Review: Caravan, by Dorothy Gilman

 

Title: Caravan
Author: Dorothy Gilman
Publisher: Fawcett Crest, 1993 (original by Doubleday, 1992). 248 pages
Source: I think I found this at the library book sale. Or else on Mom's bookshelves.

Publisher's Summary:

A lushly romantic adventure story set in the North African desert in 1914, told by the impeccable Lady Teal as she reminisces in her London town house about her decidedly peccable past…

With her anthropologist husband murdered and their caravan stolen by fierce Tuareg tribesmen, Caressa’s choices are death or a life of slavery. Concealing her dangerous beauty beneath the faded robes of an Arab boy, she embarks on the adventure of her life, harassed by vicious nomads, slave traders, and the envious witch doctor, Isa. Only a handful of carnival magic tricks stand between her and oblivion. Then she discovers an inner magic so mysteriously compelling that the desert people call her a sorceress. With it she will secure her freedom and discover the love of her life…  


My Review:  I thought I had long since read all of Dorothy Gilman's books, but if I read this one, I don't remember it. So it was kind of fun to find it on my shelf and dive in. 

The blurb calls the story "lushly romantic," but frankly I put it more in the category of adventure. Caressa is a naive schoolgirl of 16 when she marries the anthropologist (more because he says to than because she has any idea what that means). They don't have much of a marriage, and soon enough he is dead in the desert--but not before she begins to see him in a more accurate light. The beauty of this story is not just the adventure, but watching Caressa grow up and seeing her draw on her carnival background for survival (and that background certainly serves her much better than the lessons in being a lady she was taking before her marriage).

I admit it was less fun (but no less a good story) to see her hiding that part of herself and using the lessons in being a lady to fit into a new situation when she comes out of the desert. I suppose in a nutshell it is a story about adapting and survival, with point illustrated in some radically different settings! In any case, an entertaining book if not exactly a work of important literature (and not quite as fun as Mrs. Pollifax, but what is?).

My Recommendation:
A good read for a weekend at the beach or a stormy winter night.

FTC Disclosure: I bought Caravan second-hand, and received nothing from the writer or publisher for my honest review.  The opinions expressed are my own and those of no one else.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."   

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Middle Grade Review: The Twistrose Key, by Tone Almhjell

 

Title: The Twistrose Key

Author: Tone Almhjell

Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2013. 354 pages.

Source: Library

Publisher's Blurb:

When a mysterious parcel arrives at her family’s new home, eleven-year-old Lin Rosenquist has a curious feeling she’s meant to discover what’s inside.

Much to Lin’s surprise, the ornate key contained in the parcel unlocks a spellbinding world called Sylver, hidden behind the cellar door. Sylver is an enchanting land of eternal winter, inhabited by animals that shared a special connection with children in the real world, either as beloved pets or tamed wild animals. In death, they are delivered to Sylver, where they take on a curiously human-like form and still watch over the children they cherish. While Lin is overjoyed to be reunited with her beloved pet, Rufus, she soon learns that the magic of the Petlings and Wilders is failing, and snow trolls want to claim Sylver for themselves. Lin must discover a way to stop them and save this enchanted world. 

My Review:

This was a group read from my Goodreads Great Middle Grade Reads group, which is how I learned of it, since I hadn't seen it before. And I admit that though the general premise sounded good, I wasn't totally grabbed by it, nor was I immediately drawn into the book when I started reading. I think I was trying too hard to understand where we were; the "real world" felt just a bit odd even before we entered the fantasy world (I think because that real world is in Norway?). When the story did move into the fantasy realm of Sylver, I got more into it, but I was halfway through before it grabbed me and made me finish the rest in pretty much one sitting (staying up much later than I should have in the process). 

Sylver is well-realized, but I had a little trouble believing in it until the action got well under way. The land of the the Petlings is a little odd to me--frozen in an eternal winter, which unlike the winter in Narnia seems to be a happy thing for the animals. And there seemed to be some things that passed without much explanation, though I'm not sure if that was a flaw or helps the reader to feel with Lin, who has to figure much of it out on the fly. 

It might have been nice to be able to get a little acquainted with Sylver before Lin has to start racing about to avert disaster. It feels like a world that would be nice to see without threats around every corner, as well as making it a bit more plausible. Because Lin's mission is so urgent--it must be completed before that very midnight--and because time in Sylver is a bit elastic, the pace is both (for my taste) a bit too fast and a bit too unbelievable. I kept waiting for the poor girl to get a nap, as the roughly nine hours from her arrival to the moment the task must be completed seem to stretch to something more like a couple of days. I think that time frame weakened a generally solid story.

