On the Day I Died: Stories from the Grave by Candace Fleming

A young man takes a strange journey one dark evening. After giving a ride to a young woman, he discovers that the woman has been dead for many years. He finds himself in the cemetery where she's buried - a special cemetery for young people. As the ghosts of the dead souls gather around him, it becomes clear that they want to share their stories. These are the stories of how they went from people to ghosts; these are the stories of the day that they died.

I'm just blown away by Candace Fleming's versatility as a writer. She's written so many wonderful books for children, both younger readers and older readers. On the Day I Died is a great pick for readers who like a spooky atmosphere and mystery without it being too scary or full of gore. The stories of how each of these people died are inventive and creative. I preferred the ones that were more plausible in a real-life context (if a book about ghosts hanging out in a graveyard telling their stories can ever really be in a real-life context) than the ones that veered more into the supernatural, but there's a good balance for many different readers. Fleming's ability to write for different characters is on full display here, as different ghosts take on the language of their times (spanning well over a century). There are new interpretations of spooky standards (the person who gives a ride to someone who turns out to be a ghost, the Monkey's paw) along with lots of new twists and turns.  I've been hearing this book in some of the early Newbery discussions, so pick it up and check it out for yourself - if you dare.

Check out Candace Fleming's website.

I received an advance review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Random House Children's Books/Schwartz and Wade.

Find it at IndieBound. 

Read it with:
Amelia Lost by Candace Fleming
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
All the Lovely Bad Ones by Mary Downing Hahn

Margaret and the Moth Tree by Brit Trogen and Kari Trogen

Once upon a time, Margaret had two parents. They were wonderful parents who loved her and took great care of her. Then they died, and Margaret lived with different relatives until they all died, too, and there was no one else to look after her. Margaret was sent to the Hopeton Orphanage by the women of the Concerned Ladies Club, but what seemed like a cheerful place upon arrival was, as Margaret quickly found out, a terrible place ruled by a terrible woman named Miss Switch. Miss Switch kept all the money and the good things for herself and divided the children into two groups: the Pets and the dregs. The Pets are her favourites while the dregs...well, it's not good to be a dreg. Margaret spends her days being quiet, so quiet that she's able to hear things that other people can't. That's how she discovers the moths and the moth tree, a discovery that will change her life (and the lives of the other children at the orphanage).

I almost feel like I should put up some sort of disclaimer; the authors are friends of a friend of mine, although we've never met (though that is how I first discovered the book). While the moths are included in the title (and on the cover) my favourite parts of the book focused on Margaret in the orphanage; they read like a cross between Annie and Matilda (with, although probably from only my perspective, a touch of The Cider House Rules). Margaret is a great character. She's a smart girl who has had an extraordinarily difficult life. My heart broke for her and all of the children who are treated so poorly.  This is a fantasy book but a mild one; rather than turning to the common supernatural characters it looks toward nature and connecting with the living creatures around you.  Margaret and the Moth Tree could easily do for moths what Charlotte's Web did for spiders - take some ordinary insect commonly thought to be a bit icky and fill it with the possibility of magic and wonder.

Visit Kari Trogen's website for more info about her and Brit Trogen's website for more info about her.

Margaret and the Moth Tree is published by Kids Can Press.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Matilda by Roald Dahl
Everything on a Waffle by Polly Horvath
Charlotte's Web by E.B. White

When I Was Small by Sara O'Leary with illustrations by Julie Morstad

Henry knows all about his own history. He knows all about what he was like when he was (an even younger) boy. But he's curious about his mother. What was she like as a little girl? He wishes that they could have been friends. So his mother tells her what she was like when she was small.

As a fan of Sara O'Leary and Julie Morstad's previous collaboration, When You Were Small, I was quite excited to find this book peering back at me from a library shelf. The text is short and spins readers off into a gentle fantasy world. The illustrations seem both vintage and timeless. They're lovely with a whimsicality that at the same time seems entirely natural. Julie Morstad is one of my favourite illustrators. Children and caregivers can talk about the content of the book (do you think these things really happened? do you think part of it is true?) as well as the idea behind it. It's a great prompter for sharing your own family stories and personal history with kids.

It looks like this book was released in Canada in December of 2011 and seems to have a US publication date of August 2012.

