All posts by Kasey

About Kasey

Reads things. Writes things. Fluent in sarcasm. Willful optimist. Cat companion, chocolate connoisseur, coffee drinker. There are some who call me Mom.

Review: Sword and Pen by Rachel Caine

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , ,
Sword and Pen by Rachel Caine

Sword and Pen (Great Library #5)
Rachel Caine
Berkley Books
Published September 3, 2019

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About Sword and Pen

With the future of the Great Library in doubt, the unforgettable characters from Ink and Bone must decide if it’s worth saving in this thrilling adventure in the New York Times bestselling series.

The corrupt leadership of the Great Library has fallen. But with the Archivist plotting his return to power, and the Library under siege from outside empires and kingdoms, its future is uncertain. Jess Brightwell and his friends must come together as never before, to forge a new future for the Great Library . . . or see everything it stood for crumble.

My Review

I’m so torn about this book but probably not for the reason you think! I am so sad that the series is over, but so happy I got to read every page of it.

I’m always nervous picking up a book in a series after a break in reading earlier books. I worry that I won’t like it as much as I liked earlier books or that I’ll be confused about what’s going on because I’ve forgotten too many things.

Rachel Caine handled both of these concerns like the expert she is in SWORD AND PEN. From the first page, I fell straight back in love with Jess and his friends and the amazing story world of Alexandria and the Great Library. I felt like reminders about who people were and what had been happening where SMOKE AND IRON (book 4) left off were organically woven into the narrative without stealing any attention away from the current tension.

The Great Library is one of my favorite series. It’s one of a very few series longer than three books that I’ve actually managed to stick with– and really, I couldn’t help it! I love the characters so much– Khalila and Dario, Thomas and Glain, Santi and Wolfe, I love them all. Each one is so different, so well-imagined that they feel real. As soon as I start reading a section, I know exactly whose POV I’m in, and I love when authors write like that.

SWORD AND PEN is every bit the conclusion I was hoping for in terms of its intensity. I won’t promise you’ll love every minute– there are some sad moments that really smack you in places that hurt. But it wouldn’t be such a powerful story without those, either. And for the most part, even those sad moments felt right to me.

The Great Library is one of those series you really need to read from the beginning, so don’t start with SWORD AND PEN. Check out my review of INK AND BONE and then fall in love with the whole series with me!

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 15 up.

Representation
Santi and Wolfe (two men) are gay and in a relationship together. Khalila is from the Middle East. Dario is Spanish.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Extreme profanity used very briefly.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing between girl and boy. Two men are lovers (we don’t see anything but longing exchanged between them). One boy and girl have a suggestive conversation about sex, but end up parting ways without any further exchange.

Spiritual Content
Some Egyptian and Greek gods are represented in the story, and some characters are devoted followers of the gods. Others are Catholic or Muslim. The story treats all faiths equally.

Violent Content
Battles between humans and automata (liquid metal robots that look like gods, mythic creatures or lions). Battles between soldiers involving guns and swords. Situations of peril and graphic descriptions of grave injuries. References to torture.

Drug Content 
Some reference to drinking alcohol.

Note: This post contains affiliate links which cost you nothing but which help support this blog. I received a free copy of SWORD AND PEN in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Crown of Coral and Pearl by Mara Rutherford

Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , ,

Crown of Coral and Pearl
Mara Rutherford
Inkyard Press
Publishes August 27, 2019

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About Crown of Coral and Pearl

For generations, the princes of Ilara have married the most beautiful maidens from the ocean village of Varenia. But though every girl longs to be chosen as the next princess, the cost of becoming royalty is higher than any of them could ever imagine…

Nor once dreamed of seeing the wondrous wealth and beauty of Ilara, the kingdom that’s ruled her village for as long as anyone can remember. But when a childhood accident left her with a permanent scar, it became clear that her identical twin sister, Zadie, would likely be chosen to marry the Crown Prince—while Nor remained behind, unable to ever set foot on land.

Then Zadie is gravely injured, and Nor is sent to Ilara in her place. To Nor’s dismay, her future husband, Prince Ceren, is as forbidding and cold as his home—a castle carved into a mountain and devoid of sunlight. And as she grows closer to Ceren’s brother, the charming Prince Talin, Nor uncovers startling truths about a failing royal bloodline, a murdered queen… and a plot to destroy the home she was once so eager to leave.

