More Summer Reads

Our summer break is quickly approaching its end, but I've been reading like crazy trying to get in as many titles as I can before heading back to school next week.  Let me tell you about a few that might interest you.  

First up is a book called, The Demon King, by Cinda Williams Chima.  This book was actually published several years ago and was recommended to me by Goodreads...one of the many reasons I love that website.  All I can say is thank goodness it was published several years ago, because it is a 4-book series and I quickly devoured the first 3 and can't wait for the 4th one to be available (I'm next in line, so I hope whoever has it checked out hurries up!)  This series is JUST. SO. GOOD.  A thousand years ago a queen married a wizard who broke apart and nearly destroyed the world...he was known as the demon king because of his destruction.  Now, a thousand years later the kingdom of Fellsmarch is still ruled by the line of Hanalea, the queen who defeated her husband, the demon king.  There is conflict between the wizards and the clans who live in the mountains, who control the magic allowed to the wizards.  Han Alister is a former streetlord from the city known as "Cuffs" because of the strange silver cuffs he's worn for as long as he can remember.  He's left the street life and been somewhat adopted into one of the mountain clans, and he's just trying to get by.  When he and his friend Fire Dancer encounter 3 wizards where they don't belong, they confront them and take the amulet of one of the young wizards...and amulet that little known to Han has a dark and dangerous legacy.  Raisa ana'Marianna is the princess-heir...next in line to the throne of Fellsmarch.  Her future is in danger, but she doesn't know it yet.  Han's and Raisa's paths will cross in this first book...only barely, but enough to keep you reading through the series. This story has action, mystery, suspense, magic, and just a little romance.  I couldn't put it down.  You can find copies at MCPL & through Overdrive.  If you can wait until school starts, our CMS media center has all 4 books in the series available and ready to be checked out!

Another adventure series you might be interested in is Brandon Sanderson's Reckoners series.  The first book is called Steelheart, and we meet David, a normal boy growing up in the (literally) dark world of Newcago (New-Chicago) where 10 years ago a burst of power called Calamity turned regular people into what are now known as Epics.  Epics developed super-powers, but unfortunately none of them seem to be using those powers for good.  They've toppled the government and are now in control.  Steelheart controls Newcago & he's unbeatable, but David has seen him bleed...when Steelheart killed his father 8 years ago.  David knows that Steelheart must have a weakness that caused him to bleed and he is determined to discover that weakness and take Steelheart down.  David manages to join a resistance group called the Reckoners...and now he has to convince them to go along with his plan to go after Steelheart.  This book is full of action and suspense.  You can find copies at MCPL and through overdrive.  Book 2 (Firefight) is available, but book 3 won't be out until early next year.

If you're more interested in historical fiction, you might like The Lions of Little Rock, by Kristin Levine.  Marlee is a twelve year old girl in 1958 Little Rock.  Marlee is a good student and very smart, but she struggles to talk and communicate with others.  She finds she never really knows what to say, so she usually just says nothing.  But as she starts 7th grade, there is a new girl, Liz, who seems to bring out the best in Marlee and helps her learn to start saying what she thinks.  But one day Liz doesn't show up and people start to say that Liz is not what she said she was - she's black and she was trying to "pass" as white, and that just wasn't acceptable in that time and place.  Marlee has to figure out how to maintain the new confidence she gained through her friendship with Liz...and how to speak out for what really matters.  This was an excellent book about friendship, and I felt like I learned a lot about the school integration conflict that was taking place in Little Rock at this time.  I highly recommend this one.  You can find copies at MCPL and through Overdrive.  This one is also available in our CMS Media Center.

If you're more in the market for a romance, you might like How to Say I Love You Out Loud, by Karole Cozzo.  Jordyn moved to Valley Forge High School just before her sophomore year and met Alex through her summer job.  They've been best friends ever since, but when Jordyn starts her junior year and finds out Alex has a girlfriend, she realizes that even though she doesn't want to be more than friends, she's jealous.  Jordyn holds herself back from all her friends, because she doesn't want them to know about her brother, Phillip, who is highly autistic.  When Phillip's special school closes and he has to attend her high school, Jordyn is terrified of anyone finding out that he is her brother.  Over the course of time, things start to fall apart for Jordyn...and not because people are judging her because of her brother, but because of her dishonesty about what her life is really like.  This is a heartbreaking, yet heartwarming story of self-discovery and learning that real friends aren't going to judge you by your family or any others.  I was lucky enough to get to read an advanced copy of this story thanks to NetGalley.  You can find a copy of this book when it becomes available next Tuesday, August 4th!

Finally, let me tell you about The Last of the Firedrakes, by Farah Oomerbhoy. This is the first book in a new series.  I was able to read an advanced copy thanks to NetGalley, but if you're interested, keep an eye out - it will be available on August 15th!  This story is very much a fairy-tale-like story about a girl name Aurora.  Aurora was orphaned as a baby and adopted by loving parents, who were unfortunately killed in an accident and taken in by and aunt and uncle who really don't seem to like her.  She's dreaming of the day that she can get away from them and be on her own when she's kidnapped into a magical kingdom and is going to be taken before the evil queen of the kingdom of Avalonia.  When Aurora is rescued by a dashing outlaw known as the Black Wolf, who figures out why she's been kidnapped and takes her to her powerful uncle.  It turns out Aurora is the long-lost, thought-dead daughter of the rightful King and Queen of Avalonia, who were killed by the current queen.  Aurora has magical powers of her own that she had no idea about...now she has to learn to use them and set out to take back the throne that should rightly belong to her.  If you like fairy tale adventure type stories, you will probably enjoy The Last of the Firedrakes.

That's it for now.  I'll keep reading in the days I have left and update again if I have a chance before I return to school next week.