Kazumi Reads

Plot Summary:
Growing up as an orphan, Alina has always felt different and that she would never fit in. After losing her parents in a great battle, Alina and Mal were sent to live at a nobleman's home, as an act of benevolence, and were taught how to read and write. In this realm, if one was an orphan it would be considered low so Alina never disclosed she was an orphan, nor did she tell anyone about the power that was hidden deep down inside. As a cartographer in the First Army, Alina and Mal are sent into the Fold where pure evil lies and it is a moment of desperation and fear that awakens the power within her. After the incident on the skiff, Alina is brought to the Grisha (the Second Army) who are not only the King's greatest weapon against the kingdoms that are attacking Ravka, but will help Ravka defeat the evil within the Fold. Alina has no recollection of what happened in the fold other than the fact that she and Mal are alive because of a blinding light. When brought to the Darkling (the leader of the Grisha), Alina is asked to demonstrate her power despite the fact she doesn't know how. With the help of the Darkling's power, Alina is able to show the Grisha who, and what, she is. Afraid of losing her to their neighbors, Alina is literally swept away in a carriage to be trained at the palace to become a Grisha. Although she has no desire to be away from everything she knows, and loves, Alina has no choice to fit in even if it means leaving Mal behind. Not quite what to expect, Alina learns that the Grisha are not only powerful, but the Darkling has plans for her, which include defeating the evil within the Fold and becoming an icon of hope for Ravka. The only problem is whether or not she can trust the Darkling and would she be able to control, and summon, the power within her. 

Critical Evaluation:
For her first novel, Leigh Bardugo has done an amazing job. Not only is this realm fascinating, it is absolutely terrifying and exciting. The setting, and staging of the story, is very reminiscent of Imperial Russia and I LOVE IT! I can't imagine what it would be like to live in a world that is constantly at war and that the very idea of hell separates one part of the country from another. Filled with terror, and beauty, Ravka, itself, is divided between the First and Second Army. The First Army is comprised of ordinary human beings are are given duties based on their abilities. Mal and Alina were put into the First Army thanks to their upbringing that saved them from an uncertain fate. In this world, being in the Army is what provides food, shelter, clothing, and security; without the Army, Mal and Alina wouldn't have anything nor would they be together. The Grisha (the Second Army) are comprised of individuals with unique abilities that seem magical. For example, some of the Grisha can manipulate wind and others can give life or . These elite members are highly regarded and if any child exhibits these particular traits are recruited and trained. For Alina, she was tested, but, as we learn later on, she suppresses that power because of Mal. As with any Fantasy, there has to be a romantic subplot. Mal and Alina grew up together in the orphanage and it is only natural that they would cling to each other. As with any friendship between a boy and girl, those feelings develop into something more and the thought of leaving Mal is what prevents Alina from exhibiting her powers to the Grisha who came to test them. However, when Alina meets the Darkling, she is not only drawn to his power, but it's the Darkling that helps her hone and use her power with his own. Alina is not only caught between Mal and the Darkling, she has to find a way to use, and control, her powers since everyone in Ravka is counting on her to destroy the Fold. Honestly, this is a lot for someone who just found out that they have the ability to bring an end to the horrors that have fallen upon her people, but, more importantly, it's even harder to chose between two guys have an equal hold over her heart. The ending will surprise readers, which gets them amped up for the sequel, Siege and Storm.  

Information about the Author:
According to her website:

Leigh Bardugo was born in Jerusalem, grew up in Los Angeles, and graduated from Yale University. These days, she lives in Hollywood, where she indulges her fondness for glamour, ghouls, and costuming in her other life as makeup artist L.B. Benson. Occasionally, she can be heard singing with her band, Captain Automatic.

She is the author of the New York Times Best Sellers, Shadow & Bone  and Siege and Storm (Holt Children’s/ Macmillan). The final book in the Grisha Trilogy, Ruin and Rising, will be published in 2014. She is represented by Joanna Stampfel-Volpe of New Leaf.

