Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix
published April 2008 by Simon & Schuster
320 pages (hardcover), Middle Grade

Glad the public library still had a copy of this book left on the shelf because mine was checked out Friday morning when the fifth graders assaulted our stack of Rebecca Caudill books. I was pleasantly surprised that they were so eager to get their hands on those nominees. Anyway...

Found is the first book in The Missing series. The book begins with a mystifying event - a plane carrying 36 babies appears from nowhere at an airport gate; once the babies have been unloaded, the airplane vanishes the same inexplicable way it came. Thirteen years later, these babies now teenagers in adoptive families begin receiving notes in the mail that they are the missing and someone is coming back for them. A bit ominous, no? So begins Jonah and Chip's journey to find out what these notes mean, who they really are, and where (and when) it is that they're missing from.

I really liked this book. Mostly. Tons of suspense and intrigue, not to mention the emotional turmoil of Chip finding out that he's adopted and Jonah, who has always known about his adoption, attempting to console his new friend while staying at arm's length. The plot moves this book more than the characters, which will always be a shortcoming for me, but it's fast-paced even though there's not a whole lot of action until the very end. Chip, Jonah, and Jonah's sister, Katherine, embark on adventures close to home in order to uncover clues about what the mysterious notes in the mail could mean, and it's all very realistic.

So, I was confused when I saw the Science Fiction sticker on my library book because up until the last few chapters of the book, I thought I was reading a mystery. If you read jacket flaps or back covers, I won't be revealing anything in saying that hey, there's time travel in this book. While Found is the introduction to a time travel series, I much more enjoyed the mystery in the beginning of the book to the science fiction place it led me to. I worry about how my students will feel about the ending too. Time travel is tricky and confusing. But there's bound to be more action as well, I suppose.

Personally, I don't think I'll be reading more of this series, but I did quite enjoy this book, even though the ending was a bit odd for me. All in all, a hearty three purple crayons.

What they said:
Sweet Reads; One Librarian's Books Reviews; The O.W.L.; Peaceful Reader; Becky's Book Reviews; etc.

Readathon book reflections

Last weekend, I participated in the 48hr Book Challenge, and I feel like I spent this week recovering. I never quite realized how particular I am about how often I read, how often I prefer to read, and how much I can read at once. I've noticed in the past few months of Reading Recaps that I average about 3,000 pages read each month, and this seems like a good number for me. I am definitely a slave to routine and balance, which keeps me sane most of the time. :)

Anyhow, since I haven't done much reading this week, I thought I'd mull over some of last weekend's reads.

Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder
published December 2008 (c2006?) by MIRA
448 pages (paperback reprint), YA

This is the second book in Snyder's Study series - I absolutely loved the first, Poison Study. If you haven't read the first, then spoilers are inevitable, but if you're anything like me, you won't remember them by the time you read it anyway, so please continue.

Yelena is en route to her supposed home in Sitia, but she has no memories of her childhood or family. She is exiled from the only home she's known as well as her former mentor and current love, Valek. With Master Magician Irys' help, Yelena adapts to life in Sitia, reluctant but willing to learn to control her magic. She briefly meets her family--mother, father, brother, and a clan filled with cousins, aunts, and uncles--then immediately sets off to reach the Magician's Citadel where she can begin her magic training. At the Citadel, a rogue magician is on the loose, murdering innocent girls in a way that is all too familiar to Yelena. Of course, Yelena leaps in without thinking, providing much-needed assistance but also revealing a little something about herself that she had yet to discover on her own.

What can I say? It's a complicated book. And I'll admit that I was most interested in the parts where Valek made an appearance. I was shocked at how different this book was from the first, and it took me a little while to get into it. I feel like the first book focused very much on Yelena's character, and this one went for the action-packed approach. Yelena doesn't have much time to reflect on all that she's learned about herself and her past because she's chasing a crazy, serial killer magician. I'm almost halfway through the third book, Fire Study, and my interest is waning because it seems that the same is happening in this book - less about the characters (and so many new characters!) and more plot-based, which is a little disappointing. I think Poison Study is great as a stand-alone novel, and the next two can be considered optional companions.

