Lord Sunday Keys to the Kingdom #7 by Garth Nix Adventure Fantasy * * * * Stars (Great!) A boy named Arthur is stuck in an alternate world that is in a four-way war. He, who is destined to rule it, works with his friends to bring down the last of the enemy and stop the world, and ours, too, from ending. I liked the book because the author took the time to lay out … Read more
Nightshade Nightshade #1 by Andrea Cremer Fantasy Romance Supernatural Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) The author drops you into a high school, but it’s full of “witches” (Keepers) and “werewolves” (Guardians) at a very tense time – the time of an arranged marriage. It all becomes undone when the “bride” falls in love with TWO men. After that, she must unravel the mystery of her, her race, her marriage, and her … Read more
Kimi ni Todoke by Karuho Shiina Adventure Fantasy Graphic Novel Manga Realistic Fiction Romance * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Kimi ni Todoke is about a 15 year old girl (but then she turns 16 later on). She is very shy and she has very long black hair. She is actually really nice, but she has no friends because she’s an outsider because of the way she looks. She’s actually really pretty. Her name … Read more
Furious by Jill Wolfson Fantasy Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Three girls are introduced, all leading separate lives, having different problems, and going to the same school. One thing they have in common is their hot tempers. Very easily do they get mad, and when they do, precautions must be taken. Ambrosia, a classmate, calls all three to her house one day, to get to know them. Instead, she ignites their … Read more
The Alchemyst Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel #1 by Michael Scott Adventure Fantasy Review #1 * * * * Stars (Great!) Twins Josh & Sophie Newman’s lives are turned upside down by the revelation that they are supposed to be the saviors of mankind. They are told they are the twins of Gold and Silver by Josh’s employer, a bookseller who turns out to be an alchemyst named Nicholas Flamel – and he’s over … Read more
The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy Fantasy Tween * * * * Stars (Great!) Four Princes Charming team up to save Cinderella from the clutches of the evil witch, Zaubera in this funny fairytale mashup. Zaubera has also kidnapped all of the kingdom’s bards as a publicity stunt (she wants people to know her NAME), and they must also be rescued. Unfortunately, all of the princes (except Liam) are pretty inept … Read more
Dragonbreath by Ursula Vernon Fantasy * * * Stars (Pretty good) Danny Dragonbreath is a dragon, but so far he’s not a very good one – he can’t even breathe fire, no matter how much he practices (and he’s getting tired of his dad’s long-winded lectures on the subject). He goes to a school for reptiles and amphibians and his best friend, Wendell, is an iguana. When Danny receives a failing grade on his report … Read more
Mr. & Mrs. Bunny: Detectives Extraordinaire! by Mrs. Bunny translated from the Rabbit by Polly Horvath Fantasy Funny Mystery * * * * Stars (Great!) Mr. & Mrs. Bunny have just decided (one of Mrs. Bunny’s many whims) to become detectives when Madeline’s parents (humans) go missing. Madeline is a responsible young girl, who is about to graduate from the 5th grade, and she’s accustomed to taking care of her folks. When they are abducted … Read more
Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor Fantasy * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Sunny is a young albino American-Nigerian who has been living in Nigeria since her mother had a premonition that something bad was going to happen to her if she stayed in the States. Her father never wanted a daughter and certainly never wanted to go back to Nigeria, so he holds a grudge against her. When Sunny’s classmate, Orlu, introduces her to … Read more
Masterpiece by Elise Broach Fantasy * * * Stars (Pretty good) Martin is a young beetle who lives in the walls of the Pompadays’ apartment in New York City. The beetles don’t think much of Mr. & Mrs. Pompaday or bouncing baby William, but they are quite fond of 11-year old James (Mrs. Pompaday’s son from a previous marriage). Martin wants to do something special for James on his birthday, so he uses James’ new … Read more