Theodosia and the Staff of Osiris

Author: R. L. LaFevers

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company

Publication Year: 2008

Most of the readers will be: Middle school girls and boys.

Reader's Advisory: For a historical fiction mummy book try I am the Mummy Heb-Neferet by Eve Bunting.

Summary:

Theodosia Throckmorton arrives at her parents' museum one morning to discover all the mummies from Britain gathered there. She soon realizes they are answering the call of the Staff of Osiris which is located in the basement of the museum. She can stop the staff from drawing the mummies, but she fails to stop the Serpents of Chaos from stealing the staff. Now they have power over the dead and Theodosia's research leads her to believe the staff can be used for even more sinister purposes. Can Theodosia stop the Serpents of Chaos from stealing the crown jewel of the British navy?

My favorite passage:

After I made the last notation on my paper, I reached up to stretch.

There was a faint rustle behind me. I whipped my head around. "Isis?"

But it wasn't she who had made the noise. She stood frozen in her spot, back arched, staring at the statue of Anubis.

Which yawned.

Or maybe it was more a stretching of his jaws. Either way, it wasn't something a statue ought to do.

Worried, I stepped forward for a better look, then jumped back as the jackal shook himself, like a dog awakening from a nap.

This was bad. Very bad.

I looked into the statue's eyes and he looked back at me, his hackles rising. He growled.

The growl ran along my skin, leaving a trail of goose bumps in its wake. Isis, who wasn't used to hearing dog noises in her domain, hissed loudly.

The jackal swung his head in her direction, recognized immediately that she was a cat, then leaped off the shrine toward her.

Oh no!

Isis yowled and darted into the small space between the wall and the sarcophagus, and the jackal skidded to a stop. Frustrated, he tried to squeeze in after her, but he was too big. (pg 34-35)

What I really think:

Not another British book about a conflict with the Germans! Yup, it only comes up a few times but the ultimate goal behind the chaos caused by the Serpents of Chaos is to increase tensions between Britain and Germany. Based on the fact that the main form of transportation is a horse drawn carriage I'm guessing these books are set pre World War I. The theme of blaming the fact that Britain and Germany don't get along on supernatural powers is also getting a little old. Is this to relieve guilt over the fact that Britain has to keep rehashing its conflicts with Germany? We can't let this stuff go, but we can pretend it wasn't really your fault.

My other big issue with this book is more superficial. There is nothing on the front, back or title page that says, "This is book Two!" I do not start series in the middle and in this case I honestly didn't know. I finally noticed that the review on the back is for a different book, Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos, which I assume is the first in the series. And the summary on the front flap does say, "Once again..." However I find these indicators to be too obscure to convey to me the information I need to know. Namely: this book is part of a series and it is not the first book.

The novel itself is entertaining enough. But not so much that I was able to overcome my annoyance over the two previously mentioned points.

The Secret of Zoom

Author: Lynne Jonell

Publisher: Henry Holt and Company

Publication Year: 2009

Most of the readers will be: Late elementary and early middle school girls.

Reader's Advisory: For another book that has some cool inventions, read The Gadget War by Betsy Duffy.

Summary:
Christina Adnoid lives with her father in the Loompski mansion. Her father is the head scientist for Loompski Labs and her mother died in an explosion when Christina was young. Her father tries to protect Christina by having her home schooled by a computer and keeping her inside as much as possible. But first Christina meets one of the orphans from the nearby orphanage run by Lenny Loompski and then she finds a secret passage out of the mansion. Christina and Taft (the orphan) learn that Lenny Loompski is up to no good. Can they save the other orphans and reveal Lenny's nefarious plot? With the help of Christina's perfect pitch and a magical stone called "zoom" they can.

My favorite passage:

The orphans sat in the dust, all eyes fixed on Christina. She had told them very little about herself - who knew if one of them might accidentally blurt something out in front of a guard? But they seemed most interested in the fact that she wasn't an orphan.
"So..." Dorset traced a line in the dirt with her finger. "What's it like to have a father?"
Christina looked around the circle of children. The faces were all different, and yet every child had the same look: unwashed, uncared-for, eyes large and hungry.
The small boy at Christina's side tugged at her sleeve. "Not a Happy Orphan Daddy," he whispered. "The real kind."
"Well," Christina began, and stopped. What could she possibly say?
The orphans inched closer, leaning in to hear.
Christina tried again. "I guess...a real father keeps you safe."
A soft sigh went up from each orphan throat.
"What about a mother?" asked a small girl with tangled hair and an upturned nose. "What does she do?"
Christina gazed at the girl thoughtfully and reached out a hand. "A mother does a lot of things. Like this, for one." She pulled the girl in close and began to comb gently through the tangled hair with her fingers. (pg 215-216)

What I really think:
This book started out a little slow but I quickly grew to love it. As a music person I like that the zoom is activated by singing and the little air plane is turned on by singing the notes in a chord. But what really got me was the passage I transcribed above.

