Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia who now blogs at To Be Continued. It is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Mari at MariReads is hosting for the month of April. You can also view the touring blog list here for the upcoming months.

I have one giveaway currently running on my blog:

3-Book Giveaway by Vikki VanSickle - Middle grade series (Open to Canada only)

Just weeks after Jaron has taken the throne, an assassination attempt forces him into a deadly situation. Rumors of a coming war are winding their way between the castle walls, and Jaron feels the pressure quietly mounting within Carthya. Soon, it becomes clear that deserting the kingdom may be his only hope of saving it. But the further Jaron is forced to run from his identity, the more he wonders if it is possible to go too far. Will he ever be able to return home again? Or will he have to sacrifice his own life in order to save his kingdom?

The stunning second installment of The Ascendance Trilogy takes readers on a roller-coaster ride of treason and murder, thrills and peril, as they journey with the Runaway King!



Family Tree #1: Better to Wish by Ann M. Martin (from Scholastic)

Four generations. Four girls. One family. An amazing new four-book series from Ann M. Martin.

In 1930, Abby Nichols is eight, and can't imagine what her future holds. The best things today would be having a dime for the fair, keeping her Pops from being angry, and saving up eightyseven cents to surprise her little sister with a tea set for Christmas.

But Abby's world is changing fast. Soon there will be new siblings to take care of, a new house to move into, and new friends to meet. But there will also be good-byes to say and hard choices to make. As Abby grows older, how will she decide what sort of life will fit her best?

In this incredible new series, bestselling author Ann M. Martin brings the past and the present together one girlhood at a time and shows readers the way a family grows.

When Will Kincaid’s professional football career comes to an abrupt end in a single night, he’s left to figure out what he’s going to do with the rest of his life. He heads home to the small Virginia town where he grew up and crosses paths with Hannah Jacobs, the only girl in high school who had ever rejected him. It’s Hannah who once made him question the choices he had made, and it’s Hannah who’s making him question them all over again. But with the weight of a secret he’s managed to hide from the world his entire adult life hanging over him, he can’t afford to question his choices. Hannah Jacobs had once made the choice to deny her feelings for Will Kincaid, at the time finding it the only possible option for a young girl intent on burying a nightmare she only wanted to forget. The life she’s made for herself as a librarian in Lake Perdue is a quiet one, and she’s hardly prepared for the day when Will rams his fancy Ferrari into her dependable old clunker. But for Hannah, Will Kincaid can only stir up memories she had long ago put away forever. And there’s nothing at all good that can come from bringing them back to life again.

Congratulations to our winners! 

Stephen Nettles
and
Rose

You've just won one copy each of The Life of Pi Blu-ray DVD.

In this debut novel of the Cragbridge Hall series, twins Abby and Derick are about to attend a new school—Cragbridge Hall, the premiere junior high in the world, founded by their genius grandfather Oscar Cragbridge. The year is 2074 and this prestigious school has advanced technology that allows the students to watch history happen around them, run up a virtual mountain in gym class and learn about animals by becoming one through an avatar. But on their first day of school, their grandfather and parents go missing, leaving Abby and Derick to follow a trail of clues left by their grandfather. Oscar Cragbridge has a secret and someone is determined to get it to change the world. The race is on to save their family and discover their grandfather's secret that could be dangerous in the hands of the wrong people.

I read this book with my son and we enjoyed the cool things that the students could do at Cragbridge Hall. My son especially liked the gym class and the avatars. Abby and Derick are good kids, but Abby lives in the shadow of her brother who is a genius, whereas she is pretty ordinary and only got accepted into the school because of her grandfather. When her dorm roommate discovers this she ostracized Abby and humiliates her publicly. We follow Abby's journey as she learns to have confidence in her own strengths even if in the eyes of her classmates they seem mediocre at best. We especially loved this message that ordinary can be extraordinary when we accept who we are and work with what we have. Derick, on the other hand, had to accept that failing means we can learn from it and move on to do better.

