Review: City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab

City of Ghosts (Cassidy Blake #1)
By Victoria Schwab
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchased

To Sum It Up: Cassidy Blake’s parents may write books about ghosts for a living, but for Cass, ghosts are all too real. After being saved from drowning by a ghost named Jacob, who becomes her best friend, Cassidy can step into the Veil, the curtain between the living and the dead. When her parents are given the opportunity to film a TV show about haunted places around the world, the family packs their bags for Edinburgh, Scotland, where Cassidy is about to discover that not all ghosts are friendly like Jacob.

Review: Victoria Schwab has become an auto-buy author for me, so of course I had to check out her middle grade novel, City of Ghosts. In it we meet Cassidy Blake, a girl whose near-death experience has given her the ability to cross into the Veil, the barrier between the worlds of the living and the dead. Cass’s best friend is Jacob, a snarky, comic book-loving ghost who saved Cass from drowning. Cass and Jacob’s friendship was definitely the highlight of the novel for me; I loved the banter between them.

Overall, though, I’m bummed to say that I just wasn’t feeling this book. While I loved the concept and the wonderful, thoroughly detailed descriptions of Edinburgh, the story itself seemed to be missing something. As spooky as some of Cass and Jacob’s forays into the Veil are, the sense of danger doesn’t feel all that palpable.

I also thought that the book took a while to get going, and even then, the plot is pretty straightforward. I think I expected more suspense and tension build-up given that this is a story about ghosts. I realize that this is middle grade, but I felt there was still room to add more layers to the plot and to the characters.

Perhaps I’m too used to the complicated characters of Schwab’s adult novels to fully appreciate City of Ghosts. This one fell a bit short for me, but I do think that the book offers plenty of chills to thrill younger readers who will enjoy watching Cassidy and Jacob grow as characters as they continue their ghostly adventures together.

All in All: Sadly, I didn’t love this as much as I’d hoped despite some snappy dialogue and an immersive setting. The plot was a tad thin for me to really get into the story. Middle grade readers, however, will very likely find City of Ghosts to be a promising start to the series.

ARC Review: Brightwood by Tania Unsworth

Brightwood
By Tania Unsworth
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Format: Print ARC
Source: Publisher
Publication Date: September 27, 2016

To Sum It Up: Daisy Fitzjohn has never ventured outside the grounds of her family’s once stately home, Brightwood Hall. The only other person Daisy has ever known is her mother, who’s still haunted by a family tragedy from her childhood. One day, Daisy’s mother fails to return home from a shopping trip, and Daisy’s fear only heightens when a stranger turns up at Brightwood, with intentions that quickly reveal themselves to be sinister. As Brightwood becomes less and less of the haven it’s always been for Daisy and her mother, Daisy must face the very real possibility of escaping into the unknown world that waits beyond Brightwood’s gates.

Review: I’ve always been fascinated by grand houses, even way before ever watching a single episode of Downton Abbey. They’re even more intriguing when they’re shrouded in mystery, as is the case with the titular Brightwood Hall. Once majestic, Brightwood has fallen into disrepair over the years and now houses only two members of the Fitzjohn family: our protagonist, Daisy, and her mother, Caroline. In the book’s prologue, we learn that Caroline lost her parents and older brother in a tragic accident when she was very young, and when the story resumes in the present, it quickly becomes apparent that adult Caroline has never recovered from the loss.

Despite being a middle grade novel, Brightwood is quite dark in tone. Caroline has never allowed Daisy to set foot outside the gates of Brightwood, and Daisy has never met another human being besides her mother. Caroline has essentially turned Brightwood Hall into an enormous safe house, only leaving for regular supply runs. There’s more than routine behind them, though; Daisy observes that the basement is loaded with more provisions than two people will ever need, and yet her mother continues to buy in bulk. Caroline also has a daily ritual of collecting random objects as mementos of each day and storing them in boxes, and she’s filled the house with years and years’ worth of these Day Boxes.

We already have a heartbreaking story established when it takes an even darker turn. Caroline fails to return home after a trip to the supply store, and suddenly there’s a stranger on Brightwood’s grounds—past the gates. I don’t want to give away too much about this unwelcome individual’s backstory, but he is certainly not a friend. Although this antagonist’s motives and intentions are always transparent, you don’t know what’s going to happen to Daisy, who’s never been left alone for this long and has never experienced the world outside of her home. The suspense is rather intense and gripping, and it’s maintained until almost the end of the novel.

