Flyte

By Angie Sage
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Noelle

This is book 2 in the Septimus Heap series. Flyte begins with Septimus happily being the apprentice of Marcia, the ExtraOrdinary Wizard. But things quickly take a nasty turn when Jenna, the Queen-to-be, is kidnapped by Simon Heap, the eldest of the Heap clan. Unbeknownst to the others, Simon helped resurrect DomDaniel, the evil Darke wizard of the last book, Magyk, and has become his apprentice out of jealousy of Septimus. No one but Septimus and his brother Nicko initially believe Simon is capable of actually kidnapping Jenna, and the pair set off to rescue her. The threesome do manage to find each other after many adventures on both sides. But kidnapping Jenna was just the beginning of the evil bid by DomDaniel to take over the Wizard Tower again, and the whole Heap family, Marcia, the Dragon Boat, and Aunt Zelda will all have to help each other to overcome the threat. There are quite a few surprises in store for the reader, including the Flyte charm, the discovery of Grandfather Heap, and the fate of the green stone that Jenna gave Septimus. While the story does meander quite a bit in places, the characters and important parts of the plot manage to keep readers engaged, and most will be anticipating the next book in the series, Physik, due out in 2007.

Valley of the Wolves

By Laura Gallego Garcia
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Noelle

Dana lives the normal life of a farm girl, working hard in a large family. She has no friends except for a boy just her age named Kai, but he comes to be with her every day. Then one day, she learns that no one can see and hear Kai but her. Kai eventually explains that he exists on another plane and cannot be touched, but that he will always be her friend. Then the Maestro, a powerful magician, finds Dana and takes her away to the Tower in the Valley of the Wolves to train her to become a sorceress. Kai comes with her, but even the Maestro cannot see him. As Dana trains, she finds that she loves learning magic, and she is driven in her studies. But she is frustrated by her growing feelings for the insubstantial Kai. Dana also begins to have visions of a beautiful lady who insists she search for a unicorn in the forest. Then it is revealed to her by Fenris, the elf who is also a magical apprentice, that she is Kin-Shannay--one who is able to bridge the spirit world and our world, and Kai and the lady she has seen are actually ghosts. The plot becomes more sinister, as it is revealed that the Maestro has a hidden agenda, Fenris has a secret that could destroy the others, Kai may not be able to keep his word, and the quest for the unicorn results in Dana making a terrible choice. This is an exciting and quick fantasy story that readers of the genre will thoroughly enjoy. For a more mythological type of story, you can try this author's The Legend of the Wandering King.

The Problem Child

By Michael Buckley
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Noelle

This is the 3rd book in the Sisters Grimm series. In the end of the last story, Sabrina had finally found her parents--under a sleep spell and watched over by the very deranged Red Riding Hood and her "kitty," a murderous Jabberwocky. Sabrina is rescued from certain death by Puck, and her parents are again lost to her. But a new character shows up--the girls' Uncle Jake who was responsible for grandfather Grimm's death and also for the release of Red Riding Hood and the Jabberwocky from the asylum. Uncle Jake is determined to help rescue his brother to atone for his past mistakes. But Uncle Jake has an addiction to magic, and soon Sabrina's own frustrations lead her to the same addiction to the power of magic. When Daphne and Sabrina embark on a quest with Uncle Jake to find the pieces of the Vorpal blade to both kill the Jabberwocky and save Puck from some serious wounds, that addiction is nearly their undoing. Fans of the previous stories will be happy to see some old characters like Snow White, Mayor Charming and Mr. Canis, and delighted to meet some new ones like the Little Mermaid, Baba Yaga and the Blue Fairy. As always, Buckley mixes humor and a few life lessons to go with the nonstop action. Readers will be pleased with the continuing storyline and be looking forward to the next installment.

The Blue Sword

By Robin McKinley
Newbery Honor 1983
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Noelle

Harry Crewe is on her way to Daria to live with her soldier brother Richard after the death of her father. She finds herself falling in love with the desert country occupied by the Homelanders and intrigued by the mysterious Hillfolk who are its natives. She lives her life idly until the day Corlath, king of the Hillfolk, appears to ask the Homelanders for help against the threat of the Northmen. Corlath's magical kelar, or Gift, makes it clear to him that Harry will be important in the upcoming struggle, so he kidnaps her. Soon Harry becomes aware that she also possesses this magical Gift and the Damarians plunge her into training. She learns their language but also she learns to become a warrior, for she will become Dalamur-Sol, the Lady Hero, who will carry the ancient blue sword Gonturan into battle. This is fantasy storytelling at its best. There are fully realized characters, a well built fantasy world, and battles, friendships, and a bit of romance. For those who love cats and horses, there is an added bonus of meeting the great warhorses and the foltza, the large hunting cats. Readers will be swept up in this compelling story. For those who want more, they can read the prequel, The Hero and the Crown, which won the Newbery Medal in 1985.

