Amanda In Malta: The Sleeping Lady, By Darlene Foster ~ 5.0 Stars

Tags

Adventure, Juvenile Fiction, Malta, Mystery

Thanks to NetGalley and Central Avenue Publishing for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: May 11th, 2021

128 Pages

Synopsis: Amanda receives a postcard from her best friend Leah, and is surprised to learn that she is in Malta with her aunt. Reading between the lines, she senses Leah is in trouble. Desperate to help her, Amanda travels to Malta with her classmate Caleb and his parents.

Amanda is intrigued with this exotic island in the middle of the Mediterranean, full of colorful history, sun-drenched limestone fortresses, stunning beaches and fascinating birds. But…who is killing the protected birds? Who stole a priceless artifact from the museum? And why is Leah acting so strange? She couldn’t possibly be involved in these illegal activities, or could she?

Join Amanda and her friends as the visit ancient temples, an exciting falconry, and the enchanting Popeye Village, as they try to get to the bottom of the mystery of the Sleeping Lady. (Goodreads)

Amanda In Malta: The Sleeping Lady, is the eighth book in author and fellow blogger Darlene Foster’s Amanda Travels series. While I know Darlene through WordPress, this is the first book of hers I’ve read, and what a pleasure it was. Even though it’s part of a series, I had no problem jumping right in. This has everything a 10-12 year old reader could want: an exotic location, likable and realistic characters, an exciting adventure with a touch of danger, a perfect mix of fact and fiction, and an intriguing mystery. Based on just this one book, I can honestly say this is a series I would have loved as a child. It’s also a series that if I were still a children’s librarian I’d be purchasing these for our library collection and promoting them to our young patrons. I don’t read many books nowadays that are for children younger than teens, but I enjoyed Amanda In Malta: The Sleeping Lady so much I’m determined to go back and read the previous books in the series!

Brightstorm (Sky-Ship Adventure #1), by Vashti Hardy – 5.0 Stars

Tags

Adventure, Death of a parent, Fantasy, Juvenile Fiction, Mystery, Science Fiction, Steampunk

Thanks to NetGalley and Norton Young Readers for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: March 17th, 2020

336 Pages

Synopsis: Arthur and Maudie Brightstorm receive devastating news: their famous explorer father has died in a failed attempt to reach South Polaris. To make matters worse, the Lontown Geographical Society finds Ernest Brightstorm guilty of sabotaging the expedition of his competitor, Eudora Vane. But a mysterious clue leads the twins to question the story they’ve been told—and to uncover the truth, they must undertake the journey of a lifetime.

Joining the ragtag crew of a homemade sky-ship captained by the intrepid Harriet Culpepper, Arthur and Maudie race to South Polaris to salvage their family’s reputation and find out what really happened on their father’s doomed expedition.

Brightstorm is a propulsive and compelling fantasy adventure set among the vibrant landscapes and dynamic characters of Vashti Hardy’s vividly imagined world.

First, how gorgeous is that cover? Doesn’t it immediately make you want to go grab a copy? Well, I’m happy to say that the story lives up to that wonderful cover. Brightstorm is one of the best middle grade reads I’ve had the pleasure of reading in quite a while, and I’m thrilled to feature it as my first review of 2020!

This story is not only a fascinating fusion of fantasy, science fiction, steampunk and historical fiction, it also draws inspiration from the real life story of the Scott Expedition to the South Pole. It’s a thrilling adventure which captivated me from the very first page and had me racing to the finish in just a little over three hours. The characters, from Maudie and Arthur, Captain Harriet Culpepper, and ship’s cook and comic relief, Felicity Wiggety, to the villainous, pink-loving, Eudora Vane, are brilliantly written. Maudie with her scientific genius is a wonderful female role model for STEM, and Captain Culpepper is as well. Arthur, who was born without one of his arms, has never let that stop him from accomplishing what he wants, although his impulsiveness can get himself and his loved ones into trouble. The satient animals like the Brightstorm’s faithful winged companion, Parthena, and the thought wolves are wonderful creations and add even more to an already exciting tale. The ending perfectly sets things up for the next book, Darkwhispers, and that brings me to my good news/bad news. The good news is that the sequel is coming out in February. The bad news is that if you want a print copy it looks like it’s initially going to be released in the UK, but not the US. Thank goodness for Book Depository which offers free shipping worldwide! If you have a Kindle though it’s already available for preorder on Amazon.