In the meantime, Daisy is without any human help and without any means to contact anyone, Caroline having previously disposed of both their phone and TV. I say “human help” because Brightwood also has fantasy elements to it. Daisy’s friends include a talking rat and a talking horse topiary. The book blurs the line between fantasy and reality very skillfully here; just as you’re kept guessing as to the story’s ultimate resolution, you’re also constantly wondering what’s real and what might be imaginary.

My school aged self definitely would have enjoyed Brightwood as much as my adult self did. The book explores some quite serious themes but without becoming too weighty for younger readers. The suspense build-up was very well done, and Brightwood Hall was a richly drawn setting for this tale.

All in All: Brightwood is simultaneously a thrilling and poignant middle grade novel, with plenty here to appeal to adult readers, too.

Review: Chase Tinker and the House of Mist

Chase Tinker and the House of Mist (Chase Tinker #4)
By Malia Ann Haberman
Publisher: Crossroad Press
Format: eBook
Source: Author

To Sum It Up: The evil Marlowes have taken almost everything from the Tinkers—including the magical Tinker house—and Chase is determined to get it back. With the help of his family and friends, Chase follows every possible lead on the house’s whereabouts, a search that takes him around the world and even back in time. Locating the house is only half the battle, however, as a final showdown between the Tinkers and the Marlowes awaits Chase and his allies once they do find the Tinker home.

Review: The Chase Tinker books have all been very enjoyable reads, and Chase Tinker and the House of Mist sees the series close with a strong finish. Our young hero faces his biggest challenges yet, including the theft of his family’s beloved home by the dastardly Marlowes. The Tinkers and the Marlowes have clashed before in the series, but this one, the battle for the house, promises to be the most explosive of all—and it doesn’t disappoint.

While the series has maintained a charming sense of whimsy through, it also hasn’t shied away from going a bit more serious in tone with each successive book. Chase Tinker and the House of Mist starts off on a very somber note, another reflection of the series’ maturity. What’s impressed me the most about these books is how they’ve moved forward in a way that respects Chase and his readers growing up, but not too fast.

Most of the novel focuses on the search for the house, with the majority of the action saved for the finale. Not to worry, though: there’s plenty to engage your interest until the house—and the Marlowes—is found. We learn about Persephone’s backstory, and Chase and Nori take a heart-pounding trip back to 18th century Scotland where Chase hopes to gain some insight from Augusta, one of his ancestors (this Outlander fan fully appreciated this bit of time travel to Scotland). There’s also a return of some magical acquaintances Chase and company have made during the course of their adventures. Although it’s the Marlowes’ insatiable greed for power that has brought faeries, vampires, warlocks, and leprechauns together with the Tinkers, the reunion is still nice to see.

The all-out confrontation between the two magical families is as intense as can be expected from these mortal enemies, and then some. Here again I commend the series for not walking away from a centuries-old feud with a light step. The conclusion to both the book and the series is well-balanced; there are some serious consequences of the Tinker/Marlowe hostilities, but in the end, readers who’ve watched Chase fulfill his destiny should be quite satisfied with this last chapter of his story.

All in All: This has been a little gem of a series, especially because of how awesome the house is. Standing out among books on magic can pose quite the challenge, particularly when geared toward younger readers, but this series is definitely worth checking out.

Review: Percy Jackson's Greek Gods by Rick Riordan & John Rocco

Percy Jackson’s Greek Gods
By Rick Riordan & John Rocco
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchased

To Sum It Up: Percy Jackson tells you everything you need to know about how the world came into existence and the origins of the twelve Olympians!

Review: First, I have to confess something: I’ve only read one Percy Jackson book, The Lightning Thief. Unthinkable, I know. I am striving to make 2015 the year of the sequels, and reading the rest of PJ’s books is one of my top goals, especially after loving every page of Percy Jackson’s Greek Gods.

I first clapped eyes on this wonderful, wonderful tome while out and about shopping. It is a most handsomely packaged book that demands a highly visible place on one’s bookshelf. It’s printed on glossy paper, which enhances the brilliance of John Rocco’s illustrations. They are stunning, and some of them are full page. On glossy paper!

So yes, the mere appearance of this book practically had me drooling. Then I started flipping through the pages and soon proceeded to burst out laughing in public. Book. Sold!

