 5/5 stars

The Overview: Sometimes weird things happen to people. Ask Jake. He may tell you about the night he and his friends saw the strange light in the sky. He may even tell you about what happened when they realized the “light” was only a plane — from another planet. Here’s where Jake’s story gets a little weird. He and his friends are told the human race is under attack, but they’re given the chance to fight back. Now Jake, Rachel, Cassie, Tobias and Marco have the power to morph into any animal they choose. And they must use that power to outsmart an evil that is greater than anything the world has ever seen…

The Review:

I am so passionate about these books, I feel it would be a shame to run a book blog without paying homage to the series that sparked my love of reading. I read the first twenty so many times as a kid that I talked my mom into buying replacement copies because I was afraid I’d wear them out (as eventually I did). Anyway, I’m 27 now and finally ready to read through them all again. Every couple of weeks, you’ll get an update of my progress, and humor me as I reminisce about how each of these books affected me.

As the first book in the series, The Invasion offers adventure, humor, and creativity, making it a perfect read for ages 8 – 12 (and your geeky older students like me). I originally picked it up because I love animals, and the idea of kids being able to turn into them sealed the deal. While shapeshifting plays a critical role in the story, it was only a side benefit to all the great things Animorphs has to offer. I laughed, I cried, I fricken loved these books.

c1Title: The Visitor

Author: K.A. Applegate

Series: Animorphs #2

Genre: Young Reader

Rating: 5/5 stars

The Overview: Rachel is still reeling from the news that the Earth is secretly under attack by parasitic aliens known as the Yeerks. And that she and her friends — five kids who, purely by chance, stumbled onto a downed spacecraft and were given the power to morph into any animal they touch — are the planet’s only defense. But Rachel’s always been something of a daredevil. So when it’s suggested that they infiltrate the home of their assistant principal, Mr. Chapman, who also happens to be a human host of the Yeerks, she volunteers. But what she finds inside may be more than even she can handle.

The Review: 

This happens to be the first Animorphs book I ever read (when you live three hours from the nearest bookstore, you sort of take what you can get). It has all the things that made the first book amazing, but focuses more on character and story development than grand adventure.

Side story: when I was 11 years old, I typed up this entire book while trying to learn how to use a keyboard. Odd as it sounds, it actually worked. I showed up two years later to my 8th grade typing class an expert (as far as one can be) and spent the semester reading, you guessed it, Animorphs. While I felt pretty full of myself back then, my 27 year old self would like to go back and slap that child for that early induction of carpel-tunnel.

Anyway, I it’s safe to say I know this story well, and have probably read through it the most times of any of them (we’re talking 20+). Although Rachel is not my favorite Animorph, the books from her perspective are great (my fav. in the entire series was with her in book #12: The Reaction).

by Niki Hawkes