Hood

Hood

By: Stephen Lawhead
Rating: 5/5
Reviewer: Liz

Summary:
Robin Hood: The Legend Begins Anew

For centuries, the legend of Robin Hood and his band of thieves has captivated the imagination. Now the familiar tale takes on new life, fresh meaning, and an unexpected setting.

Hunted like an animal by Norman invaders, Bran ap Brychan, heir to the throne of Elfael, has abandoned his father's kingdom and fled to the greenwood. There, in a primeval forest of the Welsh borders, danger surrounds him--for this woodland is a living, breathing entity with mysterious powers and secrets, and Bran must find a way to make it his own if he is to survive.

Steeped in Celtic mythology and the political intrigue of medieval Britain, Stephen R. Lawhead conjures up an ancient past and holds a mirror to contemporary realities. Prepare yourself for an epic tale that dares to shatter everything you thought you knew about Robin Hood.

Review:

What a spectacular twist on the Robin Hood mythos! Just changing the setting allows for a great deal of historical detail to be put in, all while giving little nods to the original story, such as the title “Rhi-Bran a Hud.” It is a wonderful medieval story of honor lost and the fight to reclaim it.

Souless: The Manga Vol. 2

Soulless: The Manga Volume 2: Adaptation of Changeless

Author: Gail Carriger, Art by REM
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Reviewer: Todd

Summary: Settling into her new life as the Lady Woolsey, Alexia finds her days quite challenging. Whether it is a regiment of supernatural soldiers camped out on her front lawn or the demands of being the Queen’s “muhjah,” there never seems to be a want of new hurdles to overcome. But when stories of supernaturals rendered normal by some unknown force begin cropping up, Alexia has a rather serious mystery on her hands. Can she root out the cause of this phenomenon, which smacks of some larger plot at work?

Review: When I saw this continuation of the series I knew I had to take a look at it. And not for a moment was I disappointed. The story and world are still enthralling and while I’m certain that the original novel will have more tidbits about the world and characters this is an excellent sequel for those that just want a quick read to know the meat of the story.

Words in the Dust

Words in the Dust

Author: Trent Reedy
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Reviewer: Sue

Summary: This book is set in Afghanistan, and even though the Taliban is no longer in power, their influence is still very much a part of life.  Zulaikha, the 13-year-old daughter of a traditional father, and his second wife (Zulaikha’s mother was killed by the Taliban for having books) has a cleft palate, which makes her less desirable for a match in marriage.  Living with the deformity has brought a lot of bullying, cruelty, and name calling to Zulaikha’s life.  After a chance meeting with Meena, a former professor, who is going to teach her to read, the American soldiers come into town and offer Zulaikha a chance to fix her cleft palate.  This book introduces many aspects of life in Afghanistan, the economy, daily rituals, and traditions in a compelling story about a young girl. 

Review: In the Author’s Note it tells that the story of Zulasikha was based on a real Afghani girl that the author met while he was stationed in Afghanistan.  It is a heart wrenching story of a young girl, with a facial deformity, living in a society that places a lot of importance on marriage prospects.  This wonderful, yet painful story shows the impact of changing the life of one girl, and how that can affect so many others.  It is a powerful book that stays with you. 

Storm Front

Storm Front

Author: Jim Butcher
4/5 stars
Reviewer: Marina

The only ad you’ll find in Chicago’s yellow pages that you’ll find when you look up “wizard” is as follows:

“HARRY DRESDEN—WIZARD

Lost Items Found. Paranormal Investigations.

Consulting. Advice. Reasonable Rates.

No Love Potions, Endless Purses, Parties, or Other Entertainment”

Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden is a professional wizard. The only one that he knows of. Most of Harry’s jobs are basically private investigation with the aid of his magic. Harry makes most of his income through being a paid consultant for the Chicago P.D. Special Investigations Unit- the division of the force that gets tasked with all the bizarre, unexplainable, and frequently supernatural cases that arise in the city. In this story he gets called by Karrin Murphy to investigate the grizzly death of two people found with their hearts exploded out of their chests in a hotel room. There can be only one explanation—black magic. And serious black magic to boot. Pick up this read and join the wise cracking Harry on his investigation and battle against a black mage.

Storm Front is the first book in a series I encourage you to keep reading in even if you aren’t thrilled by the first book or two. Book three is where Butcher really hits his stride and if you’re anything like me you’ll be picking up one after the other not wanting to stop.  

The Seer of Shadows

The Seer of Shadows

Author: Avi
Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Reviewer: Christi

Summary: In 1872 New York, a 14-year-old boy becomes an apprentice to a photographer. When a rich lady dressed in black comes in to ask them to try and take a spirit photo of her recently deceased daughter, things start to happen. The photographer decides to create a ghost photo for his client while his apprentice is seeing the real thing. With the help of the maid girl will they be able to stop this ghost from trying to murder?

Review: I would recommend this book to kids 5^th grade and up who like to get scared. When Horace (the apprentice) takes his first picture he can’t believe he’s captured a ghost in it. Eventually he realizes the more pictures he takes the more the ghost is made real. The ghost in this book (Elenora) is angry that she was murdered (starved to death) and she wants revenge. I found this book a little creepy, but that’s probably what the kids will like about it.

Icefall

Icefall

Author: Matthew J. Kirby
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Reviewer: Lydia

I rarely read youth fiction, but I'm happy I stepped outside of my comfort zone and read this book. Icefall is a superbly written tale for youngsters (and adults alike!), and it's a unique story which draws on various Norse myths.

The main character is a timid girl named Solveig, who has been banished to an ice-locked fortress so that she and her siblings/fellow heirs to the throne can stay safe while their father wages war. Along with her family is a legion of soldiers, maids, and a storyteller. The setting is excellently described, and the icy wonderland around them almost becomes its own character.

As the story progresses, it becomes clear that even though the king only sent his closest friends to guard his children, there is a traitor amidst the group. Strange and even violent incidents occur, and the group is in peril of starving or perishing in such a treacherous and unforgiving landscape.

What began as a plan to keep them safe backfires when it becomes apparent that the very wall of ice keeping them safe is also keeping them trapped. Solveig simultaneously tries to uncover the culprit while also coming to terms with her own interests as a future storyteller, even when these dreams clash with her family’s expectations.

This book contains an excellent message for kids: never stop believing in yourself, and don’t give up on your dreams! Cuddle up with a cup of hot cocoa and read this fantastic book before the weather turns!

Found

Found
by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Reviewer: Denise

Summary: Found is book one of The Missing series by Margaret Peterson Haddix. The series starts off by describing a plane that appears out of nowhere filled with babies when it suddenly vanishes in thin air. Then, Haddix introduces two adopted 13-year-old boys, Jonah and Chip, who are receiving mysterious messages that provoke them to investigate their past and find out who is sending them these letters. The boys, along with Jonah's sister, go on an exciting journey to piece everything together.

Review: Found starts off a bit slow, but once the teens start piecing all their clues together, the mystery keeps you reading while the main characters try to understand messages, strange disappearing people, and the tale of a disappearing plane. This series is a nice start for a science fiction reader who wants to explore topics such as time travel, adoption, and the unknown. Readers who enjoyed The Kane Chronicles series by Rick Riordan will appreciate this book. Caught, book five, is available now.