The Lost Books: The Scroll of Kings

Title: The Lost Books: The Scroll of Kings

Author: Sarah Prineas

Publisher: Harper

Series: ? It's hard to say if this is a series or standalone.

ISBN: 9780062665584

Length: 295 pages

Obtained: Library hardcover copy

Comments:

I haven't read anything by Sarah Prineas previously, so I don't know how this story compares, but I love finding books with book and/or librarian related themes, and this has both.

Among my first impressions is that Alex may be a "librarian" and love books, but he certainly isn't an archivist, genealogist, or historian, as he seemingly found no interest or use of documents that I know would have been useful for such purposes. 

But I'm getting off track.  Alex has run from home after arguing with his family.  He is certain, after having read all the books in his father's locked up library, that he is a librarian, not a warrior s trained.  This is in a world/time when all libraries have been locked up - Alex believes because books are dangerous - and all librarians are old.  This last part is quite troublesome for Alex who is looking to be trained, but cannot find any librarians willing to share their secrets.

He has managed, by chance and some trickery, to talk his way into the Royal Library, where he must figure out what is happening with the books, save them (the books) and himself, and convince the young queen of his task because he cannot do this alone.

I enjoyed the story.  If this is a series, I would be happy to read more.  If it is a standalone, it ended well enough.  I hope to read more of this author's work (particularly the thief series I've heard about) at some point in the future.

The Door to the Lost

Title: The Door to the Lost

Author: Jaleigh Johnson

Publisher: Delacorte

ISBN: 9781101933169

Length: 289 pages

Obtained: Library print copy

Comments:

This was a quick and interesting middle grade fantasy.  A large number of children from another world with magic came through this world at the same time magic failed.  However, these children still have magic, and are looked at as the bringers of misfortune in a world that is not their own.  In other words, they are immigrants without parents or adults to help them navigate the prejudices and, for the most part, hatred and fear of the people (or at least the adults) in their new home.  They do not remember anything of their old world and so do not even have memories of better or happier times to turn to.

Rook has the ability to open doors to anywhere... except the country she came from.  Now she and her friends have been pulled into a dangerous scheme initiated by adults they cannot even trust.  Can they save their new land before it is destroyed?  Can they find a home in this world?  will they ever discover the secrets and mystery of their pasts?

After last week's Monday post, I immediately started this book (rather than sleep) and read straight through until I had finished it - work that Monday was harsh.  I enjoyed the break in pace and the kickstart to picking me up out of a potential reading slump.

Pie

Title: Pie

Author: Sarah Weeks [Website][Twitter]

Publisher: Scholastic Press

ISBN: 9780545270113

Length: 180 pages

Obtained: Library book club copy

Why this book?:

Selected as one of the books for one of my book clubs.

Comments:

Cute, interesting, touching.  Ending was... mixed feelings.  If only I baked and didn't have a time schedule I might have tried some of the recipes.

Wonder

Title: Wonder

Author: R. J. Palacio [Website][Twitter] aka Raquel J. Palacio

Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf

ISBN: 9780375869020

Length: 313 pages

Obtained: Library book club copy

Why this book?:

Picked as a book club book for one of the many book clubs I'm in.

Comments:

Auggie was born with severe facial differences and has gone through a series of corrective surgeries, but still looks very different from the typical 10-year-old boy.  His parents have decided it is time for him to go to school (rather than being homeschooled) for middle school.  This means learning how to navigate in the world where kids can be mean without the protection his family has always afforded him.

I found Wonder to be an interesting book.  Auggie was a very likable boy, occasionally being mopey and having "woe-is-me" moments, but he is only 10 (not to mention everything he had been through) so that made him more realistic.  The book offers great insight into how the phrase "it's the inside that counts" might be very true, so there is a moral to it all, along with issues of bullying, etc.

Auggie's family's dog, Daisy reminded me greatly of a dog we had... in all ways from the name to rolling over for belly rubs, to certain events in the book.  So much so that I don't remember how she was physically described, I just pictured my family's Daisy.

Anyway, at least one part had me sobbing, but I can't say what or why without spoilers.

