Showing posts with label fantasy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fantasy. Show all posts

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Peter and the Starcatchers (Starcatchers Series #1)


Peter and the <span class=

written by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
illustrated by Greg Call
grades: 4-6

Peter is a lost and lonely orphan who has been put on the ship The Neverland in order to become a servant in the court of the evil King Zarboff. When Peter discovers a mysterious trunk aboard the ship, he takes it upon himself to discover its secret. Little does he know, but the trunk will change his life forever.

The adventurous prequel to Peter Pan is fast paced and exciting. Authors Barry and Pearson answer the questions of how Captain Hook lost his hand, how Peter learned to fly, and how he ended up on an island with mermaids, a group of boys, and pirates. Consider this book only if you have plenty of time and a very comfy chair!

Saturday, December 5, 2009

The Lightening Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series #1)

















written by Rick Riordan
ages: 11+ (young adult)

Although Percy Jackson has spent his whole life in and out of various schools being expelled for assorted infractions, he finally feels like he has it together. He has a best friend named Grover and a teacher that cares; things really seem to be looking up. But when a trip to the museum goes horribly awry, Percy ends up at Camp Half-blood, where he discovers that he is a demigod, or half human and half immortal. More interesting still, he is the son of Poseidon, the god of the Sea, which brings about its own set of unique abilities. A prophecy soon reveals that he must go on a quest to prevent a war among the gods of Olympus; a harrowing journey that will take him to the Underworld.

Creative and spellbinding, The Lightening Thief interweaves Greek mythology flawlessly into this adventure. Don't be fooled by the apparently masculine themes in this book; it will be devoured by both boys and girls. A true page turner, writer Rick Riordan will leave you clamoring for more!

Friday, July 31, 2009

Beck and the Great Berry Battle



Beck and the Great Berry Battle
By Laura Driscoll
Illus. Judith Holmes Clarke & Disney storybook artists

Ages-7 to 10 years old

This series is for the children who love Disney and fairies. Disney has produced a movie about Tinker Bell and her friends and has written books to keep the fairy world alive. The books don’t follow the movie, but introduce readers to more fairies that live in Never Land.

Beck is fairy in Never Land. She is the best animal-talent fairy. Every fairy has a special talent that helps keep balance in the forest. Beck is able to communicate with animals. The hummingbirds and the chipmunks start a Berry war which escalates when other animals join sides. Can Beck get the bottom of the misunderstanding and convince the animals to stop fighting?

It is another decent, very strong moralistic story in the series. It shows how easily fights can start and stupidity of wars and the reasons for them. It demonstrates that people can decide to cooperate rather than fight, and things are much better that way. I was introduced to this series by my 8 year old niece. It is very popular with the 3rd and 4th grade girls. This series can help reluctant readers make the difficult transition from picture books to chapter books.
If you are interested in learning more about these books, of course, Disney has a website- http://disney.go.com/fairies/

Monday, May 18, 2009

The Fairy Tale Detectives (The Sisters Grimm Series #1)




















The Fairy Tale Detectives (The Sisters Grimm Series #1)
written by Michael Buckley and illustrated by Peter Ferguson
ages 8-adult

Sabrina and Daphne Grimm are left confused and alone after their parents mysteriously disappear. The girls are sent to live with their Granny Relda in Ferryport landing after a series of disastrous foster homes. Sabrina and Daphne soon discover that they are the descendants of the famous storytelling icons, the Brothers Grimm. Their Granny tells them that the book of fairy tales is not an act of storytelling, but actual case studies created by the their ancestors regarding Everafters (as the characters in fairy tales prefer to be called). Sabrina thinks that her Granny is more than a little odd and doesn't believe that the characters or events in the fairy tales were ever real. But as Sabrina and her sister meet a host of fairy tale characters from Prince Charming to the Big Bad Wolf, and her Granny is captured by a giant, she begins to change her mind. Sabrina and Daphne try out their fairy tale detective heritage as they try to save Granny and discover the Everafter behind the crime.

In the first novel of the Sisters Grimm series, Michael Buckley puts a spin on the fractured fairytale. Creative and engaging, this novel is just the beginning of an amazing 7 part series involving two plucky and heroic sisters. This novel is compelling as it is mixed with suspense, mystery, and humor. Lovers of fantasy will enjoy this book although it seems to appeal to a variety of readers. I have thoroughly enjoyed them and am not (generally) a reader of fantasy. I would also hesitate to recommend this novel to anyone whose child falls into the younger end of the 8+ spectrum-the novel does have some characters with scare potential. This book comes with a warning: once you start reading, you won't be able to stop!