The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab
Hyperion, August 2011
288 pages

Book Source: This copy was an e-book ARC from NetGalley.com. The release date is set for August 3, 2011.

The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children.

If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company.

And there are no strangers in the town of Near.

These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life.

But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.

The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.

As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know—about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.

Part fairy tale, part love story, Victoria Schwab’s debut novel is entirely original yet achingly familiar: a song you heard long ago, a whisper carried by the wind, and a dream you won’t soon forget.

-- Summary from GoodReads.com

Judging by the cover...: The ethereal cover calls to mind a fairy tale, and that's exactly what we have here, folks, but I'm not quite sure it fits the story. Lexi is a tomboy, not the heroine typical of young adult literature these days, though the cover wants you to think that. But if we're describing Lexi's best friend, then we might have a match.

Favorite Elements:

• Creep Factor - It seems like every area has at least one story that plays off of the characteristics of the land and convinces people to think twice about wandering alone. When I reached the end of this story, there was a terrific thunderstorm outside with tremendous winds, and even though the Near Witch is a story for the moors, I was convinced she was outside.
• Fearless Female - Lexi has my vote for awesome chick. She is strong-willed and won't take no from the piggish males in her village. Her father taught her his trade, despite disapproval from his brother, and she isn't going to let anyone tell her that she can't practice it.
• Witches - Magda and Dreska have been a part of the village since before the village elders were born. To put it lightly, they're old. And even though they've seen some tough times and become outcasts, they're always willing to help.

Overall: B/C+

Schwab's writing and her ability to weave a spooky story is amazing. All through the book I could not stop feeling like there was something lurking outside my window, waiting to steal me from my bed with its beautiful song. The haunted atmosphere of the moors mixed with the fairy tale feel of the village brings the story to life, willing it into existence. If I was lured to a witch's lair, I'd want Lexi as my sister, giving her all to find me, and willing to risk everything to do it. Her dangerous attachment to the new arrival in town heats things up; Cole is the epitome of the mysterious loner boy stereotype.

I really did want to grade this book higher, considering all of the things I know about it after reading it, but personally I just can't get over a few issues. I'm all for keeping things mysterious, but there are a few ends that should have been wrapped up and weren't, questions that the author is content to leave unanswered. Now that I know this is the first book in a series, I'm willing to let a few of those bits unresolved, and I thank Victoria Schwab for personally offering her rationale behind the ending to me. For those of you who are comfortable with not knowing, I doubt you'll even notice that something is amiss, as there are no serious plot holes.

Recommendation: Your typical witch story this is not, and I suggest that if you like your books to have a certain amount of supernatural atmosphere plus mysterious (and mysteriously romantic) boys, then you must pick this up. You won't regret it.

Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier

Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier, translated from German by Anthea Bell

Henry Holt and Company, May 2011

324 pages

Book Source: Public Library

Gwyneth Shepherd's sophisticated, beautiful cousin Charlotte has been prepared her entire life for traveling through time. But unexpectedly, it is Gwyneth, who in the middle of class takes a sudden spin to a different era! Gwyneth must now unearth the mystery of why her mother would lie about her birth date to ward off suspicion about her ability, brush up on her history, and work with Gideon, the time traveler from a similarly gifted family that passes the gene through its male line, and whose presence becomes, in time, less insufferable and more essential. Together, Gwyneth and Gideon journey through time to discover who, in the 18th century and in contemporary London, they can trust.

-- Summary from Goodreads.com

Judging by the cover...: As soon as I saw the cover, I knew I must get my hands on it. I wanted it so badly, that I completely forgot to even look at what it was about. Though when I look at it, I avoid looking at the girl on the cover, since she creeps me out like there's no tomorrow.

Favorite Elements:

• Comeuppance Received - Charlotte, I'm so glad that you turned out to be such a snob and so easy to hate. That awful ego of yours needed to be taken down a peg or three.
• History Plus a Bit of Steam Punk - The Chronograph is a crazy awesome device that can take you back to any time period within the last 500 years. So who's ready to do some traveling?
• The Cover - The picture above can hardly do it justice; it's shiny, too!
• England - Any book set in the UK is high on my list of To Reads, and Gwen's descriptions of her house, school, and family are a glimpse into what life is like for the (semi) normal British teenager. 
• BFF - Leslie is the coolest friend that anyone could have, considering she believes Gwen's story of her time traveling family. It doesn't hurt that she's on track to being a fantastic librarian with those researching skills.

