Revenge of the Evil Librarian by Michelle Knudsen

Revenge of the Evil Librarian by Michelle Knudsen -- I know, it's really not nice to torment you all with a review of a book that isn't out until 2017, but I got an early e-galley from the publisher, and I just couldn't resist. In this sequel to Evil Librarian, Cyn and Ryan are at theatre camp, looking forward to a summer of acting and set design and a complete absence of demonic activity. Well, as you might expect, they get two out of three of those things. I'm not going to summarize more than that, for fear of spoilers -- but I will say that this book was just as much fun as its predecessor. Plenty of humor, plenty of action, plenty of drama, plus some great character development. Fans of the series, feel free to hate me for reading this one so early, but take comfort in knowing that my wait for the third book will be that much longer! Fortunately for all of us, the author has left an opening for a third book -- but not by means of a cliffhanger; this book's conclusion is satisfying.

(Reviewed from an e-galley, courtesy of the publisher.)

Evil Librarian by Michelle Knusen

Evil Librarian by Michelle Knudsen -- The hot new school librarian is not as human as he appears to be, and he's chosen Cynthia's best friend Annie to be his bride when he rules the underworld. Which he plans to do, but not until after the school's production of Sweeney Todd opens, because as everyone knows, demons love Sweeney Todd. Between her duties as technical director for the show and her desperate attempts to save Annie, Cyn has her hands full. Oh, and she also has a crush on a hot guy -- who ends up helping her with the whole demon problem.

I devoured this fantastically fun read in one evening. Librarianship and theatre: what else could I ask for? I love that Cyn is the tech director (and a talented one at that). Definitely recommended!

(Reviewed from an ebook borrowed through my library system.)

The Haunting of Falcon House by Eugene Yelchin

The Haunting of Falcon House by Eugene Yelchin -- Young Prince Lev Lvov is finally going to take his place at the home of his ancestors. The last of a proud line, Lev dreams of noble stature and military glory. He's determined to emulate his grandfather, a true hero. However, life at Falcon House is not exactly what Lev expected: the house is dusty and most rooms are closed up, the servants are quirky, and the only other member of the family in the enormous house is his volatile aunt. Left for the night in his grandfather's study (believed by the servants to be haunted, but Lev is a true Lvov, not given to superstition!), Lev meets the only other child in the house, an odd boy named Vanyousha. In Vanyousha's company, Lev sets out to learn the secrets of Falcon House -- but what he discovers does not throw a positive light on his illustrious grandfather. Just who is Vanyousha? Why has Lev been brought to Falcon House? These are only a few of the questions that readers will uncover as they journey with Lev and Vanyousha through the dank and moldy halls of Falcon House.

Though at first it appears to be just a ghost story, this book has surprising depth as Lev learns the truth about his grandfather and decides what sort of man he is to be. Ah, Russians: even your ghost stories are more melancholy than scary! This book runs the gamut of emotions -- there are a few frightening moments, some sad ones, and a surprising amount of humor, too (I loved the scene where Lev and Vanyousha slid down the banister!) There are two twists at the ending, one of which I was expecting, and one of which surprised me. Recommended.

(Reviewed from an advance copy, courtesy of the publisher.)

The Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle by Janet Fox

The Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle by Janet Fox -- An evil enchantress is stealing the souls of children, and logical Kat and her siblings must figure out how to stop her. This is a lovely, creepy tale set during WWII. I really enjoyed it (though, in my current reading slump, it took me much longer to finish it than usual). Recommended to readers who like historical fiction with some fantastical and gothic elements.

(Reviewed from an advance copy, courtesy of the publisher.)

Seven Dead Pirates by Linda Bailey

Seven Dead Pirates by Linda Bailey -- Timid sixth-grader Lewis is sad when his great-grandfather dies, but excited when the terms of the old man's will require Lewis and his parents to occupy Shornaway, Great-Grandfather's old house, in order to inherit it. Lewis claims the tower bedroom, pleased to be sleeping some distance away from his controlling (but loving) parents. Lewis is less pleased to discover that the tower room is haunted by seven pirates! The motley crew is hoping that Lewis can help them get back to their ship, now on display in the local museum -- but Lewis is not sure he's the bold and capable lad they're looking for. In fact, he's pretty sure he's the opposite of bold and capable!

