Reader: Lian S.
Age: 18
Title: Egg & Spoon
Author: Gregory Maguire
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Pub Date: 09/09/14
Galley: Yes
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: My immediate thought about Egg & Spoon was that the narrator is brilliant. He's rather snarky, and even though he's technically a minor character in the story itself, you get to know him as a reader because his voice is so incredibly strong. It's almost like poetry, in a way, because he describes events and settings in ways that I had never pictured before.
The story itself is intriguing, too. It was simply different from all the books I've read before. This is partly because I'm not all that familiar with the culture the story is set in, but it's also because a lot of separate ideas are combined to create something unique.
Memorable or Forgettable: It's been weeks since I read it and I still have really vivid images of parts of the book. That's the case for a lot of books, but these images are particularly unique: the floating pavilions, dolls lined up like ducks, Cat looking out of the train at the beginning of the book. There was this feeling of love and of all sides of a story that I remember in a really positive way.
Cover: Finally, a legitimately good cover! I really like covers that have actual art, and this is one of them. Everything about it fits the book. The actual picture sort of tells the story itself, if you look first at the train on the bottom and then move your eyes up to the very top. The oval that could be egg, spoon, or both also fits the feeling of the book really well. This is one of those rare covers that actually works quite well. I do think a large part of that is because it's art, instead of, say, a picture of a pretty girl.
Age Range: Under 12 through 18 and up
Quality: 4Q Better than most
Popularity: 5P Everyone wants to read it
tags: fantasy / Russian folklore / ya lit
Reader: Lian S.
Age: 18
Title: A Creature of Moonlight
Author: Rebecca Hahn
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Pub Date: 05/06/14
Galley: Yes
Top 25: Yes
Convince us to read the book: In the weeks since I read A Creature of Moonlight, it keeps returning to my mind. In part I was struck by the unique world: the moving trees, the kind queen, a calculating lord. Above all, though, it was Marni's character that gave me a strong sense of inspiration.
A lot of female protagonists in books I've read struggle with their self-worth. This is certainly valid in a society where women are expected to be beautiful and kind. However, there is something brilliant about a character who doesn't seem to have that struggle. Throughout the story, Marni has a hold on who she is. She does not need to change to fit the world around her.
I wish there were more books like this because it does not portray growing up as a struggle you must wade through in order to become an adult. Rather, I got the impression that Marni has a happy ending because of the strength in her own heart.
Memorable or Forgettable: The other aspect of the book that stuck out to me was the imagery. After the first page I had latched onto this story because I could tell that it was different. The magic and the world as a whole are what really make this book stand apart in my mind. I don't see myself forgetting the details of this story any time soon.
Cover: The cover is beautiful. I really like that it is not a cliché pretty girl cover. I also love the way it is simple but still interesting-- the dragon in front of the moon, the decorations around the letters. I certainly would not want this cover to be changed.
Age Range: Under 12 through 18 and up
Quality: 5Q Hard to imagine a better book
Popularity: 4P Broad general teen appeal
Additional Comments: I wish the whole world would read this book.
Annotation: Hahn's story walked right out of the pages and into my life. This book is fierce, beautiful, and tender, and it is written with astounding skill.
tags: fantasy / high fantasy / dragons / ya lit
Reader: Lian S.
Age: 17
Title: Into the Dark: The Shadow Prince
Author: Bree Despain
Publisher: Egmont USA
Pub Date: 03/11/14
Galley: Yes
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: I initially picked up Into the Dark because of the bizarre summary on the back of the book. The phrase that stuck out to me in particular was "Our heroes-- destined for each other-- know nothing of the stakes their fated courtship entails." It made me think that the book would be utterly ridiculous and overly full with characters acting not because of how they think but because of what they are fated to do.
Because of this, I was pleasantly surprised when I started to read. I found that the characters are relatable, and that they are driven by their own thoughts and emotions, not by the plot. It doesn't quite fit the genres I usually read; romance doesn't generally appeal to me in books. However, the romance in Into the Dark, while being completely obvious from the start, sort of snuck up on me in its own way. I found that I genuinely like the dynamic between Daphne and Haden because it felt so real.
