Pages and Co: The Book Smugglers by Anna James

Summary from Goodreads:

Fourth in the modern-classic and bestselling bookwandering series for ages eight to twelve that celebrates all that is best in life: books, adventure, friendship – and cake.

Milo lives on board the Sesquipedalian, or “Quip” – a magical train that uses the power of imagination to travel through both Story and the real world. The train is owned by Milo’s uncle, Horatio, and Milo has witnessed many of his uncle’s dodgy dealings as a book smuggler trading in rare books.

When Horatio takes on a dangerous new job, he needs the help of Tilly Pages. And Tilly owes Horatio a favour. But when poisoned copies of The Wizard of Oz are sent to Horatio and Tilly's grandfather, sending them both into deep sleeps, Milo and Tilly find themselves racing against time to save them – and to figure out what is going on.

Their journey takes them to the Emerald City with Dorothy, rocketing on the unruly Quip, and eventually to Venice in Italy, in pursuit of the mysterious Alchemist. The very essence of imagination, story itself, may be in danger . . .

Review:

I love this series. I’ll always remember getting the first two installments in Paris, on my honeymoon. And whenever more books come out, they never cease to bring a smile to my face. Honestly though, how can a librarian not smile? They are always full of literary references, literal “book magic,” charming bookstores, magical libraries, imagination trains, special archives, and a mystery or two.

I liked that this installment involved both a point of view shift (a chunk of the story is about Milo), and a rescue mission (both Horatio and Tilly’s grandfather are in comas from being poisoned after touching a certain copy of The Wizard of Oz). The new characters are amazing. I loved getting to know Milo more. Seeing his favorite books and places to book wander was just the best.There’s this moment where he and Tilly need help from their favorite fictional characters. So, his favorite characters meet Tilly’s, and it’s this literary mismatch of fun.

I also love the idea behind the villain in this story and what he’s trying to accomplish. Of course someone would want to control what he’s trying to do! Watching Tilly sort of become the sidekick to Milo was interesting too. She’s normally the one in charge. But, she clearly knows she’s not the one in charge of the train.

I guess the one flaw in this one, is it felt a little rushed at the end. I wish the last quarter of the book had the same amount of attention to detail the first 3/4 of the book did. Like I literally had to re-read some parts with the archivist to understand what actually transpired. That, and I’m not sure I believed how little attention was paid to some of the kids at the end. But, all in all, I loved it. I still give it an 8/10.

A Good Week in Books (229)

I had a nice week in books. I finished one fun Middle Grade Fiction title and one fun graphic novel. I also received a few new books for review from Hachette. I went and purchased one new book for myself from a local favorite bookstore of mine as well. When I saw a book recommended by the staff there, that combined a Northern Lights story with the setting of a place I live in (Cape Cod), I just had to buy it!

The new books:

The Wide Starlight by Nicole Lesperance

The Last Fallen Moon by Grace Kim
Happily Ever Island by Crystal Cestari

Ballad and Dagger by Daniel Jose Older

My Own Lightning by Lauren Wolk

Summary from Goodreads:

Bestselling author Lauren Wolk returns to the world of Wolf Hollow, in this sequel to her beloved, Newbery Honor-winning debut.

★ "A powerful story to electrify the soul." -Booklist, starred review

It's been several months since the tragic events set in motion by bully Betty Glengarry, and the routine of daily life in Wolf Hollow has slowly returned. But for Annabelle McBride it's hard to move forward and make peace with what feels like threadbare justice.

Newly warm summer days are about to bring a jolt of change on the winds of a powerful storm. In its wake, the search for her brother's missing dog will set Annabelle on a new path that brings her to unfamiliar doorsteps and reunites her with a too-familiar adversary--Andy Woodberry, who was complicit in Betty's most terrible acts. Growing up and blazing her own trail will soon force Annabelle to reexamine deeply felt truths--about people, about justice, about herself--that had once seemed so uncomplicated.