What a fun read! I just enjoyed this book all the way through. The pirates are a delight, and Lewis is believable (though he seems a bit young for his age). I'll certainly recommend this to young readers looking for a swashbuckling tale.

(Reviewed from a finished copy, courtesy of the publisher, via the LibraryThing Early Reviewer program.)

Silver in the Blood by Jessica Day George

Silver in the Blood by Jessica Day George -- Cousins Dacia and Louisa are both excited and nervous about visiting Romania and meeting their mothers' family. There seems to be some sort of family secret, and nobody will explain it to them. When they learn the truth, it will be more shocking than they could have guessed.

This book has a lot of excellent elements, though it falls short of distinction in a few ways. I liked the two main characters, though they were hard to tell apart, at least at the beginning. I also found the love interests... interesting. I wanted to see more development of those stories, because they really took a backseat to the main action of the story. This was probably as it should be, but I think a little more attention could have been paid to that aspect of the book, because it felt a bit rushed. The pacing lagged in places, though I don't know if I would have noticed that if I had not been listening to the audiobook. I also felt that the villains were flat, entirely evil and without nuance. All that said, I did enjoy the book. Many of the secondary characters are well-written and the setting is fairly good. Mostly, I wanted a little bit more from this book, but I liked the things it did accomplish. I'd recommend it to readers who enjoy books like Juliet Marillier's Wildwood Dancing.

(Reviewed from an audiobook received courtesy of the publisher through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.)

Immaculate by Katelyn Detweiler

Immaculate by Katelyn Detweiler -- Mina never asked for a miracle. She's a straight-A student with a caring family, a great boyfriend, and two best friends who have known her practically all her life. When a strange old woman comes into the pizza shop where she works, Mina tries to be patient, despite the fact that it's almost closing time. But the old woman's bizarre conversation takes a turn for the alarming, and Mina finds herself saying anything to get the old lady out the door. She tries to put the encounter out of her mind -- but that proves impossible once the symptoms start to show. Mina, a girl who has never once slept with a boy, is pregnant. In the months that follow, some people believe her, others brand her a liar. A few practically worship her while others hate her. Friendships crumble, grades slip -- and Mina has to wonder: why her? Why now?

The interesting concept is what drew me in to this book, and the questions raised by that initial encounter were enough to keep me reading even through some flaws: the dialogue is stilted in places, and the younger sister is a little too perfect to be true. My main problem, though, is with the ending. None of the big questions are answered. It feels like it's setting up for another book, but I'm afraid I'm just not interested enough to continue with the series. Read this one only if you find the premise fascinating and you're okay with some ambiguity at the ending.

(Reviewed from an advance copy, courtesy of the publisher.)

Return to Augie Hobble by Lane Smith

Return to Augie Hobble by Lane Smith is . . . weird.

Augie's dad runs Fairy Tale Place, a run-down amusement park, which contributes to the surreal atmosphere of Augie's life. Initially, his struggles seem fairly mundane: summer school, bullies, and crushes. But as the summer progresses, things get stranger and stranger: werewolves, ghosts, and UFOs. Or are all of those things just in Augie's head? Is Augie going crazy -- or is there something more sinister at hand?

This one didn't really work for me -- it was a little too surreal and absurd. I like weird stuff, and it seems like this should have been my sort of book, but it just wasn't. Another reader might enjoy it more than I did.

(Reviewed from an advance copy, courtesy of the publisher.)

Gilda Joyce, Psychic Investigator by Jennifer Allison

Gilda Joyce, Psychic Investigator by Jennifer Allison is a book that I wanted to like, but didn't really care for in the end.