So, just to be clear, I haven’t had this high level of excitement after reading a children’s book since I first read Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, by Rowling, and Northern Lights, by Philip Pullman. If I wasn’t retired I’d be ordering multiple copies for my library in order to push them into the hands of my young patrons, and organizing book discussion groups! Brightstorm has been receiving accolades in the UK since it was released in 2018, and in my opinion they’re entirely well-deserved. This is a book that will win both juvenile and adult fans. Vashti Hardy is a storyteller extraordinaire who weaves magic with her words and illustrations. If you enjoy authors like Rowling, Pullman, and Lemony Snicket, you need to read this. And if you’re not familiar with these authors but you like the sound of a fantastic rollicking adventure featuring intrepid orphans and plenty of villainy afoot, I urge you to try this!

 

 

Dead Voices (Small Spaces #2), by Katherine Arden ~ 4.5 Stars ~ Blog Tour

Tags

Death of a parent, Horror, Juvenile Fiction, Mystery, Thriller

Thanks to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: Available Now

256 Pages

Synopsis: Bestselling author Katherine Arden returns with another creepy, spine-tingling adventure in this follow-up to the critically acclaimed Small Spaces.

Having survived sinister scarecrows and the malevolent smiling man in Small Spaces, newly minted best friends Ollie, Coco and Brian are ready to spend a relaxing winter break skiing together with their parents at Mount Hemlock Resort. But when a snowstorm sets in, causing the power to flicker out and the cold to creep closer and closer, the three are forced to settle for hot chocolate and board games by the fire.

Ollie, Coco and Brian are determined to make the best of being snowed in, but odd things keep happening. Coco is convinced she has seen a ghost, and Ollie is having nightmares about frostbitten girls pleading for help. Then Mr. Voland, a mysterious ghost hunter, arrives in the midst of the storm to investigate the hauntings at Hemlock Lodge. Ollie, Coco and Brian want to trust him, but Ollie’s watch, which once saved them from the smiling man, has a new cautionary message: BEWARE.

 With Mr. Voland’s help, Ollie, Coco and Brian reach out to the dead voices at Mount Hemlock. Maybe the ghosts need their help—or maybe not all ghosts can or should be trusted.

Dead Voices is a terrifying follow-up to Small Spaces with thrills and chills galore and the captive foreboding of a classic ghost story.

Review:

Back in June I reviewed the previous book, Small Spaces, which I absolutely loved and thought it was perfect for middle-schoolers. While there are a couple of things about Dead Voices that I didn’t like quite as much, for the most part I think it’s a solid follow-up.

I’m going to get my two small issues out of the way. First, Brian was missing for a good chunk of the story, and I really found myself missing him. While I’m not psychic, the way this series is being written I think he’ll play a larger role in the third book though, which kept my disappointment down to a minimum. This intrepid trio are stronger when there’s imput from all of them going into solving a problem. Granted, for most of the second half they’re separated, but Ollie and Coco still manage to work together in a fashion. The big takeaway is that this is a team and they’re stronger for it. Also, there are a couple of loose ends that left me a little frustrated, but honestly, neither of these two issues spoiled my enjoyment of the story.

So, on to the good stuff! The setting of an isolated, haunted ski resort whose lobby is filled with taxidermy is awesome! Any adult reading this who’s a Stephen King fan will of course be reminded of the Overlook Hotel, from The Shining. As for the kids, it’s just a perfectly eerie and creepy setting which is bound to give them goosebumps! This time Coco takes the lead for part of the story and it’s pure joy watching her gain more confidence in herself. There are plenty of familiar horror tropes sprinkled into the original plot and I think this will delight budding horror fans. 