My Recommendation:

Despite my reservations, this was an enjoyable read, and I think that children 9 and up will enjoy it. Most of them probably won't be worrying about how long Lin can keep going without rest, and will just enjoy her courage, stamina, and ingenuity. And the wintry setting makes it feel like a good holiday book!

FTC Disclosure: I checked The Twistrose Key out of my library, and received nothing from the writer or publisher for my honest review.  The opinions expressed are my own and those of no one else.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."   

Didn't get any good books for Christmas? Have some gift cards to use up? Consider picking up a copy of one of my books as a New Year's Treat!  

Middle Grade Review: The Book of Kings (Mister Max #3)

 

Title: The Book of Kings (Mister Max #3)

Author: Cynthia Voigt; illustrated by Iacopo Bruno

Publisher:  Knopf Books for Young Readers; 2015. 352 pages.
Source: Library

Publisher's Blurb: 
Ever since Max’s parents were spirited away on a mysterious ship, he has longed to find them.

He’s solved case after case for other people in his business as “solutioneer.” And he’s puzzled out the coded messages sent by his father. He doesn’t know exactly what’s happened, but he knows his parents are in danger—and it’s up to Max to save them.

Max and his friends (and a few old foes) don disguises and set sail on a rescue mission. It will take all of Max’s cleverness and daring to outmaneuver the villains that lie in wait: power-hungry aristocrats, snake-handling assassins, and bombardier pastry chefs.

And behind the scenes, a master solutioneer is pulling all the strings.... Has Max finally met his match?

My Review:
As you can see, I kept to my word and not only read Book 3 on paper, but got there quickly. I've now read books from this series as audio, ebook, and hardback...and I have to say that the paper was the most satisfying. That's in large part because of the illustrations, which you miss entirely in an audio book, and which don't show as well on my Nook as on paper (audio has some other limitations, having to do with my need to see names written in order to keep them sorted out well; I like audio books but sometimes they work better than others for me). 

This book was a tricky one for the author, as Max has to step back a bit and let some of the adults in his life take leading roles. He's over his head and he knows it, and is just finding out how much goes on that he doesn't know about. I think the shift is handled well. 

Max is often frustrated by the restrictions his assumed role--secretary to the ambassador--puts on him, and it's carried out just enough for the reader to feel the frustration without getting bored. Then when things start to happen, Max has new issues to face, including his youth--and finally, the conflict between a boy who's been made independent and his father, who pushed him to do so but still wants to be in charge. There are some interesting parental dynamics there.

Overall, I thought the author did a great job of tying up the story, even giving us a sense of how things will work for Max beyond the end of the immediate crisis. The illustrations are intricate line-drawings, and are the icing on the cake. Get the paper book and immerse yourself.

Recommendation:
I highly recommend this series for anyone over about age 10 who likes adventure, problem-solving, and a bit of theatricality. Not surprisingly (she is, after all, a Newbery medalist), Voigt is an accomplished writer who weaves a compelling story with few stumbles. I'm very glad I did my own stumbling--into the series while browsing for something to listen to.

Full Disclosure: I checked The Book of Kings out of my library, and received nothing from the writer or publisher in exchange for my honest review.  The opinions expressed are my own and those of no one else.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising." 

 

Middle Grade Review: The Turn of the Tide

Title: The Turn of the Tide
Author: Roseanne Parry
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers, 304 pages.
Source: Library

Summary: 
(I really didn't like the publisher's summary, which I found misleading), so I'm writing my own this time).

Kai has lost nearly everything he cares about in a tsunami. To make it worse, his parents send him from their devastated home in Japan to stay with and aunt and uncle he scarcely knows in Astoria, Oregon, instead of letting him stay to do the honorable thing and help clean up. His cousin Jet isn't too sure she wants him, either, despite her sympathy for him. She has her own problems. Together, the two find their connection through the thing they both love most: sailing. A summer's adventures in their small boat brings them healing and maybe the way to fulfill their dreams.

