Chronicles of a Book Evangelist

Link Trove #19

"Soaked" by Mary Paints

It's been a very busy week out there, so I'm only sharing a fraction of all the links I've accumulated.  (It's times like these that I understand the link-sharing happening on twitter and tumblr!)  First up, free (or really cheap) books, because who doesn't love free books, right?

Free or Reduced Price Books:

• On Sunday, January 27th, THIS SUNDAY, Anna and the French Kiss will be available wherever ebooks are sold for only $2.99.  What's more, (yes! there's more!) Stephanie Perkins will be posting a deleted chapter that was cut from the last part of the book.   

Penguin | Barnes & Noble | Amazon | Kobo | iBooks

• Reckless by Cornelia Funke, the first in the German Mirrorworld series translated by Oliver Latsch is available as a free download right now from B&N, and $2.99 elsewhere.  Full disclosure, I haven't yet read this one, but it pops up a lot with quite a few books I really enjoyed and I'm looking forward to giving it a shot.

Barnes & Noble | Amazon | Sony | Kobo | iBooks

• Lish McBride has a new original short story set in the Necromancer world entitled Heads Will Roll.  And, naturally, it's FREE.  Go get it.

 Author Interviews:

• Tor had a six-question interview with Sarah Rees Brennan, but wow! were her answers potent.  Her entire response to the question asking for her thoughts on the relationship between YA, fantasy, and gender had me fist pumping, but I thought this bit was particularly funny:

I have heard such dismissals many times! I will never forget being on a panel where I said “People love Twilight” and an unwary guy piped up “GIRLS love Twilight.” At which point I about dived over the table at him, snarling “GIRLS ARE PEOPLE.”

• The Hub has a short but entertaining interview with Rachel Hartman, full of book recs, talk of music, and jokes:

[I]t turns out (to my great astonishment) that no matter how much praise or how many nominations my book garners, I still have to do laundry and get groceries and wait in traffic. I still got the flu. I was like, “Flu virus! Don’t you know who I am? My novel is very popular!” and the bug was like, “Kiss my hemagglutinin, lady!” So that didn’t help at all.

(BTW, if you haven't yet read Seraphina, or her new prequel short story The Audition, do it NOW! Before Drachomachia comes out this fall!)

Literacy Promotion:

• TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO APPLY TO BE A GIVER FOR WORLD BOOK NIGHT!!!  Hurry if you want to take part in a really fun event.  

• Also, February 14 is not just Valentine's Day, but also International Book Giving Day.  It's a lot more low key and the website has tons of easy ways to participate.  Go sign up! (via Seven Impossible Things)

Until next week!

Review: On the Day I Died: Stories from the Grave by Candace Fleming

Publisher: Random House Children's Books

Publication Date: July 10th 2012

Goodreads Description:

The phenomenally versatile, award-winning author, Candace Fleming, gives teen and older tween readers ten ghost stories sure to send chills up their spines. Set in White Cemetery, an actual graveyard outside Chicago, each story takes place during a different time period from the 1860's to the present, and ends with the narrator's death. Some teens die heroically, others ironically, but all due to supernatural causes. Readers will meet walking corpses and witness demonic posession, all against the backdrop of Chicago's rich history—the Great Depression, the World's Fair, Al Capone and his fellow gangsters.

 

 

 

Review:

When I was in school, my best friend was one of the bravest people I knew -- or so I thought.  She delighted in whispering me ghost stories as we lay in the dark, fighting off sleep, all the while insisting that we didn't need the light on in the bathroom next door.  I still remember the stay-over where she brought Daniel Cohen's Phone Call From A Ghost: Strange Tales From Modern America. While reading "Something in the Room" I got so freaked out by the picture that I threw the book from the bunk bed. (Librarians, please overlook that last sentence.)  Of course, it landed face up and open on the picture that had freaked me out.  Yes, this is what lay staring at us from the floor:

  

The problem was that, in order to descend the ladder and retrieve the book (thus covering up the creepy ghost from the closet) one had to either turn one's back to the window facing the woods or try to go down the ladder backwards.  After about 30 minutes and much debate, it was settled that -- as it was my house and I had more experience with the ladder -- I would go down the ladder backwards while she held my arm to help steady me.  (All of this done while averting my eyes from the book in front of me, naturally.)  Needless to say the book was eventually retrieved and all was well again.  Except that, here I am, 20 years later, and I still have that image burned into my memory -- and a funny story to go with it.