There is a lot happening in this book and it happens all in the span of three days. The clues left by the grandfather have to do with historical people, so we get to learn in detail about what these people accomplished in the past by watching history unfold through an invention called the Bridge. These history lessons were interesting and we learned about several historical figures. This made for a lot of characters to retain and figure out how they related to grandpa Cragbridge and his clues. Sometimes my 9-year-old son found these accounts a little long. But it all came together in the end, where the suspense finally builds up as they race to save their parents.

Along the way, the twins make friends and discover who they can and can't trust in the academy. They are brave and courageous in the face of what they must go through to find their grandfather and parents. The mix of futuristic elements, historical people, time travel, villains and school life makes for a unique plotline and setting. The ending is great without any cliffhangers, but only a few unresolved issues that will surely present themselves in Book Two.

This is a well-written book by an author who has talent for creating an imaginary future with ties to the past. Recommended for all middle-graders who love a good adventure. Great for family reading too.

I like reading or listening to educational non-fiction books because they keep me informed on subjects that interest me. I don't know much about global warming or meteorology so I decided to give Andrew Weaver's book a go, liking the fact that it was Canadian. If I had any doubt that global warming exists it was gone by the time I finished listening to his book. In a nutshell, Weaver states that global warming is primarily caused by carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel consumption. A climate modeller in the School of Earth and Ocean Sciences at the University of Victoria in British Columbia, Weaver takes the time to explain what this means, with an emphasis on Canada's environment.

Weaver goes into great detail about this, using terminology I was unfamiliar with, but also using common illustrations and examples to help me (a layman) understand, which I really appreciated. I have to admit that when the information was more statistical my mind tended to wander. There are a lot of stats in this book! I know the print book includes graphs, diagrams, analyses and the like. Since I am more visual when it comes to dry or textbook material I think that I would have gotten more out of this book if I had read it. I'm faster at solving a mathematical equation if I see it than if I hear it.

Weaver includes politics in his discussion, brings out arguments against those who don't believe global warming is a reality and shows how this affects the lack of putting into place good solutions for this problem. He states that governmental policies are largely ineffective and that although people are resistant to change, we have a responsibility regarding the future of our children. He ends the book with his ideas of possible solutions including a carbon tax and using sustainable energy sources such as solar, wind, hydro and nuclear energy.

Since I have no science background but have taken an interest in this book purely out of my passion to keep learning new things, I cannot argue for or against Weaver based on science, but as a Canadian citizen I found it eye-opening, convincing and alarming. It made me want to stop driving my car (or perhaps drive less) and feel more responsible toward taking care of my planet.

The narrator David Skulski (who I assume is an older man) has an engaging and wise voice, almost grandfatherly so I felt like I was listening to someone who had life experience and knew what he was talking about. I enjoyed his narration because it came across as someone who had authority in this topic. I recommend this book to all students of meteorology and climate science. I also think Canadian politicians would benefit from knowing and listening to what out climate scientists are saying about the fast-changing climate in Canada.

St. Martin’s Griffin
ISBN: 978-0-312-64273-0
Published April 27, 2010
Trade Paperback, 373 pages

This is my second review of a book about the famous Brontë family in recent weeks. Something about their story alternately attracts and repels me.

The story opens with a dreary deathbed scene that pretty much sets the tone for the book. The story, by the way, is not just about Charlotte and Emily, but rather includes the whole family. The children, of whom there were six, were highly imaginative. They wrote and bound miniature books of their imaginary exploits. But what else is there to do “in a remote and primitive spot”, says father Patrick. 

The narrator says that these miniature books “create, constitute, and delimit a world that is self-sufficient.” And that I believe, explains their ability to live such limited, sparse lives – they were a world unto themselves – “we three” - Charlotte, Emily, and Anne, following the death of their two older sisters and their brother Branwell’s descent into alcoholism and drug addiction. Who could blame them for becoming irritatingly introspective on seeing their family gradually disappear? In reference to her siblings Charlotte thinks “only they understood, only they were capable of understanding; it was as if you were a little knot of islanders who spoke a language unknown to anyone else on the globe, and untranslatable.”

