Witch & Wizard by James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet

Why should you read this text? 
I wanted to include one middle grade YA text in this book set. If you have middle grade children, siblings, cousins, neighbors, you should invite them to join you on your journey of Young Adult literature reading. In reading this text with a middle grade person, you will be impacting their life in a most positive way.  This is an easy text, has short chapters, includes a brother and sister main character set, and to top the list it includes a talking weasel and evil men turned into roaches.

Whit (brother) and Wisty (sister) Allgood have magical powers that they don't realize they have until they are arrested by prison keepers/guard of the New Order. While I feel that much of this text resembles The Hunger Games (First District vs. New Order), I do know that it is a trend following book, and it comes at an easier level for those middle grade readers. I'd say this book is a beginners dystopia novel, which makes this a great tool for a teacher first rung of a dystopia reading ladder.

Much of novel takes place while Whit and Wisty are imprisoned. Wisty realizes she can burst into flame, and Whit serves as a strong leader in going against the New Order.

How does this novel fit this book series? 
Besides the literal imprisonment of Whit and Whisty trapped due to their powers. They are also trapped in their lack of knowledge of their skills. How do people become trapped with lack of knowledge?
Do you ever get angry when your parents or supervisors seem to know more about yourself than you do?
Whit and Whisty have to work beyond that frustration in an effort to escape the New Order.
As this text is a dystopic novel, there is the social commentary of, for instance the prison being a bombed-out department store. What are we to think about this? It may be symbolic of commercial desires and wants trapping today's youth, and that the need for material goods traps young adults from realizing their own creative and physical potential. That's a leap, but it does make sense.

Memorable Quotes: 

• "Well, they clearly were at least a little afraid of a furious fifteen-year-old firebrand flying toward them with her arms spread wide, screeching like a total maniac, ' Fire really, really hurts!' and 'I'm a bad, scary witch.'"

Cherry on Top: 
Short chapters of 2-3 pages! This bandwagon text serves a great function in drawing a middle grade female audience to dystopic fantasy, as well as being a perfect "inviting" text for fifth graders to jump into a longer chapter book.

Connecting with the Text: 

Four Minutes of the Audio book ~ Fabulous Quality

Because of the author... check out these professionally made book trailers.

While James Patterson jumped on the YA trend-novel set of mixture of dystopia and wizardry, many middle school students will enjoy this text. I specifically included this book in this series, because I know many of the people who follow my other blog are teachers. This is an exciting read for those reluctant readers in your classroom. While I found it exceptionally easy to read, I did enjoy myself, and found the characters entertaining. 

I have to be honest, the following book trailer really makes me want to read James Patterson's The Gift. Book marketers at their best.

Visit James Patterson's Web Page Here. 

Lips Touch Three Times by Laini Taylor

Why should you read Lips Touch Three Times?

(Please excuse my constant motion during my vlogs. I often speak with my hands; keeping still for two minutes is apparently too difficult for me!) 

My immediate reaction to this book, "It's as if Laini Taylor took all that I love in a book: romance, fantasy, beauty, Gypsy-appeal, & other-worldly intrigue to make a very special novel." 

How does this text fit this book series? 

Lips Touch Three Times contains three short stories. The short story I feel that fits this text set best is Spicy Little Curses Such as These. A traveling soldier stumbles upon a diary that is full of the secrets and desires of a beautiful maiden cursed to silence, as well as cursed with an amazing voice. She can't sing or speak or those who hear her will instantly die. 

Anamique, the maiden, suffers from this curse at birth.  While Anamique is an exceptional singer, yet she can not share it with others. 

Have you ever felt trapped by a disability or talent? 

Are you good at playing the piano, but secretly hate it? Are afraid to voice your opinion, in fear of the consequences? 

Reading Spicy Little Curses Such as These will make you think again about making your voice heard. 

Memorable Quotes: 

• "There's DNA in saliva. You're like carrying his cells in your mouth like one of those weird frogs that incubates its eggs in its cheeks!' With a squeal, Evie added, 'You could have his mouth baby." (p. 31 from Goblin Fruit)
• "Kizzy wanted to be a woman who would dive off the prow of a sailboat into the sea, who would fall back in a tangle of sheets, laughing... she wanted to make love on a balcony, ruin someone... Kizzy wanted. (p. 41 from Goblin Fruit) 
• "Some would assert that Providence was at work, shaking out its pockets in Humanity's lap. Other would argue for that mindless choreographer, Chance. Either way it was a simple thing: a lost diary fell into the hands of a soul-sick war heron on a train from Bombay to Jaipur just when he grown tired of the scenery and need some thing to keep his thoughts from the minefield of his wretched memories." (p. 82 from Spicy Little Curses)
• "Even after all these centuries, his arms remembered the curve of Mahzarin's body, the weight and the warmth of her, and when she shimmered forth form the feathers of her eagle cithra, he would be there to catch her." (p. 265 from Hatchling)

Cherry on Top: 

 The page illustrations are marvelously creative. Images like these will aid your imagination in forming the tale in your mind.

Meet Laini Taylor:

Book Trailer

Here is a great interview with Laini on her highly popular book, Daughter of Smoke and Bones. 

Click here to visit Laini Taylor's blog! 

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Why should you read Graceling by Kristin Cashore? 

