Cress

Meyer, Marissa. Cress. New York, New York: Feiwel and Friends, 2014. Print.

Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy

Intended Audience: Ages 12 and older

Personal Reaction: The first two books in the Lunar Chronicles were so well written I couldn't help but read Cress.  Many of the characters in this series are loosely based on fairy tale characters, Cress being Rapunzel.  She has been trapped on a satellite for most of her life by the queen's right hand Sybil Mira.  Cress escapes the satellite with the help of Cinder, Thorne, and goes with them to find her father, Dr. Erland. 

This book was such a great and exciting, fast paced novel.  There was adventure and romance and above all, hope for the people of Luna.  Meyer successfully told another wonderful story of adventure and friendship.  She leaves a cliff hanger where we find Princess Winter keeping Scarlet in her palace, now waiting for Winter to be published next year.

Author Facts: One of Marissa Meyer's first words was story and her favorite childhood toy was a book so it is no wonder she became an author.  She and her husband have three cats.  Se also loves playing dress up, watching Firefly reruns and eating Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. 

Author Website: http://www.marissameyer.com/

The Selection

Cass, Kiera. The Selection. New York: HarperTeen, 2012. Print.

Genre: Dystopia

Intended Audience: Ages 12 and older

Personal Reaction: The Selection is a chance for young women in Illea to win the heart of a the prince and the crown.  America Singer is the star of our novel and despite not wanting to originally enter into the selection she enters and is selected as one of the thirty five girls so seek the hand of prince Maxon.  America is a snarky girl who falls for Maxon and while it seems as though he wants to marry her, she gets jealous of him spending time with the other women as well.  Add in an ex boyfriend, Aspen and America's life is turned upside down.

I was practically forced to read this book by a friend.  While I love chick lit novels, I don't usually gravitate toward books with pictures of girls in dresses on them, but I'm so happy I tried this one.  Cass wrote a beautiful book written with heartache and anticipation and of course, love.  Once I started it I could not put it down and cannot wait to read the rest of the series.

Author Facts: When growing up Kiera Cass wanted to be a performer, she taught theater at a camp and majored in musical theater.  She followed a boy to Radford University where she changed her major many times before settling on History and working on staff at a campus church.  Eventually Mr. Cass wooed her and married her and realized she loved writing and is now a well known author.

Author Website: http://www.kieracass.com/

The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Adams, Douglas. The Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy. New York, New York: Ballentine, 1980. Print.

Intended Audience: Ages 13 and older

Genre: Science Fiction

Personal Reaction: This was another book a coworker and friend of mine could not believe I had never read.  In all reality, I find it hard to believe I have made it this long having not read it either, as it is such a popular book with young adults and grown adults alike.  For a long time I knew the answer to the meaning of live, the universe and everything was 42 and this was known through the knowledge Douglas Adams gave us, however I had not known the rest of the story. 

The Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy follows the story of Arthur Dent, human and his friend Ford Prefect, alien as they escape Earth prior to its being blown up.  They learn the Earth was run by mice and had been built by another alien race to solve the question that the answer 42 answered.  If you think of it, we humans do many experiments on mice, who is to say the mice are not experimenting on us!  This book was quite hilarious and I will likely find myself reading more of Adams' stories in the future. 

Author Facts: Douglas Adams was born in Cambridge in 1952.  He founded h2g2, a digital media and internet company.  In 2001 Adams died of an unexpected heart attack while living in California.  

Author Website: http://www.douglasadams.com/

Fables: Legends in Exile

Willingham, Bill. Fables: Legends in Exile. Vol. 1. New York, New York: DC Coics, 2012. Print.

Genre: Comic/Fantasy

Intended Audience: Ages 13 and older

Personal Reaction: I loved these stories. Fables follows the lives of characters in any of the fairy tales and fables we grew up reading.  Snow White is the Director of Operations for the Fable community and finds her sister, Rose Red has gone missing.  Mister Wolf (from the story of the three little pigs) is a detective and is attempting to solve the mystery of her disappearance.  Jack, from Jack and the Beanstalk, Prince Charming and many other characters are included as suspects and characters making an appearance. 

The artwork is beautifully done and colored, making the story easy to follow and a cohesive unit.  When there is a back story, or flashback moment the drawings are done in shades of purple while the rest has bold, but at times, dark colors.  A friend had recommended reading Fables many years ago in my undergraduate degree and at a recent trip to a comic book store I'm glad I purchased this volume. 

Author Facts: As a child Bill Willingham was stationed with his parents in Germany during the Cuban Missile Crisis and after moved to New York City.  He hates receiving mail with improper grammar and punctuation (but who doesn't?). Finally, he loves riding on the Amtrak and has written blogs and books while on it.  

Author Website: http://www.billwillingham.com/

A Wrinkle in Time

Engle, Madeleine. A Wrinkle in Time. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 1962. Print.

