YA Lit Ramblings

Some Girls, Some Hats and Hitler: A True Love Story Rediscovered – Trudi Kanter

Posted on September 3, 2012 by EHL

Trudi Miller lived in a beautiful building in Vienna. The ground floor was occupied by a large luxury store. The other three were each divided into two apartments. Trudi rented both apartments on the first floor. The one overlooking the Kohlmarkt was her home, the one at the back her business. She had a hat salon with adjoining workrooms and catered to the best dressed women. She often flew to Paris to see the latest fashions, her affluent parents lived nearby and she was engaged to a handsome businessman who regularly sent her red roses. Trudi was a lovely, vivacious young woman and life was very, very good. But Trudi and her family were Jews and this was March, 1938. It took Hitler only one week to invade Austria and occupy it.

This memoir by Trudi Miller Kanter was written in 1984, originally self-published and little read. It was re-discovered in 2011. It is the story of Trudi’s tenacious fight with bureaucracy to get her loved ones safely out of Austria, and it is so well written. Even though I knew that Trudi must have survived to write her memoir, I was completely caught up in the events. Her despair and terror and disbelief that this could be happening were so real. I just couldn’t put the book down. This book puts a face on the horror of the Nazi persecution of the Jews. I hope it finds a large readership this time around.

eGalley review Publication date 10.9.12

Posted in adult, biography | Tagged Austria 1938, Holocaust | Comments Off

When America First Met China: An Exotic History of Tea, Drugs, and Money in the Age of Sail – Eric Jay Dolin

Posted on September 3, 2012 by EHL

The winter had been one of the worst in recent memory. John Green, captain of the Empress of China, had wanted to sail from New York in early February but river ice had barred his way. Finally on Sunday, February 22, 1783, the temperature rose, the ice retreated, the Empress of China cleared the wharf and was on her way, and so began America’s trade with China.

During the colonial period, American merchants chafed over the restrictions England placed on foreign trade. The British East India Company was the only entity allowed to trade directly with China. America had developed a love for tea and American merchants longed for this business. Once America was free of England, merchants began to trade as they wished. The American Revolution had left the country nearly bankrupt, and the income from foreign trade was necessary. And, of course, fortunes could be made from the sale of tea. Soon ships laden with cargoes of silver, ginseng, furs, sandalwood, sea cucumbers, and cotton fabrics regularly left for China, returning with silk, porcelain, furniture and thousands of tons of tea. China strictly regulated trade and kept interaction with foreigners to a minimum. Nevertheless, culture clashes were frequent and sometimes bloody.

This is a thoroughly researched book documenting everything about the maritime trade, from ships and cargo to sailors and merchants. It covers the period from the sailing of Empress of China to the rise of steamship travel and the completion of the transcontinental railroad in the 1860s, and is sprinkled with contemporary narratives and beautiful illustrations.

For someone with a love of sailing, the book would be a treasure, but I found the excess of details about cargo and ships to be distracting. Skip over the minute details and there is a sweeping epic with an oppressive emperor, greedy merchants, drug smugglers, pirates, misunderstanding, and war. It is also a story of terrible ecological damage still felt today. This is an interesting book that gives insight into today’s complex relationship with China.

eGalley review Publication date 9.10.12

Posted in adult, nonfiction | Tagged 1780s, China, Empress of China, trade | Comments Off

The Kill Order – James Dashner

Posted on August 19, 2012 by EHL

a prequel to The Maze Runner Trilogy

The solar flares devastated the planet, forever changing life as they knew it. Surviving from day to day was challenging beyond anything they could have imagined. Then the Bergs came and introduced a dreadful new variable that would test them even more. Mark and Trina’s quest to overcome these trials takes the reader on a journey from one horrific event to the next, but there is enough good in the end to make you want more. The Kill Order prepares the reader for the incredible struggles ahead for Thomas and the other gladers, but it doesn’t quite connect the storyline. The author will need another book and more ‘how much can these people take?’ action sequences to get us to the maze. For readers needing nonstop action, this series never slows down.

