Review: The Search for WondLa

The Search for WondLa
by Tony DiTerlizzi (creator of Spiderwick Chronicles)
Simon & Schuster
Genre: YA Fantasy

Take a little bit of "The Wizard of Oz" and "Alice in Wonderland", toss in some "Star Wars" and "Planet of the Apes", mix well by a talented writer and you'll have an idea of this book. From the fantastic mind of Tony DiTerlizzi, creator of the Spiderwick Chronicles, this is the first of a three part series.

The story concerns a twelve-year-old girl, Eva Nine, who has been raised in an underground sanctuary by a robot named Muthr. When a vicious hunter destroys the sanctuary in search of Eva, she is forced to go above ground for the first tie in her life. Up there, she finds odd creatures, but no one like her. She sets off across the land to find other humans. With the help of kind, though strange, friends, she runs for her life from the hunter and heads for the badlands where it is rumored she may find other humans.

Mr. DiTerlizzi is a master craftsman with this genre. His characterizations, world building, and settings are so well done, you believe there may actually be a world like this one. The story flows well and is enjoyable from page one to the last chapter. According to the information accompanying this pre-pub copy, there will also be an interactive web site so readers can journey along with Eva and her friends, just the sort of thing any young tween would like.

If there are any drawbacks at all for me, it is that the last page leaves you dangling. This is definitely not a stand alone book and it will be necessary to get the other books to finish the story, a marketing ploy that continually frustrates me. But other than this minor, and not unexpected, issue, I highly recommend The Search for WondLa. I am definitely looking forward to the others.

~Vicky Burkholder

REVIEW: Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus

SHADOW HILLS by Anastasia Hopcus
(Egmont USA; July, 2010; YA Paranormal, mystery)

Persephone – Phe (Fee) – Archer lost her sister in a mysterious accident. Now the weird nightmares Athena had been having are haunting Phe. In order to figure out what the dreams mean, Phe enrolls in the Devenish Prep school in Massachusetts, a world away from her Los Angeles home. There she discovers even more mysteries – like the graveyard from her dreams. And people who have extra abilities that are somehow tied to a plague that hit the town in the early 1700s.

With the help of her boyfriend, Zach, one of the “odd” townies, Phe discovers the real truths behind odd deaths and events going on in the town of Shadow Hills. Zach broke a cardinal rule and told her about himself and others in the town. About why metal things move when he's around. And how he can recharge electronics with just a touch. But that knowledge is something that Phe isn't supposed to have. And she knows that since coming here, something has happened to her. Changed her. But she's not sure in what way. How it all ties to Phe is something she needs to figure out, but finding out could mean her death.

This is a well-crafted story with believable characters and an intriguing plot. It contains all the elements of a good mystery, paranormal abilities (without a vampire or werewolf in sight!) and teen angst all rolled into one book. Though a bit slow at times, the overall story is very good and keeps you turning pages until the end. And there was just enough of a carrot left dangling at the end to make me believe this might turn into a series. But even if it doesn't, the ending is satisfying. If you're tired of vampires and werewolves, but still want a good paranormal story, pick this one up. You won't be disappointed.

~ Vicky

Happy Reading!

Review: Merlin's Harp by Anne Crompton

Merlin's Harp
Author: Anne Eliot Crompton
Publisher: Sourcebooks, March 2010
Genre: YA Paranormal (older teens)

With flowery prose, Anne Crompton gives us the classic tale of Arthur from a different perspective. Similar to "the Mists of Avalon", this story is told from a woman's point of view. Nivienne is Fey, daughter of Merlin, mother of Mordred, Lady of the Lake, and a few other things. She suffers the loss of her brother, a Fey who turns human (and becomes Lancelot), and becomes apprentice to Merlin and leaves her safe haven of Avalon to journey with him into the world. The story is about her adventures over the span of approximately twenty years. Though the coincidences that happen to her are aptly explained, there are times when the fantastic tale stretch the limit of believability.

Told in first person, the story is well written, though a bit slow at times.

Written on a higher level than most novels, some young adults, the proposed audience, may find themselves digging for a dictionary. It's a good story, but definitely not a light, easily-read book. If you are a fan of Arthur legends and more academic writing, you will enjoy this short novel. But if you're looking for a quick, light read, look elsewhere.

(This book was originally released as an adult Fantasy Mass Market PB in 1997)
 
~ Vicky Burkholder
http://www.vickyburkholder.com

Review- Billionaire's Curse by Richard Newsome

The Billionaire's Curse by Richard Newsome
Harper Collins (Walden Pond Press)
ages 8-12, grades 3-7, May 2010

Take one twelve-year-old kid from Australia, one dead aunt in London - who also happens to be a billionaire - add a missing diamond, disinterested parents, and a butler reminiscent of Lurch from the Addam's Family, and you get an adventure full of twists and turns, murder and mayhem.

Gerald Wilkins has never met his great aunt Geraldine, but some reason, she leaves him her entire estate when she dies. Gerald's mother is ecstatic and immediately takes off on "vacation", dumping Gerald with his aunt's stodgy lawyer and Mr. Fry, a dour butler/chauffeur who is not happy with his "gift" of silverware.

Geraldine also leaves a cryptic note telling Gerald she was murdered and it is up to him to find out who killed her. Gerald and two of his friends go off on an adventure that includes kidnapping, murder and a hint at a paranormal ability that Gerald doesn't know he has.

While the book is entertaining, the heavy British vocabulary may put off some readers. Plus it is very obviously the first book in a series as many of the prominent threads are left dangling. Plus there are the issues of child abandonment since Gerald's parents take off as soon after the reading of the will as possible, not even returning when he is seriously injured.

As stated above, this is an entertaining book, but one to pick up with caution, bearing the above in mind.

~Vicky Burkholder