Review:
This wasn't a terribly deep or significant book in some ways, but it did offer an interesting take on a number of things (actually, that is my main criticism: I think it took in too many things). Jet and Kai have to learn together to help him find the healing he needs when his long-standing love of the sea collides with his new-found (and not unreasonable) fear of the ocean that brought such devastation to his life and his town. At the same time, Jet has to deal with changes in her friends after a year of Junior High, and she never lets go of her ambition: to be a bar pilot, guiding ships into the mouth of the Columbia--just like her father, and just like exactly one other woman in all the history of shipping in the river. Quite a few things are sorted out in a rather exciting finish to the story (which I really liked), as each of the cousins has to overcome fears to do what needs doing.

Even though I thought the author tried to take in too many things--I'd probably have dropped the whole changes-to-her-friends thread--the book was a fast, engaging read, and I had trouble putting it down once I passed the midpoint. Roseanne Parry has created very real and likable characters, with both good and bad traits, and deals well with the ways their different cultures shaped the two cousins (differences that made it realistically hard for them to relate at first).

I loved the historical note at the end that told about the history of the bar pilots on the Columbia--apparently one of the trickier river mouths around (and there really is, or was, only one female pilot). Part of the interest in this for me is that my mom rather wanted to be a (ship's) pilot when she was growing up, and I always wondered about how true it was that the profession was pretty much not open to women. Seeing how few and far between women are in the 21st Century, I have to concede that it would have been an uphill battle indeed to break into the profession in the 1950s.

Recommendation:
A good read for boys and girls, maybe 9-12, who like adventure and boats, or even just like thinking about boats.

Full Disclosure: I checked The Turn of the Tide out of my library, and received nothing from the writer or publisher in exchange for my honest review.  The opinions expressed are my own and those of no one else.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising." 

YA/Middle Grade Audio Review: Chomp, by Carl Hiaasen

 

Title: Chomp

Author: Carl Hiaasen. Read by James Van Der Berk

Publisher: Listening Library, 2012. Originally by Knopf, 2012, 290 pages

Source: Library (on-line resources)

Publisher's Summary:

Wahoo Cray lives in a zoo. His father is an animal wrangler, so he's grown up with all manner of gators, snakes, parrots, rats, monkeys, snappers, and more in his backyard. The critters he can handle.  His father is the unpredictable one.

When his dad takes a job with a reality TV show called "Expedition Survival!", Wahoo figures he'll have to do a bit of wrangling himself—to keep his dad from killing Derek Badger, the show's boneheaded star, before the shoot is over. But the job keeps getting more complicated. Derek Badger seems to actually believe his PR and insists on using wild animals for his stunts. And Wahoo's acquired a shadow named Tuna—a girl who's sporting a shiner courtesy of her old man and needs a place to hide out.

They've only been on location in the Everglades for a day before Derek gets bitten by a bat and goes missing in a storm. Search parties head out and promptly get lost themselves. And then Tuna's dad shows up with a gun . . .

It's anyone's guess who will actually survive "Expedition Survival". . . .  

My Review:

I like Carl Hiassen's juvvy/YA novels. I've even gotten used to Florida, where they are all set (an alien space to this Westerner, for sure).  Each one of his books I've read has been the best, which either indicates that he keeps getting better or that I have a poor memory. In any case, this one had a number of elements that appealed. There was, of course, Hiaasen's usual dry humor and use of slightly absurd, over-the-top (I think. On the other hand, Florida may be a bit...different) situations. In this case, he also had a great time doing a marvelous send-up of a certain star of a "reality" survival show (show and star shall remain nameless), especially with the bit about having to eat something disgusting every show. Since the backpacking forum where I'm an active member periodically has fun eviscerating the alleged survivalist for stupid moves and bad advice, I had extra appreciation for what Hiaasen does to poor Derek Badger.

But even aside from snarking at reality TV, it's a great read, with a plot that keeps ramping up to a hold-your-breath finale. 

The audio was beautifully done, with characters well distinguished and fully realized.

Recommendation:

I would put this at older middle grade to young adult level--maybe 12 and up. There's no sex, but there is some pretty serious violence, including life-threatening situations and that dad with a fist and a gun. Also perfect for any adult who has ever thought That Show was stupid. Mr. Hiaasen is a powerful advocate for preservation, and his dedication to protecting the Everglades is clear.

Full Disclosure: I checked Chomp out of my library, and received nothing from the writer or publisher in exchange for my honest review.  The opinions expressed are my own and those of no one else.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

 

Middle Grade Monday! The Headmaster's Cave

 

Title: The Headmaster's Cave
Author: D. S. Allen
Published: 2014; 170 pages
Source:  I am participating in a book-review blast and was given a free review copy in exchange for my honest review.

