The Forests of Silence by Emily Rodda ★★★☆☆

A Solid Adventure

Fiction – Juvenile - High Fantasy

Age Level: 8 - 12 

131 pages

Publication Date: 2002

Deltora Quest #1

Literary Awards:  West Australian Young Readers' Book Award (WAYRBA) for Younger Readers (2002)

Only the jeweled Belt of Deltora can stop the plans of the dastardly Shadow Lord, but the gems were stolen long ago and hid around the land.  Who will have the courage to face overwhelming obstacles and make the belt whole once again?

While this book didn’t move me like Rowan of Rin it still was a fun adventure story and opens up the reader to the elaborate world of Deltora.  Ms. Rodda as always is a master world builder, with lovely visuals, interesting characters and a land full of wonder. 

Ms. Rodda’s writing effortless writing and quick pace kept my attention and wanting to know what happens next.  I like that the backstory started far enough back for the reader to really understand what was at stake and how easily woven it was into the first few pages.  The backstory also helps set a dramatic, pivotal point setting the stage for change and conquest.  Also, having the story on the shorter side will help it appeal to younger readers with shorter attention spans.

 Another great thing about this book is that it is a bit older so its’ series is finished along with a couple of others revolving around the same characters.

Rowan and the Keeper of the Crystal by Emily Rodda ★★★★☆

Another Winner

Fiction – Juvenile – High Fantasy

208 pages

Grade Level: 3 and up  Age Range: 8 and up

Publication Date:  1996

Rowan of Rin #3

Rowan and his mother are called to choose the new Keeper of the Crystal by the Maris folk, but when Rowan’s mother is poisoned only he can find the culprit and pick the new Keeper before the Zebak invasion.

Again I was blown away by how well done these books are.  Ms. Rodda is a rare talent, she describes these places like someone who has actually lived there and not just a place made up in her mind.  In this book the story telling style changes a bit from the first two, but I don’t feel that it detracts in any way.  Also the story type is a bit different too.  We again get to see Rowan grow, but also rely on the lessons he learned from his earlier challenges.  This story is about cunning and there is no guide or protector this time.  Rowan must become a leader and not just a follower and his new challenge is to discern the minds of others. Also another cool thing is that we get to visit the Coast and the Maris people with Rowan for the first time. 

Rowan and the Travelers by Emily Rodda ★★★★☆

Lessons Learned

Fiction – Juvenile – High Fantasy

192 pages

Age Range: 8 - 12 years

Grade Level: 3 and up

Publication Date:  1994

Rowan of Rin #2

In book two of the series Rowan, must face unknown dangers and save his people from a strange sleeping sickness overcoming the village.  His only help comes from the roaming Travelers, but they may be the very enemy Rowan is looking to defeat.  With time running out and lives in the balance can Rowan unmask the true enemy and save his people before it is too late?

With the same high caliber writing I expected after reading book one, Ms. Rodda effortlessly weaves together a mystery I was eager to see Rowan solve.  To save his family and the other people of Rin from the sleeping sickness Rowan must use the lessons he learned from the journey up the mountain and overcome his own prejudices to overcome the enemy.  And while there is always plenty of action like the first one, Ms. Rodda’s stories are still really about the characters.  Rowan learns and adapts, but still manages to stay true to his real strengths an open loving heart.  While the people of Rin are reminded that even the Travelers live differently than them they are still their allies and each group can learn a lot from the other.

Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede ★★★★☆

A princess who can rescue herself and her friends.

Fiction – Juvenile – High Fantasy

Age Range: 10 and up Grade Level: 4 - 8

212 pages

Publication Date: 1990

Enchanted Forest Chronicles #1

Literary Awards: Rebecca Caudill Young Reader's Book Award Nominee (1993)

Princess Cimorene isn’t your typical fairytale princess despite her family’s attempts to make her one.  Nor does she want to be.  Cimorene wants freedom to choose her own path, so when her parents arrange for her to marry she decides to it’s time to run away.  Told to head to the Enchanted Forest by a frog Cimorene begin the adventure of her life.  And the ending is anything, but typical, just like Cimorene.

So it is fairly obvious that while this book takes place in a typical fairytale book world, Cimorene, as a nonconformist, couldn’t have a typical story.  This story has no rescue, no knight, no happily-ever-after, because Cimorene actually volunteers to be a dragon’s princess.  Cimorene as a heroine is strong, independent and most importantly bored with normal princess life, and she has the gumption and courage to take chances.  Now the thing I really valued about her is even though she wanted to choose a different path from the norm she gives others to follow the normal one without scorn.  She gives them the freedom to be who they are.  Also it was nice to see that her princess upbringing did help her out in her new role.  So her upbringing did have value even if she didn’t like it at the time.

Charming, whimsical and fun this book is nice light read, with interesting characters set in a familiar world that keeps turning custom on its ear.  This is a book I can confidently that all ages will enjoy

Terrier by Tamora Pierce ★★★★☆

Tamora Pierce at her best!

Fiction – YA – High Fantasy/Mystery

Age Range: 12 and up Grade Level: 7 and up

582 pages

Publication Date:  October 24th 2006

Beka Cooper #1

Literary Awards:  Mythopoeic Fantasy Award Nominee for Children's Literature (2012), West Australian Young Readers' Book Award (WAYRBA) for Older Readers (2009), ALA's Top Ten Best Books Nominee for Young Adults (2007)

The lower city of Corus is rookie, Beka Cooper’s, new beat with the Provost’s Guard.  Even with her magical powers of hearing the voices of the dead she will have to rely on her friends and her own tenacity to “dog” after the Shadow Snake, a villain who steals and sometimes kills children for what they want,  and investigate who is killing for fire opals.