The author writes in a style reminiscent of Jane Eyre in evoking a time and place long since gone. Snide comments about the clergy corresponds to Charlotte’s description of the founder of Lowood School that Jane Eyre attended. Jude Morgan deftly describes English village life in the early 1800s. I enjoyed the author’s rich descriptions of situations, i.e., “it was as if silence was nakedness, and every moment must, for decency’s sake, be verbally clothed.” This is in reference to a character in the book who talks non-stop.

This is a novel that reads like a biography. Obviously, the author has done extensive research to “capture” the respective personalities of the Brontës. They were extremely complex individuals, to say the least. Charlotte was the most determined of the three sisters to make a name for herself as an author. And only Charlotte succeeded in having a measure of happiness during her one year of marriage, for she, too, died an early death in childbirth. Patrick Brontë, the father, outlived his wife and all of his children.

This is a book sure to please readers who enjoy biographies, the Brontës, and a story very well written.

Note: This book is rated P = profanity for expletives and f-bombs.

This is the third and last book that follows Words That Start With B and Love is a Four-Letter Word. Once again my daughter and I read it together and we enjoyed it. It's summertime and it seems that everyone is busy but Clarissa. Her mom is planning her wedding, her friend Mattie is away at camp and her friend Benji is busy with his drama friends. When Clarissa starts going through her mom's high school yearbooks she discovers a few things and decides to track down the dad she never met.

Once again, as in her other books, VanSickle explores emotions that are strongly felt in teens—accepting a parent's new mate, the need to search or know more about a long-lost parent, accepting changes in friendships and accepting the past. Both my daughter and I found this to be more of a serious book than the first two. Clarissa spends most of her summer alone and her friends don't play such a big role (my daughter noted this especially) as in the first two books. Clarissa is true to herself and we can see that after all she's been through she's strong and more mature.

There are strong words exchanged between Clarissa and adults in this book, on two separate occasions. In the verbal fight with her mom, Clarissa uses a derogatory word (sl*t) whose significance I had to explain to my daughter. I'm not sure how appropriate some words are for middle-grade novels. I know such exchanges can happen in family situations taut with anger and hurt feelings, but I think I would have preferred it left out. Same with the profanity. Perhaps saying he cursed would have sufficed. The writing in this novel is strong and solid and my daughter and I understood the heavy emotions. No crude words needed.

Apart from this, the story ends well. The major theme seems to be about acceptance on various levels, and with family and friends. We can't change the past, only learn from it and accept what happened and move on, having a positive outlook for the future without looking back. This was a good message and an excellent way to end this 3-book series.

And now for the giveaway!

Scholastic Canada has graciously offered to give away all 3 books in this series:

Words That Start With B (read our review)

Love is a Four-Letter Word (read our review)

Days That End in Y

Mandatory:

MUST be a separate comment or it will not count.
1) If you are a follower, new or current, leave a comment telling us so.

*Buttons for following found on top left-hand corner of blog.
*Giveaway ends April 10, 2013. 

An action-adventure YA novel, smartly written, with taut suspense and fantastic twists and turns leading to a breathless ending—that's what my daughter and I thought of this book. In this medieval fantasy story, a plot is devised to impersonate the king's long-lost son by choosing four orphan boys and training them for this role. But only one will be chosen, and the others killed. Sage is a quick-witted, but defiant orphan boy, and from his first-person narrative we journey with these four boys pitted against each other to discover a kingdom on the brink of treason, deceit and downfall.

My daughter and I both read this book at different times but we had the same reaction. It was unputdownable! The reader is caught up right from the first scene when Sage who just stole a piece of roast meat is running for his life. Although there is much action in this novel it is not at the expense of character development. The author deftly builds up the four orphan boys, showing their strengths and their weaknesses. The plot is original and is well-paced—not one boring scene in this book.

Sage is a charismatic character. He is bright, non-chalant, and resistant to the training. He does not want to be this false prince they are training him to be because it's hard to pull off and will lead to his death for treason if he is discovered. But at the same time, he will be killed if he is not chosen. His dilemma caused both my daughter and I to keep turning those pages faster and faster. How would it all end?

