Ascendance Trilogy by Jennifer Nielsen

The False Prince by Jennifer Nielsen is the first book of hers I read, and it remains my absolute favorite. Not only did I LOVE the first book, (Could NOT put it down!) the second and third books were great too!  {Now, how often does it happen that the final book isn't a complete let down?! I'm looking at you Divergent and Hunger Games!}


This is an action-oriented fantasy that revolves around political intrigue in a kingdom far, far away. (No magical creatures in this book.)


I was quickly captivated by the street-smart, clever, semi-criminal main character Sage, and can honestly say, that I didn't see the final plot twist coming (in any of the books) despite the fact that this book was written for an early middle-grade audience. (Booklist says grades 4-7) I also loved how the series ended though I wished it didn't.

I highly, highly recommended these books and wouldn't hesitate to recommend buying them. (If you're the type of person who likes to have books to share, lend, re-read.)
If you have no kids, buy them for yourself. They are really fun to read.


Now, once you've read The Ascendance Trilogy, you are going to want to check out some of Jennifer Nielsen's other books.

I have read
"A Night Divided",
"The Scourge",
and "The Mark of the Thief" trilogy, (though I haven't finished the third book in that series.)

"A Night Divided" is written about 12-year-old Gerta who lives in Berlin when the wall goes up and is cut off from her father and brother. This is a great book for introducing this important historical event, but while "The False Prince" felt like it appealed to me as an adult as much as it would have to me as a kid, "A Night Divided" feels like it is written for 12-13 year olds.
Maybe the plot isn't as deeply developed as I would have wanted or maybe the ending is a little too pat. The point is, it is a great book, and a book I want my kids to read for the historical insight they will gain, but I would have been just as happy to have it from the library.

{Did you ever read the book "So Far From the Bamboo Grove"? I read that as a kid, loved it, thought about it often and re-read and loved it as an adult. It was a book that seeped into my soul. "A Night Divided" is not quite at that level.}

"The Scourge" was a page-turner, but I think I just wasn't overly in love with the ending or the characters. I liked it, but I didn't finish it wishing there was a second book. Doug said he really enjoyed it though, and Max sped right through it with no complaints.

Finally, "The Mark of the Thief" books were good but not as captivating for me as "The False Prince". They take place in ancient Rome and involve, magic, magical creatures, Roman games, Caesar, and the gods Mars and Diana. If you or your kids are Percy Jackson fans, you might really really dig these. I loved the first one, but now that I'm on the third, I'm a tiny bit over the magical battles--which is why I haven't finished it yet. However, Max will probably pick it up and finish it in one sitting.

Hope you've found something to peek your interest. If you've read any of these, I would love to hear your thoughts!

Happy Reading,
Emily

P.S. This post contains Amazon Affiliate Links. They do not, however, change the price of the books.

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart -- Ages 10/11+

I have a confession. I read this book about 5 years ago. And I'm pretty sure I read the second one. I am NOT sure if I read the third one and definitely didn't read the fourth. Three and four may or may not have been written yet...


Here is what I do know: I read the first book and loved it.
Max read it and loved it.
We gave it to Max's friend Lauren and SHE read it and loved it.

And as far as I know, every kid on the face of the planet who has read this book...

...has loved it.

(Please correct me if I'm wrong!! If you or your kid hated it, this is information we need to know!;)

This is a pretty long book. 500+ pages, so NOT for a beginning reader. But I believe it appeals equally to boys and girls and has a nice blend of clever, independent kids, and exciting adventures with a lot of mystery and problem-solving mixed in. I would have loved it as a kid. (And, as I said, loved it as an adult.)

Amazon age range is 8-13 for the first book, 10-13 for the whole series.
(But as we know from The Lego Movie...
Son: "It says Ages 5-12" Dad: "That's just a suggestion!!")

Read it and let me know what you think! And tell me if I need to go back and finish the series!!

Happy Reading,

Emily

Common Sense Media says:
Parents need to know that The Mysterious Benedict Society is the story of four gifted kids, all orphans age 12 and under, who are recruited and then trained by Mr. Benedict and sent to a remote boarding school to learn more about an evil mastermind bent on taking over the world. There's little violence beyond some mild fistfighting and a near kidnapping, where perpetrators are knocked out with a tranquilizer gun. Teamwork, creative problem solving, and the love of the truth are keys to the kids' success. This is the first in a four-volume series. 