Overall: A-
Though I violated the cardinal rule of Never Judge a Book by the Cover, I do not at all regret it. Ruby Red was such a pleasant surprise! Often teenagers portrayed in books seem older than they really are, but Gwen's actions were closer what an actual 16 year-old would do. It was refreshing to read a story that involved a relaxed main character who was best friends with a total control freak, not the other way around.

And Gideon. Oh Gideon. Do you remember that stuck up boy in high school who wouldn't even look at you let alone speak to you, but you had the biggest crush on him anyway? Or maybe that was just me... But that high school crush he is, which makes him so easy love and hate at the same time.

Gier's excels at writing the time travel plot. She keeps the story moving forward, though Gwen is constantly moving backwards and forwards through history. I will be eagerly awaiting Sapphire Blue, the next book, due out in the U.S. next year, thought it's already out in Gier's native Germany. This wait makes me wish my German was much better.

Recommendation: Absolutely yes. GO NOW and read. Middle Grade readers will love the PG romance and teens of all ages will be entranced by the task set before Gideon and Gwen. 

The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver

The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver
St. Martin's Griffin, February 2011
340 pages
Book Source: Public Library

Riley Blackthorne just needs a chance to prove herself – and that’s exactly what the demons are counting on…

Seventeen-year-old Riley, the only daughter of legendary Demon Trapper, Paul Blackthorne, has always dreamed of following in her father's footsteps.  The good news is, with human society seriously disrupted by economic upheaval and Lucifer increasing the number of demons in all major cities, Atlanta’s local Trappers’ Guild needs all the help they can get – even from a girl. When she’s not keeping up with her homework or trying to manage her growing crush on fellow apprentice, Simon, Riley’s out saving distressed citizens from foul-mouthed little devils – Grade One Hellspawn only, of course, per the strict rules of the Guild. Life’s about as normal as can be for the average demon-trapping teen.

But then a Grade Five Geo-Fiend crashes Riley’s routine assignment at a library, jeopardizing her life and her chosen livelihood.  And, as if that wasn’t bad enough, sudden tragedy strikes the Trappers’ Guild, spinning Riley down a more dangerous path than she ever could have imagined. As her whole world crashes down around her, who can Riley trust with her heart – and her life?

-- Summary from Goodreads.com

Judging by the cover...: Not totally in love with it, but the red  (can you guess it's my favorite color?) makes it stand out. I approve of the globe visual; good to have a size reference. 

Favorite Elements:

• Demons - I love a good demon hunting party as much as the next girl. It's always interesting to see how an author will treat the spawns of Satan, and Oliver does a good job of giving them new life in her series.
• Starbucks - The ever-present chain of coffee peddlers will never die. Even their buildings live on after the apocalypse as make-shift schools.
• Necromancers - What book about demons would be complete without worshipers of the dead? In this story they're hella creepy and not dudes you want to mess around with, or you might find yourself in their service after your life has been cut short.

Overall: B
Every now and then I find a heroine like Riley and say to myself, "Dang, I wish I was more like her." She is fiercely independent, smart, and apparently gorgeous, and has the eye of the hottest demon trapper around. She knows what she wants in life, and even though not everyone has that same drive, we know the feeling. She might be a teenager, but that girl is going places.

The tale Oliver has woven is brilliant. She has developed a world with demons so close to our own, and it's eerie. Even without the demons, Riley's story had me believing that we're only one fuel crisis away from her world, a reality that's not so distant. Unfortunately for me (many of you may disagree) the story had to involve angels, but I can look past that, since they play such an important role.

I waited on pins and needles for this book to come out, then agonized over how long the libraries near me were taking to get it. I was just about to give up when a nearby system added it to their collection. The wait was well worth it, though, and I am eagerly awaiting the sequel. In the meantime, I'll have to content with Oliver's novella, Retro Demonology, which takes place shortly before The Demon Trapper's Daughter.

Recommendation: If you're like me and appreciate a good demon out of hell story, you'll love this book. It even gets a "Mr. Frank Seal of Approval". Oliver's writing will appeal to both teens and adults.

Similar Reads: The Bartimaeus series by Jonathan Stroud. It's a series about demons that doesn't involve angels. Yes, it can be done!

