Sign Language by Amy Ackley

Release Date: August 18, 2011
Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Pages: 392
Series: n/a
Review Source: eBook for review from author

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
Twelve-year-old Abby North's first hint that something is really wrong with her dad is how long it's taking him to recover from what she thought was routine surgery. Soon, the thing she calls "It" has a real name: cancer. Before, her biggest concerns were her annoying brother, the crush unaware of her existence, and her changing feelings for her best friend, Spence, the boy across the street. Now, her mother cries in the shower, her father is exhausted, and nothing is normal anymore. Amy Ackley's impressive debut is wrenching, heartbreaking, and utterly true.

My Thoughts:
It took me quite a while to pick up this book, despite reading great reviews of it last year, simply because I knew it would be a tough read. And it was. The book is heartbreaking, and yet I’m glad I read it. Amy Ackley has written a tale that’s obviously very close to her own heart (she, like our main character Abby, also lost her father to cancer as a teenager), and it shows in the writing.

What I liked best about the book is how honest the emotions felt. So many books about dying and death delve into cliches, but ‘Sign Language’ never felt saccharine. There aren’t any platitudes here. There’s definitely some hope, and it shows how you can move on from loss, honouring your loved one by remembering the happy memories, but the book doesn’t present it as any easy linear process. There’s no right way to grieve for someone, and there’s no perfect timetable for trying to get back to “normal”, if such a state even exists.

This is definitely a middle grade novel, with Abby starting off the book at 12 years old, but by the end of the book she has aged a few years. I liked how this long time period let the author show us all the different stages of what Abby was going through. Abby was a sweet character who you definitely felt for, and I also especially adored her friend Spence.

If I could change one thing about this book I would have it be written in first person. I know third person seems to be the preferred perspective in middle grade books, but I think we could have gotten even more involved in Abby as a character if we could have read her thoughts and feelings directly from her.

As I’ve mentioned, ‘Sign Language’ is a very hard hitting book. I think for anyone, but especially for those who have experienced cancer on a personal level, there are parts that are very hard to read. I feel like that’s important, though. I love how the author didn’t hide details or emotions to make the book easier to read. Amy Ackley has written a great book on a very important topic, and I can see why people liked it so much. I appreciate books that can make me feel the emotions of a situation, and Amy Ackley definitely succeeded in this regard.

The Cover:
I like it because it actually has a lot of meaning for the story, but without knowing that detail I don't feel like the cover or the title really do much to convey what the book is about.

Rating:
[4/5]

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My Sparkling Misfortune by Laura Lond

Release Date: January 18, 2011
Publisher: Dream Books LLC
Pages: 164
Series: The Lakeland Knight #1
Review Source: eBook from author for review

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
Lord Arkus of Blackriver Castle readily admits that he is a villain and sees no reason why it should stop him from being the protagonist of this book. After all, Prince Kellemar, an aspiring hero, has defeated him in a rather questionable way. Bent on revenge, Arkus attempts to capture a powerful evil spirit who would make him nearly invincible, but a last-minute mistake leaves him with a sparkling instead a goody-goody spirit that helps heroes, watches over little children, and messes up villains plans. Bound to Lord Arkus for five years of service and sworn to act in his best interests, the sparkling is not easy to get rid of, and of course his understanding of best interests is quite different from what Lord Arkus has in mind.

My Thoughts:
‘My Sparkling Misfortune’ is a super cute story that takes place in a fairy-tale like kingdom. It involves a fairy realm, the place where Sparklings (good fairies) and Gormacks (bad fairies) come from. Arkus is our main character and he thinks himself a villain, yet his actions and words prove that he’s quite heroic. Arkus basically spends his life running from a beast who has been tasked with killing him, and he ends up with a new identity in a kingdom where people think he is their hero.

Arkus provides a very humourous narration. He’s sort of self-deprecating and is almost teasing the reader as he keeps proclaiming what a villain he is. The relationship between the two main characters (Arkus and Tulip -- or Jarvi as Arkus re-names him) is very funny and filled with quips back and forth. As I said, this is a very cute and fun story, and my only real complaint is that it leaves off without real resolution. Some things are wrapped up, but it does leave you hanging for Book 2, as Arkus just decides to end the story at a certain point. Overall a very charming book; a quick read that I think most people would appreciate.

The Cover:
I don't think it really does the story justice; love the old-timey writing, though.

Rating:
[3.5/5]

Find My Sparkling Misfortune by Laura Lond on Goodreads, Smashwords, & Amazon (currently free for Kindle).

The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan

Release Date: October 4, 2011
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH
Pages: 513
Series: Heroes of Olympus #2
Review Source: For review from Hachette Book Group Canada (@HBGCanada)

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
In the first pages of this standalone sequel to The Lost Hero, Percy Jackson remembers only his name and the name of Annabeth, a mysterious woman he associates somehow with the city of San Francisco. From those sparse clues, he must somehow complete a mission for the leader of the Roman camp even as he is being pursued by the two sisters of Medusa, who possess an apparently unquenchable thirst for vengeance: Even when killed, they spring back to life. Rick Riordan's second Heroes of Olympus promises even more excitement than the first.

