Friday Reads: Gregor the Overlander

You may have noticed that I missed a few Fridays.  I had to take some time off in order to finish a few unusually large projects I had brewing.  Thanks for being patient while I worked through my work.

Anyway, I do a lot of confessing on this blog, and I have another one to share.  Brace yourself.

I have not read Hunger Games yet.

*waiting for you to pick your jaw off the floor*

Truth be told, I haven't felt the urge to read it yet, but I did hear that the author had written a middle-grade series before her HG success.  I did want to read that.  So I picked up the first book.  And here it is.


Shop Indiebound Gregor the Overlander (Book 1 in the Underland Chronicles)
by Suzanne Collins

For: 8-12-year-olds

Genre: Fantasy Adventure

Published: 2003

Description: When Gregor falls through a grate in the laundry room of his apartment building, he hurtles into the dark Underland, where spiders, rats, cockroaches coexist uneasily with humans. This world is on the brink of war, and Gregor's arrival is no accident. A prophecy foretells that Gregor has a role to play in the Underland's uncertain future. Gregor wants no part of it -- until he realizes it's the only way to solve the mystery of his father's disappearance. Reluctantly, Gregor embarks on a dangerous adventure that will change both him and the Underland forever.

Why I Liked It: You should know that I really hate cockroaches.  I've lived in Texas once for a few years, so I know what real, big, ten-gallon-hat-wearing cockroaches look like.  But they are nothing compared to the roaches in this book.  So, oddly enough, I liked the roaches in this book.  And any book that can make me like roaches is a winner in my eyes.

Oh, and the adventure in this book sucked me right in.  I suppose that's a good reason to like it, too.


If you know of any other underworld adventures, please share them in the comments below. And happy weekend reading!

Friday Reads: Alcatraz Vs. the Evil Librarians

Now, I really do love librarians. I even wanted to be one when I grew up. So I doubt there are many evil librarians in the world. So, librarians, no offense.



Alcatraz Vs. the Evil Librarians
by Brandon Sanderson

For: Ages 8-12

Genre: Humorous fantasy/science fiction, Humorous Action/Adventure

Published: 2007

Description: A hero with an incredible talent...for breaking things. A life-or-death mission...to rescue a bag of sand. A fearsome threat from a powerful secret network...the evil Librarians.
Alcatraz Smedry doesn't seem destined for anything but disaster. On his 13th birthday he receives a bag of sand, which is quickly stolen by the cult of evil Librarians plotting to take over the world. The sand will give the Librarians the edge they need to achieve world domination. Alcatraz must stop them!...by infiltrating the local library, armed with nothing but eyeglasses and a talent for klutziness.

Why I liked it: This book was pure fun from the first page clear to the last.  And the premise was one of the most clever I have ever come across.  I read this aloud to my middle-grade aged boys, and they loved it as much as I did.  Word of caution: it's probably best not to read this as a bedtime story like I did.  Nobody slept much when I did.  We were too busy laughing.  Also of note: this is the first in a whole series of books.  You should read them all, imo.

Do you know of any other humorous fantasy or science fiction novels?  If you do, please share them with me in the comments below.

Happy Weekend Reading!

Friday Reads: The Clockwork Three

I've met Matthew Kirby a few times around my local writing scene, so when I heard about his book I had to pick up a copy for my home library.  I'm so glad I did.  (The moral of this story is: support your local writers.  Okay, off my soapbox.)

The Clockwork Three

by Matthew J. Kirby

For: 8-12yos

Genre: Uh... (adventure, fantasy, steampunk, mystery, urban mythology, you name it, this book's probably got it)

Published: 2010

Description: Giuseppe is an orphaned street musician who sees no way to escape, until the day he finds an enchanted green violin.

Frederick, an apprentice clockmaker with a past he cannot remember, secretly works at night to build the most magnificent clockwork man the world has ever seen.

Hannah is maid in a grand hotel, whose life is one of endless drudgery until she encounters a mystifying new guest and learns of a hidden treasure.

As mysterious circumstances bring them together, the lives of these three children soon interlock, like the turning gears of a clock, and they realize that each one holds a key to solving the others' mysteries.

Why I liked it: Oh, man.  This book rocked my socks off!  I loved that the three main characters gave the author an outlet to bring three distinct genres together in one amazing book.  And I loved how Kirby was able to weave three distinct stories into one cohesive and satisfying whole.  Plus, it was a great story.  I lost myself in it, and that's always a good thing.