Book Review ~ Witch and Wizard

Cover Courtesy of Fantastic Fiction.

Witch and Wizard (Witch and Wizard, bk 1) by James Patterson

Published: December 2009
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Description from Fantastic Fiction:

The world is changing: the government has seized control of every aspect of society, and now, kids are disappearing. For 15-year-old Wisty and her older brother Whit, life turns upside down when they are torn from their parents one night and slammed into a secret prison for no reason they can comprehend. The New Order, as it is known, is clearly trying to suppress Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Being a Normal Teenager. But while trapped in this totalitarian nightmare, Wisty and Whit discover they have incredible powers they'd never dreamed of. Can this newly minted witch and wizard master their skills in time to save themselves, their parents--and maybe the world?

YA Staff Review:

This book combines elements of Harry Potter, Matched, and Hunger Games in an interesting way. The government controls everything. There is no creativity allowed because it cannot be controlled. Everyone is under the rule of “The One Who is the One. You either do as he says or you are vaporized by The One. Magic is strictly forbidden. This book reads quickly and alternates narration between Whit and Wisty. Sometimes it gets a bit confusing but well worth the read.

There are currently three books out in this series with a fourth projected to be out in 2013.

Book Review ~ A Great and Terrible Beauty

A Great and Terrible Beauty (Gemma Doyle, book 1) by Libba Bray
Published: Sept. 2007
Genre: Fantasy/Historical Fiction

Description:
A Victorian boarding school story, a Gothic mansion mystery, a gossipy romp about a clique of girlfriends, and a dark other-worldly fantasy--jumble them all together and you have this complicated and unusual first novel.

Gemma, 16, has had an unconventional upbringing in India, until the day she foresees her mother's death in a black, swirling vision that turns out to be true. Sent back to England, she is enrolled at Spence, a girls' academy with a mysterious burned-out East Wing. There Gemma is snubbed by powerful Felicity, beautiful Pippa, and even her own dumpy roommate Ann, until she blackmails herself and Ann into the treacherous clique. Gemma is distressed to find that she has been followed from India by Kartik, a beautiful young man who warns her to fight off the visions. Nevertheless, they continue, and one night she is led by a child-spirit to find a diary that reveals the secrets of a mystical Order. The clique soon finds a way to accompany Gemma to the other-world realms of her visions "for a bit of fun" and to taste the power they will never have as Victorian wives, but they discover that the delights of the realms are overwhelmed by a menace they cannot control. Gemma is left with the knowledge that her role as the link between worlds leaves her with a mission to seek out the "others" and rebuild the Order. A Great and Terrible Beauty is an impressive first book in what should prove to be a fascinating trilogy. (Ages 12 up) -Patty Campbell

YA Staff Review:
I really enjoyed this book. There are parts that make me think of Harry Potter (discovering you’re something more than you thought you were), Mean Girls (new girl dislikes the main clique of girls and the way they treat others but joins them to try), and Ghost Whisperer but is enough different to not be annoyingly copycat.

Book Review ~ The Iron King

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa; Book #1 in the Iron Fey series Published: February 2010
Genre: Teen Fantasy & Paranormal Romances
Next Book: The Iron DaughterCover Art Courtesy of http://www.novelist.com/.

Description From NoveList:
When her half-brother is kidnapped, Meghan Chase, who has recently learned that she is the daughter of the summer faery king, must journey into a strange world she never imagined to face an unknown enemy and save those she loves.

YA Staff Review:
These aren't "Tinkerbell" type faeries. This is a good story of a strong female heroin pushing on against all odds, dispite her own fear for herself, to save her little half-brother. She becomes a pawn in a centuries old battle of the fey kingdoms and must learn the ways of faerie law. Meghan must learn how to make deals and trade favors with faeries. One wrong word or ill phrasing can prove disasterous. The Fey are fair but always prey upon those who don't guard against loopholes. Some of the characters referenced are from the classic A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespear.

Fun Extras Related to this series:
Wikipedia is a good place to get infomation on all the references to A Midsummer Night's Dream.