Genre:
Teen Fantasy,

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up

Books Similar to Shadow and Bone:

• Leviathan by Scott Westerfield
• Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
  

Awards & Recognition:
From Amazon.com
'Danger and duplicity abound (is the Darkling good or evil?) in this lavish portrayal of a country reminiscent of Imperial Russia."--VOYA

"Set in a fascinating, unique world rich with detail, Shadow and Bone was unlike anything I’ve ever read."  —Veronica Roth, New York Times bestselling author of Divergent

“Fast-paced and unpredictable, this debut novel will be a hit with readers who love dark fantasy.”--School Library Journal, starred

“Mesmerizing…Bardugo’s set up is shiver-inducing, of the delicious variety. This is what fantasy is for.”--New York Times

"A rich fantasy landscape, an inspired magical structure, and a gratifying emotional hook keep the pages whirring by until a final twist upends assumptions and lands us smack in the middle of a harrowing climax. "--Horn Book Magazine

"Filled with lush descriptions, intriguing magic, and plenty of twists, this memorable adventure offers action and intrigue mixed with an undercurrent of romance and danger.”--Publishers Weekly

“The plotting is powerful…”--Kirkus

"Bardugo weaves a captivating spell with lushly descriptive writing, engaging characters, and an exotic, vivid world. Readers will wait impatiently for the next installment.”—Booklist

“Romantic and magical…Plenty of plot twists and betrayals kept us enjoying this richly-crafted adventure until the very last page. (P.S. A do-not-miss for fans of Graceling.)" --Justine Magazine

“A well-drawn world, full of deceit and mythology, populated by entirely believable characters. Full of truly surprising twists and turns, beautiful imagery and a protagonist it’s impossible not to root for, this is a great choice for teenage fans of George R.R. Martin and J.R.R. Tolkien.”--RT Book Reviews

“This is one book series you want to get hooked on.” --Seventeen.com

“This gripping debut novel, with a touch of magic and romance, about two orphans thrown together during a century-old war will keep readers burning the midnight oil.” --Shelf Awareness

Plot Summary:
Kyle Kingsbury is not only beautiful, he is rich. Kyle was raised with the best that money can by and was always told that if you give something, always expect something in return. In other words, Kyle is a spoiled rotten brat who has no consideration, or feelings, for his peers. In fact, if one is not beautiful, or rich, then he or she would never be apart of his circle, nor will he acknowledge the existence of that person. Unfortunately, Kyle is cursed because of his vanity and cruelty and has two years to break this spell. The only problem with this "cure" is that he has to fall in love and the girl must reciprocate those feelings. For Kyle, this is a huge problem because he is not sure that he can feel and he is adamant that a girl could never love a monster.When doctors couldn't figure out a way to heal Kyle, his father, who is ashamed to have such an ugly son, is hidden away and is forced to finish out his schooling under house arrest. With no one to talk to Kyle has joined a chat group where other people, like him, are in a situation they don't want to be. After moving into a new apartment (without his father), Kyle realizes the seriousness of this curse and that his own father wants nothing to with him. Angry, and afraid, Kyle demands that his father provides hime with a few things that will keep the loneliness at bay, which is an internet connection and a tutor. When Will, his blind tutor, moves ins, Kyle a lesson two in humility and respect, which brings him to Lindy (the girl who accepted his white rose at the dance). Although Lindy isn't like his former girlfriend, he learns that she is smart, kind, and caring, which is not only beautiful, gorgeous. The question is: will Lindy see the same qualities in him or will be be cursed forever?

Critical Evaluation:
I just love this re-telling of Beauty and the Beast. Alex Flinn  is so ridiculously talented when it comes to writing that readers find it very hard to put her books down. I have yet to read her debut title and it's been interesting to see how her writing has evolved. Kyle is the typical egotistical guy who thinks money and good looks are what will help him succeed in life. Not only is he vain, but cruel, especially when he decides to ditch Kendra at the formal. However, not only does he get the rude awakening he needs, he is forced into a position that will determine the rest of his life, which is quite an ordeal for a clueless teenager. Although he is ready to give up on life, his only chance for happiness relies on a people whom he has never noticed before, nor would ask them for help. For example, he has always been rude and mean towards Magda, but, when he is exiled, it is her goodness that makes him realize how lucky he is to have her. Secondly, when Will, his tutor, plants the rose garden for him, he realizes that even a beast can be surrounded in beauty. Lastly, in one of his rare moments, he showed kindness to Lindy, at the dance before Kendra cursed him, who will eventually be the girl he falls for. Life can definitely throw us curve balls that not only upset the flow of our lives, but show us the harsh reality of the things we don't want to see or recognize. For Kyle, who is wealthy and has never been denied anything, he is now in the very position that he, and his peers at Tuttle, absolutely loathe; ugly people and freaks aren't worth anything. Lindy, however, is poor and her father is a drug addict and they only thing that brings her any kind of solace are her books. Kyle has never had to suffer and this curse is teaching him that life isn't easy, but full of struggles. These two characters compliment each other beautifully because Lindy, who is surrounded by a world ugly, can find beauty in a beast; whereas, Kyle, surrounded by beauty, can only see the ugliness of people. This is such a fun read and I am so glad I re-read it just I can share with all of you! Enjoy!

