The Extraordinary Adventures of Alfred Kropp- Rick Yancey

This reminded me somewhat of the Alex Rider books, only with an even more unlikely hero. Alfred is orphaned and goes to live with his uncle. He is a large, unwieldy boy who does not seem to have any particular skills. This all changes when his uncle enlists his help in stealing a sword, which turns out to be the sword Excalibur. Why is it that Alfred’s power seems to grow when he wields the sword? Why are knights and thugs all after him? Who is Alfred anyway?

This is a page-turner adventure for those of you who like a little of the mystical thrown into modern day life.

You might also enjoy Endymion Spring by Matthew Skelton.

Keturah and Lord Death- Martine Leavitt

Author- Martine Leavitt 

I read this award-winning book last year as part of the Snow Willows selection committee, and as usual, forgot many of the details except for the fact that I absolutely loved it and couldn’t put it down. So I have started re-reading it and am every bit as fascinated the second time around. I also read many of the reviews on-line and started to puzzle somewhat about what made this book so attractive to me. I do not do a lot of self-analysis as I read, so this will be a good exercise for me. In thinking about this question, it became evident that as a rather fanciful young girl, with a very vivid imagination, this is the type of reading that has always appealed to me- a fairy-tale, a love story, and strong vivid characters. It reminded me quickly of what Robin McKinley and Gail Levine have accomplished in turning some of the familiar fairy tales into full-fledged novels. I loved them; not only for the rich detail, but for the well-developed characters. It also reminded me of The Princess Bride, a long-time favourite; which tells you that I am also a sucker for “true love”; and that is another story in itself!
When Keturah chases the famed hart into the forest, she becomes lost. At the end of the three days, her strength waning, Lord Death comes for her, as expected. What is unexpected is the dialogue which ensues. Keturah does not wish to die and attempts to bargain for her life, but Lord Death is cold and implacable. He offers her a reprieve, that she choose anyone else from the village to take her place, which she refuses to do; showing her kind and generous nature. She then begins to relate to him a story of love, that no one, not even Lord Death can overcome. With that, she begins to pique his interest and she promises to tell him the rest of the story the next day. He allows her this option but also says that the end of the day, he will take her as his consort (isn’t that a great word?) unless she is able to find and marry her true love in one day. And thus, as her friend Gretta puts it- “we go a man-hunting.”