Bestselling author Lauren Wolk (Beyond the Bright Sea, Echo Mountain) returns to World War II-era Western Pennsylvania in this luminous sequel to her Newbery Honor-winning debut, Wolf Hollow, proving once again why her acclaimed novels have been celebrated as "historical fiction at its finest.”

Review:

As I wrote on Goodreads, Lauren Wolk is a master. This book is so compelling. I didn't know it was coming out. When I picked it up, I didn't know it was going to be a sequel to another book I loved. I didn't even know I wanted a sequel. But, I guess I did....The way she writes her main characters, and how they have to figure things out is just so real. I read the first half of this book in a salon (that was very behind). And I was sad when I had to go in for my appointment. Her words are just so poetic, true, powerful, and thoughtful. As a Youth Services Librarian, I have read a lot of kids books over the years. This author is special.

Reading Lauren Wolk almost feels like reading a modern day E.B. White. You know each book is going to stand out and last with you a long time. She understands how kids think, how animals think, and you can’t stop reading/turning the pages.

I really didn’t think Wolf Hollow needed a sequel. I thought it had a great ending. I never really thought I had to have more…and I was surprised when I learned that this book was a continuation of that story. I wasn’t unhappy, just surprised. And then I started reading it. The more I read, the more I realized I did need it, if that makes sense. Sometimes stories end and you don’t really have a chance to think about all that’s happened.

What happened at the end of Wolf Hollow was so intense. Wolk wrote it beautifully. But, this book really gives you the chance to think about it, to forgive certain characters, and to move on. I like how you learn that the world isn’t black and white. Not all people are good or bad. And even sometimes what leads someone to do something bad can help explain things. Everyone has a story.

Also, the whole idea of getting hit by lightning and then being able to understand animals? Genius! This book was magic. The concept was magic. But, still, at its core, there’s this hardship and this memory of what has already transpired and what these characters and families are still going through. I love the sense of family, responsibility, and heroism in this book. I guess each character, in their own way, is a hero. There’s the new characters who rescue dogs, the doctors who do incredible things, the mystery characters who restart a girl’s heart after being struck by lightning, the fathers who let abused boys stay in their barns, mothers who can just tell who the villains are, and the dogs who bring everyone together. And of course there’s Annabelle who literally throws herself in front of her siblings to protect them from danger.

I hope this book resonates with everyone else as much as it does with me. I give it a 10/10.

The Mirror: Broken Wish by Julie C. Dao

Summary from Goodreads:

1865
Hanau, Germany

Sixteen-year-old Elva has a secret. She has visions and strange powers that she will do anything to hide. She knows the warnings about what happens to witches in their small village of Hanau. She’s heard the terrible things people say about the Witch of the North Woods, and the malicious hunts that follow. But when Elva accidentally witnesses a devastating vision of the future, she decides she has to do everything she can to prevent it. Tapping into her powers for the first time, Elva discovers a magical mirror and its owner—none other than the Witch of the North Woods herself. As Elva learns more about her burgeoning magic, and the lines between hero and villain start to blur, she must find a way to right past wrongs before it’s too late.

Review:

I didn’t realize exactly what I was getting into with this book. I kind of belatedly learned this is part of a series where each book will be written by a different author. And this is the book that starts everything and the curse that begins it all. I’m drawn to fairytales. I’m drawn to fantasy forests on book covers. I like the idea of one curse affecting multiple generations over time. I’m a little baffled by the different authors…but, why not? I’ve never actually read anything by Dao before, so I was excited to try this.

It took me a while to get into it. I’m not a HUGE historical fiction reader, though I’ve gotten a lot more into these last couple of years. The beginning reads more historical than fantasy. It’s also weirdly about adults, and a woman who wants a baby (not the typical YA book)…so I wasn’t exactly connecting to her that much. I almost stopped reading entirely because I could see exactly where this was heading. Clearly the friendship would be messed up, the promise would be broken and that would start the curse.

