Scarlett

by Cathy Cassidy

(Oct. 19^th 2006, Viking Juvenile)

Book description:

12-year old Scarlett’s parents are divorced and she hasn’t been coping well. She acts out and gets into fights. Now, after being kicked out of her fifth school in two years, her mother is at her wit's end, and decides to send her to live with her father in Ireland. There, Scarlett is surprised to find a welcoming step-mom and sister and even more surprised to find that there is a baby on the way. 

But Scarlett’s hates it here. She lives in small cottage in the middle of nowhere and has to go to a one-room school with a bunch of elementary kids.  That is, until she meets handsome Kian, who might just give Scarlet a reason to stick around.

Pros:

The best thing about Scarlett is that it is first and foremost an enjoyable read. There are a lot of books out there that deal with divorce and the effect it can have on children and the book does deal with those issues, but without being too preachy or letting the subject-matter take over the story. 

Scarlett’s voice and personality are pitch-perfect. Cassidy has really captured the confusion and frustration of being that age and going through a tough time.  It’s hard to make a main character that’s privileged, bratty and immature likable, but once you understand the impact that Scarlett’s parents’ divorce had on her and the real pain and abandonment she feels, all you want to do is to give her a huge.

The adults are harder to like, but very realistic and well-realized. They mostly want Scarlett to behave but don’t want to take the time to understand why she’s acting out in the first place. I found it especially unfair that her parents wanted her to move on, because they have, without helping to do so. 

Clare (Scarlett’s step-mom) was a wonderful addition. She was such an emphatic person who genuinely cared for Scarlett and was willing to give her the attention and understanding she so desperately needed. 

Cons:

Kian isn’t the most realistic teenage boy. He’s a good-looking bad boy who literally came into Scarlett’s life on a gleaming horse with the wind in his hair. And though he is in no way a bad character, I would have liked it better if he was more normal or just a friend, rather than a fantasy dream boyfriend.

I also wish the Scarlett’s father had learned as much form this experience as Scarlett and her mother did. I felt that that author blamed Scarlett’s mother (who was guilty of a few things) more than her father, who I think could have owned up more to his part in the Scarlett’s downward spiral. 

Verdict:

Scarlett takes you on a beautiful and rewarding journey, pulling you in with its warmth and vivid characters, a story that’s suffused with an everyday magic that will stay with you longer than you think. Recommended to anyone who has ever felt lost or misunderstood. 

Rating: (8.5/10)

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MMGM: Loot

by Jude Watson

(June 24^th, 2014, Scholastic Press)

Book Description:

The son of a thief, nearly-thirteen March McQuinn has led an unconventional life.

When his world renowned jewel thief father Alfie McQuinn falls to his death while on a job in Amsterdam, March is left an orphan and on the run. Unfortunately he doesn’t get far. March is quickly caught and shipped back to the States along with a twin sister, Jules, he didn’t know existed.

March and Jules soon learn that the reason behind their separation was a curse, one their father died trying to break. Together, they embark on a mission to retrieve the seven moonstones which hold the key to breaking the curse, making friends and foes along the way.

Pros:

Loot is definitely a lot of fun, chockfull of likeable characters and interesting locales. The protagonist, March, though not particularly well-realized, is competent and easy to root for.

The plot is fast-paced and the action non-stop and I really enjoyed the globe-hopping style the book took. The writing is funny and sparse but never too simplistic or condescending, giving the book the perfect measure of immediacy and urgency.

Another thing worth noting was the inclusion of children with less-than-perfect lives. Though Watson never dwells on the difficulties these kids face, she doesn’t sugarcoat them either. It was a nice change from the clean-cut kids who usually populate these kinds of books.

Cons:

At certain points, the plot was almost too fast-paced, leaving little room for world-building or character development. I had a hard time keeping a mental image of the numerous characters and locations.

March’s father’s death also felt too abrupt, and March really wasn’t given any time to absorb what happened, much less deal with it.

Although the book isn’t exactly realistic, I really couldn’t get onboard with some of March’s rationalizations for stealing. Though the author does make a few good points, I don’t think that it’s okay to steal from people because they’re rich and apathetic.

Verdict:

With an intriguing premise, taut writing, and a very strong beginning, Loot is a smart, wish-fulfillment thriller prefect for young readers, even the most reluctant.

Rating: (7.5/10)

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For more excellent MG book recommendations, go to Shannon Messenger's blog.

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Fast Five Friday (8/8/2014)

Fast Five Friday is a meme we are started here at Reader Noir! 

Basically you choose five books you are looking forward to reading and tell us a little bit about them. You can share your list in the comments or link to your blog! 

Thanks for joining and enjoy!

#1 The Iron Trial (Magisterium #1)

by Cassandra Clare and Holly Black (September 9^th 2014, Scholastic Press)

 Most kids would do anything to pass the Iron Trial.

Not Callum Hunt. He wants to fail.

All his life, Call has been warned by his father to stay away from magic. If he succeeds at the Iron Trial and is admitted into the Magisterium, he is sure it can only mean bad things for him.

So he tries his best to do his worst - and fails at failing.

Now the Magisterium awaits him. It's a place that's both sensational and sinister, with dark ties to his past and a twisty path to his future.

The Iron Trial is just the beginning, for the biggest test is still to come . . .

From the remarkable imaginations of bestselling authors Holly Black and Cassandra Clare comes a heart-stopping, mind-blowing, pulse-pounding plunge into the magical unknown.

#2 Skulduggery Pleasant (Skulduggery Pleasant #1)

by Derek Landy (April 3^rd 2007, HarperCollins)

 Meet Skulduggery Pleasant

Ace Detective

Snappy Dresser

Razor–tongued Wit

Crackerjack Sorcerer

and

Walking, Talking,

Fire-throwing Skeleton

—as well as ally, protector, and mentor of Stephanie Edgley, a very unusual and darkly talented twelve-year-old.

These two alone must defeat an all-consuming ancient evil.

The end of the world?

Over his dead body.

#3 Loot

by Jude Watson (June 24^th 2014, Scholastic Press)

On a foggy night in Amsterdam, a man falls from a rooftop to the wet pavement below. It's Archibald McQuinn, the notorious cat burglar, and he's dying. As sirens wail in the distance, Archie manages to get out two last words to his young son, March: "Find jewels."

But March learns that his father is not talking about hidden loot. He's talking about Jules, the twin sister March never knew he had. No sooner than the two find each other, they're picked up by the police and sent to the world's worst orphanage. It's not hard time, but it feels like it.

March and Jules have no intention of staying put. They know their father's business inside and out, and they're tired of being pushed around. Just one good heist, and they'll live the life of riches and freedom that most kids only dream about. . . . .

Hold on to your pearls, because this summer, the world's youngest criminal masterminds are coming for you.

#4 13 Treasures (Thirteen Treasures # 1)

by Michelle Harrison (April 10^th 2012, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)

Tanya is no ordinary girl. She can see fairies. But not the fairies we imagine. Evil fairies who cast spells on her, rousing her from her sleep and propelling her out of bed. At wit's end with her daughter's inexplicable behavior, Tanya's mother sends her away to live with her grandmother at Elvesden Manor, a secluded countryside mansion on the outskirts of a peculiar Essex town.

There is plenty to explore, as long as Tanya stays away from Hangman's Wood- a vast stretch of forest, full of catacombs and notorious for people losing their lives. Fifty years ago a girl vanished in the woods, a girl Tanya's grandmother will not speak of. As Tanya learns more about this girl, she finds herself dangerously close to vanishing into the fairy realm forever.

Debut author Michelle Harrison weaves an intricate mystery into a beautiful and haunting fantasy that captures a rich world of fairy lore where only the color red can offer protection.

#5 The Forbidden Library

Django Wexler (April 15^th 2014, Kathy Dawson Books)

Alice always thought fairy tales had happy endings. That--along with everything else--changed the day she met her first fairy

When Alice's father goes down in a shipwreck, she is sent to live with her uncle Geryon--an uncle she's never heard of and knows nothing about. He lives in an enormous manor with a massive library that is off-limits to Alice. But then she meets a talking cat. And even for a rule-follower, when a talking cat sneaks you into a forbidden library and introduces you to an arrogant boy who dares you to open a book, it's hard to resist. Especially if you're a reader to begin with. Soon Alice finds herself INSIDE the book, and the only way out is to defeat the creature imprisoned within.

It seems her uncle is more than he says he is. But then so is Alice.

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Goliath (Leviathan # 3)

by Scott Westerfeld with illustrations by Keith Thompson

(September 20th, 2011, Simon Pulse)

Book Description: 

After helping Turkey with its revolution, Deryn and Alek are once again on board the Leviathan, their destination a military secret. A surprising detour in Siberia, however, brings a mysterious new passenger aboard – one who claims to have a weapon so powerful that it can level entire cities. As the Leviathan heads farther east, to Japan, Mexico, and finally, America, Alek and Deryn must find a way to stop this weapon from falling into the wrong hands and maybe, end this war.

Pros:

Goliath is the perfect conclusion to the Leviathan trilogy, and a real delight for those of us who have stuck with it this long. It’s tightly-plotted, with some outstanding action sequences that really keep the pages turning. Although there is no clear-cut antagonist this time around either, the addition of the inventor Nikola Tesla to the plot is intriguing and the concept of the weapon Goliath impeccably builds upon similar weapons throughout the series. The author’s ability to demonstrate its horrific effects early on both ups the ante in terms of the stakes and helps maintain a tangible sense of suspense all the way to the end. The bureaucracy, messiness, and sometimes, inhumanity inherent to war is plausibly captured which is a great change from previous books. 


The relationship between Alek and Deryn is just great. The conflict between them early in the book is complex enough to be interesting but never resorts to melodrama. And because it’s based on real shared experience as opposed to the superficiality and flightiness that’s endemic in YA novels, it feels earned and realistic.

One thing I was especially pleased with the much more measured treatment of death in Goliath, especially when compared to Behemoth. It’s refreshing to see the characters finally reacting more realistically to the horror of war. This obviously helps smooth out a lot of the character inconsistencies that were present in the previous book, making the characters more likeable than previously. 
In spite of less description, the many locations Leviathan visits in Goliath are more fully-realized that Istanbul was in the preceding volume. They seem alternately exotic and familiar, but are always interesting and colorful and make excellent backdrops for the action taking place. The terrific monochromatic pencil illustrations really help the setting come to life and are detailed enough to give the reader a mental image of hard-to-imagine beasties and weapons. 
The ending is bittersweet and unexpected, but ultimately satisfying and really proves that a seemingly small action – at least in comparison to the war as a whole – can really tip the scales.

Cons:

The action sequences can lag somewhat because of over-description, and the plot still seems quite episodic. There are also parts of the book that suffer from a lack of a clear-cut road forward.

Verdict: 

A very welcome return to form, Goliath brings more action, more heart, and more depth than previous books in the series, and is a brilliant close to adventures of Alek and Deryn abroad the Leviathan.  

Rating: (8/10)

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MMGM: Curiosity

by Gary Blackwood

(April 10^th, 2014, Dial)

Book description:

Because of his bent back, 12-year-old chess virtuoso Rufus lives a secluded but sheltered life in 19^th century Philadelphia. When his imprudent father, the Reverend Godspeed, is ousted from the church and put into debtor’s prison because of his “heretical” book Development of Species, Rufus is sent to the House of Refuge, an orphanage where children are semi-starved and tormented. Things begin to look up when Rufus is hired by Johann Maelzel, an unscrupulous entertainer who specializes in automata and dioramas. But as Rufus begins his work operating the world-famous chess-playing automaton the Turk, he starts to uncover terrifying secrets about the Turk’s other operators, and their mysterious disappearances…  

Pros:

Curiosity’s main draw is its exceptionally empathetic hero Rufus. His good-heartedness makes him extremely easy to root for, but his development as a character is what makes him truly unique. He goes from being a gentle but spoiled boy living a privileged life to a tough, intelligent one whose perseverance helps him transcend his terrible circumstances. Jacque, the French carpenter who suffers from PTSD, is also an interesting character. His defense of Rufus on a couple of occasions and his sporadic remembrances of his life make him especially three-dimensional. Other characters like the unprincipled Maelzel and the weak though kind Mulhouse are also well-realized.

The writing here, which reads like a less humorous and sophisticated version of Dickens, is well-done and compelling. Its lack of condescension and realism are also big pulls. 

The book’s main theme, the concept of fighting to better your situation versus “taking things with good grace”, is rendered subtly and poignantly. The well-researched setting is another attraction, and adds interest to this simple tale.   

Cons:

There’s a real lack of action during the first half of the novel that’s only partially allayed during the second half, and the dark tone and complex writing are also unlikely to appeal to children. There is one significant incident in which Rufus is plainly used as a pawn of plot. The bittersweet ending, moreover, is unsatisfying, especially considering how much Rufus had suffered throughout the novel.

Verdict: Though likely to bore or depress its target demographic, Curiosity is a thoughtful, relatively interesting look at a Philadelphia boy who rises above his abysmal circumstances and the 19^th century automaton that he operates.

Rating: (6.5/10)

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For more excellent MG book recommendations, go to Shannon Messenger's blog.

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