So many protagonists have parents that are absent or not too great. This allows children to have adventures and furthers the storyline. But, it is still nice to have this one book where the child talks warmly about her parents, both of whom are still alive. (I know I said Christina's mother is dead, you'll have to read the book to see how Jonell pulls this off.)

At first Christina's father does seem a little distant. He keeps her isolated from the outside world, and likes to talk to her about math (which she hates). But Christina knows how much he loves her and appreciates that he is trying to keep her safe. The beauty of her family really makes the book.

The Morgue and Me

Author: John C. Ford

Publisher: Viking

Publication Year: 2009

Most of the readers will be: High school boys.

Reader's Advisory: For another 2009 mystery, try The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson.

Summary: Christopher Newell thinks that working at the morgue over the summer will help prepare him for his future career as a spy. He is more right than he could have predicted. One day he sees the medical examiner and the sheriff talking over a dead body. He finds $15,000 in a brief case in the medical examiner's office. Christopher learns from the newspaper the next day that the dead guy is named Mitch Blaylock and his death was ruled a suicide. But when Christopher sneaks a peak at the body himself, he sees that Mitch took several bullets to the chest. In his search to uncover who murdered Mitch Blaylock, and why the murder is being covered up, he teams up with Tina, an attractive journalist. Can Christopher and Tina unravel the mystery without ending up like Mitch?

My favorite passage:

Someone was knocking on my window. Loudly.
It was the insanely hot woman from the Courier, which made me wonder if maybe I was still fantasizing. Or maybe, better, she was stalking me. I rolled down the window to find out.
"You again," she said. "You're popping up all over."
"Yeah, me again. Hi."
"So listen..." She stopped to fish for something in her bag and came up with the memo I had left for Art Bradford, Senior Reporter. Apparently, she had decided to intercept it. Hmm. Her eyes found what she needed and looked back at me. "...Chris. We need to talk."
I almost said something. I make everyone call me Christopher. It fits the savvy NSA operative I hope to be someday. "Chris" feels neutered, like the professors who ride bikes around campus with straps around their pant legs. But something about the woman turned me to jelly, and I made my first-ever exception to the name rule.
"Umm, okay. About what?"
"What do you think? C'mon, we're going to lunch." She walked over to her car, not bothering to check if I was following her. On the way, she pulled out a cell phone and tossed the gum she'd been smacking into some bushes.
The car was a black Trans Am. It had a T-top roof and a gold falcon painted on the hood.
It fit her perfectly. (pg 51-52)

What I really think:
The mystery kept me reading, but there were many other charming elements to this novel. I like that Christopher seems very grown up while he is doing some of his investigating, but he is still a kid when it comes to relationships. The fact that he is spending so much time with an older woman seems weird, but the way they interact with each other is realistic. He has a crush on Tina, but realizes she isn't interested in him. And although he constantly talks about how hot Tina is, he clearly has stronger feelings for his high school crush - a girl he has been too shy to ask out. The book is both fun and well written.

Oracles of Delphi Keep

Author: Victoria Laurie

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Publication Year: 2009

Most of the readers will be: Middle school girls and boys.

Reader's Advisory: Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series is another great example of modern fiction drawing on classical mythology.

Summary:
Ian Wigby and his ward (sort-of sister), Theodosia Fields, live in a well-kept orphanage located near the White Cliffs of Dover. While treasure hunting in caves near the cliffs they discover mysterious writing, a silver box, and a terrible beast. Their discoveries launch them, and several other key people in their lives, into a quest which takes them to London and Morocco. They are directed by the long-dead Oracle Laodamia. Her scattered and hidden prophecies, in addition to Theo's ever-growing talent at seeing the future, may give them the power to prevent World War II and the rise of dark powers that feed on human suffering.

