Thank You School Library Journal

About 3 years ago I was selected to be a reviewer for School Library Journal which has been so much fun.  I love the fact that I receive a new book every month (or sometimes every other month).  Some books I would have definitely picked on my own, but some of them would not have been my first choice.  However, almost every book I have read so far has been worth the time I invested.  In addition to receiving the book to read and review before it is published, I also receive an additional hard copy when the book is published.  So I'd like to take the time to say "Thank you School Library Journal." Both me and the DHS Library have greatly benefited from this arrangement.

Here are a few of my favorites that I read this year and the reviews I gave them...

Kingdom of Ash and Briars - Hannah West

In the kingdom of Naissera, Bristal works as a common kitchen maid.  Be that as it may, her world completely changes when she is kidnapped, thrown into the “Water” and transformed into an elicromancer.  The elicromancers, now almost extinct, are an ancient race of magic beings.  Bristal’s power is the ability to change forms; she is a shape shifter.  Once she makes the transition from mortal to magic, Bristal is befriended by the only two elicromancers in the kingdom, Brack and Tamarice.  Brack encourages Bristal to use her magic for its intended purpose which is to serve those who rule Naissera.  Tamarice, however, believes the elicromancers should use their magic to serve themselves instead.  Under the tutelage of Brack, Bristal finds herself in many predicaments that reflect some of the fairy tales Walt Disney made famous.  The reader will recognize the resemblances to the storylines in Snow White, Cinderella, and even Sleeping Beauty as Bristal uses her magic to help the mortals of Naissera.  Under the tutelage of Tamarice, Bristal begins to understand the allure of power.  It is a balancing act she might not be able to handle.

In Kingdom of Ash and Briars, Hannah West is able to create a world where kings and queens seamlessly blend with the magic of elicromancers.  The characters are robust while the theme of good versus evil is universal. Books by Alex Flinn, such as Beastly (Harper Collins, 2007) and Cloaked (Harper Collins, 2011), come to mind as one reads about Bristal’s endeavors.  The twisted fairy tale theme is a popular one among young adults, and Hannah West does an admirable job of constructing a story that is reminiscent of multiple tales of old.  For this reason, Kingdom of Ash and Briars is recommended for both middle and high schools students from grades 7-12.

The Door that Led to Where - Sally Gardner

AJ Flynn is a typical underachiever.  He has failed all but one of his final exams, and now at 17, his future seems grim.  Despite his less than stellar academic career, AJ lands an interview with a prestigious London law firm thanks to his mother’s connections.  AJ believes this is the job he needs to break free from his mediocre life.  Once he is hired, AJ finds a key that opens a door to the past, 1830 London to be exact.  During his journey between both worlds, AJ has a decision to make.  Should he stay in the present, or start a new life in the past?

In The Door that Led to Where, Sally Gardner creates a world where a door that connects the present to the past seems believable.  She anchors each version of the city using the appropriate landmarks of London, both past and present.  The characters are universal, and many teens will be able to connect to their hopes and dreams.  The pacing and plot development are seamless which adds to the easy readability.  There are, however, many British terms and slang that the average reader may not be able to decipher.  Therefore, this book is recommended for general purchase, but not for reluctant or slow readers.  Due to the lack of language or adult themes, this book is recommended for Middle and High school libraries, grades 7-12.

This is My Brain on Boys - Sarah Strohmeyer

Addie Emerson attends a private high school, Academy 355, near Boston, MA. She and her lab partner, Dexter, are competing for the prestigious Athenian award which would surely finance Addie’s college education; she wants to attend Harvard.  She and Dexter are trying to manipulate the human brain to make subjects fall in love.  After researching and conducting one trial, Addie believes she has successfully guided two students to fall in love by placing them in life-threatening situations.  Now she needs to prove this theory by conducting one last experiment.  That is where Kris Condos enters the picture.  Kris is on probation and is spending the summer at Academy 355 working off his crime against the school - vandalism. The year before Kris and his girlfriend at the time trashed the lab where Addie and Dex worked.  In light of this action, the Dean of students has assigned Kris to Addie’s experiment.  Addie, however, seems to the be the only person attending Academy 355 who does not know Kris Condos’ involvement in wrecking the school’s science lab.  As the trials take place, Addie gains a new understanding of the world around her.  Through her struggles, Addie grows and perseveres.  The reader will enjoy the twist at the end of the story.

Author Sarah Strohmeyer has created an enjoyable piece of realistic fiction.  She designed a believable and very smart female character in Addie Emerson.  Addie has a very high IQ and finds it difficult to interact with the world around her because of her intellect. Many gifted high school students will relate to her struggle.  Although the writing style is complex, the theme is universal.  Books written about love are not new to the literary world, but the scientific approach the author fabricates in this story does put a new spin on this overtaxed theme. Because the vocabulary is reflective of the main character’s intellect, this would probably not be a book to recommend to reluctant or slow readers.  However, it is a book for the average and above average readers.  In addition, there are some situations that are not appropriate for a younger audience.  Therefore This is My Brain on Boys by Sarah Strohmeyer is recommended for high school, grades 9-12.

Thanks for stopping by!