MG Fantasy Review of The Collectors by Jacqueline West

The Collectors by Jacqueline West

Format:  E ARC 
Publisher: Greenwillow Books 
Number of Pages: 304
Publishing:  October 9th, 2018 
Source:  E ARC from Edelweiss Plus 

Opening Line: "The spider dangled above the table."

 I'm a huge fan of West's Books of Elsewhere series and am always excited to hear when there is a new book coming.  West is one of my auto-buy authors.  Then I saw The Collectors pop up on Edelweiss, so I quickly requested it.  I can't wait to receive my hard copy when it comes out in October and read it all over again.  

One of the things that I absolutely adored about The Collectors was the first chapter.  The wonderful image of the spider dangling from the ceiling and our first glimpse at the premise.  Such lovely descriptive passages that really capture your interest.  The way the story has you questioning wishes.  Whether all wishes should come true.  Sure it's wonderful to wish for ice cream with dinner and have it come true, but what if a wish could be dangerous and needed to be stopped?

Coming from a background in speech-language pathology, I also really appreciated the inclusion of Van, a young boy who is hard of hearing and who wears hearing aids.  West accurately describes Van's difficulties in communicating with people when they, for example, don't face him as they're speaking or when they speak too rapidly making it difficult for him to read their lips.  There are many examples in the text of Van using the context of a conversation to decipher what the speaker is saying, thus giving the reader a better understanding of what it's like to have a hearing impairment.  

Eleven-year-old Van (short for Giovanni) currently lives in New York City with his mother, the famous opera singer, following their many travels all over the world.  Van's gotten pretty good at being the new kid at school and spending time on his own, but he still would very much like a friend.   Van loves to collect things that he finds, a blue glass marble, discarded toys, little things that go unnoticed by most.  Van's also really observant.  Like the day in the park where he was watching a man flip a coin into the fountain and a squirrel came flying out of the bushes followed closely by a girl.  Drawn to the girl, Van tries to strike up a conversation, only to have the girl and squirrel disappear when his mother comes calling after him.   Later Van sees the mysterious girl (Pebble) and squirrel (Barnavelt) from the park again and this time he follows them to an odd building belonging to the mysterious group called The Collectors.   After being caught trespassing, Van is tasked with finding out information about another collector, Mr. Falborg and reporting back his finding to Pebble. 

 Here's where the story gets really interesting.  Mr. Falborg invites Van to his home to view his many collections.  Once inside, Mr. Falborg shares one of his prized collections, his Wish Eaters, little creatures who have the power to make wishes come true by eating them.  Mr. Falborg gives Van his very own Wish Eater and cautions him about the Collectors wanting to imprison all of the Wish Eaters.  Now Van becomes very confused.  On the one hand, there are the Collectors who maintain that Wish Eaters are dangerous whereas Mr. Falborg insists he only wants to protect them.  There is lots of ambiguity regarding who's the good versus the bad guys, and whether all Wish Eaters are dangerous or not, which will hopefully be answered in the sequel.  Now if only I could figure out the wording to safely make my wish for news about its release date.  Guess I'll just have to be patient.   

MG Review of The Snow Witch by Rosie Boyes

The Snow Witch by Rosie Boyes
Format:  E ARC  
Publisher:  Amazon Digital Services 
Number of pages:  183
Publishing:  October 1st, 2018
Source:  Author in exchange for an honest review
Opening Line: "Ding! Ding! Next stop Bleak Street."

From Goodreads:  "A GRANDFATHER CLOCK. A GLASS LOCKET. A POWERFUL CURSE UNLEASHED ON CHRISTMAS EVE.

Twelve-year-old Kitty Wigeon can't wait for Christmas at St Flurries, a grand old manor house in the countryside until one chilly night she vanishes without a trace.

One hundred years later… Still grieving over the death of their mother, Kes Bunting, and his younger sister Star, are sent to live at St Flurries. They find a house steeped in mystery and brimming with secrets.

Who, or what is making footprints in the snow?

And what evil force is taking a cold grip on Star?

Wrap up warm as you join Kes, and a cast of eccentric snow creatures, in a race against time, to solve a hundred-year-old curse. Will he succeed? Or will the fate of his sister be decided by a shivery kiss from… the Snow Witch?"

