Review of "Perchance to Dream"

"Perchance To Dream"
Lisa Mantchev


5

Pub. Date: May 25th, 2010
Pages: 352

Synopsis: From the critically acclaimed author of Eyes Like Stars

We are such stuff as dreams are made on.

Act Two, Scene One

Growing up in the enchanted Thèâtre Illuminata, Beatrice Shakespeare Smith learned everything about every play ever written. She knew the Players and their parts, but she didn’t know that she, too, had magic. Now, she is the Mistress of Revels, the Teller of Tales, and determined to follow her stars. She is ready for the outside world.

Enter BERTIE AND COMPANY

But the outside world soon proves more topsy-turvy than any stage production. Bertie can make things happen by writing them, but outside the protective walls of the Thèâtre, nothing goes as planned. And her magic cannot help her make a decision between—

Nate: Her suave and swashbuckling pirate, now in mortal peril.

Ariel: A brooding, yet seductive, air spirit whose true motives remain unclear.

When Nate is kidnapped and taken prisoner by the Sea Goddess, only Bertie can free him. She and her fairy sidekicks embark on a journey aboard the Thèâtre’s caravan, using Bertie’s word magic to guide them. Along the way, they collect a sneak-thief, who has in his possession something most valuable, and meet The Mysterious Stranger, Bertie’s father—and the creator of the scrimshaw medallion. Bertie’s dreams are haunted by Nate, whose love for Bertie is keeping him alive, but in the daytime, it’s Ariel who is tantalizingly close, and the one she is falling for. Who does Bertie love the most? And will her magic be powerful enough to save her once she enters the Sea Goddess’s lair?

I was so excited to read this book and I can't believe that it took me so long to get to it! I really enjoyed this second installment of "The Theatre Illuminata" Series, I wasn't as in love with it as the first book, but Lisa Mantchev was able to create another magical book. I love how the series blends reality with the stage, blurring the lines, forcing the reader to go with whatever happens next. I really liked how the book was used in this book allowing for interesting scene changes and drama lots of drama.

I was happy to see that the fairies came out in full force again in this book and that the new characters were unique. Bertie continued to be the strong and stubborn female heroin I adored in the first book. Even though it might have been best for her to ask for help in some instances, I can't help but admire her self sufficient attitude. Even though Ariel's fury was subdued for much of the book, he did get a chance to show off in other ways and was an interesting character to follow through the story. I had my doubts about how I would feel about his role in "Perchance to Dream", but he definitely won me over. Lucky for you that I won't say more about the rest of the characters in the book because 1- I would probably go all fan girl and 2- I might accidentally let a spoiler slip.

I can't wait to see what Mantchev has in store in the next book; I have trouble imagining what new scenes she will create. Check out the series website for excerpts and the trailer of “Perchance to Dream”.

Author Interview with Alan Tucker

Author Alan Tucker just released his first book "A Measure of Disorder" and is currently working on his second book. "A Cure for Chaos", the sequel in the "Mother-Earth" series, should be available early 2011. I really enjoyed Alan's book and was excited that he took the time to answer some of my questions. Here is my review of "A Measure of Disorder" and a link to the books website where you can find an excerpt from the book.

Synopsis: High school will be a breeze for Jenni Kershaw - if she lives long enough to enroll, that is. Jenni's ordinary, eighth grade life becomes a thing of the past when her science class goes on a field trip. Armed with only their notebooks, MP3 players, and wits, Jenni and her classmates are unknowingly transported to another world. There they encounter amazing creatures, some of which think a kid shish kebab would be a tasty treat. But they soon find the greatest dangers they face may come from themselves ... Follow Jenni and her class on their extraordinary adventures in their fight to discover who - and what - they really are.

1) Why did you decide to write a book?

My "day job", if you will, is graphic design and advertising, so I've actually been writing fiction for some time ; ) — okay, okay, advertising isn't really fiction, or at least it shouldn't be! But I majored in English Literature in college and have always had the writing bug in the back of my mind at the very least. I wrote some poetry and short stories with some success in and after college, then moved on to other creative ventures. I've started several novels through the years, but never seemed to have the whole package until this project. I'd either have a great beginning with nowhere to go, or I'd have a terrific ending with no way to start. I found myself some time last summer when my younger daughter was away visiting relatives and decided to give this project a go. It flowed quite steady with only a couple of hiccups along the way.

2) Did you know that this would be a series when you first started?

I had several ideas for where I wanted the story to go and pretty quickly realized it would take more than one book to tell the stories I wanted. The biggest challenge was fashioning an "ending" for the first book, because I don't like reading series books that don't really have some resolution of their own. Of course there will be untied threads to lead into the next installment, but the reader should leave the story with satisfaction, not frustration in waiting for the next book.

