The Madness Underneath by Maureen Johnson

The Madness Underneath (Shades of London #2)

By Maureen Johnson

Published by Penguin Young Readers Group, 2013

304 pages (hardcover)

After her near-fatal run-in with the Jack the Ripper copycat, Rory Devereaux has been living in Bristol under the close watch of her parents. So when her therapist suddenly suggests she return to Wexford, Rory jumps at the chance to get back to her friends. But Rory’s brush with the Ripper touched her more than she thought possible: she’s become a human terminus, with the power to eliminate ghosts on contact. She soon finds out that the Shades—the city’s secret ghost-fighting police—are responsible for her return. The Ripper may be gone, but now there is a string of new inexplicable deaths threatening London. Rory has evidence that the deaths are no coincidence. Something much more sinister is going on, and now she must convince the squad to listen to her before it’s too late. (from barnesandnoble.com)

I’ve been waiting for this book for a while because I really enjoyed The Name of the Star and I Maureen Johnson’s writing is engaging and fun. While this book isn’t my favorite Maureen Johnson book, it was an entertaining read with equal parts sarcasm, mystery, humor, deadly ghosts, and romance.

Overall, what I liked best about this book was the details Johnson gave. Unlike when I read The Secret Garden and skipped over all those detailed paragraphs about flowers and such, The Madness Underneath gave London and Rory’s world life with beautiful details. On the other hand, Rory kind of annoyed me with her (sometimes) lazy attitude and running away from her problems. She makes some stupid decisions throughout the book that do move the plot along, but seem a bit too impulsive for Rory (or most teens in general).

Also, folks, don’t take treats from strangers.

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

A Great and Terrible Beauty

By Libba Bray

Published by Random House Children’s Books, 2005

432 pages (hardcover)

It’s 1895, and after the suicide of her mother, 16-year-old Gemma Doyle is shipped off from the life she knows in India to Spence, a proper boarding school in England. Lonely, guilt-ridden, and prone to visions of the future that have an uncomfortable habit of coming true, Gemma’s reception there is a chilly one. To make things worse, she’s been followed by a mysterious young Indian man, a man sent to watch her. But why? What is her destiny? And what will her entanglement with Spence’s most powerful girls—and their foray into the spiritual world—lead to? (from barnesandnoble.com)

I liked it, I didn’t love it. I mean, it was good and mysterious and fantastical, but I think I was expecting something a bit… more.

One of my biggest frustrations was the (lack of) world-building. The culture and quirks of the 1890s was not explained well and I think that was a lost opportunity. Victorian England can be such an enchanting period with which to work and I felt confused and let down in parts. Additionally, I would have liked more vivid descriptions of the alternate realm. It was described as such a lovely and addicting place to be, but I didn’t catch that in the details.

But that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy reading A Great and Terrible Beauty. The characters leapt off the page and there were plenty of cliff-hangers to keep me turning the pages. There are two books after this one and it will be interesting to see what the characters choose to do (and not do) in their worlds.

Drama by Raina Telgemeier

Drama

By Raina Telgemeier

Published by Scholastic, Inc., 2012

240 pages (paperback)

Callie loves theater. And while she would totally try out for her middle school's production of Moon Over Mississippi, she's a terrible singer. Instead she's the set designer for the stage crew, and this year she's determined to create a set worthy of Broadway on a middle-school budget. But how can she, when she doesn't know much about carpentry, ticket sales are down, and the crew members are having trouble working together? Not to mention the onstage AND offstage drama that occurs once the actors are chosen, and when two cute brothers enter the picture, things get even crazier! Following the success of SMILE, Raina Telgemeier brings us another graphic novel featuring a diverse set of characters that humorously explores friendship, crushes, and all-around drama! (from barnesandnoble.com)

Raina Tegemeier is quickly becoming one of my favorite author/artists. Her books are creative and reflect the thoughts and emotions of teens. Any time a new book of her’s comes out I have students (and staff) beg for copies and her books are all almost always checked out.

Overall, this book is about finding friends outside your comfort zone and how amazing things can happen when you are simply YOU. Sure, there were some unexpected plot twists and it is a great story, but really this book is just a fun read that girls and guys will enjoy.

