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David rated a book 4 of 5 stars

Lies, Knives, and Girls in Red Dresses
by Ron Koertge

read in October, 2012

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If you like your fairy tales warm and chaste with no pesky disturbing sexual undertones, then dear God in heaven run from this book as fast as your innocent little legs will carry you!

Ron Koertge re-imagines a whole herd of fairy tales in wildy creat...more

David became a fan of Goodreads Author Katherine Applegate

David is now following Katherine Applegate's reviews

David rated a book 4 of 5 stars

The One and Only Ivan
by Katherine Applegate (Goodreads Author)

read in October, 2012

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Good children's novels about animals should be saturated in sadness as far as I'm concerned. I don't mean the novel should be a scathing, depressing, life-scarring experience for young readers. Far from it. But if your main characters are going to be...more Good children's novels about animals should be saturated in sadness as far as I'm concerned. I don't mean the novel should be a scathing, depressing, life-scarring experience for young readers. Far from it. But if your main characters are going to be animals in captivity, then they are necessarily going to have incredibly sad, heart-rending stories as part of their lives.

Katherine Applegate's characters in "The One and Only Ivan" have survived some incredibly harrowing and horrifying experiences. And their reward seems to be spending the rest of their existence imprisoned in cages while ever-dwindling crowds of humans come stare at them.

Applegate combines old-school Disney animal trauma (think elements of "Bambi", "Dumbo" and even "Pinnochio" painting sinister shadows in the lives of her protagonists)with a brilliantly executed sparse storytelling style to bring a fresh and emotional take on a story of a gorilla in captivity and his animal friends. Ivan, the gorilla of the title, thinks in compact phrases and sentences, as do the other animals telling their stories. They think humans use too many words- waste words, actually.

The stylistic gamble pays off, in my book. The short prose statements give a sense of experiencing life through senses beyond those of which we humans are capable. The style adds to the tragic elements of the story as well as the moments of redemption.

This is a joyous, beautiful celebration of a novel. The animals' experience added to my own human experience in very rewarding ways. The opening quote from George Eliot, "It is never too late to be what you might have been," sets the stakes very high for the story to come. And Katherine Applegate delivers on that promise.

Though "The One and Only Ivan" doesn't quite reach the same heights of artistic beauty as Kathi Appelt's "The Underneath"- the current pinnacle, in my mind, of children's literature revolving around animals- it nonetheless shines triumphantly in it's own right. It tells a deceptively simple story in a way that awakens the senses and (cliche alert!!!) the heart (sorry, I really did have to go there).(less)

David rated a book 4 of 5 stars

Liar and Spy
by Rebecca Stead

read in October, 2012

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Authentic books about the middle school experience are hard to find. Lots of people write about the typical tropes of 7th and 8th grade- conformity, bullying, friendship, etc. But few people write about these very real issues in such a fun and intell...more

David rated a book 4 of 5 stars

The Diviners (The Diviners, #1)
by Libba Bray (Goodreads Author)

read in October, 2012

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Libba Bray can do no wrong, as far as I'm concerned. Sweeping Victorian/supernatural boarding school trilogy? Check. Psychedelic road trip with a slacker teenager dying of mad cow disease? Check. Political satire with a plane full of teen paegent con...more Libba Bray can do no wrong, as far as I'm concerned. Sweeping Victorian/supernatural boarding school trilogy? Check. Psychedelic road trip with a slacker teenager dying of mad cow disease? Check. Political satire with a plane full of teen paegent contestants crashing on a desert island with hot pirates and stuff? Check.

And now- historical detective/supernatural mystery set in NYC in the '20's that ends up being a bold statement about the very fabric of our country, our people, and our uniquely American longings programmed into our national DNA? Dude- check, check, and more freakin' checks!!

I wish I could color in about 2/3rd's of that final star next to the four star rating I've given "The Diviners." There are so many 5-star elements bursting at the seams of this behemoth, ambitious, mind-blowing novel.

A reader could easily be deceived into thinking this is a standard gang-of-teens-with-special-powers-unite-together-to-stop-scary-Hell-Beast-from-destroying-mankind-while-having-time-for-zippy-romance-along-the-way-too book. And that element absolutely exists. But Libba Bray, the superhero goddess of young adult literature (is that a lot to live up to?), generally doesn't allow her fantastic characters and her crazy-detailed plot to reveal itself that way. She doesn't follow the standard rules of the teens-againist-Evil novel that could have easily turned this into SuperFlapperFriends.

In fact, the strongest elements of "The Diviners" have little to do with the mystery/attempt to stop evil baddie from ascending plot points. There were times I felt the main plot slipped into B-level Stephen King mode (ex. B-level King = "Duma Key" vs. A-level King = "It")and tap-danced momentarily in the realm of "standard supernatural detective work novel formula." But then I'd learn about a character's past, get a glimpse of the inner workings of someone, or get an extended riff on Americana and how the evil in the novel mirrors disturbing themes in our own world order, and I'd be right back into praising Bray's greatness.

Read "The Diviners" because it is fun. And sometimes actually scary. And full of characters I can't wait to see in action again like Evie, Theta, Memphis, Sam, and Jericho. And because of the mountains and mountains of research that shows through in the late '20's NYC setting. And because of the huge ideas Libba Bray is wrestling with here. And because if you expect Bray to lure you into thinking you have a strong sense of where this series opener is heading in future installments and then pull the rug out from underneath you, you will not be disappointed.