It's the end of her eight-grade year, and Gilda Joyce is dreaming of adventure. Her best friend will be away at camp for the summer, and other classmates are looking forward to vacations and fun. When her teacher asks Gilda what she will be doing over the summer, Gilda impulsively announces that she will be traveling to San Francisco and writing a novel. Of course, she had no such plans up until the words came out of her mouth, but it does sound like an excellent idea. Gilda contacts a distant cousin of her mother's and invites herself on a visit, and through a series of mishaps and miscommunications, she gets a letter back with not only an invitation, but a plane ticket that will get her there. Once she arrives in San Francisco, she discovers that her uncle's old house, one of San Francisco's famous "Painted Ladies," was once the scene of a tragedy. Could the house be haunted? Gilda considers herself a psychic investigator, and she is determined to discover any mysteries that the house, and the people who live in it, may be hiding.

I know Gilda is supposed to be funny and feisty, but she mostly had me rolling my eyes. Of course, I'm not the target audience, and tweens might find Gilda's quirky, impulsive style more appealing. The book does occasionally touch on dark themes like mental illness and suicide, and there are a few spooky scenes as one might expect from a book about paranormal investigation, but all in all the tone is light and amusing. I won't be continuing with the series, as I find the protagonist so annoying, but if I run across tweens or young teens looking for light paranormal fare, I'll know what to hand them.

(Reviewed from a copy borrowed through my library system.)

On Etruscan Time by Tracy Barrett

On Etruscan Time by Tracy Barrett is a story of archaeology and time travel.

Hector is not excited about accompanying his mother to Italy for an archaeological dig -- he'd rather be hanging out with his friends all summer, sleeping until noon, playing video games, and going to the pool. But he can't help but be interested in the dig site, especially when one archaeologist encourages him to help out, showing him how to excavate in a practice area that's not part of the official dig site. When Hector discovers an eye-shaped token, the archaeologist dismisses it as a modern piece, probably dropped by a tourist, and allows Hector to keep it. The token proves to be more ancient, and more magical, than anyone could have guessed. It transports Hector back to Etruscan times, where he meets a boy named Arath, the original owner of the token. Arath is in trouble, and it seems that Hector has been brought to that time specifically to help him. But what can one boy from the the twenty-first century do?

Meh. Another all-right-but-not-great read. As an adult reader, I was more interested in the adults' backstory than in Hector's time-travel adventures. And as far as young readers are concerned, the book gets off to a rather slow start. Unless they have a particular interest in archaeology, they're not likely to keep going for the promise of more adventure later in the book. It's not a bad story, just not one that's particularly compelling.

(Reviewed from a copy borrowed through my library system.)

Spirit's Key by Edith Cohn

Spirit's Key by Edith Cohn is a paranormal adventure for the middle-grade set.

Spirit's father has the family gift: when he holds someone's house key, he can tell them what might happen in their future. But lately he's been having more and more trouble getting good readings. Spirit, meanwhile, is preoccupied in her own grief: her dog Sky died mysteriously, and since he was one of the island's despised wild dogs that Spirit had domesticated, she gets little sympathy from the locals. When other wild dogs start dying, Spirit begins to suspect that someone is killing them -- but when a few village residents become ill, the local prejudice threatens to overwhelm the situation. Spirit, with the help of a new human friend and the ghost of her beloved dog, must find some way to save the wild dogs and the island's residents from impending disaster -- all while coping with her own budding paranormal gift.

There's a lot going on in this story, but it all comes together well. I didn't feel like the mystery element was particularly strong, but then again, the story is trying to do more than just be a mystery, what with the paranormal elements and the dogs and all. I found it a little lacking, but I may just not have been in the mood for this kind of story.

(Reviewed from a copy borrowed through my library system.)

The Path of Names by Ari Goelman

The Path of Names by Ari Goelman is a summer camp story with a mystical, paranormal twist.

Dahlia would rather be at math camp. Or magic camp -- she'd really, really rather be at magic camp, practicing her sleight-of-hand with other kids who don't think card tricks are dorky. But she made a deal with her parents: one session at Camp Arava, socializing with other kids who share her Jewish heritage, in exchange for a week at magic camp later in the summer. Dahlia resigns herself to nature hikes and mosquito bites. But almost as soon as Dahlia arrives at Camp Arava, strange things begin to happen. She sees two little girls in old-fashioned clothing who seem to disappear into the side of her cabin -- a trick she knows requires lots of special preparation. There's also a surly caretaker, an overgrown hedge maze, and a spooky legend about a man who once lived on the land where the camp was built. All of these bits and pieces seem connected somehow to David Schank, a rabbinical student from nearly 80 years ago, who may have stumbled over a powerful secret in his studies of Kabbalah -- a secret which put him in terrible danger. As Dahlia learns more about what Schank discovered, will she find herself in danger, too?