I missed the book club, so I don't know what the others thought, but while writing this I was trying to remember who from Star Wars Auggie was compared to.  When I was looking in the book (I like Star Wars but I'm horrible with names) to see who it was and find a picture, I decided I want to re-read the book.  I figure that says something.

Fuzzy

Title: Fuzzy

Author: Tom Angleberger [Website][Twitter] and Paul Dellinger [Facebook]

Publisher: Amulet Books

ISBN: 9781419721229

Length: 254 pages

Obtained: ARC received at BEA

Why this book?:

I selected it at the time because my nephew, while still younger than the targeted 8-12 range (he's 5 and a preschooler) was obsessed with robots for years.  So robots automatically draw my attention.  Too bad I didn't know his new obsession would be flytraps because I could have picked up an ARC for Inspector Flytrap by Tom Angleberger and his wife Cece Bell.  Oh, well.  Now I'll be checking that out from the library.  Anyway...

Comments:

I found it very easy to quickly become engaged by this book.  I started it when I should have been getting some sleep at around midnight and finished it a couple hours later that same night (or should I say morning?).

Max and Fuzzy are both very likable.  I was also intrigued by the futuristic setting, horrified by the robot nightmare come true Vice Principle Barbara, and incredibly annoyed at Max's parents.  Why wouldn't they actually listen to her instead of assuming the reports they received from the school were always in the right?  The injustice of them never even questioning the reports (nor waiting for an actual answer on those occasions that they did question) bothered me greatly that.

When I went to write this post up and realized this is a sci-fi book, I was surprised.  I don't have anything against scifi books, really, but I tend to gravitate toward fantasy and magic over futuristic science.

I look forward to reading more by these authors.  I know I have some catching up to do.

Curse of the Boggin

Title: Curse of the Boggin

Author: D. J. MacHale [Website][Facebook][Twitter]

Publisher: Random House

Series: Library, Bk 1

ISBN: 9781101932544

Length: 242 pages

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book?:

I placed a request on this because - duh - it's the first book in a library series.

Comments:

I realized only when I was about to start this book and read "#1 New York Times bestselling author of Pendragon" that this was the same author who wrote The Merchant of Death that I had just finished.  I enjoyed this.

It felt somewhat like a children's version of The Librarians TV show, but rather than protecting powerful artifacts, the "agents" protect people's stories... which really could be just as powerful when you think about it.  It also reminded me somewhat of the library in The Magicians TV show (based on a trilogy of books by Lev Grossman, but I've never read them and probably never will since I stopped watching the TV show as it became too dark for my tastes) which is full of books that tell peoples stories.

Like the Pendragon book I read, Marcus has two friends, one boy one girl.  Also like the Pendragon book I read, both friends play a role, but aren't actively experiencing the main adventure for the bulk of the story.  I believe they will have more of a role going on in the series, though.  They certainly did toward the end of this book.

Anyway, I look forward to more in this series.  And I know I'll be reading more by this author in the near future.

The Merchant of Death

Title: The Merchant of Death

Author: D. J. MacHale [Website][Facebook][Twitter]

Publisher: Aladdin Fantasy

Series: Pendragon, Bk 1

ISBN: 0743437314

Length: 375 pages

Obtained:

Personal copy.  I got it used (along with a few others in the series), but I don't remember when or how.

Why this book?:

Reading TBR books I own to make more shelf space.

Comments:

So this book was actually slow going for me.  To the point that I considered not continuing it.  But I ended up settling into it, and I plan to read more of the series.  I'm still can't say it was a favorite.  However, it has an intriguing premise, and I'm curious what happens with some of the characters.  I, by chance, ended up reading another book from a new series by this author shortly after (Curse of the Boggin), and I really enjoyed it, so who knows?

The School for Good and Evil

Title: The School for Good and Evil

Author: Soman Chainani [Website][Twitter][Facebook]; Illustrations by Iacopo Bruno [Website][theWORLDofDOT]

Publisher: Harper

Series: School for Good and Evil, Bk 1

ISBN: 9780062104892

Length: 488 pages

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book?:

It looked intriguing.