P.S. If you liked this post, please leave a comment or share it!

P.P.S. Most links used above are 'Amazon Affiliate' links. If you use one to buy a book, I get a small percentage of the purchase price. If you don't, I won't mind a bit. 
I always recommend getting books at the library first, buying from Amazon second!

P.P.P.S. I purchased this book with my own money and reviewed it because I loved it!

Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein -- Age 10+

Talk about judging books by the cover!!
I saw this:


 at Costco and threw it right in my cart.

*Cool cover art.
*The word 'Library' in the title. (One of my favorite places.)
*And intrigue. (Who needs to escape and why?)

How could I not buy it?

Turns out, I was not dissapointed. It was a great book!

Unfortunately, Costco wasn't selling the complete "Lemoncello" trilogy as a set so we only have the first book, but we will eventually buy the final two in the Lemoncello series.
(Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics and Mr. Lemoncello's Great Library Race)

One thing I loved about Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library was that it was filled with references to other books. After reading a few pages, I grabbed a pencil and starting underlining them and writing the book title referenced off to the side. Max said he liked knowing what books the lines were from when he read it after me.

A book that gets kids excited about reading more books is a huge win in my book.

Amazon puts the age range at ages 8-12. It's been a year or so since I've read it, but that sounds fine. When in doubt, look at the recommend age and add two years. Or look at the age of the main character and start there. Main character Kyle is 12.

The oldest four over here really enjoyed this book and I'm excited to give it to Gabe to read next. I think it will appeal equally to boys and girls and hope you'll like it too! Tell me what you think!

Happy Reading!!
-Emily

Chris Grabenstein's Website says:

Can twelve 12-year-olds escape from the most ridiculously brilliant library ever created?

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library plunks a dozen sixth-graders into the middle of a futuristic library for a night of nonstop fun and adventure.

In a nod to Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, this fast-paced new novel features an eccentric billionaire who welcomes a group of children into a fantasy setting full of weird, wondrous touches...

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library is more than a rib-tickling novel full of humor and suspense. It's a game in itself, in which readers can have fun solving clues and answering riddles while learning how to navigate the Dewey Decimal system. Eagle-eyed kids—not to mention their parents, teachers, and librarians—can also hunt for the names of authors and classic books sprinkled throughout the fast-moving story. 

Rumor has it there is even one puzzle that is in the book but not in the story. Can you find and solve it?
---

P.S. The links attached to book titles used above are mostly "Amazon Affiliate Links". They give me a tiny percentage of the purchase price if you use my link to buy a book. However, if you go to Amazon on your own, it won't hurt my feelings! ;) We usually like to check things out at the library before we decide to buy.

P.P.S. If you like this post, please leave a comment or share it! Thanks!!

The Apothecary by Maile Meloy -- Age 12+

I'm not sure how we were introduced to  "The Apothecary" series by Maile Meloy. Pretty sure Doug randomly brought the Book-on-CD home from the library. {We get hooked on a lot of great books by grabbing whatever looks good at the library before a road trip. Yes, we often judge books by the cover and this series has great cover art!}

Whatever the case may be, I listened to it in the car  and got hooked pretty fast.  We got all three books on CD from the library and we all listened to them. (The series didn't particularly hold the attention of Gabe and Gray but there is nothing you would be overly worried about younger kids hearing either. Not like when I tried to listen to "The Fault In Our Stars" in the car...)

This series does have a good narrator, Cristin Milioti, but I feel like it would be just as enjoyable in book form. These can also be found on Audible and I ended up buying the first one for future road trips.

The first book takes place in London in 1952. The main character in this book is a 14 year old girl. I appreciate that she was portrayed as strong and smart but also a normal young teen girl with insecurities and crushes and a vivid imagination. The other main character is a teenage boy. Also smart and (bonus) British.

Adventure, magic, and a little romance makes this appeal to everyone and Max (14 at the time), Sam (11), and Doug enjoyed it as much as I did.

The Apprentices is the second book and The After Room is the third and final book in the series.

If you read this series, please come back and tell me what you think!! :)

Happy Reading--

Emily

--
The publisher recommends these for ages 9-12. I would personally say 12+. (Feels a little mature for younger kids, especially as the series moves along.)