Information about the Author:
According to her website:

I was born in a log cabin in the Big Woods of . . . okay, maybe not. I was born in a small town on Long Island, New York. When I was five years old, my mom said that I should be an author. I guess I must have nodded or something because, from that point on, every poem I ever wrote in school was submitted to Highlights or Cricket magazine. I was collecting rejection slips at age seven!

I learned to read early and often. But I compensated for this early proficiency by absolutely refusing to read the programmed readers required by the school system — workbooks where you read the story, then answered the questions. When the other kids were on Book 20, I was on Book 1! My teacher, Mrs. Zeiser, told my mother, “Alexandra marches to her own drummer.” I don’t think that was supposed to be a good thing. Now, when my daughter, Katie, brings home FCAT prep materials where you are supposed to read a passage and answer questions, I want to ask the teacher, “Does she really need to do this? She can read!!!”

My family moved to Miami when I was in middle school. I had a really hard time making friends, so I spent a lot of time reading and writing then. But unlike Christopher Paolini or Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, I never finished writing a novel. That was also when I learned to be a keen observer (Picture Harriet the Spy). By high school, I’d made some friends and gotten involved in various “gifted and talented” performing arts programs. I studied opera in college (I’m a coloratura — the really loud, high-pitched sopranos.) and then went to law school.

I started writing an early (and laughable) version of Breathing Underwater in college (I was really bored on a car trip with my parents). I didn’t get back to it until I had my first daughter, Katie. I’m self-taught. I went to the library and took out books on writing. Then, I read a lot of young-adult novels by writers I admired, particularly Richard Peck. Reading his books is like listening to Mozart — you learn the right way to write a novel. Then, you fill in your own style. I actually got to meet Richard Peck in person at a workshop of the Key West Literary Seminar. Lots of writers have been really helpful to me, especially Richard and fellow YA author, Joyce Sweeney.

I write my first drafts longhand. At first, I did that because I didn’t own a computer. Then, I borrowed a memory typewriter and finally purchased a computer three years after I began writing. A year later Breathing Underwater was finished then accepted.

Right now, I live half a mile away from my old middle school, in Palmetto Bay, a suburb of Miami, with my husband, Gene, and daughters, Katie and Meredith.

Genre:
Teen Romance, Teen Fantasy

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up

Books Similar to Beastly:

• Cinder by Marris Meyer
• East by Edith Pattou

Awards & Recognition:
From Amazon.com

“Teens will race to see if the beast get his kiss, lifts the curse, and lives happily ever after.” (Kirkus Reviews)

“[An] engrossing tale that will have appeal for fans of fantasy and realistic fiction” -- VOYA. (Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA))

“a must-read for fairy-tale fans.” (School Library Journal) 

Plot Summary:
 Jeanine is dead and the Factionless have won. What should be a time of celebration is actually a test since everyone is now aware of the truth that has been hidden all these years and Evelyn is worried. For Tris, she wants to know what's outside and she wants out of the world that robbed her of her family. Tobias, on the other hand, wants to be with Tris, but is hesitant to leave his mother after reconciling with her; it's not that he has forgiven her for leaving him, he wants to know what her intentions are.Unfortunately, when a riot broke out, Tobias and Tris know that it was intentional to keep those who call themselves the Allegiant from leaving the city and they know they have to get out. With the help of Cara, Joanna, and Tori, Tris, Tobias, Christina, Uriah, Peter, and Caleb organize an escape plan to the outside. When they arrive at the Bureau of Genetic Welfare, they are met by Zoe and Amar who then takes them to David, who will explain who Edith Prior is and why civilization was forced into factions. Not only is the truth devastating for everyone, it's an outrage that the idea of pure genes and damaged genes determine a person's worth. This does not settle well for both Tris and Tobias, which leads to hasty decisions and unforgivable consequences. Furthermore, Natalie Prior, Tris and Caleb's mother, not only worked for the Bureau, but her untimely death is the result of an experiment gone completely wrong. Tris and Tobias must makes choices they know that are not easy, but with the help of Matthew and Caleb, the former Erudite and Dauntless soldier must press on and the end is just unbelievable. Grab the tissues, ya'll...it's gonna be a bumpy ride.