Long live the Queen! Again!!(less)

David rated a book 5 of 5 stars

Splendors and Glooms
by Laura Amy Schlitz

read in September, 2012

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Simply put, this book is a gift. Laura Amy Schlitz gives and gives and gives with this novel, and she somehow makes every sentence, word, and detail completely necessary and completely perfect. That's kind of a massive accomplishment for a nearly 400...more

David rated a book 4 of 5 stars

Such Wicked Intent (The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein, #2)
by Kenneth Oppel (Goodreads Author)

read in September, 2012

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Oppel's Victor Frankenstein prequel series continues to be a satisfying, intriguing riff on the gothic novel. Once again, as in "This Dark Endeavor"- the first book in the series, the Frankenstein family is awash in gloom in their shadowy chateau, th...more Oppel's Victor Frankenstein prequel series continues to be a satisfying, intriguing riff on the gothic novel. Once again, as in "This Dark Endeavor"- the first book in the series, the Frankenstein family is awash in gloom in their shadowy chateau, the mysterious Dark Library, and with the constant sense of being watched or of seeing something skitter off into the shadows just out of sight.

After the tragic events that concluded "This Dark Endeavor" Victor has even more incentive to defy his father and dabble in the dark arts. He is even more tempted with the prospect of creating life or, in this case, resurrecting life. Elizabeth comes on board again at first reluctantly, but soon with her own passionate reasons for defying her core beliefs. Their reliable friend Henry comes along again, playing a larger part in the action than he did in the first book, and Victor's twin brother Konrad makes his way back into the story as well. His circumstances, however, dictate a...um...more limited role in Victor's schemes.

Ancient cave paintings, curiously deformed "human" bones, a diabolical spirit world, and creepy black butterflies all play a part in the action in which our heroes find themselves wrapped up in with alarmingly escalating consequences. Oppel hints at some truly excruciating dark paths that his story could have gone down, but he takes his foot off the gas a bit near the end for a more standard "heroes vs. the monster"-type of finale.

This is the only real criticism I have for a continuation of a story in which I am invested in the characters- with all of their wonderful flaws- and that rewards knowledge of Mary Shelley's novel with twisted little tastes of foreshadowing throughout the adventure. For example, Victor dreams at one point that he is traveling on an unfamiliar frozen, desolate landscape and sees a figure on a sledge coming towards him. He believes the figure to be Konrad and feels sudden relief, joy, and validation for the decisions he is making. We, of course, know this is not at all what that dream is portending.

Victor is brave, conceited, not wholly trustworthy, and continually trips up over his own character flaws. This is exactly how a young Victor Frankenstein should be presented. Elizabeth is, once again, a pleasantly surprising revelation- part of her desperately wants to conform to her pious religious views, but another, stronger part of her gives in to her fiery, passionate personality despite her attempts to quench this more "unseemly" side. She is also, again, brave, combative, and stubborn. Henry shows a side of him we haven't seen before. Konrad has much less of an "arc" than the other three, but considering his circumstances, that's probably to be expected.

Though Oppel's series isn't the best young adult gothic series out right now- that distinction goes hands down to Rick Yancey's gloriously violent, twisted, dark, and oppresive "Monstrumologist" books- they are nevertheless smart, surprising, and very satisfying. I'm not sure if another book is coming in this series, but I would welcome one in a heartbeat in order to delve even further into the mind of a young, tortured Victor Frankenstein.(less)

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David is now friends with Keith Haynes
May 16, 2013 12:53pm
David rated a book 4 of 5 stars Lies, Knives, and Girls in Red Dresses by Ron Koertge read in October, 2012	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
If you like your fairy tales warm and chaste with no pesky disturbing sexual undertones, then dear God in heaven run from this book as fast as your innocent little legs will carry you! Ron Koertge re-imagines a whole herd of fairy tales in wildy creat...more
Oct 08, 2012 04:43am · see review
David became a fan of Goodreads Author Katherine Applegate
Oct 07, 2012 12:37pm · all of David's favorite authors
David is now following Katherine Applegate's reviews
Oct 07, 2012 12:37pm
David rated a book 4 of 5 stars The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate (Goodreads Author) read in October, 2012	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Good children's novels about animals should be saturated in sadness as far as I'm concerned. I don't mean the novel should be a scathing, depressing, life-scarring experience for young readers. Far from it. But if your main characters are going to be...more
Oct 07, 2012 12:36pm · see review
David rated a book 4 of 5 stars Liar and Spy by Rebecca Stead read in October, 2012	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Authentic books about the middle school experience are hard to find. Lots of people write about the typical tropes of 7th and 8th grade- conformity, bullying, friendship, etc. But few people write about these very real issues in such a fun and intell...more
Oct 07, 2012 12:13pm · see review
David rated a book 4 of 5 stars The Diviners (The Diviners, #1) by Libba Bray (Goodreads Author) read in October, 2012	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Libba Bray can do no wrong, as far as I'm concerned. Sweeping Victorian/supernatural boarding school trilogy? Check. Psychedelic road trip with a slacker teenager dying of mad cow disease? Check. Political satire with a plane full of teen paegent con...more
Oct 07, 2012 11:57am · see review
David rated a book 5 of 5 stars Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz read in September, 2012	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Simply put, this book is a gift. Laura Amy Schlitz gives and gives and gives with this novel, and she somehow makes every sentence, word, and detail completely necessary and completely perfect. That's kind of a massive accomplishment for a nearly 400...more
Sep 25, 2012 07:40pm · see review
David rated a book 4 of 5 stars Such Wicked Intent (The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein, #2) by Kenneth Oppel (Goodreads Author) read in September, 2012	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oppel's Victor Frankenstein prequel series continues to be a satisfying, intriguing riff on the gothic novel. Once again, as in "This Dark Endeavor"- the first book in the series, the Frankenstein family is awash in gloom in their shadowy chateau, th...more
Sep 22, 2012 10:09am · see review
David is now following Kenneth Oppel's reviews
Sep 16, 2012 04:42am

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