I cannot convey in words how hilarious Percy’s narration is. I don’t even remember how many times I laughed out loud while reading (but this time in the privacy of my own home, where I could cackle as much and as loudly as I wanted). I mean, this guy really knows how to (re) tell a tale. At the same time, Percy makes sure to point out how crazy the Greek gods and goddesses could be, and how badly they could behave. And we all know that very often, they behaved very badly.

My fascination with Greek mythology began in elementary school, and if I’d had a copy of this book back then, I would have been ecstatic, as well as off to an excellent start learning who’s who among the gods and goddesses. Even as an adult, I found Percy Jackson’s Greek Gods extremely informative; it filled in a number of gaps in my Greek mythology education and refreshed my memory on some of the myths I was already familiar with. All of the glorious Percy snark was an added bonus and made this my new favorite Greek mythology book. Just the way he envisions how conversations between the Greek deities went—priceless.

One more thing before wrapping up this review: this book is coffee table-sized. It truly is an amazing piece of work, both in presentation and in content. The eBook version might be more portable, but I strongly recommend opting for the hardcover with this one. You will not regret it!

All in All: I think anyone who loves Greek mythology should read this. Percy is a fantastic storyteller, the artwork is gorgeous, and you get a solid overview of Greek mythology that never fails to be entertaining. Read it!

Review: Chase Tinker and the House of Destiny

* This review may contain spoilers for the previous book, Chase Tinker and the House of Secrets.

Chase Tinker and the House of Destiny (Chase Tinker #3)
By Malia Ann Haberman
Publisher: Crossroad Press
Format: eBook
Source: Author

To Sum It Up: Chase can’t stop thinking about the Tinkers’ latest clash with their hated enemy, the Marlowes, and he especially can’t forget the drastic action he had to take in order to protect his little brother, Andy. Chase can’t afford to continue allowing these memories to haunt him, though, because he needs to focus on the Marlowes’ next strike. Adding to Chase’s troubles are the surprise arrival of a possible Marlowe spy, and the disturbing news that the Marlowes are ruthlessly stealing magic anywhere they can.

Review: It’s been a long while since I read any middle grade fiction, so long in fact that I believe the last one was about a year ago. So I was totally ready for a change to my usual YA reading diet, and Chase Tinker and the House of Destiny, book #3 in the series, turned out to be the perfect read for jumping back into MG.

House of Destiny finds Chase’s mindset in a fairly dark place. He believes he killed his cousin, Janie, after she first attacked his younger brother, Andy. Even though Chase acted to defend his brother, the guilt over what happened with Janie torments him. That’s quite a weight for someone his age to handle, but it’s also spot-on character development for a protagonist who’s going to inherit the duties as Keeper of his family’s magical house one day. We also see the lighter side of Chase’s growing pains, as he struggles to hide his feelings for his friend, Persephone. Our young hero’s list of woes just seems to keep getting longer, with one of his chief worries being the increasing threat the Marlowes pose.

The Tinkers’ foes have now taken to robbing magic from any being who possesses it. To assess the severity of the situation, Chase and company do some traveling in order to observe the damage firsthand. In a nice expansion outside of the Tinker house, the group journeys into the domains of fairies, vampires, witches/wizards/warlocks, and . . . leprechauns! Although the Tinkers’ attempts to rally some allies aren’t all successful, it’s still a cool addition to the series to see them interact with other magical communities.

With the Marlowes at their most diabolical yet, the appearance of one of them, Alexander Marlowe, sends the Tinker house into an uproar. Alex claims he wants nothing to do with all of the evil and is seeking refuge with the Tinkers. This causes no small amount of dissension in the house, with Chase highly suspicious of Alex and vehemently opposed to his presence on Tinker turf. Chase’s cousin Nori, however, takes a liking to Alex and thinks everyone else should cut him a break. I admit to finding Alex quite charming, but that may just be the English accent working its charm (I have such a weakness for those!). Alex was tough to get a read on; I could understand Chase’s point, but Alex also seemed convincingly sincere. The Alex puzzle kept my brain busy throughout the book, and I’m still not certain what to make of him. I will be disappointed if he turns out to be a baddie, though, because I really want to believe he’s on Team Tinker.