The Unusual Suspects

By Michael Buckley
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Noelle

This story is book 2 in The Sisters Grimm series. Sabrina and Daphne Grimm are currently living in Ferryport Landing with their grandmother after the disappearance of their parents. Ferryport Landing is no ordinary town--its people are Everafters, the characters in all the fairy tales you've ever read, alive and well but caged by a spell thought up by the original brothers Grimm and Baba Yaga to stay forever inside the town's borders and not able to wreak havoc in the rest of the world. The Everafters are all disguised as humans and have ordinary jobs, like Prince Charming is the mayor, Snow White is a teacher, the three little pigs are policemen. Taking up where book 1 left off, Sabrina and Daphne are finally starting school, but they are immediately thrown into a mystery when Sabrina's teacher is killed by a monster. As more people in the school fall victim to various creatures, the Sisters Grimm, Puck, Granny Relda and Mr. Canis attempt to find the culprits. Sabrina is sure Everafters are at the bottom of it and her prejuidice and anger against them grow. But the plot runs deeper than they know, and it will become a race against time to save the day before Ferryport Landing is changed forever. There are many chases, getaways, and big cliffhanger to end the book. You might want to brush up on your fairy tales and magical objects to get the full flavor of these stories, but they are definitely page turners and chock-full of fun all the way through. Readers will be panting for the next book, The Problem Child, to find out what happens next!

The Burning Bridge

By John Flanagan
Rating: 4 1/4 stars
Reviewed by Noelle

This is book 2 in the Australian series, The Ranger's Apprentice. Will lives in the land Aruluen and last year was apprenticed to become a Ranger, basically a cross between a spy and a scout, to the famous Halt. Will, his friend Horace (apprenticed to become a knight), and another Ranger, Gilan, set out together to travel to the next country of Celtica to ask for aid in the upcoming battle against the evil Morgarath. But when they get there, they find the towns abandoned hurriedly. They run across a girl who tells them that Wargals, nasty creatures who answer to Morgarath, have invaded Celtica and have been rounding up miners and other workmen for some kind of project. Gilan quickly rides ahead to tell the king this news, leaving the others to trail them. But after hiding from a passing group of Wargals with prisoners, Will decides to trail them to see what they are up to. He finds they have built a bridge across the giant Fissure which will allow Morgarath to send a large number of troops against the king's forces in a surprise attack. Will, Horace and the girl Evalyn realize that there is no time to warn the army--they need to burn the bridge to save Arulen. Can they do it and escape in time? Can they get word to the king? Much like the first book, The Ruins of Gorlan, this is a well-plotted adventure, full of surprises, bravery, battles, and likeable characters. Fans of fantasy and adventure will find much to like here.

Gregor and the Marks of Secret

By Suzanne Collins
Rating: 4 1/2 stars
Reviewed by Noelle

In this fourth installment, Collins continues the story of Gregor the Overlander (see review). Gregor's mother is still in the Underland, recovering slowly from her bout with the plague in the previous adventure, Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods. Gregor is freely coming and going between their New York City apartment and the Underland visiting his mother and working on echolocution lessons with Ripred, the outcast rat. Then Ripred tells Gregor that the Bane, the white rat Gregor had spared from death, has become a violent danger to them all and needs to be killed. Gregor reluctantly agrees to help, but then Ripred vanishes. At the same time, Luxa, the young queen of Regalia, receives a message that the nibblers (mice) who saved her in the jungle are in grave danger. Luxa, Gregor, 3 year old Boots, 6 year old Hazard, Temp the cockroach, cousin Howard, and the bats Ares, Nike, Aurora and Thalia all set off secretly on a long journey to save the nibblers, only to end up finding the Bane instead and hearing his plans to rule the Underland. By the novel's end, war has been declared and Gregor leaves some of his friends behind to race back to Regalia to learn about the Prophecy of Time and to take up the sword that was left for him by Sandwich, the founder. This is a great action-packed fantasy series. Gregor continues to grow as a character as he tries to reconcile his abilities as a rager and warrior with his desires to be nonviolent. There is also a hint of romantic interest between him and Luxa and a cliffhanger of an ending as war is imminent. Who will survive? What will the Prophecy of Time say? Readers won't be able to wait for the next installment, Gregor and the Code of Claw (to be published in 2007).

