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: The Prince Who Fell From the Sky

This brand-new book promised all sorts of wonder, and though it was very different from what I had envisioned, it still delivered.  It makes me wonder if I should look up the author's other works.  Hmmm....

The Prince Who Fell From the Sky

by John Claude Bemis

For: 8-12 yos

Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy, Postapocalyptic Fiction

Published: 2012

Description: In Casseomae's world, the wolves rule the Forest, and the Forest is everywhere. The animals tell stories of the Skinless Ones, whose cities and roads once covered the earth, but the Skinless disappeared long ago.

Casseomae is content to live alone, apart from the other bears in her tribe, until one of the ancients' sky vehicles crashes to the ground, and from it emerges a Skinless One, a child. Rather than turn him over to the wolves, Casseomae chooses to protect this human cub, to find someplace safe for him to live. But where among the animals will a human child be safe? And is Casseomae threatening the safety of the Forest and all its tribes by protecting him?

Middle-grade fans of postapocalyptic fiction are in for a treat with this fanciful and engaging animal story by the author of the Clockwork Dark trilogy.

Why I Liked It: I thought this was a fresh take on postapocalyptic fiction, since we see this entire story from the point of view of animals instead of humans.  It was interesting to watch how they related to the human boy, and to see how the author weaved in "human" understanding but still kept the animals animals.  Plus there were a few surprises for the animals that I found entertaining (since, as a human reader, I knew something the animal characters didn't).

Do you know of any other middle-grade fiction like this?  If so, please let me know in the comments below.

And happy weekend reading!

Friday Reads: Savvy and Scumble

So, I forgot to post last week.  Oops.  To make up for it, I'm giving you a twofer today.  I loved both of these books--so did my oldest boy--and we both are waiting for the promised third installment.  And the movie.  (Fingers crossed that both actually happen.)



Savvy
by Ingrid Law

For: Ages 8-12

Genre: Fantasy

Published: 2008

Description: Thirteen is when a Beaumont’s savvy hits—and with one brother who causes hurricanes and another who creates electricity, Mibs Beaumont is eager to see what she gets. But just before the big day, Poppa is in a terrible accident. And now all Mibs wants is a savvy that will save him. In fact, Mibs is so sure she’ll get a powerful savvy that she sneaks a ride to the hospital on a rickety bus with her sibling and the preacher’s kids in tow. After this extraordinary adventure—full of talking tattoos and a kidnapping—not a soul on board will ever be the same.

Why I Liked It: You know, I love fantasies, but most of them are seeped in European history.  But this was a true stars and stripes fantasy. It's wild and wacky but heartfelt...and completely American.  Ingrid does a great job with subtle humor, too, so this book is one part adventure, one part fantasy, one part humorous, but with meat on it.  It deserved the Newbery Honor it received, in my opinion.


Scumble
by Ingrid Law


For: Ages 8-12


Genre: Fantasy


Published: 2010

Description: It's nine years after Savvy, and Mibs' cousin Ledge is on the verge of turning thirteen. More than anything, he wants the power to run like the wind. But when his birthday comes, he discovers that his savvy is actually making things fall apart. It starts out with small things, but then it gets worse. To top it all off, someone outside the family has witnessed his destruction. Now, in addition to trying to figure out how to control - or scumble - his savvy, he's got to worry about how to protect the family secrets. Over the course of one amazing summer, Ledge learns a lot about himself and his family, makes a new - and very unlikely - friend, and learns to appreciate his newfound skills.


Why I Liked it: This was just as good as the first (maybe better).  I enjoyed seeing glimpses of the characters from the first book, but I adored the new characters who take center stage.  Again, this was  wild and entertaining but had substance as well.  I found the savvies particularly clever, but I mostly enjoyed that the troubles Ledge finds himself in with his own savvy are more...er, destructive.  Perfect for the boy readers out there.


Do you know of any other fantasies like these?  I've been searching, but to no avail.  If you know of some, please share in the comments below.


And Happy Friday Reading!