What a fantastic story this was! It had everything kids (and adults) love—adventure, humour, believable characters and a smart plot. Both my daughter and I will count it as one of the best books we've read so far this year. This is the first book in The Ascendance Trilogy, but it has a satisfying ending—no cliffhangers. We simply can't wait to read Book Two.

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia who now blogs at Mailbox Monday. It is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Caitlin at Chaotic Compendiums is hosting for the month of March. You can also view the touring blog list here for the upcoming months.

I have one giveaway currently running on my blog:

Life of Pi Movie in Blu-ray (ends March 28, 2012) Open to US and Canada

Infused with the delicious warmth of Chocolat and the captivating feeling of School of Essential Ingredients, From the Kitchen of Half Truth is the warm, tender story of Meg, whose cooking-obsessed mother has always regaled her with fantastical memories of their lives that can't possibly be true. As sickness threatens to bury her mother's secrets forever, Meg decides she must know the truth-but no matter how hard she tries, Meg can't convince her mother to reveal a thing. As the two spend one last summer together, savoring cooking lessons, Meg explores the power of the stories we tell ourselves in order to create the lives we want.

In the Garden of Thoughts by Dodinsky

'Dodinsky's gentle wisdom and wit are like a breath of fresh air.' - Karen Salmansohn, bestselling author of How to Be Happy, Dammit! Beloved by hundreds of thousands from every walk of life and in every corner of the world, Dodinsky strikes the perfect balance of delightful whimsy and powerful emotion, inspiring you with the power to be your best self. "When I reach the place of my dreams, I will thank my failures and tears. They too, kept me going."

All alone on the Kansas prairie, Summer Steadman has few options. With her husband and children lost to illness, she has no desire to continue on farther west to where she and her husband planned to build their future. Instead, she seeks employment in a small Mennonite community in order to be near the graves of her family.

Widower Peter Ollenburger, the local gristmill owner, needs someone to teach his young son. When he hears of a "learned woman" in town, he believes she is the answer to his prayers. He soon discovers, however, that helping this outsider may have troublesome consequences.

There is little this father will not do for his son, but as the boy begins to look at Summer as more than a teacher, Peter must make a choice. Does he marry this woman to give his son a new mother, or does he marry only for love? Will Summer's broken heart ever be able to love again?



This meme is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. This is where we keep track of what we are currently reading and plan to read.  The kidlit version is hosted by Jen at Teach Mentor Texts.

Read and reviewed:
Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Book Store by Robin Sloan (a wonderful pick-me-upper story!)
The Parent's Guide to Uncluttering Your Home by Janet Morris Grimes (great resource)
Incontinent on the Continent: My Mother, Her Walker, and Our Grand Tour of Italy by Jane Christmas (a lot of whining mixed with great descriptions of Italian sights)
Sunwing by Kenneth Oppel (a little too dark for us)

Currently Reading:
From the Kitchen of Half Truth by Maria Goodin
Gragbridge Hall: The Inventor's Secret by Chad Morris (with my son)
Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale (with my daughter)

Finished Reading:
The Last Telegram by Liz Trenow (very good!)

Hope you all have a great reading week!

This is the second book in the Silverwing series, and although we loved the first book (read our review) we thought this one was a little too dark for us. The messages are positive though, and we continued to love Shade as the runty bat who doesn't give up and stands up for what is right even in the face of danger.

Shade, now reunited with his colony, decides to go search for his father. This search takes him and the few bats travelling with him to a mysterious Human building that contains a large forest where there are thousands of other bats. There is plenty of insects to feed from and no owls to hunt them down, so many of the bats think this is Paradise. But Shade feels trapped, and he soon discovers that the Humans are taking bats from this complex and using them as weapons of war.

After finding a way out, he travels to the far southern jungle still in search of his father and comes up against Goth, now king of all the Vampyrum Spectrum, giant cannibal bats. This is where the book gets dark because Goth has been sacrificing bats to his god the same way as the ancient Mayas who would tear out the heart of their sacrificial victim and eat it while it still beat. Now he is preparing to create eternal night by sacrificing, one after another, one hundred of their imprisoned prey--bats, owls, and rats. This is to take place during the sun's eclipse.