Check out their websites for more about Sara O'Leary and Julie Morstad.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
When You Were Small by Sara O'Leary
Where You Came From by Sara O'Leary
Singing Away the Dark by Caroline Woodward and Julie Morstad
Oddfellow's Orphanage by Emily Winfield Martin

Oddfellow's Orphanage by Emily Winfield Martin

Delia is a very quiet little girl; she never says anything and never talks to others. She's just moved into a very different place: Oddfellow's Orphanage. It's home to a unique group of students, teachers, and animals. Delia isn't sure how she's going to fit in with all of these people (and animals), but slowly she realizes that she's found a new kind of family who accept her just as she is.

Thinking about booktalking this book, it would almost be impossible not to sound like SNL's Stefon. This book has everything: an albino child with braids, a family of dancing bears, a well-dressed hedgehog who likes to eat, courses in cryptozoology, a boy with an onion for a head, bear-drawn carriages, a tattooed girl, Haircut Day (it's that day where twice a year the headmaster announces that everyone is going to get a haircut). There's whimsy and oddity and a sweetness. It also has a streak of sadness running though it (the children are orphans and have faced tragedy and loss), and this grounds the book from being too over-the-top and spinning off into a endless circle of cuteness. Information about the orphanage and its inhabitants is parceled out slowly over the course of the book, often coming between the chapters. The episodic nature of the story is great for readers who are still getting used to longer chapter books, and any fans of Martin's art will find lots to pore over. I'm excited to see more from this author and illustrator, so I hope she has another book coming out soon.

Find out more about Emily Winfield Martin at her website. She also has a shop that features art from and inspired by the book.

I received a review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Random House Children's Books.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
The Black Apple's Paper Doll Primer by Emily Winfield Martin
Wildwood by Colin Meloy
The Girl Who Circumvented Fairlyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente

The Star Shard by Frederic S. Durbin

Cymbril's only duty is to sing. She was purchased by the master of Thunder Rake (a giant wagon city that travels from place to place) so that she would use her lovely voice to captivate the local audiences who come to spend money at the markets. She is a slave and she works very hard, but people take care of her and she wears beautiful clothes. She misses her late parents (and worries about forgetting them), but she doesn't spend too much time thinking about what she's missing in her life. Then her master brings in a new person, a mysterious boy named Loric. Cymbril is drawn to him, and being around him helps her to realize things about herself. The two of them devise a plan to escape from the Rake, but will they be able to survive the dangerous attempt?

Looking back at the book after reading the story, I have a new appreciation of the cover. The trees evoke the idea of prison bars, echoing Cymbril's growing realization that she is a prisoner. It took me awhile to get into the story, I think because I had a difficult time understanding exactly what the Rake was. But once Cymbril ventures into a mysterious place known as the Night Market, the atmospheric details kicked in for me and I was able to settle into the story. The themes of slavery and freedom are referred to quite often, but they allow the reader a chance to reflect on what it means for a person to be free (an important consideration, particularly for young readers). A fantasy story for middle grade readers with hints of violence, lots of suspense but not too much gore, I can definitely see this being a favourite for both male and female readers.

I received a review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Houghton Mifflin Books for Children. 

Check out Frederic S. Durbin's website.

The Star Shard was serialized in Cricket Magazine. 

Find it at IndieBound. 

Read it with:
Dragonfly by Frederic S. Durbin
Breaking Stalin's Nose by Eugene Yelchin
Darkest Light by Hiromi Goto

Darkest Light by Hiromi Goto with illustrations by Jillian Tamaki

Gee's life is filled with silence. He lives alone with his grandmother, and she won't talk about the past. His sister went away to school and barely comes home. He doesn't have many friends and mainly keeps to himself. But when his grandmother ends up in the hospital and a cat starts talking to him, Gee might be on his way to finding some of the answers he's been waiting for. The answers lie in a mysterious place called Half World - and he might not like what he discovers.

Half World was a critical and popular success due to its inventive story and strong writing. I might be going out on a limb here, but I have to admit that I responded to this sequel even more. I love the character of Gee and the journey that he travels. The struggles that he faces have incredible stakes and that tension is maintained throughout the novel. The way he faces himself and fights the concept of destiny is both inspiring and heartbreaking. This is a wonderful follow-up for fans of Half World and I hope that this book brings more fans to the story.

Check out Hiromi Goto's website and Jillian Tamaki's website.

I received an advance review copy from Penguin Canada.

Find it at Amazon.ca.

