The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens

From The Publisher:

Kate, Michael, and Emma have been in one orphanage after another for the last ten years, passed along like lost baggage.

Yet these unwanted children are more remarkable than they could possibly imagine. Ripped from their parents as babies, they are being protected from a horrible evil of devastating power, an evil they know nothing about.

Until now.

Before long, Kate, Michael, and Emma are on a journey to dangerous and secret corners of the world...a journey of allies and enemies, of magic and mayhem.  And—if an ancient prophesy is correct—what they do can change history, and it is up to them to set things right.

The Emerald Atlas brims with humor and action as it charts Kate, Michael, and Emma's extraordinary adventures through an unforgettable, enchanted world.

My Review:

Don’t be fooled. Although this may seem like a typical fantasy novel (evil witch, good wizard, epic quest, etc.), it is not. This fast paced novel will have readers rooting for Kate, Michael, and Emma within a handful of pages.

Kate, Michael, and Emma’s devotion to each other was endearing. It also drove the characters to change in a way that didn’t seem out of the blue. Not only are the main characters well developed, but the secondary characters are also well thought out. The Countess was pure evil. Gabriel was an awesome role model to Emma. Every character had a unique personality which made the book memorable.

Time travel is awesome. Stephens doesn’t overly complicate it either. The idea of altering the present by going into the past is explained in a simple way with Dr. Pym’s explanations and Emma’s questions. You won’t get confused.

Stephens did not leave a cliffhanger at the end of the book, but there were several hints regarding future adventures (two more books have yet to be found!). Book 2, The Fire Chronicles, comes out August 28, 2012. I am definitely curious to see what new adventures the siblings will face.

The Bottom Line:

Time travel, adventure, ancients secrets. . . this book has it all. It’s a story everyone has read once before, but not like this.  4/5

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

From The Publisher:

Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?

Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. She's stuck at JFK, late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon to be step-mother that Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's in seat 18C. Hadley's in 18A.

Twists of fate and quirks of timing play out in this thoughtful novel about family connections, second chances and first loves. Set over a 24-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it.

My Review:

Look at that cover. Then read the title. How can you not be attracted to this book.

The reason this book worked out was because of Hadley. She is such a transparent character, which is a good thing. Within a few hours of meeting Oliver, she is candidly telling him about her anxieties toward flying and her father. She completely opens up and allows the reader to sympathize with her. Hadley’s strong connection with her mother also makes her a likeable character. I enjoyed reading a teen book where family was important.

The third person point of view felt a bit forced. Although Hadley’s parents had names, they were often referred to as Mom or Dad. Since the whole story was centered around Hadley, first person may have been a better choice. It felt more like a third person PoV trying to be a first person PoV.

Most of the story was predictable but Smith’s writing style will keep you reading. There was just enough description to help you visualize. All the small details that were added made the characters real; Smith showed their flaws. Even the pacing was just right.

The Bottom Line:

Fans of contemporary/romantic teen fiction should definitely give this book a read. Others should pick this up when in the mood for a quick read that will warm your heart. 3/5

The Kneebone Boy by Ellen Potter

From The Publisher:

Life in a small town can be pretty boring when everyone avoids you like the plague. But after their father unwittingly sends them to stay with an aunt who’s away on holiday, the Hardscrabble children take off on an adventure that begins in the seedy streets of London and ends in a peculiar sea village where, according to legend, a monstrous half-beast boy roams the woods. . .

In this wickedly dark, unusual, and compelling novel, Ellen Potter masterfully tells the tale of one deliciously strange family and a secret that changes everything.

My Review:

The Kneebone Boy is about acceptance. Potter creates an engaging story filled with adventure while unraveling the story of a traumatic event. It wasn’t depressing, nor did Potter create an imaginary world for the children. They simply go on a journey that allows them to discover the truth.

This book was not predictable. Even though there were hints throughout the novel, I didn’t pick up on them until they were pointed out by Max. I had to reread sections to see the subtle foreshadowing.

As the story progressed, I kept looking back at the cover. The children looked exactly as described by the author. Chapter 6 introduces Chester the cat. Look at him carefully. There is also the dilapidated building in the background as well as the mysterious person in the tree. What a fantastic cover.

AND there is a castle folly with a secret passage. Potter finds fantasy and adventure in everyday life. There is a reasonable explanation to every mystical occurrence. I like that. Not all children’s books must be purely realistic or purely fantastical. The Kneebone Boy was a perfect blend of the two.

The Bottom Line:

If you are looking for light read, this is not for you. This quirky, thought provoking book will stay with readers long after the ending. Don’t give up on it; it is definitely worth the read. Did I mention the folly? 4/5

The Genius Files: Mission Unstoppable by Dan Gutman

From The Publisher:

In eight days, Coke and Pepsi McDonald are going to turn thirteen.

Before then, they'll jump off a cliff, get trapped in the locked basement of their burning school, chased cross-country by murderous lunatics, left for dead in the pit of a sand dune, forced to decipher mysterious coded messages, thrown into a giant vat of SPAM, and visit the world's largest . . . ball of twine!

There's more, but if we told you here, we'd have to kill you.

Megapopular author Dan Gutman brings on the excitement with an action-packed new series that's nothing short of dynamite. Join Coke and Pep on their quest to uncover just what it means to be part of The Genius Files . . . if you dare!


My Review:

How could anyone resist a good old secret agent book! Fans of The Name of This Book Is Secret  will enjoy the humor as well as adventure found throughout this incredible new series by Dan Gutman.

The visual aspect of the novel was very enjoyable. Each chapter title was in the form of an interstate sign while road markings were drawn along the pages reminding the reader of the road trip. Periodically the number of miles traveled would be shown in the margin in the form of an odometer. Black and white pictures of various landmarks the twins visited also added charm to each unusual place.

The book was also interactive! First, it encouraged the reader to use Google Maps to follow the twins on their cross-country trip. Second, it had messages for twins that you had to solve (think Chasing Vermeer). There were even some cryptograms hidden in the margins of the book. Genius!

There is also LOTS of action.

Look out for The Genius Files: Never Say Genius on January 24th! Readers will eagerly await the continuation of the twins’ adventure.

The Bottom Line:

Exploring quirky places of the U.S. while trying to figure out the twins’ pursuer will keep you turning the pages. This animated adventure book will also have you laughing while you solve puzzles. It’s great for boys and girls who enjoy mysteries and espionage. 4/5

The Sisters Grimm, Book One: The Fairy-Tale Detectives by Michael Buckley

From The Publisher:

For Sabrina and Daphne Grimm, life has not been a fairy tale. After the mysterious disappearance of their parents, the sisters are sent to live with their grandmother--a woman they believed was dead! Granny Relda reveals that the girls have two famous ancestors, the Brothers Grimm, whose classic book of fairy tales is actually a collection of case files of magical mischief. Now the girls must take on the family responsibility of being fairy tale detectives. Their first case? A roller-coaster ride of an adventure to stop a giant from destroying their new hometown.

My Review:

I LOVE fairy tales as well as twists to the original stories, but this fell short of my expectations. It felt like a set up book for the rest of the series. It took 100 pages for the story to even pick up. Afterwards, the story went by too quickly.

The following paragraph contains spoilers:
The characters and the plot were WAY too similar to Bill Willingham’s Fables series: Prince Charming as a crooked mayor, Jack as the bad boy, Big Bad Wolf as the good guy protecting others, the fairy-tale land in New York with a spell warding outsiders (just to name a few). I just prefer Willingham’s story. If I had read Sisters Grimm first, I might have felt differently.

Sabrina’s know-it-all attitude comes in handy for slipping in definitions of harder words (think Fancy Nancy). This was a nice touch since larger words are often thrown into tween books and feel out of place. There are also two pictures per chapter to keep younger audiences visually stimulated.

This popular series already has 8 books! Book 9, The Council of Mirrors, comes out May 8, 2012.

The Bottom Line:

This fairy-tale mystery sprinkled with action would appeal to a wide audience with a general interest in fables. Those with a more comprehensive knowledge of fables might find it less rewarding. 3/5