I was bummed to reach the end of the book because—cliffhanger! I’m really anxious to know what happens next (like if Alex is evil or not) and can’t wait for the fourth installment. Here’s hoping that Chase and his family end the Marlowes’ campaign to steal every drop of magic in the world, and that the magical newcomers to the series make return appearances in the next book (oh, and let’s not forget to hope that Alex isn’t evil).

All in All: Books like the ones in this series remind me of why middle grade is awesome, no matter your age.

Review: James Clyde and the Diamonds of Orchestra

James Clyde and the Diamonds of Orchestra
By Colm McElwain
Publisher: Matador

* A copy was provided by the author for review.

To Sum It Up:

Eleven-year-old James Clyde has no memories of his parents. As far as he knows, his grandfather, Wilmore, is his only living relative. James and his friends, Mary and Ben Forester, are off to spend their Christmas vacation at Wilmore’s mansion in the country when a shadowy figure from Wilmore’s past comes after him and poses a threat to James, too. The three children flee to the mystical land of Orchestra, which has been waiting all these years for the return of its hero, James, to save his people and to keep Orchestra’s three precious diamonds from falling into the wrong hands.

Review:

At first glance, James Clyde and the Diamonds of Orchestra has all the right ingredients for a middle grade fantasy: knights, magical creatures, an evil queen, and an eleven-year-old boy prophesied to rescue the kingdom. James and his friends, siblings Ben and Mary, have a series of exciting adventures that are sure to thrill younger readers. For me, though, the book was missing that sense of whimsy that pulls you into a fantasy world and makes you feel like you’re a part of it as opposed to just reading about it and following along. I couldn’t quite find that connection to the book or the characters here.

One of the obstacles I encountered when trying to immerse myself in the story was how identical the characters’ voices sounded to me. Whether it was an adult or a child who was speaking, the dialogue didn’t provide much insight into their personalities. On the whole, I didn’t get much of an idea of who these characters were, other than some were clearly good and some were clearly evil. It was hard taking a particular interest in most of them because I felt as though I’d barely gotten to know them. The exception was Kila, one of the knights on the side of good. He embodies chivalry with his bravery, dedication to his duty, and, of course, his masterful skill with a sword. I’ve always loved tales of knights saving the day, and my favorite part of the book was reading about the exploits of Kila and his brothers-in-arms.

I also thought that exposition could have used some more detail. There are references to stories about the land of Orchestra and its magical diamonds that Wilmore, James’s grandfather, has apparently told the three children. I would have liked to have heard one of these stories myself to gain a deeper understanding of the lore, but you have to wait until the trio actually journeys to Orchestra to learn more about Orchestra. As I read the book, I had the overall impression that the characters were in on information of which only bits and pieces were shared with the reader. Several later chapters are devoted to recounting how James ended up an orphan, and they filled in a lot of the blanks, but I wouldn’t have minded learning a few of these things a little earlier.

Younger readers will probably take to the quest aspect of the novel, but I needed some additional backstory and depth to the characters for this to be a page turner. I did enjoy reading about anything that had to do with the knights of Zara, and the action sequences were pretty intense. I just wish I’d connected better with James and his friends.

All in All:

I think some fine tuning of the character development and the dialogue were what would have made this a solid read for me. I liked its quest-driven premise, and I’m always happy to see knights make an appearance in a fantasy novel.

Review & Giveaway: Chase Tinker and the House of Secrets

Chase Tinker and the House of Secrets (Chase Tinker #2)
By Malia Ann Haberman
Publisher: Crossroad Press

* A copy was provided by the author for review.

To Sum It Up:

The evil Marlowes are more determined than ever to steal the source of the Tinker family’s magic, and now they’ve been joined by some unlikely allies. In addition to worrying about protecting his family, Chase Tinker is learning that his relatives can be quite secretive. There isn’t much time for him to be angry about being kept in the dark, though, because the Tinkers need to stick together if they’re to stand against their enemy and rescue one of their own.

Review:

Chase Tinker and the House of Secrets is a strong follow-up that certainly lives up to its name. We find out several surprising things about the Tinker family—and even a few about their old foes, the Marlowes—in this action-packed sequel that maintains the charm of the first book, Chase Tinker and the House of Magic, while also reflecting in tone the increasing maturity of its characters.