Common Sense Media rates this as ages 11+ and says:
"Parents need to know that The Apothecary is an engaging, well-written story by an award-winning  adult author who has successfully turned to a younger audience without simply dumbing down adult themes. Some social and ethical complexities may be a bit much for younger kids, e.g., the casual ruthlesslessness with which Janie and Benjamin are willing to try out a potion on their hapless classmate Sergei, the quandary of Sergei's father with his wife and daughter in the hands of his Soviet employers, and Pip's cheerfully thieving nature. Janie's parents are blacklisted Hollywood writers, and Meloy's excellent, evenhanded treatment of the subject might serve as an good introduction to the McCarthy era."
--

P.S. The links attached to book titles used above are mostly "Amazon Affiliate Links". They give me a tiny percentage of the purchase price if you use my link to buy a book. However, if you go to Amazon on your own, it won't hurt my feelings! ;) We usually like to check things out at the library before we decide to buy.

P.P.S. If you liked this post, please share it or leave a comment. :)

My Kid Read Harry Potter...What Next?

A few weeks ago, I got an e-mail asking what I would recommend for a kid who has read Harry Potter and also Percy Jackson. I actually get this question a lot because we do a lot of reading around here.

Made me think it might be fun to start a blog and talk about what we're reading, and also maybe get some recommendations from YOU! After all, most everything we read was recommended by someone...usually a friend, teacher, or the local librarian! The e-mail and my response are below:

(FYI, Gabe is in 4th grade.)
P.S. Don't forget to read the "P.S.'s" at the end.

****************************************************************

Hi Emily,

My final total for Gabe's minutes was 2528. If that is incorrect please get back to me ASAP.  

What is he into reading lately? I'm always looking for more interesting and challenging age appropriate books for Izzy to read.  My usually very non-competitive child feels slightly competitive with Gabe on AR* point total. Izzy has read all the Harry Potters, Percy Jacksons and just discovered the Land of Stories series which she loves.

Thanks,

K_________

(*AR stands for Accelerated Reader. The kids take a computerized test on the books they're read and accumulate points. Gabe LOVES taking AR tests and takes great pride in being at the top of his class in AR points.)

Dear K,

Haha, yes, he has really taken off in reading this year and has loved doing AR! I have no idea about his total, but he's been keeping pretty good track. He read all the Harry Potter books and Percy Jackson, but he also read the Warriors Books by Erin Hunter this year. (They are about cats and have no appeal to me so we got them at the library and don't own them. But he liked them!) After "Warriors" he started "The Guardians of Ga'Hoole" series by Kathryn Lasky which is about owls. He's been loving them. There are about 16 in that series. (My older son Sam loved them in 4th or 5th grade.)

He also enjoyed The Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia Wrede, (a series of 4), Jedi Academy series (sorta like a junior graphic novel--he LOVES these...), Diary of a Wimpy Kid books (We own a few and get some at the library), and I think he read some of the How to Train Your Dragon books, but that could have been big brother.

My boys have all been big fantasy fans.

Two other series my older boys loved at this age were The Misadventures of Benjamin Bartholomew Piff, 

and Charlie Bone (recommended by a librarian to read if you liked Harry Potter...) 

Three authors the whole family really likes are Jennifer Nielsen (The Ascendance Trilogy was my favorite),  Brandon Mull (Fablehaven!), and Brandon Sanderson (The "Alcatraz" series. Most Brandon Sanderson books are geared for teens and up but Alcatraz is really funny and fun for younger kids.).

And, lastly, since you have a daughter, *I* really loved Shannon Hale's "Goose Girl" series and "Princess Academy". (I bribed my oldest to read Princess Academy and Goose Girls and he loved them but couldn't admit it. ;)

As you can tell, we are big readers and I could go on all day, but I'll leave you with those. Let me know if you need any more ideas!

Also, you can check them out on Amazon and there is usually a recommended grade level or reading range. In case you are wondering if they are too old or too young for her. I'll read just about anything if it's good, so I have read many of the above and can recommend them personally. 

Good luck!

:)

Emily W

*******************************************************************

So, have any of you read the series I mentioned above? 

Thoughts?

Any similar you would add to this list?

Happy Reading--

P.S.

If you are ever wondering if a book or series is at your child's reading level, a good place to start is Amazon. Usually there will be some information in the "Product Details" that will give an age or grade level range. Obviously, these are subjective and kids are all at different sensitivity levels, but it's usually a good place to start. You can also just google the book title and look at the info released by the author or publisher.