My Thoughts:
When I was reflecting on how much I enjoy Rick Riordan’s books, I decided that the greatest thing about them is that they are enjoyable for so many different age groups. I could hand it to a 10 year old and there would be jokes that kids that age would find especially appealing, yet there is a complexity to Riordan’s books which appeals to adults as well. The books don’t talk down to kids, and with all the great characters, the action, and the mythological base to the story, the books are completely awesome for every age.

It’s hard to write a coherent review for this specific book, or even for the series, because I had such a good time reading it. I adored the Percy Jackson books and I think I like the Heroes of Olympus books just as much, if not more. I loved Jason, Piper, and Leo in the first book, and I loved Hazel and Frank in this one. And then there’s the fact that Percy is a main character in this book, which was awesome. It was so fun to come back to that character and see things from his perspective again. Riordan has a real gift for making you fall in love with his characters and really care about their well being.

Reading about Camp Jupiter and seeing the Roman side to things was quite interesting, and I can’t wait to see what happens when the Greeks and Romans come together in the next book. There are so many great moments in 'The Son of Neptune', but I can’t really mention too many of them without being spoiler-y. I will say this: keep an eye out for Ella the harpy, because she is just so sweet and also hilarious, as well as when the Amazons make an appearance using Amazon.com headquarters as a front (so, so funny and clever).

Basically, if you have an appreciation for heartfelt characters, intricate mythological plots, as well as lots of laughs and action then I think you will love this book and this series.

The Cover:
Pretty cool; I especially love it when covers represent actual scenes/details from the book.

Rating:
[5/5]

Find The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan on Goodreads, Book Depository, & Amazon.

Walk the Wild Road by Nigel Hinton

Release Date: January 1, 2011
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Pages: 272
Series: n/a
Review Source: Finished copy from publisher for review

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
Leo took one step forward and then stopped. This was it-the road away from everything he knew. He could turn back. But then who would save his family from starvation? No, Leo was their last hope. He must go on...

The journey is not easy-he'll have to sleep on the streets, steal food, and even fight off greedy soldiers. Along the way, Leo discovers the kindness of strangers and the loyalty of friends. But he also learns there are some people you just can't trust, especially when you're on the wild road to America.

My Thoughts:
‘Walk the Wild Road’ is a perfect middle grade adventure novel. Nigel Hinton uses straightforward language to tell Leo’s story, but he focuses on very serious subject matters. Right from the beginning Leo’s conditions of living are pretty devastating and his situation is quite drastic. The story is about Leo’s journey and about his survival. There are plenty of scary and sad situations described throughout the book, but there are fun and sweet moments as well.

The book features a whole cast of interesting and lovable characters that Leo meets along the way, including Bel the dog who is a lovely animal companion. The great thing about this book is that while it is an adventure story it also delves deeper into really important issues like war, nationalism, religion, and poverty. It doesn’t do this in a heavy way, though, and it doesn’t try to teach a lesson. It’s just a part of the story: a part of Leo’s reality. I definitely enjoyed reading about Leo’s journey and I appreciated that while the ending was bittersweet it also showed a lot of hope for Leo’s future. I would definitely recommend this for young boys who like adventure and survival stories, but also for readers of all ages who appreciate a layered story of "daring and adventure", as the cover says.

The Cover: I like it! It draws me in, and I think it represents the story perfectly.

Rating:
[4/5]

Find Walk the Wild Road by Nigel Hinton on Goodreads, Book Depository, & Amazon.ca

The Lost Hero (Heroes of Olympus #1) by Rick Riordan

Release Date: October 12, 2010
Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children
Pages: 557
Review Source: Library

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
Jason has a problem. He doesn’t remember anything before waking up in a bus full of kids on a field trip. Apparently he has a girlfriend named Piper and a best friend named Leo. They’re all students at a boarding school for “bad kids.” What did Jason do to end up here? And where is here, exactly?

Piper has a secret. Her father has been missing for three days, ever since she had that terrifying nightmare. Piper doesn’t understand her dream, or why her boyfriend suddenly doesn’t recognize her. When a freak storm hits, unleashing strange creatures and whisking her, Jason, and Leo away to someplace called Camp Half-Blood, she has a feeling she’s going to find out.

Leo has a way with tools. When he sees his cabin at Camp Half-Blood, filled with power tools and machine parts, he feels right at home. But there’s weird stuff, too—like the curse everyone keeps talking about. Weirdest of all, his bunkmates insist that each of them—including Leo—is related to a god.

My Thoughts:
Amazing! That’s one word I would use to describe this book. I really, really enjoyed it, and I honestly think it rivals the Percy Jackson books. Maybe I’m just so excited about it because The Red Pyramid disappointed me a little bit. ‘The Lost Hero,’ however, really lived up to, and surpassed, my expectations. If you’re a fan of the Percy Jackson series you will probably really enjoy this continuation of the story of the gods’ children and Camp Half-Blood’s involvement in the gods’ wars. I loved the mixture of new characters and familiar faces from the Percy Jackson books. The character of Piper really intrigued me, and I have to say that I connected with her a lot more than I ever did with Annabeth. Riordan uses a lot of the same plot devices over again in his books, but it always seems to work well. His books are always so rich with detail and full of fun characterizations while still being easy to read, and this one doesn’t disappoint. The new elements added to this story make everything more exciting, and I absolutely cannot WAIT for the second book in the series to come out!

Rating:


Find The Lost Hero (Heroes of Olympus #1) by Rick Riordan on Goodreads, Book Depository, & Amazon.ca