Kazumi Reads

Plot Summary:
Unable to deal with the death of his twin brother, Konrad, Victor roams the chateau aimlessly, looking for a reason to go on. After destroying the forbidden library where Victor, Konrad, Elizabeth, and Henry roamed in search of a cure for Konrad's illness, Victor stumbles upon an item that does not burn in the fires. What Victor doesn't realize is that this "book" contains a secret that goes all they way back to his great-great-great grandfather Wilhelm Frankenstein. Revitalized, and back to his old tricks, Victor learns that the items in this box contains parts to a spirit machine that will allow him to talk to his brother once again. However, when Elizabeth learns of Victor's latest scheme, she is worried and scared that if Victor goes to far there is no turning back. After building the spirit machine, he must know learn how to make it work. Interestingly enough, with Henry's help, the clues to operating this machine can be found in a portrait of his great-grandfather, which leads to the family chapel that hasn't been used in a long time. With a little muscle, and brains, the group of curious teens find their way into an abandoned office, hidden from those who weren't looking for it. Here is where Victor finds the key to the spirit machine and grants him a few precious moments with his deceased Konrad. Thrilled, and happy, Victor can actually talk to his brother, but Konrad is frightened. The question that he must ask is does purgatory really exist and what is scaring his brother? Are there other spirits in this house? These are the questions he must solve in order to protect his brother , but at what price will Victor pay from passing between the land of the living and the dead? What is the creature that is lurking in the house and beneath the foundation of Chateau Frankenstein?

Critical Evaluation:
All I can really say is...wow. Kenneth Oppel has provided readers with the foundation as to why Victor Frankenstein is obsessed with life and death. Unable to deal with the loss of his brother, Victor is in pieces. He made his brother a promise and he was willing to do everything he can to bring Konrad back. However, what we also see is the power of this character's intellect, will, and never ending curiosity. Although he seems  arrogant and selfish, we see an individual who will not settle for mediocre ideas and traditions. In many ways, Victor Frankenstein is not any different than the average teenager who longs to know the secrets of this world and find meaning in everything we do. Despite the fact that he is coveting his brother's girlfriend, this exposes his greatest flaws: being vulnerable. Konrad, according to Victor, is everything he is not and that does not make him feel worthy of love and happiness. In many respects, the twin motif of a good twin and evil twin are explored and proven that this idea may not be what it really is. Clearly, these two boys have been given equal amounts of attentions and affection for the same of girl, which were reciprocated differently. However, this doesn't make Victor evil because of his willingness to give up his body for Konrad. Generally, evil twins wouldn't make such a sacrifice so it shows the loyalty and the love this teen has for his brother. Moreover, by refusing his brother's offer, Konrad crosses over accepting the fact that it was his time to die and allow his love ones to get on with their lives .  With this decision, Konrad definitely shows how mature he is because he has accepted his death and wants to move on for the sake of his family and eternal soul. Victor, on the other hand, refuses to live his life without Konrad so it conveys that Victor is dependent on his twin not just for moral support, but someone to validate who he is. In other other words, Victor needs Konrad; whereas, Konrad doesn't need Victor. Do we assume that Victor's madness stems from the fear of being alone? Did Dr. Frankenstein create his "monster" because he wanted his flesh blood to live again or was there another motive? Readers will definitely be clamoring for Mary Shelly's "Frankenstein." 

Information about the Author:
According to his website:

I was born in Port Alberni, a mill town on Vancouver Island, British Columbia but spent the bulk of my childhood in Victoria, B.C. and on the opposite coast, in Halifax, Nova Scotia.At around twelve I decided I wanted to be a writer (this came after deciding I wanted to be a scientist, and then an architect). I started out writing sci-fi epics (my Star Wars phase) then went on to swords and sorcery tales (my Dungeons and Dragons phase) and then, during the summer holiday when I was fourteen, started on a humorous story about a boy addicted to video games (written, of course, during my video game phase). It turned out to be quite a long story, really a short novel, and I rewrote it the next summer. We had a family friend who knew Roald Dahl - one of my favourite authors - and this friend offered to show Dahl my story. I was paralysed with excitement. I never heard back from Roald Dahl directly, but he read my story, and liked it enough to pass on to his own literary agent. I got a letter from them, saying they wanted to take me on, and try to sell my story. And they did.

