Whimsical Pick: Dragons at Crumbling Castle

Dragons at Crumbling Castle
by Terry Pratchett
Clarion
2015 (first U.S. edition)
337 pages
ISBN: 9780544466593

Whimsical and amazing, Dragons at Crumbling Castle is a collection of fourteen short stories showcasing the mad wit of Sir Terry Pratchett at his fantastical best. Witches, wizards, dragons, princesses, kingdoms, plots and magic are afoot throughout.

Pratchett finds the magical  in the oddest, tiniest places: a dust mote or a carpet, for example.  Readers will be swept (pun intended) along for a fanciful ride. Frollicking with knights, dancing with princesses and brimming with possibilities this is one collection of stories that will be well-digested and loved by readers everywhere.

This collection of never before stories will resonate with fairy tale readers and gain a new following with young readers who have not discovered Pratchett's magic.

Highly, highly recommended for readers grade 4-up. Younger readers may not catch some subtle political and social nuances, but they are sure to enjoy the story anyway.

FTC Required Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review.

This review has been posted in compliance with the FTC requirements set forth in the Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (available at ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf)

Book Giveaway: The Last Dragonslayer--Don't Miss This One!

I have 3 copies up for grabs!!!!

The Last Dragonslayer
by Jasper Fforde
Harcourt Children’s Books
2012
304 pages

Clever, cute, quirky and quaint, The Last Dragonslayer has everything: masterful storytelling, snarky dialog, a teen heroine who is equal parts brave knight, fearless leader, and mistress of sarcasm, magical beings, a Quarkbeast who is lovable if not huggable, a beat up 1958 VW, a missing wizard and a dying dragon.

For the review, see the blog post below.

To enter: Simply post a comment on the blog and include your first name, city, state and email address. Deadline for posts is noon MST on October 31, 2012.

Winners are chosen randomly by Randomizer. Winners will be contacted October 31 and have 24 hours to respond to my email. Please check your email on Octover 31.

Books will ship from New York courtesy of Harcourt Children's Books.

Good luck, and start posting! Pamela

Dragon Pick: The Last Dragonslayer

This is the cover of the UK edition

This is the US edition. I'm not sure why they changed the cover...

The Last Dragonslayer
by Jasper Fforde
Harcourt Children’s Books
2012
304 pages


Clever, cute, quirky and quaint, The Last Dragonslayer has everything: masterful storytelling, snarky dialog, a teen heroine who is equal parts brave knight, fearless leader, and mistress of sarcasm, magical beings, a Quarkbeast who is lovable if not huggable, a beat up 1958 VW, a missing wizard and a dying dragon.

The Great Zambini has been missing quite awhile, so Jennifer Strange, his apprenticed foundling, has taken over the reins of Kazam, an employment agency and old folks home for aging magicians, seers, and movers. Magic has been dwindling and there’s almost no call for it anymore, but Jennifer manages to keep the place running by sending magicians to unclog pipes and using magic carpets to deliver pizza. Then, something begins to happen. There’s a new electricity in the air and the magicians are feeling their powers surge. Some begin to experience visions that the last dragon will meet his end. Some whisper that Big Magic is on the horizon.

Jennifer has to deal with all the outrageous personalities of the live-in magicians and train her new foundling Tiger Prawns. Not only that, she’s destined for far greater things.

Quick witted dialog and puns run amok. For example, when Jennifer introduces her new assistant to some elderly sisters,
“”Tiger, these are the sisters Karamazov—Deirdre and Deirdre.’
‘Why do they have the same name?’ he whispered.
“An unimaginative father.’”

Never have I loved a dragon more! Maltcassion is an old dragon, still regal, and waiting for Jennifer Strange. He knows all about the world, magic, humankind and Big Magic, but he needs Jennifer’s help to ensure the “status quo.” After “meeting” Maltcassion, I want to know him personally—he’s that wonderful! And don’t get me started on Quarkbeast! He’s a living doll—just make sure you have plenty of dog food and metal for him to chew on!
Jennifer has her work cut out for her: she has to slay a dragon that she admires, avoid being thrown into the King’s dungeon, thwart a civil war, stop greedy land-hungry citizens from grabbing the Dragonlands, find the Great Zambini, save Kazam and the residents who live there, train an assistant, and figure out her destiny—and she only has until Sunday!