Friday Reads: A Curse Dark As Gold

Okay, so it's actually Monday.  Let's just call this my Friday Reads: Monday Edition.

In my defense, I have been offline pulling together and practicing my presentation tomorrow at the Writing and Illustrating For Young Readers Workshop tomorrow.  I just realized I completely forgot to post my Friday Reads suggestion on Friday.  Oh, well, better late than never, right?

On another note, I have had the privilege of getting to know Elizabeth a little on a message board I frequent.  It was there that I first heard about this book.

 A Curse Dark as Gold
by Elizabeth C. Bunce

For: Ages 12-18

Genre: Fantasy, Fairytale retelling

Published: 2008

Description: Charlotte Miller has always scoffed at talk of a curse on her family's woolen mill, which holds her beloved small town together. But after her father's death, the bad luck piles up: departing workers, impossible debts, an overbearing uncle. Then a stranger named Jack Spinner offers a tempting proposition: He can turn straw into gold thread, for the small price of her mother's ring. As Charlotte is drawn deeper into her bargains with Spinner-and a romance with the local banker-she must unravel the truth of the curse on the mill and save the community she's always called home.

Why I liked it: This book has romance, suspense, and some spookiness, too.  And I loved seeing deeper into the characters lives behind the already familiar story.  As usual, I was drawn to the characters, but more than anything I do love that it ended on a more uplifting note than the original fairy tale.

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 Eyes of the Dragon

I mentioned back when I started this series that I wouldn't highlight horror, because I don't read the genre.  So why highlight a Stephen King novel, you ask? Because this is not one of his horror novels.  This is classic fantasy.  Read on, my friends.

 The Eyes of the Dragon

by Stephen King

For: Adults

Genre: Fantasy (yes, you read that right)

Published: 1987

Description:  A kingdom is in turmoil as the old king dies and his successor must do battle for the throne. Pitted against an evil wizard and a would-be rival, Prince Peter makes a daring escape and rallies the forces of Good to fight for what is rightfully his.

Why I liked it: You should already know by now that I love fantasy, and this is a classic good vs. evil with magic and dragons and everything tale.  But it's also more than that.  It's the story about two brothers, one who stands for what's good and right, and one who must learn that lesson the hard way. And in more ways than one, it's a story about conquering your own demons.  

Friday Reads: The Grey King

I was introduced to Susan Cooper in school.  We read The Dark Is Rising in class, and I was hooked.  That book won the Newbery Honor in 1974, and rightly so.  Two years later, the fourth book in the sequence, The Grey King, won the Newbery Medal, also rightly so. It's my favorite in the sequence, so it's the one I chose for this week's Friday Reads.  (Note: It may be wise to start at the beginning of the sequence and work your way to this book.  You'll get the full impact that way.  However, if you must, this book can be read as a stand-alone, too.)

The Grey King  (Book 4 in The Dark is Rising Sequence)

by Susan Cooper

For: 8-12yos

Genre: Contemporary Fantasy

Published: 1975

Description: There is a Welsh legend about a harp of gold, hidden within a certain hill, that will be found by a boy and a white dog with silver eyes--a dog that can see the wind.  Will Stanton knew nothing of this when he came to Wales to recover from a severe illness.  But when he met Bran, a strange boy who owned a white dog, he began to remember.  For Will is the last-born of the Old Ones, immortals dedicated to saving the world from the forces of evil, the Dark.  And it is Will's task to wake--with the golden harp--the six who must be roused from their long slumber in the Welsh hills to prepare for the last battle between the Dark and the Light.

Why I liked it: I love how Susan Cooper brings Wales alive (in each of her books in the sequence, really).  This one, in particular, is as beautiful as it is powerful.  The green mountains, the hilly fields, the idylllic Mlyn Mwyngil (the Welsh name for the lake in this book), all buzz with the unseen power of Light and Dark.  And the climax is as wrapped up in the setting as I was.  Truly, this entire sequence is a must-read for fantasy lovers.  

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.