My favorite passage:

Ian crested the top stair and looked about. The light was dim, but he knew exactly where he wanted to hide his silver box. There was a bench built into the wall at the top of the stairs, with wooden slats for a seat. He could hide it in the bench until it was safe to bring it out and inspect it. As he reached for the loose slat, however, he took just a moment to study the box. He turned it around in his hands, admiring its detail. It was beautifully crafted and rested on four balled silver feet. He shook it gently and he could feel the small vibrations of something rattling inside. Curious, he tried to open the lid, but as hard as he tugged on it, it wouldn't give way.
With a sigh he decided it was best to leave it for now and attempt to pry it open later. He then quickly pulled up the slat and placed the box at the bottom of the bench. A few seconds later he was dashing back down the stone steps and through the door to the hallway, where Theo was waiting impatiently.
"All done," he said to her. "Thanks for keeping watch."
"You're going to get yourself into big trouble one of these days," she admonished.
"Not with you to look after me," he replied with a grin as he gave her hair another tousle.
Her face softened and she pushed his hand away with a smile. "Someone's got to look after you," she said. "Otherwise you'd go without supper so often you'd starve to death."
Ian was instantly reminded of the dinner plate she'd snuck up to him, and he realized she was no longer holding it. "Speaking of eating, what did you do with my dinner?"
"I had to hide it in the loo when I heard Madam Scargill on the stairway." Theo disappeared into the lavatory and Ian was horrified as he watched her come back out with his food.
"You hid it in there?"
"Would you rather Madam Scargill see me standing at the lavatory door with it?" Theo snapped.
"Good point," he agreed. "Now, go on and finish your own supper," he said, taking the plate from her. "And say hello to the earl for me."
Theo gave him a small smile. "I'll tell him it's your birthday and perhaps he'll come upstairs to visit with you."
"That'd be brilliant, thanks!"
The two parted and Ian headed back into his room, where he ate his birthday supper in peace and quiet and watched out the window for the Earl of Kent and his companions. (pg 52-53)

What I really think:
First off I wanted to explain about my opinion on which young people will be interested in this book. Although there is a male protagonist (usually something that attracts male readers), I get kind of a girly vibe from the story. It could be because of the very strong (both in personality and power) female characters like Theo, Lady Arbuthnot, and the posthumous presence of the Oracle Laodamia. I'm not saying boys won't read it, but I strongly suspect it will appeal more to girls.

Stories drawing on classical mythology seem to be pretty popular right now in the middle grades. I like that Laurie did things a little differently by mixing up her Greek influences with Phoenician and even Druid. Things can get a little confusing at times, but overall the mythology behind the story is magical and compelling.

Now, the fact that Theo has predicted World War II is a little eye rolling. I was enjoying my little fantasy world without it getting too real. Perhaps now would be a good time to mention that the author isn't really British. The biography on the back flap says that as a child she lived in England for a year with her family. Overall, I think she did a pretty good job with the setting and characters considering that she isn't a native (and I'm practically an authority since I just spent a year in England myself). But this World War II business - you see it in British literature ALL THE TIME. There is a good reason for that. The war was much more personal for England than it was for America, so I can understand the need to keep working through those emotions.

I think what really got me was the vilifying of German-sounding characters. So, in a book set around World War II there is no getting around the fact that Germans are going to be the bad guys. BUT what about the Austrian couple who work for Caphiera (one of the mythological bad guys, or bad lady as it were)? They speak with thick accents, adopt children in an attempt to hunt down Ian and Theo, and lead to the deaths of both those children. Was that really necessary? Couldn't they have been French or American or even British?

Lets not get too carried away with hating on the Germans and people who sound like them, okay?

This book appears to be the first in a series. A lengthy quest is set out for Ian and his companions, but they only complete part of it by the conclusion of the novel.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Author: Sherman Alexie

Illustrator: Ellen Forney

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Publication Year: 2007

Most of the readers will be: Middle and high school boys.

Reader's Advisory: For another juvenile novel on the topic of Native Americans read Native Americans: A Novelized Memoir by Isaac McCoy.

Summary:
In spite of multiple physical problems caused by being born with water on the brain, Junior has grown into a teenager with a lot of promise. Unfortunately, he lives on the Spokane Indian Reservation and people who stay on the reservation rarely do much with their lives. Junior makes the big decision to attend high school in a neighboring town outside "the rez." Many of the people from his town of Wellpinit feel that he has betrayed them and his new classmates are slow to accept him. Can Junior balance his two worlds and still be true to himself?