Publisher's Summary: 
No one goes into The Headmaster’s Cave.
The 120th anniversary of the disappearance of seven children and their Headmaster in a local cave known as The Headmaster’s Cave is approaching. When George and Dougie receive an unexpected email stating that the mystery has finally been solved, not even Dougie and Katie can persuade George to journey with them to the dangerous and ‘haunted’ cave. Only when Dougie goes missing, will George and Katie, accompanied with his dog, Flanagan, journey to rescue their friend. On their way, they must not only battle their fears, but must also overcome nature’s obstacles, Old Maggie and her dog pack, and the local bullies. But that’s nothing compared to the terror that awaits them in The Headmaster’s Cave, when the mystery is finally revealed.

My Review:
This is a fast-paced adventure for middle-grade readers, with enough peril and tension to keep the kids on the older end of that age range engrossed. It is also a mystery, of a sort, and though I could see through the wild and mystical ideas that the children have about the titular cave, most children will probably go along with the characters' ideas.

I do have a few quibbles with this book. I was bothered by some editing issues--in particular, a number of misplaced apostrophes (a particular pet peeve). But more to the point I found myself having trouble being fully engaged with the main character. He's a bit of a sad-sack, and while the effects of the bullying he endures are probably realistic, they made me not like him all that much. That bullying brings me to another issue: the 120-year-old mystery of the cave and the 7 children who disappeared seems to have too much importance in the village for me to believe it. Really? Other kids bully Dougie and George because they have ancestors who were part of that group? (there may be some more reason for George to be a victim, though he doesn't know it--which to me argues that no one else does, either because those bullies would never keep quiet about it).

So I did have some problems with the story and the way it was developed, though as it went on, I think it got stronger. Once the "quest" is set in motion, the motivations no longer really matter. The kids will go one because they are going on. And the adventure they have is  definitely exciting.

Recommendation:
For kids maybe 10-13 (because there are some kind of grim bits) who like adventure, mystery, and don't mind a bit of maybe mystical stuff too. Oh, and the story is written in British English, just enough to be noticeable, eg. they use a torch, and for that matter have a headmaster, not a principal.

Full Disclosure: I was given an electronic copy of The Headmaster's Cave by the publisher in exchange for my honest review and received nothing further from the writer or publisher.  The opinions expressed are my own and those of no one else.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Middle Grade Review: Zoe and Zak: The Ghost Leopard

Title: Zoe & Zak and the Ghost Leopard
Author: Lars Guignard, narrated by Bailey Carlson
Publisher: Fantastic Press, 2012, 328 pages (orig.). Audio book 2013 by Fantastic Press
Source: I was given a free review copy of the audio book in exchange for my honest review.

Summary:
Zoe thinks she's just going to spend a few days in a fancy hotel in India. But that was before she met Zak, and they got a bit sidetracked into adventure. Before long the children find themselves in the Himalayan mountains, and the adventure is getting scary--and weird. The book falls somewhere between fantasy and magical realism as the children race to figure out the strange world they are now in and save the mysterious ghost leopard.

Review:
The Audio: Still working on my format for audio reviews, but I thought that this one particularly needed some comments on the audio. First, I think that Ms. Carlson did a great job voicing the characters and making the story come to life. I was, however, aware of and occasionally irritated by some small glitches in the production values--what sounded to me like points where the track was edited and the edits were not seamless. It is just tiny little hitches, but they often made my listening stumble, as it were. It would be just a quick sense that I'd missed something, or that the transition from one sentence to the next was too fast--really a trivial thing, but it did begin to bother me a bit.

The Story:
Wow, what an adventure! It is well-paced, exciting, and kept me listening. I think that the author developed the characters (at least the main characters) very well. Zoe and Zak have easily distinguished voices and characters. Zoe seems much older than Zak, but that's probably right--they are both 12, but he is a boy and decidedly ADHD.

As stated above, the story might best be classified as magical realism--it is set in a real-world setting, and then things get, well, magical. Nobody is transported to a new land, they just find that India is a place where the impossible might be happening. I don't know enough about Indian mythology to know how much of what the author presents is accurate, but it feels right.

I was a  little put off by the way the children's parents left them in the big hotel with just a rent-a-nanny they had just met. I'm not at all a protective parent, but I would not do that with a pair of 12-year-olds. I didn't think it was necessary, either--they could have gotten into the same situation even if their parents were at the hotel, though it would have forced the kids to tell the adults about their adventure. Once that dubious plot device was accepted, however, the story worked very well, and by the end I'd nearly forgotten about it.

