The Graveyard Book- Neil Gaiman

“There was a hand in the darkness and it held a knife. The knife had a handle of polished black bone, and a blade finer and sharper than any razor. If it sliced you, you might not even know you had been cut, not immediately. The knife had done almost everything it was brought to that house to do, and both the blade and the handle were wet.”

CSI? Criminal Minds? A Martha Grimes crime mystery? No- just the start of the Newbery-award winning book, The Graveyard Book. The killer goes on to the nursery where he means to kill the toddler after having killed mother, father and older sister. Mercifuuly, the toddler has escaped the confines of crib, found his way down the stairs and through the open front door, whereupon he proceeds up the hill to the graveyard. Here, the ghosts who inhabit the graveyard, are unsure what to do with this little human, until Mr. and Mistress Owens choose to adopt him. Silas, who is neither alive nor dead, will be his guardian. And thus follows one glorious romp of a story. Nobody Owens, or Bod, as he comes to be called, has the run of the graveyard, and is accepted and generally loved by all the ghosts who inhabit it. There are adventures galore- friendship with a real little girl who visits the graveyard, with a witch who has been buried in unconsecrated ground and with Silas who is his constant for advice and security. It begins to heat right up when we become aware that “they” are still after Bod and won’t be satisfied until he is dead as well. The quality of writing is undeniably great.

But now for somewhat of a dilemma. Where does this fit in my school library? It is too young to be in the YA (Young Adult) section and yet I am reluctant for some of my younger, perhaps more impressionable students, to have ready access to it. I rarely read other reviews until I have written my own but this time I needed to hear what others had to say about this.

School Library Journal does question ” the violence of our world trickling down into our entertainment”, but then goes on to say “it was one of the most emotionally honest books” read this year. I’m not sure what that means, exactly. I did love this book, don’t get me wrong; it was a page-turner. But I do suggest you read it for yourself to determine where it fits into your literary world.

Please, if you’ve read it, would you comment and let me know your thoughts? I would love some feedback on this.

Check out the excellent book trailer narrated by Neil Gaiman.

Update: I just read the beginning lines to a grade 5 class and they are enthralled! And I guess that’s exactly what we want!!

Update 2- Received this link from a reader- author reads the entire book! Worth checking out!

http://www.mousecircus.com/videotour.aspx?VideoID=1

Skulduggery Pleasant- Derek Landy

Fantasy has seen a resurgence of interest and some great (and not so great) fantasy is popping up everywhere. Well-received is Landy’s book, Skulduggery Pleasant, with more adventures on the way. With an intriguing title like that, expectations are high and overall, well met. The 12- year old protagonist, Stephanie, is bequeathed her uncle’s large mansion after his untimely death. Unexpectedly left to spend the night alone, the world as she knows it is ripped apart as the house is broken into and her life is at risk. Rescued by the inscrutable Skulduggery, she discovers that all that is left of him is a skeleton who has chosen to come back to life to fight evil. Thus we are propelled into the world behind the scenes of our everyday lives; sometimes so realistically that you might begin to wonder just what might exist. Determined that she is going to become part of the fight, Stephanie appears to take in her stride all the peoples and events that have only been a part of her fantasy world. Good fantasy allows you to suspend your disbelief most readily, and I found myself struggling a little with the age of the character and with her utter lack of fear and indifference to danger in entering this new phase of her life. But I do believe the story is fast-paced enough with many quirky characters and lots of action to lure many of our fantasy fans. Although I felt The Alchemyst, recently reviewed on this blog, was superior, I would recommend this for school and public libraries. It sayed with me for a time after reading it, so I believe I may be interested in pursuing the sequel as well.

Students may be quite interested in this Skulduggery site with a video, games, e-cards and more.

