YA Friday Book Review: The Storyspinner

The Storyspinner
by Becky Wallace
Margaret K. McElderry Books (March 3, 2015)
IndieBound | WorldCat

Description from GoodReads:
"Drama and danger abound in this fantasy realm where dukes play a game for the throne, magical warriors race to find the missing heir, and romance blossoms where it is least expected.

In a world where dukes plot their way to the throne, a Performer’s life can get tricky. And in Johanna Von Arlo’s case, it can be fatal. Expelled from her troupe after her father’s death, Johanna is forced to work for the handsome Lord Rafael DeSilva. Too bad they don’t get along. But while Johanna’s father’s death was deemed an accident, the Keepers aren’t so sure.

The Keepers, a race of people with magical abilities, are on a quest to find the princess—the same princess who is supposed to be dead and whose throne the dukes are fighting over. But they aren’t the only ones looking for her. And in the wake of their search, murdered girls keep turning up—girls who look exactly like the princess, and exactly like Johanna.

With dukes, Keepers, and a killer all after the princess, Johanna finds herself caught up in political machinations for the throne, threats on her life, and an unexpected romance that could change everything."

Carolyn's thoughts on the book:
2015 has already been a stellar year for YA fantasy, in my humble opinion, and The Storyspinner is another fantastic example. The dual storylines give the reader alternate, dual perspectives of the story, and thus a better comprehension of the intricate story. Johanna's new life with the DeSilvas (after her father's death) is filled with intrigue and confusion - both surrounding the political role she might play, as well as her complex relationship with Rafael and the DeSilva family. Alternately, the journey of the Seekers sheds light on the magic within this world and Joanna's secret heritage. The book deftly transitions between the dual storylines (and while the entire book is told in third person limited, the character whose thoughts are revealed to the reader rotates with each chapter), and maintains the story without becoming too confusing or muddling the plot. The book has great pacing, with never a dull moment. All of the characters are carefully crafted and interesting, far more than simply plot devices; there also is considerable character development (at least for all of the central characters). The relationships between characters, whether platonic or romantic, are realistic and believable. 

The Storyspinner is a great choice for those who like fantasy, historical settings, and political intrigue. According to the Goodreads page, this book is the first installment in a series, so I'm definitely looking forward to reading the next books in the series. 

Carolyn is a teen blogger who shares her favorite YA reads and favorite book related finds with readers on Fridays.

YA Friday Book Review: The Winner's Crime

The Winner's Crime
By Marie Rutkoski (Farrar Straus Giroux, March 3, 2015)
IndieBound | WorldCat

Description from GoodReads:
"Book two of the dazzling Winner's Trilogy is a fight to the death as Kestrel risks betrayal of country for love.

The engagement of Lady Kestrel to Valoria’s crown prince means one celebration after another. But to Kestrel it means living in a cage of her own making. As the wedding approaches, she aches to tell Arin the truth about her engagement…if she could only trust him. Yet can she even trust herself? For—unknown to Arin—Kestrel is becoming a skilled practitioner of deceit: an anonymous spy passing information to Herran, and close to uncovering a shocking secret.

As Arin enlists dangerous allies in the struggle to keep his country’s freedom, he can’t fight the suspicion that Kestrel knows more than she shows. In the end, it might not be a dagger in the dark that cuts him open, but the truth. And when that happens, Kestrel and Arin learn just how much their crimes will cost them."

Carolyn's thoughts on the book:
Firstly, it should be noted that I will make references to certain plot points of the first book in the series, so be duly warned - spoilers may abound.

I enjoyed the first book of the Winner's Trilogy (The Winner's Curse), and I loved the sequel (which definitely defies the dreaded 'Middle Book Bridge Syndrome') - to the extent that I actually liked it better than the first. Something that I love in this series is the intricate world-building. While the completely different setting gives the series more of a fantasy feel, I would classify it as dystopian (although the world Kestrel inhabits is only as technologically advanced as pre-industrial Europe). Valoria, the country Kestral lives in, is a violently bloody and expansionist nation that has conquered (and at one point, enslaved) the neighboring country of Herran, artistically superior but militarily inferior to Valoria (thus emulating the Romans vs Greeks dynamic).