The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

published March 2010 by Random House

416 pages (hardcover), YA

I won't say much about this one. It is the companion novel (second in a trilogy) to The Forest of Hands and Teeth, in that we are introduced to Mary's daughter, Gabry, who this story follows. I've read tons of criticism that Gabry is weak and annoying, afraid and whining, and I suppose that's fine because, well, she is, but that didn't really affect my enjoyment of the story. Not all main characters are strong. They're not all invincible. And they're not all perfect. I'm okay with the fact that Gabry is terrified of breaking the rules, is paralyzed with fear at encountering a Mudo - in a world where zombies roamed the earth, I'd be constantly afraid too. What I didn't initially enjoy was the ridiculous love triangle, but I did eventually get over it because I could see it happening. You love who you love until you don't (or can't) anymore and someone else comes along. Especially in extreme circumstances, this is common. All in all, I liked this book, and I'll probably read the third, The Dark and Hollow Places, when it comes out next spring.

A Spy in the House (The Agency #1) by Y.S. Lee

published March 2010 by Candlewick

352 pages (hardcover), YA

Goodness, how I loved this book! Think Enola Holmes for YA. This is a new Victorian mystery series, with criminal-turned-lady Mary Quinn as our main character, who has joined the exclusive and elusive Agency, an organization of women spies, after completing her education at its cover, Miss Scrimshaw's Academy for Girls. Her first assignment is to be a lady's companion to the daughter of a merchant who seems to be losing a few too many cargo ships at sea. She is merely to acquire useful information about the potential fraudulent claims, but Mary is a take-action kind of girl, so she sets out to do some detective work of her own. She finds herself in some sticky situations, with a love interest in a partner in spy, James Easton, who is also investigating this family for his own reasons. This was a delightful read! Mary is anything but a lady, though she does try. She's clever and headstrong with a blossoming flirtatious side. I'm looking forward to more in this series, with The Body at the Tower coming out in August.

The Thirteenth Princess by Diane Zahler

published February 2010 by HarperCollins

245 pages (hardcover), MG

You know me, I'm a sucker for retold fairy tales. Can you guess this one? Yep, The Twelve Dancing Princesses. In which there is a thirteenth princess named Zita who grows up as a servant in the castle, unknowing of her true parentage until she's twelve years old. When she finds out that she too is a princess, she's elated and she immediately attempts to get to know her twelve sisters, who embrace her and welcome her into their room at night, when the king won't see. Because the king is furious to have thirteen daughters, not one son to be his heir, and not even willing to acknowledge his thirteenth daughter. After all, she is the one who killed the queen in childbirth. While Zita is discovering her new life, the princesses begin to fall ill. They are exhausted and confined to their room, with worn out slippers each night. It's up to Zita and some new friends to find out what's going on in the palace, where magic has been banned but is clearly at work. 

I've recently read Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George, which is also a retelling of this tale, so I thought that I would be bored with this one. Not the case at all. Introducing a thirteenth princess was such a clever idea that really worked with this story. I was happy for all of the background information at the start of the book and still wanted to find out how the princesses would be lifted from their spell.

The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd

The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd
published February 2008 by Random House
323 pages, middle grade

I wondered if I should start a conversation. But what about? Small talk or big talk? I remembered what Mum had said when I started at secondary school last autumn. When you meet new people, Ted, keep the talk small. I'd asked her what this meant. Did it mean to use only words of one syllable? She'd laughed and said no, it meant sticking to everyday subjects. Like the weather? I'd asked. And she sighed and said, 'OK, Ted. Like the weather. Only not big weather. Small weather.' Which meant I could talk about anticyclones and minor depressions but not major storm systems or global warming. (p. 32)

Ted, our 11 year-old narrator, knows that his mind works differently than most people's - although it's not explicitly stated, various clues tell readers that he has something like Asperger's syndrome - which makes him an asset to the current investigation of the disappearance of his cousin, Salim. Ted, Kat (his older sister), and Salim were in line to ride the London Eye when this mystery begins. Salim receives a free ticket from a stranger (warning signs should be flashing) to ride the Eye, so the group decides it would be fine for Salim to experience the ride by himself. Half an hour later, when Salim's carriage descends and its occupants exit, Salim is nowhere to be found. The adults go into panic mode, while Ted and Kat try to puzzle out the possibilities of Salim's disappearance on their own.

