The Reader: Book One of Sea of Ink and Gold, by Traci Chee

I've said it before, but...I'm not a big fantasy genre fan. I like to read about real events, or at least how real people react and respond to real life situations, even if they are somewhat far-fetched - that's just me! However, as I encourage you to do, I try to stretch my genre preferences now and again and delve into something unusual for me. The Reader by Traci Chee has a very cool cover, and when it came out it got a lot of good reviews, and so it's always been at the edge of my reading perifery. It just happened to be available at the local library last week, so I thought I's give it a try.

Apparently, this is the first YA book for Chee, and the first book in a trilogy (I just added the second book to the BMS library collection...we already have this book, number one, and I will soon add book three). The good reviews are warranted! It was a real page-turner, reminding me a lot of Fablehaven or Inkheart. Chee creates a new world, and writes three different story lines that, as the book progresses, eventually begin to work off of each other, until they come completely together, making the page-turning even faster! A strong female protagonist, great action, a story revolving around the power of words, especially the written word...and, of course, danger, death, destruction, lies, cheating, some violence...what more could you ask for?!  I can't say for sure that I will read the second book, because I really am ready for something back in my reading preferences, at least for the next few books. But I do recommend The Reader - I'll bet you won't be able to put it down, either!
4 paws!

The Poet X, by Elizabeth Acevedo

Sometimes you read a book and just want it to keep going, and going...and going.  This is one of those books! I first thought from the title that this book would somehow have something to do with Malcolm X, one of my favorite people in history, and I waited to read it until I was ready to dig into Black American history. It is not about Malcolm X, but X is short for Xiomara, the protagonist and narrator of this story. The Poet X is the name she uses when she starts to participate in poetry slams.

The book is written in poetry style, like The Crossover, another of my fave books. But unlike The Crossover, this story is about a young Latina from the Dominican Republic, living in the United States, a sophomore in high school, navigating family, God, boys, men, romantic relationships (the details get a little strong here...meant for older middle and high school readers, probably), a twin brother and best friend, expectations from all of these places...and more. It is REALLY well written - some of the best writing I have read for YAs and teens in a long time. I know Acevedo has a new book out, although The Poet X is only one year old, and I will definitely get to it! I cannot think of another Latina or Latino author that is currently writing about the LatinX experience in America today, let alone anyone doing it with such beautiful writing and insight as Acevedo. A National Book Award finalist, a Printz Award winner, and a Pure Belpre Award winner!  I love this book - I think you will, too! 5 paws!

The Unteachables, by Gordon Korman

Ah, Gordon Korman!  According to the book jacket for this book, he has written about 90 books for teens and young adults...yep, he knows what he's doing! The Unteacahables is his latest, and if you know Korman's work, you'll know this one, too, and probably like it! Easy to follow, great characters, funny, fast, good story line but nothing super new or groundbreaking.  Not as good as some of his better books, like Schooled, Ungifted, Masterminds, or even No More Dead Dogs, but still pretty good. Worth your time if you like lighter and often funny, well-written books that will not tax your brain very much - a great "beach read" for middle school! 3 paws!

Pan's Labyrinth: The Labyrinth of the Faun, by Guillermo del Toro and Cornelia Funke

Oh my...one review describes this book as a "page-turner", and it definitely is that! I couldn't hardly wait to read the next page, no matter what page I had just finished! In addition, I had to go back and check some of my usual review sources to see the age group this book was being recommended for...I still cannot believe it is being recommended for 6th graders and above - the details of the war, of different characters being tortured or killed, I found to be really dark and really descriptive - not that fans of fantasy and horror wouldn't like it, just that I'm not sure I would say 6th graders would be part of the target audience here...you be the judge of that!

All that said, this book is awesome! A mix of World War 2 Spain, underworld beings and creatures, fairies, the beauty and ugliness of humanity, struggle, wealth and poverty, gender inequalities, oh, and murder and torture. This book covers a lot of ground, and does it in a way that makes it difficult not to read the next page! I am not familiar with the movie version of Pan's Labyrinth, but perhaps some of you are. I am familiar with Funke, who has written some of the best fantasy in YA and teen lit, in my opinion - Inkheart being my favorite, but also Dragon Rider and others. It's been a while since I've read anything by her, but wow, she has gotten SO good with this book!

Knowing the story as I do now, I don't know if I could read it again, knowing what happens along the way. But I cannot remember a book that I wished I had not read so that I could read it again for the first time! If death and darkness do not disturb you, read this, and then let's chat about it! 5 paws for sure!

The Teacher's Funeral: A Comedy in Three Parts, by Richard Peck

What fun!  This is one of the upcoming OBOB books for the middle division, and it's short, and I was in the mood for something different - this fit the bill perfectly! Author Richard Peck has been writing books since paper was invented (or so it seems), and I have read a few of them, but not in a long while. The ones I read were very good, and this was no exception! I am certain that I can describe the plot to you and most of you would never read it based on my explanation! What Peck does (did...he passed in 2018) as well as anyone is take a simple plot line and make a really fun story out of it! In fact, several times I laughed out loud - out loud! When have you ever heard a pug laugh out loud?! Yeah, probably never! The story is simple, well-written, funny, fun, and very quick to read...I recommend this one, and wished it was a little longer! 5 paws!