Overall, Dead Voices is a wonderful second installment in this middle grade horror series that successfully combines genuine scares with themes of love and friendship. I love for the most part how the characters have further developed and how Ollie, Coco and Brian each get to tell parts of the plot in their POV. They’re extremely likable and easy to relate to. There’s an interesting dynamic developing between Ollie’s father and Coco’s mother, which has me intrigued as to where that leads and how it will effect the relationship between the girls in the next two books. I HIGHLY recommend this series to horror fans 4th grade and up, particularly readers who enjoy authors like John Bellairs, Joan Aiken, Neil Gaiman, and Mary Downing Hahn.

Purchase Info:

Penguin Random House Website @ https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com

Amazon @ https://www.amazon.com/Dead-Voices-Katherine-Arden/dp/0525515054/

Barnes and Noble @ https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dead-voices-katherine-arden/1129963492#/

Books-A-Million @ https://www.booksamillion.com/p/9780525515050

Target @ https://www.target.com/p/dead-voices-by-katherine-arden-hardcover/-/A-76423200

Author Bio:

Born in Austin, Texas, Katherine Arden spent a year of high school in Rennes, France. Following her acceptance to Middlebury College in Vermont, she deferred enrollment for a year, in order to live and study in Moscow. At Middlebury, she specialized in French and Russian literature. After receiving her BA, she moved to Maui, Hawaii, working every kind of odd job imaginable, from grant writing and making crepes to guiding horse trips. Currently, she lives in Vermont, but really, you never know. Please visit her at: https://mobile.twitter.com/arden_katherine and http://www.katherinearden.com

Blog Tour Schedule

Week 1:

August 19 – The Midnight Society @ https://midnightsocietytales.com ~ Inspiration Collage

August 20 – Fangirl Fury @ https://fangirlfury.com ~ Review + Inspired by the Book: Baking Recipe

August 21 – Teachers Who Read @ https://teacherswhoread.com ~ Review + Author Guest Post: Why spooky for middle grade readers?

August 22 – Bookishgals @ https://instagram.com/bookishgals_/ ~ Creative Instagram Picture

August 23 – Liezel and Angie’s Book Blog @ https://liezelsbookblog.net ~ Review

Week 2:

August 26 – Word Spelunking @ https://wordspelunking.blogspot.com ~ Inspired by the Book: Baking Project

August 27 – By Hook Or By Book @ https://cadburypom.wordpress.com ~ Review

August 28 – Vicariously & Voraciously @ https:// http://www.vicariouslyvoraciously.com 

August 29 – The Book Deviant @ https://bookdeviant.wordpress.com ~ Review

 

 

 

 

 

 

Small Spaces (Small Spaces #1), by Katherine Arden ~ 5.0 Stars

Tags

Death of a parent, Greek Mythology, Horror, Juvenile Fiction, Mystery, Thriller

Thanks to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books For Young Readers, for providing an eBook in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: Available Now

218 Pages

Synopsis: Bestselling adult author of The Bear and the Nightingale, makes her middle grade debut with a creepy, spellbinding ghost story destined to become a classic. 

After suffering a tragic loss, eleven-year-old Ollie only finds solace in books. So when she happens upon a crazed woman at the river threatening to throw a book into the water, Ollie doesn’t think—-she just acts, stealing the books and running away. As she begins to read the slender volume, Ollie discovers a chilling story about a girl named Beth, the two brothers who both loved her, and a peculiar deal made with “the smiling man,” a sinister specter who grants your most tightly held wish, but only for the ultimate price.

Ollie is captivating by the tale until her school trip the next day to Smoke Hollow, a local farm with a haunting history all its own. There she stumbles upon the graves of the very people she’s been reading about. Could it be the story about the smiling man is true? Ollie doesn’t have too long to think about the answer to that. On the way home, the bus breaks down, sending their teacher back to the farm for help. But the strange bus driver for the kids left behind in his care: “Best get moving. At nightfall they’ll come for the rest of you.” Nightfall is, indeed, fast descending, when Ollie’s previously broken digital wristwatch, a keepsake reminder of better times, begins a startling countdown and delivers a terrifying message: RUN.

