Flutter by Erin E. Moulton

This is another of the books I picked up at the NCTE convention as a galley. Flutter, the first novel by Erin E. Moulton,  is slated for release in May of this year, and I will definitely be recommending this to many of my students. It is a great story with just the right balance of adventure, danger, and heart-warming moments to appeal to many of my students who prefer realistic fiction. I can also see this book being a Newbery contender. It has many of the elements that I see within Newbery Award & Honor books – a story strong on family ties, conflict, and emotional growth of the main characters. It is a book that doesn’t take the easy way out for the characters, but was never so stressful for me, as a reader, that I grew frustrated.


Summary: The Rittle sisters live a happy life with their parents in the mountains of Vermont. Dawn, the eldest, is serious and follows the rules. Maple, the middle sister, is more adventurous, and loves her mother’s songs and stories. Beetle, the youngest, is a rambunctious toddler who adores her older sisters. They are all excited about the new baby on the way – ready to welcome another sibling to their tight-knit family. These sisters each have their own “thinking cap” for when they have to ponder a problem (Dawn’s is a top-hat, Maple’s is a catamount paw that ties to her head with string, and Beetle’s is a war helmet.) Dawn and Maple have learned the scientific names of many of the birds that live around them, thanks to their father and his books, and each of them has their own bird call, which they use as a RSDS (Rittle Sister Distress Call). Life is as perfect as it can get for the Rittle family.

Then, little sister, Lily, is born early with a weak heart. Dawn & Maple overhear a conversation about how Lily needs a miracle to survive. Maple decides to trek out to find that miracle, relying on the folk stories her mother has told and sung to her, her father’s map, and a book of folklore. Dawn, unwilling to let Maple trek out by herself, joins in the journey to seek out a miracle from the Wise Woman, whose stone face watches over a pool of water rumored to have miraculous healing powers.

During their journey, the girls face wild animals, poachers, the elements, and their own sibling baggage in their quest to find a miracle for their new sister. While reading this book, I found myself cheering for the Rittle sisters, holding my breath when they were in danger, and relieved when they escaped one scrape after another.

Themes:
Family
Determination
Love

Age Appropriateness:
Grades 3 & up

Areas of concern (content):
Foul Language: none
Nudity/Adult Content: none
Violence: mild – involving vivid descriptions of poaching

Summer Ball by Mike Lupica

Mike Lupica is a favorite among my students who are sports fans, so I try to pick up as many of his books as I can. Summer Ball, his follow up to Travel Team is sure to be another winner with these students, and will surely capture the attention of others who haven’t “met” this author yet.


Summary: Danny Walker & his friends from Travel Team are back, fresh from their national championship win. It’s summertime, and Danny, Will, & Ty are headed off to one of the top-ranked basketball camps. Danny is nervous – he knows that his notoriety will make him a target at a camp that will host many of the country’s best ball players. Despite his love of the game, he would almost rather stay home, where things seem perfect now that his parents are back together and his Dad has landed a job coaching at a local school.

When Danny gets to camp, all his worst fears seem to be coming true – his old rival, Rasheem, is there with an even more odious wingman, his coach seems to be holding a grudge against Danny’s dad that he is making Danny suffer for, and Danny finds himself standing up for another little guy with big talent.

Danny’s challenges, as in Travel Team, are faced head on with the help of his friends (old & new), the advice of his Dad, and the support of his Mom. The action is big, and the reader can truly visualize the games being played out within the story. New characters Zach, Lamar, and Coach Ed add new dimensions to this story and keep it from simply being a rehash of Travel Team.

Themes:
Friendship
Determination
Sportsmanship

Age Appropriateness:
Grades 4 & up

Areas of concern (content):
Foul Language: none
Nudity/Adult Content: none
Violence: very mild

Sapphique by Catherine Fisher

Sapphique, the follow up to Incarceron by Catherine Fisher, is a worthy finish to the series. As with the first novel in the pair, Sapphique is full of twists and turns and avoids being predictable at all. The characters from Incarceron are back and face new challenges, both inside the prison and out. New characters bring some fresh conflict to the story. Overall, an excellent read, makings this series one I will suggest to fans of other dystopian series such as The Hunger Games.


Summary: Finn has escaped the prison, Incarceron, with the help of Claudia, the Warden’s daughter. But Outside is not the paradise Finn had hoped for – now he is faced with proving that he is, indeed, Prince Giles. He is not the only one trying to make that claim – another young man has stepped forward; one who has all the right answers and knows things that Finn’s amnesia keeps secret from him. If Finn cannot prove that he is Giles, both he & Claudia face death.

Within the prison, Keiro and Attia continue fighting for their lives as they search for their own way out. Part of their plan involves finding a magical glove said to have belonged to Sapphique himself. But they are not the only ones who want the glove – the Prison itself also wants the glove, and the escape that it could offer. The Prison itself wishes to escape to Outside, which would mean certain death for the prisoners within.

These two major conflicts are woven together into the story and lead to a conclusion that surprised and pleased me. It was an excellent ending that was satisfying without being “too easy.”

Themes:
Loyalty
Choice
Freedom
Friendship

Age Appropriateness:
Grades 7 & up

Areas of concern (content):
Foul Language: none
Nudity/Adult Content: none
Violence: mild

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

 

I picked up Nightshade at the NCTE conference, excited because it sounded like a great new series for Twi-hards and because the author was there to autograph it. I also nabbed the audio-book version since I knew I had holiday travel looming in my future. Since my hubby & I had a twelve + hour drive each way, what better way to pass the time? Let me say, I have only made it half-way through the audio version – this book is simply not catching my fancy. I'll keep struggling through it, but I felt the need to go ahead and blog my thoughts. Keep reading to see why.

The package of the audio-book recommends Nightshade for ages 12-17.  As a teacher, I would like to say, “Nuh uh!”  

Summary: Calla has known all of her life what her role was – up & coming Alpha female of her young werewolf pack, destined to be joined with Ren as her mate. She has never questioned; has always followed the rules. That changes when she sees a young human being attacked by a bear in the woods – for reasons she cannot even understand, she saves him and reveals herself.

When the human boy, Shay, shows up at her small private school as a new student, her world gets rearranged. Somehow, he is important to the Keepers, the witches that the werewolves, known as Guardians, serve. Calla quickly finds herself acting as his bodyguard, protecting him from the mysterious “Watchers,” rogue witches who are trying to overthrow the Keepers and destroy the sacred sites that the various Keepers and their Packs protect.

Shay’s curiosity about Calla and her world drive him to ask questions that Calla has never asked; questions that could get her killed. Shay also drives a wedge between Calla and Ren, threatening a union that has been planned all their lives.

Calla is a physically powerful female character who can take care of herself (& others) in a pinch. I like this about her. However, I don’t like her obsession with….well, read on.

My Review: Nightshade reads like an old Harlequin romance novel. As we listened to the first few chapters during our drive, hubby & I made a game out of pointing out all the instances of the word “throbbing” and all its derivatives used throughout.

Calla makes it a big point to “remain pure” for her union ceremony, but this doesn’t stop her from constantly thinking about the effect the various males have on her physically. There were times I felt I needed to put a little Barry White on in the background, because it sounded pretty sleazy for someone who wasn’t doing anything.


There are also vague but suggestive scenes involving other characters who were being forced to do things they weren't happy or comfortable with.

For those older readers who like paranormal romance mixed with a little action, Nightshade is the first of a series.  Enjoy! It just wasn't for me.

Themes:
Loyalty
Choice

Age Appropriateness:
Grades 10 & up

Areas of concern (content):
Foul Language: none
Nudity/Adult Content: pervasive
Violence: moderate