Historical Fiction

I have often heard it said that history is boring.

When a friend asked me what I would recommend that she read, I gave her a list of the books I have been reading and realized there was a lot of historical fiction. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay , If I Should Die Before I Wake by Han Nolan and, of course, Leviathan and Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld. In all these books, I learned many things I never knew before in a way that was far from boring.

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly was another one of those eye-opening, historical fiction, non-boring books. It is a well-written, well-researched book about the very different lives of two teenagers. Andi is a modern-day teenager trying to deal with her falling-apart family with the help of anti-depressants and music; while Alex is an eighteenth-century teenager trying to deal with her falling-apart country with the help of Shakespeare and fireworks.

With music and danger, princes and death, both worlds collide in a unique time-travel twist and both girls realize, “it is love, not death, that undoes us”. Nevertheless, in the end it is worth it.

Tasty Treats for Cold Winter Evenings

I don't know about you, but there's something about a cold, blustery day that makes me want to hunker down with an afghan, a mug of cocoa, and a freshly-baked cookie. To help us along in this quest, HCL has a fine collection of cookbooks, including the new Crazy About Cookies: 300 Scrumptious Recipes for Every Occasion and Craving by Krystina Castella. Just the cover alone is enough to make me want to pull out the mixing bowls and cookie sheets!

Worth More Than a Passing Mention

Last year, while talking about books that had online components, I mentioned this second in the Skeleton Creek series by Patrick Carman. However, I just finished reading Ghost in the Machine, and realized that it was good enough to deserve its own post. The reader alternates reading chapters of the book with watching online videos, all of which advance the plot instead of being an afterthought. The videos, which are tense and spooky and kind of creep me out (even though I'm an adult and should be much braver), are an integral part of the story. This suspenseful series is good for any kid who likes to be scared.

Leviathan & Behemoth

Barking Spiders!

The best man for a job is a girl; a fifteen-year-old girl posing as a boy that is.

For those who love adventure and science fiction, this is a great new young adult series by Scott Westerfeld. Complete with amazing illustrations, Leviathan is a combination of historical fiction (WWI) and science fiction (advanced machinery of German Clankers and animal cross-breeding of British Darwinists). There are two main characters, Prince Aleksander and airman Deryn Sharp. Deryn, however, steals the show.

Happily, the second in the series, Behemoth, is already here but we will have to wait until October 2011 for the final book, Goliath.

Skulduggery Pleasant

If you are not yet familiar with the world of Skulduggery Pleasant, I recommend that you check it out. Skulduggery is a skeleton detective who has deadly sorcery skills . . . and an even more killer sense of fashion. Aided by his teenage sidekick, Valkyrie Cain, Skulduggery saves the world from the forces of darkness. I just finished reading The Faceless Ones, which is the third in this series by Derek Landy. Full of snarky, intelligent humor, great characters, and plenty of action, the Skulduggery Pleasant books are sure to please. And how can you resist such a wonderful name?!??

An Abduction in Hindsight

It's pretty much a given that a book about an abduction is going to be exciting. What does the abductor want? Will the authorities crack the case in time? One question that is never asked, though, is how the rescued abductee will recover from what has to be one of the worst ordeals you can go through. Until Still Missing by Chevy Stevens, a new thriller that tells the tale of Annie's abduction after she has escaped and gone back to her "normal" life. Told entirely by Annie, in the form of her therapy sessions, this story is gripping and really makes you think. It has touches of a traditional police procedural, mixed with some psychology and a whole lot of thrills.

Elsewhere

Having your life cut short before it has even begun is one thing, learning you will be aging backwards is another. That is the premise of Gabrielle Zevin's book Elsewhere.

On the verge of getting her driver's license, thinking about boys and going to prom, fifteen-year-old Liz Hall is just waiting for her life to begin when it is tragically cut short. Sent to Elsewhere, she is angry over everything she has missed out on in her life and she refuses to accept her death. Complicating things is the fact that everyone in Elsewhere gets younger every year until they become infants and are sent back to Earth to be reborn.