NetGalley review Publication date 8.14.12

Posted in dystopian, suspense | Tagged series | Comments Off

Shadowfell – Juliet Marillier

Posted on August 19, 2012 by EHL

The first installment of a planned epic fantasy series introduces Neryn, carelessly gambled off by her drunk father, and won by Flint. Soon after, her father is killed, leaving Neryn alone in the world and at the mercy of Flint. This is not a kind world. A cruel tyrant began his rule around the time Neryn was born. He outlawed magic and uses Enforcers to kill, capture, or maim those who oppose him. Her brother and beloved grandmother are among the king’s victims. Neryn has been on the run for years because she can see the “Good Folk” just one of her special abilities that make her wary of strangers who would easily turn her over to the king. Perhaps she can trust Flint who seems to only want to protect her and see her safely to the north where it is rumored rebels are hiding. But who is Flint and why is he really being kind to her?

Following the basic epic fantasy formula, Shadowfell is an acceptable entry. However, the book is lacking strong supporting characters and is slow in many parts. Neryn’s thoughts are spelled out over and over. She spends the entire book being conflicted – about Flint, about her future, about Flint, about her power, about Flint. We get it, the guy is complex and Neryn has good reason to not trust him. Books written for children and teens typically have a bit more of the story devoted to explaining in detail how the characters feel. However, there is a fine line between helping the reader understand the characters and writing down to the reader. Teens who read lengthy epic fantasy typically are avid readers who don’t need to have their hand held to understand the characters and plot. Perhaps all this explaining is necessary to lay down the background for the books to come in this new series. I did enjoy the book and think teens will like it as well – I already know which students to recommend this book to. This has the potential for becoming a good fantasy series for teens who are patient with this first book.

NetGalley review Publication date 9.11.12

Posted in fantasy | Comments Off

Flight Behavior: a novel – Barbara Kingsolver

Posted on August 13, 2012 by EHL

Dellarobia knows about death. By the time she was a senior in high school, her parents had died, the unborn child who necessitated her marriage had died, and her dreams of going to college and escaping her backwoods community had died. Now, ten years and two children later, she feels dead, spending her days in boredom and poverty on her in-law’s sheep farm. Desperate to add a little interest to her life, she decides to take her flirtation with a younger man one step further. They agree to meet in a cabin on the mountainside behind her house. But as she reaches an overlook on the open side of the slope, she finds a forest and valley filled with strange color. Then the clouds shift, the sun alters the landscape and the forest is ablaze with beautiful, silent fire. Stunned by what she has seen, she goes down the mountain.

Her discovery changes everything. Everyone has an opinion about what this means, from the people in her family, her community and, thanks to the web, the world. Most of all, it changes Dellarobia and gives her the chance to be herself, to be alive.

I have been a Kingsolver fan for a long time. She writes beautiful descriptive prose with deep felt emotion. The reader is compelled to connect with her characters and the issues they face. The issues in this book are complex and provide much food for thought. This book is quite timely in light of the concerns with the monarch butterfly population in Mexico that have been in the news recently. This is a book not to be missed.

eGalley Publication date 11.6.12

Posted in adult, realistic fiction | Tagged ecosystems, monarch butterfly | Comments Off

False Memory – Dan Krokos

Posted on August 8, 2012 by EHL

Miranda has lost her memory. In the middle of an altercation at a mall, she feels a massive headache, signals the release of her superpowers leaving people dashing about in a frantic, panicked rush, with many dead. Peter sits by calmly and then fills in the gaps of her memory. It turns out they have powers and are being raised and trained in a secure facility by a group that seeks to use their powers for evil. If it had been published five years ago, it might stand out more. In a saturated market of superpower teens being controlled by evil adults, this is just another in the genre. The book is well written with plenty of action and dialogue and should hold the attention of teens who crave books in this genre. The opening action will hook readers.