The Snow Witch is the second book that I've read by Rosie Boyes, Clemmie's War being the first.  I've always enjoyed old houses filled with nooks and crannies, expansive libraries brimming with books, a ballroom, and parlor.  While I'm not quite ready for winter yet, I do love stories that give you that magical wintery feeling of swirling snowflakes,  ice skating on a frozen lake, and breath visible in the crisp air.  I was also really drawn to the premise of The Snow Witch, wanting to learn more about how the different components, grandfather clock, locket, and the curse were going to be linked together.  I mean mystery and an old manor, sounds right up my alley.   

I think the story touched on everything that I was looking for and then some.  I enjoyed getting to know the various characters that inhabited St. Flurries, everyone from Goldie the 7-foot tall handyman to Chat the Cat.  St. Flurries sounds absolutely adorable, despite it being rumored to be haunted, or maybe because of.  Even Lady Bunting sounds wonderfully generous and kind, having spent most of her money trying to find the siblings.  There's the mysterious disappearance of Kitty, the hundred-year-old curse, gypsies, and a riddle for Kes to solve.  Oh, this was such a delightful read.  I enjoyed how both sides of the story were reflected by splitting it into different parts, beginning in 2018  with Kes and Star, reflecting back to 1918 to tell Kitty's story and then coming back to the present.  And Kitty, she's such a sweet girl and I was so saddened by the events that led to her to be bound to the grounds of St. Flurries.  Overall, The Snow Witch was a delightful story of family, the bonds between brother and sister, and that "family always sticks together." Thank you very much to Rosie Boyes for the E ARC.  

Judges for the Cybils announced today!!

Today's the day, judges for the Cybils were announced and  I'm very pleased to have been selected for the first round of Elementary/Middle-Grade Speculative Fiction.   This will be my 5th year as a judge and I couldn't be more excited!!

 Our work starts on October 1st and runs until October 15th.  

Here's a link to information about the Cybils Awards and get your nominations ready for the opening on October 1st!   Rules for nominating are here. 

2018 ElementaryMiddle-Grade 
 Speculative Fiction Judges: 

First Round

Sherry Early

 Semicolon

@Semicolonblog

Kristen Harvey

The Book Monsters

@TheBookMonsters

Katy Kramp

ALibraryMama

@Alibrarymama

Jenni Frencham

From the Biblio Files
@Jennifrencham

Beth Mitcham 

 Library Chicken
@Mitchambeth

Charlotte Taylor

Charlotte's Library

@Charlotteslib

Dr. Cheryl Vanatti

Reading Rumpus

@Tasses

Brenda Tjaden

Log Cabin Library

@logcabinlibrary

Round Two Judges

Stacy Mozer

It's All About the Journey

@Smozer

Rosemary Kiladitis

MomReadit

@Roselo

Mark Buxton

 Say What? 

Jennifer Naughton

Geek Reads Kids

@Jennie_Naughton

Jenna Grose

Falling Letters

@FallingLetters


Congratulations to all the judges!! 
 Looking forward to our discussions on the nominated books!

MG Historical Fiction Review of Swallow's Dance by Wendy Orr

Swallow's Dance by Wendy Orr
Format:  ARC Paperback 
Publisher:  Pajama Press
Number of pages:  360
Publishing:  October 1st, 2018
Source:  Publisher in exchange for an honest review
Opening Line:  "Nunu says that when the goddess belches, it means change is coming."  

One of the last books that I've read by Wendy Orr was Dragonfly Song, which is a lovely historical fantasy set in Crete during the Bronze Age and centers on a young girl who's only chance to be free is to become a bull-dancer.  Swallow's Dance takes place some 200 years before the events of Dragonfly Song and according to Orr's website, she was inspired to write Swallow's Dance after an archeological dig in Crete.   

At the beginning of Swallow's Dance, Leira and the other maidens of her village are participating in a ritual that will commence their journey to become women when a powerful earthquake strikes the village, destroying their homes and injures Leira's mother.  To search out a new place to live and healer for Leira's mother, the family flees to Crete.  Leira is from a noble-born family and her father is a renowned captain who travels around the world.  Initially, the plan is for Leira to take over her brother's duties watching over their trade deals on the island while her father continues to sail in search of goods to trade.  Shortly after their arrival, Leira is awakened by the loud sounds of a tsunami hitting the island.  Following the earthquake and resulting tsunami, food begins to dwindle and there's an increased fear of an uprising within the city.  Concerned for her safety, Leira takes her mother and Nunu (an elderly servant woman who tends to their family) and runs for the hillside.   In order to survive, Leira alters her appearance and tries to become a servant girl,  but will she be able to blend in with the rest of the refugees on the island?   