A second hint is the age of the protagonist--which can usually be determined by a quick glance at the cover or book description. A 12 year old main character means the book will generally appeal to 12 year olds. However, as we've seen with Harry Potter, some books transcend being pigeon-holed.

It's also important to remember that while the first Harry Potter book was scary, but relatively mild, the seventh Harry Potter book was pretty intense and dealt with some seriously deep themes. (Though the recommended age range doesn't change...) When in doubt, read it first! Sounds like a chore, but a lot of these books are surprisingly well-written and entertaining.

Example info from Amazon:

Harry Potter Series

Age 9-12

Grade 4-7

Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Age 10-14

Grade 3-7 (This doesn't even make sense, but whatever. I would say 4th grade and up.)

P.P.S. The links used above are "Amazon Affiliate Links". They give me a tiny percentage of the purchase price if you use one to buy a book. However, if you go to Amazon on your own, it wont hurt my feelings! ;)

P.P.P.S. Most of these books we own and have on our shelves (with the exception of the Warrior series, and some Diary of a Wimpy Kid books.) HOWEVER, we always started out by buying the first book in the series, or even more commonly, getting it from the library. Usually it is after two or more of us have read a series and loved it that we go back and buy the complete boxed set from Costco or Amazon. We love having favorite books on our shelves to share with anyone searching for a good read!!

P.P.P.P.S. If you liked this post, please share it or pin it!! :)

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Montmorency by Eleanor Updale -- Age 12/13+

(Originally posted on my other blog and moved over here for convenience.)

Back in 2012, Max got a recommendation from our librarian to check out a book called "Montmorency" by Eleanor Updale.  It was the first in a series and he read it and loved it.  

Max loved it so much he convinced Doug to read it, Doug loved it and told me to read it.  
We were all hooked.  
We subsequently checked out the next three books in the series only to discover Book 4, "Montmorency's Revenge" ended in a major cliff-hanger, and (horror!) there was no fifth book.  In desperation, I wrote this e-mail:

Hello Ms. Updale!

My husband, 10-year-old son and I recently discovered and read your Montmorency series.  We're big fans and after the cliff-hanger at the end of book four, went straight to the Internet to find out when book 5 will be published.  Please tell me there will be a book 5?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?  You can't leave Montmorency...(edited to prevent spoilers)!  How about a short story?  A novella?  A single chapter?  A blog post?  We'll take anything we can get!!!

Sincerely,

Emily Warner and Maxwell 

Amazingly, SHE WROTE BACK and let me know she was having problems with the publisher but was working on getting book five out!

A few weeks ago, we heard from her again--this time with exciting news!!

Well, at last it’s out.  The fifth Montmorency book, Montmorency Returns is now available to buy as an ebook or as a paperback, but only from Amazon.  The good news is that the paperback has better paper and better print than any of the previous editions, and all the previous books are available in a similar format, so it is possible to buy the whole series in a matching edition.

Thank you so much for your patience.  The delay in publication has been as annoying for me as it was for you, and I do hope that your love of Montmorency has not gone off the boil in the meantime.

You can buy the ebook here,

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Montmorency-Returns-Eleanor-Updale-ebook/dp/B00I3CT0QW

And the paperback here:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Montmorency-Returns-5-Eleanor-Updale/dp/1494220873/ref=tmm_pap_title_0

I’d be really grateful if you could spread the word about the new book.  You can find out more about it on my website www.eleanorupdale.com

Very best wishes,

Eleanor Updale

I love that there are authors out there who take the time to connect with their fans! I went straight to Amazon and am now the proud owner of the complete series in a matching set. I love matching sets!  

If you're looking for a fun adventure set in England, this is the series for you.  Although Max read these when he was 10, I would probably recommend them for 12+.  But you can read them first and be the judge of whether you want your (younger) kids to read them.  I remember them being very clean, but it's been a few years.

I will confess that as the books went on, I was less and less enamored of them. And I really didn't love how Book 5 ended. But once you start, you want to know how the series ends!! If I were a better writer, I'd write a "fan fiction" version of book 5 and end it the way I wanted. But...that's not going to happen. Anyway, read them and let me know what you think!!