I did my BA at the University of Toronto (a double major in cinema studies and English) and wrote my second children's novel The Live-Forever Machine in my final year, for a creative writing course. I married the year after graduation and spent the next three years in Oxford, where my wife was doing doctoral studies in Shakespeare. Since then we've lived in Newfoundland, Dublin -- and Toronto, where we now live with our three children

Genre:
Teen Fantasy, Teen Adventure

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up
 

Books Similar to Such Wicked Intent:

• Abandon by Meg Cabot
• Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey

Awards & Recognition:

From Amazon.com:

* "Printz honor-winner Oppel skillfully portrays [Victor] as both a troubled teen and the boy who would become Frankenstein. Addictions and lustful encounters add another layer of sophistication to the gothic melodrama. A standout sequel and engrossing ghost story."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Everything readers love about Oppel is here: his fierce intelligence; baroque but concise prose; developed, unsentimental characters; and ability to keep his eye on the prize—in this case, the stubborn, yet somehow still likable, character of Victor and his slow road to becoming Mary Shelley’s mad scientist."--Booklist

"Oppel’s second book in The Dark Endeavor Chronicles is every bit as thrilling and engaging as the first one.... Oppel’s character development is exceptional, and it is clear that he has done his research. The book draws readers in from the beginning and continues to create suspense as the characters go in and out of the spirit world, where dark creatures lurk. Fans of both Oppel’s first book and Shelley’s original work will not be disappointed."--VOYA

"Kenneth Oppel creates a darkly Gothic world so unique it’s not bound by literary traditions.... Mr. Oppel is an expert storyteller and an outstanding world builder."--NY Journal of Books

"Vividly descriptive language and further development of complex main characters keep the narrative intense and engaging.... The improbable doesn’t seem so impossible thanks to Oppel’s impressive storytelling ability."--The Horn Book

Plot Summary:
What if every biography about Abraham Lincoln was missing a dark part of his life? What if the greatest president of the United States not only freed us from the ideology of slavery, but from becoming a slave race itself? Although we know that Abraham Lincoln was a humble country boy who overcame his obstacles to become president, what if he was a sent by God to free us from the devil himself? Let's face it: Abraham Lincoln was, and still is, the greatest vampire slayer in history. When he lost his mother to "milk" sickness, Abe learned that it was not disease that killed her, but a vampire. Unable to live with the idea that vampires were free to roam the Earth to feed off anyone, he dedicated his life to destroying this evil. However, what we didn't realize is that his teacher, and greatest, ally is a vampire himself. What the history books don't tell us, his friend, Henry Sturges, a vampire and mentor, is the one who taught him that not every vampire is a ruthless monster. In fact, there are vampires who wish to remain in the shadows where peace and coexistence prevail. When Abraham witnesses a slave auction, for the first time, not only does he see the horrors of this institution, he notices that amongst the audience members are vampires. Of all things to witness, and know, Vampires have the ability to purchase their prey without having to come out at night and without worrying about people noticing. The worst part is that humans have actually made a pact with the vampires so everyone can profit. With Henry's help, and that of the infamous Edgar Allan Poe, Lincoln has to make a decision to fight the good fight or live a normal life.  For Abe, he chooses to live a life with his wife and sons, but, in return, he will fight his battle against slavery in office and hang up his ax for good. However, when his rival, Stephen Douglas, changes his position on slavery and promotes slavery in the new, free territories, Lincoln decides to come out of "retirement" and take a stand once and for all. The rest we know is "history," but is it really?  