Oppel's writing is brilliant, of course, and as in his first book, the world building is good. So good we felt the evil permeating the tall temple where all the sacrificing took place, and we felt the fear and darkness it instilled. We also loved Shade's character again as he now helps to bring about peace between the bats and the owls.

The book has a good satisfactory ending with no cliff hangers, and for now my son and I feel we can stop reading here. Eventually we may pick up the third book and see how Shade's story continues.

Congratulations to our winner! 

Rose

You've just won Lady of Ashes by Christine Trent.

A funny memoir about a mother-daughter grand tour of Italy? I couldn't pass it up. It wasn't quite what I expected though, so I have mixed feelings about this book. Overall, the author is a good writer and her descriptions of the Italian sights and architectural beauty were a pleasure to listen to. Her rants about her mother, on the other hand, not so much. The author decided to take her arthritic, incontinent and domineering mother on a 6-week tour of Italy to reconcile their differences. This had her swearing and pulling her hair most of the time since Italy's best sights are not walker or wheelchair accessible and her mother kept falling asleep through most of the trip.

Apart from the whining about the bad food, the weather (cold and rainy), the indifferent Italians to her plight of having a disabled mom in tow, and the alarming discovery that her mother had aged much more than the author was aware of, I enjoyed the honest portrayal of the different areas of Italy, both southern and central. The author is a fan of ancient art, architecture and history so I learned a few things about my parents' country and my ancestors.

I understand that for the author it must have been hard to realize her mother was no longer the independent and confident woman she once was. She suddenly saw her mother's frailties and fears, and as any middle-aged woman can attest to, this is a saddening discovery about one's beloved parent. But when the author said disparaging things about her mother I cringed thinking, does her mother know she wrote a book about her in this way? I found this part of the book disrespectful, and I didn't appreciate the f-bombs that rained down or the religious expletives that spewed forth when the author was upset with her mother.

The narrator was good, capturing both the emotions of the author's voice and the proper and clipped voice of the mother. Her pronunciation of Italian places and names was not good at all, though, as half the time I couldn't quite understand which place she'd just named, and I am fluent in Italian. She was animated however, making this a lively narration.

There were some funny moments that had me smiling, but I also did a lot of frowning. I'm glad that the book ended on a positive note with the author acknowledging just how much she loved her mother and was surprisingly very much like her.

Shortly after digging into The Happiness Project, I was motivated to pick up this book I had started a while back to tackle a few areas of organizing that I struggle with. The first few chapters deal with the emotional and financial cost of clutter and hoarding. I'm not a hoarder and my house is fairly organized and neat, but I always look for ways to improve and get the rest of my family on board without nagging. Because, as most parents know, a house can be clean and neat, but within a few hours of kids playing or with the rushed daily activities it can start looking like a tornado went through it. Argh!

I focused on Chapter 3 that helps to get the whole family on board because I am the type of parent that has to fight the urge to do it all myself. I tend to be a perfectionist. I'm still working on this. Chapter 5 on laundry had useful tips, but most of the book tackles all the problematic rooms in a house and what to do with stuff you want to recycle or give away. This is an easy book to read, and a reader can quickly go to the chapter that grabs his attention or problem area depending on what he has most difficulty organizing or uncluttering. It comes with an extensive bibliography with links to resources too.

Chapter 4 on conquering clutter zones had me thinking of possible solutions for my home. It seems that the older the kids get the more we accumulate, and finding room for all of it can become daunting. The advice on what to do with kids' stuff was good. The book is interspersed with boxes of “oppress the mess” tips, case studies of experts in the organizing field who share their particular expertise, charts, lists, questionnaires, and black and white photos. The large font and bullet format make it easy to assimilate the information quickly.

This is a great resource I will be referring to as I get into my spring cleaning. It offers good ideas, solutions and support to the overwhelmed parent. I also found it empowering as I realized that I am actually doing a lot of useful and practical things to keep my family and home organized.  

