Review of "A School for Unusual Girls"

"I started a fire and now I'm being punished."

     Kathleen Baldwin's A School for Unusual Girls may feature a finishing school for spies, but its focus gives the story a surprising twist. Miss Georgiana Fitzwilliam is, much to her parents' horror, a scientist. Not only does she launch herself from the window on homemade gliders, but Georgie also may or may not have started work on a new, undetectable invisible ink. So what if the barn burned down in the process? In her eyes, that is no excuse to banish her to the Stranje House School for Unusual Girls. For goodness' sake, the headmistress has a rack in her "discipline room"! When her parents leave without even saying goodbye, Georgie decides to take matters into her own hands and run away. But escape is not as simple as she thought, and when it becomes apparent that her chemistry will be encouraged--and that the rack is only morbid decoration--she realizes life at the Stranje House may not be as horrible as she imagined.

     This book has a very promising premise. A scientifically-minded girl is sent to a "reform school" that claims to practice horrible, barbaric correction techniques, which turns out to be little more than a front to a school for spies. What more could we ask for? Apparently, a lot. Not only does Georgie spend absolutely no time training to pick locks, detect poison, or free herself when tied to a chair, but she insists on falling head-over-heels for the only young man in the area: Lord Wyatt, an undercover agent for the crown and, currently, her lab assistant. At least he has the decency to warn her off, not because he's "no good for her" but because entanglements with a spy are messy at best. And Georgie has the decency to understand and appreciate that--not that it stops her.

     There is, however, a saving grace in all this mess. Georgie spends her time in the lab working on an invisible ink that is impervious to heat, a formula that could have saved her brother's life had it been developed sooner. Partway through the book, she figures it out--only to have everything come crashing down because of a silly mistake. This is where the plot kicks in, sending Georgie and her classmates on a high-stakes rescue mission with all of Europe on the line. For Napoleon's followers are stirring, and if the ink falls into the wrong hands, the king of France could die and Bonaparte could very easily rise again.

     Character-wise, A School for Unusual Girls is both well-done and lacking. Georgie is fleshed out completely, her personality solidified within the first few chapters. Her roommates, on the other hand, are pretty flat. Each of the other girls has some sort of gift, whether it's a persuasive tongue, visions of the future, or an eye for detail that burglars would kill for. This is not explained, and while there are times when it's easy to mix up who does what, these traits are often key indicators of who's talking. Lord Wyatt, on the other hand, is rounded enough to satisfy but provides no reason at all for Georgie to fall in love with him, other than simple attraction. This would be all right if Baldwin hadn't tried to pull off the hate-at-first-sight trope, which fails simply because it's one-sided.

     If this was a movie, it'd probably be rated PG-13. There's romance in the form of kissing, great action, and a good deal of interrogation. Thankfully, most of this takes place out of sight, with the results paraded before our character's eyes. Violence is smart and planned out, even on the part of the villain, which makes things more realistic but also causes things to run a little more smoothly than we might like. It does, however, fit the characters and add to the story. A warning to grammar Nazis: the punctuation in this novel leaves much to be desired.

     I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a story about a female chemist on a quest to stop the return of Napoleon Bonaparte and save the man she loves. Though it partially takes place in a spy school that doesn't teach her spy-like skills, Georgie is a realistic protagonist who actually thinks with her head. And the plot, once it takes off, it's absolutely exciting. The ending suggests that this is the first in a series, which leaves me hopeful about the direction the Stranje House and its inhabitants are going to go. Kathleen Baldwin has done a good job with A School for Unusual Girls, earning it three stars.

Review of "Dragon Slippers"

"It was my aunt who decided to give me to the dragon."

     Anyone who thinks dragons eat the girls they kidnap are about to get a big surprise from Jessica Day George's Dragon Slippers. When Creelisel Carlbrun's aunt decides to drop her in the clutches of the local dragon and hope a prince will rescue her, Creel almost laughs. Even if the dragon, who hasn't been seen in generations, does decide to snatch her up, why would the prince marry her, penniless and plain-looking as she is? But when the dragon decides to show his scaled face, everything changes--because Creel walks away from the encounter with a pair of hand-stitched slippers made of ancient dragon hide that tingles with magic. And everybody knows that a gift from a dragon means adventures are right around the corner.