Only Ollie and two of her classmates heed the bus driver’s warning. As the trio heads out into the woods—-bordered by a field of scarecrows that seem to be watching them—-the bus driver has one final piece of advice for Ollie and her friends: “Avoid large places. Keep to small.”

And with that, a deliciously creepy and hair-raising adventure begins.

I loved Katherine Arden’s YA/Adult Winternight Trilogy, but somehow I missed her middle-grade debut last year. I’m so glad I stumbled across Small Spaces on NetGalley, because it’s just as good as her fiction for older readers.

Both upper elementary-school age readers and adults will fall in love with Ollie, a young girl who a year after her mom’s death, is still trying to come to terms with it, mainly with the support of her dad and by escaping into books. Even though she’s withdrawn into herself, it’s obvious from the beginning that she’s a natural born leader. Brian and Coco, are also relatable, with Brian developing into so much more than the stereotypical bullying jock, and Coco displaying her own hidden strength under her outwardly fragile physical appearance. They wind up making quite the formidable team by the end of the book.

The story itself a wonderful blend of horror, Greek mythology, and coming-of-age. Although only 218 pages, it surprisingly manages to pack in quite a bit of material. It’s quick moving and I finished it in a bit over an hour. The ending was satisfying but it’s most likely this is going to be at the very least, a trilogy. The second book, Dead Voices, is coming out on August 27th, so lovers of horror and mythology have plenty of time to catch up!

 

Happily, by Chauncey Rogers ~ 4.5 Stars

Tags

Adventure, Fairytales, Humor, Juvenile Fiction

Thank you to Chauncey Rogers for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: April 3rd, 2018

314 Pages

Synopsis: 

If the shoe fits, wear it.

If it doesn’t, make it.

Laure is a street urchin just trying to get away. Where the rest of the world sees an enchanting love story, Laure sees royal incompetence and an opportunity to exploit it. She’ll have wealth and a way out of a life she detests., if she can only manage to hoodwink the royal family and live to tell the tale.

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, you know you’re reading something special when you’re doing everything you can to put off getting to the end of a book. Happily is one of these treasures. 

Back in January, I read Chauncey’s thriller/horror novel, Cleaving Souls, which kept me up reading until the wee hours of the morning. Happily did the same thing only for entirely different reasons. This isn’t quite a fairytale retelling, as Cinderella doesn’t even make an appearance until the end of the story. To give you an idea of how different this book is, here’s how it opens:

Before I start, however, we need to get a few things straight. First, I don’t like questions. They get people off track, they almost always would have been answered if the person had just kept listening, and they’re usually stupid. Yes, stupid. Whoever says otherwise is an idiot. Second, I’ve been told to tell you my story. Not my life story, so forget about learning about my childhood. Just the story of the glass slipper and my engagement to the prince—-the whole story. I don’t want to do this twice; let’s get it right the first time, shall we? There are only a few hours until the wedding ceremony, so sit down, get comfortable, and let’s get this over with—-that way you can leave, which will be great for both of us. Because the third, final, and perhaps most important thing for you to understand is this: I don’t like you.Try not to take it too personally—-I don’t like most people. Really, you’re probably in good company. You’re probably in pretty bad company, too, since there are a lot of idiots, creeps, and perverts who I don’t like either. There’s a group of people that I particularly dislike, however, and my story starts with them.

And that sassy, sarcastic voice belongs to Laure, the snarky, stubborn, cranky heroine of this book. As the story begins, she’s a street urchin who thinks of no one except for herself. But as the story develops it’s obvious that behind her self-absorbed exterior lies so much more. When she meets up with the adorably sweet Luc, he brings out the best in her and before you reach the halfway point, it’s obvious these two are soulmates.

As always, I’m not going to give away any spoilers, but let’s just say the story has a lovely romance, rollicking adventure, plenty of humor, fantastic world-building, and one of the most imaginative plots I’ve come across in a very long time. The only reason why I’m giving this less than a perfect 5 stars is because I thought everything came together a little too quickly at the end. But this is a very minor complaint.