Read it with:
Half World by Hiromi Goto
The Water of Possibility by Hiromi Goto
Skim by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki

Little Wings #1: Willa Bean's Cloud Dreams by Cecilia Galante illustrated by Kristi Valiant

Willa Bean isn't like the other cupids! She has wild red hair, a lot of freckles, and bright purple wings. She also loves finding treasures, and has a really big collection of all of her great finds. There's only one thing that Willa Bean's nervous about: school is starting soon, and she doesn't know how to fly! Will she be the only one there who can't fly?

Have cupids ever been featured in a children's series before? Maybe it's time for cupids to have a moment. They're kind of like angels (living in clouds, having wings, flying), but you won't have to address any religion questions head on. Like many young heroines in children's books, Willa Bean is plucky and determined and just a little bit feisty. In this first title, she has to deal with something that many kids could relate to: starting school and worrying that everyone else can do things that you can't. The book nicely sets up what could be lots of future adventures for Willa Bean and her friends and family. I can see it working nicely for young readers, particularly girls, who are ready to explore a new series.

Find it at Amazon.

I read an advance review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Random House.

Read it with:
The Patron Saint of Butterflies by Cecilia Galante
Little Wings #2: Be Brave, Willa Bean by Cecilia Galante
Kylie Jean, Blueberry Queen by Marci Peschke

Tales of a Sugar Hero by Michael Dahl, Scott Nickel, and Jeff Crowther

On Halo's 11th birthday, she receives a special gift from her Aunt Pandora. At first, it just looks like delicious candy - but when she tries it, strange things start to happen. Strange and exciting things, like being able to fly, and make fireballs, and shoot streams of water. These new skills will come in handy, because there's bad things happening all over Midnight - and Halo is just the girl to take on these evildoers!

(Slight spoilers follow)

I love how this story puts girls at the forefront. The main character is a girl and the source of her powers (the candy) comes from her Aunt (she also lives with her grandmother). The evil characters are all women, too. There are a few male characters, but they don't overshadow the girls - and even better, they don't magically come to Halo's aid in the end. In fact, in at least one of the stories, Halo is the one who saves her male classmate's life. This story of strong female characters is wrapped up in bright, fun colours and fast-paced action. This special edition combines four Princess Candy stories into one book, which made a tasty treat seem even more satisfying.

I received a review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Capstone.

Read it with:
Power Lunch by J. Torres and Dean Trippe
The Drained Brains Caper by Trina Robbins
Princess Candy: Sugar Hero by Michael Dahl and Jeff Crowther

The Abused Werewolf Rescue Group by Catherine Jinks

Toby's life was pretty ordinary until the one day he turned up in a dingo pen. He had no idea how he got there or what he was doing there. His mom worried that he was on drugs, doctors thought that maybe he had epilepsy, but a mysterious stranger had a different explanation - that Toby was a vampire. At first Toby decides to play along and make a fool out of this stranger, but before long he realizes that it's no joke. Meeting strange new people, kidnapped into the middle of nowhere, and fighting for his life, ... what will Toby have do deal with next?

I really enjoyed The Reformed Vampire Support Group but it had been awhile since I'd read it; I was afraid that I'd forget key details for this second book. But for a long time it didn't really matter. This book is very much Toby's story; while Reuben Schneider and Father Alvarez appear fairly early on, the rest of the characters play only minor parts in this story. I missed Nina in particular, and her sense of humour; I didn't care much for the antics of Toby and his two best friends. But once the story started focusing on the werewolf side of things and it became more of an action story, my attention was definitely piqued. A solid choice for fans of humorous supernatural stories.

Check out Catherine Jinks' website.

I received an advance review copy from NetGalley (but I ended up listening to an audiobook version).

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
The Reformed Vampire Support Group by Catherine Jinks
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
Beat the Band by Don Calame

The Umbrella by Ingrid and Dieter Schubert

Where can an umbrella take you? If you're like this little dog, it can take you on an incredible journey: past giraffes and elephants, over forests and rain forests and oceans, north, south, east and west. Where can The Umbrella take you? On an international picture book experience that doesn't come around very often.

