The Unwanteds

Title: The Unwanteds
Author: Lisa McMann
Level: 8-12
Location: J McMann L.

The Kirkus Reviews blurb on the cover of The Unwanteds is,” The Hunger Games meets Harry Potter.” I would say it’s mostly Harry Potter as the leader of the country creates a dystopian world, but outside of their country the rest of the world is still functioning the same as always. In Quill thirteen year olds attend the annual Purge where the high priest Justine classifies them as wanteds, who attend university, necessaries who become the laborers, or unwanteds, who are shackled and put on a waiting bus for the ride to their deaths. The unwanteds are shocked when upon reaching the Death Farm and being turned over to the eliminators the entire area changes. They are welcomed to Artime by Mr. Today, an amazing wizard, who tells them they were unwanted because they are creative and imaginative which someone reported to the government when they displayed it. The government finds creative thinkers to be a weakness. In Artime the unwanteds have a chance to nurture and develop their creative skills as they also learn to fight with magic. They all know if they are ever discovered Quill will do it’s best to kill them so they can never contact their families. But what if you had a twin who made it through the Purge and was still in Quill? What would you do?

I thought The Unwanteds was a thoroughly imaginative story with characters that grew as the story progressed. I couldn’t help but feel for the teens as they tried to get past the betrayals that brought them to Artime and those that occur later. The family relationships will make you wince and silently cheer. Mr. Today was superb. He is the kind of teacher and leader we would all like to have in our lives. The magic is amazing.

Bottom Line: The Unwanteds has more magic than you can wave a wand at. You may wish you could perform some of the fantastic imaginative spells. Mr. Today is perfect as the wizard who gently leads the thirteen year olds on their journey of learning their creative crafts and reconciling their feelings for the families who let them go so easily. Join the world of Artime with the teens who thought they were going to their death and instead found a creative paradise. The Unwanteds will keep you enchanted.

The Secret of Zoom

Title: The Secret of Zoom
Author: Lynne Jonell
Reading Level: Juvenile
Location: J Jonell J.

Christina Adnoid has lived a sheltered life because her father has felt the need to protect his little girl since her mother died in a laboratory explosion. Christina is lonely and becoming restless when she meets Taft, a "Happy Orphan", from the Loompski Orphanage through the fence that keeps her safe from the rest of the world. Suddenly she is thrust into an adventure which involves the magical properties of zoomstone, zoom for short, and where she has to make difficult decisions in the midst of terrible danger. If she doesn't succeed, she will lose everything and everyone she loves to the threat.

The Bottom Line: This is an imaginative and exciting tale filled with action and fantastic events. Read it if you love adventure and fantasy.

The City of Ember

Title: The City of Ember (unabridged audio recording)
Author: Jeanne DuPrau, read by Wendy Dillon
Reading Level: Young Adult
Location: CDS YA Duprau J.

"There is nowhere but here" the children are taught in the city that has no sky, stars, or moon. The sunshine comes from floodlights that blast during 12 hours of the day. At the age of twelve, Lina and Doon have completed their schooling and are assigned the jobs they will have for the rest of their lives, Lina as a messenger (who is paid 20 cents to run across the city to deliver spoken messages for individuals) and Doon is a pipeworker, spending all day below ground in a massive maze of tunnels and secret doors.

The decaying city is starting to have problems maintaining electricity and is running low on a limited supply of food, lightbulbs, and other necessities that the mysterious "builders" have left them. For 250 years, the people of Ember have lived without questioning their existence in this place that is all that they know, strangely simple and economical- no telephones, re-using all items and nothing is thrown away, and also modern with the expectation of electricity, but soon a secret box is found. What is inside the box is how Lina and Doon discover what was meant to be discovered years before.

The Bottom Line: I really got drawn in to this story, especially with it's hints at the reasons behind the existence of Ember being pre-apocalyptic. I think a younger reader would be interested in this story as well and the content would be fine for an 8-12 year old.

Wendy Dillon's reading of the characters was really well done and the small sounds inserted in different places to represent the fast-moving river and crowds forming helped the story rather than distract from it. I know this one has been out for awhile, but I'm ready to read the next in the series. I won't be watching the movie, at least not until I finish the series. I don't want to ruin what I imagine Ember to be.