I often don't like modern cultural references in novels because it feels like they make the book incomprehensible to anyone reading it ten years from now. However, this book seemed to create a balance: it talked about songs that are entirely modern but that will last. For instance, a portion of a chapter focuses on the song "I Will Follow You Into The Dark" by Death Cab for Cutie. I know that song, and most people I know know that song. Because of this, we can relate to it and add meaning to the book.
In short, Into the Dark was far better than I expected, and a pleasure to read.
Memorable or Forgettable: I read this book about a month ago, and though I have read several books since, I can still talk about it freely. This is because Into the Dark stuck out in my head. There are a lot of images from the book that come to mind like people's conversations and the way I pictured various settings.
It was one of those books that somehow made me pay attention when I read. Because of this, my memories of scenes in the book feel rather like memories of my own.
Cover:
The cover doesn't perfectly reflect the contents, in my opinion, but it does fit with the slightly ridiculous summary on the back of the book. I want to point out that that summary is what made me read Into the Dark in the first place. Personally, I think both the cover and the summary do their jobs well.
Age Range: Under 12 through 17
Quality: 4Q Better than most
Popularity: 4P Broad general teen appeal
Additional Comments: I am still not entirely sure whether Into the Dark is the title of the book, or of the series. There are two titles here, and it bothers me that I can't figure out which is which.
tags: coming of age / dystopian romance / Into the Dark / ya lit
Reader: Lian S.
Age: 17
Title: Smoke
Author: Ellen Hopkins
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Pub Date: 09/10/13
Galley: No
Top 25: Yes
Convince us to read the book: To me, most Ellen Hopkins books are comparable to a tragic Greek hero: they are brilliant with a single fatal flaw. Smoke was no different. The writing was compelling and I had a hard time putting the book down. The two protagonists felt like real people to me. However, I got stuck on a single repeating theme: both troubled girls needed a male hero to sweep in and heal them. The two males, Angel and Gavin, felt like the same person to me. Their characters were different, certainly, but both were deeply in love with the girl they desired, and both were uncannily kind. I dislike this theme because it gives the impression that a girl can't pull herself back together through her own strength, or by leaning on a friend -- no, she needs to fall in love with a man. That said, the poetic writing truly swept me away.
Memorable or Forgettable: Some of Ellen Hopkins' books blur together in my mind, but Smoke stuck out. That was partially due to the fatal flaw mentioned above, but partly because of how deeply I connected with the two protagonists, particularly Pattyn. Her voice was very strong. I felt like I knew her.
Cover: Burned had the kind of cover, I would stare at when I wasn't allowed to read. It was, simply put, beautiful-- almost as gorgeous as Hopkins' words.
Age Range: 14 through 18 and up
Quality: 4Q Better than most
Popularity: 4P Broad general teen appeal
Annotation: In a simultaneously heartwarming and chilling story of recovery, Hopkins uses words to create a work of art.
tags: poetry / realistic fiction / contemporary / sociology / abuse / ya lit
Reader: Lian S.
Age: 17
Title: The Enchanter Heir
Author: Cinda Williams Chima
Publisher: Hyperion
Pub Date: 10/01/13
Galley: Yes
Top 25: Yes
Convince us to read the book: I knew I would like this book before I turned to the first page, because I love the series, but Enchanter Heir exceeded my expectations. It manages to add completely new elements to the world while remaining a firm part of the Heir series. I do not exaggerate when I say that I could not put it down. Characters I had never seen before suddenly had a grip on my heart. I would recommend this book to anyone, though I suggest they begin with the Warrior Heir.
Memorable or Forgettable: The two main characters had these vivid personalities that kept coming to mind after I finished the book. They both love music, and every time I played music after finishing Enchanter Heir, one of the protagonists would come to mind.
Cover: I picked up the book because I liked the author, but the cover drew me, too. I liked that it had a dagger for an enchanter, which does indeed reflect the contents perfectly.
Age Range: 12 through 18 and up
Quality: 5Q Hard to imagine a better book
Popularity: 4P Broad general teen appeal
Annotation: Enchanter Heir smoothly combines real-world city life and a fantastical world. The small details of the characters and setting combine to build a breathtaking world.
tags: fantasy / magic / ya lit