This impressive first novel manages to be creepy and fascinating. Dahlia's grumpy and begrudging attitude toward camp reads authentically for a kid her age, and many of the secondary characters are likewise distinct and interesting. The mystery is not too easy to solve, and the paranormal elements are genuinely spooky, though not overpoweringly so. Definitely recommended for readers who enjoy this sort of story.

(Reviewed from a copy borrowed through my library system.)

Sunshine by Robin McKinley

Sunshine by Robin McKinley is a vampire story, though not nearly as sparkly and youthful as this particular (wretched) cover design would suggest.

Rae, nicknamed, Sunshine, is a baker. She works at a coffee shop, dates a biker, and has a fairly ordinary life. One evening, she drives out to the lake for some peace and quiet. That's where the vampires get her. She is taken to an abandoned mansion and chained to the ballroom wall. Someone else is chained there, too: Constantine, a vampire. "Speak," he tells her. "Remind me that you are a rational creature." Con has been chained there for too long, tormented by lack of food and the need to constantly avoid the sunlight pouring in through the room's uncovered windows during the day, lest he burst into flame when the light touches his skin. Sunshine's presence is just that much more torture -- but, unbeknownst to their captors, she can also be his salvation. Working together, Sunshine and Con can escape . . . but if they do, both of their lives will become extraordinarily complicated. There is no such thing in their world as human and vampire cooperation. The human police will become suspicious. And, as for the rival vampire who imprisoned Con in the first place? He will be furious, and both Con and Sunshine will be his constant targets until he exacts revenge.

I'll admit, I kind of hated this book when it first came out. McKinley is one of my top ten favorite authors -- I'll admit she has some stylistic quirks (most notably, a tendency to ramble through pages of back-story and description in the middle of a scene), but her books usually work for me. But I'm not so much a fan of the vampire story (even less then than I was now) and I was not enamored of Con, who is dead (heh heh heh) creepy, nor of Sunshine, whose actions I still find a bit ambiguous. Also, this book is unapologetically adult, which is a bit of a shock to the sensibility of someone who is expecting something along the lines of Spindle's End and Rose Daughter. I liked the book a little better this time, knowing what to expect from it. (Also, it made me crave pastries like crazy.) It's never going to be among my favorite McKinley books, but I can see why so many people are fond of it. Readers who love a good dark, grown-up vampire story will savor this one.

(Reviewed from my personally purchased copy.)

House of Ivy and Sorrow by Natalie Whipple

House of Ivy & Sorrow by Natalie Whipple is a YA paranormal story.

They say a witch lives in the old house under the bridge. They're right. Josephine Hemlock and her grandmother are the last in a long line of powerful witches, but they have equally powerful enemies. Jo's mother died of a mysterious curse, and when Jo's father arrives in town unexpectedly, the same dark forces are trailing along behind him. Jo and her grandmother must figure out who their enemies are and how the curse works, before it destroys everything they love.

I thought this book was good, but I'm finding it not particularly memorable. Writing this review now, just a few days after reading, the details have gone fuzzy in my head. (Or is that the cold medicine speaking?) From the cover and title, I expected a story with a much darker tone, more mysterious and fantastical, whereas the tone in this book is generally upbeat with touches of humor and sarcasm even in the direst of situations. Not that I'm lamenting a dearth of angst, mind you, but it's not exactly what I was expecting! All in all, a pleasant enough story, but not one I'll particularly want to revisit.

(Reviewed from an advance copy, courtesy of the publisher.)

Sorrow's Knot by Erin Bow

Sorrow's Knot by Erin Bow is my first book of the new year.

Otter's mother Willow is a binder -- a woman who can tie powerful knots to keep away the hungry dead. Otter believes that she will someday become a binder, too -- until Tamarak, the old binder, dies. But on the day of Tamarak's death, Willow goes a little crazy. She pushes Otter out of the binder's lodge, claiming that she will never take Otter as an apprentice. Willow says that something is wrong with the knots. And then Willow does something else, something worse. . . .