     From the start, George's story is intriguing. Not only does Creel's aunt abandon her in an attempt to save the family farm from ruin, but everything else is flipped on its head. The dragon, Theoradus, is tired of silly humans doing silly things and only takes her into his cave in order to make sure she isn't going to cause trouble. And once she's inside, it becomes obvious that everything she's ever believed about dragonkind was fiction. For one thing, the place is neat and clean, with no bones littering the floor and making the place smell. For another, his hoard isn't gold; it's shoes. As Creel continues her journey, she meets several dragons who are definitely not what she anticipated. From hoards of stained-glass windows to magical collars, readers quickly learn to expect the unexpected, which makes everything that much more fascinating.

     As far as characters go, Dragon Slippers has plenty of interest. Though not every character is fleshed out enough to leap off the page, they all have their own unique traits that round them out and give them a great sense of reality. And Creel is such a likeable, relatable character that she holds the tale together. The side characters are unique as well, each with their own motives and backstories that drive them to do terrible or wonderful things. Whether they're dragon or human, each has a life of their own that influences the plot and character development.

     Though there's a hint of romance--little more than a crush--it's more of an adventure story than anything else. Creel must befriend dragons, fight to make a name for herself in the world of seamstresses, and battle a woman intent on controlling the magical creatures she has come to love. Everything is at stake, from friendships to kingdoms, which makes it imperative that she succeed in keeping the slippers, and the dragons, safe. There's a little action, little to no blood, and no swearing, so it's a textbook "clean read", with humor that is original and not simply slapstick or crude.

     I would recommend this book to anyone interested in a fun, amusing read featuring dragons, pushy aunts, and damsels who are definitely not in distress. It sits somewhere between the children's and YA genres, which makes it fitting for tweens and teens alike, with some strong potential for adults as well. With its compelling characters, wacky dragon hoards, and a refreshing plot, Jessica Day George's Dragon Slippers is definitely a five-star must-read.

Review of "Shatter Me"

"I'm surprised I remember how to speak."

     Tahereh Mafi's Shatter Me is quite unlike every other book I've read. It follows seventeen-year-old Juliette, who has been locked up for 264 days--barred from human contact since her touch sent a young boy spiraling to his death, his life force snatched away by her fingertips. All she wants is a friend, someone who'll talk to her and listen when she talks like she isn't a tool, isn't a weapon. Instead, she has the Reestablishment, the government that has taken over in the ruins of a shattered world. Shortly after we meet Juliette, a Reestablishment leader approaches her with an offer: freedom and a comfortable life in exchange for the torture of prisoners. But though Juliette is on the brink of insanity, she has no intention of becoming a monster. Now, with the help of a soldier with a power of his own, Juliette finally has a chance to escape...if only she can overcome her fear of herself.

     It's part dystopia, part superhero story, part romance, all tangled up in ways that, though they're confusing at times, can be pretty interesting. In the beginning, Mafi's writing is littered with struck-out sentences that show what Juliette really thinks, whether or not she wants people to know it. As the story progresses, these instances become fewer and fewer, but even still they lend the author's hand a distinctive style that contributes greatly to character development. Juliette also includes what she wants to say in her description of dialogue, with an afterthought stating that she doesn't actually say it. This, in particular, can cause a bit of frustration for readers despite the flavor it adds to the narrative.

     Most of the characters are extremely likeable. From Juliette, who is a little too kick-butt but impossible to dislike, to Kenji, her boyfriend's hilarious friend, every person who populates Mafi's book feels like a natural part of the story. Adam, the boy she is quickly falling for, is well-written, though his motives for "loving" Juliette are somewhat questionable. Even the villain, Aaron Warner, is sympathetic and, if not relatable, at least understandable. Each interacts with the others in a smooth, believable fashion that goes a long way toward making this a good story.

     If there's one thing to watch out for in this story, it's the romance. While the violence is pretty intense, it isn't terribly gory, but Juliette's relationship with her childhood-friend-slash-current-bodyguard occasionally gets...steamy. Adam's special abilities allow him to touch her with impunity, and he does--constantly. Thrilled by her sudden ability to come in contact with another human, Juliette gets a little overzealous in her relationship with Adam. Sadly, this is not balanced out by relationship development, as they spend more time making out than having heart-to-heart conversations. There's also a love triangle that begins to develop near the end, which is sudden and seems almost forced.

     One of the upsides to Mafi's writing style is the way everything seems like a live streaming of Juliette's experiences, but readers should be sure to check the genre label before they set expectations. While this seems like a dystopian or post-apocalyptic romance at first, the plot twist at the end reveals that it's anything but. And since Juliette doesn't see it coming, chances are good that unsuspecting readers will be blindsided. You've been warned.

     I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a steamy YA novel that feels like it should be NA. It's got fighting, blood, immersive emotions, and fascinating characters, but the romance is more physical than emotional and the setting seems almost pointless. However, despite this and the sudden genre-change near the end, Tahereh Mafi's Shatter Me is a great book that sits at at the upper end of three stars.

Review of "Sisters Red"

"When I spin around, there's no man behind me, only a monster."

     Jackson Pearce's Sisters Red takes the story of Red Riding Hood to a whole new level. For one thing, this isn't just a rerun where the hooded girl has to watch her grandmother die at the hands of a werewolf. This time there are two girls--and they're fighting back. Meet Scarlett and Rosie March, orphans whose grandmother died at the claws of a Fenris, one of the many charming men who turn into wolves and devour humans. Scarlett is hard, sharp, and determined that no one else will share the same fate as herself and her sister. Rosie is her bait, luring the Fenris in so she can bury her hatchet into their canine forms. But things take a grim turn when it becomes clear that the werewolves are seeking out a new member to their ranks, and even the March sisters might not be able to stop them.

     Scarlett and Rosie are complete opposites. Scarlett is tough, focused, and completely invested in the chase. Her sister, on the other hand, is a teenaged girl stuck in a war she isn't sure she wants to fight anymore. Rosie keeps on because she feels like she owes Scarlett for saving her life when they were kids, the day the Fenris killed Oma March, but she craves a life outside of the hunt. So when they move to the city to track down the soon-to-be-Fenris, known as the Potential, she's thrilled. And when Scarlett's close friend, twenty-one-year-old Silas, begins to show interest in her, it's like life couldn't get any better. The only problem is that Scarlett doesn't want her lowering her guard--and Silas may be more than he seems.

     Pearce paints her characters with vivid colors that allow readers insight into every aspect of their souls, each angle admirable or unlikeable enough to flesh them out and lend them a firm sense of roundness and realism. No character is perfect: Rosie is naïve, fun-loving, and curious, with a splash of rebellion and not enough survival instincts. Scarlett is unpleasant but relatable, her love for her younger sister visible in everything she does. Even Silas, whose mind we don't get to see firsthand, is concrete and believable. Together, the three make a perfect team, though they have plenty of conflict to spice up the lulls in the plot.

     As for action, this book has plenty. Scarlett does most of the fighting, though the others do join in. Her preferred weapon is a hatchet--as you can imagine, there is a good amount of gore. However, this isn't overdone and is balanced out by the slow, higher points in the story. The romance, on the other hand, is kind of awkward, due in part to the large age difference between Rosie and Silas. The two feel a strong urge to hide their relationship from Scarlett, which adds to the tension and the ever-growing rift between the sisters. Although it does play its part in the end, the romance feels somewhat forced and its contribution to the plot could have been approached from a different angle, making it feel rather pointless at times.

     I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a strong, kick-butt revamping of Red Riding Hood. With her complex characters and great action, Jackson Pearce has done a great job with Sisters Red. However, there is a bit of gore during the fight scenes and the romance doesn't always feel necessary to the plot. This book is pretty realistic, gritty, and thrilling, features that earn it four stars.

Review of "The Tale of Despereaux"

"The room full of mice fell silent, expectant, waiting."

