The second novel in The Dresden Files, Fool Moon is another work of art from Jim Butcher. Butcher provides not only an interesting story, but he provides more information about the world of The Dresden Files and the strange and curious magics within. Butcher's characters remain as human as they need to be, solving the mystery of murder and magical wolves. The pun in the title may pull a wry smile from even the most sour of readers, and ties in with the plot in the vague way that the title of Storm Front did. Also, just by reading, it is obvious that Butcher has done his research, and has cleverly added foreshadowing that will come back to haunt the reader... much later in the series.
Hogfather, the first Terry Pratchett novel I read, introduced me to an upside-down world of magic and art, a place where things are guaranteed to go "bang!" His sense of humour introduced me to a whole new world of fantasy, run not by plot, but by the whims and desires of the characters. The tales of Death dominating Christmas has always been delightful to me, but the concept of Death saving Christmas can bring laughter even (in my opinion) to the most miserly of Humbugs. Pratchett not only works to earn laughter, he makes it so that the plot makes sense along with the humor. Oftentimes, authors can't get both done, which ruins the whole thing. If you liked Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas, then this is the book for you.
Note: There is also a two-part movie of the book, which, as far as I can recall (I watched it a long time ago) was pretty accurate, to a point and is a nice way to spend a few winter hours. The first Heinlein book I had ever read, To Sail Beyond the Sunset may not appear to be very special. In fact, the cover art of the copy I own suggests much less of the true content. The life story of one of Heinlein's marvelous characters, Maureen's memoirs are depicted parallel to her current situation. Most of the time, what seems to be going on is explicit and hedonistic, Maureen's sexual escapades and adventures. However, the views presented of simple concepts that people today might not consider in depth are illuminating and thought-provoking. Maureen's reactions to topics as arbitrary as religion, cats, and moral codes for proper conduct will make people who haven't considered matters like the fall of culture change their opinion of the world. Truly worthy of the title of Master of Science Fiction, Heinlein's work will reveal the modern world to the reader-- amazing for a work published in 1987. Heinlein's vision is both true and not true, a thought exercise only for those worthy of comprehension.
Geek Love is a fascinating sample of weirdness and freakish delight crafted by a master. Dunn has wrapped together a memoir of a fascinating character, whose view on the world and normal people is different from that of your average Joe. The story of the carnival freak is powerful, and one hard to forget. I would recommend this to readers in their high school years, though older people are welcome to explore the mind of Olympia Binewski, the protagonist of Dunn's story. Be warned: some issues that arise may be disturbing, and are definitely not for the weak of heart nor ill of mind.
When I first picked up this book, I remember growing tired of it and setting it down after eight chapters. Later on, I picked it up again out of sheer boredom. The only reason I finished it was because I had no other claims on my time. Sadly, this book was not the promised psychological thriller. It's not much to ask, but please don't make the outcome of a thriller obvious from the beginning. This book will bore you unless you are noticeably unperceptive.
The first book in the terrific Dresden Files series, Storm Front, contains a complex plot, delivered through a modern and humorous take on the classic "private eye" setting. Without revealing any spoilers, I must praise the actions that the characters take. Unlike the overly hyped Harry Potter series, the characters in The Dresden Files, as can be seen simply be perusing Storm Front, have their own individual motives, and Butcher leaves room for growth in each of his lasting characters. The humor and wit of the main character, Harry Dresden, gives supplement to this fantasy series. Butcher establishes an excellent take on magic, defining it early on and regulating the power of his main character. Due to certain topics being more adult for children and preteens, I'd suggest this book, and the series to follow, to someone in the tenth or eleventh grade, or a sophomore or junior in high school, though it can (and should) be pursued by readers of an older age.
The first book, Matched, had left a slight impression on me, and I decided to pursue the other two books, Crossed and Reached. However, I was disappointed in the degradation of the trilogy. The initial intrigue of a dystopian society, paired with the Romeo and Juliet-like elements of "matching", soon left as I started to read the other two books. While Matched had a promising start, the rest of the series wasn't as good as I had hoped it would be. The falling apart of the series is similar to the downfall of The Hunger Games. The books got worse and worse as the trilogy went on.
The intricate plot and sturdy world of the novel, Through Wolf's Eyes, keeps this fascinating book in one piece. The author hasn't made any of the large world-creation mistakes that J. K. Rowling made in her Harry Potter series, and the story of intrigue and medieval politics is a great read for someone who wants to read something like a toned-down Game of Thrones. Lindskold has created several excellent characters, driven by personal motives rather than personal whim of the author and necessity of plot, like the Harry Potter series. I would recommend this series for people between eighth and ninth grade, both for reasons of intricacy and of audience maturity levels.
The book Doll Bones, by Holly Black appears interesting, but is overhyped by the KCLS "teen zone" page. While presented as a horror story about three preteens setting out to bury a doll filled with the ashes of a dead girl, the lack of actual horror is astounding. However, what Black manages to do nicely is how she rocks the structure of this group of friends during their quest, and the fact that she did actual research adds to the verisimilitude of her story. However, the lack of anything remotely chilling or exciting about the story detracts from it's charm. Personally, I'd hand it to a third grader, maybe a fourth grader. Not a teen.
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