Genre: Science Fantasy

Intended Audience: Ages 8 and older

Personal Reaction: My boyfriend and my boss both found this to be one of the books that changed their lives.  I think, primarily because it was likely one of the first science fiction/fantasy books they read, helping them get into reading.  It was a well written science fantasy novel (genre categorization found somewhere, but it fits) that reminds me of the BFG in some ways; likely because it seems like a story I would have appreciated more if I had read it when I was many years younger.  

This story follows the journey of Meg, Calvin and Charles Wallace to find and rescue Meg and Charles Wallace's father.  They find themselves on the dark planet of Camazotz where a large brain controls all inhabitants of the planet.  Charles Wallace decides to give in to the brain washing and Meg and Calvin have to rescue her father and eventually Charles Wallace as well.  This is a great first science fantasy novel for any child.  

Author Facts: Madeleine L'Engle was born in 1918 and died in 2007.  She loved writing stories as a child and often found herself writing instead of doing her classwork, resulting in poor grades.  L'Engle was a librarian at the St. John the Divine church for thirty years. 

Author Website: http://www.madeleinelengle.com/

An Abundance of Katherines

Green, John. An Abundance of Katherines. New York, NY: Dutton, 2006. 

Intended Audience: Ages 13 and older

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Personal Reaction: I read An Abundance of Katherines shortly after reading The Fault in Our Stars and while I loved the story, it did not elicit the emotional turmoil of the Hazel Grace and Augustus.  Colin, a child prodigy, has his heart broken by the nineteenth girl named Katherine, not Catherine, not Katharine, but Katherine.  While he hadn't intentionally dated nineteen girls of the same name, somehow he did and after having his heart broken so many times his best friend Hassan decides to take him on a road trip to get over his breakup. 

On their trip Colin attempts to create an equation to predict relationships and their chance of success.  Both he and Hassan find themselves in the middle of Gunshot, Tennessee and get jobs working to document the lives of residents.  They make friends with Lindsay, Katrina and the other Colin (TOC) and reinvent themselves along the way.  

Author Facts: John Green has a brother named Hank he began communicating with with via videoblogs on YouTube in 2007.  This started a group of nerdfighters who seek to fight for intellectualism and decrease worldwide suck, as well as raising money to help fight poverty.  In school Green was often nerdy and wished to be popular, though never managed to succeed at.  Instead he read a lot, spend a lot of time alone and listened to people's conversations.  

Author Website: http://johngreenbooks.com/

Goose Girl

Hale, Shannon. The Goose Girl. New York: Bloomsbury, 2003. Print.

Intended Audience: Ages 12 and older

Genre: Fantasy

Personal Reaction: Goose Girl is the story of Ani, the princess of Kildenree a young girl who finds she is able to speak with and understand birds.  She has been betrothed to the prince of Bayern to form an alliance between the countries and leaves her home to marry.  She was accompanied by Talone and a company of soldiers, men and her lady in waiting for the several month journey to her betrothed. On the way Selia, her lady in waiting, and much of the company kill those who supported Ani.  Selia took the place as princess when Ani went missing and when arriving in Bayern Ani finds she is without a throne, or home.  

This story tells of how Ani became a goose girl, making a living taking care of the geese and making friends with those who lived in the Forest prior to working for the King.  She meets a man named Geric who she falls in love with and eventually loses to the palace. This is a wonderful story, filled with unexpected plot twists, one many should enjoy.  I found myself unable to put down this book, as I could not wait to see what Ani would do next and how she would stay safe with Selia wanting her dead. 

Author Facts: At age ten Shannon Hale began writing books and now holds a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing.  This novel, Goose Girl was her first to be published.  She is a mean dance instructor for her son. 

Author Website: http://www.squeetus.com/stage/main.html 

Redwall The Graphic Novel

Jacques, Brian. Redwall: The Graphic Novel. New York, Penguin, 2007.

Genre: Animal Fantasy, Adventure, Graphic Novel

Audience: Ages 8 and older

Personal Reaction: Reading Redwall as a graphic novel was a perfect way to introduce the story.  It is one I had considered reading for several years and still had not committed to doing so.  This is the story of a mouse named Matthias and his journey to retrieve a famous sword to help defeat Cluney and his rats.  Matthias shows no fear as he befriends shrews, an owl, a cat and other birds.  

This was a book of adventure, as it moved quickly and the characters were easy to follow. Being able to visibly see the clawed tail of Cluney helped one to understand the fear the mice of Redwall would have against his army.  This was a hopeful tale, one where the smallest and big dreamer becomes the hero.  Matthias is able to save the day and protect his people from the rats and makes friends with other animals in the area.  

Author Facts: Brian Jacques is from Liverpool, England in 1939.  When he was ten he realized he had a skill for writing when a teacher refused to believe a story he had written was indeed, written by a ten year old.  He began his writing career as a playwright even though he has written poetry and novels.  

Author Website: http://www.redwallabbey.com/