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.