Wordless books are wonderful for a number of reasons, especially because children and families can make up their own narratives. I love how the pictures in The Umbrella tell a story without filling in all the dots. There are perfect opportunities for children to answer 'how did...?' or 'what did...?' This book is perfect for sparking the imagination. The one picture I was uneasy about, showing a hut-living tribe throwing wooden spears at the dog/the umbrella, was thankfully shown at a distance. I don't think that this picture ruins the overall effect, but I wonder if it will make the book seem dated rather than timeless. Overall, though, this is a very strong book that deserves to be discovered by readers of all ages.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Like People by Ingrid and Dieter Schubert
The Thingamabob by Il Sung Na
The Umbrella by Jan Brett
The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney
Wave by Suzy Lee

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

As a child, Jacob loved to listen to his grandfather’s stories about fantastical things. As he grew older, though, he pushed away from his grandfather’s world of make-believe. Then one day his grandfather dies under horrible circumstances, and Jacob realizes that his grandfather might have been telling the truth all along. Jacob and his father travel to Wales to investigate, and Jacob stumbles onto a world that never even dreamed would really exist.

One of the reasons that this book has received so much buzz and attention has to do with how the book as an object has been put together. Mixed in with the story are real-life photos. Some of creepy, some are bizarre, some are…well, peculiar. [There might be spoilers ahead about the story] The first part of the book seems very much like a horror story. Halfway through, though, it takes a bit of a turn and dives much more into fantasy, leaving the genre lines a bit blurred. Personally, while I found the book to be enjoyable, I think I liked the look and idea of the book more than actually reading it. When I talk about the book with people, I've been saying that the best way to tell if this is a book for you is to look at the front cover. Do you see a girl standing behind a dark patch on the ground, or do you see a child levitating? If it’s levitation, then you might really enjoy this book - or at least parts of it.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
The Sherlock Holmes Handbook by Ransom Riggs
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Zita the Spacegirl Book One by Ben Hatke

Zita wasn’t expecting to open a portal to another world, but that’s what happened when she pushed the button that on a device that appeared in the crater of a fallen meteorite. That push set of a series of strange events that led to her best friend, Joseph, being abducted! Zita bravely sets out to find him but runs into a number of obstacles along the way. Everything is so different – and dangerous; how will she ever find Joseph? With the help of some space creatures (some a bit more reluctant than others), she just might have a chance to save her friend…but it could come at a terrible cost.

This was such a fun graphic novel to read. The adventure story kept me wondering what would happen, and the illustrations added a lot of humour and depth. I’ve been describing this book to colleagues as Jellaby meets “Firefly.” I don’t know if that’s the most particularly apt comparison there is, but that’s what it made me think of (and it has piqued some people’s interest). The book has been on a number of ‘Best of’ and ‘Must Read’ lists, and I definitely agree with those lists. I can’t wait to read more.

Find it at IndieBound.

See more at Ben Hatke's website.

Read it with:
Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword by Barry Deutsch
Jellaby by Kean Soo
The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

Witches by Cheryl Christian

Witches are getting their witchy ways ready: brewing up special brews, getting their brooms ready for riding, taking care of their spooky cats. In rhyming text, follow this group of young witches as they prepare for a special night out on the town. There's a fun relationship between the text and the pictures, and I can see kids being eager for a second read (I know I was, to put all the pieces together). There's just one illustration that I wondered about on the second read through, but I think that it would make an excellent discussion point for anyone reading it with a child (an opportunity to say something like "what do you think..."). The illustrations The illustrations also show young 'witches' of many different physical abilities, and that's always welcome in picture books for young children.

Find it at Star Bright Books.

This book will be available on August 15, 2011. I read an advanced reading copy from NetGalley.

Read it with:
Karen's Witch by Ann M. Martin
Only a Witch Can Fly by Alison McGhee
Broom, Zoom! by Caron Lee Cohen

43 Old Cemetery Road: Till Death Do Us Bark

Seymour Hope, illustrator-in-residence at 43 Old Cemetery Road, is happy living with Ignatius B. Grumply and Olive C. Spense, but there's something missing in his life: a dog. When one follows him home one day, he's sure that it's a sign. But Mr. Grumply isn't sure that it's right to keep the dog, and Olive is more a cat person - or a cat ghost - than a dog ghost. The dog used to belong to Noah Breth, a wealthy old man who recently passed away. Mr. Breth's bickering children, Kitty and Kanine, have come back to town in search of his wealth. But Mr. Breth didn't make it easy for them, and to solve the mystery of where his money is, they'll have to figure out a series of limericks. Strange things are happening in Ghastly, Illinois, and Seymour is right in the middle of it.