If you liked the Iron King you might also like:
Paranormalcy by White, Kiersten
City of fallen angels by Clare, Cassandra
Blood and chocolate by Klause, Annette Curtis
Sabriel by Nix, Garth
Dealing with dragons by Wrede, Patricia C., 1953-
Summerland by Chabon, Michael
Abhorsen by Nix, Garth
The goose girl by Hale, Shannon

Book Review ~ Evermore

Evermore by Alyson Noel; Book #1 in the Immortals series.
Published: February 2009
Genre: Teen Paranormal Romances
Next Book: Blue MoonCover Art Courtesy of NoveList

Description From NoveList:
Since the car accident that claimed the lives of her family, sixteen-year-old Ever can see auras and hear people's thoughts, and she goes out of her way to hide from other people until she meets Damen, another psychic teenager who is hiding even more mysteries.

YA Staff Review:
I L-O-V-E paranomal romances and this one doesn't disapoint! Damen is not "Edward Cullen" but still really sweet and mystiously secretive. I think it would be really neat, at first, to see the colors of peoples auras. You'd know if you friends were in a bad mood, about to unload some new drama on you or if they just got really good news! I'd also come in handy with your parents too.

I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series "Blue Moon." Currently, there are 6 books in this series.

Fun Extras Related to this series:
Here is a quick explaination of aura colors from http://www.crystalsbay.net/aura-colors.html.
If you have a favorite flower, you can research the meaning behind giving/receiving it here.

Evermore Book Trailor Video:



If you liked Evermore, you might like:
Stork trilogy by Delsol, Wendy
Poison diaries trilogy by Wood, Maryrose
Unearthly trilogy by Hand, Cynthia
Revenants by Plum, Amy
Starcrossed trilogy by Angelini, Josephine
Meridian saga (Amber Kizer) by Kizer, Amber
Haunting Emma novels by Nichols, Lee
Siren trilogy by Rayburn, Tricia
Mediator books by Cabot, Meg

Book Review ~ Matched

Matched by Ally Condie, book 1 in the Matched Trilogy
Published: November 2010
Genre: Teen Science Fiction
Next Book: Crossed
Cover Art Courtesy of NoveList

From Matched-book.com:

In the Society, Officials decide. Who you love. Where you work. When you die. Cassia has always trusted their choices. It’s hardly any price to pay for a long life, the perfect job, the ideal mate. So when her best friend appears on the Matching screen, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is the one… until she sees another face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. Now Cassia is faced with impossible choices: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she’s known and a path no one else has ever dared follow — between perfection and passion.



YA Staff Review:
This is a great science fiction "what if?" story. In the future, after we have almost destroyed the earth and ourselves, the Society has risen to power. The Society has cured almost all disease. Meals are specially prepared for each person taking into account their personal dietary needs and fitness is scheduled for everyone. Life is "simple," everyone wears the same clothes, listens to the same 100 songs, reads the same 100 poems, watches the same 100 movies, everyone's spouse is chosen for them. There isn't any creativity or spontinaity. And yet everyone seems perfectly happy with it, or are they?

Cassia has done exactly what the Society has told her since she was born. Then after her 17th birthday and matching ceremony things drastically change for her. Does she go back to living the life Society has planned for her or will she embrace the words of the poem, "Do not go gentle into that good night, rage, rage against the dying of the light."

This story is unique and mildly suspenseful. It is the first in the Matched Trilogy. Crossed is next and just came out in November 2011. When you go to Matched-Book.com you can even see who the Society would match you with!

If you liked Matched Try:

• Avatar Chronicles by Kostick, Conor





• Hunger Games by North, Pearl





• Libyrinth trilogy by Collins, Suzanne





• Uglies by Westerfeld, Scott





• The Knife of Never Letting Go by Ness, Patrick





• Chemical Garden Trilogy by DeStefano, Lauren

Book Review ~ The House of Night

We are going to start a new "feature" on our TeenSpace Blog. Periodically we will be writing reviews of books we've read. These will be books that are intended for young adult readers.

This review is actually on a series. I read all 8 books that are currently out in the House of Night series by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast. They are teen fantasy fiction books about vampires. This series isn't gruesome like Dracula nor is it a vampire romance like Twilight. Like Twilight however, the Casts change some typical vampire lore (no, their vamps don't sparkle!).


It's an intriguing story that starts out centered around the newly Marked fledgling, Zoey and her struggles through the change and adjusting to life at a new school. Zoey finds she more than just your average fledgling and must learn to handle being different when all she wants to do is blend in and survive the change. Will Zoey find true friends and inner strength when darkenss falls on the House of Night.

The 9th book is scheduled to be released in November 2011 and I know I will definitely be on the waiting list to read it!

~ Kate

Find out the series order and a brief synopsis of what each book is about by clicking here...I highly reccomend that you do not read this series out of order.