NetGalley review Publication date 8.14.12

Posted in adventure, suspense | Tagged superpowers | Comments Off

The Raft – S.J. Bodeen

Posted on August 8, 2012 by EHL

Robie has been raised on the isolated island of Midway by her scientist parents. She is visiting her aunt in Hawaii who has to suddenly leave town on business. Robie decides to get on the supply plane back to Midway and in the rush and confusion, she is not listed on the plane manifest. A storm downs the plane in the ocean where copilot Max throws Robie into the ocean then drags her into the raft. The pilot does not survive. Robie’s raft drifts for days while she struggles with survival and her sanity. Sprinkled with factoids about the islands and plenty of warnings about tiger sharks, this quick read is a good survival story.

NetGalley review Publication 8.21.12

Posted in realistic fiction | Tagged airplane crash, survival | Comments Off

Throne of Glass – Sarah J. Maas

Posted on August 1, 2012 by EHL

The story opens with master assassin Celaena surviving her first year of a life sentence in the brutal salt mines following betrayal. The tyrant king has planned a competition to appoint a King’s Assassin and the dashing Crown Prince has decided she will be his champion in the contest back at the king’s castle of glass. If she beats out the competition, she will be awarded the title and earn her freedom in four years. Only 18, she has endured a great deal and feels confident in her abilities, but first she must get back into shape, having barely survived the lashings and salt mine slavery. During the months of competition she earns the admiration and love of the Crown Prince and the Captain of the Guard (love triangle). She discovers a dual purpose in coming to the castle; to win her freedom and to fight an evil that is controlling the throne. It turns out Celaena is not your average teen assassin; she has been blessed by mystical forces, and perhaps has a higher purpose to save the lands.

It is hard not to like Celaena, Crown Prince Dorian, and Chaol, Captain of the Guard. Celaena has an incredible work ethic and will to survive, while blessed with beauty (of course). If the evil forces don’t come after Dorian, he will make an excellent king. And tender Chaol – how can he be Captain of the Guard if he has never killed a man before? That’s a bit of a puzzle, but I’m still rooting for him. Celaena’s character reminded me of Alanna, heroine of Tamora Pierce’s Tortall novels, but Celaena has endured a great deal more than Alanna. Plenty of action and dialog spice up the writing so that it all flows nicely. While I could see the plot developing so that there really are no huge surprises, it was still great fun to read. I appreciate that this book is fine for young teens. Kissing is the extent of the sexual content and there is no foul language. There is plenty of violence. After all, this is a competition to become the King’s Assassin and the evil beast that kills off competitors is rather messy when gutting his victims. The four novellas about Celaena’s life before her salt mine imprisonment are available in ebook format , however Throne of Glass can stand alone. I look forward to more books about Celaena and this kingdom where the characters should continue to deepen. Highly recommend for teens.

NetGalley review Publication date 8.7.12

Posted in fantasy | Tagged assassin, survival | Comments Off

Garment of Shadows – Laurie R. King

Posted on July 29, 2012 by EHL

This is the twelfth installment in the mystery and adventure series featuring Mary Russell and her husband, Sherlock Holmes. Having awakened in bed with a skull throbbing so painfully she wanted to weep, she realized that she could not just lie in bed, she had to be somewhere. She is in a small room with a bit of rough furniture. But where is she, and more importantly, who is she? And why is there blood on her hands?

Mary Russell, for of course that’s who she is, wanders the streets in Fez, Morocco, trying to jog her memory with little success. Meanwhile Holmes, searching for his wife after she fails to meet him at the appointed rendezvous, learns that she was last seen walking into the desert with a child several days ago. The two soon reunite and inadvertently become involved in the internal politics of the country. Morocco in 1924, was divided into protectorates of France and Spain, and opposing nationalist factions are about to plunge the country into civil war. Holmes and Russell are asked to take part in an effort to defuse the situation.

Filled with the sounds and smells of Morocco and overlaid with political intrigue this latest adventure is truly unique and enjoyable. There are real people and real events intermingling with the fictional. It helps to have read the earlier books, but it is not necessary. Laurie King’s writing style is such a pleasure to read. Mary Russell’s wit and intelligence feed the interplay between Holmes and Russell. Another good read in an excellent series.

eGalley review Publication date 9.4.12

Posted in adult, mystery, suspense | Tagged series | Comments Off