Sometimes I read a book, and I even enjoy it, but I don't have much to say about it. I jot down a few thoughts and then I move on. When these start to pile up, I put them together in one post.
Here are some MG Fantasy books I have read recently with my thoughts.
After a rather awkward beginning where there was a strange pretend conversation between Maya and her former self that rehashed the first book longer than was necessary, A Box of Gargoyles took off in a fun and adventurous direction. Readers who enjoyed the first book will want to read this latest installment as Maya has to finish off Henri once and for all. I was disappointed that there wasn't as much interaction between characters. I love Valko and wished for more of him through the entire book. It also felt like there was a little too much going on at times. It is still a fun read and I will certainly be looking for any more that may be coming out. Or anything else Nesbet may write.
Such a fun book. I really enjoyed both Haley and Dodger as characters. It feels like the book has an awful lot of set up, but rushed ending. Still. It's about chasing aliens and kids saving the world. And that's always a good time.
Sidekicked is a fun adventurous tale of super heroes, side kicks, middle school, and figuring out the difference between right and wrong-and how very many shades of gray there are in between. I was entertained by Drew and his "power". I enjoyed all the different side kicks and their relationship with each other. In this world there are people born with super powers (think Incredibles) and they fight super villains. Drew and his friends are part of a training program for those with powers and are assigned as sidekicks to supers. Anderson explores the darker side of super hero work in this story. It is highly entertaining and thought provoking, two things that are a great combination.
Fans of Baker's other works will enjoy A Question of Magic. This is an interesting twist on the old Baba Yaga stories and Serafina is laudable heroine, hard working, kind hearted, and dedicated. She is, in fact, a little to perfect to come across as real (as us her heroic true love), but the delight in this story is traveling around with her and meeting all the people she interacts with. I enjoyed that the romance here was one already established before the book started. It is a fairy tale story that does not have two people falling in love, but two people all ready in love trying to figure out how to stay together.(less)
Here are some MG Fantasy books I have read recently with my thoughts.
A Box of Gargoyles by Anne Nesbet
After a rather awkward beginning where there was a strange pretend conversation between Maya and her former self that rehashed the first book longer than was necessary, A Box of Gargoyles took off in a fun and adventurous direction. Readers who enjoyed the first book will want to read this latest installment as Maya has to finish off Henri once and for all. I was disappointed that there wasn't as much interaction between characters. I love Valko and wished for more of him through the entire book. It also felt like there was a little too much going on at times. It is still a fun read and I will certainly be looking for any more that may be coming out. Or anything else Nesbet may write.
The Fellowship for Alien Detection by Kevin Emerson
Such a fun book. I really enjoyed both Haley and Dodger as characters. It feels like the book has an awful lot of set up, but rushed ending. Still. It's about chasing aliens and kids saving the world. And that's always a good time.
Sidekicked by John David Anderson
Sidekicked is a fun adventurous tale of super heroes, side kicks, middle school, and figuring out the difference between right and wrong-and how very many shades of gray there are in between. I was entertained by Drew and his "power". I enjoyed all the different side kicks and their relationship with each other. In this world there are people born with super powers (think Incredibles) and they fight super villains. Drew and his friends are part of a training program for those with powers and are assigned as sidekicks to supers. Anderson explores the darker side of super hero work in this story. It is highly entertaining and thought provoking, two things that are a great combination.
A Question of Magic by E.D. Baker
Fans of Baker's other works will enjoy A Question of Magic. This is an interesting twist on the old Baba Yaga stories and Serafina is laudable heroine, hard working, kind hearted, and dedicated. She is, in fact, a little to perfect to come across as real (as us her heroic true love), but the delight in this story is traveling around with her and meeting all the people she interacts with. I enjoyed that the romance here was one already established before the book started. It is a fairy tale story that does not have two people falling in love, but two people all ready in love trying to figure out how to stay together.(less)
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