Book Review: The Ice Dragon

George R. R. Martin has written for kids! Based on the Game of Thrones story, here is a short 100 page tale of the Ice Dragon

The Ice Dragon

George R. R. Martin

The Ice Dragon is a creature of legend.  No one has seen it in years.  Adara, the Winter Child, knows better.  She has seen the Ice Dragon...and while others perish at the mere touch of the dragon, Adara secretly rides on its back, soaring over the land.  

When the kingdom is overrun by the enemy, and dragons are ridden to her father's farm to destroy everything they own, Adara runs away and begs the Ice Dragon to help her.  With the Ice Dragon against three fire breathing dragons, the odds are not in Adara's favor.

Together, the friends, work to save her father's land, and destroy the invading army, along with their dragons.

This is a great short story for fans of Game of Thrones, fans of folklore, and fans of dragons.  While we typically read about fire-breathing dragons, it's rare we find a story about a dragon that breathes ice.  Adara is a precocious child, but a child that can accomplish much.  

This is an engaging story from a world fans of George R.R. Martin have already come to love.  I do not think you will be disappointed in this book--in fact, after reading this story, I think you might require George R.R. Martin to write more YA/kids books.

Book Review: Loch Ness

Did you like Cryptid Hunters by Roland Smith? If so, you will definitely like this new, quick read from Jean Flitcroft.

Cryptid Files: Loch Ness

Jean Flitcroft

Vanessa's mom hunted cryptids.  Vanessa's mom has died unexpectedly, and all her research is in boxes in the attic.  Her dad has a new girlfriend. And her brothers seem to be acclimating just fine.  When Vanessa's dad plans a trip to Scotland, on Loch Ness, Vanessa is thrilled--she can pick up her mother's research and try to find Nessie. 

Vanessa throws herself into her mother's work, and adventures around the Loch to see what she can see.  When she takes a rowboat out, by herself, she has a mishap causing her to lose her balance and fall out of the boat into the dark waters of the Loch. 

Convinced she is going to drown, Vanessa closes her eyes and lets death take her.  When she wakes up later, she finds herself very much alive, next to glowing moss that allows her to stay warm in the frigid temperatures of the Loch.  When a creature finds her in the underwater cave, Vanessa's research seems to have paid off...

This is a quick read, and a story/series similar to Roland Smith's Cryptid Hunters series.  The story, because it is so short, but at a teen reading level, leaves out some character development, details, and plot line that could help strengthen the story and add a little more character.

However, if you don't have a lot of time to read through a book, this story gets right down to business.  Vanessa has a problem with her father's new girlfriend, but she has more in common with her than either of them realize.  I would have loved if this side story would have been developed further--so we could learn about Lee's experience with Nessie, rather than chalk it up to amnesia.

Regardless, I will be reading the next book of this series!

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3rd Friday

Tomorrow is 3rd Friday in Middlebury! Every month for this, the teens volunteer to help the kiddos with crafts they can take home.  Everything is free--though there ARE donation buckets strategically placed around the community rooms.  Here's a preview of some of the crafts we will be having.  



  

  

  

TEENS: If you would like to work from 4:30-8:30, call the library or sign up in the teen room. Dinner is provided (homemade)

PARENTS & KIDS: Come join the fun from 5-8pm!

Book Review: Minders

Great new Science Fiction for teens---MIND READING!

Minders

Michelle Jaffe

Sadie is the top of her class. She is so smart, she has gotten into the Minders program.  Here, she will lie in stasis for 6 weeks and be in the mind of another person across town to research and take notes on social awareness, social interaction, and what can or cannot create crime.

But when Sadie is plugged in to Ford, she doesn't get what she expects.  As Sadie learns who Ford is, she begins to develop feelings for him, and wants to help him solve the mystery behind the murder of his older brother.

But liars can be friends, friends can be trustworthy, and strangers could tear Ford apart if he isn't careful what questions he asks.  Ford must find the "Pharmacist" if he will be able to learn about the death of his brother, and bring down the crime ring in City Center.

I haven't really read a book like this before--it kind of reminded me of The Minority Report, being able to stop crime before it happens, looking into the minds of criminals, etc.  But this story is for teens, and has a different feel to the story.