Critical Evaluation:
In this delightful spin on the life of Abraham Lincoln, Seth Grahame-Smith brings even more awesomeness to the life and legacy of Honest Abe. By intertwining the facts of Lincoln's life with that of his "secret" diaries, readers get to see a different side of a man who did everything he could to conceal his personal life. Although the vampire slayer gig may be fiction, I think it adds depth to the man who suffered and rose above it all. What's even more fascinating is that by casting this man as a strong, nimble, and fierce warrior, readers get have the opportunity to challenge the facts that said Lincoln was a humble, gawky, and freakishly tall man who couldn't find pants that fit. Most will wonder if Lincoln, was in fact, the opposite of his persona. In other words, if Lincoln was presented the opportunity to show the world the fire that was in his eyes when eh spoke, could he have done so much more? I will admit that I have a bit of Lincoln obsession because we don't really know much about this private man other than what historians, biographers, friends, and acquaintances know or have told over the years. In many ways, I really, really want to believe that Lincoln was this all powerful superhero who was denied his full potential because this world wasn't ready for him. After reading this amazing story, readers will be itching to read the Lincoln biographies or do a little research of their own. As a reader, I am not only impressed with the twist on Lincoln's life, but juxtaposing two very similar, yet very different examples of slavery. For Abraham Lincoln, not only did he want to free his fellow human beings from the bondage of slavery, but protect the human race from becoming enslaved by vampires.  Personally, I like the fact that I am not being harvested for my blood to feed a merciless race of otherworldly beings. Furthermore, I love the fact that I live in a country that protects and upholds my inalienable right to live of life  liberty, freedom, and happiness. There is a phrase that says "evil begets evil" and if Lincoln had not put an end to slavery than who knows where would be now.

Information about the Author:
According to his website:

Raised in Weston and Bethel, Connecticut, Seth Grahame-Smith recieved a degree in film from Boston's Emerson College. In 2005, he quit a TV-development job to become a freelance writer- and for a few years that seemed like a very, very bad decision.

Published in 2009, Pride, Prejudice, and Zombies, debuted as #3 on the New York Times Bestseller List. Since then "PPZ" has sold over a million copies and has been translated into more than 20 languages. 

Seth's follow up book, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, debuted at #4, and remained on the on the New York Times Bestseller List for over three months.

Genre:
Fiction

Reading Level/Interest:
Adult

Books Similar to Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter:

• Jane Slayre by Sharon Browning Erwin
• Pride, Prejudice, and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith

Awards & Recognition:

From Amazon.com

"Seth Grahame-Smith is an excellent writer whose prose raises Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter a step above others of its genre...[He] does such an excellent job blending the facts of Lincoln's life into the story that it is sometimes hard to determine fact from fiction...Suspenseful, and most readers will want to read it in one sitting." ( Asbury Park Press )

"Evocative...Grahame-Smith [is] a lively, fluent writer with a sharp sense of tone and pace." (TIME )

"Thanks to P&P&Z, a delicious mutant book craze was born. But then opportunists infested the territory...It's nice to see plucky Grahame-Smith retake his turf." (Entertainment Weekly )

"Not just the Lincoln biography we've all been waiting for. It's also the funniest, most action-packed and weirdly well-researched account of the Civil War you'll probably read in a long time. Grahame-Smith could be poised to become the Howard Zinn of vampire-related alterna-history." (Vanity Fair )

"Grahame-Smith does an excellent job of capturing the spirit of this style of story-telling, mixing historically accurate anecdotes with entries from Lincoln's fictional secret journal, weaving the vampire elements into the story in a manner that's quite believable." (Wired