I'm having a hard time summarizing this one, probably because it's a fairly complex concept. The setting has a sort of Native American feel, though the author doesn't identify Otter's people with any particular tribe, or even any easily recognizable location. There are creatures that are not quite ghosts and not quite zombies. It's quite different from anything I've read, including the author's earlier book, and it's very dark. Very, very dark. Unrelentingly dark. I am amazed it didn't give me nightmares. But the writing is very good, and I'm glad to have read it (though it's not a book I see myself ever rereading). If you like dark fantasy, bordering on horror, but written with a literary tone, I'd recommend this.

(Reviewed from a copy borrowed through my library system.)

Far Far Away by Tom McNeal

Far Far Away by Tom McNeal is assigned reading for a seminar I'm attending in January. I can already tell that I'm going to have a hard time discussing it critically . . . because I loved it so much!

Jacob Grimm may have died in 1863, but his spirit is doomed to wander until he figures out what it is he has left undone. After some years of roaming, he finds a boy in a small town who is one of the few in the world who can hear the voices of ghosts. Jacob knows that there is also in Jeremy's small town a Finder of Occasions, who will do Jeremy harm if left unchecked. If Jacob can protect Jeremy and encourage him to excel in school and go away to college, Jacob reasons, he can perhaps move on himself, to whatever comes next. Of course, it won't be that easy. . . .

I'm over-simplifying the plot with that summary, and certainly not doing it justice. This book has magic, humor, suspense, and romance. The characters are excellent, the writing is brilliant, and I didn't figure out who the Finder of Occasions was until fairly late in the story, though perhaps a savvier reader would have caught on sooner, since there are some nice fairy-tale related clues dropped with gentle precision at key points. There are some dark parts to the story, as well -- I wouldn't recommend it to kids, necessarily, but readers from middle school up who love magical realism and fairy-tale references should definitely read this book!

This is one of my rare five-star reads, and will definitely be among my favorites for the year.

(Reviewed from a copy borrowed through my library system.)

Ghost Hawk by Susan Cooper

Ghost Hawk by Susan Cooper is an historical fantasy set in colonial America in the years leading up to King Philip's War.

When Little Hawk leaves his village for a winter in the wilderness, a rite of passage that every Wampanoag boy must face. When he returns, however, it is to find that nearly the whole village has succumbed to a fever spread from the white traders who have recently come to the region. As Little Hawk and the few survivors are incorporated into another village which has also seen losses from the fever, by chance he meets John Wakely, a boy a few years younger than himself. Little Hawk will meet John Wakely once again in his lifetime, and that meeting will change both boys' lives in profound and startling ways.

This is a gripping read that deals with an historical period that may be unfamiliar to some readers. Life in Little Hawk's Wampanoag village is respectfully described, and the conflicts between the settlers over issues of church and state are shown in dramatic and interesting ways. While the book has its flaws -- for instance, I thought a character that appears toward the end of the book was too obviously a stand-in for the author -- I found it an enjoyable read overall, and would recommend it to readers who enjoy similar types of stories.

(Reviewed from a copy borrowed through my library system.)

Doll Bones by Holly Black

I wasn't saving Doll Bones by Holly Black to review on Halloween, but since the day is here and I need to review the book, I can't pass up the opportunity to do so!

Zach, Poppy, and Alice have been playing an imaginative adventure game with dolls and action figures for a long time. In the back of his mind, Zach knows that the game can't go on forever, and now that they're in middle school, he really doesn't want his school friends to know that he still plays with dolls -- but he also doesn't want the game to end. But when Zach's father throws away Zach's bag of action figures in an attempt to get him to grow up, Zach calls an end to the game rather than admit that his characters are gone. Poppy, in a desperate attempt to keep the game going, convinces Zach and Alice to accompany her on one final quest. You see, the Great Queen, an antique bone china doll, has always ruled over the game from afar. Poppy claims to have seen the ghost of a girl who was murdered, whose bones were incorporated into the china that became the Great Queen and whose ashes serve as stuffing. Now, Poppy says, the girl wants to be laid to rest. To do so, the friends must take a bus to the town where the doll was created and find the cemetery where the girl is supposed to be buried. At first, Zach is skeptical . . . but strange things start to happen when the doll is with them. Is the girl's ghost really haunting the three friends, and if so, will burying the doll in the girl's grave put her spirit to rest?