Comments:

Um, I wasn't sure if I liked or disliked this book.  In some ways, despite being a MG book, it reminded me of Seanan McGuire's Indexing books [1][2] which I really enjoyed.  Fairy Tales have power, things aren't always as they seem, and people may be chosen to fill roles that they would not choose for themselves.  I just had mixed feelings.  And they were literally that - feelings - so I can't seem to explain them.  Logically, I should definitely have loved this story.  It is very much the type of book I've been into lately.  Maybe it was timing?  I think I'll read the next book to sort myself out.  And because the more I think about it, the more I'm curious about what comes next.

Trailer:

 

THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL - Official Book Trailer from Soman Chainani on Vimeo.

The Zoo at the Edge of the World

Title: The Zoo at the Edge of the World

Author: Eric Kahn Gale [Facebook][Twitter] ; Read by Julian Elfer [Website][IMDb]

Publisher: Recorded Books

ISBN: 9781490658766

Length: 4 discs ; 4.75 hours

Obtained: Library audiobook copy

Why this book?:

Sounding interesting.  Especially the zoo aspect.

Comments:

Marlin has a stutter that makes him much more comfortable with animals than people.  When Marlin's famous explorer father brings a jaguar into the zoo there's a sudden upheaval within Marlin's life.  This was an interesting story.  I definitely predicted some major events, but other aspects surprised me.  Some issues addressed are: wild vs civilization, treatment of native people and colonialism, family relations, bullying and self-confidence, differences and likenesses in beings, socioeconomic structures, etc.

Trailer:

Lady Friday AND Superior Saturday AND Lord Sunday

Title: Lady Friday

Author: Garth Nix [Website][Facebook][Twitter]

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Series: The Keys of the Kingdom, Bk 5

ISBN: 9780439700887

Length: 304 pages

Obtained:  Personal hardcover copy ; unsure when I obtained, but despite excellent shape, book was used.

Why this book?:

I'm reading the series.

Comments:

It is more urgent than ever for Arthur and friends to move quickly.  Despite that, this story seemed more mellow than some of the previous books.

Title: Superior Saturday

Author: Garth Nix [Website][Facebook][Twitter]

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Series: The Keys of the Kingdom, Bk 6

ISBN: 9780439700894

Length: 278 pages

Obtained:  Personal hardcover copy ; unsure when I obtained, but despite excellent shape, book was used.

Why this book?:

I'm reading the series.

Comments:

Oh, boy.  Arthur is struggling to remain true to himself - and not be so quick to temper.  I had trouble relating to the hauteur and anger, but I definitely understood Arthur's need to stay himself.

Title: Lord Sunday

Author: Garth Nix [Website][Facebook][Twitter]

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Series: The Keys of the Kingdom, Bk 7

ISBN: 9780439700900

Length: 317 pages

Obtained:  Library Copy

Why this book?:

I was finishing the series.

Comments:

Hmm. I don't want to give anything away, because this was the finale.  And yet, this was the finale, so it was a big deal.  And it had a different feel from the other books in the way it was set up.  Arthur did less exploring and adventures in the world of the House, and more inner exploring and philosophical thinking (not that philosophy wasn't an underlying note in all the books) about who he is, what he's capable of, how the world should work, how things should be, etc.

The ending was sudden.  I can't say I liked it, although things were certainly tied up.  Just, whoa.

Sir Thursday (while briefly addressing Drowned Wednesday)

Title: Drowned Wednesday

Author: Garth Nix [Website][Facebook][Twitter]

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Series: The Keys of the Kingdom, Bk 3

ISBN: 0439700868

Length: 389 pages

Obtained: Personal hardcover copy ; unsure when I obtained, but despite excellent shape, book was used.

Why this book?:

I've been reading the series.

Note:

I read Drowned Wednesday awhile back, but I can't recall enough detail to do any proper commentary on it.  Mainly that Drowned Wednesday's demesne was the Border Seas and that she couldn't stop eating everything.  Oh, and that it had a creepy cliffhanger.  Suffice it to say I enjoyed it enough to want to continue with the series.  The break is because I wanted to post about it before I started the next one and they blurred together.  Obviously, that idea backfired.

