The Rithmatist

The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The book The Rithmatist has received such good reviews, that I felt it might be worth my time, but I have to admit, the subject did not really appeal to me.  It is about a boy named Joel whose greatest desire is to be a Rithmatist.  Rithmatists are defenders of the American Isles, and they defend the Isles by creating strategic chalk drawings that will ultimately defend them from the wild chalklings of Nebrask. Joel has a scholarship to the Armedius Academy, where they train Rithmatists.  He has missed his opportunity to become a Rithmatist, or at least he thinks he has.  When Rithmatist students start disappearing from the academy, Joel is recruited by his professor, Dr. Fitch, to help solve the mystery.   It is the mystery combined with the intriguing detail of the chalk defenses, and the light romance with Melody, a Rithmatist, that makes this story a fun read.   Definitely worth my time. 



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The Mark of the Dragonfly

The Mark of the Dragonfly by Jaleigh Johnson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This book should become a favorite in the middle school crowd.  It is about a resourceful girl named Piper, who lives in Scrap Town # 16. The residents of Scrap Towns barely make a living from gathering objects that have fallen from the sky during meteor showers.  Piper's father died not too long ago, and she is left on her own trying to survive in the Scrap Town.  During one meteor shower, she finds an injured girl, Anna. with the "mark of the dragonfly" on her arm.  She rescues her and restores her to health.  Then a frightening man comes looking for Anna.  When Piper sees how afraid Anna is of the man, even though Anna seems to have no memory, she and Anna escape and board the 401 train out of town. They are headed to Dragonfly territory, which is the likely home of Anna.  The author does an interesting job of world building as the girls discover magical talents,in a world combining steampunk with mythical creatures. There is action, adventure, and even a little romance, as the girls make their way on the 401.  Who could ask for more?



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The Chosen One

The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I missed reading this when it was on the Beehive Award list in 2012, but I'm glad I didn't miss this altogether.  It is the story of Kyra, who is part of a polygamist community.  Her father has 3 wives and she is one of twenty children.  Life is routine until she discovers the bookmobile, which parks at the edge of the community.  Reading opens a new world.  She also discovers Joshua, one of the teenage boys living in the community.  Both discoveries leave her very conflicted because they are against the rules of the compound.  When the prophet of the community announces that she is to marry her sixty-year-old uncle, Kyra feels she must leave.  It is hard not to be impressed with the natural voice of Kyra as she confronts her fears of destroying everything for her family if she leaves, and the marriage to her cruel uncle if she stays.  Emotionally moving.



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Cress

Cress by Marissa Meyer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many times I skip reading all of the books in a series because there are so many books that I should read, but I am glad I did not do that this time.  I have enjoyed the Lunar Chronicles series, but I think I enjoyed Cress even more than the other two.  Perhaps because I was so thoroughly invested in the characters by this time.  Cress, like the other books in the series is a takeoff on a fairy tale. In this case, it is Rapunzel, only the tower is an orbiting satellite. She is finally rescued by Cinder and friends, but ends up with Carswell Thorne, the prisoner who escaped with Cinder as she plummets to earth in the satellite.  All of the characters: Cinder, Wolf, Cress, and Thorne join together to stop queen Lavana's marriage to emperor Kai.  Scarlet has been taken to Luna, so she has problems of her own. The book is a real page-turner from beginning to end.  For some reason, I thought this was the last in the series, but I am delighted to find out Meyer has two more scheduled to appear in 2015.


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Dragonfly Pool

The Dragonfly Pool by Eva Ibbotson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is the first Ibbotson book that I have read and I truly enjoyed it.  The story has the feel of a well-written classic such as The Secret Garden.  Ibbotson was born in 1925, and many of her books are based on her own life as a non-practicing Jewish girl during WWII, so perhaps that is why.   This book, in particular, was based on her time at the boarding school Dartington, which is named Delderton Hall in the book.  The heroine, Tally, is a kind-hearted girl, who seems totally unaware of how special she is.  After arriving, unwillingly at Delderton, she helps the school go to a dance festival in Bergania, where she meets Prince Karil.  Karil’s father, the king is assassinated, and Karil is forced to flee with the visiting Delderton group, teaching him about a life he has never known as a lonely prince.  Exciting, and heart-warming, this is a perfect middle school favorite. 



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Friday Society

The Friday Society by Adrienne Kress
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

In Friday Society we see a new side to the steampunk novel with three feisty heroines, whose lives become intertwined as they end up working together on what begins as a murder mystery. but becomes something much larger.  The girls, Cora, Michiko, and Nellie are all apprenticed to different men: Cora, as an intelligent lab assistant to Lord White, an inventor, Michiko a would-be Samurai to the swindler Sir Callum Fielding-Shaw, and Nellie to the magician, the Great Raheem.  All are talented in their own way, which comes in handy as they try to solve the terrible crimes that are happening in London beginning with their mutual discovery of the murder of a scientist.  The story provides plenty of fun, intrigue, and romance as the girls learn to use their talents working together.   There are a lot of anachronistic elements in dialogue and mannerisms for the Edwardian setting, but I doubt the audience of middle school girls and higher will notice them.  In fact, middle school girls should really enjoy this fun adventure.


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One and Only Ivan

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate is briefly about a silverback gorilla who is stuck in a cage in the Big Top Mall and Video arcade.  He has been there so long he has forgotten about his life in the wild and is somewhat content to watch television and talk with his friends in the Big Top Mall, Stella the elephant, and Bob, the stray dog.  When a new baby elephant, Ruby, joins the group, Ivan discovers his natural role as a protective silverback as he tries to keep his promise to the dying Stella, to save Ruby from being doomed to the fate he and Stella have endured.   He launches a plan using his skills as a gorilla artist to save Ruby.  Although this book was on display for several months last year, it didn’t receive many checkouts.  But, it is an excellent story.  Like many Newberry winners, it is not one that students clamor to checkout, but they usually are pleasantly surprised when they do.  They will enjoy it is a compelling story that is easy to read. Teachers should consider using it for a read aloud in the classroom because chapters are short, and there are many discussion points along the way.



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