After freeing the enslaved Herrani by promising to marry the Emperor's son, Kestral finds herself in a delicate position: her loyalty constantly tested by her future-father in law, her fiancé less-than-happy to be engaged to someone he has never met, and her country aggressively pursuing complete domination through warfare. The politician and patriot inside of her wants to support the empire, even at all costs, and the loving daughter inside of her wants to prove her military worth to her father, the head of the Valorian army. However, her sense of humanity and her complicated relationship with Arin cause her to question the complex, privileged world she's come to reside in, and ultimately side with the oppressed. Once her slave-turned-captor (during the slave revolt), now the governor of the Herran peninsula, Arin couldn't be further apart from Kestrel (who reciprocates his disdain and distance). But when Kestrel joins the Herrani cause, unbeknownst to Arin, their lives (as well as their secrets) become even more entangled. 

The Winner's Crime is a superb sequel, and would make a great read for teens and adults who enjoy political intrigue, dystopian stories, and even fantasy. I'm eagerly awaiting the publication of the third novel, The Winner's Kiss, in March of 2016.

Official Book trailer:

Carolyn is a teen blogger who shares her favorite YA reads and favorite book related finds with readers on Fridays.

Book Review: The Many Faces of Josephine Baker

The Many Faces of Josephine Baker
By Peggy Caravantes (Chicago Review Press, February 1, 2015)
ndieBound | Worldcat

Description from GoodReads:
A complete biographical look at the complex life of a world-famous entertainer. 

With determination and audacity, Josephine Baker turned her comic and musical abilities into becoming a worldwide icon of the Jazz Age. The Many Faces of Josephine Baker: Dancer, Singer, Activist, Spy provides the first in-depth portrait of this remarkable woman for young adults. Author Peggy Caravantes follows Baker’s life from her childhood in the depths of poverty to her comedic rise in vaudeville and fame in Europe. This lively biography covers her outspoken participation in the U.S. Civil Rights Movement, espionage work for the French Resistance during World War II, and adoption of 12 children—her “rainbow tribe.” Also included are informative sidebars on relevant topics such as the 1917 East St. Louis riot, Pullman railway porters, the Charleston, and more. The lush photographs, appendix updating readers on the lives of the rainbow tribe, source notes, and bibliography make this is a must-have resource for any student, Baker fan, or history buff.

Carolyn's thoughts on the book:
I normally don't read that much nonfiction, but I did enjoy The Many Faces of Josephine Baker. The life of Josephine Baker is so compelling and intriguing that this makes for a great read for middle and high schoolers alike. Josephine's life is fascinating - from her success story to her work as a spy, the story of her unique life never bores. While many of us search for heroes (especially heroines) in fiction, Josephine Baker is a great heroine from history (perfect for Women's History Month) who, for the most part, has sadly been forgotten by history. This book does a good job of highlighting her life and work. I would recommend The Many Faces of Josephine Baker as a resource for research into important historical women for school, or simply as an educational bit of free-reading for middle grade readers. 

Though narrated in French, this clip from the Dayton Art Institute gives you a taste of Josephine Baker's quirky and ahead of the times style:

About the author: 
Peggy Caravantes is a former English and history teacher, middle school principal, and deputy school superintendent. She is the author of 16 books for middle grades and young adult readers, including Petticoat Spies: Six Women Spies of the Civil War and American Hero: The Audie Murphy Story. Her YA biographies have been selected for the California Titles for Young Adults, Tri-State Books of Note, and the Top Forty Young Adult Nonfiction Books lists. She lives in San Antonio, Texas.

For further reading on Josephine Baker try these illustrated biographies:

Jazz Age Josephine by Jonah Winter: Illustrated by Marjorie Priceman (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2012)

Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker by Patricia Hruby Powell; Illustrated by Christian Robinson (Chronicle Books, 2014)

YA Friday Book Review: A Wicked Thing

A Wicked Thing

By Rhiannon Thomas (HarperTeen, February 24, 2015) 

IndieBound | Worldcat

Description from GoodReads:

Rhiannon Thomas's dazzling debut novel is a spellbinding reimagining of Sleeping Beauty and what happens after happily ever after.

One hundred years after falling asleep, Princess Aurora wakes up to the kiss of a handsome prince and a broken kingdom that has been dreaming of her return. All the books say that she should be living happily ever after. But as Aurora understands all too well, the truth is nothing like the fairy tale.

Her family is long dead. Her "true love" is a kind stranger. And her whole life has been planned out by political foes while she slept. 

As Aurora struggles to make sense of her new world, she begins to fear that the curse has left its mark on her, a fiery and dangerous thing that might be as wicked as the witch who once ensnared her. With her wedding day drawing near, Aurora must make the ultimate decision on how to save her kingdom: marry the prince or run.