3) Where did you get the idea of the characters finding their true identity in another world?

I came at that from a couple of different directions. One theme in the book(s) is that many myths in our world may have kernels of truth to them. Why do so many cultures have stories about fairies, goblins and dragons? Maybe the common elements came from somewhere in "fact". Then secondly, I wanted to explore issues that affect teens universally. One of those is puberty and the process of becoming an adult. What if that process involved physical changes on a massive level? Also, the themes of fitting in, class and gender roles, and genetics vs. environment play a large part in the story. Crank develops many of these from the "other side" so to speak.

4) Do any of your characters reflect people in your life?

Each of the characters probably reflect amalgams of people in my life rather than any one in particular. I think every writer forms characters in a similar way. Writing is based on your experiences as a person, so the characters naturally have a basis in that experience. I can recall a couple of teachers with qualities like those of Ms. Pap and Mr. Kain. Likewise, the kids have aspects of people I grew up with, along with kids my daughters have known through the years. Most of all, I wanted to make them all identifiable and relatable.

5) What was the hardest part of the writing process for you?

Interview questions! Definitely! ; ) — Getting started with something is always tough. I tend to mold and massage things in my mind too long. My family will tell you that I'm famous for over-analyzing, so forcing myself to just sit down and peck away at the keyboard is probably the hardest thing. I do a lot of writing and rewriting in my head and many times try to hard to have it perfect before I put finger to keyboard.

6) What were your favorite books growing up?

When I was little I loved Encyclopedia Brown. I always wanted to figure out the case before he did. My teen years were filled largely with the Flinx and Pip books by Alan Dean Foster. I fancied myself to be Flinx, all I needed was a mini-drag ; ) I had the red hair and smart-alec attitude already! Foster always wrote fun and intriguing stories and he has been amazingly prolific over the years.

7) Can you give us any hints about what is in store for the next installment in the “Mother- Earth” series?

The next book will be called "A Cure for Chaos" and the first chapter is included in the back of "A Measure of Disorder" It takes place about six months after the end of "Measure" and starts off quickly with Jenni getting into trouble, Crank finding his way in a new world and a new form, and many of the others gaining control and confidence in their abilities.

8) Is there any question that you never get asked that you want to answer?

Big Time Movie Producer: "Will you sign here, please?" My answer would most certainly be, "Yes!"

Review "A Measure of Disorder" by Alan Tucker

"A Measure of Disorder"
Alan Tucker


3

Pub Date: April 30, 2010
Pages: 352

Synopsis: High school will be a breeze for Jenni Kershaw - if she lives long enough to enroll, that is. Jenni's ordinary, eighth grade life becomes a thing of the past when her science class goes on a field trip. Armed with only their notebooks, MP3 players, and wits, Jenni and her classmates are unknowingly transported to another world. There they encounter amazing creatures, some of which think a kid shish kebab would be a tasty treat. But they soon find the greatest dangers they face may come from themselves ... Follow Jenni and her class on their extraordinary adventures in their fight to discover who - and what - they really are.

I wasn't sure what to expect when reading "A Measure of Disorder" because the description is pretty vague and I hate to say that I'm not really a fan of the cover, but the book pleasantly surprised me. Tucker created a magical world and characters that I cared about. I loved how they were able to find their true identities in another world and I felt this was a really concept. I kind of wonder how Jenny's identity will play out in the rest of the series. I know that probably didn't make much sense to most people, but I'm trying not to spoil anything. I also liked how Crank's character explores the idea of "The Other" (basically someone who doesn't fit into the parameters of the society they live in), which is a topic I love to explore in books.

I didn't really like how the book was told through multiple perspectives and I had trouble keeping up with all the characters at the beginning. By the end of the book I was used to it and stopped noticing, but it did slow down the book for me. I am curious to see what roles the characters will play in the series. Even though it started off a bit slow because of all the characters, the plot really kept me hooked and I flew through the last hundred pages. I just had to know what was going to happen next.

I really enjoyed "A Measure of Disorder" and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys fantasy and adventure books. This is a book that I think would have appeal to readers of all ages. The ending of the book really surprised me and I am excited to read the next book in the series. Click here to learn more about the series and read a excerpt from the book.
* I did receive this book free of charge for review purposes.

