Philadelphia, Secret Powers, and Stolen Art: Review of The Cordovan Vault by J Monkeys

The Cordovan Vault, #1

The Livingston-Wexford Adventures

J Monkeys

YA Adventure

2011

The cover shows the mysterious vault...  Where is it, and what's inside?

The Cordovan Vault is J Monkey's debut novel.  When fourteen-year-old Kayla Livingston and Quinn Wexford's older siblings (and legal guardians) duck out of their wedding at the beginning of the reception, Kayla and Quinn have no idea what's about to happen to them.  The next day, they receive heartbreaking news from the police that Jim and Lorelei have been found dead, and that Kayla and Quinn are emancipated minors.  However, a frantic phone call from Lorelei- whose death has apparently been faked- puts Kayla and Quinn on a secret escape and journey to The City of Brotherly Love, where mysteries await them.

During the story, we find out that Kayla and Quinn's families have some interesting history involving secret societies and special powers.  I really enjoyed this mystery/adventure aspect.  The story is linked to Masonic and United States' history, similar to National Treasure, and I learned some interesting historical information, such as about the history of libraries and other city facts.  A large chunk of the story takes place at a very very old inn, where Kayla and Quinn help out the elderly owner.

Kayla and Quinn are likeable main characters, but I would age them at around 16 or 17, not 14.  Their hyper-maturity is acknowledged in the story, but they really do behave with much more confidence, street smarts, and personal responsibility than the 14-year-olds I know.  Kayla is fun and very smart- she loves solving puzzles, and this is an important element in the story.  She is, however, subject to mood swings and temper tantrums, typical of a teenager.  Quinn is very tall and noble- he has very good social skills and is able to work most situations to his advantage.  When the book begins, Kayla and Quinn are not friends- they treat each other like bitter step siblings, but that quickly changes under the extreme circumstances of their escape.

There is very little boy-girl tension present in this story- presumably to make it appropriate to a wider audience, but possibly the author just chose not to focus on it because of the adventure genre.  I would like to see a more natural, realistic development of the relationship between Kayla and Quinn in #2- even if there is no physical attraction between them, I feel like the boy-girl element deserves some more attention.  As a child/teen I had a very close family friend who was a boy- we never were romantically interested in each other, but there was still tension between us, such as when he had a crush on my best friend, or when I introduced him to my new boyfriend.

My favorite element of the story is the puzzle-solving.  Throughout the story, Kayla and Quinn are faced with mental challenges, and it's really cool to see them work through the puzzles and to see the pieces fall into place.  Some of the things I figured out while reading, but some solutions were surprising to me, which was exciting!  If I could change anything about the story, I would make the paranormal element stronger.  It's not a major part of the story until about the last third, but I expect that this will change in #2.

I would recommend this story to younger teens or anyone who enjoys fun adventure stories.  Readers who are looking for something to read in between Rick Riordan releases would enjoy this book.  There is a very small amount of language and some brief but scary violence/torture parts, but I would still recommend it even to middle schoolers whom I don't know very well.  Book #2, The Peacock Tale, will be out in the fall, and I look forward to finding out what happens to Kayla and Quinn!

Check out the Goodreads page, the Amazon page, or the author's website for more information!

Disclaimer: I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Owls, Bad Boys, and Corkers: Review of Withering Tights by Louise Rennison

Withering Tights

Misadventures of Tallulah Casey, #1

Louise Rennison

Spin-off to Confessions of Georgia Nicolson

June 2011

Love this cover!  The tights pattern, the title font, and the cute owl
give the reader a good idea of what's inside!

Teaser:  "The boys didn't get off at their stop because Phil said, 'We'll escort you ladeez to your homes in case of carriages going by and sloshing your evening gowns.'
What is he talking about?
Phil said, 'We've been doing Jane Austen at Woolfe, so we can get inside the female mind.'
I said, 'What is inside our female minds, then?'
Phil said, 'Well, for instance, should one of you want to climb up a staircase on the way home, we lads would have the training to quickly get behind you and walk up the stairs, bracing ourselves.'" Page 140

Tallulah Casey is Georgia's younger cousin.  Fourteen and a half years old, to be exact, and every bit as hilarious, with extremely long legs that she's very self-conscious about.  Tallulah has been accepted to a Performing Arts College Summer School in the moors of Britain- basically in the middle of nowhere.  Because she applied late, she doesn't get to stay in the dorm.  Instead she stays with a funny family in town with two little mischievous boys.  The family is a bit odd, and they put her in a small wooden room and give her handmade furry squirrel slippers.  Tallulah has a bit of a hard time adjusting to the school- disaster after disaster occurs as she tries to discover her talent and earn herself a permanent place in the program.  Meanwhile, she makes some crazy friends- tiny but strong Jo, loyal Vaisey, and boy-magnet Honey, among others.  Tallulah and her friends meet up with some boys from a nearby school, and they discover that teenage boys aren't quite what they had expected.  Tallulah also tries to avoid Cain, a local boy who reminds her strongly of Heathcliff because of his deplorable manners.