My favorite passage:

And do you know what the very best thing was about Wellpinit?
My grandmother.
She was amazing.
She was the most amazing person in the world.
Do you want to know the very best thing about my grandmother?
She was tolerant.
And I know that's a hilarious thing to say about your grandmother.
I mean, when people compliment their grandmothers, especially their Indian grandmothers, they usually say things like, "My grandmother is so wise" and "My grandmother is so kind" and "My grandmother has seen everything."
And, yeah, my grandmother was smart and kind and had traveled to about 100 different Indian reservations, but that had nothing to do with her greatness.
My grandmother's greatest gift was tolerance.
Now, in the old days, Indians used to be forgiving of any kind of eccentricity. In fact, weird people were often celebrated.
Epileptics were often shamans because people just assumed that God gave seizure-visions to the lucky ones.
Gay people were seen as magical, too.
I mean, like in many cultures, men were viewed as warriors and women were viewed as caregivers. But gay people, being both male and female, were seen as both warriors and caregivers.
Gay people could do anything. They were like Swiss Army knives!
My grandmother had no use for all the gay bashing and homophobia in the world, especially among other Indians.
"Jeez," she said. "Who cares if a man wants to marry another man? All I want to know is who's going to pick up all the dirty socks?"
Of course, ever since white people showed up and brought along their Christianity and their fears of eccentricity, Indians have gradually lost all of their tolerance.
Indians can be just as judgmental and hateful as any white person.
But not my grandmother.
She still hung onto that old-time Indian spirit, you know?
She always approached each new person and each new experience the exact same way.
Whenever we went to Spokane, my grandmother would talk to anybody, even the homeless people, even the homeless guys who were talking to invisible people.
My grandmother would start talking to the invisible people, too.
Why would she do that?
"Well," she said, "how can I be sure there aren't invisible people in the world? Scientists didn't believe in the mountain gorilla for hundreds of years. And now look. So if scientists can be wrong, then all of us can be wrong. I mean, what if all of those invisible people ARE scientists? Think about that one." (pg 154-156)

What I really think:
I did find one inconsistency which isn't really relevant to the storyline, but I am sort of surprised neither the author or editor caught it. Early on in the story, Junior opens up his geography book to see the words "This Book Belongs To Agnes Adams" (pg 31). And he says that that is his mother. Adams is his mother's maiden name. But then he calls his grandmother "Grandmother Spirit." Spirit is his last name, so the name his mother took from his father. And Grandmother Spirit is supposed to be his mother's mother. So really, her last name should be Adams, and not Spirit. There could be some sort of explanation, but none was given.
I don't need to tell you that this is a good book, because it already won the National Book Award. But yes, it is wonderful. Not only does Alexie give us a window into reservation life, but he also creates a character that the average teenager can relate to. Not all of us had to deal with the exact same issues as Junior, but we did all have to move between different worlds even if those worlds were only the world of children and the world of adults.

The Ask and the Answer

Author: Patrick Ness

Publisher: Walker Books

Publication Year: 2009

Most of the readers will be: Late middle school and early high school boys and girls.

Reader's advisory: For another trilogy that challenges the way we think about the world try Phillip Pullman's His Dark Materials.

Summary: (Caution! Spoilers for The Knife of Never Letting Go)
Todd and Viola have made it to Haven hoping it is the one place on New World where they will be safe only to discover that the citizens of Haven have already surrendered to Mayor (now President) Prentiss. Immediately the two are separated and for a while, Todd doesn't even know if Viola has survived the bullet she took as they entered town.
Todd is locked up in the top of a church tower with the old mayor of Haven (now called New Prentisstown). Every day he has to work with Davy Prentiss doing things that make his skin crawl. He watches as President Prentiss bends the men of New World to his will and turns the women into the enemy.
Viola is cured in a house of healing and ends up with a group called The Answer. The Answer intend to stop President Prentiss by any means necessary. Even force. Even if that force leads to civilian casualties.
Will Todd and Viola be reunited? Together could they have the strength to save New World from two violent dictators?

