Teen Fantasy . . . Not Just for Teens

I have always been one to read a lot of teen fantasy (because I'm what's traditionally known as a "nerd"), and so I'm delighted by all the attention it's gotten over the past couple years. Harry Potter opened the door for a lot of adult readers, and then the Eragon and Twilight books drew in a lot more fans. Here are some great fantasies you might not have heard of . . .

Flame, by Hilari Bell, is the first book of her Farsala trilogy, and it introduces the characters who are going to decide the fate of their land. As Farsala is invaded by the Hrum army, three young people with wildly different backgrounds--a spoiled rich girl, the illegitimate son of a Farsalan military leader, and a scarred orphan thief--find that their lives intersect in the most surprising of ways. The Farsala trilogy is based on Persian poetry, and has a lot of great characters who have to learn to trust both themselves and each other. Bell has several other series, as well as some very popular stand-alone titles.



I suppose it makes sense to go from Flame to Fire. Author Kristin Cashore set the teen publishing world abuzz last year with her debut novel, Graceling. This beautifully written and intricate tale with an engaging premise and a strong female main character was, in my opinion, one of the best books of 2008, and one of the best fantasies I've read in years. I can't wait until October, when her latest, Fire, will be released. Billed as a companion novel to Graceling, Fire focuses on an impossibly beautiful girl who can control the minds of others. Chock full of rebel lords, thieves and spies, a troubled young king, and a rugged land, I have high hopes for this title.

I hadn't realized that there was a third book about Icemark until one of our teen patrons had it sent over from another library (I probably startled her a bit with my exuberance). This series by Stuart Hill, which also includes Cry of the Icemark and Blade of Fire, centers on Thirrin, who is only 13 years old when her father dies and leaves her in charge of a small but embattled country. As she struggles against an arrogant invader and attempts to form alliances with the vampires, werewolves, and giant snow leopards that border her land, she grows up. These books are particularly good for those who enjoy rousing and action-packed battle scenes.



And I just can't talk about my favorite fantasy books without mentioning Hounds of the Morrigan by Pat O'Shea, which is one of my all-time favorites. Granted, it's old and it's so incredibly bulky (particularly in its paperback form) that it's hard to convince anyone to read it, but it has everything that good fantasy should. Endearing and relatable young protagonists? Check. Evil yet beautiful villian? Check. Seemingly insignificant good deeds being handsomely rewarded? Check. Based on Irish mythology, this book is almost Dickensian in scope, and is an all-around rollicking good read.

Playaways

I've discovered a new workout incentive - playaways. Playaways are audio books, each on a self-contained MP3 player. They come with headphones and batteries (although, depending on the length of the book, the batteries may need to be replaced) and are a great way to pass the time out walking, on the eliptical or weeding the garden. Listen to it anywhere you'd take your iPod. HCL now has several of them, mostly YA titles. I'm currently listening to Bloody Jack by L.A. Meyer, read by Katherine Kellgren. Her cockney accent is great! I look forward to working out every morning. Well, almost.

LeAnne

Another Engaging Young Heroine

A few weeks ago, I blogged about Asta in the Wings, a delightful debut with a precocious young protagonist. Now I've finished The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, author Alan Bradley's first novel, and I've fallen in love with yet another spunky young character. This time it's 11-year-old Flavia de Luce, who lives with her father and two olders sisters in a crumbling mansion in England. An accomplished chemist and a budding detective, Flavia is strangely excited when a stranger dies in the family cucumber patch. As she investigates the death, making good use of both her unique way of viewing the world and the invisibility that being a child affords her, the reader gets a tantalizing peek into Flavia's world. And what a world it is! Just when you forget that Flavia is only 11, she displays some endearing bit of childish vulnerability and you recognize Bradley's skill in portraying her. Likeable enough to make the reader care, quirky enough to maintain interest, and naughty enough to not be cloying, Flavia is my new favorite. Luckily for me, this book is the first in a series.

