Waukegan Public Library - teen

Have You Heard About... Seraphina

Fran J — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 06:47:30 +0000

… life in a city in the great country of Goredd? Rachel Hartman’s novel, Seraphina, follows the title character as she struggles with identity and prejudice in an alternate Middle Ages. The kingdom of Goredd has had an uneasy peace with dragons for nearly forty years. The dragons can take human form, but friendship between the two races is viewed with suspicion, and relationships are outlawed by both sides. Despite this, Seraphina is the daughter of a human father and a dragon mother. If anyone outside of her immediate family learned this, she would certainly be exiled, and she would probably be killed. Unfortunately, exposing herself may be the only way to prevent the outbreak of a new war.

Ms Hartman infuses her story with an incredible amount of detail, from the many saints who influence everyday life in Goredd to the austere habits of dragons. Seraphina’s story is much more serious than that of Amy Unbounded, a graphic novel set in the same world. However, it still has points of wry humor and whimsy. The two stories also share an elegance of storytelling, with a wide variety of characters who drift apart and then back together.

Reviewed by Fran (staff)

Have You Heard About... Leviathan

Fran J — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 06:15:22 +0000

… the living airships of World War I? The audiobook Leviathan* is a fantastic example of steampunk fiction done right. Scott Westerfeld adds mechanical robots and whale airships to World War I which makes it a hundred times more exciting.

The voice of Alan Cumming makes it easy to imagine yourself alongside Deryn, a girl pretending to be a boy in order to serve in the British Air Force. Deryn is one of my favorite characters of all time. She is funny, brave and incredibly smart. What I like most is the fact that she saves the Austrian Prince Alexander multiple times.

*Later books in the series include Behemoth and Goliath.

Reviewed by Vanessa (staff)

Have You Heard About... Eyes like Stars

Fran J — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 06:51:03 +0000

…the enchanted Theatre Illuminata? You can visit it in Eyes like Stars, by Lisa Mantchev. Bertie (Beatrice Shakespeare Smith) grew up in the Theatre Illuminata with no memory of her parents or a life before that magical place. Her clothes are cared for by the Wardrobe Mistress, everything she has is managed by the Properties Manager, food appears in the Green Room when it is needed, and almost all of her friends are Players who exist for their roles. However, Bertie is starting to grow up and her pranks are getting out of hand. She needs to find an invaluable way to contribute the Theatre, or she must leave the only home she has ever known.

This is a very fun coming-of-age fantasy novel. It took me a little while to get used to the setting, but madcap Bertie and her constant fairy companions had me hooked from the beginning. Knowing something about theaters and acting will definitely help you understand this book; the terminology is tossed around without much explanation. The lush descriptions and never-ending action, not to mention Bertie’s incredible talent for leaping headlong into trouble, make this a wonderfully enjoyable read. I’m looking forward to the sequel!

One of my favorite quotes (from p. 175): “On what planet would a basket of asps be considered a set piece and not a prop?”

The second book in the series is Perchance to Dream.

Reviewed by Fran (staff)

Have You Heard About... I Shall Wear Midnight

Fran J — Thu, 19 May 2011 06:38:05 +0000

… the Nac Mac Feegles and their big wee hag? I Shall Wear Midnight is the fourth book in Terry Pratchett’s series about Tiffany Aching and the Wee Free Men*. Tiffany is becoming well known as the witch of the Chalk, gaining the respect of her neighbors. However, when that respect turns to fear and even people who know her well spread rumors about what “everyone knows” witches do, Tiffany must use all of her powers, skills, and sense to defeat an ancient evil that seeks to destroy all witches. I Shall Wear Midnight is another beautiful blend of drama and comedy from the creator of the Discworld.

One of my favorite quotes (from p. 34):

“Ye will bring tae mind, brother o’ mine, that there was times when ye should stick your head up a duck’s bottom rather than talk?”

Daft Wullie looked down at his feet. “Sorry, Rob. I counda find a duck just noo.”

* The previous books in the series are The Wee Free Men, A Hat Full of Sky and Wintersmith.

Reviewed by Fran (staff)