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

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

Steampunk is on the rise, or shall we say, gathering steam? This recent novel by Westerfeld is a perfect example of the kind of possibilities open to this new fantasy genre, and I, for one, am very excited at the prospects before us. Personally, I’m growing a bit tired of wizards, dragons, fairies/elves and vampires, as it seems that almost all of the recent fantasy novels fall into one of those four categories, the only exception being the novels written by Garth Nix, Kate Constable, Elizabeth Knox, or Kristen Cashore.

Steampunk, and its sister Madcap (which is more like Victorian fantasy/sci-fi in the same way that Steampunk is Industrial and Scientific Revolution fantasy/sci fi) are widespread enough at this point, as a fantasy genre that there are several people picking up their brushes, instruments, tools, and pens to create Steampunk art in their own artistic field.

For the young adult literature discipline, Leviathan is likely to be an early industry standard for others to follow much like Lord of the Rings is for elf/dwarf fantasy, Interview with the Vampire is for vampire mythology (not including of course Dracula), and Pern is for dragons—yes, it’s that good.

What makes Westerfeld such a talented writer in the fantasy genre is that he’s not solely reliant on the fast-paced action and fantasy tropes that so many in this genre have a tendency to fall into. He integrates all of the elements that make up a good story—social commentary regarding politics, nationalism, gender equality, and the general social unrest caused by scientific advancement, specifically as it pertains to biogenetics and cloning, as well as three-dimensional characters and an overall depth to the story because of the many layers of internal and external conflict encountered by the characters. Even as an alternate version of the history, many of the same elements that caused World War I are explored throughout the text.

My only criticism is that I wish it were a self-contained one off rather than a series, but I suppose I may change my tune when I see the second book. I recommend this to all readers 12+.

Critique

Kelly’s debut novel is a wonderful exposé on Southern society life at the turn of the 20th century, rife with subtexts and references to post-slavery issues and mindsets, the rise of modern machinery like the car and telephone, and the clear and unbalanced gender lines that existed and the struggle of one girl to overcome those.

In particular, this is an important novel for those looking into pursuing sciences, especially because of the constant references and education around naturalism, its rise into society, the opposition it received from schools and a predominantly Christian culture, and the important role it played in the emergence of a new humanity in over the 20th century.

Calpurnia is a delight to follow as she begins to notice the world around her. In her own evolution, she begins in the larval stage and moves through pupae, cocoon, and eventually becomes a bright and beautiful butterfly (or moth as is a symbolic reference in the book). Kelly is witty and clever in her treatment of Calpurnia’s growth as a person, a scientist, and a courageous and curious mind. She exhibits a vast range of human emotion, showing empathy, sadness, self-sacrifice and exuberant joy, clearly a believable and lovable character.

Kelly also has deftly woven passages from Darwin’s Origin of Species, cunningly breaking the 4th wall for the reader in an effort to compare the evolution of Calpurnia and her world to that of Darwin’s scientific expositions.

For those looking for an excellent read that contains layers of depth that can be turned to several times before fully comprehending everything, then this is the perfect novel. I recommend it to all readers 10+.

Critique

Lawrence has composed a beautifully written book that aptly creates two different worlds. The first, the ‘real’ world is a heart-wrenching account of children who are suffering from Polio, but are able to be brightened because one girl decides to be brave enough to show up every Saturday and narrate an ongoing story. The second world is the frame story, the fantasy tale that Laurie creates for the kids in the Polio ward, which feels equally as tangible as the first.

It soon becomes clear that the two worlds are merging, and each child represents a character in the story. Laurie doesn’t always necessarily intend for it to play out that way, but through the merging of the worlds, it becomes clear to the kids that the story must be finished. Lawrence has created a treasure where both stories keep the reader interested and informed at the same time, rooting for the heroes to overcome the giant, and for the kids to overcome Polio. I wouldn’t be surprised if this novel is in the clear running for the Newbery. I recommend it to all readers 8+.

Critique

First off, I know one ought not to judge a book by the cover, but how could I not be interested in a book called Going Bovine with a standing cow holding a garden gnome? Also, I would say that the story is not entirely what I expected it to be, but considering the description, a story like this could be just about anything. Seriously though, punk rock angel with pink wings, blobby fire demon things that destroy stuff, and a bad guy that takes the form of a knight with a space helmet. How can you not be surprised every few pages?