Swallow's Dance is the fictionalized story inspired by the real events of a hurricane that occurred in 1625 BCE on the island of  Thera (now known as Santorini) that resulted in a huge tsunami on Crete and the speculation of whether the people of Thera were able to flee to Crete before the city was buried.   Like Dragonfly Song, Swallow's Dance is told through a combination of prose and free verse.  It's a wonderful mix of survival and a coming of age story. 

Leira is a resilient young girl who endures so many hardships once she arrives in Crete.  One of her early concerns is that she will never be able to complete her learning to become a woman.  An idea that resurfaces throughout the story.  She's a maiden trying to trade among the sharks.  At the same time, she is trying desperately to care for a mother who has sustained a horrible head injury that has resulted in Aphasia.  At one point,  she's even forced to give up her identity and turn her back on her people.  Despite everything that she endures, she is still strong, fierce and strives to improve her living situation, to one day be free.  You can't help rooting for Leira as she vows to honor her people and claim who she is.  

One of my favorite lines from the story is when Leira takes her mother to a wise woman for healing.  It's a sad moment because Leira has just started to realize the gravity of her mother's injuries and that she doesn't know who Leira is.  The wise woman believes that an evil ghost has taken her mother's spirit away and in order to return her to who she was, they must surround her with their own memories through song to lead her spirit back to her body so she tells Leira to " Sing her life.  Sing of the life and love that only you know, the secrets that tell her spirit that she is its home."  

MG Historical Fiction/Adventure Review of Journey of the Pale Bear by Susan Fletcher

Journey of the Pale Bear by Susan Fletcher

Format:  ARC paperback

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Number of Pages: 192 

Publishing:  October 2nd, 2018 

Source:  Publisher in exchange for an honest review

Opening Line: "In the evening, as darkness falls, I return to the fortress."

The events of the story begin in the Spring of 1252 in Bergen, Norway.  Starving and desperate for food, a young boy steals a leg of rabbit off of a plate in a pub.  When the man notices his meal is missing, he chases Arthur into the city streets where he accidentally flees into a cage housing a great polar bear.  Arthur is saved by a Doctor who recognizes that the boy seems to have a way with the polar bear.  The two come to an arrangement, Arthur will travel with the Doctor aboard the Queen Margrette and tend to the bear and in return, the Doctor will help him locate his relatives in Wales.  As they set sail, Arthur learns that the bear is to be a gift from the King of Norway to the King of England.  It isn't long before such valuable cargo draws the attention of pirates and soon they are left defending off an attack.  Their journey is further complicated when a violent storm hits the ship.  Thinking they're in danger of being submerged, Arthur jumps overboard with the polar bear.  It isn't long until the sailors are able to recapture the bear and they are forced to bring Arthur back to the ship to ensure the bear is able to stay calmly in her cage.  Once the ship arrives in Britain, the bear is transferred to the Tower of London, and Arthur is able to have a letter he's been carrying with him from his relatives translated.  Arthur finds that his father's family does not want him.  Then news comes that the bear's health has been diminishing under the care of the keeper of the King's Menagerie.  Arthur is faced with the choice of returning to Bergen or helping determine what is ailing the bear.  

Journey of the Pale Bear is a beautiful story of a real polar bear that lived in the Tower of London and the fictional boy who went on the voyage with him from Norway to his new home.  I loved how the action starts off quickly and the short chapters lend themselves to be read aloud.  There are lovely descriptions of life at sea, with all the historical details and perils that one would expect.  My favorite parts are of Arthur taking care of a 1000+ lb polar bear aboard the ship, what to feed her and how to get rid of all of the excrement.  I can only imagine.  I really liked Arthur, he has such a love and passion for making sure that the the polar bear is safe.  His fear of going into the cage is realistic and even his being conflicted about his feelings toward the Doctor seemed authentic.  Especially when he refers to Arthur as "son," meaning it more as a term of endearment.  Arthur had every right to be mad at the doctor for all of the things that he demanded of him.   Arthur said it best, "The doctor had ordered me to go on deck alone with the bear.  I could have been killed.  A man wouldn't do that to his son."   A wonderful story that reflects the bonds that animals and humans can share.   