Sadie starts out as the perfect daughter, friend, student, and girlfriend.  But as the story progresses, she experiences life in a way she never could--because Ford is so different from her.  She gains character from these experiences.  She realizes life isn't so cookie cutter and there is more than her cushy life with dinner parties with senators.

Sadie and Ford's relationship is complicated--especially because Ford has no idea what is going on or who Sadie is.  When the truth starts to unravel, and we learn more about Ford and who his brother really is, the book starts a course on a freight train that can only end in a crash--a crash that you have to read through.

Book Challenge Idea?

If anyone wants to do the following challenge--power to ya. I will join in if you want. Get out of your comfort zone and read some new stuff!

Book Review: Ahmed and the Oblivion Machines

Ray Bradbury (rest in peace) has been my favorite author since I took Mr. Lanctot's freshman English class when I had to write a paper about him and his work.  I found this gem among the adult fiction in the library...

Ahmed and the Oblivion Machines

Ray Bradbury

Ahmed falls asleep in the middle of the desert and becomes separated from his father and caravan.  Certain he will die, his tears fall from his eyes, landing on a bronze bust of an ancient man. The tears cleanse the bust, who comes to life as the jubilant god, Gonn-Ben-Allah.

Gonn wants to help Ahmed, and convince him he has not died, and life is worth living.  He encourages Ahmed to live for the future, and not be confined to the past.

Together they soar through the air and see miracles from the future, the great things that will be created, and evidence that Ahmed, if he keeps trying and pushing through failure, can achieve great things.

Ahmed learns that it is the death of dreams that kills Gonn, which is why he was buried in the desert, to be awakened by a new dreamer.  Without dreams and goals--simple passivity in life--Gonn will perish.

Ray Bradbury can't disappoint, not even if he tried.  His ideas and writing are WAYYY out there, but I really connect with his works.  A lot of his stories are metaphorical, this story being the same way.  He is able to convey ideas in original ways--usually kind of bleak and depressing, which is my favorite.

This story is very short, with great pictures by Chris Lane.  The story flows and encourages the reader to really evaluate their life.  Are we dreamers? Do we want something bigger than ourselves? Or are we content to watch life pass us by, never trying anything new?

Please, meet Ray Bradbury.  Engage in his writing.  You won't regret it.

Book Review: Projection

Combining today with Ancient Rome--yes, please.

Projection

Risa Green

Goodreads summary:
When 13-year-old Gretchen Harris's mother is murdered at Gretchen's 8th Grade graduation party, everyone in the town of Delphi, California, suspects a power struggle within the Oculus Society: Delphi's version of the Junior League.  Gretchen's best friend, Jessica Shaw, might even hold the key to finding the culprit withThe Plotinus Ability: the Oculus Society's jealously guarded secret power to trade souls, which hinges on a kiss. Gretchen's hope at finding the murderer ends in tragedy when Ariel Miller—the class outcast—stalks Gretchen and Jessica and surreptitiously films them exchanging a kiss to test if the Plotinus Ability is real, not knowing their motives. The ensuing YouTube video ("Popular Girls = Secret Lovers") goes viral, Gretchen's and Jessica's lives are further shattered, and they vanish from Delphi.

Flash forward two years later: Ariel is suddenly the most popular junior in town, but wracked with guilt over what she did to Gretchen and Jessica.  When both girls reappear after their mysterious absence, Ariel finds herself pawn, suspect, and key player in their scheme to bring the murderer to justice.

I'm on the fence about this book--I think it is a really great premise for a story, and I think the author did a phenomenal job combining the two time periods, but I feel like it is a little hokey how the teens are able to swap bodies.  For all I know, that idea came from research into Ancient Rome, in which case, I should eat my words.

I love the combination of the paranormal body switch and a murder/mystery.  Gretchen starts out in a feud with the same girl that eventually helps Gretchen and Jessica solve the mystery.  In the middle of the story, due to teenage bullying, the two girls leave, but come back in order to play-act their own feud to convince the people around them they are no longer friends to avoid and drama backlash.  The story gets a little foggy around this part, but stick with it.  The story unravels to reveal the reasons behind Gretchen and Jessica's relationship and the moves they make in this game of murder.

This story is a new twist on some cool ideas, and I think with an open mind, you will really enjoy it!