The Composer Is Dead

Title: The Composer Is Dead
Author: Lemony Snicket
Reading Level: J
Location: J Snicket

Someone has killed the composer! The question is who did it...

Instruments such as the Harps, the Violins and the Trumpet are all personified in this cleverly funny mystery. As the detective tries to solve the murder, all the instruments are suspects with questionable motives...but plausible alibis. I knew this would be a witty, fun read coming from Snicket who crafted the dark humor A Series Of Unfortunate Events books and established himself as the Tim Burton of modern children's literature. One great line is when the narrator describes the composer as no longer composing, but "decomposing". Many classical music references are made that the adults can enjoy too. You may even learn a thing about orchestras and symphonies. Accompanied is a CD with Lemony Snicket narrating and followed by a performance by the San Fransisco Orchestra. Despite the grim subject, the story is in a picture book format suitable for young elementary school children who can appreciate a well-crafted darker comedy.

Bottom Line: Snicket once again proves that he doesn't need a 300+ page chapter book to develop a captivating storyline. I recommend this book to any fan of classic music or a silly but creative plot with a surprise ending.

Diary Of A Whimpy Kid

Title: Diary Of A Whimpy Kid

Author: Jeff Kinney

Location: J Kinney

Reading Level: Juvenile

Greg Heffley is surrounded by morons, as he calls them. Being a scrawny middle school student, isn't easy for Greg, but things seem worse when his mom makes him start writing in a diary. First off, he refuses to use the word diary. Instead, he draws pictures and fun stories of his life as a whimpy kid. His family and friends are very interesting charachters like when he deals with his four-year-old brother who is lead singer in a garage band. Also, his best friend Rowley who he gets into mischief with. Greg's story is very fun to read and the cartoon drawings are hilarious. Whether you have been, are in or will be middle school, you will be able to identify with the crazy fun antics of Greg. I actually laughed out loud several times.

Bottom Line: For a fun, quick read try Diary of A Whimpy Kid. Great for reluctant readers. You will love to look at the honest and hilarious side of the trials and tribulations of middle school.

Beyond Spiderwick chronicles book 2: A giant problem

Title: A Giant Problem

Author: Tony Diterlizzi & Holly Black

Location: J Diterlizzi

Reading Level: juvenile

Nick Vargas and his stepsister Laurie are the main characters once again. Older brother Jules helps out some this time. You will need to have read book 1, Nixie's Song, before reading this book. There is no explanation to catch you up on what happened in book 1. Actually, having waited a while for the book to come in, it took me a couple pages to remember and figure out what was going on. If you are hoping for a connection to the Grace family you won't find it until the very end (as in the last page) when they are waiting to let the Vargas clan know what they found out about the giants.

The giants seem to be waking up in groups and are causing quite a bit of destruction as they fight for territory. Jack Noseeum isn't much help as he is almost blind, so the Vargas kids are on their own to figure out how to stop the giants. Mermaids and something like a hobgoblin are introduced in this book. The hobgoblin like creature is a bit of a let down since it doesn't help much or have the charisma of Hogsqueel(from the Spiderwick Chronicles). Taloa, the nixie in book 1, has taken off to look for her sisters herself. The mermaids are the only creatures who can help, but remember, fairies can't be trusted.

Bottom Line: A Giant Problem is ok. That's about all the enthusiasm I can muster for it. I didn't hate it, but I definitely felt a bit disappointed while reading it. It lacks something the other Spiderwick books had- just doesn't grab you. It may be that the characters just aren't developed enough to form a connection with the reader.The ending gives the reader an idea about the third book, The Wyrm King, and I can only hope the writers will discover what was missing in this one as the third book is suppose to be the last in this series that had a promising start.

Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos

Title: Theodosia and the Serpents of chaos

Author: R. L. LaFevers

Location: J LaFevers

Reading level: Juvenile

The cover of this book claims it is a sure bet for Harry Potter fans. I have not read any Harry Potter books so I can't compare the two.

Theodosia spends most of her time at her parent's workplace, a museum. That may seem boring to you, but her parents are archeologists who bring back Egyptian objects found in pyramids. They never seem to be aware of the curses on some of these artifacts so it is up to Theodosia to try to remove the curse. She has a gift for knowing what is cursed and ancient books to help her. When her mother brings home her biggest discovery, the Heart of Egypt, it disappears before Theo has a chance to learn anything about it. Will her amulets be enough protection as she tries to find out what happened to the Heart of Egypt? How can she find it again, get it back, and remove the curse that came with it?

