The Riverman by Aaron Starmer

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Starmer, Aaron. The Riverman. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2014. 320 p. $15.99. 978-0374363093

"To sell a book, you need a description on the back. So here's mine: My name is Fiona Loomis. I was born on August 11, 1977. I am recording this message on the morning of October 13, 1989. Today I am thirteen years old. Not a day older. Not a day younger."

My coworkers have been raving about this book for the last several weeks.  In the spirit of Halloween, and in the hopes of going a little bit beyond my reading comfort zone, I decided to give it a try.  Normally, I'm not into creepy stuff.

When Fiona approaches Alistair to "pen" her autobiography, he is a little confused.  What would a 12-year-old girl want with an autobiography?  And why him?  As it turns out, Fiona's life story is more than a little unusual.  She claims to have been visiting the world of Aquavania, a world of creativity and imagination, since she was four years old and discovered the portal in her basement boiler room.  In Aquavania, she is like a God, with her imagination coming to life--she is the creator of her own perfect world.  She finds other kids in Aquavania, kids that have created fantastic lives of their own.  The possibilities seem unlimited, and it is all almost too good to be true, until the other kids start disappearing...  Because, you see, they don't just disappear in Aquavania--they disappear from the real world as well, and Fiona fears that she may be next.  Her fear of the Riverman is a strong one--but Alistair doesn't know what to believe.  Is Fiona delusional, or is she really visiting this other world?  He must decide what he believes, before it's too late to help her.

Starmer's newest YA series, The Riverman Trilogy, takes place in a relatively sleepy upstate New York town in the late 1980s.  Having access only to Alistair's mind, save for little vignettes of Fiona's adventures in Aquavania (as dictated for him to record for later), one must decide whether or not to believe Fiona, or Alistair.  Is there such a thing as Aquavania?  Or the Riverman, stealing children's souls?  Or is Fiona just making it all up, to cover up something even more sinister happening in her life?  While she claims to be spending more and more time in Aquavania, Alistair is growing more and more concerned for her.  As a reader, you can't help but share that concern... but whether it is for her safety in Aquavania or the real world--that is for you to decide.

With an easy and enticing, fluid writing style, Starmer hooks you to the page until the very end.  As my coworker kept saying, the whole thing is just so real.  If you're anything like me, you'll be on the edge of your seat while Alistair dares to play a dangerous game in the middle of the road with his strange best friend and his unhinged (and very drunk) older brother.  Your heart might beat just a little bit faster while reading Fiona's descriptions of her time in Aquavania when things stop being fun, and start getting scary.  This book has it all: fantasy, mystery, explosions, and adventure.  Even after you finish The Riverman, you'll be thinking about it for days and days after--I know that I haven't stopped.  This is a book that stays with you.  If you want to decide for yourself if Fiona is telling the truth or not about her days in Aquavania, or learn more about who the Riverman really is, then be sure to pick up a copy at your local library.  You won't be able to put it down.

Cirque du Freak: A Living Nightmare by Darren Shan

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Shan, Darren. Cirque du Freak: A Living Nightmare. Little, Brown Young Readers, 2000. 266p. $15.95. 978-0-316603409.

An illegal freak show has come to town, and school friends Steve, Darren, Alan, and Tommy must get tickets.  Too bad they're only allowed to get two with their flyer.  When Steve and Darren are chosen to go, they concoct a plan to sneak out to see the show--and, oh, is it worth it.  Giants, contortionists, monsters, and more leave the entire audience in awe--and fear.  Things take a turn for the worse when Steve demands to be turned into a vampire and threatens to blackmail one of the show's performers.  And when Darren steals a venomous performing spider, and his friend is bitten, he'll have to do the unthinkable to save him...

Shan weaves a simultaneously creepy and humorous story with his autobiographical tone and frank descriptions of fear and death.  Readers will be on the edge of their seat with excitement as Darren trains the vicious spider, attempts to cure his friend's deadly condition, and interacts with various dark creatures.  This dark and creepy series will be a favorite for readers that want to get a little scared.

Summer of Secrets by Paul Langan

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Langan, Paul. Summer of Secrets. Townsend Press, 2004. 160p. $3.99. 978-0-439-90491-9.

Secrets are consuming Darcy Wills.  Her parents are fighting a lot, but will not tell her why.  Her sister, Jamee, has been lying about where she's been lately.  Darcy herself has dark secrets of her own.  She can't sleep or focus, and can't bring herself to tell her friends and family why.  Her anxiety multiplies when her old friend Brisana gets romantically involved with an older boy who does not seem to care about her at all, but when Brisana finally comes to her for help, will there be an easy solution?  This summer off from Bluford High just might be their most difficult one yet.

Readers will be totally immersed in this fast-paced summertime drama, written in an engaging, yet no-frills style by series editor Paul Langan.  Summer of Secrets does not skimp on the excitement, letting the tension build up until the very end.  Occasional typos and spelling mistakes may temporarily distract the reader, but they will continue eagerly to find out what becomes of Darcy and Brisana.

A must-read for fans of the TV series Degrassi: the Next Generation.

From Stacked: YA in Translation

In my teen materials class, we recently discussed foreign young adult books.  For the week's reading, we had a choice between several translated YA books from countries such as Spain and the Netherlands.  How cool to find this post from book review blog Stacked talking about translated YA books in the publishing world.  Click here to see the post from their Get Genrified series.

... and definitely stick around for the list of translated YA titles at the end!  I've only heard of a few of them, one being No and Me by Delphine de Vigan, and possibly Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier (although that may just be confusion with another book cover).

Try to pay attention to the translators' names--I recognized a few of them!  Anthea Bell, for example, translates a lot of German fiction, including Cornelia Funke's Inkheart series and The Thief Lord.  Another translator on the list, Margaret Sayers Peden, was the translator for the book I reviewed in a previous post, The Valley of the Wolves from Spanish author Laura Gallego Garcia.  A lot of the same names come up, if you look around.

Graceling by Kristin Cashore (audiobook)

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Cashore, Kristin. Graceling. Harcourt, 2008. 471 p. $17.00. 978-0152063962.

     Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight—she’s a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king’s thug.

     When she first meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change. She never expects to become Po’s friend. She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace—or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.          [summary from Amazon]

Let me start by saying that audiobooks have really grown on me in the last year or so.  I do a lot more driving now than I used to, and it is hard to find time to read for pleasure.  Audiobooks have proven to be a fantastic way for me to keep up on my reading (both for fun and for class), and are quite refreshing--it's nice to be read to every once in a while, as an adult!

THE STORY:
I have a little bit of a fascination with eyes in the fictional world, so Graceling was a pleasant surprise.  I went into it blind (pun not intended), and enjoyed the world-building Cashore presented through the description of the Graced.  This type of physical attribute made me label the book as another dystopian, but despite the book market being completely saturated with dystopian young adult novels, but not in the way I've become used to.  This novel does not scream "SCI-FI FUTURISTIC REBELLION" like most of its contemporaries do (I'm looking at you, Hunger Games).  Cashore's depiction of the Graced is well-rounded and, frankly, quite interesting.  The idea of bearing a special skill (some more "useful" than others) due to having two different eye colors is an innovative and unique idea.  There is no crazy government experiment or particular technology that makes this happen.  I appreciated that in its simplicity.

What endeared me most to Graceling was the development of the relationship between Katsa and Prince Po.  What starts out as a reluctant friendship turns into one of great trust and respect, which is ultimately tested by the revelation of an enormous secret regarding Po's Grace.  Katsa has gone through so much inner turmoil regarding her own Grace--making their mutual understanding more difficult to attain, and making it infinitely more valuable.

Finally, I greatly appreciated Cashore's depiction of romantic relationships, which she does without patronizing young readers.  There is a certain responsibility we must take in deciding what steps to take in a romantic partnership, and we have to choose what feels right for ourselves.  Cashore's non-didactic approach to sex, marriage, and romance is liberating and supportive of individual right.

THE AUDIO:
The audio version of Graceling was produced by Full Cast Audio, in a total of eleven 70-75 minute CDs.  Before this title, I had never listened to an audiobook narrated by a full cast.  Although it took some getting used to, I loved it.

This audiobook had my attention from the very beginning, and I found myself shouting out loud in excitement and anguish in response to the events of the story.  I have never been so participatory with an audiobook before Graceling.  I'm no expert, but that has to say something!

Katsa's voice grew on me over the course of the novel.  In the beginning she is harsh and serious, but her affectionate moments and instances of strong emotion make for a spectacular performance.  Po's thoughtful and joking personality shines through in Zachary Exton's portrayal of the Lenid prince.  His warm, passionate voice made for an easy favorite!  Overall, the casting was very well done--what an entertaining and talented cast.

FINAL NOTES:
For some bizarre reason, I could not help but think of The Princess Bride while listening to this.  I'm not saying this because Katsa, Po, or any other character particularly reminded me of anyone from William Goldman's fabulous fantasy, but the "medieval" setting and kingdoms galore helped me make that connection.  That being said, The Princess Bride is one of my favorite books (and movies), and this little thought made me appreciate Cashore's story a little bit more.

Highly recommended, both for the story and for the audiobook's production.  I will absolutely be listening to the sequel, Fire, as soon as I am able!  I am hooked.

Recommended for:
Those who sit in the car for several hours a week, those interested in a more medieval setting (including those wanting a break from all the high-tech dystopian futures), and those with an openness exploring the origins of unusual talent.

The Valley of the Wolves by Laura Gallego Garcia

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Gallego Garcia, Laura. The Valley of the Wolves. Arthur A. Levine Books, 2006. 247 p. $16.99. 0-439-58553-8.

*translated into English by Margaret Sayers Peden

Dana has grown up on a farm with a very large family, and yet has always felt very alone.  Her strange friendship with a boy that only she can see has prevented her from forming relationships with those around her.  Still, with Kai, her unusual friend, by her side, she is happy enough with her lot in life.  However, when it becomes apparent that Dana has an aptitude for magic, she is whisked away to a faraway academy of sorcery known as The Tower, and begins her training to become a maga.  She moves through her lessons with grace, and she steadily gains confidence in her talents.  The mystery of Kai's origins still elude her, and she becomes even more curious when she is visited by the image of a powerful female sorcerer who comes to her with a request.  In her efforts to learn more about her visions, she may find out more than she originally bargained for.

The Valley of the Wolves is a fast-paced tale of magic with a strong focus on friendship, the love we have for those closest to us, and what we will do to protect them.  There are few typographical inconsistencies in an otherwise smooth translation, but readers will nonetheless wait with anticipation to find out Kai's secret origins, Dana's true magical ability, and the loyalties of the mysterious Maestro and Fenris, her fellow student of sorcery.  The magical atmosphere is not alarmingly present in the text, but those looking for a Hogwartsian setting may be pleasantly surprised.

Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Books I Want to Reread

Today I'm participating in Top Ten Tuesday, a blog meme for posting a themed list for every Tuesday of the year!  Check out the meme here to see all of the lists, and here to see today's post if you want to join in!

My top ten reread choices (if I only had the time) are:

1. Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry - I've reread The Giver several times in the last few years, for class and for fun.  While I like the book, I'm getting really tired of all the hype, and it'd be refreshing to read one of its sequels again for a change.
2. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater - I'm very aware of my fangirl status for Maggie Stiefvater now, but this is the book that started it.  I was skeptical because of the werewolf component (the Twilight series and its contemporaries really turned me off to the whole vampires vs. werewolves thing), but I ended up loving it.  Now I will read anything she puts out!
3. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein - I picked this book up on a whim and I loved it!  I recently found out that there was a companion novel released...  Maybe I should read that one before rereading this!
4. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - I have an ulterior motive for wanting to reread this one...  I'm leading a teen book discussion on it in a couple of weeks!  I'd listen to the audio book to save time, but it really is kind of dangerous to be driving while crying hysterically...
5. Plain Kate by Erin Bow - I adored this book and I felt so many emotions while reading it (meaning I cried about four times).  I borrowed it from the library, but I have been yearning for my own copy ever since I finished it.
6. Homeward Bounders by Diana Wynne Jones - Okay, so I've read this quite a few times already...  But it is probably my favorite DWJ novel and I think of it constantly!
7. It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini - Another one that I've read a couple of times...  I would never mind reading it again.  It's a story that remains close to my heart.
8. Be More Chill by Ned Vizzini - Another Ned book, yes--but this one is just so delightfully bizarre that I really think it deserves a reread.
9. The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan - I read the entire (first) series back when I was doing my undergrad, and it was surprisingly helpful when I was taking my classical mythology class!  My cousins are all reading the follow-up series, The Heroes of Olympus, and I feel like I'm really behind.  Maybe I should just read some summaries...?
10. Charmed Thirds by Megan McCafferty - I never thought I'd enjoy the Jessica Darling series when my friend recommended that I read Sloppy Firsts way back when, but I ended up really loving (and relating) to Jessica and have tried to acquire the entire series for myself.  I was rereading them a year or so ago, but didn't have the time to continue.  I think I left off at Charmed Thirds.

That's my list!  What books have you been dying to reread?  Share with me in the comments below!

Let's Get Crafty: The Big-Ass Book of Crafts by Mark Montano

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Montano, Mark. The Big-Ass Book of Crafts. Simon Spotlight Entertainment, 2008. 384p. $19.95. 978-1-4169-3785-2.

Montano's enormous book of craft ideas gives even the novice crafter a plethora of possible projects.  Covering a range of themes, from body beauty products, to wooden masterpieces, to the just plain artsy, and everything in-between, Montano ensures the reader that there is certainly a craft for them.  With bizarre chapter titles (Artsy Fartsy, You've Been Framed, and I Made This for You... So You Better Love It, among others), out-of-the-ordinary project ideas, and the book's ridiculously blatant title, it will be difficult not to attract teens.

The Big-Ass Book of Crafts will certainly keep project-seekers busy and entertained.  However, there is a definite possibility of frustration when the crafts' instructions require the use of a jigsaw or drill bits, which may not be easily accessible (or affordable) for the young audience the book targets.  Still, teens may find it fun to flip through the book and admire the many crafts, and use them as a base for their own original craft ideas.  Advanced crafters will certainly be in their element.

Share this with the crafty teen looking to keep their hands busy, those with a lot of free time, and anyone up for a bit of a challenge.