You would think that this would have turned me off ghost stories forever.  You would be wrong.  I was so deliciously terrified that it instilled a lifelong love of a good ghost story.  So, back to On the Day I Died.  I tell this story because On the Day I Died: Stories from the Grave by Candace Fleming would have been just the sort of book we would have loved.  Some of the stories would have brought goosebumps.  Others we might have rolled our eyes.  While yet others would have been so wonderfully creepy that we would have remained silent, each too scared to admit we were scared.  It is the perfect sort of book for slumber parties and stay overs and camping trips.  Each ghost has a clear and distinct voice, making each story unique, even as they seamlessly flow into each other, getting progressively more paranormal than normal.

On the Day I Died was a lot of fun to read, but I wasn't particularly frightened.  I think it would suite younger teens and middle grade readers best.  My personal favorite stories: Johnnie and Edgar.

Rating:

3 of 5 stars

Other Opinions:

Heidi from Bunbury in the Stacks

Previously:

 48 Hour Book Challenge: Update 4

Review also appears on Goodreads; a review copy was provided by the publisher.

Review: Short Story "Home" by Stacia Kane

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Publication Date: April 10, 2012

Goodreads Description:

As a Debunker, Chess Putnam is used to investigating reports of suspected hauntings and sending ghosts back to the City of Eternity beneath the surface of the earth. What she isn't used to is having suburban housewives refusing to acknowledge the presence of ghosts in their homes. There are lots of reasons why someone might harbor a spirit, and none of them are good.   At least Chess has Terrible on her side.  But things are never as black and white as they seem, especially not when love is involved, and Chess finds herself making a decision she never thought she'd make.

 

Review:

Stacia Kane's "Home" is probably one of the best short stories I have ever read -- or at least one of the ones I have most enjoyed.  There is always so much going on in the Downside Ghosts novels, so much action and adventure, that it is easy to forget how wonderfully vivid Kane's characters really are.  Their relationships are complex and complicated; their emotions deeply felt.  Yet, even though Chess and Terrible are what brings me back to Kane's books time and time again, Kane's masterful storytelling constantly shifts my attention to other things.  

Then comes "Home."  In this sweet, but not saccharine, short story we really get a chance to see Chess and Terrible when their lives are not burdened by trying to save the world.  Chess is able to show some emotions that are not forced out by circumstance, and I like her the better for it.  It was also nice to see her on a (mostly) routine job -- so often in the full length novels the jobs are just the tip of an apocalyptic iceberg!  

Rating:

4.5 of 5 stars

Previously:

Review: Downside Ghosts Series (#1-3) by Stacia Kane

Review: Sacrificial Magic by Stacia Kane

Review also appears on Goodreads; I purchased my copy from Barnes & Noble for Nook.

 

Review: Short Story "The Strange Case of Finley Jayne" by Kady Cross

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Publication Date: May 1, 2011

Goodreads Description:

Finley Jayne knows she's not 'normal'. Normal girls don't lose time, or have something inside them that makes them capable of remarkably violent things. Her behavior has already cost her one job, so when she's offered the lofty position of companion to Phoebe, a debutante recently engaged to Lord Vincent, she accepts, despite having no experience. Lord Vincent is a man of science with his automatons and inventions, but Finley is suspicious of his motives where Phoebe is concerned. She will do anything to protect her new friend, but what she discovers is even more monstrous than anything she could have imagined...

An ebook exclusive prequel to The Steampunk Chronicles.

Review:

I think this is one of those rare instances where I like the short story/novella format from an author much more than the full length novel.  Many of the failings found in Cross' full length novels are absent in The Strange Case of Finley Jayne.  The story is much tighter: the descriptions of clothing and devices are still present, but do not override the plot.  Nor does Cross over-employ the same redundant physical descriptions of characters as she does with Emily's "ropey" hair.  

Surprisingly, I also think that Cross did a much better job of shaping her characters when constrained by the short story structure.  Phoebe and Lady Morton were much more fully actualized to me than many of the characters found in The Girl in the Steel Corset.  Additionally, she explores Finley's dual nature, and how Finley thinks of and feels about her internal conflict, in a much more interesting way than occurs in the full length novel.  I also found the plot progression and world building to be a lot stronger in The Strange Case of Finley Jayne than in TGSC.  

It would have been wonderful if TSCFJ had been included as the first chapters of TGSC rather than an independent prequel. There is a lot of helpful world-building information that is naturally included in this story that we are unaware of while reading The Girl in the Steel Corset until very late in the novel, and only then in a info-dump manner.  Cross sublty uses foreshadowing with Finley's mother and her attitudes towards the aristocracy; and the former Duke of Greythorne's past experiments and discoveries were hinted at in a way that would have made TGSC a much better read.  

I really enjoyed all of the almost-meetings between Finley and Griffin -- especially the scene in the chocolate shop!  My only confusion is why Phoebe and Lady Morton don't show up in the full length books -- Phoebe is a sweet friend, and Lady Morton is a kick-butt cool character -- I'd like to see more of them. The Strange Case of Finley Jayne was a well-written, fun, interesting short story, and I really wish I would have read this first!