Recommendation:
This seems suitable for readers from maybe 8 or 9 up. There is nothing too frightening in it, and not a whisper of sex.  The violence is not graphic. I enjoyed the story a great deal, and I think that readers of most ages would do so.

About The Author: Lars Guignard

Lars Guignard

Prior to writing novels, Lars Guignard wrote for film and television. As a teenager he attended boarding school in the Indian Himalayas and his experiences there provided the inspiration for the Zoe and Zak series which now include: Zoe & Zak and the Ghost Leopard, Zoe & Zak and the Yogi’s Curse, and Zoe & Zak and the Tiger Temple. He lives in the Pacific Northwest where he dodges bears and cougars while hiking & skiing the magnificent Coast Mountain Range.
For news about new releases, please join his email list here: http://www.larsguignard.com/contact/


Full Disclosure: I received an audio copy of Zoe & Zak and the Snow Leopard as part of a motherdaughterbookreviews.com review blitz, in exchange for my honest, not favorable, review.  The opinions expressed are my own and those of no one else.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising." 

Middle Grade Review: The Secret of the Sacred Scarab

 

Title: The Secret of the Sacred Scarab
Author: Fiona Ingram
Publisher: iUniverse 2008, 272 pages
Source: I'm actually not sure; it's been on my ereader for quite a while. I either won it in a give-away or picked it up on a free day, I think.

This fast-paced adventure is by one of my fellow BookElves.
Publisher's Summary:
A thrilling adventure for two young boys, whose fun trip to Egypt turns into a dangerously exciting quest to uncover an ancient and mysterious secret. A 5000-year-old mystery comes to life when a scruffy peddler gives Adam and Justin Sinclair an old Egyptian scarab on their very first day in Egypt. Justin and Adam embark upon the adventure of a lifetime, taking them down the Nile and across the harsh desert in their search for the legendary tomb of the Scarab King, an ancient Egyptian ruler. With just their wits, courage, and each other, the boys manage to survive … only to find that the end of one journey is the beginning of another!

Review:
This was a great adventure, with a lot of history and archeology thrown in along the way. For the most part, the story moves along well, and the two boys are depicted clearly and engagingly. I might have liked for Gran to have a bigger role--she was pretty one-dimensional until near the end, when she proved delightful, but I can see why I might be more interested in her than a kid would.

A few times, especially near the beginning of the book, I thought the story got bogged down in the history/geography lessons, but for the most part they were well-integrated into the story, as the boys tried to find out what they needed to know in order to solve the mystery. The book also had to deal with the usual problem for kids' adventures: keeping the adults from taking over. I thought it was well-handled; they see it all as a great adventure and want to solve it themselves. When things get a little scary, they kind of want an adult to help, but worry their aunt won't take them seriously. The adults eventually get involved, but by then the boys have to cope with some things on their own regardless.

The exciting conclusion is gripping--I definitely stayed up to finish! Then there is the set-up for the next book in the series. I'm not a big fan of making a too-obvious "to be continued" sign at the end of a book, but I have to admit it has me wanting to read the next in the series!

Recommendation:
For lovers of adventure and mystery and exotic settings.

Full Disclosure: I bought, won, or was given a copy of The Secret of the Sacred Scarab at some unknown time, and received nothing from the writer or publisher in exchange for my honest review.  The opinions expressed are my own and those of no one else.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."  

Enter to win an advance copy of Halitor the Hero!

A Fair Maiden who breaks all the rules.  A would-be Hero who fails everything by the book.  It’ll be the adventure of a lifetime…if they survive past breakfast.

Halitor wants to be a Hero and ride through the world rescuing Princesses and Fair Maidens in distress, but he’s hindered by his tendency to trip over his own feet and drop his sword when he gets excited. So when his Hero apprentice-master abandons him at an inn in Loria, he resigns himself to life as a kitchen boy. But he’s reckoned without Melly, the young kitchen wench. She wants his help finding her father, and she won’t quit until she has it. Soon Halitor is tramping through the mountains fighting ogres and dragons and just trying to stay alive. Along the way he learns a lot more than just how to be a Hero. This fun fantasy adventure has a good dose of humor and plenty of excitement to keep kids turning pages.

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Not a US resident? Don't despair--I'll give away some electronic copies after my November 30 release date, so watch this space!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Halitor the Hero

 

by Rebecca Douglass

Giveaway ends November 17, 2014.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

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