The Door Within

By Wayne Thomas Batson
Rating: 3 1/2 stars
Reviewed by Noelle

Aidan is angry. His parents unexpectedly uprooted the family to move across the country to live with his ailing grandfather ("Grampin") and Aidan is separated from everything he knows as well as his one friend, Robby. Then he discovers a set of old scrolls in the basement which chronicle the story of The Realm. The Realm holds the kingdom of Alleble, ruled by King Eliam, which tries to spread peace to all the other kingdoms who pledge allegiance to Alleble. The king chooses a knight, Paragal, to be his special Sentinel. But Paragal eventually is seduced by the power and riches of the dark side, and chooses to betray his king and set himself up as a "Prince" who is endlessly attempting to destroy Alleble. The scrolls end with a poem exhorting the reader to believe if he wishes to enter the Realm. Aidan immediately believes in the Story, but his parents are dismissive of it. But when Grampin tells Aidan he believes and encourages Aidan to as well, Aidan manages to enter this magical Realm. Aidan soon finds himself in training as a knight for King Eliam and embarking on a mission to try and convince another kingdom to join the true King and enjoy peace before Paragor and his minions convince them otherwise. Aidan experiences many adventures and quite a bit of personal growth during the telling of the story. This book mixes many elements found in the Chronicles of Narnia with a more medieval flair, at times even delving into Lord of the Rings and Paradise Lost. Although some issues remain unexplained, like Aidan's rather sudden and amazing athletic prowess or what Aidan's dreams mean or even why the moonrascals decide to help him, and the message can be rather heavy-handed at times, fantasy readers will still find plenty to like in the action sequences and the familiar ground. There are 2 more books in this trilogy: The Rise of the Wyrm Lord and The Final Storm.

Howl's Moving Castle

By Diana Wynne Jones
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Noelle

Sophie is stuck. She's the eldest of 3 sisters and works in her father's hat shop in the town of Market Chipping, and every day she feels more and more like a mousy, boring young woman with no future. Then one day, into the shop sweeps the Witch of the Waste, who tells her she doesn't like the competition and turns Sophie into an old woman. Sophie can't even get up the energy to be properly horrified. So she stumps off by herself and manages to wind up in Howl's floating, moving castle. The Wizard Howl has an evil reputation of being a powerful magician and a bit of rake who eats young girls' hearts. Sophie soon discovers Calcifer, the fire demon that works for Howl, who makes a bargain with Sophie: he'll try to break her spell if she can help break his contract with Howl. So Sophie sets herself up as the cleaning woman of the rather small castle, while poking her nose into the business of the apprentice Michael, Howl and the doors that open onto different places in both Sophie's world as well as other ones. This is an excellent fantasy involving magic, quests, an enchanted scarecrow, more than one witch, curses and more! Readers will enjoy the multiple plotlines and might even figure out what is really going on before Sophie does! Thoroughly good from beginning to end. Readers can take another adventure with Sophie and Howl in Castle in the Air. Howl's Moving Castle was also recently made into an animated movie. Check it out (but the book is better)!

Dreamhunter

By Elizabeth Knox
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Noelle

In a world much like our own around the turn of the 19th to 20th century, there are people called dreamhunters. They are able to go into an invisible land called "The Place" and catch specific dreams at specific spots on the map and then come back into our world and when they fall asleep, their dream is shared by everyone near them (depending on their range of projection). So people can share dreams that are fun or healing or soothing or exhilirating--for a fee, that is. Laura Hame and Rose Tiebold are cousins and are also the daughters of two extremely famous and powerful dreamhunters. At the age of 15, the cousins go to "Try" to see if they can enter the Place, but only shy Laura is able to. At the same time Laura is finding out she is a dreamhunter, her father Tziga disappears. But he left behind for her a sandman, much like the golems of Hebrew lore, created with magic and song, that will be her servant. He also leaves behind a request for Laura to complete a terrible mission. While Laura labors in secret at her father's task, the rest of her family tries to find out what happened to Tziga, for it seems many factions--the government, the Church--are trying very hard to cover up whatever did occur. These is an extremely interesting and inventive fantasy which also highlights family ties along with its fascinating premise of dreamhunting. Readers who love stories by people like Philip Pullman or Madeline L'Engle or Ursula K. LeGuin will find much to delve into here. An original and compelling story. Big thumbs up! This is billed as Book One of the Dreamhunter Duet, and readers will be clamoring for Book Two.