While this book is marketed to young adults, women of all ages will find this book an entertaining read. Kristin Cashore intertwines fantasy and romance into prose so beautifully written, this novel is not one to miss. In a land of seven kingdoms there are normal humans, and then there are those with graces. Those with graces have eyes two different colors. Katsa learns that she has the grace to kill with her bare hands at age 8 when she murders her cousin after he makes an unwelcome advance on her. Rather than being punished, her uncle and King, Randa, uses her to his advantage. 

It's not till Katsa disobeys Randa that she leaves his rule (her other option: punishment by death). The rest of the novel follows with her discovering the truth of the kingdoms, the ability of her grace, and the developing of a relationship with a graced fighter, Po. 

I read this book in 2008, ordering it before its release. Critics and websites talked this book up, and the strong heroine, Katsa enticed me. Katsa has the ability to beat many of the men around her with her grace and understanding. The issues of marital bonds Katsa faces (check out video below) trap her into much emotional distress, but she goes to the beat of her own drum. One could say that Katsa and Po are the "Brangelina" couple of the seven kingdoms. 

How does this novel fit this book series? 

Types of entrapment: Stereotypical Female Roles, Customary Bonds of Love/Marriage, Physical Traps (eyes showcasing her difference), as well as Po's undoing/becoming at the end of the text. 

Memorable Quotes:

• "And she felt it then, how near he was. She felt his hand and his wrist, warm under her fingers. He was here, right here, breathing before her; she was touching him; and she felt the risk, as if it were water splashing cold on her skin. She knew that this was the moment to choose. She knew her choice. He turned his eyes back to her, and in them she saw that he understood. She climbed into his arms. They clung to each other, and she was crying, as much from relief to be holding him as from the fear of what she did. He rocked her in his lap and hugged her, and whispered her name over and over, until finally her tears stopped. She wiped her face on his shirt. She wrapped her arms around his neck. She felt warm in his arms, and calm, and safe and brave. And then she was laughing, laughing at how nice it felt, how good his body felt against hers. He grinned at her, a wicked, gleaming grin that made her warm everywhere. And then his lips touched her throat and nuzzled her neck. She gasped. His mouth found hers. She turned to fire." (p. 241) 

Cherry on Top: 

Who is the steamiest couple in Young Adult literature? Edward and Bella. Ron and Hermione. No, it's Katsa and Po. Turn to page 242. 

Connecting with the text:

Here is a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the audio-book, Graceling. 

It's interesting to see the face behind the voice, as well as the director's take on this YA novel. Enjoy!

Check out Kristin Cashore's Blogspot Blog here. Want to read more by Kristin Cashore, her blog is full of wonderful resources about her upcoming book, Bitterblue (character from Graceling). 

Impossible by Nancy Werlin

Why should you read Impossible by Nancy Werlin? 

Before I answer this question, please scroll down and watch the final video of Celtic Women singing "Scarborough Fair." I read this YA novel, because I loved the song.

If that is not enough for you read the synopsis: Lucy Scarborough becomes victim to an inherited family curse that runs down the maternal line; the curse comes from an evil elfin knight. The Scarborough women become impregnated (Lucy is raped), and then must complete three seemingly impossible tasks.

1. Make a magical shirt without any seam or needlework
2. Find an acre of land between the salt water and the sea strand
3. She must plow the land with just a goat's horn and sow it all over with one grain of corn

If you did not notice, the curse comes from the lyrics of "Scarborough Fair."

With the help of her foster parents and very good friend (to become something more???), Zach Lucy faces the challenge.


How does this novel fit this book series? 


While this the topic of teenage pregnancy can be slippery at times, this book tackles teenage pregnancy as the product of rape in a prose so touchingly and ingeniously (song influence) written that these topics are easy to discuss.

Many teenage mothers may feel trapped by their situation or new life plan. Lucy Scarborough's story of struggle and overcoming impossible physical and mental challenges in the name of the curse could help readers understand the fear and trapped feeling of teenage pregnancy.

This text also works with a rape scene, and the feelings of not being comfortable talking about it, but when Lucy finally does speak to Zach and her family about her situation and history, she feels better and not as in control of the Elfin Knight's trap.


Memorable Quotes: 

• "I look in the mirror now and see my mother and I am so afraid you will end like us: doomed, cursed... all sorts of melodramatic, ridiculous, but true things." (p. 5)
• "Lucy discovered she was pacing. Visiting the test device to look at it. Then up and down the room again. She would wait until seven o'clock, she though. Then, if Soledad was not already awake, she would wake her. Then she realized that she could not wait. That she could not be alone between now and seven. That, more than anything in the world, right now, she needed her mother." (p. 122)
• "Zach had told his parents the full story, but they had not believed it. There had been strong words about duplicity and taking advantage and, of course, insanity. Nonetheless, on this wedding day, the Greenfields had chosen to be kind and to say welcoming and polite things. Above all they were here." (p. 265)

Cherry on Top: 
Lucy Scarborough is a masterful heroine. (Side note: Within the first few pages, you find out that she keeps The Chronicles of Narnia and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.) Lucy must face a rape,  teenage pregnancy, and a curse that could impact her and her unborn child, as well as future generations.

Mothers, adoptive parents, foster parents, and daughters alike will cherish this book for the strength imposed upon feminine family bonds.


Connecting with the text:

Book Trailer

Book Trailer 

Celtic Women's addition of the song "Scarborough Fair," which the book is based on. 

Click here to visit Nancy Werlin's webpage.