This is a fantastic and well-written story, and definitely worth reading. It was not, however, as scary as I had been led to expect. It's entirely appropriate for the middle-grade readers that are its intended audience, which is a testimony to Holly Black's writing skill, since she often writes darker young adult fiction. I didn't expect young adult-level horror, but I think I was anticipating a somewhat better written version of R.L. Stine. This book has some decidedly creepy moments, particularly toward the end of the book, but it is really more about the themes of friendship, imagination, and growing up than about haunted dolls. And the kids spend a night in a library during their quest, which is always a bonus for librarian readers! Recommended.

(Reviewed from a copy borrowed through my library system.)

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater is the second book in the Raven Cycle.

Ronan has some special abilities that even he doesn't really understand, and in this book he takes center stage as he learns how to manipulate his dreams. There's a lot more going on in the book, of course -- but that's all the summary I'm going to write!

Sometimes the second book in a series falls into a slump, but due to the way the focus has shifted, this book does not suffer that fate. It's just as enthralling as the first book, and fans of The Raven Boys will be thrilled to get to spend more time with these well-written and interesting characters. There's plenty of action and danger, and it's a quick, exciting read that will leave readers anxious for more. If you enjoyed the first book, you will want to read this one!

(Reviewed from an advance copy, courtesy of the publisher.)

The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud

The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud is the first book in an exciting new paranormal adventure series.
About fifty years before our story begins, the citizens of the UK began experiencing what they now refer to as "the Problem." Ghosts started cropping up all over -- ghosts with the power to kill with a touch. Children are more sensitive to the presence of this paranormal threat, so in response to the Problem, underage crews of psychic investigators have sprung up. Using technical equipment and plenty of salt and iron, these agencies work to neutralize spirits before they can harm living citizens. Lucy Carlyle was part of one such team in a small town until one job went horribly wrong. Now, Lucy is in London. She's applied to all of the big agencies, but without references she can't find a place. Then she spies an advertisement for Lockwood & Company, a small firm that is currently hiring. Unlike most agencies, Lockwood & Co. consists of only a few underage investigators, no adult supervision. Lockwood, the charismatic head of the agency, takes Lucy on, and together with George, the slovenly third agent, they start working on the few cases that come their way. When a botched job results in a house fire and Lockwood and Co. is held liable for property damages, prospects look grim. Their only hope is to take a job at Combe Carey Hall, one of the most haunted buildings in Britain. The owner of the hall will wire funds to their account as soon as they arrive at the hall -- which is a good thing, because no other psychic investigators have ever survived a night at Combe Carey. Can Lucy, George, and Lockwood deal with the Red Room and the Screaming Staircase, or are they doomed to join the house's paranormal host themselves?

Generally, ghost stories are Not My Thing, but I'm such a big fan of the Bartimaeus Trilogy that I thought I'd give Stroud a chance to wow me (even though I found Heroes of the Valley a disappointing slog). I'm glad I did. Lockwood & Company feels like a return to Stroud's strengths: an alternate-history London with interesting backstory and world-building, strong, interesting, not always likable characters, plenty of action and adventure, and the promise of more in books to come. This series is pitched to a slightly younger demographic than his Bartimaeus books, but I'd say teen and adult readers can enjoy this just as much as the upper reaches of the middle-grade audience for whom the story is intended. The ghosts are scary enough to make the book gripping, but not so much that I was kept awake at night (and as I indicated, I'm kind of a wimp when it comes to horror books and usually avoid them), and there's a bit of mystery that some readers will be able to solve long before the final reveal. I'm looking forward to the continuation of this series -- it's one I'll definitely keep an eye on, and definitely recommend.

(Reviewed from an advance copy, courtesy of the publisher.)