Critique

As the sequel to Eon, it’s interesting that the two books are not very like each other. Eon is far more about the politics of the court, and Eona’s struggle with her new found power. Eona is really more of a long, straightforward story about the war the main characters suddenly find themselves thrust into. Little of it involves the fantasy and power of the dragons, and I certainly would have loved to see more, but, all in all, the narrative kept me interested from beginning to end.

Critique

Although I love this series and what Kinney has done with his unique voice in the genre of graphic novels, I was disappointed in this book. I suppose, at some level, you can only rewrite the same type of story so many times before it starts to become a little tired. The only major change with this book in comparison to its predecessors is that Greg is a little older, and his friend Rowley isn’t around. It’s not bad, by any means, and I would definitely recommend it to those who love this series, it’s not as good as the earlier books.

The other books in this series are Diary of a Wimpy Kid (book 1), Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (book 2), Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw (book 3), and Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days (book 4).

Critique

At first I didn’t know what to think about this book. I was teetering a bit at the beginning, and it felt difficult to follow from time to time. However, as the book continued to unveil, I stumbled less and less and was able to lose myself in the story. Some of the confusion may have stemmed from my lack of knowledge about the Imperial China, but I do feel as though the text could have used a bit more scenery description so that the full breadth of the environment could be taken in. Also, I don’t typically recommend drawings in books, but it would have been incredibly illuminating to see depictions of the various fighting forms being used in order to imagine the fight scenes.

All in all, though, it’s an engaging, original fantasy that’s part historical China and part something of its own entirely. Eon is a believable character, so much so, in fact, that often I found it annoying that she was making choices natural to her personality that were shaping her future in detrimental ways. No criticism of Goodman’s work, certainly. Sometimes characters are like that, and as much as we want them to be different for their own good, they’ll continue making ridiculous choices that mire them further into the very mess form which they’re struggling to break free. I recommend this text to readers 12+.

The other book in this series is Eona.

Critique

Laurence Yep is known for his beautiful exposés on Chinese history as it intersects with American history. His two books that have previously won the Newbery Honor awards, Dragonwings and Dragon’s Gate, bring to life the under-explored story of the men who came to America from China to work on the railroad. They brought with them the hope and promise of a better life only to be met by hardship and disillusionment, but had the strength and perseverance to see it through.

Dragons of Silk is a perfect addition to this series and companion to the previous books because it provides a new perspective on Chinese history and culture as it intersects with American history and culture through a different medium—silk—but also through a different voice—women. The plot and conflict is palpable and multifaceted. Yep has brought his reader into the lives of the characters and done a masterful job creating connection and empathy with their struggles and triumphs.

It seems no accident that Yep has chosen silk as the object of the plot and a main symbolic theme throughout the writing. One can feel the connection, the threads that bind chapter to chapter, person to person, and generation to generation as his story is weaved throughout its 75-year span. I recommend this to all readers 10+ as it will connect with both children and adults.

Critique

These are fast-paced can’t put it down until your finished kind of books, and this edition to the series is no exception. However, I find myself wanting a lot more from them and the world that Scott is creating.

Don’t get me wrong, I really do love these books, but I have a lot of general qualms with them. I want more magic, and I want to know how the magic is being created. When we all were transported to Hogwarts, there was an explanation of how the magic worked throughout the world, which had very particular rules about what one can do when and how long it takes to acquire that knowledge.

So, ok, I know that Scott is not trying to recreate the Potter world, but it would be nice to know what rules the magic of this world operates from. The best explanation that we get at any point from either of the twins is, “I don’t know, somehow you just know how to do it.” I think this is a travesty and is missing out on a crucial element of drawing us into the story. How are they developing these abilities? How do they feel as they’re creating the magic?

Every once in a while we get a peek into the whole thing, but it’s not nearly often enough. Even the other immortals have cool spells that I’d like to get a little more depth on. Most of the time, they simply say, a shaman taught me this, or I learned this from Circe. You learned what from Circe? Is it a spell that you cast? How are you creating the magic?

