Gifts

Le Guin, Ursula K. Gifts. Orlando, Fla: Harcourt, 2004.

A young man’s eyes are bound to prevent him from using the horrible gift of the Unmaking.

In the desolate Uplands, tribes have supernatural gifts to protect themselves against marauders. Orrec ‘s clan has the gift of the Unmaking, which is as it sounds – the taking of life. Orrec can’t control his power, however, so his father blindfolds him permanently.

Orrec becomes increasingly isolated and spends much of him time with his friend Gry, a girl from a neighboring tribe who has refused to use her inherited gift. But is his lonely existence based on a lie?

I . . . stood watching south, west, north. Watching! Using my eyes! Being of use, not a useless lump in a blindfold being led about by a girl and a dog! What if I had no gift? I had my eyesight, and my anger, and a knife.

What is the truth of Orrec’s gift? Where will his discoveries lead him?

Awards

Booklist Editors' Choice Books for Youth: Older Readers, 2004; Parents’ Choice Foundation Parents’ Choice Award for Fiction, 2004; Margaret A. Edwards Award Author Award.

Jacket illustration © 2004 by Cliff Nielsen. Jacket design by Vaughn Andrews. Scanned May 30, 2009.

Repossessed

Jenkins, A. M. Repossessed. New York, NY: HarperTeen, 2007.

Kiriel, fallen angel and tormentor of souls in Hell, seizes the chance to be human when he takes over the body of a 17-year-old boy.

I’d been watching a number of teens, trying to decide whose body I would choose. The decision was easy when Shaun started to step off the curb in front of that cement mixer. He didn’t see it coming. Bang. I’m in. Bye, bye. Shaun’s gone.

Shaun’s mom is kind. His brother Jason is special. Taking a bath. Wonderful. Smiling. Cool. Cherry tomatoes. Not worth the effort. I hope I have sex.

I had no idea how amazing it is to be human. Now I only have a short time to experience all I can before the Creator discovers me and I am Repossessed.

Awards

Michael L. Printz Honor Book ; New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age; International Reading Association/Children’s Book Council Young Adults’ Choice ; American Library Association Best of the Best Books for Young Adults.

Jacket art © 2007 by Will Staehle. Jacket design by Will Staehle and Jennifer Heuer. Scanned May 31, 2009.

Jenkins, A.M. Repossessed. New York, NY: HarperTeen, 2007. 978-0-06-083568-2. $15.99.

Sabriel

Nix, Garth. Sabriel. New York: HarperCollins, 1995.

Eighteen-year-old Sabriel must travel to a dangerous and magical world to rescue her missing father.

When Sabriel receives a message that her father, the powerful necromancer Abhorsen, is trapped in Death, she journeys to the dangerous and mysterious world of the Old Kingdom to save him. She finds the land darkened by struggle as the wicked Kerrigor fights to gain power.

On her quest, she is joined by the cat-like Mogget and the damaged young man Touchstone. Are they good or evil, friend or foe? Will she rescue her father, only to lose him again? With peril pounding her from all sides, can Sabriel find her destiny in time to staunch the flow of evil? First in The Old Kingdom Trilogy Sabriel (1995), Lirael (2001), and Abhorsen (2003).

Awards
Winner Aurealis Awards for Excellence in Australian Speculative Fiction - Best Young Adult Novel and Best Fantasy Novel, 1995; An American Library Association (ALA) Best Book for Young Adults, 1997; ALA Notable Children's Books of 1997; 1997 Books for the Teen Age (NY Public Library); VOYA Best Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror, 1996; Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) Books in the Middle: Outstanding Books of 1996.

Design by Darcy Soper. Scanned May 30, 2009.

Nix, Garth. Sabriel. New York: HarperCollins, 1995. 0-06-027322-4. $15.95.

Quicksilver

Spinner, Stephanie, and Tony Morse. Quicksilver. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2005.

The Greek god Hermes has a front-row seat to the escapades on Mount Olympus. That’s not to say he’s just an innocent bystander.

Hermes, son of Zeus, is known as the prince of thieves, messenger to the gods, and escort of the dead. Is he ever busy! He has his hands full rescuing goddesses, protecting princes, and escorting kings. Will he be able to add a new nickname to his repertoire – bringer of luck?

If only he hadn’t hidden Apollo’s cows, he’d be leading a nice quiet life. Find out what Hermes is in for next in Quicksilver.

Awards

Novelist Best, 2005; Kirkus Starred Review, April 1, 2005; Booklist Top 10 Youth Romance; VOYA Best Science Fiction; National Council for the Social Studies-Children’s Book Council Notable Trade Book for Young People.

Jacket design © 2005 by Alfred A. Knopf. Scanned May 29, 2009.

Spinner, Stephanie, and Tony Morse. Quicksilver. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2005. 0-375-92638-0. $17.99.

The Arrival

Tan, Shaun. The Arrival. New York: Arthur A. Levine Books, 2007.

A man must leave his wife and daughter in a dark and devastated land to build a new life for them in a magical city across the sea.

Ah, in this immigration story there are dragons and giants, and magical pet creatures. There is sadness and hope, and rejuvenation. There is family and friendship, and a special reunion. However, there is one thing there isn’t. In this tale, there are no words to tell it.