Critical Evaluation:
This is the final installment in the trilogy and I am SO HAPPY IT IS! Not that I don't like this series ( I love it), it's just refreshing to know that the author has decided that the story must end so she can move on to bigger and better things. Aside from being the final story, this one is very different because it is actually told from two different point of views (Tris and Tobias). Personally, I thought this was a gutsy move on Roth's part because reader's have never been inside Tobias' head and it is enlightening to hear because readers can actually see who he really is and that he is just as scared, and vulnerable, like Tris. I have read quite a few reviews regarding this book and there is a rather large number of people who were disappointed with the ending, but, for me, Roth couldn't have done anything better. The ending will make readers angry and sad, but what we have to realize that the choices we make in life lead us to a future that we cannot escape. For Tobias, his choice nearly destroyed his relationship with Tris, but it takes quite a bit of retrospection (on Tobias' part) to realize that there always alternatives to bring an end to tyranny and that our character flaws do not define who we are. For Tris, who has experienced so much growth (in a small amount of time), the choices she made has made her wise and it's almost fitting that she did what she did. I admire Tris very much because she has done so many things that even adult men and women could never do. In my opinion, Tris is the kind of daughter that I would want to raise, simply because she uses her heart to guide her through everything despite what her brain might be telling her. Furthermore, teens readers need to understand that life is very bittersweet and all we can do is just live not matter how difficult the choices in life may be.  I am quite content with the ending and I believe there is a companion coming out that may provide readers with a bit of solace and satisfaction.  

Information about the Author:
According to the book jacket of Allegiant:

Veronica Roth is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Divergent and Insurgent, the first two books in the Divergent series. Now a full-time writer, Ms. Roth and her husband live near Chicago.

Genre:
Teen Dystopian Thrillers, Teen Sci Fi, Teen Contemporary Fiction

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up

Books Similar to Allegiant:

• Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
• Champion by Marie Lu

Awards & Recognition:
From Amazon.com:

“Roth shakes up her storytelling (and will do the same to some readers) in this highly anticipated, largely satisfying wrap-up to the Divergent trilogy.” (Publishers Weekly)

“Roth’s plotting is...intelligent and complex. Dangers, suspicion, and tension lurk around every corner, and the chemistry between Tris and Tobias remains heart-poundingly real. This final installment will capture and hold attention until the divisive final battle has been waged.” (Publishers Weekly)

“The tragic conclusion, although shocking, is thematically consistent; the bittersweet epilogue offers a poignant hope.” (Kirkus Reviews)

“A surprise ending that is gutsier and much less predictable than the rest of the series would lead one to expect.” (Los Angeles Times)

“The next big thing.” (Rolling Stone)

“If you like Hunger Games & Twilight, then get stoked for DIVERGENT! Trust us on this—this baby is going to blow up BIG! And if you chose to remain factionless, then you’re gonna be one lonely soul.” (PerezHilton.com) 

Plot Summary:
Binky is officially a space cat. Not only does he have his official Felines of the Universe Read for Space Travel (F.U.R.S.T.) membership, he has plans to build a rocket ship to battle aliens, discover new worlds, and have adventures. However, Binky has never ever been outside his space station so how is he supposed to go on this adventure? Well, Binky trains. He boxes with his cat toys, he runs around the house chasing the aliens (aka. bugs), and he studies the books that are in the space station. Binky believes that the aliens are trying to take over the world and that is why he must protect his humans. As readers read on, they learn that Binky came to his home to be their guardian, cuddler, and helper. As Binky prepares for this awesome adventure, he realizes there are few things he forgets about, which might make his mission a lot harder then he thought.

Critical Evaluation:
SOOOO CUTE! I am a kitty momma of a super cute cat like Binky and I could literally see my cat doing the same exact things! The colored illustrations are very angular, which give Binky an almost bunny-like appearance. However, the shapes enhance his silliness since Binky acts like a wild bunny in most of the scenes and his head fits in a space helmet perfectly. The text is simple and the funny moments are just spot on! I love the illustrations where Binky farts because cats are notorious for farting when no one is watching  (or so they think) and the very idea of cats wearing clothes is just as hilarious. This is definitely a quick read so readers will have no problem starting one and reading the rest in the series in one sitting. This series is lots of fun and I can't wait to read the rest of Binky's adventures!

Information about the Author:
According to her website:

Ashley was born and raised in British Columbia where she resides still with her cats Gracie and Charlotte. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design and a Graduate Diploma in Illustration from Sheridan College. In addition to her illustration, she founded Chicken Tika Creations (which she named after her dog, not the food) and is selling her hand felted items across Canada.

Genre:
Tween Graphic Novels, Tween Fiction
 

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 3-6


Books Similar to Binky the Space Cat:

• The Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute by Jarret J. Krosoczka
• Babymouse: The Queen of the World by Jennifer Holm
  

Awards & Recognition:
From Amazon.com:

Spires’s mix of sly, dry and slapstick humor in her first graphic novel is perfect.

With plenty of visual gags and a cute hero, this book is perfect for kids who are transitioning from easy readers to early chapter books, while the dry humor will also keep stronger readers engaged.