The title, Withering Tights, acknowledges the desolate setting, crazy Cain, and the musical version of Wuthering Heights that the school puts on at the end of term.  One of the most fun things about this book is the local pub-owner's daughter, Ruby, who follows Tallulah around like a younger sister.  Ruby and Tallulah find some owl eggs and get to see the chicks!  Ruby also has an older brother named Alex, who is going away to a performing arts school in Liverpool.  Tallulah, of course, has a secret crush on Alex, but Ruby finds this to be disgusting.

There's also a very helpful dictionary at the end of the book which helps with the slang.  Here's an example: "corkers: Another word for girls' jiggly bits.  Also known as norkers.  Honkers, etc.  Cousin Georgia calls them 'nunga-nungas.' She says because when you pull them out like an elastic band, they go nunga-nunga-nunga.  I will be the last to know whether this is true or not."  This dictionary is funny even if you don't need to look up the words!

I really enjoyed this book- it was definitely zany and cute.  Four stars!  The only downside was that it really reads in a fourteen-year-old's voice, so it was like spending a lot of time with my younger sister.  Because of this, I would recommend it mostly to middle school girls, but fans of Georgia Nicolson would probably enjoy it a lot, too.  The references to Wuthering Heights add to the depth of the story, but you probably don't need to have read Wuthering Heights to enjoy this book- some info is included in the dictionary.

The publisher's website also includes a link to the first chapter!

Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Review of The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan

The Throne of Fire

The Kane Chronicles, Book Two

Rick Riordan

May 2011

Sadie and Carter are aboard the sun boat.
Ra's throne is glowing behind them!
You can also see creepy scarabs at the bottom...

In Book One of the The Kane Chronicles, The Red Pyramid, we meet totally awesome brother and sister Carter and Sadie Kane.  Carter has spent his life traveling the world with his father, who is an Egyptologist.  Sadie lives with their grandparents in England, because, sadly, their mom died when they were young.  When something goes terribly wrong and their father disappears, Sadie and Carter are taken by their uncle, and they discover that they are descended from two lines of pharaohs- and they are Egyptian magicians!  They work together to save the world, but learning about their new life is full of challenges in unexpected places.

In Book Two, Carter and Sadie again have to save the world- this time from the rise of Apophis, an evil snake (aka Chaos), and to do this, they must find the sun god Ra, who hid himself away long ago.  A host of fun trainees (including a cool healer named Jaz and a charm-maker named Walt) and a very strange god who smells like curry help them out, but ultimately it comes down to Carter and Sadie to get the job done.

While I enjoyed Book One, Book Two is really excellent.  The Throne of Fire has a faster pace, and I really enjoyed the adventure that the kids go on.  There are also several intriguing subplots, including Walt's secret, Sadie's crush triangle (try competing for a girl with a god!), and Carter's anxious search for Zia, which provide a change of pace from the main story.  I also like the switch off on narration between Sadie and Carter.  As usual for one of Riordan's books, there is a lot of humor- the god Bes is quite entertaining- just wait until you read about how he scares away demons! 

Here is a quote that I particularly enjoyed: "Our camels plodded along.  Katrina tried to kiss, or possibly spit on Hindenburg, and Hindenburg farted in response.  I found this a depressing commentary on boy-girl relationships."  Too true.

There is really nothing that I would change about this book, except I was really sad when it ended! The ending definitely makes you eager for Book Three to come out (2012!!).  I recommend this series to readers who enjoyed Percy Jackson, readers who are curious about Egyptology, and readers in 6th-9th grade- appealing to both boys and girls.

For more information, see The Kane Chronicles website here!

Review of A Tale of Two Castles by Gail Carson Levine

A Tale of Two Castles

Gail Carson Levine

May 2011

Ages 8-12 (or 23...haha)

328 pages 

This is the story of a twelve-year-old girl named Elodie who leaves her family to travel to the town of Two Castles (so named because of the two castles- one belongs to the king, the other to an ogre!!) to become a "mansioner" (aka an actress).  Elodie is very smart- she observes everything which helps her to be a good mansioner.  She hopes to become a free apprentice, as her family is very poor, but once she has embarked on her trip, she finds out that free apprenticeships are no more, and she needs to either find enough money to pay or find other employment.