Oh, this book was so much fun! What a great mix of the old with the new, whether it was code breaking techniques both ancient and contemporary, or dusty book researches versus Google's mighty search engine and geeky technological savoir faire.

Clay Jannon's search for a job lands him as the night clerk at Mr.Penumbra's 24-hour bookstore. It's a mysterious place with a few, equally strange people coming in at all hours of the night to pick up books from the far corners of the ladder-high shelves at the back of this hole-in-the-wall bookstore. Needless to say, Clay's curiosity helps him discover a secret society that leads to adventure, romance, discovery and friendship.

This was a happy and clean contemporary novel written by a guy without the use of profanity or perverse stuff! Although it was an easy read it wasn't simplistic. Written in the first person, we get inside Clay's head and get to see things from his perspective. He's a funny guy, and I found myself laughing out loud several times. There was not a dull moment in this novel. Clay comes across as a pretty straightforward and ordinary kind of guy surrounded by geniuses both young and old. But it's the ordinary guy that in the end makes a startling discovery that leads to a simple but profound message. Some may find it anticlimactic. I didn't.

What I liked most about this book is that we have characters who are seniors, from a different generation mixing in with the tech-savvy youths of this generation. What a great combination. Mr. Penumbra is a mysterious character, at once strong and frail, a representation of both generations. Both respected and learned from each other. As it should be. Bibliophiles will love the whole theory of books as precious instruments that carry life stories.

We chose this book for our book club and most of us really liked it. It's a positive book, a fun and happy book. Perfect for when you need a pick-me-upper. The perfect book for that special friend in your life. One I will recommend to all my friends.

Trauma Plan by Candace Calvert

Sidelined by injuries from a vicious assault, chaplain Riley Hale is determined to return to her former duties as an ER nurse. But how can she show she’s competent when the hospital won’t let her attempt even simple tasks? Determined to prove herself, Riley volunteers at a controversial urban free clinic despite her fears about the maverick doctor in charge.

Dr. Jack Travis defends his clinic like he’s commander of the Alamo. He’ll fight the community’s efforts to shut its doors, even if he must use Riley Hale’s influential family name to make it happen.

As Riley strives to regain her skills, Jack finds that she shares his compassion—and stirs his lonely heart. Riley senses that beneath Jack’s rough exterior is a man she can believe in. But when clinic protests escalate and questions surface about his past, Jack goes into battle mode and Riley wonders if it’s dangerous to trust him with her heart.



This Time Forever by Rachel Ann Nunes

Mickelle Hansen never realized marriage could be so challenging. Her husband's epilepsy has caused him to become cynical and verbally abusive, but with love in her heart and strength from her Heavenly Father, Mickelle is determined to make her marriage work. Then the worst happens. Can she ever pick up the shattered pieces of her life?

Meanwhile, Rebekka Massoni arrives in America to work for handsome widower Damon Wolfe, leaving all her hopes and dreams back in her beloved France. She has loved and idolized Marc Perrault since she was five years old, but he can offer only her friendship in return.

Can Rebekka forget Marc and learn to love another man? Both Damon and Samuel Bjornenburg, successful CEO of Corban International, hope to win a place in her heart, but Damon's daughter doesn't like Rebekka, and Samuel doesn't share her faith. To make matters worse, Rebekka's heart is still breaking over Marc. Suddenly she must make the most important decision of her entire life. Will it be the right one?

Join Mickelle and Rebekka as they search for love and self-discovery. This tender story of heartbreak, healing, and faith is one you will not soon forget.


Paradise Valley (Daughters of Caleb Book #1) by Dale Cramer

An Amish settlement in Ohio has run afoul of a law requiring their children to attend public school. Caleb Bender and his neighbors are arrested for neglect, with the state ordering the children be placed in an institution. Among them are Caleb's teenage daughter, Rachel, and the boy she has her eye on, Jake Weaver. Romance blooms between the two when Rachel helps Jake escape the children's home.