MG Realistic Fiction Review of Louisiana's Way Home by Kate DiCamillo

Louisiana's Way Home by Kate DiCamillo
Format:  ARC Paperback
Publisher:  Candlewick Press
Number of pages:  240
Publishing:  October 2nd, 2018
Source:  ARC received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Opening Lines:  "I am going to write it all down, so that what happened to me will be known, so that if someone were to stand at their window at night and look up at the stars and think, my goodness, whatever happened to Louisiana Elefante?  Where did she go?  They will have an answer."  

Kate DiCamillo has written some of my favorite middle-grade books, The Tale of Despereaux,  Because of Winn Dixie, and Bink & Gollie just to name a few.  I have a particular fondness for The Tale of Despereaux mostly because of the characters and having read it aloud with my kiddo, so I was pretty excited to receive an ARC for Louisiana's Way Home.  Interestingly, Louisiana's character first appeared in another of DiCamillo's books Raymie Nightingale, a story which sadly I haven't read.  From what I can gather it didn't seem necessary to have read Raymie Nightingale first, though I do hope to get the chance to pick it up in the future.  

Late one night, Louisiana Elefante's Granny wakes her up telling her "the day of reckoning has arrived and they have a date with destiny."  At first, Louisiana isn't too overly concerned.  Granny always seems to have these fantastical ideas and middle of the night excursion's are nothing new.  As Granny takes them further and further away from Florida, Louisiana begins to question whether this is just one of their ordinary trips.  When Louisiana finally confronts Granny about when they'll be back home and who's taking care of her pets, she learns the devastating news that Granny has no plans to ever go back.  

For quite some time Louisiana and her Granny have been relying on the kindness of strangers to get by, or as Louisiana calls it "imposing on."  At first, Louisiana tries to come up with a plan to distance herself from Granny and find her own way back home, but Granny is a force to be reckoned with, especially when her mind is made up.  Shortly into their trip, Louisiana's Granny takes ill with a horrible toothache, which causes them to detour to Richford, Georgia and results in an emergency dental extraction of all of Granny's teeth.  So Granny can recuperate, they plan to spend a few days at the Good Night, Sleep Tight Motel, but only if they can figure out a way to pay the owner Bernice for a room.  

Louisiana has been told many stories about her past from her Granny.  For example, that her parents were the famous trapeze artists The Flying Elefantes and that their family has been under a curse of sundering ever since Louisiana's great-grandpa the magician sawed her grandma in half and refused to put her back together again.  While in Richford, Louisiana begins to question whether the real reason for their late night travel was really to deal with the curse over their heads.  And then Granny up and leaves her at the motel with nothing but a note and Louisiana's world comes crashing down leaving her wondering who she is and where she belongs.  I must say that I really disliked Granny and her reasons for leaving.  

Louisiana reminded me of Anne of Green Gables in so many ways.  Like Anne, Louisiana is a lonely girl who would give anything to have a home and friends.  She's wily, resilient, wise and resourceful.  When she exclaims that "the situation is dire,"  I couldn't help but hear Anne's voice.  This is such a sad but hopeful story filled with many memorable characters.  My favorite hands down has to be Burke Allen and his pet crow.  Burke is a boy Louisiana's age who is probably the first person who has ever shown Louisiana kindness.  Burke offers to get her anything she wants from the vending machine of the motel and later makes Louisiana a sandwich. Oh my goodness, these two are so adorable and Burke and his family are just the sweetest things ever.  Feeling Burke is someone she can trust, Louisiana starts to share with him the story about the curse on her family.   I loved how the story is written to reflect Louisiana's account of the events with her wry sense of humor.  Especially the scene in the dentist's office where Louisiana comes up with a creative way of getting the dental hygienist to give her Granny an unscheduled emergency surgery appointment.  Like I said before, this is a sad but very hopeful story, it covers issues of loss, abandonment, and searching for one's identity.  There are humorous moments, wonderful references to Pinnochio and an ending that highlights forgiveness and leaves you hopeful for Louisiana's future.