Last summer, I briefly overviewed K.B. Hoyle's fantastic Gateway Chronicles. However, it's difficult to do justice to a six-book series in one post! With Hoyle's revised, re-released volumes hitting bookstores this fall, I decided it was time for a more in-depth look. The books fit naturally into paired groupings, so I'll be reviewing them two at a time--come back next month for the second installment! An Unexpected Adventure The Gateway Chronicles center around six teenagers who initially have little in common besides the summer camp they're attending on the shore of Lake Michigan. There's bubbly, extroverted Sam; handsome, arrogant ... read more
Why the World Needs Another Good Book, Part 2
In the previous post, we considered two major reasons why the world needs another good book. We looked at how books encourage us to slow down and really pay attention to the world around us. We also saw how they enable us to "see" the world through different lenses than we might normally be accustomed to. In this post, we'll take a brief look at how books can inspire and warn us. But first, let's think for a minute about how and why books can hold so much power over our minds and emotions. How is it that book characters can actually shape our own character and habits? A Powerful Exchange A well-written book offers an immersive experience ... read more
Why the World Needs Another Good Book
I love my local North Shelby Library. I admire the patient librarians who track down and check out the hefty tower of books that my children and I accrue on a weekly basis. I relish their shared passion for great reads, whether classic or hot-off-the-press. (If it's been awhile--or never--since you asked your local librarian about the last book she just couldn't put down, ask. You're sure to discover a new favorite!). And I love browsing through the thousands of books on the shelves--probably more than I could read in a lifetime. With such a treasure-trove of printed material already available (not to mention electronic forms), why add to ... read more
Water, Wood and Words: Shannon Hale’s Books of Bayern, Part 2
In last month's blog post, I featured the first two novels in Shannon Hale's Books of Bayern series. This month, I'm honing in on the other two volumes: River Secrets and Forest Born. Shannon Hale is one of my favorite contemporary authors. Her Newberry Honor-winning Princess Academy is a literary gem for middle-grade readers, and her adult novel Book of a Thousand Days leapt right into my top-10 list of favorite fantasies. However, it wasn't until this past year, while researching comparable titles to my own novel, that I "discovered" Hale's young-adult Books of Bayern. As I've read through the series, I've been impressed by the ... read more
Wind and Fire: Shannon Hale’s Books of Bayern, Part 1
Have you ever struggled to express your ideas in words, while others seem to speak with such ease and authority? Have you ever set out to do something good and brave, then found yourself in over your head, struggling just to survive? If so, you'll find good company in Isi and Enna, heroines of the first two novels in Shannon Hale's four-part Books of Bayern series. I always enjoy Hale's novels, because her characters have real character. Each of her heroes and heroines have their flaws, but they all display courageous hearts, loyalty to their friends, and a desire to do what is right, no matter the cost. As in Robin McKinley's classic ... read more
Vivaldi’s Venice: An Interview with Author Kim Cross Teter
Isabella dal Cello doesn't know her given name. Like many of the other orphan girls at the Ospedale della Pietà in 18th-century Venice, Italy, she draws her identity from the instrument she plays in Don Vivaldi's famous orchestra. She's haunted by questions about the mother who gave her up as an infant, and dreams of proving her worth to the world by becoming a virtuoso cellist. Isabella's skill has won her the favor of the wealthy Morelli family, who are seeking a match for their handsome son Niccolò. Marriage offers Isabella a wider world outside the Ospedale walls, with the possibility of romance and a family of her own. It also comes ... read more
Two Deep-Winter Fantasies
I love to discover new fairytale retellings! Hunted and The Bear and the Nightingale top my favorite recent releases. These young adult novels move beyond the standard fare of Charles Perrault and the Grimm Brothers, into the lesser-known world of Russian fantasies. Both are wonderfully well-written, with nuanced characters and a gripping plot. And although they're set primarily in the frigid landscape of Russian winter, each makes for a fascinating read at any season of the year. A Journey of Desire She moves like beauty, she whispers to us of wind and forest--and she tells us stories, such stories that we wake in the night, ... read more
Andrew Peterson’s Wingfeather Saga: 4 Characters You’ll Never Forget
The Wingfeather Saga, by Andrew Peterson (who's also an accomplished singer-songwriter), is a rollicking read that tweens and young teens will particularly enjoy. The four-volume series traces the adventures of three siblings--Janner, Kalmar, and Leeli--as they try to evade and overthrow a vile overlord known as Gnag the Nameless. Years ago, Gnag destroyed the High Kingdom of Anniera, and now, with the help of his monstrous Fang army, he's bent on dominating all the land of Aerwiar. He's also obsessed with finding the hidden Jewels of Anniera, which are somehow connected with Janner's family. With the help of unlikely friends (and ... read more
Don’t Just Watch: 3 Reasons Why You Should Be Reading Classic Fairytales
Who doesn't love a well-told fairytale? These age-old fantasies consistently and succinctly express our deep desires for love, adventure, beauty, truth, and the triumph of good over evil. Walt Disney certainly recognized their power: it's no accident that he chose Snow White for his first full-length animated classic. And the recent live-action versions of fairytales Cinderella (2015) and Beauty and the Beast (2017) attest to the genre's continuing appeal. It's hard not to be entranced by the delightful characters, clever special effects, and gorgeous soundtrack of a good fairytale adaptation. But how long has it been since you've ... read more
K.B. Hoyle’s Gateway Chronicles
Ah, summer camp. Woodsy hikes, cafeteria trays loaded with food, rainy days in the rec room, and battles against demonic forces bent on world domination. Wait. What? When Darcy Pennington first arrived at Cedar Cove Camp, a few months shy of her thirteenth birthday, all she could think about was her own misery. How she didn't fit in with all the other campers who'd been coming there for years. How badly she missed the equestrian camp her parents could no longer afford. How to attract the attention of a cute guy named Perry and stay as far away as possible from clingy, talkative Samantha. She never imagined that she'd find a ... read more