Plot Summary:
Unlike most of the Presidents of the United States, Abraham Lincoln was the tallest and skinniest of them all who said "howdy" to his guests and called his wife "mother." Born in a log cabin in Hogenville, Kentucky, Lincoln spent his youth in the backwoods, chopping wood and working on the family farm. When he wasn't doing chores, or working odd jobs, Lincoln always had a nose in a book. After his father, Thomas, moved him and the family to Indiana, tragedy struck the Lincoln household. After losing his mother, Nancy, to "milk fever," Lincoln helped his father craft her coffin and bury her, which left him little time to grieve. When his father brought home his new mother home, Sarah Bush Lincoln, Lincoln and his sister were fortunate to have someone who loved them dearly. When he was 17, he traveled to the glorious city of New Orleans, which was filled with wonder and horror. During his short stay, Lincoln saw slavery for the first time, which not only struck a chord in his own life, but challenged every belief he had. Eventually, when Lincoln was 21, he got a job in a general store in Illinois, where he learned to better himself by reading and learning. Although he wasn't expecting this responsibility,  he ended up as a captain of the militia when Black Hawk decided to invade the territory. Although his service only lasted a few months, Lincoln immediately ran for the state legislature, but wasn't elected. At the same time, he and a business partner tried to open a shop, which failed, and left him with $1100 in debt. In order to pay back his debts, Lincoln held all sorts of odd jobs and then decided to become a lawyer. Although his early beginnings, as a lawyer, were not glamorous, people started to see the passion and the conviction in Lincoln's eyes when he talked about anything and everything. Eventually, he made friends with Mary Todd's sister and husband who introduced her to him. Although Lincoln was strongly attracted the Mary, he courted and proposed to only break it off. However, after overcoming a dark depression, he eventually married Mary a year later who gave birth to their first son nine months after. Now as a father and husband, his political career, and law practice, took off. Despite his success, the issue of slavery had invaded his mind and soul, which pushed him to run for the presidency. Despite the criticism and threats, Lincoln never wavered from his stance and when he won the election, we all know what happened then: the Civil War, the Emancipation Proclamation, the Battle at Antietam, the Gettysburg Address, and his untimely demise. In this book, readers will learn about Lincoln the man, the politician, and the heroic figure we all have grown to respect and admire.

Critical Evaluation:
In this brilliant account of the most beloved President of the United States, Freedman provides readers with am enthralling narrative. Abraham Lincoln lived an extraordinary life in a time where the our growing country was being invaded by injustice. Although we all learn a little about Lincoln's youth in this short, but informative, biography, it also provides plenty of quotes, facts, and stories of how this amazing man became the 16th President of the United States. I will admit that I only knew a few things about Lincoln, prior to reading this, and that he was the author of the Emancipation Proclamation and the Gettysburg Address. We all know that those two documents were definitive points of the Civil War, but we will always know the reason behind this devastating war: Slavery. From the moment he saw it in Louisiana, Lincoln had always known that it was immoral and unconstitutional; slavery was was about denying people their inalienable rights that our forefather's died for and Lincoln, himself, knew the burden of being bound to a master because of the laws that were imposed on him as an adolescent; if he took on a job and made money, it would go directly to his father, who didn't appreciate him. What I enjoyed about this work is that Freedman conveys to readers that Lincoln, was in fact, a simple and ordinary human who persevered through personal tragedies to become the leader who united a country. Another great aspect of this book is the collection of photos. I cannot express how powerful and evocative the Civic War images are; when we read, and see the pictures, not only does this provoke our senses, but it drives home the point of the story. One of my favorite attractions at Disneyland is stopping by the theater that is home to Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. It's sometimes hard to believe that that the Civil War actually happened and, when I hear, and see, the snippets of Lincoln's speeches. I admit, I cry every time I see the photos of dead soldiers, especially the one of the two brothers: one was a Union soldier the other Confederate.This was a volatile time to live in because if Lincoln didn't do what he did, who knows where this country would be today. There are a lot of things to think about in the end, but we also have to make a moment and realize just how beautiful freedom really is.
 
Information about the Author:
According to Scholastic's Publishing's website:

Russell Freedman is the award-winning author of 47 books, some of which have been translated into a diverse number of languages, including Japanese, Korean, German, Spanish, Flemish, Arabic and Bengali. But Freedman wasn't always a children's book writer. He grew up in San Francisco and attended the University of California, Berkeley, and then worked as a reporter and editor for the Associated Press and as a publicity writer. In these jobs, Freedman did lots of research and provided important information to the public. Since becoming an author, he has done the same thing but now he gets to focus on topics that he is personally interested in and wants to learn more about. His nonfiction books range in subject from the lives and behaviors of animals to people in history whose impact is still felt today. Freeedman's work has earned him several awards, including a Newbery Medal in [1988] for Lincoln: a Photobiography, a Newbery Honor each for Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery in 1994 and The Wright Brothers: How They Invented the Airplane in 1992, and a Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal.

