Review: Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater

Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie StiefvaterBlue Lily, Lily Blue
Maggie Stiefvater
Scholastic, Inc.
Published October 21, 2013

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Blue and her Raven Boys (Adam, Gansey and Ronan) continue their quest to find Glendower, the Welsh King who will grant them a wish for waking him. Leaving behind only a cryptic note, Blue’s mother Maura disappears on a quest of her own. Blue worries and grieves, turning to Gansey for solace. This is forbidden.

They just talk. But it’s clear both want more, a more she can’t allow herself to give. She’s seen his death, seen his departed soul marching along the ley line. She knows if she kisses her … Continue reading

Review: Seeker by Arwen Elys Dayton

Seeker by Arwen Elys DaytonSeeker
Arwen Elys Dayton
Random House Children’s, Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Published February 10, 2015

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Quin is proud of her family’s legacy. She comes from a line of Seekers, warriors who protect the weak and bring justice to the world. Along with two other initiates – her best friend and the boy she loves – she prepares to take an Oath that will brand her a Seeker forever.

Upon her initiation, she discovers that nothing is what she thought. Now it’s too late to escape the fate she’s chosen.

The balance between the three central characters – Quin, Shinobu and John – worked well. All … Continue reading

Review: Dragons at Crumbling Castle by Terry Pratchett

Dragons at Crumbling Castle by Terry PratchettDragons at Crumbling Castle and Other Tales
Terry Pratchett
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children’s
Published on February 3, 2015

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This collection features more than a dozen stories penned early in Pratchett’s career. Readers will discover carpet people bravely journey from their homes among rug fibers to discover strange new settlements, including one high on the leg of a table. A bus travels back in time, nearly trapping its inhabitants in long ago days. A curious tortoise escapes his lawn and saves woodland creatures from a deadly snake. An enterprising young lad teams up with a wizard to rid a castle of its dragon inhabitants.

Each … Continue reading

Review: The Ruby Airship by Sharon Gosling

The Ruby Airship by Sharon GoslingThe Ruby Airship
Sharon Gosling
Capstone Young Readers
Published on February 1, 2015

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Reformed jewel thief Remy Brunel tries to live the quiet life of a stage performer in a busy London theater. Thaddeus Rec, a detective with the London police force, wants to believe Remy has given up her old ways. When one of Remy’s old friends shows up in town, he can’t help but wonder if this man is connected to a string of impossible robberies he is responsible to solve.

As Thaddeus investigates further, he uncovers hints of a much larger, more sinister plot. Before … Continue reading

Review: Deep Blue by Jennifer Donnelly

Deep Blue by Jennifer DonnellyDeep Blue (Waterfire Saga Book One)
Jennifer Donnelly
Disney Hyperion
Published on May 6, 2014

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Dark dreams haunt Princess Serafina as she prepares to prove herself worthy to one day be Regina and rule her people. When an assassin attacks her mother and an army overtakes her home, Sera and her best friend are forced to flee for their lives. Could there be truth to the voices from Sera’s dreams? If she can find the ones she hears in her sleep, can they stop the evil force and restore Sera’s world to what it was?

As far … Continue reading

Review: Bricks by John Davidson

Bricks by John DavidsonBricks
John Davidson
Anaiah Press
Published February 3, 2015

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When an EF5 tornado rips through sixteen year-old Cori’s neighborhood, more than her house is reduced to rubble. Shocking truths about her family emerge in the aftermath. Her nemesis suffers amnesia and Cori can’t seem to get rid of her. Her best friend Slim becomes angry and reclusive. Everything is out of order, and for not-precisely-OCD Cori, this is a huge problem.

As a character, Cori is absolutely the believable high school princess. Davidson does a great job crafting this selfish yet somehow endearing heroine. Cori’s friends are great foils for her, too, often much more noble than she herself can … Continue reading