During her trip, Elodie sees some new things that surprise her.  Some people are dressed strangely, there is a weird obsession with cats in Two Castles, and she meets the dragon Meenore, who hires her as an assistant.  When the ogre, Count Jonty Um, comes to Meenore to ask for help, Meenore sends Elodie back with him to be a secret agent in the castle and protect the Count.  This tale is loosely based on the story of Puss 'N Boots... but are the cats in Two Castles friends or enemies?

I absolutely loved Ella Enchanted, so I always make an effort to read anything that Gail Carson Levine writes.  I found the beginning of this book to be tentative as far as the warm, magical romance that I expect from Levine, but it definitely showed up in the second half of the book.  The plot is well-developed- a mystery with twists, turns, and close calls.  Elodie is a likeable heroine, but the supporting characters are really excellent.  Masteress Meenore the dragon is multi-dimensional, which is refreshing in a mentor (by this I mean that Meenore goes through different moods and challenges Elodie in ways that surprise the reader), and County Jonty Um is the most unique ogre that I have ever read about- I'll let you read the book to find out more!  

I give this book 4 stars and would recommend it for young readers.  You can check out the website to read the first chapter, and here is the book trailer!!

Review of Who What Wear (Allegra Biscotti #2) by Olivia Bennett

This book probably looks familiar to those of you who attended BBC, because that's where I picked it up!

Who What Wear

Allegra Biscotti Series #2

Olivia Bennett

231 pages

June 2011

Ages 9 and up

Allegra Biscotti, groundbreaking new fashion designer, has a secret.  She is actually a 14 year old girl named Emma Rose living in Manhattan.  In book 1, The Allegra Biscotti Collection, she is accidentally discovered and asked to keep silent about her real identity.  After all, who would take a 14 year old fashion designer seriously?  In this installment, Emma is asked to design a collection for an exciting display AND a dress for a swanky Sweet Sixteen Party for a student at her school.  With a bumbling new Italian assistant, a best friend who doesn't understand why Emma is so busy all of a sudden, and the mother running the Sweet Sixteen Party all trying to make Emma's life more difficult, how is she ever supposed to get the new collection designed in time?

Obviously this book is written for younger than YA.  The back of the book labels it as Juvenile Fiction/Independent Reader, and the content is certainly appropriate for young children.  I picked up the book mostly because of the ADORABLE cover and cute sketches throughout, as well as the catchy name.  I have not read book 1, but I plan to at some point!

I enjoyed this book because it was so fun, and Emma's best guy friend, Charlie, is hilarious.  I would love to be friends with him even now.  The descriptions of the clothes are also really fun- I wish there really was an Allegra Biscotti!

One thing that I would change about the book is that I was totally convinced that there was a sinister sub-plot brewing, but the climax was actually a bit of a let down.  The "action" ended too soon, in my opinion, but the ending was also really sweet.  Sometimes it is nice when everything works out smoothly in the end, and perhaps it has been too long since I've read juvenile fiction of this type.

I would recommend this as juvenile chick lit, and girls around the 3rd-6th grades would probably enjoy it.  It was very easy to read, and it might be a good "book club" type book for girl scouts or something- there is definitely a positive girl power message.  It could also be a great book to read to kids before bed. Super cute and very fun.

Review- Radiance by Alyson Noel

Copyright 2010

When I grabbed this book from the library, I didn't know that it was a spin off from another series.  I haven't read the other series, so I can't say how they compare, but I enjoyed this book despite lacking whatever background I missed.

Riley has died and is now learning about life in the Here & Now (author's idea of afterlife, kind of reminded me of how JK Rowling represents the afterlife).  She is assigned to go back to earth to collect a soul that has refused to cross over.

This book features beautiful descriptions- not so much description that I got bored, but enough that it was easy to picture the setting in my mind.  The story is good, but it could be better.  I thought that the book was too short- maybe I have just read too many long books lately, but I like for there to be a well-developed storyline.  This book seemed like a dream, where you get a blurred view of the whole picture.  I'd love for there to be more exploration of the Here & Now.  This book does have a sequel, which will come out in March of 2011.

I give this book 3 stars- I don't think that I will pick up the sequel, and I just don't think that it was in depth enough for me to really get into it.  The cover is certainly beautiful, so if you are intrigued, give it a shot.  The book is short and thought provoking about death and the afterlife.

Review- Princess for Hire by Lindsey Leavitt

Copyright 2010

When Desi tires of her job wearing a rodent costume for a pet store, she searches the paper for a new job.  Surprisingly, she sees an add looking for a princess.  When Desi finds out that the job is real, she begins her mission to make an impact.  She "subs" for princesses who need a break and tries to use her insight to make a difference in their life situations.  This is the first book in the series; book two, The Royal Treatment, is due out in May.