Mouth-Watering Reads

While I may not always have the opportunity (or the pocket change) to dine in the finest restaurants, I often have the inclination to whip up some delicious feast at home. Lately, we've had a whole crop of cookbooks to satisfy the gourmet in all of us

When I lived in New York, I realized just how Midwestern casseroles are. It's not that the people there didn't know what casseroles were, they just never thought to make them. I was that weird girl who made casseroles (and who gained popularity once everyone realized how delicious casserole is). 9X13: The Pan That Can is a new cookbook from the folks at Better Homes and Gardens, and it is full of casseroles, cakes, side dishes, and many more dishes that "fit America's most popular pan." It's a pretty no-frills cookbook without a lot of photos, but the dishes that are pictured look positively delicious. This is real stick-to-your-ribs fare.

Speaking of sticking to your ribs, Morton's famous steakhouse has a new book, Morton's The Cookbook: 100 Steakhouse Recipes for Every Kitchen. Although different cuts of beef do take center stage in this colorful book, there are also recipes for seafood, pork, and side dishes. The truly wonderful thing about this particular cookbook is the clarity of the directions--any cookbook that contains the phrase "Take the veal out of the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for 15 minutes" is bound to be easy to follow.

Made in Spain: Spanish Dishes for the American Kitchen is a bit more complicated as a cookbook. Some of the ingredients would be difficult for the average cook to find, and although substitutions are always listed, even some of those seem rather exotic. However, the photography in this book is gorgeous. Foods that I don't even like looked mouth-watering and tempting and delicious. Check this book out just to drool over the photos and dream of going to Spain. Oh . . . and because it includes a recipe for Spanish hot chocolate, which is thick and delicious.

His many shows on the Food Network have made Bobby Flay a household name, and sometimes it's easy to remember that there's a reason for his fame. In his latest book, Bobby Flay's Burgers, Fries & Shakes, Flay takes the quintessential American meal and puts a new spin on it. Using common ingredients in surprising combinations, he creates a certain excitement. Or maybe I'm the only one who gets excited by Plaintain Shoestring Fries and Greek Burgers.

And for those of who imbibe from time to time, there's The Essential Cocktail: The Art of Mixing Perfect Drinks. This book has everything . . . the history of various drinks, recipes for basic cocktails, variations on classics, drinks you've never heard of, garnishes, and more. The instructions are easy to follow, too. Gorgeous color photographs complement this book, which I sort of want to read for the interesting stories about each drink.

And for those who prefer to find their recipes online, may I recommend The Amateur Gourmet? This blog, which is full of restaurant reviews and recipes culled from other sources, is both informative and entertaining. The author is an enthusiastic but (obviously) amateur cook, and he tries all the recipes before he posts them, so you will have a good idea about difficulty level and what might go wrong. The almond cake recipe he recommends is divine.

the 39 Clues Series

This series volumes 1-3 are available in book form and volume 1 is on playaway also at the library. Gordan Korman plans on making this a 10 volume series. Very exciting YA or J book, fast paced and the clues are not obvious. The story is about a sister(14)Amy Cahill and brother (11)Dan,orphans, who get pulled into a quest for 39 clues which take them all over the world. The 39 clues will end with the winner having great power and wealth. Their grandmother Grace had set up the contest in her will. Somehow, the secret of the Cahills' centuries-old power had been lost. Their power hungry relatives are their competition in a very deadly race for world domination.You can go on line to get more clues and win prizes at www.th39clues.com

An Engaging Young Heroine

Sometimes a new author comes along who reminds me why I love books and people and the world. Asta in the Wings had gotten many good reviews by the time I sat down to read it, so I was expecting it to be decent. What I wasn't expecting was for it be so totally captivating and exquisitely written. It's the story of seven-year-old Asta, who (along with her brother) is kept completely removed from the world by her mother. How the mother convinces her children that they mustn't leave the house, and how the story unfolds, is fascinating! The author nails the voice of a young girl who is both ahead of the curve and totally out of place--Asta's descriptions of what she feels and sees and thinks are particularly wonderful. Jan Elizabeth Watson's writing talent is particularly evident in the way she garners sympathy for characters that beg to be hated. I'm very much look forward to reading her future books.

For a good summer read consider Beach Trip. It really has some surprises and is a page turner.