Summer has officially begun, and there are enough good books this year for reading at the beach or under a tree to please the most voracious reader.
Although I was only mildly impressed by the first book in the ” Fablehaven ” series by Brandon Mull, I loved the second and third books; Fablehaven: Rise of the Evening Star and Fablehaven: Grip of the Shadow Plague . I guess what entices me more about these later two books is the fact that the brother and sister (Seth and Kendra) are more developed as characters and seem more realistic and interesting.
Without giving too much away about the story, Seth and Kendra are back at Fablehaven with their grandparents and their friends, being hunted by more than just angry, slighted magical creatures. There are more mysteries to solve and new evil creatures unleashed to test and try the resolve of everyone who fights for good.
Kendra and Seth discover that although their individual powers are important to the defeat of the forces that stand against them, they ultimately need the help of each other and the wisdom and experience of the adults that care about them to triumph over the forces of evil. As a whole, I suggest that these recent ” Fablehaven” books stand proudly next to the ” Harry Potter ” series as exciting, gripping fantasy novels that I highly recommend for teens and adults.
On a different note, I found a fabulous realistic fiction novel recently that has become one of my new favorite reads. A Solitary Blue by Cynthia Voight was such a stark, emotional read that it left me thinking about the story for days. In this beautifully written book, a young second grader, Jeff, comes home from school one day to find his mother has left him and his father. As confused as a young child would be, Jeff decides that it is his job to be as good as he can so that he won’t be a burden to his distant, quiet father whom he calls “the Professor.”
As the story unfolds, the Professor and Jeff must find their way through Jeff’s childhood and adolescence to carve a new healing relationship despite the empty, lonely pit left in both of their lives by Jeff’s mother. When I read this book, I became so involved in Jeff’s life and (at times) painfully connected to Jeff that I flew through the narrative hoping that Jeff would be okay in the end. I recommend this book as a brilliant, thoughtful read for teens and adults.]]
The Host by Stephenie Meyer. If you loved Twilight , New Moon , and Eclipse , you may find The Host an interesting progression in the writing style of Stephenie Meyer. Although the first few chapters are slightly tedious, the author outdoes herself as she ventures away from vampires, into a world of science fiction that is even more intriguing.
Hoping to “fix” the human race and establish a peaceful world, alien “souls” invade earth and take over the bodies and minds of humans. A particularly famous and clever soul, Wanderer, is tasked with living in the reconstructed body of a human who has the memories that could enable the aliens to conquer the group of humans who have eluded the invasion and are now called “The Resistance.”
Thus ensues the battle that rages inside Melanie (the human) and Wanderer (the alien soul) over who will keep possession of Melanie’s body. For both of the women, the stakes are high, but for completely different reasons. I found The Host to be a steady, interesting story about agency, perspective, friendship, and love. I loved the main character, Wanda/Wanderer, as much as I have ever loved a character. She is strong, intelligent, thoughtful, and brave in all the ways where Meyer’s Bella is weak, foolish, emotional, and reckless. This is an amazing read that I recommend for teens and adults.
In the retelling of the classic fairy tale “Cinderella,” author Barbara Ensor takes this well-known story and gives it depth as she takes readers into the mind and will mind of Cinderella through letters written to her deceased angel mother. Especially clever are the thoughts of Cinderella as she meets Prince Charming and wonders if she has truly fallen in love. Cinderella (as if you didn’t already know the story) by Barbara Ensor is a fun, quick read about a sweet, strong young woman who loves her mother, pities her father, and hopes for a life where dreams really do come true. I recommend this book for teens; a great find for reluctant readers.
Another well-known retold fairy tale author, Gail Carson Levine, steps out of her normal mode ( Ella Enchanted , Beauty , Fairest ), when she brings us Ever . In this book, the hero/god Olus is fascinated by humans and tries his hand at sheepherding so that he can get closer to humans and study them. He is especially taken by a fair-maiden, Kezi, who is not only beautiful, but brave as well.
The unfortunate reality for the two young lovers is that in a month’s time from meeting Kezi is fated to become a human sacrifice to the god Admat, to fulfill an oath her father made at her mother’s deathbed. Ever is a fun story about love, courage, and the good fortune of having an immortal being as your boyfriend when you are about to be sacrificed. I recommend this book to lovers of mythology, fairy tales, and anyone who likes a classic love story with a good ending.
Lastly, I recommend Alcatraz versus the Evil Librarian by Brandon Sanderson as a great lazy summer day read. This book, written for young teens, begins as inadvertently, Alcatraz destroys the kitchen of a famous chef – who also happens to be his favorite foster mother. Before the dust completely settles, Alcatraz meets a crazy old man who claims to be his long-lost grandfather, comes face to face with the barrel of a gun intended to eliminate him, and takes part in a fast and furious, wild car chase that launches him into a world that he doesn’t even begin to believe in, and finds out that his real parents may not be the people he once believed.
Filled with magic gadgets, strange, interesting characters, close calls, unbelievable peril, and (you guessed it) evil librarians, this novel is one that is sure to keep your attention right up to the last page. But beware! After reading this novel, you may never again see the library as the same serene quiet place you’ve always known and loved. I recommend this book to teens, especially boys.