I loved this book; it was funny and clever and had a good story. It unfolds through a series of letters and newspaper articles (characters even write each other when they live in the same house). I loved the formality of it; it's amazing how letters (not email, texting, or messaging) can make something feel old-fashioned. This was the first 43 Old Cemetery Road book that I've read, and even though it was #3 in the series, there was a great part at the beginning that got me all up to speed. I don't feel like I missed anything (I'm going to be checking out the first two, though). The cover art is striking in person (the colours don't come through as fully on a screen) and there are so many small details to uncover and appreciate. A great choice for fans of mysteries, ghosts, word play, or books written in letters.

I received an advance copy through NetGalley, but it's out in stores now.

See more at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
43 Old Cemetery Road: Dying to Meet You by Kate and M. Sarah Klise
43 Old Cemetery Road: Over My Dead Body by Kate and M. Sarah Klise
Grounded by Kate Klise
The Mummy, The Will, and The Crypt by John Bellairs

The Secret Spiral by Gillian Neimark

It's just an ordinary day for Flor Bernoulli. After spending a boring day at school, she heads to her favourite spot in Brooklyn: the Sky High Pie Shop. She likes the man who runs it, Dr. Pi, but when he starts talking about magic spirals and cosmic fire, she starts to worry that he's a little bit crazy. Then very strange things start happening and Flor might be the only one who can help Dr. Pi.

It's almost embarrassing to admit, but even with characters named Pi and Bernoulli it took me awhile to realize that this novel centred on mathematical principles. There's also a lot of wordplay (puns, rhymes, poems) going on (twin brothers, for example, are named Mr. Bit and Mr. It). I don't think you have to know a lot about the math behind it to follow the plot, which is good, because I'm not sure how much the target audience might know about pi, Bernoulli, and spirals. I liked the idea of having a book that has so math in it; I think I would have enjoyed the premise as a child and I think there are kids that it will appeal to. The book ends with a sharp cliffhanger (and there are also details introduced earlier in the story that aren't visited again in the book), so it's hard to know quite what to make of it on its own. Look for a second book to build on this one.

See more at Simon and Schuster.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
I Want Your Moo by Marcella Bakur Weiner and Jill Neimark
The Unknowns by Benedict Carey
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Vampire School: Casketball Capers by Peter Bently and Chris Harrison

Lee Price really likes going to St. Orlok's Academy, because that's where they teach him all about being a vampire. Recently they've been learning how to turn into bats. It takes a bit of work, but Lee is starting to get the hang of it. There's also a big casketball game coming up against the Chaney Street Werewolves, but once the game starts it looks like not everyone is playing fairly. Can Lee come up with a plan before it's too late?

Vampire School looks like it's going to be a fun series that has appeal for both boys and girls. This first book combines the supernatural with sports, friendship, and (spoiler alert) fair play triumphing over cheaters. I knew I would enjoy it from the opening 'montage' of pictures that show Lee practicing being a vampire: fang flossing, bow tie tying, cloak swishing, and, my favourite, scary staring. I look forward to seeing more books in this series.


I read an advance review copy from NetGalley.

See more at Albert Whitman & Company.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Little Vampire Goes to School by Joann Sfar
Vampire School: Ghoul Trip by Peter Bentley and Chris Harrison
Kylie Jean, Hoop Queen by Marci Peschke
Mermaid Mysteries: Rosa and the Water Pony by Katy Kit
Night School by Svetlana Chmakova

Mermaid Mysteries: Rosa and the Water Pony by Katy Kit and Tom Knight

Rosa and her friends are all excited about the upcoming carnival in Mermaid Bay. Anyone can enter to perform a spectacular display. Rosa, Jasmine, Melody, and Sula want to win the grand prize - a pearl necklace! They've even called themselves the Waterbabes and are planning to ride a Water Pony. Rosa's extra excited because her cousin, Coral, is visiting, and she's super-talented. But Rosa's feeling a bit jealous of Coral, and Myrtle and Muriel, two mermaids from school, are determined to sabotage the Waterbabes. Will Rosa be able to work things out, or will this show be over before things even start?

Mermaids are so hot right now. They're definitely having a pop culture moment, and that's why I picked this book up to read. Rosa and the Water Pony not only has mermaids, but it also has jewels, a horse, cute illustrations, and a nice story about friendship and working together. This definitely has the potential to be a big crowd pleaser. It was a little weak on the mystery side, but it's a short book, so that was okay. The end of the book also has a preview for another book, Jasmine and the Treasure Chest.