     Kate DiCamillo's The Tale of Despereaux tells the charming story of a mouse, a servant girl, a vengeful rat, and soup. Despereaux Tilling is a disappointment all around: fascinated by stories, uninterested in scurrying, and completely useless at collecting crumbs to eat in the walls. All he wants to do is read the book left open in the library, about a knight who saves the princess he loves. And when the Princess Pea tells her father to play a song for the little mouse, he quickly finds himself falling in love as well. This, of course, does not sit well with the Mouse Council. They banish Despereaux to the castle dungeon, where he will be eaten by the rats...but when he uncovers a terrible plot to kidnap the princess, this mouse must muster the courage to do what no one else is capable of.

     At first glance, Despereaux is a ridiculous story. How can a mouse love a princess? How can a hard-of-hearing serving girl change the fate of a kingdom? Indeed, how can soup, or a rat, or a mouse? It's crazy. Silly. Unbelievable. And yet, somehow, DiCamillo makes it work. With an almost whimsical writing style that grounds everything in reality, the author weaves the lives of three unlikely protagonists into a cohesive tapestry that makes sense. She addresses the reader directly in nearly every chapter, asking thought-provoking questions and defining big words. This is done in a manner that flows naturally with the story and actually provides a bit of humor.

     Despereaux is one of the most lovable characters ever written. Though he's small, big-eared, and very un-mouse-like, our hero has a heart the size of a mountain range and unimaginable courage that will take him far, if only he can learn to use it. Also populating this account is Miggery, a plump, simpleminded servant girl who wants nothing more than to be a princess; and Chiaroscuro, a rat with a black heart and a desire for revenge. Together they form a complex trio with hopes and fears that interact realistically. Each character has a mind of its own, a complicated soul, and an overarching longing for a happy ending that makes them sympathetic, even if they aren't all likable.

     DiCamillo's tale is chock-full of excitement, love, beauty, and darkness. Everything is judged by its amount of light and shadow, from the stained glass windows to the princess' heart to the dark, filthy dungeon where the climax takes place. Characters develop quite a bit over the course of the book, though it's usually very subtle. They don't curse; Mig cries "Gor!" and others resort to insults and ear-boxing, both of which occur quite frequently but are not described in detail. Otherwise, violence is kept to chopped-off tails and threatening tools. Readers will also discover the tragic story behind the human king's law banning soup from the kingdom, which has ripple effects throughout the story. The author has a way of making the reader feel her protagonists' emotions and inspiring empathy for even the vilest of creatures. This, among other things, marks her narrative as unique among its shelf-mates.

     I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a story about unlikely heroes, mice against rats, and soup. Each protagonist is described with ease; each fantastical situation plausible; every scene a delicate balance of brilliant description, dialogue, and action. DiCamillo has written a great book with The Tale of Despereaux, full of empathy, strength, and the resonating power of hope for a happy ending. Together, these factors add up to a truly five-star novel.

Review of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy"

"Fifteen seconds later he was out of the house and lying in front of a big yellow bulldozer that was advancing up the garden path."

     Douglas Adams' comedic novel The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a glimpse into a science fiction world where nothing is normal. Arthur Dent's Thursday begins with a hangover and a vague recollection of a late-night argument at the bar. Then a bulldozing team attempts to demolish his house, his friend Ford tells him the world is about to end, and the two of them are beamed onto the spaceship sent to tear down the Earth. No big deal, except they're now stuck aboard a ship captained by disagreeable Vogons who write bad poetry and like to dump hitchhikers out the airlock. Even if they can escape, Ford and Arthur have nowhere to go...except for a ship where the least probable things in the Galaxy are guaranteed to happen.

     If any of that made sense, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is the book for you. Witty, zany, and completely original, the plot follows Arthur as he travels across the Galaxy in a stolen spaceship that boasts the only Improbability Drive in existence, which takes the least probable outcomes of a situation and makes them happen--even if it means turning missiles into flowerpots or reintroducing Arthur to a girl he met at a party and the guy who stole her away. One of the nice things about this story is that it is so far out there that suspension of disbelief is startlingly easy.

     That said, the plot of The Hitchhiker's Guide can be rather hard to follow at times. If readers aren't careful (or only pick up the book when they're too tired to pay attention), they'll be startled by the characters' sudden relocation to another planet or the seemingly random appearance of a large sperm whale. Arthur, despite being the main character of the novel, is little more than a bystander who has been caught up in something bigger and crazier than he understands. This point of view lends the writing a resigned point of view that suits the story nicely and makes for some truly funny scenes.

     Adams' book is fabulous. It does, however, pose some problems for its readers that need to be addressed. First of all is the profanity and the unclean references. Although characters are usually clean-mouthed, they do drop a few "cuss words" and make the occasional sexual reference, though they aren't explicit. Also, readers who believe in God may find the author's flippant approach to religion and faith a little offensive. On the other hand, Adams has a great sense of humor that is translated well into his book. Whether they're eating peanuts or searching for the meaning of Life, the Universe, and Everything, Arthur and his friends always manage to turn their problems into unforgettable comedy.

     I would recommend this book to older readers interested in a funny science fiction story about a man whose Thursday is ruined by bureaucratic aliens with poor taste in poetry. With his wit, gung-ho approach to plot, and interesting cast, Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is great for audiences who just want to have fun. It does, however, contain a couple of dialogue scenes that may not be appropriate for children and a less-than-respectful view of God. Put it all together, and you get a novel that sits at the lower end of four stars.

Review of "Eragon"

"He quenched the fires in his path but left the rest to burn."

     Christopher Paolini's Eragon is a dragon story like no other. When fifteen-year-old Eragon Garrowson discovers a large gemstone in the woods, he thinks luck has finally struck his family--but when that stone hatches a dragon whose skin brands his palm, this farm boy is thrown into an ancient feud that may cost him everything he holds dear. With the help of a wizened storyteller and his new winged companion, Eragon crosses Alagaësia on a mission that starts out as vengeance but morphs into something more: a desire for justice, and a confrontation with destiny that will leave his world forever altered.

     Paolini's writing is enthralling. From the first sentence, which describes a haunting wind, we are swept up in a world of magic and mystery, beautifully detailed with loving care that soaks every page, though the style is rather old-fashioned and formal. By the end of the prologue, every aspect of this world seems real, and the plot is already underway. Eragon's journey flows naturally and is full of high stakes, battling conflicts, and relatable characters. Everyone, from the mysterious Brom to the childish Eragon to the ever-wise Saphira, is painted from a wide variety of angles that portray every facet of their personality, lending them a firm sense of realism and roundness.

     Though it starts out as a traditional "seeking revenge" plot, Eragon quickly proves to be more than meets the eye. The Dragon Riders have long been extinct, a belief the king is determined to enforce. Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, pose a threat to the old king that has never been faced before. Together, they must decide where to cast their loyalties: to themselves, the Empire, or the rebellion stewing to the south. First, however, they must learn to work as a team, else they will never get anything done.

     Wherever he goes, Eragon learns more about the world than he thought possible, and every new piece of knowledge shapes his personality and his character in miniscule ways that eventually add up. On top of that, he learns new skills--swordfighting, for instance, and the use of magic. As a Dragon Rider, he has access to forces regular mortals can only dream of, but as a beginner it takes plenty of frustrated practice to succeed at even the simplest task. This, more than anything, influences Eragon's future and crafts who he is destined to become.

     For those worried that a fantasy tale of epic proportions may be unsuitable for children, fear not! Readers from the sixth grade onward will be perfectly safe in the hands of clean-mouthed characters, crush-only romance, and incredible battles. The book does contain some mild gore and a couple of chilling scenes that involve savage creatures who pillage quite violently (though always off-screen), however, so parents would do well to keep that in mind when considering Eragon for their children.

     I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an action-packed adventure with strong characters, cult-free magic, and dragons that leap right off the page. The plot is thick and dynamic, the protagonist flawed but relatable, and the worldbuilding beautiful. Any reader comfortable with a fantasy-formal writing style will be right at home with Eragon, the first title in a series of four. It fully deserves a full five stars.