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Read by Jenna Lamia and David LeDoux

Scholastic Audio, August 2009

9 discs, 10 hours and 43 minutes

Book Source: Public Library

the cold.
Grace has spent years watching the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—watches back. He feels deeply familiar to her, but she doesn't know why.

the heat.
Sam has lived two lives. As a wolf, he keeps the silent company of the girl he loves. And then, for a short time each year, he is human, never daring to talk to Grace...until now.

the shiver.
For Grace and Sam, love has always been kept at a distance. But once it's spoken, it cannot be denied. Sam must fight to stay human—and Grace must fight to keep him—even if it means taking on the scars of the past, the fragility of the present, and the impossibility of the future.

-- Summary from Goodreads.com 

Judging by the cover...: Just so we're clear here, my entire reason for reading this book is the cover. Werewolves? Ugh. Cheesy romance? Meh. But the cover... I'm just so drawn to it... Simple, but oh so beautiful. Too bad the disc case didn't have the same artwork on it, just a plain picture of a wolf.

Favorite Elements:

• No Supernatural Factor - "But," you say, "It's about werewolves!" I know that, silly, but the explanations are all very scientific. And there are certainly no vampires to muck up the story, either.
• Sappy Love Story - Alright, I guess every once in a while a cry-your-heart-out love story is necessary. Just don't expect this very often from me.
• The Cover - See above.
• Temperature - Sam's fight to stay human is dependent on the temperature outside, and so Stiefvater has included the temperature at the beginning of each chapter. I could actually feel the cold seeping into my bones, even though it is 100F in Dallas now.

Overall: B+

Let me get it out there that Shiver is not just Twilight with wolves. But it doesn't escape completely from the stigma of its predecessor. There is quite enough of teen drama to go around. The plot is saved by Sam's struggle to stay human while nature and his past keep trying to reclaim him. This sad, sweet story is worth every minute of listening. 

Audio Notes: Jenna Lamia, who voices Grace's parts, is an excellent reader who was perfect for the role. David LeDoux (Sam), is equally as good at reading, but I don't think that his voice fit the role. His has a rougher edge more suited to reading murder mysteries or really anything that doesn't involve romance, and his voices for female characters was a little disturbing. 

I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook, and somehow I feel like I wouldn't have enjoyed the story as much if I had read it. It felt more like watching a movie instead of an actual book. 

Recommendation: Everyone needs a swoony story now and then, but if you can't stomach the constant lovey-doveyness, don't do it. Those readers who adore supernatural/paranormal romances will eat this story up and be eagerly waiting for the next book. 

Wrapped by Jennifer Bradbury

Wrapped by Jennifer Bradbury

Atheneum, May 2011

320 pages

Book Source: Public Library

Agnes Wilkins is standing in front of an Egyptian mummy, about to make the first cut into the wrappings, about to unlock ancient (and not-so-ancient) history. 

Maybe you think this girl is wearing a pith helmet with antique dust swirling around her.

Maybe you think she is a young Egyptologist who has arrived in Cairo on camelback.

Maybe she would like to think that too. Agnes Wilkins dreams of adventures that reach beyond the garden walls, but reality for a seventeen-year-old debutante in 1815 London does not allow for camels—or dust, even. No, Agnes can only see a mummy when she is wearing a new silk gown and standing on the verdant lawns of Lord Showalter’s estate, with chaperones fussing about and strolling sitar players straining to create an exotic “atmosphere” for the first party of the season. An unwrapping.

This is the start of it all, Agnes’s debut season, the pretty girl parade that offers only ever-shrinking options: home, husband, and high society. It’s also the start of something else, because the mummy Agnes unwraps isn’t just a mummy. It’s a host for a secret that could unravel a new destiny—unleashing mystery, an international intrigue, and possibly a curse in the bargain.

Get wrapped up in the adventure . . . but keep your wits about you, dear Agnes.

-- Summary from GoodReads.com

Judging by the cover...: Though not the best drawing I've ever seen on a cover, it's certainly not the worst, and the mummy is pretty creepy. It gets a seal of approval, but not by much.

Favorite Elements:

• ANCIENT EGYPT - That's right, it's so awesome it gets all caps.
• The British Museum - When the Pandorica was found at Stone Henge, it was taken to the most fabulous place in all of Great Britain. Or maybe that was an episode of Doctor Who. Regardless, everything cool is housed in the British Museum, and one day I will go there and marvel at all of the historical greatness housed in its four walls.
• Jane Austen - I'll admit that I've never ever read any of Austen's books. But, the discussion about A. Lady confused me, and thus prompted me to do some research on the famous Jane. What a fantastic woman!