In the end, I cannot recommend Happily highly enough for children and adults. Chauncey has taken an often retold story, and given it a unique and refreshing spin, filled with teachable moments. If you’re a fan of fairytales like: Ella Enchanted, Ever After (with Drew Barrymore), The Princess Bride, and Aladdin, you need to read this ASAP! It’s a beautiful escape from real world woes, and I guarantee you’ll be utterly captivated. And if you read this review Chauncey, I’m putting in my request for a sequel now. PLEASE! Oh, and I’d like to thank Chauncey’s young daughter for requesting that her dad write a story for her. Because of her wish, we are all beneficiaries of this fanciful tale.

 

Tricked (Fairy Tale Reform School #3) ~ By Jen Calonita – 4.5 Stars

Tags

Adventure, Fantasy, Friendship, Juvenile Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Jabberwocky for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

256 Pages

Synopsis: Things are changing at Fairy Tale Reform School.

At least, that’s what Gilly’s heard through the Enchantasia rumor mill. Word is, notorious trickster Rumplestiltskin has taken over management from headmistress Flora, and he’s locked down the school tighter than the Pied Piper’s pants. Not that this news concerns Gilly. She’s been released from the FTRS and is now suffering through attending Jack of All Trades School, where she gets to learn about different kinds of shoe leather and ways to measure feet.mTruly riveting stuff.

But when Gilly’s little sister Anna gets whisked off to FTRS thanks to her troublemaking new friends, Hansen and Gretel, Gilly knows she’s got to get Anna out of there. There’s only one thing to do; make some serious trouble and get thrown back into FTRS.

It’s time to out-trick a trickster.

Tricked is the third book in the Fairy Tale Reform series, and once again Jen Calonita has created a fantastical tale filled with action, humor, and wonderful worldbuilding. Gilly and her friends continue to evolve, making them completely relatable to tween readers. Just as in the previous two books, blended into the story are real life themes such as: standing up for yourself, making the right choices even though they may be the most difficult ones, and the value of friendship and teamwork. The storyline itself enhances the world of Enchantasia and introduces new, yet familiar faces both friend and foe. While I thought this particular quest came to an end a little too quickly, the ending is a perfect setup for the next book. I highly recommend Tricked and its predecessors: Flunked and Charmed for 9-12 year olds who enjoy action-filled fantasy.

Simon Thorn And The Viper’s Pit (Simon Thorn #2) ~ By Aimee Carter – 4.5 Stars

Tags

Family Relationships, Fantasy, Friendship, Juvenile Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA Children’s for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

304 Pages

Synopsis: Simon Thorn’s life is almost unrecognizable from a few months ago. Along with a surprise twin brother and an uncle he never knew, Simon has also found his first real friends to hang out, train and, study with at the secret Animalgam Academy. The only piece missing is his mother, held captive by his evil grandfather Orion, who’s bent on taking over the five kingdoms.

To rescue his mother, Simon sets off cross-country with his friends to the reptile kingdom, battling rogue Animalgrams and their own doubts along the way. But if he’s going to stop Orion, Simon will need to keep him from gathering together the fragments of a terrible weapon, or the lives of everyone Simon loves will be at risk.

When I reviewed the first book in this series, Simon Thorn and the Wolf’s Den, last year, my chief complaint was that although I loved the character of Simon as well as the world building, I thought the secondary characters were shallow and need more development. Well, this is one of those instances where the sequel far surpasses the first book. I can honestly say not only were the previous shortcomings addressed, but Simon himself shows tremendous growth. Just to catch you up on things, Simon and his new friends at the Animalgam Academy can communicate and transform into animals. While this theme is similar to others who use magical schools and “chosen one” themes, there’s plenty here that makes this stand apart. Although I wish there was a little more diversity with these characters, I connected to them much more in this story. As they embark on their quest, they have to not only find their way in the real world, but battle Animalgams that have been sent to capture them. There are many different sides in play here which Simon and his friends are just beginning to discover, and as a result they can really only trust and rely on each other. And this is my favorite part of the book. Watching them not only learn how to trust and be honest with each other, but also start working together as a team to reach their goals is pure pleasure. While Simon is definitely the leader, the others don’t just blindly follow him. When he loses sight of what needs to be focused on, they speak up while still being supportive. This is all done in a realistic fashion that I think many kids will relate to. The world building continues to expand and you see even more Animalgam communities as well as there being more at stake. There’s plenty of action from beginning to end which also makes this a quick read. I think this is shaping up to be a fun and enjoyable series for children in the 9-12 age range who enjoy authors like J.K. Rowling and Rick Riordan. I’m definitely hooked and am looking forward to the next book in the series.