Over Sea, Under Stone

By Susan Cooper
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Noelle

In this first book of The Dark is Rising Sequence, Barney, Simon and Jane are in Cornwall near the seaside for a month-long holiday, staying with their Great-Uncle Merry at Grey House. It is while they are exploring the attic of the house that they find the map--a map so old it seems to refer to King Arthur and his knight, Mark, and some kind of treasure hidden nearby. As the children begin to try and decipher the map, they soon find that many other people around them are interested in Grey House and what might be inside. Soon the children learn that the map leads to an amazing treasure, lost for centuries, and that some very evil people, the Dark, are desperate to get their hands on it first--desperate enough to try just about anything. Simon, Barney and Jane, along with Great-Uncle Merry, soon find themselves flung headlong into the adventure of a lifetime, with the Dark right on their heels. This is the kind of fantasy that combines myth, adventure and mystery together into a heady mix that makes you keep turning the pages to the very end and leaves you breathless to read the next installment. Fabulous! Readers will be happy to read the other 4 books in the series. Check out The Dark is Rising Sequence on the web.

Beauty: a Retelling of Beauty and the Beast

By Robin McKinley
Rating: 4 1/2 stars
Reviewed by Noelle

"Beauty" is the nickname of the youngest daughter of a succesful merchant. Unlike her beautiful sisters, Beauty is more plain and tomboyish, perferring to spend time around horses and books. Life is good until her father loses all his money when his ships are lost at sea. Her sister's beau appears and offers the family a life together out in the country, where he can make a living as a blacksmith. The family accepts, and slowly settle into their new, harsher life. But on his trip back from the city, Beauty's father is lost in the woods during a snowstorm and ends up being waited upon by invisible servants in a mysterious castle. On his way out the next day, he plucks a single rose from a hedge and immediately a Beast appears. The Beast tells the father that he must return with one of his daughters in one month or suffer the consequences. Once he arrives home, the father confesses what happened and Beauty is moved to offer herself up as the Beast's captive. Those familiar with the fairy tale know the basics of what is going to happen in this version of the story, but it is pure pleasure to read about Beauty's struggles with her new life and with learning to love the Beast. The author does a great job filling in the web of magic that surrounds the castle and its Beast, and Beauty is a worthy heroine for this tale. If you like Beauty, you may also enjoy many of Robin McKinley's other books. Check out this website for more on her books.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

By J. K. Rowling
Rating: 4 3/4 stars
Reviewed by Noelle

In this 6th book in the Harry Potter series, Harry finds himself once again at Hogwarts, reeling from the death of his foster father Sirius. Professor Snape continues to act in the role of double agent to both the Death Eaters and to the Order of the Phoenix. We see him make an unbreakable vow with Draco's mother to aid Draco in the task set to him by Voldemort himself--a task that remains a mystery to us. Harry, however, knows Draco is up to something, and spends time tailing him around the castle to no avail. Of course, he still refuses to give Snape any kind of benefit of the doubt. Dumbledore is highly interested this year in bringing Harry with him as he travels back to past scenes of Voldemort's life when he was Tom Riddle. Dumbledore feels that understanding Voldemort's past will help give them the key to defeating him now. Careful readers will see the clues that Harry seems to not absorb quite so readily. When Muggles would be taking driving tests, the rest of the Hogwarts crew are busy preparing for their Disapparation tests which they are allowed to sit for when they reach the age of 17. There is also quite a bit of kissing amongst various couples, which may, perhaps, be a necessary plot point to attend to. But all other things are thrown aside when the last 100 pages of the book are begun and no one will want to put the book down. There will be a quest, a stand off, a battle, a horrible deed done, and the scene set for the final book in the series. Happily, this tome weighs in lighter in pages but is no less impactful than the previous books. Despite a few flaws, readers will devour this entry into the series and wait impatiently to get their hands on Book 7.

Bella at Midnight

By Diane Stanley
Rating: 3 3/4 stars
Reviewed by Noelle

In this interesting remake of Cinderella, Bella (Isabel) is the child of a knight and a merchant's daughter. Her mother dies and her father is disinterested, so Bella is placed in a village with a wet nurse who is but a peasant. Until she turns 13, she is never told that she is anything else but a member of her peasant family. During her childhood, she is a close friend to Prince Julian, who also happened to have been nursed by the same woman as Bella and remains attached to her. But when she turns 13, her real father sends for her, and Bella joins his household. As we know, he has remarried, and Bella meets her stepmother and 2 stepsisters, one of whom is a lady-in-waiting to the queen. Bella is more or less ignored by her new family until the day her stepsister tells of a plot she overheard to end the truce with a neighboring country--a plot that would mean certain death to Prince Julian. Can Bella save her prince? The story is told from many points of view, including Bella, the prince, her stepmother and stepsisters as well as a few other characters. An original take on an old story, which makes it fresh and interesting. Thoroughly enjoyable.

