The Essence Book Review

 Author: Kimberly Derting. Release date: 2013. Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books. ISBN: 9781442445598.

Annotation: Now the queen of Ludania, Charlie is coping with her newfound rule over her troubled kingdom where her demolishing of the caste system isn’t as accepted as she’d hoped. To make matters worse, Sabara’s essence which, unbeknownst to anyone else, was transferred when the evil queen was killed is lurking deep inside Charlie, threatening to take control at any moment.

Personal thoughts: I seem to keep being disappointed by sequels to novels that I really loved and, unfortunately, The Essence is yet another sophomore slump for me. The Pledge was a really interesting and entertaining story, with the language-based caste system, Charlie uncovering her role as heir to the throne of Ludania and her relationship with Max. In The Essence, Charlie is now a bit of a brat, whining constantly about all of the issues she has to deal with as queen. The plot is also slow and never seems to pick up a lot of speed at any point in the novel. I hope that the author can turn the series around with an excellent third novel, but I’m sorry to say that my hopes aren’t very high.    

Plot summary: Now that she is settling into her newfound role as the queen of Ludania, Charlie is struggling to cope with unrest in her troubled kingdom. The caste system that used to strictly divide the country by language has been abolished, and Charlie, Max and Brooklynn are trying to ensure that the transition to equality goes smoothly. Unfortunately, not everyone in Ludania is thrilled about what Charlie has done. Threats against the queen are uncovered on a daily basis, making Charlie fear for the safety of her family, especially her younger sister, Angelina. Charlie’s biggest threat, however, is not something outside the castle walls, but lives deep inside of her: the essence of the evil queen Sabara, the one Charlie supposedly killed to become queen, is trapped in Charlie and wants nothing more than to get out. The longer Sabara’s spirit lives within Charlie, the more their thoughts and memories become linked, and Charlie soon realizes that there is much she didn’t know about the former queen of Ludania. What do the dreams of Sabara’s previous lives mean? Why does Charlie find herself drawn to a mysterious strange, Niko Bartolo, from a neighboring kingdom? Can Charlie keep the presence of Sabara’s essence within her a secret from the people she loves?

Review: Following the popular first installment in The Pledge trilogy, veteran author Kimberly Derting continues her latest series with The Essence. Beginning shortly after the events of the previous novel, Charlie, the vendor’s daughter turned queen of the kingdom of Ludania, finds herself in a series of increasingly dangerous situations. Her people aren’t as crazy about her as she’d hoped they be, it seems like someone is trying very hard to kill her, she’s not that into being treated like royalty, and the spirit of the evil queen Sabara, who also happens to be her boyfriend’s grandmother, is living inside of her. A lot of Charlie’s spunk that was present in the first novel is absent in the wake of all of these challenges, turning her from a likable leading lady to a bit of a whiner. Things go from bad to worse when Charlie is sent to a summit where the queens of neighboring kingdoms meet to discuss official business and try to out shine one another. Charlie doesn’t know the etiquette that the other queens have had years to learn, plus her trip is especially rocky considering that someone really wants her dead. Much of what was enjoyable about the first novel, the dystopian nature of Ludania, the caste system, Charlie’s budding romance with Max, is completely absent in the sequel. While The Essence isn’t necessarily a poorly written or “bad” story, it’s drastically different from its predecessor, making it unclear if fans of The Pledge will like it. For readers who don’t mind the story veering off from a mix of adventure and dystopia into full on fantasy territory, The Essence will prove to be an entertaining read. For those who aren’t into battles, commanders, armies, and dead queens, however, the likelihood of enjoying the novel enough to pick up the third and final installment is slim.

Genre:  Fantasy

Reading level: Grade 8+

Similar titles: The Pledge by Kimberly Derting, Chemical Garden trilogy by Lauren DeStefano, Divergent trilogy by Veronica Roth, Cinder trilogy by Marissa Meyer.

Themes:  Royalty, war, queens, magic, danger, assassins.

Awards/Reviews:  Positive review from Kirkus.

Series Information: Second installment in The Pledge trilogy. First installment, The Pledge, released in 2012. Third installment announced, but no release date yet.  