Freedman has traveled extensively throughout the world to gather information and inspiration for his books. His latest book, Confucius: The Golden Rule was inspired by his extensive travels through Mainland China, where he visited Confucius' hometown in modern day QuFu, in the Shantung Province.

Russell Freedman now lives in New York City.

Genre:
All Ages

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 4 & up

Books Similar to Lincoln: A Photbiography:

• Children of the Dust Bowl by Jerry Stanley
• The Wright Brothers: How They Invented the Place by Russell Freeman

Awards & Recognition:

• 1988 Newbery Award Winner
• 1998 Laure Ingalls Wilder Award Winner
• 2007 National Humanities Award Winner

Plot Summary:
James Henry Trotter is an unfortunate boy. One day, he had a family and a lovely home until a Rhinoceros ate his parents. What's even worse is that he is now living with his Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker who are two of the most hideous, cruel, and funny looking women in all of England. Constantly beaten, and broken, James endures his aunts malicious behavior until an old man appears out of nowhere with a bag of tiny magical crocodile tongues. According to the gentlemen, if he boils and drinks these tongues with ten hairs plucked from his own head, he will be the happiest person alive. Overcome with excitement, James searches for a hiding a place until he trips on the roots of the old, lifeless peach tree and loses the tiny tongues. Saddened by these turn of events, the tree does something miraculous: it sprouts a peach that won't stop growing. Amazed, and bewildered, James' terrible aunts decide to make money off of this unfortunate incident, separating James from the magic peach. However, later that night, instead of picking up the trash left by visitors, James jumps the fence that guards the peach to find a hidden doorway. Not knowing what to do, James climbs inside the peach to find a group of giant insects having tea and sitting by the fire. Overcome with shock, James finally realizes that the crocodile tongues not only changed to the tree, but the insects that lived in the soil. Rather than than enduring his aunts' deplorable behavior, James and his new friends go on an adventure that will take them to place they never imagined.

Critical Evaluation:
In this short, yet imaginative, is a story about a little boy's bad luck. Not only were his parents taken from him, he was put in the care of two despicable adults. Like most of Dahl's stories, we have another tragic tale of innocent children growing up in the hands, and homes, of irresponsible adults. I think what cracks me up the most is the candidness in Dahl's writing that conveys to young readers just how bad James' life is with his aunts without traumatizing them. As much as we want to deny it, there are children who are just like James who live in dysfunctional homes where they know what its like to suffer. However, Dahl's characters, despite their treatment, never lose hope that things will be all right in the end, which, in turn, gives those readers hope as well. One prevalent theme that this story focuses on is taking pride in who we are. For example, when Grasshopper, Centipede, Spider, and Earthworm start talking about their role in nature, it lets readers know that they also have specific traits that contribute to our world. For James, who has always been seen as worthless, starts gaining confidence in himself as he becomes captain of this crew of oddballs. Without James, there would be no one to think of brilliant ideas as to how to escape a pod of man-eating sharks or turning a giant peach into a flying machine. In fact, with the help of his new friends, James has done many thing he never would have imagined doing! With every challenge, James and company are able to survive with trust, teamwork, and a little creativity. The ending is absolutely awesome because it not an every day sight to see a giant peach shish kabob-ed on the Empire State Building. Not to mention, New York City devouring the peach, leaving the pit for James' new home is just as brilliant. This book is just plain fun and I can't wait to talk to tweens about this story. 

Information about the Author:
According to the book jacket of James and the Giant Peach:

Roald Dahl, born in 1916 in wales, spent his childhood in England and later worked in Africa. When World War II broke out, he joined the Royal Air Force and became a fighter pilot. After a war injury, he moved to Washington D.C., and there he began to write. His first short story was published by Saturday Evening Post, and so began his long career.

Roald Dahl became, quite simply, one of the best-loved children's book authors of all time. Although he passed away in 1990, his popularity and that of his many books -- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, Danny the Champion of the World, to name just a few--continues to grow.