Spirit Walker

By Michelle Paver
Rating: 4 1/2 stars
Reviewed by Noelle

This is Book 2 in the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series that began with Wolf Brother (see review). Torak's new life, living with the Raven clan, is threatened by an illness that is infecting all of the clans in the Forest. Torak worries that the Soul Eaters who he dealt with before may be sending this sickness and that it is up to him to find the cure. Although he leaves the Ravens on his own, his friends Renn and Wolf follow. Torak's journey is an exciting one, that brings him from the Forest into the domain of the Seal Clan who live on an island in the unfamiliar world of the ocean. Torak will find himself new friends, new enemies and even someone related to him on his quest which tests his resolve to the limit. He also discovers that he holds a rare ability that others would literally kill to possess. Like his previous adventure, Torak's story is one of non-stop action which brings the reader flying eagerly to the conclusion. If you like action, adventure and magic, there is no reason you wouldn't love this new series. Thumbs up for this absorbing story!

Wolf Brother

By Michelle Paver
Rating: 4 1/2 stars
Reviewed by Noelle

The setting of this unusual fantasy is ancient Europe, when it was covered in forests and peopled by clans who revered a certain animal as their clan creature, for example, the Wolf clan, the Raven clan, the Seal clan, the Horse clan. Torak and his father are unusual in that they don't stay with a clan but instead travel on their own. Until the night that Torak's Fa is attacked by a demon-inhabited bear. On his deathbed, Torak's father makes Torak swear to find the Mountain of the World Spirit to try and stop this evil bear. Then Torak is on his own. He rescues a wolf cub that he aptly names Wolf and finds he is able to actually speak wolf to him. He also ends up running across the Raven clan and making a friend of Renn, a girl with some mage training, and Fin-Kedinn, a man who knew his father. They also think Torak is the one to fulfill a prophecy of defeating the bear and facing the Soul Eaters, a group of mages who went bad. Torak, Renn and Wolf all set out on the quest together. Do they all survive? This is a gripping story that will keep readers turning the pages. If you like a story with the feel of native peoples from long ago, a bit of magic, and good pitted against evil, you can't help but be drawn in by this story and eagerly awaiting the sequels. If you like it, check out The Clan, a site for fans of this new series.

The Will of the Empress

By Tamora Pierce
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Noelle

Sandry, Briar, Tris and Daja from the Circle of Magic and The Circle Opens series return together in one book which can stand alone, although it does help a bit to have the background from the other stories. The foursome are all full mages, with different varieties of magical powers, and they consider themselves sisters and brothers from all the adventures they've been having since they were little together. They also share a magical bond which allows the four to communicate over long distances. In this story, Sandry is actually an heiress in another country, and she and her siblings travel to the Empress at the court of Namorn for Sandry to deal with her lands there. Unbeknownst to the foursome, the Empress has decided she wants Sandry and the other three to all stay in her country. First she tries to woo them with jobs and the delights of court. When that fails, one of the young men sent to romance Sandry decides to use force. Sandry is so infuriated she tells the Empress they are leaving in short order. That is when things turn nasty, because the Empress is used to getting her way, and she will use any means necessary to keep her prizes. Can the four escape? And do they all want to? If you like a solid fantasy, you may enjoy this one. Be sure to check out Tamora Pierce's website.

Snow-Walker

By Catherine Fisher
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Noelle

Catherine Fisher is a master at writing a book that seems to mimic a familiar past civilization, yet is still new and different and full of magic. Her Oracle Prophecies series reflect a world like ancient Egypt. But Snow-Walker (which is actually a collection of 3 books in one) is set in a world much like that of the old Northmen or Norse. The Jarlshold is the main town over which rules the Jarl. But at present, the Jarl is under the thumb of his wife, the sorceress Gudrun, and fear rules the country. Young Jessa and Thorkil are relatives of the last Jarl, whose family has been hunted down and killed by Gudrun. The pair are put in exile to live in the far reaches of the north in an old fortress where her son, Kari, is. Kari is rumored to be a hideous, horrible monster, looked after by his servant Brochael. The young teens are terrified, but have no choice but to go. Yet once there, they find that nothing is what it seems, including Kari. Soon they embark on a mission to put a new Jarl, Wulfgar, on the throne, and to help Kari end the rule of his evil witch mother. The story continues to follow the adventures of Jessa, Kari and their friends, and the seemingly unending struggle between good and evil. The stories are rich with action and magic, including rune-beasts, shape-shifters, soul thieves and spirits. Anyone who loves a fantasy which has great characters, plenty of nonstop action, and a classic fight between good and evil will relish this book. Check out more about Catherine Fisher and her books at her website.