Discussion questions:

-         How has Charlie changed since assuming her new role as Queen of Ludania? How have Brookylnn and Aron changed?

-         How would you explain the relationship between Charlie and Sabara’s “essence”?

-        Why is Charlie so drawn to Niko? How does this attraction threaten her relationship with Max?

-        Why do you think some people in Ludania are not in favor of Charlie’s “New Equality”? Do you think social or political change is hard for people to accept in the real world?

-        Why was it so important to Avonlea when Charlie gave her a name?

-         Which of the queens at the summit did you like the most? The least?

-          What would you like to see happen in the third installment of this trilogy?

Grave Mercy Book Review

Author: Robin LaFevers. Release date: 2012. Publisher:  Houghton Mifflin Books for Children. ISBN: 9780547628349.

Annotation: After narrowly escaping an abusive marriage she was forced into, seventeen-year-old Ismae is taken to the Convent of Saint Mortain where she is initiated as a daughter of the god of Death and trained as an assassin. After three years of living in the convent, Ismae is sent to the high court of Brittany to uncover a plot to overthrow the young duchess. Posing as the mistress of the duchess’ older brother, Gavriel Duval, Ismae learns that her training in the convent has not prepared her for the treachery that is part of life in the royal court.

Personal thoughts: I love historical fiction, so I was excited to read that Grave Mercy combines the genre with the paranormal and romance. Although I thought the book was a little long (I know plenty of teens I would try to recommend it to would blanch when seeing its thickness), I did enjoy the story quite a bit. I only knew a little bit about Brittany prior to picking it up, and it inspired me to learn more, something that it is likely to do for young adult readers as well. I also found Ismae to be a very likable character, and enjoyed seeing her walls come down as she began to have feelings for Gavriel. Like I said, some chapters did get to be a bit wordy and some of the subplots could have been eliminated as well, but overall I think this a good choice for a teen reader who wants a mix of history and fantasy. I’m looking forward to the sequel.

Plot summary: Raised by an abusive father and shunned by her village for a large, unsightly birthmark on her back, Ismae Rienne’s life in late 15^th-century Brittany has never been easy. After her father forces her into a marriage with a wealthy man in the village, Ismae hopes that her life has taken a turn for the better, only to soon find out that her new husband is just as abusive as her father, savagely beating her on their wedding night. Ismae’s prayers are finally answered, however, when a local priest smuggles her out of the village and takes her to the Convent of Saint Mortain. There Ismae learns that her birthmark is actually a sign that she is a daughter of Saint Mortain, the god of Death, and destined to live in the convent with dozens of other girls, training to become a deadly assassin. Ismae spends three years in the convent before she is charged by the reverend mother to travel to the high court of Brittany to pose as the mistress of the mysterious and handsome Gavriel Duval, brother of the young duchess who is set to rule the country. Duval, along with the reverend mother and one of the duchess’ closest advisors, Chancellor Crunard, fear that traitors are living at court, plotting with the French to overthrow the duchess. The reverend mother and Crunard both fear that Duval might be the one to blame, and it is up to Ismae to determine who is committing treason and, thus, deserves the wrath of Saint Mortain. Soon after arriving at court, however, Ismae realizes that her training at the convent has not prepared her for the treachery that abounds under the duchess’ roof. Ismae can trust no one, even Gavriel, who she finds herself developing feelings for. Can a handmaiden of death truly hope to save a country amidst a sea of traitors?

Review: From veteran author Robin LaFevers comes this epically scaled novel set in 15^th century Britanny. The story revolves around seventeen-year-old Ismae Rienne, an assassin trained in the fictitious Convent of Saint Mortain. Several characters in the novel, however, are based on real people, particularly Anne Duchess of Brittany. Readers who are not familiar with Brittany, the small kingdom that became a province of France in 1532, will learn quite a bit about the intricacies involved in the country trying to remain autonomous despite threats from its much larger and more powerful neighbors. The author does a good job of tying the more historical aspects of the novel into Ismae’s story which is more along the lines of what one would expect from a young adult novel. Ismae is a typical teen heroine with a bonus: she is a deadly assassin trained by even deadlier nuns in service to Saint Mortain. There are some paranormal components of the novel, but the majority of the story surrounds the high court of Brittany and, more importantly, Ismae’s relationship with the troubled but kind Gavriel Duval. The book is quite lengthy at almost 550 pages, but this gives the author plenty of time to develop the characters and story, making it likely that readers will want to pick up the sequel, Dark Triumph, which is set to be released April 2, 2013.