Continuing character development is something that I look for in any sequel regardless of a book’s target age group, but I’m especially keen to see it in middle grade titles. The ones that tend to click with me as an adult reader feature characters who make me feel as though I’m watching them make a progressive journey into young adulthood. Chase Tinker and the House of Secrets does not disappoint in this area. Chase still acts impulsively at times, but he’s also more aware of the responsibilities he’ll shoulder one day as the Keeper of the Tinker’s magical house. He grows up quite a bit over the course of the novel, and by the end of it, he’s been thoroughly tested. Extreme circumstances force Chase to take some drastic action that leaves him shaken and guilt-ridden. It’ll be interesting to see how he copes with what happened as the series continues.

Although this book delves into a little more serious territory than the last one, there’s still plenty of lighthearted stuff going on. Chase is more preoccupied than ever with not looking like a dork in front of Persephone, the housekeeper’s daughter. After very briefly becoming Keeper, Chase is able to use powers that once belonged to other Tinkers . . . every time he sneezes. This causes some distress for our young hero, of course, like being attacked by a garbage can in the school bathroom. There’s also an incident involving Nori, a newcomer to the series with a special connection to the Tinkers, and everyone in the room turning into goats. Moments like these made me laugh and reminded me why I still enjoy reading middle grade books.

The titular house figures prominently in the story once again, but its amazing magic never eclipses the characters, which I really appreciated. You always know that the characters are the heart of the story; it just so happens that they live in this fantastic house where probably anything is possible. Returning to the Tinker house was a total thrill, and I loved the direction in which the series turned.

All in All:

This was another awesome adventure for Mr. Tinker and his family and friends. The intensity went up by just the perfect amount, and the magic was irresistibly enchanting once more.

The Kindle edition of Chase Tinker and the House of Magic, the first book in the Chase Tinker series, is currently available from Amazon for only $0.99! Click here to buy a copy!

** Giveaway **

One (1) winner will receive a $15 Amazon gift card and a bookmark signed by author Malia Ann Haberman!

• This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.
• You must be at least 13 years old to enter.
• Winner will be notified by email and have 48 hours to respond or else another winner will be chosen.
• Giveaway ends at 11:59 P.M. EDT on July 22, 2013.

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Review: Chase Tinker and the House of Magic by Malia Ann Haberman

Chase Tinker and the House of Magic (Chase Tinker #1)
By Malia Ann Haberman
Publisher: Crossroad Press

* A copy was provided by the author for review.

To Sum It Up:

Since his father’s mysterious disappearance, Chase Tinker has been getting into a lot of trouble. Chase is also dealing with the fact that he can manipulate objects with his mind, and now his younger brother, Andy, is able to freeze time. The boys are in for the surprise of their lives when the grandfather they didn’t know they had appears on their doorstep and announces that they are part of a magical family. The Tinkers also have an old foe that has been trying to steal the source of their magic and is very likely responsible for whatever happened to Chase and Andy’s dad. Together with their newfound family members, the brothers are ready to face their enemy and find their father.

Review:

When it comes to reading, I think a part of me will always be a kid at heart. That’s why I still enjoy reading middle grade books from time to time; they take me back to some of my happiest childhood memories. Chase Tinker and the House of Magic contains all of the elements that made me fall in love with reading all those years ago: a relatable hero, a thrilling story, and lots of magic!

The standout aspect of this novel is the writing. The characters, the setting, and the pacing are all very well done. I especially loved the descriptions of the Tinker family’s magical house; they burst with such vibrant imagination. What I wouldn’t give to explore a place like this and try out the different magical powers that each room holds! Want to time travel? Not a problem—there’s a room for that. Need to teleport? There’s a room for that, too. If the book had only been about exploring every nook and cranny of the house room by room, that would have been enough to keep me reading.

I thought Chase made a great main character—brave and daring, yet sometimes too rash with his decisions. I loved how he and Andy looked out for each other, and their good-natured sibling squabbling lent a sense of realism to their relationship. I also liked how they formed a tight-knit quartet with their cousin, Janie, and Persephone, the housekeeper’s daughter. Chase’s crush on Persephone and how embarrassed he became around her were just too cute.

The twist toward the end of the novel quite surprised me and should lead to some intriguing plot developments in the next book. It’s been a while since I’ve read a magic-themed book for younger readers, and they, too, should find this both engaging and enchanting. There’s plenty of action and mystery, and let’s not forget the magical house that is just built out of plain awesomeness.

All in All:

This is a fun read for younger readers and not-quite-so-young readers alike, and it’s yet another middle grade novel that I wish had been around when I was growing up.