In order to save her people, Nor must learn to negotiate the treacherous protocols of a court where lies reign and obsession rules. But discovering her own formidable strength may be the one move that costs her everything: the crown, Varenia and Zadie.

My Review

I liked Nor’s character straight from the beginning. Her protectiveness toward her family and her closeness with her sister make her an admirable character. Her spirit and thirst for adventure keep her at the center of her story as a heroine rather than the trade goods her people hope to make of her.

Besides Nor, other characters are pretty straightforward. The good guys are very good. The bad guys are very bad. I kept hoping for some hidden complexities, but that wasn’t really the direction the story took. I’m not sure I understood the plot. It felt out of focus to me. I felt like Nor’s goal gets overshadowed by other events, and fizzled a little bit as the story ended.

I found the clash of the two cultures– Nor’s oceanic people and Ceren’s mountain-dwelling people– really creative and interesting. Nor’s life at sea gave her a lot of freedom and vitality. Her new life in the mountain felt oppressive, dark, and creepy, even before all of the politics and people added complications. I thought the way CROWN OF CORAL AND PEARL clashed those two cultures added a lot of feeling to the story and was cleverly done.

On the whole, I felt like the story world was cleverly created and Nor is a fantastic character. I’m glad I read the book, even if I wanted more complexity in its other characters. Fans of SEA WITCH RISING will like CROWN OF CORAL AND PEARL for its cross-culture story and its emphasis on the unbreakable bond of sisterhood.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Representation
Nor and her sister have bronze skin and dark curly hair. The Ilarans are pale with blond hair.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Mild profanity used infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Brief kissing between boy and girl.

Spiritual Content
Nor’s people worship the god of the sea, Thalos, who is said to have punished those who don’t submit to his will.

Violent Content
Assassins attack a small group. Nor battles a monster and faces torture. A woman jumps from a cliff. A woman hits a soldier over the head and stabs someone.

Drug Content
Nor is encouraged to drink alcohol to help her sleep.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support the costs of running this blog. I received a free copy of CROWN OF CORAL AND PEARL in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Some Places More than Others by Renée Watson

Book Review and Content, Contemporary, Middle Grade 8-12, , , , , , , , ,

Some Places More than Others
Renée Watson
Bloomsbury Children’s Books
Published September 3, 2019

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About Some Places More Than Others

Newbery Honor author Renée Watson explores a family’s relationships and Harlem—its history, culture, arts, and people.

All Amara wants is to visit her father’s family in Harlem. Her wish comes true when her dad decides to bring her along on a business trip. She can’t wait to finally meet her extended family and stay in the brownstone where her dad grew up. Plus, she wants to visit every landmark from the Apollo to Langston Hughes’s home.

But her family, and even the city, is not quite what Amara thought. Her dad doesn’t speak to her grandpa, and the crowded streets can be suffocating as well as inspiring. But as she learns more and more about Harlem—and her father’s history—Amara realizes how, in some ways more than others, she can connect with this other home and family.

This is a powerful story about family, the places that make us who we are, and how we find ways to connect to our history across time and distance.

My Review

Renée Watson is one of those authors on my auto-read list. I love the way she writes. I love the characters she brings to life in the pages of her books and the way she explores relationships between characters and their friends and family members. Amara really had me at hello. Her goal was clear from the very beginning of the story, but her desire to go to Harlem wasn’t an uncomplicated one.

Watching the story unfold, I found myself surprised by some of the things that happened and their significance. I like that while Amara thought the big project for her trip would be to help repair the rift between her dad and grandfather, she learned about repairing rifts between herself and other people close to her. She learned about relationships and the value of healthy confrontation.

The story made me cry for all the right reasons. I kept turning pages and reading chapter after chapter, and even days after I finished the book, I’m still smiling and thinking back on moments from the story. I love the positive messages and values about race and family in SOME PLACES MORE THAN OTHERS. It’s definitely the kind of book I’d want to see in any library or classroom. Highly recommended.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Representation
Amara and her family are black.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
Amara’s family prays before dinner and attends church with friends. She compares the experience of going to her friend’s church with her other church experiences.