Anyway, past all that, it’s a fun read and, in my opinion, more engaging than the first two, but not as good as the third. Josh and Sophie have generally become less whiney and are starting to jump into this whole being special and having magical abilities thing. They seem more willing to tackle the adventure set before them. I like the thickening plot between what Dee is doing and how it relates to all the elemental swords. However, I really do get tired of Josh waffling between sides. It adds some layers of conflict to the story, but I think Josh’s reasoning is pretty weak and somewhat unbelievable. He should either stand in his convictions one way or the other.

Critique

I could not have imagined that the sequel to such an engaging book could actually be better than the first. Alek and Deryn are just the type of characters that belong in a story of war, espionage and international intrigue and politics. The setting is perfect, the characters are believable and fun, and the story is almost impossible to put down. Westerfeld has accomplished the perfect balance between telling a great, compelling story with lots of action and danger with character and plot development. Hats off!

Critique

I was thoroughly excited to read this book, just based off of the name and the cover, and although, I would generally not recommend judging a book by its cover, this book proved to be wonderful. The premise is already charming, that there would be need for a governess to oversee children who happen to be raised by wolves. Beyond that, it’s every bit fun that you would expect.

The children adapt and learn quickly, but Wood makes them consistent to their wolfly roots, throwing in squirrel chases and conversations with housedogs. They seem like believable characters, as believable as children raised by wolves can be, I suppose, and all of the other main characters in the story are just as ridiculous but lovable, as any good historical satire of Victorian society would be.

Wood’s writing style reminds me of the dry wit of Roald Dahl, and it’s about time that we had books in that style again. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series as it comes out, and I recommend this to readers 9+, focusing more on 9-12.

Critique

Of the three books so far in the series, this is the one that I have enjoyed the most. The previous two largely take place in the dismal underground worlds controlled by the Styx, but Freefall is a subterranean area completely untouched by these evil humans. Thus, the general mood from the characters feels lighter, and the spirit of adventure is stronger.

(Spoiler alert!) My favorite part, though would have to be once they get to the very center in which is contained a second sun. I couldn’t quite grasp what that would look like as described in the ancient maps that Dr. Burrows references throughout the first and second books, but it makes a lot more sense as the authors describe it. It literally is a sun that formed inside of the earth, and, as such, there is another, smaller world there that is similar to the one we inhabit on the surface.

I didn’t think that anyone could recreate a center of the world fantasy with any originality since Vern’s pretty much covers it, but I think Williams and Gordon have done an excellent job of reopening our imaginations to what may lie beneath our feet. I recommend this fun, entertaining read to readers 12+.

The other books in this series so far are Tunnels (book 1), Deeper (book 2), and Closer (book 4) which has not yet been released.

Critique

A Nest for Celeste is really more a book geared toward kids at the elementary school level, but the reason I’m reviewing it here is because I’m always encouraged when I see stories that mix mediums or continue to push the boundaries of how we define a story. Such is the case here with the blend of the narration with the splendid charcoal images. The two elements mixed together brings it somewhere between graphic novel, illustrated children’s book, and standard novel. The illustrations and the placement of text augments the experience of the story, and thus the reader feels closer to the characters and the elements taking place throughout.

Secondarily, there is some social commentary interspersed about the treatment of animals and nature and our responsibility to see to the preservation of life and the beauty around us. Cole takes special care to make reference to birds throughout the book that are now extinct, and were once plentiful throughout that region of the US not more than 100 years ago. I recommend this to readers looking for a fun, quick story about a cute little mouse who has some pretty amazing adventures.

This is one of those books that I have the opportunity to read every now and again that I really cherish. My favorite books in the young adult genre are those that delve into the difficult, real-life experiences of teens placed into impossible circumstances. I also love learning about these other cultures and the truth behind what has been happening around the world. It’s unfortunate that all too often here in America, we don’t care enough about the world outside of our own country to pay it much mind. The entire story is happening during my lifetime, and I had no idea that there was such strong oppression in Laos until after reading this book.

As for the text itself, Manivong narrates the story in a way that creates an excellent balance between the plot and characters and the description of the world. I could have used a bit more, actually, of the description of the awful circumstances in which our main characters have found themselves. Overall, it’s a compelling story with beautiful narration and an educational journey that is good for American audiences. I recommend it to readers 12+.