My favorite passage:

He gets to his feet.
He stands up tall-
And I shout his name again-
"TODD!"
Because it does something-
It does something to him-
It does something for him-
The Mayor's wrong-
He's wrong for ever and ever-
It's not that you should never love something so much it can control you.
It's that you need to love something that much so you can never be controlled.
It's not a weakness-
It's your best strength-
"TODD!" I shout again-
And he looks at me-
And I hear my name in his Noise-
And I know it-
I know it in my heart-
Right now-
Todd Hewitt-
There's nothing we can't do together-
And we're gonna win-
(pg 494)

What I really think:
Often when you have a series of novels the first one seems to be the best, and I think this is because the first book is when you learn all about the world where the story takes place. It is difficult for subsequent books to fill you with the same wonder you feel when you read the first because there aren't any more big surprises.
In The Knife of Never Letting Go, we learn a whole lot about New World. We learn what Todd has been told, and then we start to learn what is really going on. In The Ask and the Answer, Ness skillfully keeps us guessing whether we can believe everything we have read so far and even introduces some brand new twists.
He also introduces Viola as a narrator. She has a strong voice and her experiences provide a nice contrast with Todd's experiences. It is interesting to see how each of them handle being apart.
I will admit that I wasn't as engaged in some of the middle parts of this story as I was when reading The Knife of Never Letting Go, I think because I really like the interaction between Todd and Viola and they just aren't together throughout most of this book. However, the ending makes up for everything.

The Knife That Killed Me

Author: Anthony McGowan

Publisher: Definitions

Publication Year: 2008

Most of the readers will be: Late middle school and early high school boys.

Reader's advisory: For another book on school violence try Shattering Glass by Gail Giles.

Summary:
As the knife inches closer to Paul Varderman he recalls the events that have led up to this moment. In the days prior to the big fight with the kids from Temple Moor Paul is befriended by Roth, the school bully. Roth is clearly using Paul, but in some ways it is better than being abused. But Paul has also been befriended by Shane and his group of "freaks." The freaks aren't so bad, but Paul feels like an outsider to their group. There are forces pulling on Paul from many different directions when he decides to go to the fight.

My favorite passage:

I am pushed to the ground, my knees leaving hollows in the wet earth. And I want to move. Either away or towards. To do something. But I have been burned to this spot, like one of the ashy bodies cooked to stillness in Pompeii. Only my eyes can move.
But that's enough for me to see it coming.
The knife that will kill me.
It is in the hand of a boy.
The boy is blurred, but the knife is clear.
He has just taken it from the inside pocket of his blazer.
There is something strange about the way the world is moving. I can see an outline of his arm - I mean, a series of outlines - tracing the motion from his pocket. A ghost trail of outlines. And so there is no motion, just these images, each one still, each one closer to me.
He is coming to kill me.
Now would be a good time to run.
I cannot run.
I am too afraid to run.
But I don't want to die here in the gypsy field, my blood flowing into the wet earth.
I must stop this.
And there is a way.
It comes to me now.
Part of it but not all of it.
Maths. Mr McHale. A sunny afternoon, and no one listening. He tells us about Zeno's Paradox. The one with fast-running Apollo and the tortoise. If only I could remember it. but I'm not good at school. All I know about is war, battles, armies, learned from my dad, whose chief love is war.
But I have to remember, because the knife is coming. Each moment perfectly still, yet each one closer.
Motion
and
perfect
stillness.
How can that be?
Yes, I think. To reach me the knife must come half the way. That takes, say, two seconds. But first it must go half that distance. Which takes one second. And half that distance, which takes half a second. And half that distance, which takes a quarter of a second. And so it goes on. Each time halving the distance and halving the time: 2+1+1/2+1/4+1/8+1/16. The sequence is infinite. It means he can never reach me. I am safe.
And so I can leave the me there, the me now, waiting for ever for the knife, while I go back to the beginning. (pg 6-8)

What I really think:
I really enjoy all the bits about the knife. I know they aren't really the point of the book. I know the point has more to do with bullying and fighting and all that, but the knife stuff is great. You can feel the tension as the knife slowly gets closer and closer.
As for the fighting stuff, this novel is an excellent deconstruction of a boy. It is easy to stand on the outside and wonder how perfectly nice young people get involved in things like this. McGowan has demonstrated how it's not just one thing that makes a boy carry a knife. It's a whole series of events that wear him down and make him doubt himself. This would be a nice novel to read in a classroom to really get a discussion going on school violence and how students can choose better ways to deal with their problems.