Searching for a place to relocate his family where no such laws apply, Caleb learns there's inexpensive land for sale in Mexico, a place called Paradise Valley. Despite rumors of instability in the wake of the Mexican revolution, the Amish community decides this is their answer. And since it was Caleb's idea, he and his family will be the pioneers. They will send for the others once he's established a foothold and assessed the situation.

Caleb's daughters are thrown into turmoil. Rachel doesn't want to leave Jake. Her sister, Emma, who has been courting Levi Mullet, fears her dreams of marriage will be dashed. Miriam has never had a beau and is acutely aware there will be no prospects in Mexico.

Once there, they meet Domingo, a young man and guide who takes a liking to Miriam, something her father would never approve. While Paradise Valley is everything they'd hoped it would be, it isn't long before the bandits start giving them trouble, threatening to upset the fledgling Amish settlement, even putting their lives in danger. Thankfully no one has been harmed so far, anyway.

How to Really Love Your Teen by Dr. Ross Campbell

This meme is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. This is where we keep track of what we are currently reading and plan to read.  The kidlit version is hosted by Jen at Teach Mentor Texts.

Read and reviewed:
India Fan by Victoria Holt (great storytelling)
Beyond the Valley by Rita Gerlach (disappointing)
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Currently Reading:
Gragbridge Hall: The Inventor's Secret by Chad Morris (with my son)
The Last Telegram by Liz Trenow

Finished Reading:
The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen (fantastic page-turner!)
Days That End in Y by Vikki VanSickle (great ending to this 3-book series)

Hope you all have a great reading week!

Congratulations to our winner! 

Mary Preston

You've just won Creature Features by Tim Rowland.

In The Scorpio Races, author Maggie Stiefvater creates an appealing story based on the mythology of the water horses. It is a fascinating tale in which the characters are simple yet complex, the story unique, and the setting as important as one of the characters.

Kate, better known as Puck, lives with her two brothers on the small island of Thisby, “a rocky crag jutting from the sea”. They have lost their parents to the sea, and are in hard financial straits, which is why Puck decides to enter the competition of the Scorpio races, the first girl ever to do so. It happens on the first of November when the riders attempt to hold on to their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. The race itself is not a long one but these water horses are dangerous because they eat flesh and are hungry to return to the sea as soon as their hooves touch the salt water on the beach.

Sean Kendrick has won the races multiple times in the past and is known for having a way with the water horses. He understands them, and is particularly attached to Corr, a red water horse, in the same way Puck is attached to her mare Dove. Sean is a young man of few words, but he forms an unlikely friendship with Puck because of their love for horses. As their friendship grows to something more, and the date of the Scorpio Races--a traditional event in Thisby--draws closer, both have lots at stake, including their lives.

I read this book with my twelve year old daughter who enjoyed it well enough with me. The story is told from the point-of-view of both Sean and Puck in alternating chapters, which my daughter and I liked. We both agreed that it was a long book and that its 400 pages could have been cut to 300 without losing its plot or intensity. The whole book prepares the reader for the races that happen within the last few pages of the book, so it felt like a very slow start. But we liked the quirky character of Puck. She was a strong female character with fears and sorrows and she was tough. Sean came across as wise and introspective, longing to be his own man and to own Corr. Stiefvater intersperses his serious mood with some humorous moments between the two of them and we relished these scenes. There weren't enough of them, though.

Puck's younger brother Finn and George Holly, the American were also great secondary characters. The ending was great, and honestly, my daughter and I didn't know what to expect, so we held our breaths as the race began. We had waited so long for it to happen! This is a clean read, however, the water horses are wild and dangerous and there are some bloody scenes when they hunt or attack other animals and humans. My daughter who is sensitive by nature was not freaked out by these scenes probably because we also had the perspective of Sean who understood them and was angered when these wild creatures were not treated properly.

This was a different read for us. It was fantasy, but so down to earth that we almost came to believe these water horses or capall uisce really did surface from the sea, hungry and sea-mad, galloping on the white shores of an island in search of its next prey or to be caught and trained for the famous Scorpio Races.