Overall: C+

Wrapped had so much promise, and the summary had me thinking, "I must read this tonight." Sadly, the predictability of the plot and the forced natures of every character (they all fit in to a stereotype), turned the book into a train wreck of a mystery. I had every thing figured out within the first few chapters and was not at all surprised by any of the revelations at the end. This might be because I have read entirely too many mysteries, but I highly doubt it.

It was, however, very refreshing to find that Agnes reflected what a lot of women feel: the need to dress up and look gorgeous AND to be fiercely independent and adventurous. Too often the heroine of the story just wants to either be invisible or the wildest child on the block, neither embracing the more reasonable of society's standards.

Recommendation: Those readers who are looking for a fast read with plots typical of romance and mystery novels will enjoy this book. Reluctant readers will appreciate the quick pace, and can use the book as a jumping off point for more sophisticated mysteries. It's also very appropriate for those readers looking to bridge the gap between juvenile and young adult books.

Similar Reads: Prisoners in the Palace by Michaela MacColl for lovers of historical mysteries (see my review here), the Amelia Peabody Emerson series by Elizabeth Peters for historical mystery and Ancient Egypt lovers, or the Jade del Cameron series by Suzanne Arruda for historical mysteries about a fiercely independent woman.

Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt

Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt

Bloomsbury USA, March 2011

288 pages

Book Source: Public Library

According to her guidance counselor, fifteen-year-old Payton Gritas needs a focus object-an item to concentrate her emotions on. It's supposed to be something inanimate, but Payton decides to use the thing she stares at during class: Sean Griswold's head. They've been linked since third grade (Griswold-Gritas-it's an alphabetical order thing), but she's never really known him.

The focus object is intended to help Payton deal with her father's newly diagnosed multiple sclerosis. And it's working. With the help of her boy-crazy best friend Jac, Payton starts stalking-er, focusing on-Sean Griswold . . . all of him! He's cute, he shares her Seinfeld obsession (nobody else gets it!) and he may have a secret or two of his own.

In this sweet story of first love, Lindsey Leavitt seamlessly balances heartfelt family moments, spot-on sarcastic humor, and a budding young romance.

--Summary from Goodreads.com

Judging by the cover...: The cover is what I feel Payton's epiphany about Sean's head was like. Staring off into the abyss of boredom in the classroom, glancing at the board, and then all of a sudden WHAM there it is: Sean Griswold's Head.

Favorite Elements:

• We are Family - Payton's family has a wonderful dynamic. Sure her dad is sick, but everyone has pulled together to show how much they care. Well, everyone but Payton, but that's the kind of thing that family overlooks, right?
• Valley Forge - Having a bad day? Just imagine those poor soldiers marching through Valley Forge in the winter with no shoes. Up hill both ways. Sort of makes your life feel like a rock star's.
• Girl Power - Speaking of rock stars, Payton totally rocks her epic rebound. By the end, I wanted to stand up and cheer loudly (though the other customers in the restaurant did not agree).
• BFF - I seriously LOVED Jac. I almost wish the book had been about her and not Payton. But then we wouldn't have the opportunity to delve into Sean and his big headness.

Overall: B-

This book was sweet, cute, and filled with a whole lot of Sean, but there comes a point in every adult's life when they say to themselves, "Boy, teens sure do whine a lot." I reached a point in Payton's kvetching about her parents' lie when I just couldn't take it anymore. I felt like there were whole chapters of pushing her angsty agenda that just weren't necessary, and her "OMG my parents don't treat me like an adult so I'm going to be a total brat" attitude was too over the top for me. The ending almost makes up for all of the obnoxiousness in the middle. I guess.

Leavitt's writing, however, is completely and embarrassingly authentic. Though Payton's pout routine was enough to make my eyes roll, it did conjure up feelings of when I was a teen. I remember (shamefully) pulling that same act on my parents, thinking the things they did were the utmost in insane parenting. 

Recommendation: Sean Griswold is great for younger teens, mainly girls. They'll be able to sympathize with Payton's situation a bit more than boys or any adult ever would. As an adult, I can tell you that unless you want to scream at Payton for a few hours, this book just isn't for you.