Rating:

3.5 of 5 stars

This review also appears on Goodreads; I purchased my copy from Barnes & Noble for Nook.

 

2012 Edgars Winners

When I first heard about the 2012 Edgars Nominations, I had read surprisingly few of the nominations in Juvenile, Young Adult, and short stories.  Wouldn't you know that the one Young Adult book I didn't get around to reading was the winner!

Best Juvenile:

Icefall by Matthew J. Kirby

Best Young Adult:

The Silence of Murder by Dandi Daley Mackall

Best Short Story went to "The Man Who Took His Hat Off to the Driver of the Train" - Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine by Peter Turnbull (Dell Magazines).

Honestly, the best part of the Edgars this year (aside from finding some great new reads from the nominees list) was watching Maureen Johnson and Neil Gaiman tweet through the banquet.

For the full list of award winners see here.

Update 2: The Kairos Mechanism

17 days into the campaign and The Kairos Mechanism is already 60% funded!  This is so exciting -- I really want this project to be funded!  Some updates from Kate on how the project is going thus far:

• This week The Kairos Mechanism will go to Kate's Kid Editor Crew.  Four of these six young readers have contributed interviews about how they approach editing that will be posted throughout this week on the Novellablog at clockworkfoundry.com. 

• If you are or will be anywhere in the vicinity of New York City, Annapolis (near where Mrs. Milford grew up), or the sanctuary garden in Massachusetts (which inspired a setting in The Kairos Mechanism) there is a good chance you could help celebrate this project with Kate in person!  She will be announcing the details this week for three different real-world events that will take place during the second half of the campaign!  (Alas, none of those places are remotely close to where I live.)

• You can now add The Kairos Mechanism to your Goodreads to-read bookshelf.

• Finally, if you know any tween or teen reader artists who are interested in participating in this project, send them Kate's way at The Clockwork Foundry.

Unrelated to The Kairos Mechanism (but just as exciting!):

 

Previously:

 Review: The Boneshaker by Kate Milford

Kickstarter Campaign: The Kairos Mechanism a New Novella from Kate Milford

Updates, Giveaways, and Free Books

Review: Short Story "Death and Waffles" by Lish McBride

Publisher: Henry Holt and Company

Published: February 1, 2011

Goodreads Description:

Matt’s childhood friend, Ashley, has been stopping by a lot lately. That might seem pretty normal, but Ashley died years ago and now she’s Death.

And tonight she wants waffles and fries.

Review:

Ashley was one of my favorite characters in Hold Me Closer, Necromancer, so it comes as no surprise that I loved getting more of her in "Death and Waffles."  It was really nice to see her in her professional capacity as a Harbinger of Death, but it was even better to get a glimpse of her personal life--pre-death.  

I guess my primary dissatisfaction comes from, yet again, an incredibally passive protagonist.  Only, with Matt, I don't get enough time to really love him despite his inaction.  Thankfully, Ashley calls him out on this!  (Dare I hope that she will do the same for Sam in future books?!)

I also wonder what implications "Death and Waffles" has for the rest of the series.  What does it mean for Matt to be waiting around forever for a 10 year old ghost?  Will Matt be worked into the next books (if Ashley is spending this much time with him?)  It made me sad for him if this is his future. 

Rating:

3.5 of 5 stars

This review also appears on Goodreads; I purchased my copy from Barnes & Noble for Nook.

Review: Short Story "Career Day" by Barry Lyga

Publisher: Little, Brown

Publication Date: March 6, 2012

Goodreads Description: 

A 3,000 word short-story prequel to [I Hunt Killers entitled] Career Day! 

 
When your dad is a serial killer, things like Career Day don't go over so well. While classmates might be looking forward to joining the family business, Jazz knows he needs to find a new path in this original short story by Barry Lyga.

Review:

I am having a hard time deciding if I would recommend reading "Career Day" before or after I Hunt Killers; no matter what, though, I would recommend reading it.  Chronologically speaking, it comes first.  However, I think knowing the characters before seeing this glimpse of them could greatly add to the appreciation.  (I read I Hunt Killers first.) 

In 3,000 words Lyga manages to create characters that are better actualized than are often found in full length novels.  In fact, I think "Career Day" fleshed the character of Howie out quite a bit--he just didn't have that much time to be so relaxed and charming in I Hunt Killers.