I wouldn't classify this as a mystery that mystery fans will love. Yes, mystery is in the title of the book, but this one's more about the characters and how they relate to each other. Which is why I enjoyed it. It's no surprise that I'm a fan of character-based books. Sure, I love a good plot and a fast-paced story, but those books rarely stick with me. This book is one I'll remember. I love the fact that Ted's syndrome was dealt with in such a natural way - the frustrations his family experienced with him at times weren't sugar-coated but the unique and best parts of his personality were also present and described in such a Ted way. That's why I chose the passage I did to open with because I can't really tell you why the writing appealed to me so - showing is better. Ted is fascinated by weather and aspires to be a meteorologist, which also serves as an outlet for him to make life connections. His personality is strong and consistent and definitely gives readers a peek into a mind that may be different from their own.

The universe and I were in sync today, as I finished this book on World Autism Day, though I didn't know it at the time. Thanks to The Brown Bookshelf for keeping me informed!

Other reviews:
Books & others thoughts; BookMoot; Sweet Reads; Book Nut; Jen Robinson's Book Page

Hello to those of you who found me via the Book Blogger Hop! Hope you enjoyed the review and will take a look around while you're here. Don't forget to leave a comment so I can check out your blog too. :) Oh, and feel free to enter my Unsung YA Giveaway while you're at it.

And those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, check out the Book Blogger Hop at Crazy-For-Books.com, a weekly social event to find new blogs to follow.

Aurelia by Anne Osterlund

Aurelia by Anne Osterlund
published April 2008 by Penguin
246 pages (paperback), YA

Aurelia is a princess (please suppress your groans, I happen to like princesses), a crown princess for that matter, with the hope of becoming queen of Tyralt, a land that she loves. She is the people's princess, sneaking off in disguises to browse the market or walk the neighborhoods. She is also in mortal danger. She has unknowingly dodged murder attempts twice already, but that is twice too many. Enter Robert, Aurelia's childhood classmate and friend who has been living the frontier life for the past four years. He has come back to Tyralt to act as a spy and a protector - to figure out who is behind this assassination plot and to keep Aurelia safe. But matters of the heart distract him and Aurelia both.

In the first 20 pages of this book, I knew Aurelia, and I knew that I wanted Robert and Aurelia to be together. How is it possible to develop a depth of character in 20 pages?! I don't know, but Ms. Osterlund certainly did. Through conversations at a ball, we learn about Aurelia's character, her stubborness, her defiance and spirit. She is passionate and forthright - she will speak her mind even if it is not befitting for a princess. She is the dark one, perceiving herself as unattractive compared to her stepsister's blonde-haired, fair-skinned beauty. She's adventurous and curious, empathetic and humble. And this book is only 246 pages.

Although I didn't love love love the story, I certainly enjoyed it and finished it rather quickly. I would have liked Aurelia and Robert's relationship to be developed more, but I can imagine the constraints of living in a palace and fearing your life make this a bit difficult to accomplish. I was also surprised that this is a mystery - I suppose I expected fantasy just because it had to do with princesses, but a murder mystery was a nice twist. Part of the reason I read this one so quickly is because I needed to know who wanted Aurelia dead and if she would be killed. I'll say nothing more about that. :)

So, I'm a fan of Anne Osterlund, and I can't wait to read more from her!

Other reviews:
Books At Midnight, Book Nut, Abby (the) Librarian, Becky's Book Reviews

Read this week (7)

Academy 7 by Anne Osterlund
I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Read about it here.

Enthusiasm by Polly Shulman
This book was #4 on the Top 10 Unsung YA Heroes list, so I thought I'd give it a shot. And the cover blurb by Stephenie Meyer says she recommends this book to just about anyone she meets. I don't know that I'd go that far. I didn't love it as much as others seemed to, but I thought it was fun and a little silly. The story centers on two best friends - one is completely wacky (marches to the beat of her own drummer kinda gal) and the other is shy but loyal, following her friend in all her schemes and obsessions. The latest is a Pride and Prejudice phase, wherein the girls infiltrate the all-boys' private school dance in search of a Mr. Darcy. It's a quick, lightly romantic, clean teen read.

Once was Lost by Sara Zarr
People have had nothing but good things to say about this book, and it made it on YALSA's 2010 Best Books for Young Adults list, but I didn't really love it. I liked it. And I can see how the main character could be relatable to teens, especially those going through similar struggles - issues with God and faith, a mom in rehab and a potentially adulterous father, friends who keep secrets and act differently towards the "pastor's kid." And this all comes about because a girl goes missing, and that's all anyone can think or talk about. Small town. I don't really understand small towns. And the tragedy never really sinks in or seems to be all that important even though it's written into so many of the pages. I just wasn't feeling it.