Awards
2006 Cybil Award; Junior Library Guild Selection; World Fantasy Artist of the Year; A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2007; A New York Times Best Illustrated Book of 2007; 2007 Parents' Choice Gold Award; A Book Sense Winter 2007-2008 Top Ten Children’s Pick; Booklist Editors' Choice 2007; A School Library Journal Best Book of 2007; A Washington Post Best Book for Young People for 2007; Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Blue Ribbon for Fiction; ALA Notable Children's Book, 2008; ALA Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults, 2008; ALA Top Ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens, 2008.

Illustrations © 2006 by Shaun Tan. Scanned May 28, 2009.
Tan, Shaun. The Arrival. New York: Arthur A. Levine Books, 2007. 978-0-439-89529-3. $19.99.

The Graveyard Book

Gaiman, Neil, and Dave McKean. The Graveyard Book. New York: HarperCollins Pub, 2008.

Illustration courtesy of http://www.thegraveyardbook.com/illustrations/

Nobody is really somebody and he's about to get in a whole lot of trouble.

An international association of bad guys called the Jacks-of-All-Trades is searching for a certain boy who could spell the end of their existence. Nobody Owens has no idea he’s being hunted. He’s living a quiet, contented life in a graveyard, where’s he been every since the night as a toddler he miraculously escaped the horrible fate of his family – murder.

Nobody – Bod to his friends – is being raised by ghosts and guarded over by a mysterious caretaker named Silas, who only comes out at night. Bod’s picked up some special talents like fading and dream visiting. And, growing up he’s had his adventures with ghouls, a witch, and a thing called a Sleer. He’s perfectly happy where he is until he nears the teen-age years and begins to yearn for adventures in the world outside the graveyard.

It is adventure, and danger Bod gets when he and his human friend Scarlett come face to face with the Jack who murdered his family. Bod must battle Jack and his nasty Jack companions in a fight to the finish. Only the cleverest one will survive.

Awards
Newbery Medal Winner: 2009; ALA Notable Children’s Book; Kirkus Reviews Best Children’s Book; New York Public Library Stuff for the Teen Age; Horn Book Fanfare; Cooperative Children’s Book Center Choice; 2010 Blue Hen (Delaware) Best Book for Teens nominee.

Cover and illustrations © 2008 by Dave McKean. Scanned May 14, 2009.

Gaiman, Neil, and Dave McKean. The Graveyard Book. New York: HarperCollins Pub, 2008. 978-0-0605-3092-1.

Savvy

Law, Ingrid, and Ingrid Law. Savvy. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2008.

Hiding behind crates of pink Bibles, all wondering if we were awake or dreaming . . .

The Beaumonts are a remarkable family. On their 13th birthdays, tradition holds that each family member gets their Savvy – a special ability that belongs only to them. Mibs Beaumont is turning 13 and she can’t wait to learn about her unique power.

Sadly, on the day before her birthday, poppa is in a terrible accident. Now Mibs hopes only that her savvy will be something she can use to save her pop. But, the day of her birthday is turning into a disaster. She’s forced to go to a party the preacher’s wife has planned, and no one there likes her.

And, suddenly Mibs begins to bring little things alive – like a dead turtle and a tattoo on a girl’s back. Her savvy has arrived. Now she must travel the ninety miles to the hospital where pop lies in a coma. Mibs, her brother Fish, and the preacher’s two kids stow away on the Bible salesman’s bus. He should be able to get them there.

Only – oh no – he takes off in the wrong direction! So, the adventure begins. Will Mibs get to the hospital in time to save her pop? Only the Savvy can help her now.

Awards
Booklist Top 10 First Novels for Youth, 2008
Booklist Notable Children's Books, 2009
Newbery Honor Book, 2009

Jacket Art © 2008 by Brandon Dorman. Jacket design by Kristin Smith. Scanned May 25, 2009.

Law, Ingrid, and Ingrid Law. Savvy. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2008. 978-0-8037-3306-0. $16.99.

Rapunzel's Revenge

Hale, Shannon, Dean Hale, and Nathan Hale. Rapunzel's Revenge. New York, N.Y.: Bloomsbury, 2008.

That braid-toting Rapunzel and her clever friend Jack are causing some trouble. They won’t take it back!

Rapunzel, Rapunzel let down her red hair
To start an adventure through lands in despair

With her sidekick Jack, his goose and his bean
They battled creatures and bandits both scary and mean

Rapunzel’s big goal to rescue her real mom,
Then stop evil Gothel from doing more harm

How will things turn out when the adventure’s at end
To find out, you must read Rapunzel’s Revenge

Awards
ALA 2009 Notable Children's Book;YALSA 2009 Great Graphic Novel for Teens;
Al's Book Club for Kids selection on NBC’s Today Show; Kid's Indie Next 2008;Junior Library Guild Premiere Selection;Best Book of the year from kidsread.com and teenreads.com; Cybil Award winner.

Cover Illustration ©2008 by Nathan Hale. Scanned May 21, 2009.
Hale, Shannon, Dean Hale, and Nathan Hale. Rapunzel's Revenge. New York, N.Y.: Bloomsbury, 2008. 1-59990-288-5. $14.99.
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Labels: adventure, bad guys, fairy tales, good guys, monsters, sidekicks Posted by Katie Reads With Brewster at 7:29 AM