BookPikks

Another phenomenal book by Shannon Hale. This time she retells the little-known Brother’s Grimm tale entitled: “Maid Maleen.” Dashti is a maid who, along with her mistress Lady Saren, is imprisoned by the Lady’s father in a tower for 7 years. Dashti keeps a record of their time in the tower–her book of a thousand days. When their supplies begin to run low, and enemies threaten from the outside, Dashti must find the courage to save them both from certain death.

Hale writes fairy tales, but her stories seem real. Her characters–their culture, languages, traditions and lands–come to life as you read. You won’t be disappointed by this fine addition to Hale’s collection.

A truly enjoyable novel about a high school senior named Jade. She suffers from panic attacks, she’s starting to question why she’s still friends with her high school gang, she needs to pick a college, her parents’ marriage is falling apart, and the boy she thinks she loves is a mystery to her. The only time Jade feels calmness and order in her world is when she’s working with the elephants at the nearby zoo. Any high schooler about to venture out in the world will sympathize with Jade, and will be inspired by her decision to be brave in the midst of the chaos in her life. I enjoyed Jade’s tender yet realistic relationship with her younger brother, and the unique life lessons that she learned while working with the elephants and their keepers. In the midst of a crowd of books full of superficial high school characters, Jade is to be admired for her substance.

Thanks to Cindy at Books for Young Adults for recommending this series. She has a great review of the first book in the series: Awakening. They do make a good read; I’d especially recommend them for 5th and 6th grade girls who love action/mysteries.

For the most part, I really enjoyed both Scarlet Feather and its companion book Quentins. Binchy sets her modern day fiction in Ireland, and intertwines the stories of numerous quirky characters in an almost soap-opera type fashion. But I won’t be reading any of her books again. Why? Because I can’t sleep after reading her books, and I love to read in the evenings and right before bed. No, it’s not like reading Stephen King before bedtime–of course you won’t sleep then. I’ve never experienced anything like I did after reading Binchy’s books, and I’m still not sure what it was. The best way to describe it is that she juggles so many different characters, has so many different plots running together simultaneously, and moves back and forth between stories so quickly, that I just get mentally exhausted hopping from one scene to the next. It really is very much like reading a soap opera. So even though I did enjoy my time in Ireland with Binchy, I just won’t go back. Sound sleep is just too valuable for me.

I always enjoy Schmidt’s books, but The Wednesday Wars was absolutely wonderful. Schmidt begins with a simple enough story–Holling Hoodhood is convinced that his 7th grade English teacher hates him. But then, Schmidt takes this simple plot and pulls in Shakespeare, the Vietnam War, 8th grade bullies, architecture, cross country, baseball, parents, sisters, first dates and so much more into a fabulous tale that spans Holling’s 7th grade year. This is a must read for parents, students and teachers alike.

And a small plug for my alma mater: Schmidt, who is also a winner of the Newbery Honor for Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy is a professor of English at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI.