Stravaganza: Danger in another World

Stravaganza: City of Masks by Mary Hoffman

Why did I read it?

Stravaganza has been one of Miss Karen's favorite series for a long time now. So, when we were decided on a book at TeenBookWorms, I suggested this one, and everyone else agreed.

What happened?

Lucien is battling cancer in modern day London. Struggling with chemotherapy, Lucien welcomes the gift of an old notebook to write his thoughts when his throat hurts. But, little does he known that the notebook is a talisman from Talia, an alternate world that was stumbled upon by an alchemist from our world.

Each night that Lucien goes to bed clutching the notebook, he wakes up in Bellezza, as city that resembles Venice almost 400 years in the past. While the political intrigue, beauty, and wonder of the city are similar to events in our own history, Bellezza is a city wrought with its own dangers, traditions, and scandals.

What did I like or not like?

For many of the folks that read it for TeenBookWorms, this book missed just slightly. They said the writing style was confusing at times, and the actions of the Duchessa (the female ruler of Bellezza) were a little bit brutal.

But, I can see why Miss Karen really likes this book. Assassination attempts, powerful families vying for control, and selfish rulers are very much historically accurate, and it makes sense that an alternate world would have these same problems. Having Lucien bounce back and forth between the two world also made for an interesting plot element.

Even though I agree that the writing style, which was third person keeping track of multiple story lines at the same time, could be a little confusing, I thought it helped the story along once I got into it.

Around the World: A Historic Graphic Novel

Around the World by Matt Phelan

Why did I read it?

Every month or so, I get a couple library magazines that roll across my desk. One of the main ones is VOYA (Voices of Youth Advocates). VOYA has great articles that deal with teen programming, and they also have a huge list of book reviews.

Around the World was one of the ones that my eye, so I asked our Acquisitions Librarian (the lady that orders our books) to buy us a copy. I'm always wondering if the books that I order because of a book review are any good, so I couldn't resist reading it. I'm really glad I did.

What happened?

In 1873, Jules Verne wrote the intrepid novel, Around the World in 80 Days, in which Phileas Fogg makes a wager to circumvent the globe in under 80 days. Inspired by that story, actual travelers sought to circle the globe. Matt has assembled three of these real-life stories into a fantastic graphic novel adventure.

Thomas Stevens road a bicycle around the world (boated over the ponds lol) to be remembered. Nellie Bly, girl reporter, did it to prove that she could. Joshua Slocum, a well-known sea captain, traveled around the world in a second rate ship as he mourned the loss of his first wife.

What did I like or not like?

When I first read the review for this one, I thought it was just an author inspired by the writings of Verne who knew a good idea when he saw one. Little did I know that there were real life people that went all the way around the world shortly after Around the World in 80 Days was published. Telling these actual events in graphic form, mixing in quotes from the traveler's journals, and pondering why they did what they did makes for a very interesting read.

Every Swan, Every Song, Every Sound

The Dreamer by Pam Munoz Ryan and Illustrated by Peter Sis.

Why did I read it?

This is another title from my Master's class that I probably wouldn't have read otherwise, but that I really enjoyed. Interestingly, the illustrator is the same guy who authored and illustrated The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain.

What happened?

Neftali is a young boy growing up in Temuco, Chile. Fascinated by the world around him, there was always something interesting to investigate on the way to school, or a fantastic word in a book he was reading. He couldn't help but daydream and imagine new places and adventures. While his mother appreciated his curiosity and fascination, his father did not. In his opinion, the reading, writing, and curiosity kept Neftali small, timid, and would never guarantee the kind of job that would support his family someday.

What did I like or not like?

Unbeknownst to me, this book is based on the childhood experiences of world renowned poet Pablo Neruda (the pen name for Neftali Ricardo Reyes Basoalto). Once I figured that out, the slightly different style of the book began to make sense. There is a blending of the text with poetry, images, and questions, and I think the book did a great job portraying the creative mindset, and seeing how a poet might have gotten to where he was.

Electric Revolution

How dost thou?

Sorry, there were characters in the book this week that spoke older English. For the past couple of weeks I’ve looked for another graphic novel to read, and The Sons of Liberty caught my eye. Apparently it caught the eye of some of you as well, because it was checked out for a while before I could get my hands on it. Of course, that probably means I’m actually reading books that you enjoy, which can’t be a bad thing.

Anyways, the book is a graphic novel created and written by Alexander and Joseph Lagos, drawn by Steve Walker, and colored by Oren Kramek. The novel opens just before the Revolutionary War. Slavery was still very prominent, and runaway slaves were hunted down and mistreated. Two such runaways are Graham and Brody who find shelter with a kind-hearted man named Ben Franklin. But, Franklin’s son, William, isn’t so kind-hearted. William uses Graham and Brody for an experiment. Using quick jolts of electricity, Graham and Brody are able to leap rivers and split trees with their fists. How this “gift” will affect their lives is uncertain, as this is the first installment in a series of graphic novels.

As historical fiction, this graphic novel is very interesting. You definitely get a feel for slavery during those times and how it affects Graham and Brody. The novel also gives an interesting take on William Franklin, who is painted as far from an upright character (he will probably become a serious bad guy in future installments). The idea of super heroes in revolutionary times is a very interesting idea, and I wouldn’t mind reading future installments. But, the drawing style itself and the subject matter of the book is dark, and has some violence.

Ultimately, the feeling I got was similar to my feelings for Wild Wild West starring Will Smith. The movie was good, but the mix of technology with an older time period leaves you feeling a little gross. But, the novel does make revolutionary times fresh and interesting, and you get interested in Graham and Brody’s future.

P.S. My high school aged brother picked up the book and devoured it. He thought super heroes in the revolutionay war was pretty sweet.

Choosing to Love

Hello everyone! How is your week going?

Today, I have a Book Blurt that deals with a very sad and well-written book; Annexed by Sharon Dogar. The front cover reads, “The powerful story of the boy who loved Anne Frank.” That is exactly what it is; powerful. There is so much literature about the holocaust, and yet, every time I read another book or another story of that time, I can’t help but feel it. How could we do that to each other?

Sharon wrote this book largely based on Anne Frank’s autobiography. But, instead of telling Anne’s story which has been told and read the world over, Sharon chose to write about Peter. What did he feel while he was in hiding? What did he struggle with? What did his love for Anne look like? What was it like living with Anne Frank? These are questions that Sharon speculates on and writes very believably and convincingly. This book is a well-crafted story based on Anne’s diary, and on documentation from the death camps.

Unlike Anne, who was just writing her thoughts, Sharon has written a complete novel. We hear the story from Peter’s point of view while the events happen. But, we also get short commentaries from the Peter at the death camps. His italicized words hurt as you read them. Peter will be talking about hope and liberation and what he is going to do when the war is over. But then, we read a quick page from the Peter in the death camps, which reminds us that Peter didn’t make it. As Anne’s diary is so human, Sharon has done an excellent job writing a very real and human character in Peter who has his own take on the story.

While reading Holocaust literature it is so difficult not to feel anger. Why couldn’t Peter have made it? Why did so many innocents have to die? How could human beings do those things to someone? I was reading the epilogue that describes how the families died, and I felt angry. But, then I remembered Corrie ten Boom, who lived through the same time period and was able to forgive her captors. I think that is the point. This book is important, and actual Holocaust accounts are important, because they will hopefully help us to never make those mistakes again. But, it is also important that we don’t take on the hate that is shown in these pages, but rather choose to love like Corrie ten Boom.

Jacky the Cabin...Girl?

Aarghh, mateys! How goes the battle?

This week, I read Bloody Jack by L.A. Meyer. Bloody Jack is part of a long running series with the most recent book called The Wake of the Lorelei Lee, which is the eighth book. I’ve seen the last few books as they’ve come out, so I figured I’d read the first one to see where the books started.

Bloody Jack tells the story of Mary (now Jacky) Faber, who starts the book as a street urchin in London, 1797. Looking for consistent meals and a roof over her head, Mary gets onboard a British naval vessel, as a cabin boy! Mary chops off her hair, wears baggy pants, and changes her name to Jacky. Although she’s amazed at three meals a day and clothes on her back, she obviously has a hard time convincing the rough sea dogs that she’s one of them when actually she isn’t. Meyer got the idea for the novel after listening to folk songs from the period that had to do with cabin boys who wound up being cabin girls and falling for an officer or fellow sailor. Jacky has to find ways to keep her secret while wresting with puberty, creepy sailors onboard, dangerous pirates not on board, and her feelings for Jaimy, who actually is a boy and who she is crazy about.

Obviously, the premise of the book kind of presupposes some discussion on the differences between the sexes and how a girl could hide who she actually is from a bunch of men. There are a few rough scenes regarding her girlhood and a stalker sailor, and a few other violent scenes because they are on a naval vessel. But overall, the book is interesting to read and I enjoyed it.