The first page will draw even the must reluctant readers in: “Once, I was famous. My face appeared on T-shirts, badges, commemorative mugs and posters. I made front page news…The Daily Clam called me ‘the year’s most influential teenager.’ Two people tired to kill me… (I)had fifty-eight offers of marriage, and was outlawed by King Snodd IV…in less than one week. My name is Jennifer Strange.”

Highly, highly recommended grades 6-up. No language. No sex.


FTC Required Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review.

Early Reader Pick: Waking Dragons

Waking Dragons
Jane Yolen
Paintings by Derek Anderson
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
2012
32 pages

Available October 23, 2012

Quaint, clever, and oh-so-cute Waking Dragons proves Jane Yolen can do anything! Illustrations by Derek Anderson are whimsical and colorful exploding with fire-breathing dragon energy on every two page spread. Dragons take up each spread with not an ounce of wasted space.

Mom leaves her little knight a note to wake the dragons before school, and the young boy wakes them and helps them get ready for their day. The rhyming by Yolen is spot-on and cute. Even when the words don't actually rhyme, Yolen throws in another syllable to make it quirky and get young (and older) readers to smile at the whimsy, "Wipe their faces, runny noses, get into their outdoor clothes-es."

The boy and his favorite dog catch a ride to school on the backs of their dragon roommates, and the dragons, "...get to fly. And fly. And fly." as the boy waves good-bye and takes his backpack up the steps of the school.

This clever picture book is right in time for Christmas gifts and stockings. What child wouldn't want a great dragon book? This will appeal to all ages, boys and girls, who love a great dragon tail (pun intended).

The cover will welcome hordes of young dragon fans and even the endsheets have a smart dragon fire design. The publishers really hit this one out of the park with its delightful packaging.

Oh-so-highly recommended. This is a must-have! Early readers and all ages.

FTC Required Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review.

This review has been posted in compliance with the FTC requirements set forth in the Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (available at ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf)

Fairy Tale Fantasy Pick: Between the Lines

Between the Lines
by Jodi Picoult & Samantha Van Leer
Simon Pulse
2012
352 pages


Breathtakingly beautiful, pensively poignant, and exceedingly entertaining, Jodi Picoult works with her own teen daughter to create a new kind of ya novel. Between the Lines is a refreshing take on a fairy tale with a happy ending. This one has it all: a quiet, loner teen girl captivated by a fairy tale book she checks out from the library. This book is different, though. Something keeps tugging her into the story, and suddenly the story changes. Things begin to appear on pages that were never there before. She thinks she's imagining things, or worse, she's going a bit crazy.

Oliver is a shy prince who isn't the least bit valiant; in fact, he is quite un-brave. He uses his wits to get past dragons, trolls and villians, not his boldness or swagger. He feels trapped in the same story forever...until, one day a Reader sees him, no...really sees him. He is able to talk to her and she can actually hear him.

Both Delilah and Oliver  think this new twist is exciting and weird, and Oliver begs Delilah to try to rescue him from  the story. What if Oliver could escape his world, and live a real life in hers?

The action is told sometimes in Delilah's world of high school hallways and her bedroom; sometimes the story is told as the Reader is reading the fairy tale and the action is forever and always the same for Oliver because he is merely an actor in the story, and sometimes the story is told as Oliver tries to escape his fairy tale life. The best times are when Delilah, the real girl, is talking to storybook character Oliver--who is real on the pages in front of her.

Fans of Picoult will see the mother's deft touch and hear her teen daughter's youthful voice in the voice of the main characters. What a team! It is the brilliant match-up--the seasoned writer with a new and vibrant, young voice of today's ya reader. This is sheer marketing genius! The cover shouts Jodi Picoult's name, so Picoult fans will likely pick it up and the teen girl on the cover invites high school readers to become new fans of Picoult and Van Leer.

I haven't read a book quite like this one. It's new and exciting, and I bet someone in Hollywood would like to see this story on the big screen--I know I would.  Bidding on this book's movie rights  is about to get fierce.

Highly, highly recommended grades 7-up. Finally, a book so entertaining, our middle school readers can access and high school readers will love.

FTC Required Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review.

Paranormal Pick: Vanish

Vanish (book two, Firelight)
by Sophie Jordan
Harper
2011
294 pages

see the book trailer here

Captivating, mesmerizing, romantic, and steamy, girls who loved the Twilight and Shiver series have something new to devour.

Paranormal fans who have craved a satisfying and scorching new romantic read need not search further. This is not just another vampire book, nor is it about a pack of hungry wolves. Instead, the draki live in a misty world hidden from humans. There they are able to live in peace and hide their secrets from prying eyes. The draki are special--half dragon and half human, they live mostly in their human form but can "manifest" and fly. Several draki have special powers. Jacinda is the only one in many generations who can actually breathe fire.