High Five by Janet Evanovich
What's not to love about a Stephanie Plum novel? Fast-paced, hilarious, with several mysteries all in one. I'm slowly going through the series because they're not really the kind of books you read one right after the other. In this one, Uncle Fred goes missing, and it takes Stephanie two weeks to figure out what in the world happened. Morelli is still an irresistible love interest, but Stephanie chooses chocolate instead. And Ranger is turning on his charm - but he's a bit more man than she can handle at the moment. Though she will work for his morally sound, legally ambiguous company in order to make the rent. It was a refreshing read.

Myriad of mysteries

I did take last week's challenge to myself seriously (read out of my comfort zone), but I might have chickened out a bit. Instead of faeries and princesses, I gravitated toward mysteries during yesterday's library trip and came back with a nice selection. Had I not been forced to read in multiple genres in an LIS course I took last spring, I don't know that I would have ever stumbled upon mysteries again in my adult life. Sure, I read Nancy Drew and the Boxcar Children as a kid, but I don't think that I realized that they were "mysteries." I associated them with series like Sweet Valley High and the Baby-Sitter's Club. After a little bit of genre study, I found that all kinds of books I was reading were in fact mysteries. Here are the ones I picked up yesterday:

The Case of the Left-Handed Lady (An Enola Holmes Mystery #2) by Nancy Springer
published January 2007 by Penguin
192 pages (hardcover), middle grade

I am so happy that I gave Enola Holmes another chance. I gobbled this book up last night and want to read the rest of the series RIGHT NOW. For some reason, I thought that she was younger than 14 in the first book, which is partly why I didn't fancy it so much. I thought that she was acting much older than her age, but I stand corrected. She is her mother's daughter, an independent gal who can take care of herself just fine. Her relationship with Sherlock develops some in this book, and I grew to enjoy the multiple plot lines - it's not just about the mystery of the left-handed lady, but also about Enola's adventures in London, her efforts not to get caught by her brothers, and her desperate need to communicate with her runaway mother. Oh, I just loved it.

Murder at Midnight by Avi
published September 2009 by Scholastic
272 pages (hardcover), middle grade

Confession: I've never read a book authored by Avi. There are plenty of them, so I see on my library shelves, but I've never had the impulse to pick one up. So, I asked my boy, who was on this library trip with me, to choose a "boy book" from the children's new books section, and this was his selection. It's set in Renaissance times, which just might kill me, but I will give it a shot because the story does sound compelling (murder! magicians! midnight!) and well, it's Avi.

The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd
published February 2008 by Random House
336 pages (hardcover), middle grade

It's been on my to-read list for too long.

When Ted and Kat watched their cousin Salim get on board the London Eye, he turned and waved before getting on. But after half an hour it landed and everyone trooped off - but no Salim. Where could he have gone? Haws he spontaneously combusted? (Ted's theory.) Has he been kidnapped? (Aunt Gloria's theory.) Is he even still alive? (The family's unspoken fear.) Even the police are baffled. Ted and Kat follow a trail of clues across London in a desperate bid to find their cousin, while time ticks dangerously by ...

Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief by Wendelin Van Draanen
published August 1998 by Random House
176 pages (paperback), middle grade 

This may prove to be another addicting series. Samantha Keyes is a seventh-grade sleuth, who happens to be at the right place at the right time - that is, snooping out her window with a pair of binoculars, spotting a hotel theft. I imagine it will be a quick read.

The Calder Game by Blue Balliett
published May 2008 by Scholastic
379 pages, middle grade

Well, I loved Chasing Vermeer and The Wright 3, so it's about time that I followed Calder and Petra in a new adventure. Unfortunately, this one doesn't take place in my beloved Chicago but instead in a small English village. I can only hope for the same sort of puzzles as the first two books, the main draw to the mysteries for me. But oh boy, it is a hefty volume.


Cover-Up: Mystery at the Super Bowl by John Feinstein
published August 2007 by Random House
304 pages (hardcover), YA

I read Feinstein's other sports mystery novels The Last Shot and Vanishing Act at a time when I had absolutely no interest in sports - and I enjoyed each one of them quite a bit. Therefore, I'm rather excited about this one because it's about football - a sport I've grown to love recently. Woohoo! My boy also informs me that John Feinstein is a sports writer that he follows regularly, so I suppose the author has a bit of credibility to his name. Honestly, I had no idea.