The Alchemyst- Michael Scott

I’ve been picking up books, starting and then setting them aside, when I picked up The Alchemyst (The Secrets of Nicholas Flamel) and very quickly settled into a fascinating read. For those young people who have completed their numerous re-reads of the Harry Potter series, here is the next series for your reading enjoyment. With a little more depth and maturity, this would be the next great recommendation for our fantasy lovers. Well-researched, and indeed with characters straight out of the annals of history, Michael Scott has created an unforgettable world; a world where the line between reality, myth, dreams and legend are crossed time and time again. The ease with which Scott does this is testament to his exemplary research and a desire to explore possibilities.

In the present, the twins Josh and Sophie are delighted to have found jobs in San Francisco while their archaeologist parents are off doing their own thing. Unknown to Josh, the owner of the bookshop where he is working also happens to be one of the most famous alchemists known to mankind. Centuries later he and his wife are still alive because of the Book of Abraham which among many other mysteries, contains the secret of eternal life. Of course, there has to be an antagonist who also wants this revered book- enter Dr. John Dee, who has finally found Nicholas Flamel and intends to use even the creatures of magic in order to get his way. What follows is the greatest of fast-paced adventures, peopled with creatures even your nightmares could not bring to life. Peppered throughout with just enough reality and myth, you are swept up in the drama and the what ifs? of a great fantasy story. And the twins’ part in all this? Well, twins, in particular, ones with the auras of Sophie and Josh are part of the great prophecy and will assume a pivotal role as their powers are awakened. Part way through, it became abundantly clear that this book is only the beginning, and indeed, Book 2, The Magician, is available. I look forward to reading it as well. Recommended for high school as well as your avid young adult fantasy readers. A pretty good read for grown-ups as well!!

The Secret of Grim Hill- Linda DeMeulemeester

This book confused me somewhat. I had been looking forward to reading it as it had come up on several recommended sites. The unfortunate cover will likely not appeal to the age group for which I assume it was intended. That assumption is based on the age of the protagonist, Cat, who is just entering her first year of a new high school. The plot and actions of the character made it appear more appropriate for the grade 4-6 crowd. So my recommendation is to offer it to that group of readers as they may quite enjoy the mysterious and and even scary moments in this book.Cat is typically unhappy in her new school and wishes she could afford to attend the posh Grimoire private school. When she hears about a soccer tournament which will award attendance at this school as the prize, Cat is eager to try out and give it her all. Things begin very quickly to seem out of sync.Teachers don’t expect assignments in on time, barriers to players’ attendance at soccer practises mysteriously evaporate and Cat’s playing ability exceeds even her wildest dreams. When her sister Sooky suddenly disappears after having warned Cat of the dangers of the school and her mom doesn’t remember who Sooky even is, Cat finally realizes that something indeed is amiss and begins to explore the possibilities. A creepy atmosphere may well draw kids to this, but when I compare it to Coraline by Neil Gaiman of some years ago, it just doesn’t have the same depth and credibility. Well, you know what I mean- some books allow you to suspend your disbelief with the blink of an eye while others have you going, “you’ve got to be kidding!” Grim Hill falls more into the latter category for me.

It is one of the nominations for this year’s Diamond Willow awards.

The Feathered Cloak- Sean Dixon

How did I miss this in my reading? Browsing through several books that I had on hand, I eventually picked this one up and was in a delightful surprise! This is a lovely fantasy book that incorporates a somewhat old-fashioned style of writing with a mastery of the elements of great fantasy. Freya is an 11 year-old Viking girl whose life is being turned upside down. Her once kind and caring father is withdrawing into his own space. Her younger brother, Rolf, once her playmate, has grown to ten feet tall and is no longer suited to the play they enjoyed. Frustrated and angry, Freya happens to view a falcon catcher who is planning to sell the falcon to the Viking king and make his fortune. Freya decides she will become “Freya the Falcon-Catcher” and thus find her place in the world. Unknown to her, Morton, oldest falcon of the king has had his wings torn from him and is sent as a warning to the king’s brother, who has been asked to rule over a small part of Norway. So when Freya sets her falcon trap, it is Morton whom she captures. Morton, whose falcon language she speaks; Morton of great wisdom who attempts to apprise her of the wickedness of the king she wishes to impress. But Freya is not easily persuaded and the resulting conversation between her and Morton is humorous and enlightening. Eventually, she, Morton and her giant of a brother, head out to meet this most vile king and…. Well, I’ll let you read this for yourself. It is a most delightful story and not only do I plan to purchase the rest of the series for my library, but read them all as well.