Cry of the Icemark

By Stuart Hill
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Noelle

Thirrin Freer Strong-in-the-Arm Lindenshield, Wildcat of the North, is turning 14 years old and has become the official heir to the throne of the Icemark. This proud young warrior princess makes a new friend in Oskan, a Witch's son, who has some undeveloped magical powers. Then news comes that the southern Empire, headed by the formidable general Scipio Bellorum, is headed to attack the Icemark and conquer it. Thirrin's father makes a desperate stand against the army, which succeeds in stalling them until the snows of winter prevent the Empire from renewing their advances. But the King falls in the battle, and Thirrin becomes Queen. Thirrin realizes to beat the Empire's gigantic army, she is going to need all the allies she can get. Thirrin and Oskan travel into the far North to try and gain vampires, wolf-folk, giant Snow Leopards and more strange creatures as allies. But even if she is successful, will they be able to come together and fight in time to beat the Empire? For those who like a fantasy that is short on character development but long on plot containing battle scenes and creatures of myth and fancy, this could be the sort of story you would like!

Princess Academy

By Shannon Hale
Rating:4 1/2 stars
2006 Newbery Honor
Reviewed by Noelle

Miri lives in the tiny village atop of Mount Eskel, where all the inhabitants mine the rare linder stone except for her. Miri believes her father won't let her work in the quarry due to her small size and she yearns to win his approval. Still, she is mostly happy tending the goats and harboring a crush on her longtime friend Peder. But life is turned upside down when a messenger from the king arrives with the traders and announces that the bride for the country's prince is to come from Mount Eskel. All the girls from 14 to 18 years old in the village will be required to attend an academy to train them as potential princesses and in a year, the prince will arrive to choose his bride. Despite the protests of the villagers, the group of girls set off on the 3 hour trek to the academy building where they are pressed by a harsh teacher to learn reading, writing, poise, conversation, dancing, history and more. Although the academy is difficult, the girls soon find themselves competing to be the most accomplished. Miri is right at the top of the class, but she begins to learn more than just the required items on the syllabus. She stumbles upon a way to use the almost magical "quarry speech" outside of the quarry, and her study of commerce opens up new possibilities to ease the hard life of the village. For Miri, the most important lesson becomes the realization of what she can do with her new skills as opposed to what she can win for learning them. This is a truly terrific story. What could have been another old Cinderella story is instead layered with fine characters and some very surprising plot twists, as well as a depth of emotion that could cause some tears to prick under eyelids. This is a story about friends and family, but also about taking risks and finding out what you really want. Anyone taking the time to read this worthy book will not be sorry. High marks!

The King of Attolia

By Megan Whalen Turner
Rating: 4 1/2 stars
Reviewed by Noelle

Turner finishes her trilogy that began with The Thief and continued with The Queen of Attolia. Eugenides is now the King of Attolia, and is hating it. He makes a farce of his kingship, never revealing to his new countrymen that he is as clever and brave as he actually is. He seems to never visit the queen, he talks to all the wrong people at court dances, and he can't seem to control the rumors or pranks his own attendants play on him. Costis, one of the Queen's Guard, is horrified when he is incited to actually strike the king. But instead of death or banishment, the king orders to keep Costis close to him. Costis is humiliated and unhappy, but his despair gives way to confusion when Eugenides starts to reveal that he isn't quite the silly buffoon that the rest of the court and country thinks he is. As Costis begins to glimpse who the man beneath the mask really is, he also gets a taste of the intrigue and danger that is the life of the king, and he begins to respect and even like Eugenides. But when push comes to shove and the life of the king is on the line, will Costis be loyal to the king or to his own beliefs? Turner again writes a great story filled with many-layered characters and a thick plot that will keep readers turning the pages to the very last one to find out what happens.

Inkspell

By Cornelia Funke
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Noelle

This is the sequel to Cornelia Funke's excellent Inkheart. You must first brush up on Inkheart since it immediately immerses you in the characters that were left off with--only a year has passed in their time since the tumultuous events that concluded the last story. So if you can't remember Dustfinger, Farid, Basta, Meggie, Mo, Elinor and so on, you best reread Inkheart first! For those who know not Inkheart, the basic plot involves a man and his daughter who have the ability to draw a character out of book and into our world simply by reading aloud. Unfortunately, some villains are unintentionally brought into this world, and our heroes have to deal with them. It is pure pleasure to be reintroduced to these characters. Without spoiling it too much, Dustfinger finds someone in our world, a man named Orpheus, who can finally read him back into his world (called Inkworld). He leaves behind Farid, a boy read out of a completely different story, who Dustfinger more or less adopted. Farid is miserable and goes to find Meggie and Silvertongue--the only two other people he knows that have the magical power to their voices that can bring characters out of a book. Farid, Meggie, her parents, and the evil Mortola and Basta all manage to get read into Inkworld and the main plotline is about their adventures there. Fenoglio, the author of the story, has been living in Inkworld and tries, once Meggie arrives, to make some changes for the better for his creation--only to find that life finds it own way, and while his words may have power still, they can't control all the outcomes.There is good and evil, death and romance, magic and fear, and a good deal about being and becoming. About controlling your own destiny or being controlled. Readers will be devastated when they are left with a cliffhanger at the end of the story and have to wait for the next book to come out! Still, there are few books as involving and fantastic as Inkheart and Inkspell. Highly recommended for all readers who like fantasy or just a fabulous storyline.