Genre:  Historical-Fiction

Reading level: Grade 8+

Similar titles: The Circle Cast: The Lost Years of Morgan le Fay by Alex Epstein, The False Princess by Eilis O’Neal, Gilt by Katherine Longshore, Waterfall by Lisa T. Bergren.

Themes:  Assassins, death, convents, royalty, medieval times, treason, conspiracy, Brittany, love, duty, loyalty.

Awards/Reviews:  Starred review from Booklist, positive reviews from Kirkus, Publishers Weekly and School Library Journal.     

Series Information: First book in His Fair Assassin series.  

Discussion questions:

-       Why do you think her scar caused the village to shun Ismae? Do you think people still shun those who have physical deformities or handicaps? Why or why not?

-        If you were given the opportunity, would you want to train with the nuns of the Convent of Saint Mortain?

-     How would you describe the marque of Mortain? What do you think it is? What does it mean?

-        Why do you think Ismae has such a hard time trusting Gavriel at first? What do you think changes her mind?

-        Were you surprised to learn the identity of the traitor at court? Why or why not?

-          The sequel to this novel, Dark Triumph, is about Sybella and her story. What would you like to see happen in this book?

Gilt Book Review

Author: Katherine Longshore. Release date: 2012. Publisher:  Viking Juvenile. ISBN: 9780670013999.

Annotation: In 1539 England, Katherine “Kitty” Tylney lives in the Dowager Duchess of Norfolk’s household, along with many other young women but, most importantly, her best friend, the beautiful and popular Catherine “Cat” Howard. After Cat is sent to live in the royal court and catches the eye of King Henry VIII, however, how will their friendship survive as Cat seems more and more destined to become the next Queen of England?

Personal thoughts: I love all things related to Henry VIII and his six wives (I’ve read bunches novels on the subject, watched every episode of The Tudors, have seen all the movies…I’m a hardcore fan!) When I saw that a young adult novel had been published about the life of Catherine Howard, I was very excited and, not surprisingly, enjoyed reading Gilt quite a bit. I’ve always thought that Catherine Howard’s story would make a great novel for teens because she herself was a teenager, thrust into a royal life with little education or knowledge of what to expect. I liked reading from Kitty’s perspective, especially since it gave the opportunity to portray Catherine as a 1539 version of Regina George. I am really looking forward to reading the rest of the series and am happy that Katherine Longshore is re-telling this exciting period of history for the young adult audience.

Plot summary: In 1539 England, Katherine “Kitty” Tylney and her best friend Catherine “Cat” Howard live together, along with dozens of other young ladies, in the household of the Dowager Duchess of Norfolk. Forgotten by their poor but aristocratic families, Kitty and Cat and the rest of the girls spend their time flirting with the male servants of the household. Cat, the most vivacious and popular of the girls, rules over the maidens’ chamber, deciding who does what, who is in favor, and who is to be shunned. Even though she is awkward, shy, and not nearly as beautiful and bewitching as Cat, Kitty enjoys a certain level of social protection in the maidens’ chamber as Cat’s closest friend and confidante. Everything changes, however, when the Duke of Norfolk decides to send Cat to live in the royal court as a maid servant to Anne of Cleves, King Henry VII’s latest wife. Kitty and the rest of the ladies mourn the loss of their leader, and life quiets down in the household of the Dowager Duchess until Cat writes to invite Kitty and two other ladies, Joan and Alice, to join her at court. It seems that King Henry has fallen under Cat’s spell, and is intent upon marrying her. As the best friend of the Queen, Kitty is suddenly thrust into a life of fancy gowns, parties and men. But no secret is safe in the court of Henry VIII, and idle gossip can lead to a date with the executioner. Will Kitty be able to survive a life in service to a Queen like Cat, or is she destined to fall like so many in King Henry’s court?

Review: The story of Catherine Howard, the young, beautiful, bubbly and ultimately ill-fated fifth wife of King Henry VIII has been retold by countless authors over the years. In Gilt, however, author Katherine Longshore has successfully adapted the history into a novel for young adults, something that is actually quite fitting considering that Catherine herself was only a teenager when she became Queen. The author portrays Cat as something of a “mean girl.” Popular, charismatic and charming, Cat rules over the other girls in the household of the Dowager Duchess like a high school queen bee. Although Kitty is considered by all to be Cat’s best friend, it is clear from the start that their friendship is not equitable. Kitty is at the mercy of her friend, and it seems that their relationship is strongest when Kitty does Cat’s bidding, regardless of what danger it puts her in. Many readers will be able to identify with this, especially those who have had experiences with friends like Cat who seem to use friendships for their own gain. After Cat goes to court and eventually wins the heart of the King, the relationship between Kitty and her best friend becomes even more strained. The novel is an excellent jumping off point to spark interest in this time period for young adult readers. The author does a good job of relaying the history while making the story intriguing and relatable for teens. Gilt is the first in a series of books about life in Henry VIII’s court. The second novel, Tarnish, takes place twenty years before the events of Gilt and is set to be released in June 2013.

Genre:  Historical Fiction

Reading level: Grade 8+

Similar titles: The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory, The King’s Rose by Alisa M. Libby, The Confession of Katherine Howard by Suzannah Dunn.  

Themes:  Catherine Howard, the Tudors, King Henry VIII, England, royalty, friendship, secrets.  

Awards/Reviews:  Positive reviews from Booklist, Kirkus and VOYA.  

Series Information: First novel in The Royal Circle series. Second novel, Tarnish, set to be released June 2013.  

Discussion questions:

-         What did you know about Catherine Howard and King Henry VIII before reading Gilt? Did reading the novel make you want to learn more?

-       Do you think Cat was a true friend to Kitty? Why or why not?

-       Why do you think Kitty couldn’t bring herself to tell anyone about what she saw in the woods?

-       Do you think it was a good idea for Kitty to come to court?

-      Why do you think Cat insisted upon having a romance with Thomas Culpepper? Do you think Kitty did the right thing in helping them meet?

-        What do you think lies ahead for Kitty at the end of the novel? What do you hope happens to her?

 

 

 

The Selection Book Review

Author: Kiera Cass. Release date: 2012. Publisher:  HarperTeen. ISBN: 9780062059932.

Annotation: For sixteen-year-old America Singer, the Selection is the opportunity of a lifetime: a chance to escape her life of just making ends meet, help her family, and compete to become the wife of Prince Maxon. There is just one problem, however: America is already in love.

Personal thoughts: As a huge fan of both The Hunger Games and The Bachelor, this book was right up my alley. Although I found it to be kind of predictable and definitely had some déjà vu throughout, I ended up enjoying the novel. It’s got the right amount of love, dystopia, conflict, and cattiness. I also think America is a very well-written and likable character. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens in the rest of the series, and, although I am well above the age of its target demographic, will likely be watching the TV show as well.

Plot summary: 300 years in the future, what was once the United States is now the country of Illéa, a monarchy where the population is divided into castes that determine social status, employment, and prosperity. Sixteen-year-old America Singer and her family are fives, one step above the servant caste, struggling to make ends meet using their artistic and musical skills. Everything changes, however, when a letter arrives from the royal palace announcing the Selection: a competition where girls from all castes are invited to enter for a chance to be one of the 35 chosen to compete for the heart of Prince Maxon and become the next Queen of Illéa. For the Selected, this is the opportunity of a lifetime. Anyone who is chosen to compete, whether they win or not, is automatically becomes a three, and their families are compensated weekly for their participation in the process. America’s family urges her to sign up, convinced that her beauty, intelligence and talent will earn her a spot as one of the Selected. Although she wants nothing more than to change her family’s status, one major problem looms for America: she is already deeply in love with Aspen, a childhood friend and six who she would never be allowed to marry. How will America choose between an opportunity to help her family and her love for Aspen?

Review: One of the most anticipated books of 2012 and already in production as a television show on the CW, The Selection has all the makings of a popular series for tween and teen girls: a likable heroine, a forbidden romance, a love triangle, a competition and, of course, a dystopian setting. Although it has received mixed reviews, reading the novel makes it is easy to see why Kiera Cass’ new novel has already hit the ground running in the popularity department. A cross between The Hunger Games and The Bachelor, the concept of the story holds a lot of appeal. Where the novel seems to fall short, however, is in originality. Several scenes in the book bear a very close resemblance to the experiences of Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games: the downtrodden but intelligent girl struggling to support her family, the love triangle between the old family friend and the new guy, the wealth of the royal family versus the oppression of the citizens. Readers will have to be completely unfamiliar with Suzanne Collins’ trilogy to not pick up on these obvious similarities. Fans of The Bachelor will also notice some overlap between events in the book and common occurrences on the long-running TV show: girls longing for that one-on-one time, the sexy bad girl who steals the Prince’s attentions whenever she can, the rose-ceremony-like dismissals. In essence, The Selection is basically these two iconic pieces of pop-culture combined. Fortunately, this melding is not a bad thing. Although it is far from original, the novel is entertaining. The characters are likable and the backstory is interesting. There is definitely a lot of material left for the rest of the series, and plenty to make for a good TV show. The sequel is set to be released sometime in the spring of 2013.

Genre: Science-fiction/Romance

Reading level: Grade 7+

Similar titles: The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins, The Chemical Garden trilogy by Lauren DeStefano, The Pledge by Kimberly Derting, Cinder by Marissa Meyer.  

Themes:  Romance, competition, dystopian, duty, caste system, class warfare, royalty, love triangle.

Awards/Reviews:  Positive reviews from Booklist, Publishers Weekly and School Library Journal.

Series Information: First book in Selection series. Second book set to be released in spring 2013.  

Discussion questions:

-        Why do you think Aspen insisted that America enter the Selection? Do you think it was the right thing to do?

-      Why did Aspen get so upset with the feast that America prepared for him? Do you think his feelings were justified?

-       Why do you think America was chosen to become one of the Selected?

-     Which of the Selected, besides America, is your favorite? Least favorite? Why?

-        Were you surprised by how America first spoke to Prince Maxon? Do you think it hurt or helped their relationship?

-        Why do you think Prince Maxon likes America?

-      Who do you think America will choose: Aspen or Prince Maxon? Why?

The False Princess Book Review

 Author: Eilis O’Neal. Release date: 2011. Publisher:  EgmontUSA. ISBN: 9781606840795.

Annotation: All of her life, Nalia, heir to the throne in the kingdom of Thorvaldor, has been preparing to become queen some day. Shortly after her sixteenth birthday, however, she is stunned to learn the truth: she is not a princess, but rather a stand-in to protect the real Nalia who was sent away for protection after a prophesy warned of her murder. Now Nalia has returned, and the false princess, whose real name is Sinda, is sent away from the palace to make her own way in the world.

Personal thoughts: I love a good fairy tale, so it was easy for me to like The False Princess with all of its magic, sword-fighting, princesses, and adventure. It’s not difficult to understand why this novel has received the accolades it has: it is well-written, very age-appropriate, and entertaining. I would have no trouble recommending this title to tween or teen girls who are in the mood for something with a medieval flavor. I look forward to seeing what else Eilis O’Neal publishes in the future.

Plot summary: The prospect of becoming queen someday has always frightened Nalia, heir to the throne of the kingdom of Thorvaldor. Having spent her life in the lush palace in the capital city of Vivaskari, Nalia feels more comfortable in the library enjoying a good book or with her best friend, Kiernan, than learning the skills necessary to be a proper princess. Shortly after her sixteenth birthday, however, Nalia’s life changes forever when she learns the truth: she is not a princess, but only a stand-in meant to keep the real Nalia safe from a prophesy that warned of a possible murder attempt on the real princess before she turned sixteen. Now the true heir to the throne is returning, and there is no need for the false Nalia, who also learns that her real name is Sinda, an orphan who’s only living relative is an aunt who works as a dyer in the nearby village of Treb. Forced to leave the only home she has ever known, and Kiernan, Sinda moves to Treb and discovers that her royal education does little to help her get by in life as a commoner. Fortunately, Sinda makes another startling discovery: her real mother, like many in the kingdom of Thorvaldor, was sorceress, and Sinda herself has magical powers. Determined to reunite with Kiernan and make a name for herself beyond the title of false princess, Sinda returns to Vivaskari and begins to apprentice with Philantha, a kind but eccentric sorceress. What Sinda doesn’t expect upon returning to her old town, however, is that there might be more to the story of her former life as princess than she realized.

Review: The False Princess, the first novel written by author Eilis O’Neal, is perfect for readers with fond childhood memories of fairy tales who want to read something with a bit more romance, action, and adventure. Set in the magical land of Thorvaldor, one of the biggest strengths of the story is the author’s skills at world-building. A lot of creativity is evident in her creation of place names, the history of the kingdom, and the mythology of the characters and events. A lot of factors play a role in the plot, but the effort taken to make the reader understand and care about Sinda, Kiernan and the Thorvaldor monarchy is very well concealed. The story is constructed effortlessly, making for a smooth, easily enjoyed fantasy adventure. The character of Sinda is likable and relatable, particularly after she is given the heave-ho once the true Nalia returns to the palace. Readers will sympathize with what she is going through and her actions, both good and bad, work well in the context of her experiences. The supporting characters are also very well-written, including Sinda’s best friend Kiernan and the goofy but lovable sorceress Philantha. Overall, there is much to enjoy in The False Princess and it would be highly recommendable to tween and teen girls who want a more age-appropriate fairy tale than Cinderella.

Genre: Fantasy

Reading level: Grade 6+

Similar titles: Entwined by Heather Dixon, Cinder by Marissa Meyer, The Pledge by Kimberly Derting.  

Themes:  Royalty, prophesy, conspiracy, magic, wizards, sorcery, loyalty.  

Awards/Reviews:  2011 YALSA Teen’s Top Ten Awards nominee,  2012 YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults selection, 2011 ABC New Voices selection, 2011 ABC Best Books for Children selection, starred review from School Library Journal, positive review from Publishers Weekly.

Series Information: N/A

Discussion questions:

-        How would you have felt if you were Nalia when she learned she wasn’t the true princess?

-      Why do you think Sinda’s Aunt Varil was so hard on her?

-      Do you think it was wise for Sinda to return to Vivaskari? Why or why not?

-     How does Sinda’s efforts to get into the Wizard College similar to students in today’s society trying to get into a university? Were there other parallels in the novel to our society?

-      Do you think the spell Sinda cast on Kiernan was the right thing to do? Why or why not?

-      Do you think Mika will be able to do what she promised in regards to improving things in Thorvaldor?

Cinder Book Review

Author: Marissa Meyer. Release date: 2012. Publisher:  Feiwel & Friends. ISBN: 9780312641893.

Annotation: Cinder Linh is a cyborg, part human, part machine, living in the futuristic commonwealth of New Beijing with her cruel stepmother and two stepsisters. A mechanic, Cinder supports her family by fixing androids, while trying to improve her own metal parts. Cinder’s life changes forever when Prince Kai, the heir to the throne of New Beijing, visits her shop with a broken android, one that holds information vital to the survival of the commonwealth.  

Personal thoughts: After reading many novels that have a great premise but poor execution, I was worried after reading what Cinder was about that, with such a strong and interesting idea, it might fall victim to the same fate. Fortunately, this is far from the case! Cinder is a truly enjoyable story and I was very impressed with Marissa Meyer’s skills as a writer after diving into the intricate world she created. The part of the novel that I found the most intriguing was her descriptions of the Lunars. Their back story and the character of Queen Levana are very interesting, and I’m looking forward to seeing what happens with that the most as the series continues. I am chomping at the bit for the next novel!

Plot summary: Sixteen-year-old Cinder Linh is a cyborg. Part human, part machine, she lives as a second class citizen in the commonwealth of New Beijing, hundreds of years after the end of World War IV. Her stepmother, Adri, and stepsister, Pearl, are cruel. Constantly berating her and reminding her of her place as a metal monstrosity, Cinder’s only comfort is in the affection of her kind stepsister, Peony, and the family’s quirky but loving android, Iko. After her stepfather’s death years earlier left the family penniless, Cinder works as a mechanic in the New Beijing marketplace, fixing broken androids, hovers, and portscreens. Cinder is shocked one day when Prince Kai, the only son of New Beijing’s emperor, visits her shop with an old android that has stopped working. Cinder is puzzled as to why Kai would not take the droid to a royal mechanic, but suspects that it contains confidential information and agrees to fix it for Kai. What Cinder doesn’t know is that letumosis, a deadly plague that has killed hundreds of thousands in New Beijing alone and has infected Kai’s father, Emperor Raikan, is going to claim another victim: Peony. Inexplicably blaming Cinder for Peony’s contracting the disease, Adri sends Cinder to the palace to be a part of research conducted on cyborgs to find a cure for letumosis. As part of the antidote experimentation, Cinder is infected with letumosis so that her body’s reaction can be studied. What happens changes her life forever: it appears that Cinder is the only citizen of New Beijing who is immune to the plague.

Review:  Fun and inventive, this first installment in debut author Marissa Meyer’s Lunar Chronicles is an entertaining start to what is sure to be a popular series for young adults. Set in the futuristic commonwealth of New Beijing, Cinder weaves a complex but engrossing plot, creating a cast of characters and story that is sure to last through the remaining novels in the series. As the title implies, the story is a very loose interpretation of the classic Cinderella tale. The evil stepmother and stepsister are present, as is the ball, and the handsome prince. Cinder herself, however, is far from the beautiful yet demure servant in the Disney version. A tough cyborg mechanic, Cinder doesn’t swoon at the feet of Prince Kai, nor does she take the abuse she is subjected to lying down. Cinder is determined to escape her stepmother’s house, even going so far as to restore an “ancient” gas-powered car to do so. The addition of the plague to the novel also veers the plot away from the traditional fairy tale. The fear of letumosis is something that permeates the story, creating tension that readers who have experienced a chronic illness in themselves or a family member will certainly identify with. Danger from the Lunars, the inhabitants of the moon lead by the beautiful but evil Queen Levana , adds another intriguing element to the plot. Overall, Cinder is a thoroughly enjoyable debut novel and can be easily enjoyed by a variety of young adult readers. The second installment in the Lunar Chronicles, Scarlet, is set to be released in 2013.

Genre: Science-Fiction

Reading level: Grade 7+

Similar titles: The Pledge by Kimberly Derting, Legend by Marie Lu, Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi, The Chemical Garden trilogy by Lauren DeStefano.

Themes:  Cinderella, cyborgs, plague, fairy tales, war, royalty, dystopian.

Awards/Reviews:  Starred review from Publishers Weekly. Positive reviews from Horn Book Magazine, VOYA, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Kirkus and Booklist.

Series Information: First installment in the Lunar Chronicles. Second installment, Scarlet, set to be released in 2013, third installment, Cress, in 2014, and fourth installment, Winter, in 2015.

Discussion questions: 

-     Why do you think Adri and Pearl were so cruel to Cinder?

-     Why did Kai bring his broken android to Cinder?

-     Do you think Dr. Erland is a protagonist or antagonist? Why?

-      How would you explain the “magic” of the Lunars?

-     How does letumosis compare to any real-life diseases?

-     What would you like to see happen in Scarlet?  

-     Who was your favorite character in Cinder? Why?

The Pledge Book Review

 Author: Kimberly Derting. Release date: 2011. Publisher:  Margaret K. McElderry Books. ISBN: 1442422017

Annotation: In the country of Ludania, citizens are divided into classes separated by language, each forbidden to speak to each other in anything but the common language, Englaise. Seveteen-year-old Charlaina “Charlie” Hart has always been able to understand all the languages, something she has had to keep hidden. After she unwittingly becomes involved in the rebellion against Queen Sabara, however, her secret might be the key to ending the cruel oppression of the people of Ludania.

Personal thoughts: I had heard many good things about The Pledge, and, after reading it in the span of a few hours, I now understand the hype! I was surprised by how engrossing the novel was, especially because it wasn’t particularly lengthy. I think the author really knows what she’s doing, and managed to create something thoroughly interesting but also succinct enough to be entertaining for even the most reluctant teen readers. I also think that the concepts in the novel make for a great jumping off point for a classroom discussion about class warfare or oppression in our current society. Overall, a very thought-provoking read that is difficult to put down. I’m really looking forward to continuing this series when the next installment in published!

Plot summary: In the distant future, the world is divided into countries that tenuously coexist. Each is ruled by a queen who oversees their country with an iron fist. The country of Ludania is home to seventeen-year-old Charlaina “Charlie” Hart and is governed by the fearsome Queen Sabara. For centuries, Ludania’s citizens have been divided into four classes: the Counsel class, the Vendor class, the Serving class, and the outcasts. Classes are differentiated by the language they speak, each class having its own language that the other classes are unable to understand. Englaise, the universal language, is the only way for members of different classes to communicate lawfully: if someone from a higher class is speaking in their native tongue, members of the lower classes are forbidden to even make eye contact until they are spoken to in Englaise. For Charlie, life as a member of the Vendor class is fairly mundane: she attends school every day with her best friends Brooklynn and Aron, works in her parents’ restaurant, and helps take care of her little sister, Angelina. But Charlie has a dangerous secret that she’s been keeping since she was a child: she has the ability to understand every language spoken in Ludania. If her ability was discovered by the authorities, she would be executed and her whole family would be put in danger. One night, at one of the underground clubs that Charlie and Brooklynn like to frequent, Charlie meets Max: a handsome and mysterious soldier who speaks a language Charlie has never heard before, but seems to understand. Charlie’s confusion is furthered when Max seems to know her and understand her ability. In the meantime, the threat of revolution in Ludania grows, and Charlie begins to realize that she might hold the key to the future of her country.

Review:  From the author of The Body Finder, comes this first installment in a new series for young adults that takes the always popular dystopian concept and mixes it with magic for a story that is certain to intrigue and entertain readers. The Pledge is set in the very distant future, and civilization as we know it has been replaced by a Bradbury-esque collection of countries ruled with an iron-fist by ruthless queens. The author does an excellent job of creating the world of Ludania, taking care to make sure that the history of the kingdom is clear as are the rules of language that govern its citizens. In Charlie’s school, typical situations like being made fun of by the wealthy and popular girls can turn deadly since the lower classes are not only forbidden to communicate with their higher-ups, but are not supposed to even comprehend the language they speak. Derting creates many tense situations where Charlie’s ability to understand all the languages in her kingdom puts her in mortal danger. This makes for a very suspenseful novel, and greatly adds to the reader’s enjoyment of the story. The secondary characters, such as Charlie’s friends Brooklynn and Aron, Max’s lackeys, Claude and Zafir, and the mysterious Xander, are as well developed as the plot, making for an overall engrossing book that is difficult to put down. The pacing of the story is excellent, particularly once the action really picks up in the second half of the novel. The second installment in The Pledge series, which has yet to be titled, is expected to be published in 2013.

Genre: Science-Fiction

Reading level: Grade 8+

Similar titles: Wither by Lauren DeStefano, Divergent by Veronica Roth.    

Themes:  Dystopian, class warfare, language, royalty, war, oppression, rebellion.  

Awards/Reviews:  Positive reviews from VOYA, Kirkus, Booklist and Publishers Weekly.

Series Information: First installment in The Pledge series. Second novel (not yet titled) to be published in 2013.

Discussion questions: 

-    Why do you think language was such an effective way to separate the classes in Ludania?

-    Do you think that language separates different groups from each other in our society? Why or why not? 

-     If you were Charlie, would you have helped Sydney? Why or why not?

-     Who was your favorite character in the book? Why?

-    What would you like to see happen in the second novel in this series?

-     Do you think that The Pledge would make a good movie? Why or why not?