STUDENT REVIEW- The Boy Who Dared by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

The Boy Who Dared

By Susan Campbell Bartoletti

Published by Scholastic, Inc., 2008

192 pages (paperback)

Bartoletti has taken one episode from her Newbery Honor Book, HITLER YOUTH, and fleshed it out into thought-provoking novel. When 16-year-old Helmut Hubner listens to the BBC news on an illegal short-wave radio, he quickly discovers Germany is lying to the people. But when he tries to expose the truth with leaflets, he's tried for treason. Sentenced to death and waiting in a jail cell, Helmut's story emerges in a series of flashbacks that show his growth from a naive child caught up in the patriotism of the times , to a sensitive and mature young man who thinks for himself. (from barnesandnoble.com)

This is a very fantastic book. I would read this book at least 3 times before I get sick of it. I like how Helmuth sticks up to the Nazis and the Gestapo. [I would improve] how they treated brother Worbs. It was very harsh what they did. Yes, [I would recommend this book]. It shows you about World War 2 and what happened.

--Alejandro C.

Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm

Turtle in Paradise

By Jennifer L. Holm

Published by Random House Children’s BooksPenguin Group, 2011

208 pages (paperback)

Life isn't like the movies, and eleven-year-old Turtle is no Shirley Temple. She's smart and tough and has seen enough of the world not to expect a Hollywood ending. After all, it's 1935, and jobs and money and sometimes even dreams are scarce. So when Turtle's mama gets a job housekeeping for a lady who doesn't like kids, Turtle says goodbye without a tear and heads off to Key West, Florida, to stay with relatives she's never met.

Florida's like nothing Turtle has ever seen. It's hot and strange, full of wild green peeping out between houses, ragtag boy cousins, and secret treasure. Before she knows what's happened, Turtle finds herself coming out of the shell she has spent her life building, and as she does, her world opens up in the most unexpected ways. (from barnesandnoble.com)

I like that it was a descriptive book and things were funny. The boys were always fighting and that was funny.

--Rachel G.

TOP TEN TUESDAY: My Top Ten Book-Boy Crushes

Top 10 Tuesday is hosted at The Broke and the Bookish. Today’s topic is My Top Ten Fictional Character Crushes.

I am happily married, but I also have some book-boy crushes (some date back a decade or two). And I don’t feel like I need to explain any of these choices.... they seem rather obvious to me!

• Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy from Pride & Prejudice
• Gale from The Hunger Games
• Jacob from Twilight
• Gilbert Blythe from Anne of Green Gables
• Calvin O’Keefe from A Wrinkle in Time
• Justin from Awaken
• Puck from The Iron King
• William "Will" Herondale from Clockwork Angel
• Samwise Gamgee from The Hobbit
• Logan from The Baby-Sitter’s Club

Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Princess (Infernal Devices #3)

By Cassandra Clare

Published by Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2013

592 pages (hardcover)

THE INFERNAL DEVICES WILL NEVER STOP COMING

A net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute. Mortmain plans to use his Infernal Devices, an army of pitiless automatons, to destroy the Shadowhunters. He needs only one last item to complete his plan: he needs Tessa Gray.

Charlotte Branwell, head of the London Institute, is desperate to find Mortmain before he strikes. But when Mortmain abducts Tessa, the boys who lay equal claim to her heart, Jem and Will, will do anything to save her. For though Tessa and Jem are now engaged, Will is as much in love with her as ever.

As those who love Tessa rally to rescue her from Mortmain’s clutches, Tessa realizes that the only person who can save her is herself. But can a single girl, even one who can command the power of angels, face down an entire army?

Danger and betrayal, secrets and enchantment, and the tangled threads of love and loss intertwine as the Shadowhunters are pushed to the very brink of destruction in the breathtaking conclusion to the Infernal Devices trilogy. (from barnesandnoble.com)

Ahhhh! So I HAD to get this the day it came out. I was so excited to find out what would happen. And, of course, I needed to know if Tessa would marry Jem or Will or neither.

Now, I don’t want to give away anything, especially since this is the 3^rd book in the series, but below are my thoughts…

·         Don’t look at the inside of the dust jacket. It kind of gives things away (there are still some surprises coming your way even if you do look). HOWEVER, after I read Clockwork Princess I looked at the inside of the dust jacket and read summaries of the Mortal Instruments series. It all comes together, folks.

·        The beginning chapters are quite intense. Cassandra Clare doesn’t waste any time getting you hooked.

·         The few flashbacks of Young Will & Young Jem are tooooooooo cute.

·         The relationship(s) between Jem, Will & Tessa are amazing, heartbreaking, and inspiring.

·         I want to be Charlotte. She is awesome. I mean, she can kick some butt WHILE being pregnant!

·         Family love and loyalty are definitely a theme… but not a preachy theme. Just a refreshing & heart-felt theme.

·         Magnus Bane is a fabulous character. He definitely steps up in this book.

·         I wish the Epilogue would have gone on in time for a few more months or years. I wanted to see, um, things play out.

That is all, for now. If you haven’t started reading this trilogy yet, get on it! I don’t think you will be disappointed.