Shadowland

Cabot, Meg. Shadowland. New York: Avon, 2005. Print.

Genre: Fantasy

Intended Audience: Ages 11 and older

Personal Reaction: When I learned there was going to be another Mediator book released I couldn't help but reread the series starting with Shadowland.  For those who have never read the series (and I suspect most who are visiting my blog have not) perhaps my "personal reaction" will give you reason to read it. Suze sees dead people.  She helps guide people to their after life, most are happy about it and require something simple.  Some aren't so much-which brings in the problems in the series.

When Suze moves with her mom to California she moves into her new bedroom and finds Jesse de Silva, a ghost, sitting in her room.  In Shadowland Heather, a former student, committed suicide because her boyfriend broke up with her.  She decides to attempt to kill him and Suze and Father Dominic (another mediator at the school) help her to find her way home.  Through all this Suze and Jesse have feelings for one another and Jesse ends up saving Suze on multiple occasions throughout the story.

Author Facts:  Meg Cabot worked in a residence hall for ten years at NYU.  She has celiac disease which she finds most unfortunate as she loves all carbs, especially pizza and beer.  She currently lives in Key West with her husband and many cats.

Author Website:  http://www.megcabot.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/

If the Witness Lied

Cooney, Caroline B. If the Witness Lied? New York: Delacorte, 2009.

Genre: Mystery

Audience: Ages 12 and older

Personal Reaction: I have always loved Caroline B. Cooney's novels, from the first Janie book and still now with If the Witness Lied.  She has a way of making characters come to live and enticing readers to continue the novel.  In this story we meet Jack and Tris, brothers whose parents have died.  In the first half of the book their sisters, Madison and Smithy come home to celebrate their late father's birthday and realize their youngest brother was unlikely their father's murderer.  As the novel progresses they realize their Aunt Cheryl murdered their father and blamed it on Tris, since he was too young to be penalized for any wrongdoing.  

The story (unfortunately) ends abruptly and Cheryl is taken into custody for killing the children's father and stealing from them, losing her television deal in the meantime.  The children move to live with their grandparents, realizing it does not matter where they live, only that they are together.  

Author Facts: Caroline B. Cooney has lived in many places but has settled in South Carolina because she loves being warm.  She has three children and five grandchildren.  Even though she is educated and has attended many colleges, Cooney has not graduated from any.  

Author Website: http://www.carolinebcooneybooks.com/index.html