Also, "Career Day" answers quite a few of the little questions I had--or would have had if I had really though about it--about Jazz, Connie, and Howie.  How Jasper got his nickname.  How he and Connie started dating.  Things like that.  "Career Day" also showed a very poignant vulnerable moment for Jazz.  We get flashes of that in I Hunt Killers as well, but in "Career Day" it seemed more pronounced because he had no purpose to fall back on as he did in I Hunt Killers.    

Rating:

5 of 5 stars

This review also appears on Goodreads; I purchased my copy from Barnes & Noble for Nook.

Review: Two Crafty Criminals! and How They Were Captured by the Daring Detectives of the New Cut Gang by Philip Pullman

Expected Publication Date: May 08, 2012

Publisher: Random House Children's Books

Goodreads Description:

Benny Kaminsky and Thunderbolt Dobney lead a rag-tag gang of neighborhood rowdies. Their territory is the New Cut on London's South Bank—a place bristling with swindlers, bookies, pickpockets, and the occasional policeman. And their aim is to solve crimes.

When counterfeit coins start showing up in their neighborhood, Thunderbolt fears his own father may be behind the crime. But his friends devise a way to trap the real culprit. Then the gang takes on the case of some stolen silver. They have just two clues—a blob of wax, and an unusually long match. But even this slippery thief is unmasked by the determined kids of the New Cut. 

Filled with silly sleuthing, improbable disguises, crazy ruses, and merry mayhem, these stories are action-packed romps from one of the best storytellers ever—Philip Pullman.

Review:

 Two Crafty Criminals! and How They Were Captured by the Daring Detectives of the New Cut Gang is actually a really long, unwieldy new title for two previously released UK novellas: Thunderbolt's Waxwork and The Gas-Fitters' Ball.  These two hilarious stories tell the adventures of a 'gang' of  enchanting, lively, quirky, kids in Victorian England.

Once again, Pullman has crafted characters that dwell in the reader's mind rather than the page.  These kids are real kids: by turns smart, clueless, brave, cowardly, resourceful, compassionate, condescending, or just plain weird.  Pullman takes turns following the different children, boy and girl alike, with each holding their own.  I think that Two Crafty Criminals would be an exuberantly lively and amusing read to boys and girls alike--no matter which character takes the lead.

Pullman also does and excellent job of establishing time and place.  He drops little hints here and there that make the story feel authentically Victorian, while never allowing the setting to overrun the story.  And the slang is just fun; it was an absolute delight to read this aloud to my son!  

The mysteries, and the antics the kids get up to while solving them, are often over-the-top--making them feel like the stories kids tell each other about their weekends or school vacations while bragging at recess.  They are easily solved, but in a way that leaves young readers feeling triumphant at having figured things out.  Plus, there are whimsically amusing pictures scattered throughout.

I think that Two Crafty Criminals joins the ranks of other Pullman works that are a pleasure to read aloud at bedtime.  It would also do well to encourage a newly independent chapter book reader.  My only caveat: the stories lend themselves best to younger middle grade readers, but the ability needed to understand the slang from context clues, and the occasionally difficult vocabulary words, make them better for older middle grade readers. 

This review also appears at Goodreads; a review copy was provided by the publisher.

Link Trove #3

• Author Hannah Goodman has put together a magazine of YA stories written by various authors in the first issue of Sucker Magazine, and you can download it here. 

• Kelly at Stacked has a follow up post Doing Our Part: Nominate Titles for YALSA's Lists & Awards where she links to the nomination forms and gives some general ideas for how and why to nominate your favorites books for awards.

• School Library Journal's 2012 Battle of the Kid's Books has begun.

• This article from The New York Times on literacy and education of the world's poorest children has both devastating and hopeful statistics to relay.  Save the Children's new program, Literacy Boost, sounds awesome.  From the article:

"The most innovative part of the program is the work outside the classroom.   The goal is to expose children to reading as much as possible.  This often starts with simply maximizing children’s exposure to print  — in some places, the only writing a child sees is what the teacher puts on the blackboard.

 "In a few places, Save the Children has worked with local publishers or nongovernmental groups, or even government ministries, to print books.  But more commonly, the program depends on an ingenious solution —  the books are homemade.  Sometimes adults write down favorite stories, but often the authors are children."

• The New York Times has an interesting debate which starts with the question Should Parents Control What Kids Learn at School?

• This article entitled Libraries, Sexual Content and the Internet: Striking a Balance Between Rights, Access, And Comfort from the Huffington Post was pretty interesting.  It didn't tell me anything earth-shatteringly new, but was still well worth the read.

• In yet another New York Times article, Julie Bosman details the future of Barnes & Noble, both digital and print.  If you are still on the fence about which e-reader to buy, I would consider giving it a read.  (I purchased a Nook after reading the article.)

• The Electronic Frontier Foundation gives a short and sweet explanation of What Actually Changed in Google’s Privacy Policy.