The Sisters Grimm: Fairy-Tale Detectives

By Michael Buckley
Rating: 3 3/4 stars
Reviewed by Noelle

Sabrina and Daphne Grimm are sisters. Their parents have disappeared close to 2 years ago and the girls have been bouncing from foster home to foster home when suddenly their Grandmother Grimm sends for them. The girls are in disbelief since their father had told them their grandmother was dead. The girls are deposited at Ferryport Landing, a small town with some rather odd inhabitants. Grandmother is a strange woman with a silent tall companion named Mr. Canis. Daphne is ready to accept the long lost family member, but Sabrina takes some more convincing. Especially when it is revealed that the girls are part of the legendary Grimm family who made a magical pact to keep all the fairytale creatures living in this town forever. Who would believe that? But after their grandmother and Mr. Canis are snatched right before their eyes by a giant, Sabrina and Daphne have no choice but believe it--and to attempt a rescue. The girls have to team up with Mayor (Prince) Charming, Puck, the Magic Mirror, and Jack of beanstalk fame to achieve their goal, and they learn a lot about themselves and the fairytale world in the process. This book is a real page turner. The story borrows from the stock foster kid/missing parents scenario to begin (somewhat similar to a Series of Unfortunate Events), but spins into more original fare with Fairyport Landing and its inhabitants, doomed to stay there forever for their own safety. It is a hoot to read about and place the various characters from fairy tales and other fanciful stories like the Wizard of Oz. The smallish size of the book and the occasional black and white illustrations add to its appeal. Overall, an entertaining read. You'll want to read the sequels, The Unusual Suspects and The Problem Child (see reviews).

The Queen of Attolia

By Megan Whalen Turner
Rating: 4 1/2 stars
Reviewed by Noelle

Turner follows up her Newbery-Honor winning masterpiece The Thief with further adventures of Eugenides, the Queen of Eddis' Thief. The novel begins with Gen being caught by the Queen of Attolia, one of the rival countries to Eddis. The Queen of Attolia was still smarting from the robbery Eugenides had committed in her country previously, and from his frequent visits to spy on her. She decided that rather than kill the Thief, she would do something even worse to him--cut off his hand. What good would a one-armed thief be? Eugenides spins into despair and meanwhile, the countries of Eddis, Attolia and Sounis begin a war. Gen eventually comes out of his funk to think of an intricate plot to help his country survive the war. Meanwhile, the Queen of Attolia, tortured by what she has done to the Thief, does her best to weave her way through the treachery that is besetting her own country, and to also survive the war. This novel is full of well-developed characters, detailed military manuevers, and involved plots and court intrigues. If you don't pay attention, you will miss an important moment in the story. Luckily, readers will want to pay attention to this excellent story. There is drama, fighting, thieving, loving, hating, and much more. It helps if you have already read The Thief, but the story does stand on its own. Highly recommended for fans of fantasy and great plot twists.You might also want to check out this website onMegan Whalen Turner. And definitely read the sequel, The King of Attolia (see review).

Gregor the Overlander

By Suzanne Collins
Rating: 4 1/2 stars
Reviewed by Noelle

If you like fantasy and haven't started the Gregor the Overlander books yet, you should! Gregor and his young sister Boots fall through a grate in their New York City building's laundry room and into the Underland. They find the Underland, deep under New York City, populated by giant cockroaches, rats, bats, and a race of humans with pale skin who have been waiting for Gregor. They believe he is there to fulfill an ancient prophecy for them. Gregor has no intention of doing anything but getting himself and Boots out of there until he learns his father, who has been missing for a long time, is being held captive by the rats. So Gregor and Boots, along with an alliance of cockroaches, bats, humans and an outcast rat named Ripred, journey to rescue Gregor's father and fulfill the prophecy. But the prophecy is tricky, and lines they think they understand the meaning of change when they are truly fulfilled. You'll have to read the story to find out how the prophecy comes true and whether the sacrifices described come to pass. Do Gregor and Boots make it home with their father? This book is a real pageturner, with lots of action and adventure. Gregor does a lot of growing and changing as he takes on the mantle of hero. You'll want to read the sequels for sure, Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane, Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods and Gregor and the Marks of Secret.