Review of "The Red Pyramid" by Rick Riordan

"The Red Pyramid"
by Rick Riordan


5

Pub Date: May 4, 2010
Pages: 516

Synopsis: Since their mother's death, Carter and Sadie have become near strangers. While Sadie has lived with her grandparents in London, her brother has traveled the world with their father, the brilliant Egyptologist, Dr. Julius Kane.

One night, Dr. Kane brings the siblings together for a "research experiment" at the British Museum, where he hopes to set things right for his family. Instead, he unleashes the Egyptian god Set, who banishes him to oblivion and forces the children to flee for their lives.

Soon, Sadie and Carter discover that the gods of Egypt are waking, and the worst of them —Set— has his sights on the Kanes. To stop him, the siblings embark on a dangerous journey across the globe - a quest that brings them ever closer to the truth about their family and their links to a secret order that has existed since the time of the pharaohs.

I absolutely loved "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" Series so I was psyched that Rick Riordan was coming out with new books based off Egyptian mythology. I have to admit that the book took me a while to get into and that the switching between characters was a bit jarring, but once the pace picked up the book just got harder and harder to put down. Sadie and Carter are great characters. They drive each other crazy like all siblings, but they of course love each other even if there is tension between them.

The book definitely made me want to learn more about Egyptian mythology, I haven't studied it since like 6th grade. I love how Riordan sets different scenes at famous landmarks in his books. There were scenes all over the world that are huge tourist attractions already, but it would be cool to plan a vacation based around places in "The Red Pyramid". Maybe you could make it a goal to hit one destination every five years throughout your lifetime, that way you wouldn't have to spend thousands of dollars on travel all at once. Sorry I am getting a bit off topic... ANYWAY!

Even though the book was a bit slow, it definitely set up the rest of the series to be action packed. I wasn't sure if "The Kane Chronicles" would feel like "Percy Jackson" all over again, but Rick was able to do some really cool things with Egyptian mythology that sets the series apart. Yes it does have the same action, adventure, and hilarity that "Percy Jackson" has, but the Egyptian mythology is so rich that it somehow feels completely different. I could say a lot about the book, but I'd end up giving away some fantastic plot twists or something. If you liked "Percy Jackson", then you will also enjoy the first installment of "The Kane Chronicles". Check out Rick Riordan's website here to learn more about "The Kane Chronicles" or "Percy Jackson and the Olympians".

Review of "Prom" by Laurie Halse Anderson

"Prom"
by Laurie Halse Anderson


4

Pub. Date: March 2005
Pages: 224

Synopsis: It's pretty much the only good thing at her urban Philadelphia high school, and everyone plans to make the most of it-especially Ash's best friend, Natalia, who's the head of the committee. Then the faculty advisor is busted for taking the prom money, and Ash suddenly finds herself roped into putting together a gala dance out of absolutely nada. But she has help-from her large and loving (if exasperating!) family, from Nat's eccentric grandmother, from her fellow classmates. And in putting the prom together, Ash learns that she has choices about her life after high school. Prom has everything that award-winning author Laurie Halse Anderson is known for-humor, poignancy, teen readers' tough issues dealt with head-on, and a voice teen readers will recognize as their own.

This review is very fitting because it is Audiobook Month and I listened to this book on audio. To be perfectly honest, the only reason I read this book is because it was the only YA audiobook not checked out at the library that sounded remotely interesting, but I am so glad I picked it up. I have heard of other books by Laurie Halse Anderson, but "Prom" was not one of them. I had started to read "Speak" but couldn't really get into it, so I was surprised with how awesome "Prom" turned out to be. I absolutely loved Ashley's character; she had attitude, but she was willing to do almost anything to help out her family and friends. She didn't even want to go to the prom but ended up putting all her energy into trying to save it. Natalia is another great character; her positive attitude is contagious. Honestly, I could probably go off for another page listing all the great characters, but I can just sum it up saying that the book has vivid characters.

The plot may sound simple, but Anderson manages to integrate a lot of issues into a seemingly simple story. This is of course a coming of age story, but the humor allows the reader to be distracted from some of the harsher subjects. One could definitely take the time to think about the book more in-depth during or after the book, but the book is a fun, quick read making it hard to put down. Family and Friend dynamics are very important to the story, while Ashley's relationship with TJ also has its place. We all go through our TJ stages and I could definitely relate to falling for a sweet talking guy. It is interesting to see which relationships evolve as Ashley develops into a strong women.

This book was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed Katherine Kellgren's narration. She brought the characters to life and greatly contributed to my enjoyment of the book. I will definitely be reading more of Laurie Halse Anderson’s books in the future. I'm not sure which one I'll pick up next, but I'm sure I'll enjoy it. I may even revisit “Speak” to give it another chance.