Ranger’s Apprentice Book One: The Ruins of Gorlan- John Flanagan

Fantasy lovers; step right up! You have a treat in store for you. Although I have as yet only read the first one in this series, it is one I will continue reading for my own pleasure. Sometimes I only read the first in a series so I can recommend them to students. Other times, such as this one, it’s a series I want to finish. The first in this series, The Ruins of Gorlan, is about 15 year old Will, an orphan who has been raised in Baron Arald’s home along with other orphans. At a particular time, they are chosen to apprentice in various capacities. Although Will, in spite of his small size, hopes to be chosen for Battle School, he is dismayed to find that he is to be apprenticed as a Ranger. A somewhat shadowy, mysterious group, he has no idea what will be expected of him and why he has been chosen. Over time, it becomes clear that he has skills that do indeed qualify him for this rather extraordinary life. As Rangers, they are protectors of the kingdom, and as Will is soon to find out, it will tax every ounce of courage and skill he possesses. This overview does not do justice to the intriguing characters and the truly fast-paced adventure of this book. I would highly recommend this for all elementary as well as high school libraries.

Vampires- a New Genre?

I understand that when there is a lot of hype around a particular series (referring to Twilight, et al), there are many who want to get on that particular bandwagon and cash in on its popularity. In a similar fashion, the Harry Potter series spawned a whole rash of fantasy, some great, some mediocre. The same is true of the new vampire offerings. I contrast two novels: The Night Wanderer:A Native Gothic Novel by Drew Hayden Taylor with Night Runner by Max Turner. Night Wanderer is an exciting and haunting story of sixteen-year old Tiffany who lives on Otto Lake Reserve with her father and grandmother. A typical teenager, she fights with her dad, and is more concerned with her relationship with her boyfriend, a white boy from a neighbouring community. Although she thinks they are in love, there are little signs that make her wonder if he really accepts her into his sphere of friends. Then along comes Pierre, an unusual man from Europe, who is going to board with her family for awhile. He refuses the offer of her room and prefers to lodge in the darkened basement. Although you understand quickly that there is something very different about him, you are left to read the clues and make some judgements for yourself. His and Tiffany’s paths continue to intersect; in fact, the author uses both voices to tell the story which really allows us to enter both of their worlds. Although I don’t want to give much more of the story away, I do believe this story has merit, it is fast-paced and will have wide appeal for our vampire lovers. There are a few language issues so I would recommend you read this before housing it in the YA section of your elementary school but this will suit the high school collections as well.

Night Runner, on the other hand, is not as subtle. It too is action packed but after the rather exciting beginning, it lagged until the end where many loose ends were tied up very quickly.  Zach, who lives in a mental institute because of a strange illness he has contracted following the death of his parents, is told to run by a wild man who has broken into the institute. I loved the beginning and then was so disappointed to find out it was a vampire story. I thought it had the potential for breaking new ground if it followed a completely different plot. I also need to say that this is not my favourite genre, so my prejudice may well be showing. He soon discovers that he is a vampire and that his father was a vampire hunter.  I thought it really strained one’s credulity (understandably so) but even an unbelievable story needs to seem plausible. I am able to suspend my disbelief quite readily, but really had difficulty with htis one.His best friend’s easy acceptance of Zach’s condition and his willingness to trap animals for their blood just seemed too, too trite. I certainly agree that this will have “kid” appeal and the language was good, so I will certainly house it in my library, but in a search for excellence, this didn’t make the cut for me.    

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.”