This book was a fun, girly read.  It's a modern fairytale with a strong female protagonist.  I would recommend this book to grades 5 and up, but I certainly enjoyed it as well.  I wish that it was longer- it seemed like it was over before it began, but I am definitely excited for the next book to come out!  4 stars.

Review- Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko

Twelve-year-old Moose Flanagan has just moved to Alcatraz where his father works as an electrician.  The year is 1935.  Al Capone is imprisoned in Alcatraz at this time.

High-five
1.  This book is very multidimensional.  It deals with Moose's coming of age, making friends in a new place, his relationships with his parents, and his relationship with his autistic older sister, Natalie.
2.  Natalie is a wonderful character.  The author does a great job of imagining and describing Moose and Natalie's relationship.  Sometimes Moose resents her, just like a "regular" sister, but mostly he truly loves her and wants what is best for her.
3. The other characters are well-developed too.
4.  This book is heavy on the thematic issue of Natalie's autism, but keeps the sex and language appropriate for children.  I think that's important because this kind of book could be wonderful for a child with a sibling with autism.
5.  This book is FUNNY!   Moose is a great narrator, and the shenanigans of the other kids on the island are great to read about.

Low-five
1.  I really don't like Moose's mother.  She is not a bad person, just very concerned about Natalie, and I wish there was more development with her.
2.  It would have been nice to have more interaction with the convicts.  There is very little in the way of action in this book.
3.  I would love to read a sequel!  I definitely want more of this book.
4.  Struggling here... Nope. That's it.  No more lows.

Conclusion-  4 stars.  I highly enjoyed this book, and I recommend that you give it a whirl if it sounds interesting.  Moms and teachers- consider reading it with/to your kids, ages maybe 7 and up!

My very first post...

I have been trying to start a blog for awhile, and I think I am finally ready.  I really have no design experience, so please excuse the noob appearance of my blog.  If you have any advice for how I can get started, I would really appreciate it.  :D


I think that the best way for me to introduce myself is with a list of the last 10 books I read... according to my Goodreads account:


1.  Intensely Alice by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor- I LOVE ALICE.  I 100% recommend this series to everyone who like YA coming of age books.  Alice is a genuine girl with high standards for herself, and the books honestly explore adolescence in terms of family, emotional issues, sexuality, independence, courage, friendship, and big issues such as suicide, drunk driving, and teen pregnancy.  These books are some of the most banned in the United States, and they span Alice's life from elementary school through high school.  The series- 5 stars.  This particular book- 4 stars.


2.  The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer-  I am still thinking about this book.  I definitely liked it, but I am trying to decide if it is actually well-written.  Anyways, it is a very short read. I recommend it to anyone who liked Twilight (even if you won't admit it).  It is definitely grittier and kind of makes up for the "fairy vampire" issues with Twilight.  4.5 stars.


3. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie-  This is a YA book about a Native American high school student who decides to leave the reservation and attend the white school.  The coolest thing about it is the illustration- the book has unique cartoons every few pages to emphasize key events and ideas.  This book is very sad, and contains a lot of bad language, so I would only recommend it for high school and up.  4.5 stars.


4. The Little Lady Agency by Hester Browne- This is very deep chick lit.  A young British woman starts her own girlfriend agency after losing her job.  I think it is very well written and has a lot of character development.  It is also surprisingly long, which makes it a little more of a challenge than average chick lit.  4 stars.


5. Before We Were Free by Julia Alvarez-  I LOVE JULIA ALVAREZ.  You must first read In the Time of The Butterflies.  Then read this book.  It is about the dictatorship in the Dominican Republic.  Both are very good reads. 5 stars.


6. Lucky by Rachel Vail-  DO NOT READ THIS BOOK.  GIANT WASTE OF TIME.  It also made me very grumpy because I was so irritated by all of the main characters.  1.5 stars (because it was at least short).


7.  The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan-  The Percy Jackson series is a great new alternative to Harry Potter.  So much YA fantasy is about wizards and elves, but this series is about Greek mythology.  Excellent male and female protagonists.  5 stars.


8.  The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith- great mystery set in Africa!  A lady starts up her own detective agency, and this book details her life in flashbacks as well as how she begins the agency.  4.5 stars.


9.  The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey by Trenton Lee Stewart- Excellent children's book.  This is the second in the series.  I would recommend this series to anyone who likes adventure.  These books are truly unique and emphasize that all children have special talents, they just need to learn how to use them!  5 stars.


10.  The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer.  Hopefully I do not need to summarize these for you, haha. I am embarrassed to admit that I totally enjoyed Eclipse and Breaking Dawn.  It was like making a huge pot of mac and cheese and eating the whole thing.  Not nutritious, totally processed, but delicious!  3 stars for actual quality, 4.5 stars for pleasure.