Genre:
Tween Fiction

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 4 & up
 

Books Similar to James and the Giant Peach:

• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
• Matilda by Roald Dahl

Awards & Recognition:

Reviews from Amazon.com:

"The most original fantasy that has been published in a long time...[it] may well become a classic."
San Francisco Chronicle

"This is a stunning book, to be cherished for its story, a superb fantasy."
Chicago Sunday Tribune

"Here is a broad fantasy with all the gruesome imagery of old-fashioned fairy tales and a good measure of their breathtaking delight."
Kirkus 

Plot Summary:
After learning that her grandmother was possessed by a Fury, Pierce is taken back to the Underworld with John. In order to protect her, Pierce has no choice but to leave the mortal world because the Furies have been using her to get to John. When she realized who John was, her entire world has turned upside down because not only is she hunted, she has to come to terms that she is the consort of a death deity. In other words, she will spend eternity with the man she loves while her family and loved ones live and die before her very eyes. Although she isn't happy with this idea, Pierce has finally admitted that she loves John and cannot live without him. However, when she stumbles upon her messenger bad, and cellphone, she sees a frightening image of her cousin, in a coffin, being buries alive. According to John, this could be a plot to get her to revel herself of the Furies will kill everyone she loves. Unwilling to watch her cousin die, she tells John that she will spend the rest of her life with him if she can make sure Alex is okay. What they weren't counting on is their return will not only expose Jade's, her high school counselor, murderer, but they will run into Pierce's grandmother once more. With the Furies hot on their tracks, Pierce and John set out to find Alex with a little help from the crew of The Liberty and her best, and only friend, Kayla. What was supposed to be an "epic" Coffin Night turns in a night that no one will ever forget, especially when the death deity does something impossible.


Critical Evaluation:
In this installment, Meg Cabot sheds light on the life of  John Hayden and the choices Pierce must make in order to be by his side for eternity. I won't lie when I say I couldn't wait for Underworld and I wasn't disappointed at all. The story is well written and readers won't be able to put it down. Although it is a romance story, there is quite a bit of action because the Furies are stopping at nothing to find Pierce and John. Furthermore, the ending literally leaves readers hanging because not only is there no going back, the underworld is about to get a new mortal visitors. I am really curious about Kayla because when she is around Pierce, the Persephone Diamonds gives off a bright purple glow. Pierce told john that the diamond gives off a deep black to show her they are in danger so when it gives another color something must be going on. However, when Smith tells Pierce about the Fates are spirits that are meant to bring good into our lives, I wonder if Cabot is giving readers insight into Kayla's character. For all we know, Kayla could be the fate that could bring some sort of hope or joy in this dire situation, which is desperately needed since there will be an all out war of some kind. Furthermore, with the incident involving Alex, I know his character will bring more to the next installment because now he has the proof he has been waiting for and the tenacity. Although this story focuses on the wrath of the Furies, it also exposes another sort of evil underworld that not only involves Uncle Chris, but the prominent families of Los Huesos. Bring on Awaken so Pierce and John can have the happy ending they deserve.

Information about the Author:
According to her website:

Born and raised in Bloomington, Indiana, Meg also lived in Grenoble, France and Carmel, California (the setting for her bestselling Mediator series) before moving to New York City after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Indiana University.

After working for ten years as an assistant residence hall director at New York University (an experience from which she occasionally draws inspiration for her Heather Wells mystery series—two new books in the series will be out in 2012 and 2013), Meg wrote the Princess Diaries series, which was made into two hit movies by Disney, sold over 20 million copies, and has been translated into 38 languages.

Meg Cabot (her last name rhymes with habit, as in “her books can be habit forming”) currently lives in Key West with her husband and two cats.

Genre:
Teen Supernatural Romance
 
Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up
 
Books Similar to Underworld:

•  Entice by Carrie Jones
•  Of Poseidon by Anna Banks
  

Awards & Recognition:
From Amazon.com:

"Cabot shows the dark side behind the bling-blingy superficial worlds.” –Teenreads.com

"[The] strong, amusing voice, the plot twists, and the possibility of romance will draw mystery and chick-lit readers alike." –ALA Booklist

“Bag the tiara and get out the gun ... Cabot delivers.” –Publishers Weekly