Just a quick word about this blog: it was created in partial fulfillment for my Young Adult Literature class in 2011 and has been dormant since that time. I've been reading more Juvenile fiction (J-Fic) lately, so I thought I'd include some of what I've discovered there. If you're not familiar with J-Fic, I'm defining it as that area between easy readers and YA (or teen) fiction, which can include chapter books, series, full-length novels, and graphic novels of all genres.
So to get things started, here are the J-Fic titles I read in June:
The Cabinet of Wonders (2008) - Marie Rutkoski
The first in the Kronos Chronicles, a young Czech girl named Petra Kronos eagerly awaits the arrival of her father from Prague, where he has given the prince the gift of an unusual clock of his own invention. But when Petra’s dad comes home, she notices the prince has taken something else belonging to her father: his eyes.
Outraged, Petra sets out to find out why the prince would do such a thing to her father, a man who never hurt anyone. Accompanying Petra is a tin spider named Astrophil, her best friend and an invention of her father.
The Cabinet of Wonders is a grand adventure/quest story with a bit of Steampunk mixed in for good measure. I had a great time with the story and would like to thank Jennifer S. for recommending it.
Recommended for ages 9 and up
258 pages
4/5
Zeus and the Thunderbolt of Doom (2012) - Joan Holub, Suzanne Williams
Zeus and the Thunderbolt of Doom inaugurates the Heroes in Training series for young readers. As an entry level chapter book, the writers do a good job of introducing Zeus as a boy, giving the reader a taste for what it must be like to learn how to use your powers. I wasn’t that impressed with the story itself and its goofy humor, but I had to keep remembering that I’m not the audience here. Not a bad way to introduce the Greek gods.
Early chapter book - recommended for ages 7 and up
112 pages, several illustrations
3.5/5
What Came from the Stars (2012) - Gary D. Schmidt
You'll see several negative reviews for this book floating around the web. Here's what you should know about it:
The story is told from two different viewpoints from two different worlds, one of them with some strange vocabulary. (No worries: you can look these weird words up in the glossary in the back of the book.)
The book is challenging, with important parallels in both worlds. Keeping these straight is essential to enjoying the story.
In the midst of a story taking place on two different worlds, Schmidt touches on some heavy issues such as bullying, the death of a parent, and much more.
If all this sounds like too much work, then this book is not for you. It's meant to challenge kids and it does. Schmidt is a smart writer and is not going to lead you by the hand. He does, however, give you a really good story with interesting characters that we care about. Recommended for kids (and adults) who get bored with the same old same old.
Recommended for ages 11 and up
304 pages
4.5/5
The Graveyard Plot (2012) - Jason Strange
This is my first experience with the Jason Strange series, which has lots of advantages for young (and possibly reluctant) readers:
A short book with short chapters
Plenty of illustrations
Good pacing
The creep factor is pretty high for a book for young readers. There's no gore, but the build-up and the scares were much better than I had anticipated. If you know young readers who are not quite ready for The Last Apprentice series, the Jason Strange books might be just what you're looking for. The book also ends with "case files,” alerting readers that this is just one tale in an ongoing series. It even includes a few discussion questions and writing prompts for aspiring young writers. Be sure you know your reader, however. The book might be too intense for some kids.
Early chapter book - recommended for ages 7 and up
62 pages, several illustrations (some of them creepy)
4/5