Violent Content
None.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support the costs of running this blog. I received a free copy of SOME PLACES MORE THAN OTHERS in exchange for my honest review.

Review and Blog Tour: The Very, Very Far North by Dan Bar-El

Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Middle Grade 8-12, , , , , ,

The Very, Very Far North
Dan Bar-El
Atheneum
Published September 3, 2019

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Goodreads

About The Very, Very Far North

An inquisitive polar bear named Duane befriends an array of animals as he discovers where he belongs in this charming classic-in-the making that’s reminiscent of Winnie the Pooh.

In the Very, Very Far North, past the Cold, Cold Ocean and just below the hill that looks like a baby whale, you’ll find Duane and his friends.

Duane is a sweet and curious young bear who makes friends with everyone he meets—whether they’re bossy, like Major Puff the puffin, or a bit vain, like Handsome the musk ox, or very, very shy, like Boo the caribou. For these arctic friends, every day is a new adventure!

My Review

I love how whimsical THE VERY, VERY FAR NORTH is. It’s kind of a collection of short stories all about Duane and the friends he meets in the Very, Very Far North. His friends have very different personalities, which means Duane has to pay attention and learn to relate to his friends based on their needs and his own comfort and boundaries.

I think this would be a great book to read with a younger reader as a way to have conversations about relationships and boundaries. Duane’s experiences happen naturally in the story, but the events definitely open a door to talk about what it means to be friends with someone with different needs than ours. I liked that.

THE VERY, VERY FAR NORTH is a simple, fun read. The characters are all very different from one another and bring a lot of humor and heart to the story. Recommended especially for fans of A. F. Harrold.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Representation
Most characters are animals. Two minor characters are humans.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
Major Puff is prepared to fight his enemy, the black-backed gull, if ever he should meet one.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support the costs of running this blog. I received a free copy of THE VERY, VERY FAR NORTH in exchange for my honest review.

About Dan Bar-El

Dan Bar-el is an award-winning children’s author, educator, and storyteller whose books include Audrey (cow), Not Your Typical Dragon, and The Very, Very Far North. Dan has worked with children ages three to thirteen as a school-age childcare provider, a preschool teacher, a creative drama teacher, and a creative writing teacher. He also teaches with the Creative Writing for Children Society. Dan lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, with artist and goldsmith Dominique Bréchault, and Sasha, the most adorable cat in the known universe. Visit him at DanBarel.com.

Follow the Blog Tour

September 2 – The Story Sanctuary – you are here!

September 3 – Kirsti Call

September 4 – Randomly Reading

September 5 – Alexa Loves Books

September 6 – Jean Little Library

September 7 – Tale Out Loud

September 8 – Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

September 9 – Insane About Books

Review: Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Historical, Romance, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , , , ,

Salt to the Sea
Ruta Sepetys
Philomel Books
February 2, 2016

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads | Book Depository

About SALT TO THE SEA

World War II is drawing to a close in East Prussia and thousands of refugees are on a desperate trek toward freedom, many with something to hide. Among them are Joana, Emilia, and Florian, whose paths converge en route to the ship that promises salvation, the Wilhelm Gustloff. Forced by circumstance to unite, the three find their strength, courage, and trust in each other tested with each step closer to safety.

Just when it seems freedom is within their grasp, tragedy strikes. Not country, nor culture, nor status matter as all ten thousand people—adults and children alike—aboard must fight for the same thing: survival.

My Review

Okay, so not that you’ve been clocking my reading lists the last few years, but SALT TO THE SEA has been on my list since 2016. I’ve heard amazing things about Ruta Sepetys, but this is the first book of hers that I’ve finally read.

The writing is super compelling. Each character is distinct, down to their priorities, and how they behave. For instance, one refugee is a former shoe maker. He views every problem in the world as one of shoes. Whatever problem you’re facing, having the right shoes will make a huge difference. It may seem silly, but in the context of the story, it creates several powerful moments, and he shows so much compassion for others through the way he looks after their shoes.

