This teen fiction series kicks off with The Girl of Fire and Thorns, and from the very beginning, I was hooked.
Elisa is the chosen one, the bearer of the Godstone, and destined to perform an as-yet unknown act of service. But, from the outside, she seems like an unlikely choice. She grows up feeling inferior, especially to her older sister. And then, of course, circumstances come together to test her mettle and resolve.
Elisa is a likable and self-deprecating heroine – and her vulnerability endears her to the reader. Her ability to uncover and lasso her powers will truly be a matter of life and death – not just for her, but for those she loves, and for her kingdom as well. Reading about her adventures made me want to reread Elske by Cynthia Voigt.
What impresses me most about this series are its well-defined characters and thoughtfully charted plot. The author published an additional book called Girl of Fire and Thorns Stories, which was made up of three novellas. Each of the three short stories added additional context and back story – and each was an incredible stand-alone reading in their own right.
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
Moby Shinobi series by Luke Flowers
The Moby Shinobi series by Luke Flowers is designed for early readers, with rhyming text: "Hi-ya! Hello! Come watch me train! I love to use my ninja brain."
Who wouldn't want to be ninja quick, with super kicks, and ninja speed to help people in need?
Much like in the Picture Book Ducks to the Rescue and other such tales, Moby's help isn't always helpful.
In Ninja on the Farm, when he swoops into the coop to gather eggs, he ends up waking all the chickens, the eggs are cracked, and it's a mess. When he spins around trying to gather hay, he does it so fast that the sheep end up sneezing. Likewise, his ninja jumps when trying to feed slop to the pigs don't turn out well.
But, ya gotta love a ninja with heart. Can he persevere and figure out a ninja job that's just right for him?
A similar scenario takes place in Ninja in the Kitchen, another book in this series, when Moby discovers that a "TWIST! TOSS! SPLAT! SQUISH!" approach to cooking might be a little over the top.
Once again, the story culminates in Moby saying, "I did my ninja best you see. I wish there was a job for me" and finding a viable means to help.
Because sooner or later, a ninja is bound to get it right.
Who wouldn't want to be ninja quick, with super kicks, and ninja speed to help people in need?
Much like in the Picture Book Ducks to the Rescue and other such tales, Moby's help isn't always helpful.
In Ninja on the Farm, when he swoops into the coop to gather eggs, he ends up waking all the chickens, the eggs are cracked, and it's a mess. When he spins around trying to gather hay, he does it so fast that the sheep end up sneezing. Likewise, his ninja jumps when trying to feed slop to the pigs don't turn out well.
But, ya gotta love a ninja with heart. Can he persevere and figure out a ninja job that's just right for him?
A similar scenario takes place in Ninja in the Kitchen, another book in this series, when Moby discovers that a "TWIST! TOSS! SPLAT! SQUISH!" approach to cooking might be a little over the top.
Once again, the story culminates in Moby saying, "I did my ninja best you see. I wish there was a job for me" and finding a viable means to help.
Because sooner or later, a ninja is bound to get it right.
The Three Rancheros series by Kate DiCamillo
My introduction to Kate DiCamillo’s Three Rancheros series took place when I stumbled across Lousiana’s Way Home, and became mesmerized while reading it. It turns out that this is actually the second book in this series about three friends, but the books are written so well that there are no spoilers if you read them out of order. The intended order of the three books is: (1.) Raymie Nightingale, (2.) Lousiana’s Way Home, and (3.) Beverly Right Here.
Reading this series reminded me of the Tillerman series by Cynthia Voigt, and how three of the books in that series (Homecoming, A Solitary Blue, and Come a Stranger) each included that same scene of a teacher falsely accusing a student of plagiarism, but from three different points of view.
The characterization is excellent. I love Raymie’s thoughtful way of flexing and unflexing her toes, just as her swim coach taught her, when she is thinking through a problem (such as her father running away with a dental hygienist). I love Lousiana Elefante’s quirky otherworldliness, which she shares with her eccentric grandmother. I love how tough Beverly tries to be on the outside, even while she has the most enormous, humongous caring heart.
This is a great reading recommendation to parents who like to share family read-alouds of chapter books with their children, and for kids who like realistic fiction. It’s also a great pick for parents who feel protective about the content of what their children are reading, either due to the kiddo being a prolific reader who is also on the young side, or due to religious concerns.
Reading this series reminded me of the Tillerman series by Cynthia Voigt, and how three of the books in that series (Homecoming, A Solitary Blue, and Come a Stranger) each included that same scene of a teacher falsely accusing a student of plagiarism, but from three different points of view.
The characterization is excellent. I love Raymie’s thoughtful way of flexing and unflexing her toes, just as her swim coach taught her, when she is thinking through a problem (such as her father running away with a dental hygienist). I love Lousiana Elefante’s quirky otherworldliness, which she shares with her eccentric grandmother. I love how tough Beverly tries to be on the outside, even while she has the most enormous, humongous caring heart.
This is a great reading recommendation to parents who like to share family read-alouds of chapter books with their children, and for kids who like realistic fiction. It’s also a great pick for parents who feel protective about the content of what their children are reading, either due to the kiddo being a prolific reader who is also on the young side, or due to religious concerns.
Blackthorn Key series by Kevin Sands
The Blackthorn Key series by Kevin Sands features Christopher Rowe, and his loyal friends Tom and Sally. When the series begins, Christopher is a mischievous apprentice to an apothecary, who is always getting his friend Tom in trouble. But when Christopher’s master is murdered, he and his friends set out to try to figure out the culprit - risking their lives to do so.
This is a great series for fans of adventure stories like Riordan, and children who like to solve mysteries and codes, like Trenton Lee Stewart’s Mysterious Benedict Society series. The reader has opportunities to try to solve codes (and I was totally trying in my mind to solve the mystery before Christopher and his friends did). The series is very addictive - upon reading each installment, the first thing I wanted to do was read the next one. The four books in this series are available on audio as well.
This is a great series for fans of adventure stories like Riordan, and children who like to solve mysteries and codes, like Trenton Lee Stewart’s Mysterious Benedict Society series. The reader has opportunities to try to solve codes (and I was totally trying in my mind to solve the mystery before Christopher and his friends did). The series is very addictive - upon reading each installment, the first thing I wanted to do was read the next one. The four books in this series are available on audio as well.
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