I have reread this book many times and still never tire of it.  The diary format really works well for this engrossing double crime mystery.  And I have to say I admire Ms. Pierce for branching out. The introduction written by other characters creates a great back story and links it to the other Tortall books.  And as a story about underbelly of Tortall as opposed to the nobles, the place and characters come alive through Beka’s eyes with a gritty honesty.  Beka Cooper is a realistic heroine even with her magical abilities.  She is strong, has integrity, observant of her surroundings and above all compassionate.  The secondary charaters like; Clary Goodwin, Mattes Tunstall, Pounce, and Rosto the Piper are all in themselves well rounded out and life like.

This is Tamora Pierce at her best.  A well-constructed story, fantastically balanced between plot, characters and action with a polished writing style I truly envy. It is exciting without losing the characters and well layered.  Each scene adds some aspect of the story, whether it be character or plot.  This story while nicely woven into Tortall’s history, by itself is rich and textured with a mythology somewhat branching out from the other books.  It could definitely be read as a stand-alone.  The glossary extras at the end plus the map at the beginning really helps ( I know I’ve said it before , but I will say it again, I wished more sci-Fi and fantasy books had them).  Frankly, I can’t think of anything that could improve it.

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine ★★★★☆

Fun and Whimsical

Fiction – Juvenile – High Fantasy

Reading Level: Age 8 and up  Grade 3 and up

240 pages

Publication Date: 1997

Enchanted #1

Literary awards:  Newbery Honor (1998), Mythopoeic Fantasy Award Nominee for Children's Literature (1999), Rebecca Caudill Young Reader's Book Award (2000), Grand Canyon Reader Award for Teen Book (1999), Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award (1999) Iowa Teen Award (2000)

Cursed with the “gift” of obedience on the day of her birth by an interfering fairy, spunky Ella Varner refuses to be cowed by the orders of others.  When her beloved mother dies Ella begins a quest for freedom from her “gift”.  With the help of a magic book, her Fairy Godmother and her friend Prince Char, Ella can take on anything; even an absent Father, finishing school, Ogres and a horrible stepmother and nasty stepsisters.  Through it all Ella uses her sass and intelligence to carry her through the worst till she can get her happily-ever-after.

A fun, whimsical take on the Cinderella story, Levine breathes fresh life into the familiar characters, giving them depth and a new world to live in.  This breezy read takes us to the fanciful kingdom of Frell, where it is not unusual to fall prey to silver-tongued ogres or to attend a giant’s wedding.  Elves live among the trees, Gnomes can see into the future and Fairies in disguise show up for weddings and births.

Ella our heroine is a character worth admiring.  She is strong, competent and independent, all of the characteristics that attracts Prince Char to begin with (and even her self-centered absentee father can’t, help but admire her for it to).  Prince Char, future ruler of Frell, is tired of fawning courtiers and stuffy manners.  He finds Ella very refreshing and sees the value in her authenticity and intelligence. 

There is no love at first sight in this book – thank goodness.  Instead, Ella and Char have a very balanced relationship and I appreciate how in creating a strong character in Ella Levine doesn’t fall into the trap -that a lot of writers or TV shows do- of making Char weak or an object of ridicule who needs Ella to take care of him and save him from his own incompetence.  Their relationship is what it should be, filled with mutual respect and admiration, the forgiveness of each other faults and the willingness to put another’s need before your own.

While I’m usually not into the idea of happily-ever-after (yeah, I will resist the urge to go on an unrealistic expectations rant) Levine is a very gifted story teller and I look forward to when I can share Ella’s story with my girls.

ISBN  0590920685 (ISBN13: 9780590920681)

The Dark Hills Divide by Patrick Carman★★☆☆☆

Where’s the Spark?

Fiction – Juvenile - High Fantasy

Age Level: 9 and up  Grade Level: 4 and up

272 pages

Publication Date: December 28th 2004

Land of Elyon #1

Twelve-year-old Alexa Daley has always dreamed of escaping beyond the high walls surrounding the complex of cities that make up her world to the wilderness outside.  While on her annual summer trip to Bridewell a chance presents itself when the community founder Thomas Warvold passes away.  Left with a key and a mystery Alexa finds a path to freedom and danger.  Intercepted by a group of unusual allies Alexa is given knowledge of a sinister plot with its roots in the beginning of creation of her community and a mystery man controlling the event.  With those Alexa holds dearest in danger Alexa must find a way to pass on her knowledge and unmask the mystery man behind everything before it’s too late.

This book was just below okay and rather disappointing for me.  To be fair I will say that the concept was interesting and writing decent.  True I was never quite sure what to make of Alexa, but she wasn’t the most immediate issue I faced while reading.  The real problem was the missing spark of life.  The point where the story went from something you read to a place you could occupy in your imagination. 

When I read Harry Potter I attended Hogwarts with him.  I felt all the elation of a Quidditch win and the heart break of Dumbledore’s death – okay more than just heart break I cried through like the first five readings of the Half Blood Prince.  In Anne of Green Gables I giggled when Anne broke the slate on Gilbert Blythe’s head and felt a thrill when she finally got to wear puff sleeves.  I mean I named my daughter Avonlea for heaven sake.  With the Dark Hills Divide I never felt that compulsion to enter into the Land of Elyon. 

I found the lifelessness more sad than anything else (especially since writing a book is a lot of work).  I have read books much more mundane in their concepts and the writing with a lot to wish for, but they had the life giving spark which made a world of difference.  I’m giving it the two stars, because I certainly didn’t dislike it, but I also have no real love for it.  Ever the optimist though, I have decided not give up on Patrick Carman as an author and concede –or possibly hope- this might just be a fluke in this book.

ISBN 0439700930 (ISBN13: 9780439700931)