Category Young Adult Books

Mar 15 2013

Book Review: Dark Frost by Jennifer Estep

aaTitle: Dark Frost

Author: Jennifer Estep

Series: Mythos Academy #3

Genre: Teen Paranormal Romance

Rating: 4/5 stars

The Overview: I’ve seen so many freaky things since I started attending Mythos Academy last fall. I know I’m supposed to be a fearless warrior, but most of the time, I feel like I’m just waiting for the next Bad, Bad Thing to happen. Like someone trying to kill me—again.

Everyone at Mythos Academy knows me as Gwen Frost, the Gypsy girl who uses her psychometry magic to find lost objects—and who just may be dating Logan Quinn, the hottest guy in school. But I’m also the girl the Reapers of Chaos want dead in the worst way. The Reapers are the baddest of the bad, the people who murdered my mom. So why do they have it in for me? It turns out my mom hid a powerful artifact called the Helheim Dagger before she died. Now, the Reapers will do anything to get it back. They think I know where the dagger is hidden, but this is one thing I can’t use my magic to find. All I do know is that the Reapers are coming for me—and I’m in for the fight of my life.

The Review:
I have been praising this series like there’s no tomorrow, and I am sure some of you out there are weary of my gushing… brace yourself for just a little more: I love this series and the overall idea behind it. Every time I pick one up, I know I’m in for a great story and fun characters. Interesting enough, I think this book was my least favorite so far. I genuinely hope that it doesn’t mean the series is in a decline (which I sadly felt happened to the House of Night series around book six), and that this one is just a fluke. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a 4/5 star book; it just didn’t have the same impact as the first two.
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Why was this one not as good? I think it had to do with predictability. While the other two were delightfully obvious in where they were going, this one took great care to hit you over the head with dozens of hints. The first couple had me thinking, “Hey, I might have this figured out.” The next several that follow took away the fun of me feeling like I was smarter than the average bear. I kept waiting for a plot twist, because things can’t possibly be that straightforward, right? Well, you’ll just have to read to find out whether they were. :P
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So aside from the fact that it wasn’t quite as good as the first two, I still devoured it and will be picking up the next one soon. I did find it to be the most heart-wrenching one yet, which is an excellent point in its favor and really bodes well for the sequel!
Other books you might like:
  • The Lightening Thief by Rick Riordan
  • Marked by P.C. and Kristin Cast
  • Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
  • Glass Houses by Rachel Caine
  • Wicked Lovely  by Marissa Marr

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Nov 1 2012
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Book Review: Redwall by Brian Jacques

Title: Redwall

Author: Brian Jacques

Series: Redwall #1

Genre: Young Adult

Rating: 5/5 stars!

The Overview: Redwall Abbey, tranquil home to a community of peace-loving mice is threatened by Cluny the Scourge – the evil-one-eyed rat warlord – and his battle-hardened horde of predators. Cluny is certain that Redwall will fall easily to his fearsome army but he hasn’t bargained for the courage and strength of the combined forces of the Redwall mice and their loyal woodland friends. . . . .

The Review:

If I could say one thing about Jacques, it’s that he was a master storyteller! His books take you on grand adventures that rival the best fantasy novels out there. I’ve read them so many times the covers are falling off! An what’s more, the series sustains itself, with drawn out stories about downright fascinating characters. Bravery and Goodness can come from anywhere, and there are always evil-doers to stand up to. They are such well-rounded stories that I recommend them to even you hardcore fatasy buffs out there. They are often overlooked because people are expecting them to be like “Watership Down” or “Animal Farm”, and while those are worthwhile books in a certian context and place, they do not make for happy fantasy reading like these books do.

Redwall will make you forget you’re reading about animals. They boast creatively awesome representatives of different races. For example, mice are the humans of this world, sort of the standard by which we measure everyone else. The rabbits are the comic relief, and always put off a dwarf-like sentiment. The otters are the graceful archers, and very elf-like in their mannerisms. Even the villians are special – with rats as the cannon fodder and henchmen (orcs) and other creatures such as foxes and weasels who plot against our heroes.

All in all, I can credit this series for sparking my interest in books when I was in the fifth grade. I saw one in the library, and started reading smaller books with the hopes of working my way up to one someday. These are excellent adventures for children, and I’m a living example that they encourage literacy at young ages. As an adult I still love them, and am long overdue for another reread!

Word of warning: do not read these books if you are hungry… you’ll see.

by Niki Hawkes

Sep 23 2012
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Book Review: The Candy Shop War by Brandon Mull

Title: The Candy Shop War

Author: Brandon Mull

Series: The Candy Shop War #1

Genre: Young Adult Fiction

Rating: 4/5 stars

The Overview: What if there were a place where you could get magical candy? Moon rocks that made you feel weightless. Jawbreakers that made you unbreakable. Or candy that gave animals temporary human intelligence and communication skills. (Imagine what your pet would say!) Four young friends, Nate, Summer, Trevor, and Pigeon, are befriended by Belinda White, the owner of a new candy shop on Main Street. However, the gray- haired, grandmotherly Mrs. White is not an ordinary candy maker. Her confections have magical side effects. Purposefully, she invites the kids on a special mission to retrieve a hidden talisman under Mt. Diablo Elementary School. However, Mrs. White is not the only magician in town in search of the ancient artifact rumored to be a fountain of youth. She is aware that Mr. Stott, the not- so- ordinary ice cream truck driver, has a few tricks of his own.

 The Review:

I decided to read “The Candy Shop War” mostly because I am a huge fan of the Fablehaven series, and thought I would give this one a try. He did such a good job capturing my imagination in Fablehaven that I’ve reread it several times. If it weren’t for Harry Potter novels, which stand on a pedestal and always will, I would argue that they are my favorite YA books of all time.

This book is about four kids who get caught up in a war of magicians. Going on special missions for these magicians, the kids are given candies that bestow on them several magical abilities. The story is definitely meant for a younger demographic, and I think it does a good job hitting it’s target audience. While some YA books have the ability to transcend generation, I unfortunately don’t think this was one of them. The storyline was fun, and the characters felt like kids we all grew up with, but it was just a little over the top. I don’t usually go for totally fantastical stories, but there are plenty of people who do like them and would probably enjoy it. I also found it a bit anti-climatic.

While the plot is juvenile in nature, the writing is surprisingly sophisticated. Mull is a great example of an author who doesn’t “dumb it down” when writing for a younger audience. Because of this, along with the study-guide at the back, I think it’s an excellent tool for educators to teach their students vocabulary, critical thinking, and ethics. As for the rest of us, if you’re in the mood for something to make you feel like a kid again, this one will certainly do the trick!

Recommendations: Although this one was fun, I would definitely recommend you read the Fablehaven series first as an introduction to Mull’s works. If this one sounds like the perfect book for you, be on the lookout for the sequel “The Candy Shop War: Arcade Catastrophe” out October 23rd!

Other books you might like:

  • “Fablehaven” by Brandon Mull
  • “The Lightening Thief” by Rick Riordan
  • “Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo” by Obert Skye
  • “Magyk” by Angie Sage
  • “The Amulet of Samarkand” by Jonathan Stroud

by Niki Hawkes