Here's a description from the author's website:

Montmorency is set between 1875 and 1880. This is the story of a small-time crook whose life is transformed after an accident that nearly kills him. An ambitious doctor (Robert Farcett) takes on the task of rebuilding his body, and shows him off at meetings of a scientific society. At those meetings, Montmorency learns about the new underground network of sewers under London. In prison, he plans a new life, stealing things all over London, and getting away through the smelly underground passageways. When he is released, he takes on two identities: Scarper in the Dark underground world, and Montmorency in high society. The book is all about his struggle to prevent each of his identities spoiling everything for the other.

HAPPY READING!!!

Author Intro: Brandon Sanderson

(This post was written and published on my other blog and copied and pasted here later.)
So the other night Doug arranged to take me on a surprise date. 
He got a babysitter and everything.

It was a Wednesday night.

I was sure he was taking me dancing or to a dance class.

I'd used various deductive reasoning techniques to come up with this theory and I was very sure of myself.

I told at least two people we were going dancing.

I put on a swingy dress and my new red heels.

I applied full make-up AND even a tiny bit of perfume.

We got in the car and Doug said, "We are NOT going dancing!"
I said "Yes we are!  ...Aren't we?"
No.  We weren't.

We went into San Diego to "The Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore" for a book signing by
Brandon Sanderson.

And it was AWE.SOME.

Even better than dancing!  The rest of this post will now be addressed to someone else:

Dear Brandon Sanderson,
First, I'd like to start by saying, I'm sorry we walked in to your reading late.  If I had known we were NOT going to a Swing dance class but instead going to hang out with a bunch of fantasy readers, I would have held off on the make-up and heels and we would have been on time.  My bad.  (But also Doug's bad for not telling me sooner.)

However, how AWESOME was it that there were two empty seats for us on the front row?  (Totally awesome.)  I could NOT believe my luck!  And hearing you read Legion was really cool.

Anyway, mostly just wanted to let you know it was a great night.  My husband and I are huge fans!  (And so are our boys because they've been listening to the Audible version of Alcatraz and the Evil Librarian.  So stinkin' funny!)
Also, I'd like to tell you a little about myself:  I am an avid reader.  I have been since first grade when I got hooked on Boxcar Children.  I'm pretty much always reading at least one novel.  At the moment, I'm reading three different books.  (One in the bathroom, one in the car, one by my bed...you get the idea.)  My point is, I read a lot.
And here's the thing:  I think you are HANDS DOWN one of the (if not THE) BEST AUTHOR(s) I've ever read.
Your intelligence is astounding.  Your imagination is awe-inspiring.  Your worlds are incredibly cohesive and believable and awesome and deeply-developed-without-being-overwhelming and awesome...

But of most importance to me, your books have something I learned about in college:  they have Artistic Unity.  In your words, (heard on a pod cast Doug found--if I'm remembering correctly...) "no unkept promises".  (or was it unanswered?)  Anyway...

Every tiny detail in your books is in your books for a reason.  When I finished the Mistborn series, I was sad that it was over, but HAPPY because you had answered all my questions and resolved every introduced issue.  What a freakin' awesome series!

{I'm SO glad you've chosen to continue it in a different time period.  I would be reading my signed copy of The Alloy of Law right now if it weren't for those other three books and the fact that Doug got to it first.}

(An aside:  Once I read "The Historian" and it sucked.  Not because it was about vampires.  Because it lacked cohesion and left MANY questions unanswered.  I'm still bitter I wasted so much time on that book! Just like stupid Lost!!!  I'm still mad at you and your lack of ARTISTIC UNITY Lost!)

Anyway again, just wanted to let you know I'm a big fan.

Come back to Mysterious Galaxy again soon!! We need a better picture!!

Sincerely,
Emily W.

P.S.  My baby's middle name is Brandon.  Not after you, but still...!

P.P.S.  This is my first fan letter.  Did I come on too strong?  Sound too stalker-like?  Sorry.  I swear I'm normal(ish).

POST EDIT:  My blog posts are automatically e-mailed to my mom so her comments come to my e-mail in-box.  This was her response to this post:

Dear Emily,  Great fan letter!  I'll have you know that I borrowed and read (my brother) Brandons  copies of Mistborn!  They were OK.  What shall I try next that's not so far out into ugly and violent cretins?  I didn't like all the good guys expiring.

(Not ALL the good guys expire...!!)

But I love you and Brandon, and I trust your judgement normally.

Love, Mom xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

I had to laugh.  Clearly, Epic Fantasy is NOT for everyone!  :)  Always good to have differing opinions!  

(I told her to try Gail Tsukiyama--an author I read and liked in Japan.)