Title: Sir Thursday

Author: Garth Nix [Website][Facebook][Twitter]

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Series: The Keys of the Kingdom, Bk 4

ISBN: 0439700876

Length: 344 pages

Obtained:  Personal hardcover copy ; unsure when I obtained, but despite excellent shape, book was used.

Why this book?:

I'm reading the series.

Comments:

I mostly flew through this one.

I'm eager for everything to work out for Arthur, but he sure comes up against quite a few extraordinarily difficult issues.  I hate feeling helpless, so I hate when the characters in the books I read are helpless as well.  Arthur continuously finds himself in seemingly helpless situations.  It's lucky he generally pulls out (with the help of friends and luck), or I would never be able to read these.  But that doesn't make them less scary/icky-feeling while the events are unfolding.

I need to start on Lady Friday soon, because this ended on another cliffhanger.

Grim Tuesday

Title: Grim Tuesday

Author: Garth Nix [Website][Facebook][Twitter]

Publisher: Scholastic

Series: The Keys to the Kingdom, Bk 2

ISBN: 0439436559

Length: 321 Pages

Obtained: Personal copy (ex-library)

Why this book?:

A co-worker kept mentioning the author in relation to his Old Kingdom books. I said I had to finish this one first. But then it was in my head, so I grabbed it at the next opportunity.

Comments: 

Quite some time has passed since I've read the first book in this series, Mister Monday.  I didn't remember all the details but this book quickly filled me in.  But early on in the book I felt very much like jumping ahead to the end I knew had to exist.  I resisted and settled in for the story of how Arthur would gain the 2nd key, 2nd piece if the will, and defeat Grim Tuesday.  I enjoyed they story and Look forward to reading Lady Wednesday's story.

Paperboy and Speak and Speechless

Sometimes I find myself reading books that feel as if they are connected. This was one of those cases.  I read these three books in the opposite order I have them listed below: Speechless, Speak, and Paperboy.

 I felt the need to group them together, because they all relate to young people finding their voice in some way or another, as well as powers of words and what words and expression can mean for us as humans.

Title: Paperboy

Author: Vince Vawter [Website][Facebook][Twitter] aka Vilas Vincent Vawter III

Publisher: Delacorte Press

ISBN: 9780385742443

Length: 223 pages + "Author's Note"

Obtained: ARC ... Maybe from staff lounge?

Why this book?:

I've been clearing out some of my ARCs both for shelf space reasons and to pass on.

Comments:

Told from the writings of an 11yo boy in 1958 Memphis, this story offers the internal thoughts of someone who can't always express himself so well outwardly (due to a stutter), as he goes through some coming if age events while also learning to see and recognize prejudice and bias for what it is on a number of levels.

I heard good things about this book when it first came out and as far as I'm concerned it lived up to the praise.  I really enjoyed it.

According to the author while being a fiction book, much of it was more memoir.  That made what the boy (we do not learn his name until the very end) went through with his stuttering so much more of a learning experience.

One more note: at one point he recites a poem he wrote - it was lovely. I read it through a couple times.  Poetry can be rather hit and miss with me, this was a hit.

Title: Speak

Author: Laurie Halse Anderson [Website][Facebook][Twitter]

Publisher: Speak (Penguin Putnam)

ISBN: 014131088X

Length: 198 pages + "Laurie Halse Anderson speaks about speak..."

Obtained: Used copy from my BIL's cousins

Why this book?:

I was sorting through my books and couldn't resist after just having read Speechless.

Comments:

After an event at a party - she really doesn't want to think about it - Melinda calls the cops and becomes an outcast.  She turns all her pain, hurt, rage internally; she is falling apart, and doesn't know how to handle it.  As she becomes more withdrawn she is mostly silent, causing attention but not understanding from the adults around her.

Title: Speechless

Author: Hannah Harrington [Website][Twitter][Facebook]

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

ISBN: 9780373210527

Length: 263 pages + "Questions for Discussion"

Obtained: ARC from staff lounge at work

Why this book?:

I requested the library purchase it when it first came out because it sounded interesting.  Then I got the ARC, but never got around to reading it.  I'm now cutting back to make room in my new home library.