Midnight for Charlie Bone

By Jenny Nimmo
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Noelle

Seemingly ordinary Charlie Bone suddenly discovers that he can hear the thoughts of people in photographs. Once this talent is revealed, Charlie's Grandma Bone and her sisters have him sent to Bloor's school which includes other "endowed" children who are descendants of the fabled Red King. These "gifts" that the other children have are often quite odd. Despite some of the friends he makes, Charlie has a hard year at the new school for he also makes some enemies. Charlie ends up drawn into searching for a girl who has been missing for many years, while his aunts and other villains try to stop him. Although many readers will be reminded strongly of Harry Potter, this book isn't quite as well written. However, Charlie is very likeable and his adventures are fast-paced so readers will be drawn into the story. This is the first book in the Children of the Red King series. If you like magic, adventures and Harry Potter-like stories, you may like this one and its sequels.

The BFG

By Roald Dahl
Rating: 3 3/4 stars
Reviewed by Noelle

Sophie is a young girl living in an orphanage. One night, she is kidnapped by the BFG--the Big, Friendly Giant--who spends his time blowing happy dreams to children. He brings her to the giant land where he lives, and Sophie finds out that the BFG is one of a kind. The other giants are quite nasty and like to snack on little boys and girls, unlike the BFG who eats snozzcumbers happily. Sophie and the BFG hatch a plot to overthrow the evil giants and make boys and girls safe forever. Can their plan work? This fantasy adventure is fun and sweet, but those evil giants are enough to really give you a scare! If you like a good adventure with a little bit of scary stuff in it, you'll want to read this! Want to read more about the author and his other books? Try the Official Roald Dahl website.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

By C.S. Lewis
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Noelle

The first book written in the 7 book series of the Chronicles of Narnia. The siblings Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy magically enter the land of Narnia through a wardrobe. They find a snowbound land where it is always winter and never Christmas, populated by fabulous creatures like fauns, dryads and Talking Animals. The evil queen Jadis rules cruelly over the country. The four children find out that they are meant to fulfill a prophecy that will break the queen's rule with the help of the lion god, Aslan. Published in the 1950's, this story is still as fresh and wonderful as it was when it first came out, and many of today's fantasies should thank C.S. Lewis for inspiration. If you like magic, mythical animals, battles of good versus evil, and good storytelling, you will love this book and the entire series. Check out the Chronicles of Narnia website for more information and inspiration.

Eldest

By Christopher Paolini
Rating: 4 1/4 stars
Reviewed by Noelle

This book is the sequel to the much touted Eragon. We pick up where the last book left off, with Eragon and his dragon Saphira at the aftermath of a successful battle against the Urgals. After a great deal of politicking with the various groups in power, Eragon sets off with Arya the elf to the elf stronghold for more advanced training. There, Eragon and Saphira are trained by the other remaining Dragon Rider in magic, flying, fighting and other skills necessary for their quest to overthrow the evil king, Galbatorix. Meanwhile, a parallel story unfolds involving Eragon's cousin, Roran. Their small village comes under attack by Galbatorix's troops who have come searching for Roran in their hunt to discover Eragon's whereabouts. Under Roran's guidance, the village holds off its attackers and eventually decides to abandon their village and head off to join the rebellion that is massing to attack the evil king. Eragon and Roran meet again at last at the site of a great battle against Galbatorix's troops. There, another Dragon Rider comes to light, and the stage is set for the next book. This book, and its predecessor, steal pretty blatantly from The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien , as far as the plot lines and even names go, and these books are a pale copy of that famous trilogy. However, if you enjoy long, involved fantasies, and liked the books and/or movies of the Lord of the Rings, you will probably like Eragon and Eldest.

The Castle in the Attic

By Elizabeth Winthrop
Rating: 4 3/4 stars
Reviewed by Karen

This story is about William, a young boy and his close relationship with his nanny, Mrs. Phillips.
When William is old enough, she decides to move back to England. But before she goes, she gives William a magic castle. Soon, William finds himself battling an evil wizard, a dragon and saving the kingdom. The author does a good job blending real-life with fantasy. There are reasons William's parents don't discover his double life in the castle and children can imagine it's possible for him to keep it secret. A good introduction to the fantasy genre. If you like an uncomplicated story with a medieval theme, this could be a book you'd enjoy.