The story can be pretty brutal. Lots of the brutality happens in passing, which means it’s not long descriptions, but they still tend to be sometimes horrifying. War brings out the best and the worst in humanity, and SALT TO THE SEA shows both.

I think in some ways, that brutality makes the point that war is horrifying. That we sometimes look back at history remembering the glorious victories, but we do not want to remember the civilians who were brutalized by advancing soldiers or who starved or froze to death. Or in this case, the tragic death of more than nine thousand people.

Readers interested in World War II history will find this little-explored event compelling and detailed. Sensitive readers may find some descriptions too brutal. See below for further content details.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 15 up.

Representation
Characters are mainly German or Eastern European.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
No profanity used.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing between girl and boy.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
Sensitive readers, beware. References to some super dark things. Characters hear rumors of horrors committed by the Russian army as they advance through Germany. References to rape. Some scenes show the events leading up to an assault. Some brief descriptions of the desperate things people do to escape the Russians: murder/suicide of an entire family, desperate people ultimately killing their small children trying to save them.

When the ship sinks, some people make sacrifices so others may live. Other people refuse to help those around them, even harming them in their desperation.

Drug Content 
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links which cost you nothing but which help support this blog.

Review: The Silence Between Us by Alison Gervais

Book Review and Content, Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , ,

The Silence Between Us
Alison Gervais
Blink YA
Published August 6, 2019

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Goodreads

About The Silence Between Us

Moving halfway across the country to Colorado right before senior year isn’t Maya’s idea of a good time. Leaving behind Pratt School for the Deaf where she’s been a student for years only to attend a hearing school is even worse. Maya has dreams of breaking into the medical field and is determined to get the grades and a college degree to match, and she’s never considered being Deaf a disability. But her teachers and classmates at Engelmann High don’t seem to share her optimism.

And then there’s Beau Watson, Engelmann’s student body president and overachiever. Maya suspects Beau’s got a hidden agenda when he starts learning ASL to converse with her, but she also can’t deny it’s nice to sign with someone amongst all the lip reading she has to do with her hearing teachers and classmates. Maya has always been told that Deaf/hearing relationships never work, and yet she can’t help but be drawn to Beau as they spend more and more time together.

But as much Maya and Beau genuinely start to feel for one another, there are unmistakable differences in their worlds. When Maya passes up a chance to receive a cochlear implant, Beau doesn’t understand why Maya wouldn’t want to hear again. Maya is hurt Beau would want her to be anything but who she is—she’s always been proud to be Deaf, something Beau won’t ever be able to understand. Maya has to figure out whether bridging that gap between the Deaf and hearing worlds will be worth it, or if staying true to herself matters more.

My Review

I don’t know why this sometimes happens, but I ended up reading three books almost back to back that focused on the Deaf community. It was cool seeing how all three authors handled Deaf characters and conversations in sign language in their books, too. I liked that THE SILENCE BETWEEN US included conversations in sign language. It kept the story connected to what was happening and reinforced some of the struggles/problems Maya wrestled with as she did things that a lot of us take for granted, like going to school or needing medical help.

I liked Maya’s relationship with her brother and mom. They made an unusual family, close-knit and loving but still fighting their own battles, too. The relationships felt pretty real to me. I also liked that Maya had different kinds of friends and had to learn how to navigate those relationships, which often took her outside her comfort zone.

I felt like the plot slowed down a lot around the 3/4 mark. Usually at that point a story is ramping up to its final battle or climax, but it felt like Maya kind of lost her focus at that point, and I wasn’t sure what her goal really was anymore. She cares a lot about going to college and focuses a lot on that goal, but I never felt sure whether that was the big plot or whether the romance was supposed to be the main plot.

THE SILENCE BETWEEN US is ultimately a sweet romance about a Deaf girl and a hearing boy who have to figure out how to love and trust one another despite their differences and goals for the future. Readers who’ve enjoyed books by McCall Hoyle, like The Thing with Feathers will like the strong-willed heroine and sweet romance in this book.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Representation
Maya is Deaf and her brother has Cystic Fibrosis.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Brief kissing between a boy and girl.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
None.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support the costs of running this blog. I received a free copy of THE SILENCE BETWEEN US in exchange for my honest review.