I guess I kept reading though cause I wanted to know for sure. And I’m mostly glad I kept going. It did get more interesting for me. The book eventually became more about the daughter. And then it seemed like everything was going to be fixed, so I had to know how the curse would continue for generations. And I was shocked at how things turned up, genuinely shocked. While most of this book was easy to call for me. It read like an expected fairytale. That ending was nuts.

All in all, I wish the beginning was more interesting. I wish both the mother and daughter main characters had a little more depth to them. They both seemed so flat, and too boring. I found the second half of the book to have a lot more plot/suspense. And I’m glad I kept reading. I was genuinely shocked by the end. I’m not rushing to get the rest of the series. However, I am curious to see where it all goes. I give this one a 7/10.

Lockwood and Co 2: The Whispering Skull by Jonathan Stroud

Summary from Goodreads:

In the six months since Anthony, Lucy, and George survived a night in the most haunted house in England, Lockwood & Co. hasn't made much progress. Quill Kipps and his team of Fittes agents keep swooping in on Lockwood's investigations. Finally, in a fit of anger, Anthony challenges his rival to a contest: the next time the two agencies compete on a job, the losing side will have to admit defeat in the Times newspaper.

Things look up when a new client, Mr. Saunders, hires Lockwood & Co. to be present at the excavation of Edmund Bickerstaff, a Victorian doctor who reportedly tried to communicate with the dead. Saunders needs the coffin sealed with silver to prevent any supernatural trouble. All goes well-until George's curiosity attracts a horrible phantom.

Back home at Portland Row, Lockwood accuses George of making too many careless mistakes. Lucy is distracted by urgent whispers coming from the skull in the ghost jar. Then the team is summoned to DEPRAC headquarters. Kipps is there too, much to Lockwood's annoyance. Bickerstaff's coffin was raided and a strange glass object buried with the corpse has vanished. Inspector Barnes believes the relic to be highly dangerous, and he wants it found.

Review:

Nick and I had about 3 hours left of this audiobook when we got back to our home in MA…and we had to keep listening! So, we we’ve been listening some nights in our living room instead of watching Netflix. We just finished this sequel last night. Was book 2 as good as book 1? Not quite…But, will we keep going with the series? Absolutely! It ended with another cliffhanger, to start with. But also, we are so invested in these characters now.

We still have the same questions about the time period of the world this takes place in, but I feel like our questions might slowly get answered over time thought the 5 book series. Also, now we have more characters to like. This book involved a fancy dinner party heist, in which the characters snuck into a big, supernatural library and well, how could two librarians not be at the edge of their seats for this?

There also seemed to be more emphasis on supernatural artifacts (mirrors, jars, etc). So, it sounds like we might be headed into a direction where we learn more about how things came to be…Maybe. And I’d love to learn this! Again, the narrator was fantastic. I loved how she did the ghost in the jar. I loved getting to know Flow. I loved even the villains of the story.

Really this book made a very long car ride so much more enjoyable. The characters, the setting, the ghosts, and the suspense were on par with the best fantasy middle grade books out there. I give this one an 8/10. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

American Street by Ibi Zoboi

Summary from Goodreads:

The rock in the water does not know the pain of the rock in the sun.

On the corner of American Street and Joy Road, Fabiola Toussaint thought she would finally find une belle vie—a good life.

But after they leave Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Fabiola’s mother is detained by U.S. immigration, leaving Fabiola to navigate her loud American cousins, Chantal, Donna, and Princess; the grittiness of Detroit’s west side; a new school; and a surprising romance, all on her own.

Just as she finds her footing in this strange new world, a dangerous proposition presents itself, and Fabiola soon realizes that freedom comes at a cost. Trapped at the crossroads of an impossible choice, will she pay the price for the American dream?

Review:

This was so different from the other work I read by Zoboi. It’s her first book, so I guess I’m reading things all out of order. It wasn’t what I was expecting. It was rough, raw, and emotional. But, it was also this whole new perspective for me. Right away, I loved Fabiola. How hard it must be to immigrate here, lose your only family member at the airport, and then be thrust into this harsh Detroit reality. Between culture clashes, reality checks, and high school, this was a dramatic read.

