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/

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 

Under the Mesquite

McCall, G. (2011). Under the mesquite. New York: Lee & Low Books.

Intended Audience: 12+

Genre: Poetry: Realistic Fiction

Personal Reaction:  Under the Mesquite was a beautifully written story of a young girl named Lupita.  She was the oldest of many children and her mother was diagnosed with cancer.  Throughout the story we learn how she copes with the news and helps her parents care for her siblings.  Lupita uses drama to help express her emotions and finds she has a gift for poetry and writing in addition to acting.

This was a touching novel that was so easy to read.  I could feel the ache of Lupita and annoyance as her mother grew sicker and her siblings lacked maturity.  When her mother died we could feel the brokenness she felt.  Mccall wrote this novel in verse, allowing her to focus on the emotions and plot much more than dialogue and irrelevant setting. 

Author Facts: Guadalupe Garcia Mccall is known as Loop by her friends.  She loves the outdoors, which one may guess after reading her books which beautifully paint pictures of what happens outside.  She loves to think about life and growing up when she writes, trying to give meaning to these experiences.  

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

The Water Castle

Blackmore, M. F. (2013). The Water Castle. Broadway, NY: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.

Intended Audience: Ages 8-14

Genre: Science Fiction

Personal Reaction: The Water Castle was an wonderful story that had me hooked from the very beginning.  I started it on my lunch and within the half hour was already 47 pages into it.  In this story, the characters are searching for the fountain of youth, Ephraim wants it for his father, Mallory wants to know if her parents had been telling the truth for her whole life and Will is curious for the sake of science.  Throughout the story there is a journal shown of the Appledores, the family owning the Water Castle and detailing how they found the Fountain of Youth so many years ago. 

As many stories in small towns, there is centuries of hatred between Ephraim and Will's families, a hatred the young boys are able to help push aside as they become friends.  I always find myself loving books with light science fiction and having real problems needing solved.  At the end  Ephraim's father appears to be healed from his stroke, giving readers the understanding that the Fountain of Youth is real. 

Author Facts: Megan Frazer has her Masters in Library Science from Simmons GSLIS and spent more than ten years as a librarian.  She has a degree in English from Columbia and has taught English to high school students.  Currently she is taking a break from traditional jobs and is instead focusing on her writing and her family. 

Author's website: http://www.meganfrazer.com/