Comments:

Chelsea is a gossip, but at a party she sees something - and shares without thinking.  One of the parties involved is seriously hurt, so reports to the police, then takes a vow of silence to sort things out.  She goes through the school year as an outcast, but making surprising new friends while dealing with the consequences of her own actions.

The Second Guard

Title: The Second Guard

Author: J. D. Vaughn aka Julia Durango [Website][Twitter][Facebook] and Tracie Vaughn Zimmer [Website][Facebook]
 
Publisher: Disney Hyperion

Series: Second Guard, Bk 1

ISBN: 9781423169093

Length: 421 pages

Obtained: ARC - I'm not positive where from.  Maybe the staff lounge?  Maybe C2E2?

Why this book?:

It sounded interesting, and I'm clearing out for my home library.

Comments:

Tali is to join the Second Guard, formed to prevent war and leave a last remaining land of peace in a world where everywhere else has turned to war.  But not all is as it seems, and Tali, along with friends Zarif, Chey, and others cannot seem to just let it go.  I really liked Tali, her friends, and their bond.  I don't have much else to say, other than I can't wait for book 2.

Will in Scarlet

Title: Will in Scarlet

Author: Matthew Cody [Website][Twitter]

Publisher: Knopf

ISBN: 9780375868955

Length: 253 pages

Obtained: ARC (from staff lounge at work I think)

Why this book?:

I've been clearing out some if my teen and pre-teen ARCs.

Note: The color of the cover image is distorted.  It was more of a light blue background, but my phone camera isn't much good.

Comments: 

I actually thought this was going to be about William Shakespeare, not Robin Hood (obviously I didn't look closely at the cover... "The boy behind the Robin Hood legend" was a bit too obvious for me.).  

Once I was reading it, I kept mentally comparing the cast of characters the the BBC America Robin Hood. So there were differences and similarities with the Much and Will and Rob characters that were interesting to note and wonder about.

I enjoyed the story and this new take on a classic legend.

The Lost Prince (Seaborne, Bk 1)

Title: The Lost Prince (Seaborne, Bk 1)

Author: Matt Myklusch

Publisher: Egmont USA

ISBN: 9781606845264 (Advance Reader Copy)

Obtained: NetGalley

This is the first book I've ever received through NetGalley.

I enjoyed it, especially Dean Seaborne (though the name Dean just doesn't strike me as very pirate ... or spy).  He was resourceful and didn't give up on life when he very easily could have.  Also, he was relatively honorable and loyal, considering his "profession".

I look forward to seeing more of his adventures.  But while I wait for the bk 2 in the Seaborne series to come out, I think I may try Matt Myklusch's Jack Blank series.  It sounds interesting, with a common orphan theme.

The Cure for Dreaming + Giveaway

Title: The Cure for Dreaming

Author: Cat Winters [Website][Twitter][Facebook]

Publisher: Amulet

ISBN: 9781419712166

Length: officially 368 pages OR my copy 342 p. + "When and Where U.S. Women Gained Full Suffrage" + "Recommended Reading"

Obtained: ARC snagged at ALAAC14

Why this book?:

It looked interesting, and after briefly skimming the back cover, sounded intriguing.

Comments:

If I had really understood what this book was I probably wouldn't have read it.  That would have been a shame...

I am so profoundly relieved and grateful that women before me fought to make life better for the future generations.  As I read I tried to imagine what my life would be like when and where Olivia's story took place (1900 Portland, Oregon).  What I would be like.  It's unfathomable and terrifying.

So even while I'd get so emotionally involved as I read this that my hands would be shaking or I'd be nauseous, I remained enthralled.  I wanted to know how things came out for Olivia, a 17-year-old budding suffragette.

On her birthday (Halloween) she attends a show with her friends.  There is a new, young hypnotist in town (Henri).  In the course of his show he asks for volunteers.  Olivia is the first of them.  This is the first time Henri hypnotizes Olivia, but it won't be the last.  Olivia's father has word that she's been supporting a suffragette movement.  He has the idea that she can be hypnotized into changing her ways.  Thus begins a mesmerizing tale of a young girl's fight to discover her voice.

