The Strange & Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton

Candlewick Press, 2014. Review Copy Provided by Publisher.

Reviewed for the Morris Award Finalists Blog Tour

From YALSA: "The William C. Morris YA Debut Award, first awarded in 2009, honors a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens and celebrating impressive new voices in young adult literature."

Ava Lavender is just a girl. A girl with wings. To better understand herself--why she is the way she is, what happens to her--she takes readers back three generations to explore the other women in her family: her mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

What I thought: I can honestly say I've never read anything quite like The Strange & Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender. A compelling blend of magical realism and historical fiction, you are drawn into the story of this family. Their triumphs and trials, as it were. Ava is a wonderful narrator. This book is not a happy book, but that doesn't stop Ava from relating episodes from her life or her family's history. I found parts of this book very hard to read. Life for this family isn't always happy or pretty. It's often difficult, ugly, and tragic. Despite that, I couldn't put this book down. Leslye's use of Ava's family history is brilliant. By the time you get to Ava's story (her life as teenager), you are so attached to and invested in this family. No matter how dark the story becomes, you keep reading. I think what I most enjoyed about the book was the ending--satisfyingly happy and filled with hope. I would recommend this to teens looking for something different. The Strange & Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender is not the usual contemporary or paranormal fiction I often find my teens reading. I think adults will also enjoy this book.

For more information about The Strange & Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender and its author Leslye Walton, visit her website.

May B by Caroline Starr Rose

Her family needs the money so May is sent to help out on a neighbor's farm. The man is well meaning enough, but wife is not at all suited to frontier life. One day, she runs away and her husband goes after her. They don't return and May is left alone, away from home, and it's months before her father will come to fetch her. Can a young girl survive on her own as winter comes to the prairie?

What I thought: I read May B in one sitting. It was riveting. I felt like I was there with her. I could feel her desperation, cold, and hunger. This is an awesome book. Like most verse novels, it was a quick read. It's one of my favorites--right up there with Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse. May's struggle with reading is heart wrenching. I like that the author considered what life would be like for a child who suffered from dyslexia. Give this book to fans of Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House series and Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson.

(Schwartz & Wade, 2012)

Nobody's Secret by Michaela MacColl

A chance encounter with a charismatic young man who prefers not to reveal his name is a change of pace from the usual for teenage Emily Dickinson. Aghast when "Mr. Nobody" is found dead in the pond, Emily works to discover his identity--she owes him that much. What she finds is something much more sinister...a murder.

What I thought: Fantastic book! Of course the author invented Emily Dickinson's encounter with Mr. Nobody, but her portrayal of the famous poet is quite accurate. I loved the mystery element. The author's note and further reading section left me wanting to know more about Emily Dickinson. I like Michaela MacColl's style (blending historical fact into an engaging story) and look forward to reading her other books.

(Chronicle, 2013)

The Cup & The Crown by Diane Stanley

Sequel to The Silver Bowl

Molly is now a lady...a reward for saving the young prince from an evil plot. Her elevated status doesn't stop her visions. In her dreams, Molly sees a cup. When the king (the former prince) asks her to find him a loving cup made by her grandfather, Molly isn't surprised. With her friends Winifred and Tobias, she journeys first to Austlind and then to the hidden city of Harrowsgode where she finds much more than a loving cup.

What I thought: The Cup & The Crown was a riveting read. It's fast-paced and filled with both action and peril. This book can be enjoyed without reading the previous book. Molly remains a wonderful heroine. I loved seeing her grow and mature in her second book. The descriptions of Harrowsgode were gorgeous. Who would expect such beauty to hide such treachery? (Wait! Didn't the same thing happen in The Silver Bowl?) The new characters introduced in this book were great. I especially like Molly's cousin. Medieval fantasy fans will love The Cup & The Crown. I would also give this title to historical faction fans.

(Harper, 2012)

Scarlet by A. C. Gaughen

Will Scarlet is just another member of Robin Hood's band. Scarlet is good at stealing and fighting with knives. No one ever notices him and Scarlet likes it that way. If people look too closely, they might see what she's hiding. That's right. Will is a girl with unusual skills and a painful past she won't mention. Her life in Nottingham is predictable if not pleasant, but that all changes when Gisborne arrives. The thief taker is the one person Scarlet fears. Can she trust Robin and his band with her secrets?

What I thought: Wow! I can see why Scarlet was chosen as a 2012 Teens' Top Ten Nomination. The two items that struck me most...Will Scarlet is a girl and the language. This book begs to be read aloud. I also enjoyed that reader's are kept in the dark right along with Robin and his men about Scarlet's secrets. The ending was fantastic. I would love there to be a sequel. I checked out the author's website. Scarlet is a standalone novel, but she's not saying she'll never write a sequel. I think readers will want a sequel (I know I do) and they may even write their own. On a side note, I'm as equally fascinated with the Robin Hood legend as A. C. Gaughen.

(Walker and Company, 2012)

Secret Letters by Leah Scheier

Dora Joyce is too observant and questioning to be a proper young lady. She also suspects the infamous detective Sherlock Holmes is her father. Her identity quest comes to a screeching halt when she finds out Holmes is dead. However, all is not lost. She meets Peter Cartwright, a budding detective, who will help her cousin and give Dora a chance to prove herself.

What I thought: An enjoyable book, but I wasn't drawn into Secret Letters as much as I was the Enola Holmes series by Nancy Springer. Dora's interactions with Peter are the best bits of the book. I love how plucky she is. Dare I hope there might be another book? Give this to fans of historical mysteries (think the Mary Quinn series by Y. S. Lee).

(Hyperion, 2012)

Keeping the Castle by Patrice Kindl

The only way for Althea Crawley to feed her family and maintain the family home is to marry well. Althea's very nature is against her. She's too unconventional and blunt speaking to hold a suitor's attraction. Could the new neighbor, Lord Boring, be her Prince Charming? Althea thinks so if only his bumbling cousin Mr. Fredericks wold keep out of the way.

What I thought: I liked Patrice Kindl's novel Goose Chase and I wasn't disappointed with her latest novel although it is very different from the former. Keeping the Castle was a fun read. Althea is a wonderful narrator. Her stepsisters were truly horrible. The story is a bit Cinderella-esque. I'm just glad Althea gets her happy ending (though not the one she envisioned). Give Keeping the Castle to fans of Jane Austen and Downton Abbey.

(Viking, 2012)

The Traitor in the Tunnel by Y. S. Lee

The Agency #3

Mary Quinn's latest assignment for the Agency is rather dull even if it did land her in Buckingham Palace. There's a thief at work within the palace, but with the moratorium on servants' gossip, there have been few leads in the case. James comes back into Mary's life as does another person from her past. The dull, mundane assignment quickly escalates into the most exciting of her career.

What I thought: When I first read The Traitor in the Tunnel, I was under the impression that it was the last book in the series. I have since learned that there will be another book. I couldn't be more pleased, but the following review was written in the frame of mind that it was the last book.

What a book! Mary and James fairly make the pages sizzle and unlike the last book in many trilogies, The Traitor in the Tunnel ties up all loose ends and leaves you feeling good about where the characters are. I think I might commemorate the end of the series by re-reading the whole of it.

I'm looking forward to the 4th book. According to GoodReads, the title is Rivals in the City, but there's no publication date listed. I'm hoping 2013.

(Candlewick, 2012)

The Cheshire Cheese Cat: A Dickens of a Tale by Carmen Agra Deedy & Randall Wright

Skilley is the perfect cat to be mouser at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese. He's a cat with a secret. When Pip (a Cheshire Cheese mouse) discovers his secret, the unlikely allies become friends. They work together to save first the British Empire and then the mice from Skilley's nemesis Pinch.

What I thought: This was a delightful book. I wasn't sure about reading it, but once I got started I was hooked. The setting and characters are unique. I liked the cameo appearances by famous authors. Incidentally, A Tale of Two Cities is my least favorite book by Dickens. I was forced to read it as a high school sophomore. My favorite scene was Too welcoming Skilley to the inn. The Cheshire Cheese Cat could be one of my favorite animal fantasies. It's right up there with Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH.

(Illus. Barry Moser. Peachtree, 2011)

Around the World by Matt Phelan

Summary from Dust Jacket: As the nineteenth century wound down, a public inspired by the novel Around the World in Eighty Days clamored for intrepid adventure. The challenge of circumnavigating the globe as no one ever had before--a feat assuring fame if not fortune--attracted the fearless in droves. Three hardy spirits stayed the course: In 1884, former miner Thomas Stevens made the journey on a bicycle, the kind with a big front wheel. In 1889, pioneer reporter Nellie Bly embarked on a global race against time that assumed the heights of spectacle, ushering in the age of the American celebrity. And in 1895, retired sea captain Joshua Slocum quietly set sail on a thirty-six-foot sloop, braving pirates and treacherous seas to become the first person to sail around the world alone. With cinematic pacing and deft, expressive art, acclaimed graphic novelist Matt Phelan weaves a trio of epic journeys into a single bold tale of three visionaries who set their sights on nothing short of the world.

What I thought: This is the type of graphic novel that I like. It reads easily and quickly...almost like a comic book. The stories themselves are very interesting. I know about Nellie Bly, but I'd never heard of Thomas Stevens and Joshua Slocum. Their adventures were page turning. The author's note was informative. I've often found myself wondering about people I know or read about. You see one side of them. What goes on when they're not at work? After reading Around the World, Phelan's other graphic novel, The Storm in the Barn, is now on my to read list.

