BookPikks

After reading the fabulous Dragon Slippers and Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow, Dragon Flight was a let down.  It was still an entertaining sequel to Dragon Slippers, but it didn’t have the magic of George’s first two books.  There were no real new characters introduced, and we didn’t learn anything new about, or see much growth in the old characters.  It kind of seemed like the same people doing more of the same thing.

After absolutely loving the first book I read by George - Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow - I had high hopes for Dragon Slippers, and I was not disappointed.  Dragon Slippers targets a slightly younger audience (late elementary/middle school), yet is such a phenomenal story that readers of all ages will enjoy it.

Creel and her brother are orphans, being reluctantly cared for by their poor aunt and uncle.  When Creel’s aunt devises a scheme to get Creel a dowry and a rich suitor, Creel feels she has no choice but to go along with the plan.  Unfortunately, the plan involves a dragon.  Creel doesn’t get either a dowry or a suitor from her dragon encounter.  What she does get is a pair of shoes, a trip out of town to seek her fortune, and a chance to save her country.  Creel is a fabulous heroine, and can proudly take her place among the great heroines of fantasy literature such as Ella,  the Goose Girl, and Miri.  I’m eagerly awaiting a chance to read the sequel, Dragon Flight, and I expect that it won’t be long before we see George’s movies appearing on the big screen.

“The lass” is the youngest of the poor woodcutter’s nine children.  At her birth, she was not even given a name, since she was just another useless daughter.  The lass is a kind girl, and loves most of all to spend time with her oldest brother, Hans Peter, learning the meaning of the mysterious signs that he carves over and over.  When she is given the gift of understanding animals, the lass is content in her life, until one night, a huge bear shows up, asking her to come live with him in his castle for a year and a day.  In return, her family will be made rich.  The lass goes to live with the bear in his enchanted castle, full of enslaved servants, mysterious carvings, and unanswered questions.

George’s retelling of the Nordic fairy tale, “East of the Sun, West of the Moon” is fabulous.  George became passionate about all things Norwegian when she was just a girl, and this passion infuses her book with realistic details.  The details and changes that she makes to the original story only make it more exciting and believable.  This book can proudly take its place amongst the finest of fairy tale retellings.

Bunce’s debut novel is a fantastic addition to the world of fairy tale retellings.  Mixing historical fact, fantasy, romance, and a suspenseful ghost story with the retold tale of Rumplestiltskin results in a tale that’s hard to put down!

Upon the death of their father, Charlotte Miller and her sister Rosie find themselves responsible for their family’s woolen mill.  Although the girls are skilled in their trade and eager to work, they find themselves fighting a losing battle to keep their mill.  Strange accidents, bad luck, unexpected debts and rumors of an ancient curse plague their family business.  Out of desparation, the girls make a deal with a mysterious man who appears to magically save the day.  But the price of his help, which at first comes cheap, soon threatens those they cherish most.

A fascinating new book from Levine, inspired by the Biblical story of Jephthah, who must sacrifice his own daughter to fulfill a vow made in haste.  Kezi and Olus have fallen in love.  But Olus isn’t just a good-looking guy–he’s the Akkan god of the wind, while Kezi is a mere mortal.  To further complicate things, Kezi only has 30 days to live.  Together, Kezi and Olus set out to change fate and find a way for their true love to last forever.  Levine has created an interesting world of gods and mortals.  Most young readers will take this book at face value–the simple struggle of 2 people trying to make true love last forever.  More discerning readers will find much to discuss in Levine’s worldview–fate, gods and mortals, and the existence (or non-existence) and character of one god over everything.