The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
published February 2003 by Penguin
384 pages (paperback), adult (YA appeal)

I can't begin to count how many times I've checked this book out of the library - never to even glance at the first page. The trouble is - my expectations for this book have reached so high that if I don't love love love it, I'll be rather disappointed. And I'm afraid that I won't recognize all of the literary allusions. Does it come with a Cliff's Notes guide?


High Five (A Stephanie Plum Novel) by Janet Evanovich
published June 2000 by St. Martin's
340 pages (mass market pb), adult

I used to be a literary snob, and then I got over myself. I started reading the Stephanie Plum series last spring, and oh, what fun! When I need a break from serious reading or I'm in a reading rut, these books pull me out and let me laugh hysterically. I won't turn my nose up at bestsellers anymore. You know, they're bestsellers for a reason. Like most people, I read for a variety of purposes, and I'm no longer ashamed to read fluff or formulaic fiction, both terms that serve to devalue some books. That's the shame.

The Case of the Missing Marquess by Nancy Springer

The Case of the Missing Marquess (An Enola Holmes Mystery) by Nancy Springer
published November 2007 by Penguin Group
224 pages (paperback reprint), Middle Grade

The very much younger sister of Sherlock Holmes, Enola lives in an estate outside of London with her disgraced mother and a small staff. On Enola's 14th birthday, Mrs. Holmes fails to return home to her daughter. When Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes show up to investigate their mother's disappearance, they conclude that Mrs. Holmes has been hoarding money intended for the upkeep of the house and has obviously run away. Now what to do with Enola?

This was one of those books that I wanted to like, but instead, I found myself arguing with the author in my mind. As you can see, the title of this book is The Case of the Missing Marquess - missing Marquess, not missing mother. We don't learn who the missing Marquess is until halfway through the book, and even then, I'm not so sure that I really cared about him. I wanted to know more about Enola's mother. And Enola! She is quite the character, but with all the problems I had with the plot, I couldn't enjoy getting to know her. There was also an especially lengthy discussion of women's clothing of the 19th century - which was mildly amusing but perhaps a little too foreign to have any meaning for today's readers. Some illustrations might have been nice.

In short, I didn't love it. But I'm a sucker for middle grade mysteries AND 19th century anything AND series. I might read the next book in the series just for the fun of it. Because I do like the idea of the series, and I think Enola might prove to be a sassy gal worth following.

Others liked it!
bookshelves of doom - "Highly recommended to young readers of historical fiction and to grown-up fans of the Holmes brothers [...]" 
Ms. Bookish -  "I finished reading this with a smile, eager to jump into the next book in the series."
Welcome to my Tweendom - "Chock full of feminist thought, class issues, as well as adventure [...]"

Libraries in books!

Perhaps I have a natural sensitivity to the portrayal of libraries in books, but it seems like lately much of what I've been reading mentions (or focuses on) a library of some sorts. So, I decided that every once in awhile, I'll highlight some scenes in books that mention a library because hey, it's interesting to me.

The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan
published September 2008 by Scholastic
224 pages (hardcover), Middle Grade

First, some quotes:

Mr. McIntyre stood. He closed his leather folder. "I must get back to my office. But, my dear, perhaps your way of finding out is not the same as the other teams'. What do you normally do when you need answers?"
"I read a book." Amy gasped. "The library! Grace's library!" (41)

I may have squealed a little after reading this passage. Oh, it makes my little heart flutter when someone thinks of the library first for an information need. And I'm not alone...

Fortunately, the librarians were having a slow day, and Amy wasn't shy around them at all. She loved librarians. When she told them she was doing a summer research project on Benjamin Franklin and needed to use historical documents, they fell all over themselves to help her. (89)

(We love you too, Amy!) What can I say, really? Riordan was very kind to bring out the best of the library and librarians, where other authors are still stuck in the past, in outdated stereotypes that frustrate us just a tad. And I appreciate the bit of humor at the end, as we can be overly eager to help out, but only because that's the best part of our jobs (in my opinion), and we just love to do it. So, yay for libraries in this book!

Any librarians out there have a favorite library passage or scene to share? I know you think about it too!