I read an advanced copy from NetGalley provided by Albert Whitman & Company.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Karen's Mermaid by Ann M. Martin
Mermaid Mysteries: Jasmine and the Treasure Chest by Katy Kit
Dora Saves Mermaid Kingdom by Michael Teitelbaum

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Things haven't been the same for Sophie ever since she found out that she is a witch. After casting a love spell that goes horribly wrong, Sophie is sent to Hecate Hall (nicknamed Hex Hall by the students) a special boarding school for Prodigium - witches, faeries, and shapeshifters. Sophie, who was raised by her single (human) mother, is frustrated by her lack of supernatural knowledge, and before long she's inadvertently made enemies of cliquey witches, teachers, and the hottest guy at Hex Hall. But all of that pales next to the mysterious attacks on other students. Who is causing these attacks and why? And is Sophie in danger?

The basic plot frames (a mysterious boarding school for supernatural beings, a young witch, etc. coming into their own about their powers, finding out truths about yourself and your ancestors) have been covered in other books, but this book stands apart on the strength of voice of the main character. Sophie has a strong sense of humor and uses a lot of sarcasm; the book has a lot of action, but it's also very funny. I loved the relationship between Sophie and her vampire roommate as well as the way that Sophie and Archer (the hottest guy at Hex Hall) develop their relationship (saying anything more would give away too much). The book has a satisfying conclusion while also setting up the action for the next book, Demonglass.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins

Grampa and Julie: Shark Hunters by Jef Czekaj

Julie has her "What I did on my summer vacation" report all ready to go. It all started when she met up with her Grampa, an internationally - well, actually, a galactically known shark hunter. Through a series of adventures and misadventures they chase the largest shark in the world (also known as Stephen) through the ocean, the desert, the arctic, and even into outer space. Along the way they meet up with some helpful sea monkeys, cat shark hunters, some rapping sea castaways, and Julie's Grandmother, who has some tricks of her own up her sleeve. It's one summer that Julie definitely won't forget!

There's such a nice ridiculousness about this book. It's almost like Jef Czekaj was throwing darts at a wall full of plot points to see what would happen next (and events include a dance-off, a shark hunter convention, walking the plank, and stand-up comedy), but at the same time he clearly has such control over the story. It's often silly but always smart with clever puns and wordplay and visual jokes. This is such a great example of a story that parents and kids can read together, because it will work for both the child and the adult.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Hip & Hop, Don't Stop by Jef Czekaj
The Biggest Bear in the World: As Told By Grandpa Kingsford by Julie Teel
Shark vs. Train by Chris Barton
Meanwhile by Jason Shiga
Meanwhile by Jules Feiffer

Extraordinary by Nancy Werlin

Phoebe Rothschild (yes, of the Rothschild family) has happy when Mallory Tolliver started at her school; at last, she finally had a friend that she could be close to. Over the next few years, Phoebe and Mallory grow as close as sisters. Then Mallory's brother Ryland shows up and changes everything. Phoebe falls hard for Ryland, and the truth can no longer be concealed: they need Phoebe to pay a decades-old debt - a debt that can only be paid with her life.

Just as in Impossible, Nancy Werlin takes a real-life reality and mixes it with fantasy and the fantastical. Extraordinary made me want to go learn about the Rothschild family. The manipulation of Phoebe was just horribly sad to read, because it doesn't really need to happen only in a fantasy book. Ryland might be using a 'glamour' on her, but the way in which he insults her, questions her, and completely isolates her could easily occur in a non-supernatural teen novel. The abusive relationship is never glamourized in any way, although Ryland's motivations do become clear and he - like many others - are shown to have shades of gray rather than being purely good or evil. As the book builds towards the end, there are a number of profound questions that Phoebe must deal with: Are we responsible for the actions of our ancestors? Should you sacrifice yourself it would save an entire race? If you don't, if you do nothing, how responsible are you for that race dying out? Can someone who is ordinary ever be extraordinary? What does being extraordinary mean in the context of human life? With all of these questions circling, I admit that I didn't know what Phoebe would choose, and that I didn't know what I wanted her to do.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Impossible by Nancy Werlin
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
The World's Banker: The History of the House of Rothschild by Niall Ferguson