Bottom Line: A good read, with a smart, resourceful heroine who's brave enough to sleep in a sarcophagus. Enough action, suspense and magic to keep me reading each night without a break. Be aware that the story is set in England so a few words are a bit different from the ones we use here. It's pretty easy to figure out what they mean. If you like this one keep a look out for the next book to be coming out soon - Theodosia and the staff of Osiris- I know I will.

The Robe of Skulls

Title: The Robe of Skulls

Author: Vivian French

Location: J French

Reading Level: Juvenile

The cover of this book reminds me of Cruella from 101 Dalmations. Lady Lamorna is out to collect something too, but it's not puppies. She wants a new robe and will stop at nothing to get it. She has magic and helpers; a troll who has a problem with his head, and a beautiful girl who is not what she seems at first sight. This is a fast-moving fun book with a great cast of characters from the funny talking bat to the castle orge. They're all traveling about the Kingdom of Gorebreath trying to escape from or find another. You'll have to read it to find out why. Black and white pictures are scattered throughout the story. This isn't Disney's fairytale!

Bottom Line: Liked it, liked it, liked it. Lots of fun, quick moving, and short. Characters you want to see in a movie and repeat their lines back to a friend. In fact, I'm hoping this is made into an animated film.

Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat

Title: Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat

Author: Lynne Jonell

Location: J Jonell

Reading Level: juvenile

Guys don't let the title and cover fool you. This book has a boy character, Joe, who plays a big role also. It's the class rat that brings Emmy and Joe together to try and figure out just what is going on at the strange shop Emmy sees her nanny go into and why Emmy's nanny, Miss Barmy, has someone bring a chinchilla to step in the dough for the cookies she makes for Emmy's parents. How does a rat bring people together? Well this rat talks! Emmy thought she was the only one who could hear him until the day she hears Joe talking back to the rat.

Bottom Line: This was an enjoyable and relatively fast read. Good characters, with a nanny who seems sinister, but isn't too scary. You wouldn't want her in your house, but probably wouldn't run from her if you saw her in the street either. Everything comes together in the end. However, for those really paying attention, there is a hint about a possible second Emmy book in the future and I can't wait to read it!

Samuel Blink and the Forbidden Forest

Title: Samuel Blink and the Forbidden Forest

Author: Matt Haig

Location: J Haig

Reading Level: juvenile

Twelve year old Samuel and his sister Martha, who no longer speaks, are sent to live with an aunt they don't even remember, in a foreign country. It's all because of a freak accident involving his parents. Seems his uncle also had a bit of an accident. He went into the Forbidden Forest and never returned! Aunt Edna has been waiting for years for his return, but so far all that has come out of the forest is an elkhound, Ibsen. Of course the aunt forbids them to go in or even near the forest, but you know what happens when someone tells you to absolutely not do something. That's right, one of them runs into the forest! Find out why it is called the Forbidden Forest, who lives there, who ran in, and if anything can ever be normal again.

Bottom Line: A read for fantasy fans. I liked it. Trolls, witches,and other such creatures are key characters. The bad guy bites the dust and good prevails.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard

Title: The Tales of Beedle the Bard
Author: J.K. Rowling
Location: J Rowling
Reading Level: Juvenile

The Tales of Beedle the Bard is a collection of five tales from the world of Harry Potter, that are comparable to the muggle fairy tales by the Grimm brothers. The book begins with an introduction from J.K. Rowling explaining the origins of the stories and each one concludes with commentary from Professor Dumbledore.

I will not make this review even longer by discussing each individual tale, they all have a good moral and the commentary by Dumbledore is in most cases extremely funny (at one point I laughed out loud). My favorite tale was Babbitty Rabbitty and Her Cackling Stump, I always love it when a smart woman saves the day and makes the guys look foolish!
The only warning I will give is that a few of the tales have some darker elements. In particular, The Warlock’s Hairy Heart is one that some parents may want to skip if reading to young children.

The Bottom Line: This is a great supplement to the Harry Potter canon. The tales are funny, uplifting and sometimes a little sad. In my opinion, Dumbledore’s commentary is one of the biggest reasons to buy this book. Read it, and enjoy getting another little glimpse of Dumbledore and the world of Harry Potter.