Alvin is My New Favourite Name!

I have a new favourite boy in my life and his name is Alvin, Alvin Ho.

Think - Scaredy Squirrel as a Asian Grade 2 boy living in Concorde, Massachusettes.

A True Princess

Do all young girls love reading stories about princesses or even dream of being a princess themselves?  I know I did and my love of princesses even followed me into my teens when I would devour books about young Princess Elizabeth before she became Queen of England.

If you do love princess stories I think you will like "A True Princess" by Diane Zahler who has previously written another, "The Thirteenth Princess" based on the fairytale "The Twelve Dancing Princesses".  This  one is also based on a familiar fairy tale but I dont think I will reveal which one. It would only spoil your guessing. 

This story begins, not in a palace, but in a poor cottage in the woods, where Lilia is an adopted daughter in this family after having been found floating in a basket in the river when she was a very small child. She is the adored "sister" of Kai and Katrina but their new step-mother has always treated Lilia with disdain and dislike. After hearing plans to have herself sold off Lilia decides to leave and head north up the river to see if she can find her own true roots.  But before she goes more than a few miles her beloved brother and sister catch up and insist on accompanying her. All goes well until they come to the menacing and enchanted Bitra Forest. "Stay on the path" they are warned....or they will be lost forever.  You know what is going to happen... Kai races after their dog into the forest and the girls chase after him and find themselves.....lost.

There is a price to pay to find their way to safety and Lilia and Katrina are allowed to head to the northern castle to discover a treasure fit for an elf-king or his greedy daughter. Only they discover much, much more.

While this story is somewhat predictable, Lilia is a likable character...loyal to her friends and courageous to boot.  There are enough twists and turns to keep you engaged and of course they all "live happily ever after".  A dream come true.

It has been a very long time since I have posted comments about the books I have read. During the past 8 months I have read many many titles, some good, many so-so.  I am always searching for the best.

This book, "The False Prince" by Jennifer A. Nielsen, was one of the good ones....so good I read it twice. The first time for the story...the second to see how the author did such a brilliant job of saying things that had such deeper meanings that you don't really get until the end.

Imagine you are an orphan living from day to day in an orphanage where there is never enough food and you are constantly getting into trouble. Imagine a nobleman abducting you away from this life with the devious plan of having you or two other chosen orphans, impersonate long a long lost prince in order to gain control of the country that is in danger of civil war.

This is what happens to Sage who has no intention of going along with this plan but the only other option is now death. Unwillingly he participates, but always with a smart comment that makes you laugh and shake your head at his audacity and with a more devious plan of his own.

This is an extraordinary adventure that has layers of treachery and deceit. When the truth finally unfolds you will be captivated 

Sage is  clever, witty and more wise than you can imagine. Yet he has great depth and it is this and his compassion for his fellow orphans that endears him to the reader.

Read it. Perfect for grades 4-7.

Reading

Reading....

Read.....

Waiting to read.....

Snakes

I cannot believe that I am enjoying a story where the main character is a snake! There is so much humour in "We Can't all be Rattlesnakes" by Patrick Jennings that I am chortling, that means laughing, along the journey of - not a rattlesnake but a gopher snake, a harmless relative, who is captured by.. well listen to his description of his captor;

"I was familiar with humans at this point only from afar, but even from there I found them a pitiable species: scaleless, fangless, clawless, nearly furless, wingless, venomless, witless. I honestly didn't understand how they had thrived so."

He ends up in a cage in Gunnar's room and immediately goes on a hunger strike. Dead mouse - no temptation there. Live mouse - a little temptation as he is getting really hungry but he did not catch it therefore it is beneath him to eat it. Breakfast, as he now calls his friend the mouse, indeed becomes his companion and the two forge an unusual and inspiring friendship.

Snake's plan of course is to escape but as he gets to know Gunnar a little bit more and is involved in his life a little bit more each day his feelings are ...gulp... changing...

But at the end of the day a snake has to do what a snake has to do.... however I think you may be surprised, or maybe not, on who he takes and more importantly, how he takes, with him.

Lots of fun!

One Down

Once upon a time there was a magical... castle. Yes, right here in "Tuesdays at the Castle" by Jessica Day George.

What can a magical castle do? Well for some reason it is on Tuesdays that the castle adds new rooms or a tower or two or changes doorways or decor just to liven things up. If it likes you it will add to your comfort and if it doesn't like you it can make life quite challenging!

King Glower the 79th is the ruler and the castle is instrumental in choosing the heirs to it and the kingdom. Rolf is the next chosen heir. He, with his sisters Lilah and Celie, leads a lovely and happy life here until King Glower and his Queen head off to meet their son Bran at Wizard School.

Disaster happens and it seems the family has been attacked and killed on their way home. Rolf, who is only 14, will be king. Except there is a group of council members along with an evil prince from a neighbouring kingdom who want to become regents and have the evil prince made the next heir.

Rolf, Lilah and especially wonderful Celie, who has a special relationship with the castle, resist and plot how to overcome these plans. First they know Rolf would soon be killed and second they feel, no, they know their father is not yet dead as his rooms in the castle have not changed.

The castle is helping them to the best of its ability until a spell seems to kill it and the children are on their own.

Lots of fun and adventure here and 3 wonderful and gutsy characters that will appeal to you.

Divergent

A couple of months ago Carmen posted about this book she had just read - "Divergent" by Veronica Roth. When I was at a bookstore recently the salesclerk was mentioning this book for those who liked "The Hunger Games" - "Divergent". Hmm - two comments from two different sources. I was intrigued.

When I was at Vancouver Kidsbooks it was on their wall of bestsellers for young adults and I picked it up. I have just finished it and it was.... very good... even great and had me so hooked as the story progressed. What an exciting ending. But for the very mature readers. (sorry Gwen!)

In a dystopian society set in Chicago the population is divided into five separate and distinct factions that are dedicated to different virtues; Candor are honest, Abnegation are selfless, Dauntless are brave, Amity are peaceful and Erudite are intelligent. When a teen turns 16 they take an aptitude test to guide them into a faction but they are also allowed to choose which faction they will dedicate the rest of their lives to.

Triss comes from Abnegation but chooses Dauntless where she is challenged by extreme tasks she must compete and succeed at or be banished into the factionless, those homeless souls dependent on the generosity of the Abnegation for survival. For her, that is not an option.

In her new surroundings she discovers a side of herself she never knew existed, she discovers the value of friendship and she discovers first love. She also discovers a plot to shake the whole system up, a deadly plot for those she loves.

This is such a gripping tale you cannot help but be caught up in it. It starts slow but builds and builds and the ending is once again only the beginning.