All that said, it was far more like an epic story such as The Odyssey or The Aeneid than I would have thought it to be. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if Bray didn’t attempt to mirror something of epic legend through each of the scenarios throughout book. It does start out a bit slow, but once you get past the first 150 pages or so, it really picks up. Cameron is also not necessarily the character you would root for because of his lethargic outlook on life, but since he narrates it, you grow to love his sardonic inner dialogue. I actually laughed out loud a few times. I recommend this book to lovers of eccentric fantasies with a heavy helping of satire.

Critique

To be honest, this book was so much better than I was initially expecting it to be. I guess that I shouldn’t be surprised considering that it won so many awards, including the esteemed Carnegie Medal. Not to be redundant, but I have to reiterate how amazing this book was. Unfortunately for readers everywhere Dowd has passed away and the book has been published posthumously.

As for the details, Dowd’s description of Northern Ireland during this tumultuous time is astounding. I truly felt the tension that Fergus felt and was able to get a clearer glimpse into the complicated world of Northern Ireland at the time. Fergus is an honest and compelling character who you can’t help but root for as he directs his life through the myriad of issues that arise with his family, his country, his blossoming love life, and the girl he’s found in the bog.

Having been to Ireland a few times myself, I believe that Dowd’s account of the area is accurate in its culture and people. Also, it’s refreshing to see a story told about this time period and area. I believe that readers need more historical fiction, especially regarding events throughout our history that have largely gone untold. The IRA and the fight for freedom from the British government, which is still an issue to this day, is something we rarely get a glimpse into.

I recommend this to all readers 15+.

Critique

There are parts from time to time that are a little slow, unnecessary or poorly timed descriptions of the landscape and setting throughout the novel, but all in all it was a fantastic read. There are elements of what seem to be realistic danger, and Conor, even though the hero, definitely seems as though he may not make it out of many of the scrapes he gets himself into, including all of the flying inventions he creates. The ending is almost a little too happy/sappy, but it’s ultimately what one is hoping for deep down inside, so that the hero can win and everyone lives happily ever after. 

Some of the elements that make the story original are Colfer’s recreation of the history of the Saltees, how they were populated, and what makes them wealthy. In reality, the Saltee Islands do exist, and are owned by a family, but no one really lives there, and there are no diamond mines. There is, however, a wonderful culture of birds and seals that live throughout the islands. Also, the integration of the realistic struggle for power and Conor’s desire to escape are accompanied well with the fantasy/science fiction aspects that revolve Conor’s dreams of flight, and his capabilities as a scientific genius to make them possible. Not only does he create a personal flying machine that can take him back and forth from the islands, but he creates the first plane with angled propellers as well.

I don’t know of any books to be released to follow this in a series, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there were, knowing Colfer. I recommend this text to readers 9+, skewing more toward boys.

Critique

Oppel does such a great job of creating a continuous strain of adventure novels that hearken back to the days of sky and sea exploration and bring out the romance that those elements still evoke in a culture that has long passed that era. His world is close enough to our own in history, culture, and natural law that this entire series feels kindred to the works of Robert Louis Stevenson or Jules Vern. 

As the books have progressed, space was the next logical step in Cruse’s adventures, and each story gets more complicated and conveys more depth than the last as Cruse and his confidants get older. This story has some similar elements that our own modern cultures deal with, like military power over private endeavors, agenda-bent terrorists who will stop at nothing to reach their goal, and blossoming, forbidden love between two people from different social classes.

The other books in this series so far are Airborn (book 1), and Skybreaker (book 2).

Critique

This was surprisingly well done. I’m not sure what I was initially expecting, but the story far exceeded my expectations. The characters are interesting, and the graphic-novel style way of presenting the story is perfect for how it unfolds and the subject matter being used to move along the plot. Typically, I steer clear of saying things like, “this is the first of its kind” because that gets thrown around a lot as a marketing term. However, this is something of a first, especially as an award winner, and Selznick does a wonderful job of interlacing the pictures with the words in order to tell a complete story. 

Even beyond that though, the story itself is wonderful, despite the method through which it’s told. The characters are all fascinating and mysterious in their own way, and everyone has secrets. Not to mention that each character’s personality and foibles adds to the depth of the narrative. I recommend this to all readers, but it will come alive especially well for readers 8-12.