Rhiannon Thomas weaves together vivid scenes of action, romance, and gorgeous gowns to reveal a richly imagined world … and Sleeping Beauty as she’s never been seen before.

Carolyn's thoughts on the book:
I'm a big fan of YA retellings of fairy tales (I actually compiled a list of some of my favorites - here are the links to Part 1 and Part 2), so when I heard about A Wicked Thing, I was intrigued. I love the idea of stripping away the less realistic aspects of fairy tales. The happily-ever-after and love-at-first-sight parts are what I take issue with, not the actual fantasy part - ever since I started reading works from the Realist literary period, I've started to examine stories and look at how the characters act and if realism in the character's actions are sacrificed for a happier, easier (but often false) ending. I've always been a little wary of the Sleeping Beauty tale; in the original story, the princess awakes from a hundred year's worth of sleep to find some random prince kissing her and declaring that she is his true love, not to mention the fact that everyone she's ever known is dead. I always imagined that if I were in that situation, the prince would have definitely have (at least) a broken nose within the first three seconds of consciousness. Additionally, I don't exactly think I'd react very well to finding out that everyone I have ever known is dead. To a certain extent, I think every fairy tale is twisted and wrong, but (for fairly obvious reasons) I've never liked Sleeping Beauty - the fairy tale, the Disney movie, anything. That is, I've never really enjoyed any form of the classic fairy tale until I read A Wicked Thing.

While Aurora doesn't react quite as...violently as I would imagine I would in the situation, she certainly doesn't believe the nonsensical notions of 'happily-ever-after' she's being fed by the new royal family. In addition to suddenly being kissed by a prince and discovering the death of anyone she ever met, she finds out that her kingdom has gone to shambles and been conquered by several different kings over that past century - the proverbial icing on the cake of bad news. She's dazed and confused, and desperately trying to process her traumatic situation. Torn between different paths - marrying her designated prince, joining the revolution with an attractive young man, or escaping with the dashing, roguish prince of a distant kingdom - she must ultimately decide to do what's best for her, even if it means doing so alone. The ending doesn't necessarily fully give the reader closure - not in an obvious cliffhanger way, but without the cliché, saccharine happy ending that can feel false or cheap. I had a distinct feeling that while her story isn't over (confirmed by the GoodReads page, which shows that this is the first book in a series), this is simply where this part of her story ends. As odd as it may seem to call a fantasy book a realist work, the novel (and the main character) felt decidedly genuine throughout the novel.

A Wicked Thing is a fresh and honest take on the story of Sleeping Beauty, a great pick for those who love books with strong heroines or enjoy retellings of classic fairy tales. I'm definitely excited for where the series is going and will eagerly await the release of the next novel. 

Carolyn is a high school junior who stops by on Fridays to share about books she's reading and book related fun stuff. You can follow her on twitter: @yalitfriday 

YA Friday Book Review: Red Queen

Red Queen

by Victoria Aveyard (Orion Publishing Group, February 10, 2015)

IndieBound | WorldCat

Description from GoodReads:

The poverty stricken Reds are commoners, living under the rule of the Silvers, elite warriors with god-like powers.

To Mare Barrow, a 17-year-old Red girl from The Stilts, it looks like nothing will ever change.

Mare finds herself working in the Silver Palace, at the centre of those she hates the most. She quickly discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy Silver control.

But power is a dangerous game. And in this world divided by blood, who will win?

Carolyn's thoughts on the book: 
Red Queen is a lush and satisfying read. Described as "Graceling meets The Selection" (on the publisher's page), the book is at once a dystopian and a fantasy novel. The complex, developed setting, from the elaborate magic to the oppressive class system/government, adds a rich layer to an already well developed and powerful debut novel. Mare, the protagonist, has compelling (and realistic) motivations behind her elaborate charade, in addition to being instantly likable and charming. The plot is intricate, but not at the cost of good pacing. The complicated politics (of both the revolutionary group and of the royal family) is intriguing, and just one of the many facets of this jewel of a read.

Overall, Red Queen is a wonderful and engrossing start to the series. In addition to looking forward to the release of the next book (hopefully next year), I'm excited to see Victoria Aveyard speak at the Pasadena Teen Book Fest this May. Red Queen is an excellent and captivating read, perfect for fans of fantasy and dystopian alike.