It’s about perspective and learning that things are not always what they seem. America is not what it seems. Your family isn’t always what they seem. Love isn’t what it seems. And then the big one: you aren’t always who you think you are. Fabiola learns what she’ll risk things for, what’s worth the risk, and what isn’t.

There are so many tough subjects in here. And I like that this book isn’t exactly about them. They take the backseat to family and to Fabiola growing into herself. They are important, sure. How can drug dealing, violence, domestic abuse, police brutality, etc not be important? But in a way, they are just so much part of the norm for these characters that they can’t take center stage. I wished some of the characters were able to get more help. But, maybe that was point too. This isn’t a book where everyone has a happy ending or even where the happy ending is clear for each character.

Some of the things that happened even had my gasping out loud in shock. I was taken aback by one plot development. It was so sad. I had tears in my eyes at the end and I genuinely had no idea what was going to happen at the very end. Then ending was insane. I loved the suspense, the characters, the tidbits about Haitian culture, and the drama. I found this to be a very strong and relevant book. But, it was also very emotional and intense. It took me longer than normal to read the whole thing. I had to space it out over time and read it all at once. I give it a 9/10. I’ll definitely be looking for more to read by this author.

Lockwood and Co: The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud

Summary from Goodreads:

When the dead come back to haunt the living, Lockwood & Co. step in . . .

For more than fifty years, the country has been affected by a horrifying epidemic of ghosts. A number of Psychic Investigations Agencies have sprung up to destroy the dangerous apparitions.

Lucy Carlyle, a talented young agent, arrives in London hoping for a notable career. Instead she finds herself joining the smallest, most ramshackle agency in the city, run by the charismatic Anthony Lockwood. When one of their cases goes horribly wrong, Lockwood & Co. have one last chance of redemption. Unfortunately this involves spending the night in one of the most haunted houses in England, and trying to escape alive.

Set in a city stalked by spectres, The Screaming Staircase is the first in a chilling new series full of suspense, humour and truly terrifying ghosts. Your nights will never be the same again . . .

Review:

So we actually listened to another audiobook first on our trip to Chicago. We listened to Jackaby by William Ritter, but since I’ve already read and reviewed it on this blog I figured I’d skip to the next book in my pile…I’ve fallen a bit behind in my blogging and my book pile is threatening to fall over.

Sadly, I got rid of most of my Children’s audiobook collection this past year at the library. They just weren’t circulating. I set a few aside for the long road trip that I thought my husband and I might both like. This was one of them. A ghost story with sword fighting on the front cover? Why not? Sometimes I can be so right with my book suggestions it’s frightening. Not only did Nick and both love this book, but we are already about to begin book 3 at home (not even in the car). I had no idea there were 5 in the series! We also both loved Jackaby. But, this book just ended in such a spot where we had to keep going….

I also have to give props to the narrator: Miranda Raison. She is fantastic at voices, dead and alive. If not for her remarkable narration skills, we would have had a much worse road trip! 17 hours is no joke.

Anyway, this book is amazing! I cannot believe I have not read it until now. What an amazing read-alike/fantasy middle grade book for fans of Rick Riordan, JK Rowling, Shannon Messenger, and Jessica Townsend. The story is a little bit spookier than some of these other books, but just as suspenseful. And the characters are just as good. Oh, and the cliffhangers! The cliffhangers kill me.

The only thing that kind of annoys me about the books is I’m never sure on the time period….Things like donuts and comic books come up, but there are no cell phones or other modern pieces of technology. Is it a total fantasy world version of London? Or is it decades ago, but with ghosts? Will this ever get explained? Maybe.

The characters in here are unbelievable. You feel like you know them by the end. The ghosts are so spooky. The world is insane. Only kids can deal with the ghosts. It’s kids that fight the supernatural because adults can’t see them. And often kids die fighting them….There’s swords, chains, talking ghosts jars, secret rooms, literal screaming staircases, not so helpful police, rival investigative societies, and so much more. I give this first book a 10/10. I can’t wait to keep reading.