Interspersed throughout the book are pictures and quotes from the time, reminding the reader that the underlying history was all too real.  It seems Cat Winters has already written another historical YA book, In the Shadow of Blackbirds, that I'd definitely be interested in reading.

Giveaway!

If you'd like to try this book (due to published this October), please enter using the form below. ( I seem to be having technical details, so if you can't get the form to work or don't see it, leave your email address in the comments.)  Open internationally.  The winning entrant 2 days (48 hours) from contact to respond back with a mailing address. Non-response will result in a new winner.

Winner: Kimberly!

The Accidental Keyhand

Title: The Accidental Keyhand

Author: Jen Swann Downey [Website][Twitter][Facebook]

Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

Series: Ninja Librarians, Bk 1

ISBN: 9781402287701

Length: 358 pages + "Master Phillipus Aureolus Theophrastus Bombastus Von Hohenheim's Guide to Petrarch's Library"

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book?: Um, ninja librarians? Of course I wanted to read it!

Comments:

I loved the idea of this going in. The very beginning introduction went fine.  But then things spun out of control.  If I'm being honest, I had trouble following the story for a bit (my own fault I'm sure).  

Anyway, about 2/5 of the way through things are explained a little more, and I finally started getting what was going on.  That was when I was able to begin really enjoying the story.

Dorrie and her (Star Wars obsessed) brother have been transported through time and space to a special hub of Lybrarians who protect the written word and spread of ideas from censorship throughout history.  

The Lybrarians decide to let them stay until a major conference while they determine what to do about these unusual circumstances.  But Dorrie and Marcus can't seem to keep out of trouble along the way.

Once I got into the story and setting, I found this to be a fun book. I enjoyed watching Dorrie and her brother during their adventures and look forward to reading more about them in the second book, Sword in the Stacks.

Note:

This is the first post I have done entirely on my phone, so I ask that you forgive any typos or formatting issues.

Dust AND Tribes

Title: Dust

Author: Arthur Slade [Website][Website Bio 2][Facebook][Twitter]

Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books

ISBN: 0385730047

Length: 183 pages

Obtained: Libray copy

Why this book?:

I searched Amazon for Books by Canadian authors and Arthur Slade's books came up.  This is one that my library has.

Comments:

I didn't know what to expect of this book.  It is set in the Depression-era, when drought is overtaking the land and 5 cents is a big deal.  Robert's little brother Matthew goes missing.  At first his parents are devastated, but someone new comes to town and suddenly its seems most of the adults in town are not themselves.  Robert knows something isn't right, but what can one 11 year old boy do?

This story had a very mystical sort of twist that I did not expect.  And the title means so much more than I first realized.  I did enjoy the story - I certainly breezed through it - but it was very strange.

In some ways it was difficult to wrap my head around.

Title: Tribes

Author: Arthur Slade [Website][Website Bio 2][Facebook][Twitter]

Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books

ISBN: 0385730039

Length: 134 pages

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book?:

For the same reason as Dust.  I found it for the 7th annual Canadian Book Challenge.

Comments:

I read this while away at the ALA annual conference.  I finished it on the plane home.  It was short and bizarre.  I did know going in that the main character (Percy) considered the various cliques to be "tribes."  But I did not realize Percy's character would be so... different.  And perhaps I should have guessed the end sooner, bu I didn't.

The Clockwork Three

Title: The Clockwork Three

Author: Matthew J. Kirby [Website][Twitter]

Publisher: Scholastic Press

ISBN: 9780545203395

Length: 386 pages

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book?:

I saw it on Wowbrary and it looked interesting.

Comments:

The author says this isn't a historical fiction, but by my way of thinking it really is.  You can tell it is set in a past time based on a variety of factors including the setting, circumstances, laws, etc.  It's not based on true events, but it is inspired by them...

Anyway, beyond that.  The story tells of three children who come from tough situations.They meet and find that 1) the world isn't such a lonely place as they thought and 2) they can help each other to do what needs doing/get where they want to go.

Overall I found the book a cute and interesting diversion.

Trailer:

 

Matthew J. Kirby on The Clockwork Three: