Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool

Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Really enjoyed reading this, but I'm not sure how many kids would stick with it. It takes a while for the story to set up and yes, Early is different. Would that intrigue a kid or just make him think the story was weird? I'm not really sure. I for one found Early adorable and see characteristics of a couple of the autistic kids I know in him.

I'm a bit disappointed that the surprise at the ending actually occurred. No, I won't go into more detail than that, but I remember thinking of the surprise as a possibility while I was reading. I immediately discarded the idea because I was sure that it was too predictable and something too commonly done in children's books. It did make for a better story of course, but it was the easy way out. (If you've read NE, you know what I'm talking about.)

I rate this story a solid B. It had the potential of being an A book, but my disappointment in the predictability at the ending lowered my rating.

Ghost Hawk by Susan Cooper

Ghost Hawk by Susan Cooper

I was looking forward to reading Ms. Cooper's latest book, mainly because I'm such a fan of her "Dark is Rising" sequence, but Ghost Hawk didn't live up to my expectations. It started well, recounting the story of Little Hawk, a Native American boy, growing up at the time of the first English settlers in what is today New England. (I thought that part was fairly interesting, but now that I've read Debbie Reese's review, I find that it's not all that accurate of the Native Americans of the time. ::sigh::)

Once the first part was complete, that's where the story bogs down, in my opinion. I know the dialogue was meant to show the formality of the language of the time, etc., but I think students will find that difficult to read. It will take them out of the story, and that's definitely NOT what you want. Taking that one minute dissatisfaction out of the equation, I thought the story was beautifully written. The vividness of the descriptions and richness of the language were all that you would expect from one of Ms. Cooper's books.

When I finished the book, I thought, "Boy! That was a waste!" So as to not give any spoilers, let's just say I was completely dissatisfied with how the story proceeds and especially the conclusion of parts 3 and 4! One of the things that I enjoy most about reading children's and YA literature is the sense of hope for the future that I see in them. It can be a story of heartbreak, sorrow, of the most horrible things imaginable, but it will still leave you with a sense of joy, of hopefulness. That the future is bright and life will only get better. I didn't get that with Ghost Hawk, and that saddened me.

I can see where many adults read and rave about Ghost Hawk, but I won't be one of them. I wish I could give it a higher rating, but sadly a D+.

The Baptism by Shelia P. Moses

Readers follow along as Leon weaves a story about the time when he and his twin brother, Luke, are now twelve and old enough to be baptized. This is a coming-of-age tradition is his community, and one that Leon isn't sure he's ready for. In his matter-of-fact voice, the reader learns of the racial prejudice Leon and his family live with daily, and the many injustices African-Americans faced. For me, it's difficult to fathom having to live with the fact that your father was murdered and nothing done to seek justice simply because the victim was black or, knowing that the white man who owns the land you sharecrop is a half-brother of your mom, a relationship that is never acknowledged publicly.

This isn't a book I would recommend for the average middle school reader, frankly because I don't know that they would fully grasp the difficulties of this life. I think it would be an excellent story to use as a starting point for discussions about the life of African Americans and the importance of the civil rights movement.

Because it's a story where there's no great conflict or mystery to grab the reader's attention at the start, I'm not sure how many 11-13 year olds would be drawn to The Baptism. I do think it's one I'll recommend some teachers use as a read-aloud to lead to discussions. C+ rating.

Audacious: Ivy's Story by Jude Watson (Brides of Wildcat County #3)

A friend recommended this series a LONG time ago and I finally found one of the books. Ivy and her sister Mattie leave their coastal town in Maine and travel to California after seeing an advertisement for women to come west to be brides. Both girls were eager for a chance to start over in life after their family financial troubles, their father's death, and Ivy's boyfriend leaves her for a life at sea. From what I could gather, the advertisement wasn't exactly for a mail-order bride exactly. The women would arrive in the town, stay in a local boardinghouse and have the opportunity for marriage after getting to know some of the local men. Their travel expenses and room and board was paid for six months. I'm not sure exactly how much time has passed since their arrival in Last Chance, but Ivy has settled in there and has a job as the school teacher. She has fought for improvements upon the school building and more supplies and books for the students. She's made some friends, most especially Justus Calhoun, a local lawyer. Everyone in town thinks he's courting her, but Ivy knows they are "just friends." Her only contact back "home" is through letters with her friend Grace, whom she writes with stories of all the exciting and wild people and events of Last Chance. Grace's brother now wants to publish some of these stories in a newspaper in Boston. Ivy jumps at the chance to earn some extra money, but only if people don't know she wrote them. Thus a pseudonym is created --- Audacia El Dorado. Ivy's a naturally shy and reserved person, but she has a wild streak that she keeps hidden. Audacia is her way to be audacious without others knowing. Her life is turned upside-down when her ex-boyfriend from Maine shows up in Last Chance, spills her secret to everyone, and wants to marry her and take her away.

I know it's not the first one in the series, so I kept reading about events that happened in an earlier book. A bit frustrating for me -- not that I couldn't catch up as to what happened, just that I had to catch up. Otherwise, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It's a sweet romance -- nothing more than kissing happens in the book -- that has Ivy torn between a second chance with her first love and a new love. I like how Ivy struggles with her decision, seeing the good in each man. That's how life is. It's not an easy black or white decision most of the time. You have to weigh the good and bad and then hope you make the best choice. That said, I think when Ivy makes her decision (sort of), it seems a snap one. I was questioning it as the reader, and we realize Ivy was questioning it as well. Not a perfect solution there. The characters are lively and entertaining which leads to a lively and entertaining story. B rating.

A Templar's Gifts (The Book of Tormod #2) by Kat Black

An action-adventure set in the Middle Ages, Tormod has returned home after the death of Alexander, the Knight's Templar to whom he'd been apprenticed. We learn that Tormod is gifted with visions that lead him to leave home once again in order to elude the men searching for him.
Obviously, this is the second book in a series, because many references were made to events and characters from the first tale. I would recommend reading book one before A Templar's Gifts. You could still read this one and not find it confusing, but you would miss out on much. B rating.

Incantation by Alice Hoffman

I'm not sure how many YA novels have been written about Jews who hid their religion during the Spanish Inquisition, but this is the first one I've read.

In Incantation, Estrella's whole life transforms when she discovers the secrets of her family. Years before, in order to avoid persecution, her ancestors pretended to convert to Christianity, but secretly practices their faith. When the family is betrayed by someone thought to be a friend, Estrella must make some decisions that will change her life forever.


I like the way Alice Hoffman writes. The story is deceptively simple -- emotions are laid bare, straightforward. Before the reader notices, bam!, he's sucker-punched and his gut's in knots. As he turns the pages, he hopes for a twist to make things better for Estrella and her family, knowing that it was unlikely to occur.


Definitely recommended for fans of historical fiction, Incantation rates a 'B' from me.

The Season by Sarah MacLean

In The Season, Alex and her two best friends, Ella and Vivi, are preparing for their first Season. They will attend various balls, parties and events with the goal of finding a husband. Well, at least that's the goal of their parents. The girls don't want to get married yet, for seventeen is way too young. Each wants to experience more in life before settling down, and Alex isn't even sure she wants to get married at all. Alex becomes involved in unraveling the mystery surrounding the death of the father of close family friend, Gavin.

I loved reading a YA set during the Regency, for there's not much being written for teens set in that time period. It's accessible for readers that want something like a Jane Austen novel, but find the language in JA too difficult. Alex, Ella, and Vivi delight the reader with such normal teen behavior. They gossip, long for the time when they are independent, complain about their lives and how no one understands them. The mysterious death of Gavin's father, linked to rumors of French spies in England, leads to a thrilling adventure and romance for Alex . I admit, I was thoroughly entertained. Definitely a 'B+' book for me!

Pandora of Athens, 399 B.C. by Barry Denenberg

I wasn't sure if I wanted to read Pandora of Athens or not, simply because of my dislike of another book in the Life and Times series. I thought it was best that I give the series another try and picked Pandora up, hoping to view this one without any influence from the other book.

Pandora is a young girl growing up in ancient Greece. She's sheltered like most girls in Athens at that time, and the most she has to look forward to is getting married when she turns fourteen. Pandora's been taught that girls should be silent and obedient and they should be protected from the outside world. They aren't even allowed to go to plays. Her only freedom is her daily trips to the Fountain House. While she's collecting water, she's able to meet and talk with other girls and experience just a tiny taste of freedom. Her life changes completely when she meets Socrates one day at the well. In discussions with him, Pandora begins questioning her fate more strongly and looks for ways to change it.

While not exactly life-changing, Pandora of Athens, is surprisingly much better than I had expected. Readers can easily put themselves into Pandora's shoes and empathize with her feelings about not having control of her future, and lack of understanding from her parents. Not a bad read, but nothing out of the ordinary. A 'C' from me.

War Games by Audrey & Akila Couloumbis

War Games tells of a the German invasion of Greece during World War II from a boy's perspective. Based on one of the author's own experiences, one gets a feeling of the emotions -- fear, excitement, impatience, resentment, resignation -- that many go through during times of war. Focusing on one boy and his family, with glimpses of others in his village, the reader can imagine what life was like during this time period.

Books about World War II are very popular with the middle grades. Most start off as curious about what happened, after being exposed to Anne Frank or possibly a novel like Number the Stars. War Games gives readers a chance to learn about events in Greece during the war of which they may be unaware. There's a bit of suspenseful moments, especially after the German officer lives in the family's home, but the tension can take a long time to truly develop and is over quickly.

I think those wanting to read "more" about WWII, might enjoy this story, but honestly I'm not sure that if they don't already have interest, this book would stimulate interest. I'd view it as an addition, but not a must-read, a grade of 'C' for me.

Kringle by Tony Abbott

I enjoyed reading some of Tony Abbott's other books, so I decided to read Kringle to see how it compared. I was curious to read Abbott's take on Santa Claus.

Kringle has been raised by the old woman, Merwyn, ever since his mother died shortly after giving birth to him. (His father had been killed by the goblins several days before his birth.) Now a young teen, Kringle escapes when the goblins attack the hut he shares with Merwyn. Merwyn isn't so lucky and is captured by the goblins. Kringle then goes on a series of adventures, meeting some elves, some warriors from the North, a priest, and even some magical reindeer, all in an attempt to rescue Merwyn and the children captured by the goblins.

While I enjoyed Kringle's adventures overall, I found the dialogue stilted at times and Kringle's tendency to think aloud drove me crazy. I doubt it's something that will even be noticed by most readers. By setting the legend of Santa Claus into the middle of a fantasy during the Middle Ages, Abbott gives a fresh perspective to the tale. Fans of questing fantasies especially will enjoy Kringle. Satisfactory story, but nothing to make it stand out. I give it a C.

The Orphan of Ellis Island by Elvira Woodruff

I came across this book when looking up info on Ellis Island. It looked to be an interesting time-travel idea -- Would the orphan from modern times find out about his parents when he travels back in time?

Dominic's life is in turmoil. His foster family will be moving out of state and he will soon be placed with ANOTHER family. He's tired of not fitting in, tired of having no friends, tired of not having a family. When on a field trip to Ellis Island with his classmates, Dominic tells a lie about his family name being on the Immigrant Wall of Honor. So he doesn't have to admit lying to his class, Dominic runs off and hides in a closet. There, he falls asleep and is locked in the building after closing. After a strange conversation with an immigrant via the telephone receiver in an exhibit, Dominic is transported back in time to 1911 Italy. There he meets three brothers, who are orphans, and are planning to travel to America soon. Dominic's life is forever changed by the discoveries he makes about these boys and how it relates to his own life.

The Orphan of Ellis Island is an entertaining time travel story, full of adventure and mystery. I found it fast-paced and easy-to-read. It will be perfect for those that love adventure stories. I'd rate it a 'B.

Atticus of Rome, 30 B.C. by Barry Denenberg

With the popularity of the Dear America and My Name is America series, I picked up a couple of books in The Life and Times series, Atticus of Rome being one of them. I hoped this book would be on par with some of the titles from the aforementioned series.

Sadly, I didn't like this book. The story took way too long to develop and then, wasn't even fully realized. Yes, there's plenty of detailed description of Ancient Roman life, but what happened to the story? There were things mentioned, here, there and yonder, but never cohesively tied together.

 Frankly, this was just a big hot mess. My suggestion is to skip this one entirely. I give it a D.

The Magician by Michael Scott

In this second book of the Nicholas Flamel series, the twins, Sophie and Josh, escape from Doctor Dee in California with Flamel to Paris. There, the twins attempt to escape capture from Machiavelli, also charged with capturing them.

Filled with many battle scenes, this is a fast-moving story. I was engrossed in the story, and finished it in no time. There are still many unanswered questions at the end of The Magician, leaving me eager to read the next book in the series. A solid read, fans of The Alchemyst and fans of magical fantasy in general will love it.

I give this one a B, recommended, but it came very close to being an A book!

Airman by Eoin Colfer

Since I adore Colfer's Artemis Fowl books, I'm always hesitant to read any of his other stories. I know they aren't going to have the same feel, and I worry that I won't like them.

Conor is the son of the king's head bodyguard and has enjoyed a childhood with much freedom and friendships. He's especially close friends with the king's daughter. One night, Conor overhears plans to murder the king, but is unable to stop the assassination. The conspirators then set him up as the fall guy and send him to jail, hoping he will die in prison. Conor has other ideas and begins to plan a way to escape. You see, Conor has always been interested in flight, and has always wanted to design an airship. Hot hair balloons are a rarity and no one has successfully built a flying machine. But, Conor thinks he can ... and it'll be his way to freedom.

Airman is way different that Artemis Fowl. There's no smart-aleck Artemis, no strong and silent Butler, no heroic Holly, but I still loved it. I enjoyed the richly depicted characters, even the evil ones. I felt like I was there in the stinking prison, having to dive for pearls, worried if I'd live until tomorrow. I miss the humor that is always a part of the Artemis Fowl books, but I found I could overlook it. The story was just that fulfilling.

My grade? An 'A', Highly Recommended.

The Red Necklace by Sally Gardner

Okay, so I usually love reading historical fiction, but something about The Red Necklace just put me off. I'm not sure exactly what turned me off... the illustration on the cover maybe or it might just be that it is set during the French Revolution, which is definitely NOT my favorite time in history. So, yes, I started reading it with a bad attitude. And yes, everyone sometimes feels that way! I know, I know! Boy, was I wrong.

The beginning of the story focuses on a boy, Yann, and his mentor, a midget named Tetu. (I kept thinking, "de plane, de plane" from Fantasy Island. If you don't know what I'm talking about you are too young!) They are gypsies and are working with an illusionist in a Paris theater. Apparently these two are the ones with the magical talent to make all the illusions seem real. At a house party, Yann meets the daughter of an aristocrat that will play an important part in his life and the choices he makes. After his boss is murdered, Yann travels to England to live with a gentleman, meets all sorts of interesting people, and even gets finds himself in Paris right after the storming of the Bastille.

Filled with descriptive scenes of terror, The Red Necklace, sure kept me turning the ol' pages way into the night. I desperately wanted to see Yann triumph over Count Kalliovski and rescue Sido. This book will appeal to those who love adventure stories as long as you don't mind a few gory scenes. I couldn't believe I didn't want to read it! I know, silly me. Don't judge a book by its cover... how many times do I say that to others! The Red Necklace is a wonderful story and I give it a B, recommended.