I'm trying to slowly work my way back to writing reviews but it's more difficult than I anticipated. It's not that I haven't read some good books, I just can't seem to write a review that satisifies me. Or I find an excuse not to write an review. *sigh* I need to pull it together. I should have some more reviews of this week, but no promises. On the bright side, summer is almost here thank goodness! I don't even care if we don't have summer weather, I just want no school. Whose with me?? New Crayons is hosted by Color Online (which I've also neglected =/)
From the publisher-Little & Brown
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
A fantasy crossed with Chinese folklore, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a timeless adventure story in the classic tradition of The Wizard of Oz. In the Valley of Fruitless Mountain, a young girl named Minli spends her days working hard in the fields and her nights listening to her father spin fantastic tales about the Jade Dragon and the Old Man of the Moon. Minli’s mother, tired of their poor life, chides him for filling her head with nonsense. But Minli believes these enchanting stories and embarks on an extraordinary journey to find the Old Man of the Moon and ask him how her family can change their fortune. She encounters an assorted cast of characters and magical creatures along the way, including a dragon who accompanies her on her quest. -
This strikes me as a MG classic so I'm happy that I finally got a push to start reading it. I absolutely cannot wait to start reading since I've read nothing but rave reviews :)
The Prince of Mist by Carlos by Carlos Ruiz Zafron
A mysterious house harbors an unimaginable secret . . . It’s wartime, and the Carver family decides to leave the capital where they live and move to a small coastal village where they’ve recently bought a home. But from the minute they cross the threshold, strange things begin to happen. In that mysterious house there still lurks the spirit of Jacob, the previous owners’ son, who died by drowning. With the help of their new friend Roland, Max and Alicia Carver begin to explore the suspicious circumstances of that death and discover the existence of a mysterious being called The Prince of Mist— a diabolical character who has returned from the shadows to collect on a debt from the past. Soon the three friends will find themselves caught up in an adventure of sunken ships and an enchanted stone garden, which will change their lives forever.
-I think this might end up being an off color review because I don't think the main characters are of color. Not a big deal but for some reason I had thought they were? Sounds deliciously creepy!
Bird in a Box by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Sean Qualls In a small upstate New York town during the Great Depression, three children—Hibernia, Willie, and Otis—are about to meet. Hibernia dreams of becoming a famous singer and performing at Harlem’s swanky Savoy Ballroom. Willie is recovering from a tragedy that prevents him from becoming a junior boxing champ. Otis spends every night glued to the radio, listening to the voices that remind him of Daddy and Ma. Each of them is looking for hope, and they all find it in the thrilling boxing matches of young Joe Louis. They know Joe has a good chance of becoming the country’s next heavyweight champion. What they don’t know is that during this unforgettable year, the three of them will become friends. Award-winning and bestselling author Andrea Davis Pinkney masterfully tells a story of friendship and determination, set against the backdrop of America’s golden age of radio.
-Another historical fiction book for young readers that covers a different time period! I've started reading it already, I'm almost done in fact. The '30s always depressed me and this story is very sad but there are rays of sunshine.
What new books did you get this week? And I'm curious, how do you get your books? Do you buy them, swap them, trade?