 

Crooked Sixpence (The Uncommoners #1) ~ By Jennifer Bell – 4.5 Stars

Tags

Fantasy, Humor, Juvenile Fiction, Mystery, Suspense

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children’s for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: January 31st, 2017

320 Pages

Synopsis: When officers brandishing toilet brushes arrive at their door, eleven-year-old Ivy Sparrow and her older brother, Seb, go tumbling into Lundinor, a secret underground city. The siblings find themselves in a world of enchantment, where uncommon people, alive and dead, trade in uncommon goods: belts that enable the wearer to fly, yo-yos that turn into weapons, buttons with curative properties, and other enchanted objects capable of extraordinary feats.

But the charm wears thin when Ivy and Seb learn that their family is connected to one of the greatest uncommon treasures of all time and if they don’t find it, their parents lives are forfeit. It’s a race against time as Ivy and Seb attempt to unearth the treasure and rescue their parents.

Despite a few similarities to books like Harry Potter and Neal Gaiman’s Neverwhere, Crooked Sixpence does a great job standing on its own. From the very first page I felt as though I was inside this story that Jennifer Bell brings to life through her vividly written characters and beautifully descriptive world-building. Adding to the visualization are the lovely black and white illustrations that are scattered throughout the book. The loving but at times, combative relationship between Ivy and Seb is completely believable and will resonate with readers who have siblings. As they’re drawn into the incredible underground city of Ludinor they discover that their family isn’t what they thought, and while they’re understandably afraid and confused–especially since they’re being hunted by sinister officers armed with toilet brushes, and travel uncomfortably via a suitcase to a whole new and mysterious world that lies directly under London–their sense of adventure, courage, and determination to save their family eclipses all else. Ludinor and its unique and interesting inhabitants, known as the Uncommoners, are wonderfully brought to life and further flesh out the story. The suspense is perfectly blended with moments of humor which gives the story an air of mischievous fun. The storyline is well plotted and its fast pace had me easily finishing this in one sitting. I believe 9-12 year olds will absolutely love Crooked Sixpence. This is Jennifer Bell’s debut novel and I have to say I’m quite impressed. I’m eagerly anticipating what further adventures await Ivy and Seb!

Rest In Piece ~ By B.W. Ginsburg – 3.5 Stars

Tags

Adventure, Juvenile Fiction, Mystery, Paranormal Fiction, Suspense

166 Pages

Synopsis: Though decades apart, two young girls are connected in a way that is both fantastical and surreal. When twelve year old Louise Erickson finds out that she holds the key to saving a nine year old who disappeared twenty years earlier, she decides to accept the challenge. Will Louise be able to rescue the girl and the others locked away with her before it’s too late?

Rest in Piece is the debut novel by one of our fellow WordPress bloggers, B.W. Ginsburg, which made me even more excited to read and review it. After finishing, I’d say this is written for tweens. While I didn’t find it a perfect read, it was still fun and enjoyable. The action begins on the very first page and keeps the story moving forward at a pretty fast pace right up until its exciting ending. The storyline is highly imaginative and intriguing with two girls being connected over decades to each other through a mysterious and sinister puzzle. To be honest, the story is actually much better than the synopsis suggests. There were just two main issues I had reading this. The first concerned the characters’ voices, which I didn’t feel were distinctive enough from each other enough. The second concerned the actual world-building which took on more of a “telling” element rather than “showing”. Because of this I had difficulty feeling as though I was “in” the story. Overall though, I think Rest in Piece is a promising debut and it’s one that if I were still a children’s librarian, I’d be recommending to my young patrons who love a good paranormal mystery/adventure. I want to give kudos to B.W. on her debut and I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what she comes out with next!