Jacinda and her mother and sister flee the comfort and safety of their home to live in the human world. While living as humans, Jacinda does the unthinkable--she falls in love with a human, Will. Will is not just a normal human; his family are hunters--they hunt and kill Jacinda's kind. Nothing good can come of this steamy relationship, and Jacinda reveals her true self to Will's family in order to save his life. They are now on the run. They flee back to the safety of the draki, leaving poor Jacinda heartbroken and pining for the human boy she loves.

Tamra, Jacinda's sister, finally grows into her power. She is a shader, a draki who can make people forget what they saw, erase their memories. Cassian, the male draki who loves Jacinda, welcomes her home with open arms. He knows she loves another, but he is willing to wait for her to come around.

When Will shows up in their midst, Jacinda knows she has to tell him to go away, for his own good and the safety of her people. But she just can't. They agree to meet in two weeks and run away together. Cassian saves Jacinda from a horrible fate, the clipping of her wings, and she owes him. They are "bonded" in a dragon ceremony. Still, starry-eyed Jacinda carries the torch for Will.

The star-crossed lovers angle never gets old, and Sophie Jordan presents three very likeable characters as the main players. Head-strong Jacinda, romantic Will, and noble Cassian will have female readers turning pages late into the night. I couldn't put this book down until I turned the last page, and now I can't wait for book three! Firelight (book one) has been optioned for a movie, and will begin production soon.

Highly, highly recommended grades 7-up. no sex, no language. Some steamy kissing and Cassian and Jacinda are "married" but sleep separately.

FTC Required Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review.

Fantasy Pick: The Dragons of Chiril

The Dragons of Chiril
by Donita K. Paul
Waterbrook Press
2011 (first published in 2009 as The Vanishing Sculptor)
398 pages (with glossary)
Available June 21, 2011

Magical, charming, witty, whimsical, and soul-satisfying, The Dragons of Chiril is a masterpiece! Rich in fantasy, this novel adds new fantastical words to the English language much like J.K. Rowling did in Harry Potter's world. Donita K. Paul belongs in the pantheon of top fantasy writers such as J.R.R. Tolkien, J.K. Rowling, C.S. Lewis, and Cassandra Clare!

Tipper's mother, Lady Peg, is daffy, batty, and just plain over the edge. Her artist father has long vanished from the home, and Tipper longs for his return. Lady Peg acts as if she talks to him every day, yet Tipper knows that this is impossible, and chalks it up to her mother's "condition."

Left to care for her family's estate, young Tipper is forced to sell off works of art from her father's studio just to put food on the table. Verrin Shope has left Beccaroon, a giant parrot, in charge of looking after Tipper and Lady Peg. Being brought up by a pompous and arrogant, yet wonderfully regal, parrot is taxing! Beccaroon loves Tipper but can't stand PDA's (public displays of affection). They ruffle his feathers--yes, yes, pun intended.

When a weird wizard shows up with a prickly librarian, Tipper is forced to go on an odyssey that will turn up three statues carved by her father--sold years earlier hither and yon. The group of adventurers include Tipper, Wizard Fenworth--who loves to turn a phrase, the librarian Libretowit (love to say his name!)--who spars linguistically with the wizard--much to Tipper's dismay, an artist with an attitude--Bealomondore, and Beccarroon, the regal guardian, who leads the way.

Between the bickering over dangling participles--the wizard, the librarian, and Tipper, and the wizard's weird ways, Bealomodore's moodiness, and Verrin Shope's, (Tipper's father) strange comings and goings, Tipper gets an education along the way.

Tipper's father makes appearances on the journey! He is caught between this world and a gateway to another dimension and keeps disappearing. The gateway is affecting Tipper's world, too, and unless the band of misfits find the three sculptures and piece them together, this world may vanish!

Full of rich detail and whimsy, this novel delivers to lovers of fantasy and adventure. Dragons abound--minor house dragons keep Tipper out of trouble and fire-breathing dragons in the Sunset Mountains carry the band on their quest.

Highly, highly recommended for readers of fantasy and adventure grades 5-up. Language level is for advanced readers of fantasy--readers who loved the Harry Potter books will love this one! Slightly more difficult reading than Potter; more like The Lord of the Rings.

No sex; no profanity.

FTC Required Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review.