(Candlewick, 2011)

Wrapped by Jennifer Bradbury

In Regency England, Agnes Wilkins is much more excited about the novels by A Lady and practicing the ten languages she knows than her upcoming debut. That is until she attends the mummy unwrapping hosted by her neighbor and suitor Lord Showalter. The item Agnes finds turns out to be a message from a French spy. She is quickly thrust into the midst of a plot that might be the death of her. With the help of Caedmon Stowe, an intern at the British Museum, Agnes works to uncover the spy before he finds her.

What I thought: There's so much to like about Wrapped--the Regency setting, a headstrong intelligent heroine, a budding romance, and a mystery. I found it to be a thoroughly enjoyable read. My favorite parts include Agnes's quoting from the novels by A Lady and all the interesting situations Agnes and Caedmon find themselves in. Wrapped fits in perfectly with the Agency novels by Y.S. Lee and the Enola Holmes series by Nancy Springer. The ending was great, but I won't give it away here. A quick perusal of Bradbury's website shows that there will be a sequel...hooray!

(Atheneum, 2011)

A Month of Sundays by Ruth White

The year is 1957. The place is Black River, VA. Her mother leaves fourteen year old April Garnet Rose with her father's relatives while she goes to Florida to find work. Garnet joins her aunt June Bill on her search for God. They attend a different church every Sunday and experience many unusual things. On her Aunt June's search for God, Garnet begins to discover herself. An unforgettable summer turns into a life changing experience.

What I thought: I really liked this book. The regional flavor is just right. The characters were all likable and believable. I wonder what inspired Ruth White to write A Month of Sundays. Maybe there will be more books about Garnet.

(FSG, 2011)

Queen of Hearts by Martha Brooks

Marie-Claire is almost sixteen. A time that is usually special becomes traumatic when she and her siblings Luc and Josee are diagnosed with tuberculosis and sent to a sanatorium. In the 1940s, the cure for TB is rest and lots of it. Marie-Claire balks at the forced rest. She worries about her brother and sister and misses her life before TB. But to her surprise, she finds a life at the sanatorium--good friends and even love.

What I thought: I'm a sucker for historical fiction. The setting (Manitoba, Canada) is unusual and the disease is something I'm familiar with. My grandma's young sister died of TB in the early 1930s. When I headed off to college, I had to be tested for TB (something to do with living in a dorm). I felt Marie-Claire's every emotion in this book. Her anger, hopelessness, hope, and determination. All in all, a good book.

I read Queen of Hearts for the YA Historical Fiction Challenge.

(FSG, 2011)

The Body at the Tower by Y.S. Lee

(The Agency #2)

Mary Quinn's latest assignment for the Agency taxes her skills more than her first assignment did. Instead of a lady's companion, Mary must pass herself off as a pre-adolescent boy to investigate a mysterious death at a clock tower. Mary has only three obstacles: the danger around every corner, the compelling need to help her fellow workers, and the sudden and unexpected appearance of James Easton (You'll remember him from Mary's first adventure.) Can Mary avoid undue danger, quell her charitable urges, avoid another entanglement with James, and solve the mystery?

What I Thought: Very pleased am I to read the second book in the Agency series. Mary's new adventure is filled with excitement, suspense, and just a touch of romance. My only complaint: I would have liked more interaction between Mary and James. The historical details are top notch. My favorite adult mystery series (outside of the classic Sherlock Holmes) is Victoria Thompson's Gaslight Mysteries. I'm growing quite fond of the Victorian Era. I look forward to the next book in the Agency series, The Traitor and the Tunnel which is due to be published in February 2012.

I read The Body at the Tower for the YA Historical Fiction Challenge.

Read my review of A Spy in the House (The Agency #1).

(Candlewick, 2010)

The Case of the Gypsy Good-Bye by Nancy Springer

(Enola Holmes #6...the last and final...sigh!)

It's been almost a year since Enola's mother disappeared. It's been almost a year since Enola ran away, fleeing her uncomprehending brothers Mycroft and Sherlock and threats of boarding school.

Enola's mother is still missing. In fact, Enola hasn't heard from her in several months. Enola enjoys her life of freedom, but alluding her astute brother Sherlock is proving more and more difficult.

Finally, circumstances (a mysterious note from her mother and a missing lady) force Enola and Sherlock to work together. Are two heads really better than one?

What I thought: Another winner! Springer continues her well written series about an intelligent, independent-minded young woman. The only thing that disappoints me about this book is that it is to be the last of the series. What will I read now? I'm glad that Sherlock is finally appearing in a favorable light. His last words to Enola (the last paragraph of the book) are a great quote.

The Enola Holmes Series:
The Case of the Missing Marquess
The Case of the Left-Handed Lady
The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets
The Case of the Peculiar Pink Fan
The Case of the Cryptic Crinoline
The Case of the Gypsy Good-Bye

(Philomel, 2010)

Death Cloud by Andrew Lane

[Sherlock Holmes, The Legend Begins Book1]

Before he was the most famous detective in all of England and perhaps the world Sherlock Holmes was just a teenager. A loner who doesn't fit in well at his school, Sherlock looks forward to the summer holidays. But his father is off in India, his mother isn't well, and his older brother Mycroft is too busy to look after him. Ergo, Sherlock is unceremoniously sent to summer with his uncle in the country.

His uncle and aunt don't notice him. The housekeeper is inhospitable to say the least. Sherlock's summer isn't looking good until several things happen. He meets Matt Arnatt, he acquires a tutor, and two men die mysteriously. New friends and a mystery serve to enliven an otherwise dull summer holiday.

What I thought: I liked Death Cloud. Nothing can ever surpass the original short stories and novels by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, but this is a promising start to a new series. I liked that the young Sherlock Lane has created didn't spring from the womb with a highly developed analytical mind. At fourteen, he's an average boy. With the help of his brother, his tutor, and new friends, Sherlock begins to develop those skills that serve him so well in his later years. I look forward to reading the next book Rebel Fire, due out in the fall. The afterward was most informative about Lane's motivation and where he sees this series going. Interestingly, this series is authorized and endorsed by Doyle's estate.

On a side note, my two favorite derivative Sherlock Holmes' series are Nancy Springer's Enola Holmes series and Laurie R. King's Mary Russell series.

(FSG, 2010)

I Was Jane Austen's Best Friend by Cora Harrison

The year is 1791. Jane Austen is fifteen years old. Her cousin and best friend Jenny Cooper is sixteen years old. Jane scribbles away even then. Jenny is embroiled in her own romance that may one day inspire one of Jane's novels.

What I thought: An enjoyable book. Jenny makes a compelling narrator. Her opinions and thoughts show how different life was two centuries ago. Mostly I've heard how close she was to her sister Cassandra. This book shows another side to Jane--a younger, playful, more temperamental side. Harrison's knowledge of Austen's writing (both published and unpublished) is vastly evident. The historical detail is top notch. May thanks for the author's note that clarifies what was true and what was altered.

I read I Was Jane Austen's Best Friend for the YA Historical Fiction Challenge.

(Delacorte, 2010)

Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm

The Time: 1935
The Place: Key West

Eleven-year-old Turtle is spending the summer in Key West with her aunt and a multitude of boy cousins. Turtle gets to know the locals and joins her cousins on their neighborhood rounds. They even find a pirate treasure map before the summer is over.

What I thought: I enjoyed Turtle in Paradise. The 1930s is a time I like (probably because of The Waltons and my grandma who grew up during the depression). Turtle is an interesting character and a good narrator. Her toughness makes her quite reliable. The supporting characters are great. The Key West Culture was so interesting to read about. Cut ups and the other food mentioned made me hungry with a capital "H." When the book ended, I wanted more. That's always a good sign. Will we be reading more about Turtle in the future?

(Random House, 2010)

Around the World in 100 Days by Gary Blackwood

You know the story. You've likely seen the movie. You might have read the book. Yes, you've heard about Phileas Fogg and his quick 80 day trip around the world. A few years later (1891 to be exact), Fogg's seventeen-year-old son Harry has made a wager much like his father did. Drive his automobile (steam powered, of course) around the world in 100 days. What's a stake? £6,000 and Harry's freedom to be a tinker. His traveling companions: his friend Johnny, slow with people, but fast with machines; Charles, son of one of the betters; and Elizabeth, a newspaper reporter. Will they make it around the world in 100 days? Only time will tell.

What I thought: A fun, action packed book. A hint of steampunk that can't go wrong. The characters were great. I liked the interjection of Charles' journal entries and Elizabeth's dispatches. This book will appeal to both guys and girls who crave adventure filled books. Fans of Oppel's Airborn series will like Around the World in 100 Days.

(Dutton, 2010)

Maude March on the Run! by Audrey Couloumbis

Maude's re-entrance into regular life is short lived when she's recognized as a wanted criminal and arrested. Sallie couldn't be more thrilled to be back on the trail with her sister and their friend Marion Hardley. Their journey isn't easy. It's all filled with adventure. Will Maude ever be just Maude or will the infamy of "Mad Maude" follow her forever?

What I thought: Another great installment in Maude and Sallie's adventures. Trouble seems to follow them. I continue to enjoy Sallie's frank narration of events. I hope this isn't the end of their escapades. Maude and Marion's relationship is still uneasy. Maybe another book will clear it up.

I read Maude March on the Run! for the YA Historical Fiction Challenge.

(Random House, 2007)