*B.W. has two fun and informative blogs that I highly recommend visiting if you haven’t already.

http://restinpieceblog.wordpress.com

http://gettingthroughanxiety.wordpress.com

 

 

The Warden’s Daughter ~ By Jerry Spinelli – 4.5 Stars

Tags

Coming of Age Stories, Coping With Loss and Grief, Historical Fiction, Juvenile Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children’s for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: January 3rd, 2017

352 Pages

Synopsis: Cammie O’Reilly is the warden’s daughter, living in an apartment above the entrance to the Hancock County Prison. But she’s also living in a prison of grief and anger about the mother who died saving her from harm when she was just a baby. And prison has made her mad. This girl’s nickname is Cannonball.

In the summer of 1959, as twelve turns to thirteen, everything is in flux. Cammie’s best friend is discovering lipstick and American Bandstand. A child killer is caught and brought to her prison. And the only mother figures in her life include a flamboyant shoplifter named Boo Boo and a sullen reformed arsonist of a housekeeper. All will play a role in Cammie’s coming-of-age. But one in particular will make a stunning sacrifice to ensure that Cammie breaks free from her past.

I have been a passionate fan of Jerry Spinelli’s since I first read his Newbery Award winning YA novel Maniac Magee back in 1990. One of the many reasons why I love his writing is because he creates these incredible characters who come to life and literally leap off the page, and the ones in his newest novel are no different. Young Cammie reminded me very much of an older version of Scout from To Kill A Mockingbird. The story is told in the first person POV, so you get a true sense of who she is and what she’s going through. Her personality is prickly and she can come across as being disagreeable, but she’s a young girl struggling with never knowing her mother and the adults in her life don’t seem inclined to address it, including her loving but distant father. And balancing the more negative aspects of her personality is her compassion such as her wanting to spend time with the female prisoners because she think it will be therapeutic for them. Her relationships with the trustee/housekeeper, Eloda, Boo Boo, a female prisoner she’s become close with, and her best friend Reggie, though are the three that really play a large part in Cammie’s coming-of-age. The affectionate feelings shared by Cammie and Boo Boo, an ebullient black woman is especially touching. I have to be honest and say I initially cringed at the portrayal of Boo Boo as an uneducated, jolly black woman, but her character is skillfully woven into something much deeper by Spinelli. There was one passage in particular that involved Cammie doing something for Boo Boo in the outside world simply so the prisoner could live vicariously through her. It was so beautifully detailed it had me tearing up. Eloda was a bit more problematic for me. Cammie becomes determined to turn her into a mother figure, which despite numerous schemes, doesn’t exactly go well. Eloda determinedly keeps Cammie at a distance, and while I understand what Spinelli was doing, I was never really able to connect with her. And then there’s Reggie who is twelve going on seventeen, is fame obsessed (even appearing on American Bandstand) and is the complete opposite of the tomboyish Cammie. The two clash a few times, especially over Cammie’s feelings toward Eloda, and Reggie’s determination to get an autograph from the prison’s newest resident, an accused child killer, yet through it all their friendship stays strong. The setting in Spinelli’s hometown of Two Mills, PA, which was last seen in Maniac Magee, is vividly and nostalgically brought to life. This is the time of early rock and roll, and children being able to freely move around their neighborhoods. In many ways it’s a much more innocent time, yet there are some dark undercurrents. As the story takes place in 1959, racism is referred to, such as the section of Two Mills being segregated, yet this is not the prevailing theme of the book. This is mainly due to the fact that Cammie doesn’t view or judge people on the basis of their color. Overall, The Warden’s Daughter is another perfect example of why Jerry Spinelli is such a widely respected children’s and YA author. It’s perfect for classroom use and book discussion groups, as well as family reads. If you haven’t read anything by this incredibly talented and prolific author this is a great book to start with!