Daniel O’Malley’s debut novel is a smart speculative thriller that has echoes of the Jason Bourne novels & movies (secret government organization and an agent suffering amnesia), of The X-Files (secret government organization created to protect the world from the supernatural), of superhero comics (seemingly ordinary people with superpowers), and Ghostbusters (the goofy side of saving the world from…chanting mold, a dragon hatchling, and various other creatures).
It’s a no-brainer for teens, right? Yes and no. Yes, it is very entertaining and overflows with fun ideas and great characters. On the other hand, the pacing lags at times, and it is long, just a couple pages shy of 500. The letters that so wonderfully and gradually reveal the world in which the “new” Myfanwy finds herself do interrupt the present action. There are a couple lengthy set pieces that seem unnecessary to the plot. Perhaps the author simply couldn’t resist?
Of course, many teens who read fantasy enjoy big, fat books. Once they acclimate to an alternate world, they want to immerse themselves. And among those perhaps superfluous set pieces was one of the novel’s most memorable scenes.
Don’t get me wrong, those letters from the “old” to the “new” Myfanwy, and the background they provide about her life, her co-workers, the workings of the Checquy and her role in it are my favorite things about this novel. My favorite part of any superhero or villain has always been the back-story – how did they become what they are? Here, every member of the Checquy has gone through some kind of training and assimilation. In the Great Britain of the novel, any child displaying special…talents is taken from his or her parents. This is not voluntary, and they rarely see each other again. Children are taken to The Estate, a boarding school where their every move is monitored, every talent exploited and heightened. Myfanwy is no different. (Interestingly, the American version of the Checquy gives families a choice. Not all of them want to give up their children. Some are relieved to be rid of them.)
All this makes the book sound so serious. There is a fun book trailer on The Rook website, which captures its humor. And an excerpt is up on Tor.com, which takes it from the top. “Dear You, The body you are wearing used to be mine.” Is that a fabulous hook, or what?
O’MALLEY, Daniel. The Rook: A Novel. 486p. Little, Brown. 2012. Tr $25.99. ISBN 978-0-316-09879-3. LC 2011019741.
Adult/High School–She wakes up in a London park in the pouring rain, surrounded by dead bodies. A letter in her pocket begins, “Dear You, The body you are wearing used to be mine.” She has a choice–assume Myfanwy Thomas’s identity and investigate what happened, or accept a suitcase full of money and go on the run. She chooses the former and continues reading the letters left to her. She learns that Myfanwy is a Rook, a high-ranking member of the Court of the Checquy, a secret organization that deals with supernatural outbreaks in the U.K. Think of it as a British X-Files, except that its members have supernatural powers. Myfanwy can reach into the minds of her opponents and force them to do her will. She also has terrific administrative and financial skills. She had advanced warning (through a few dubious psychics, including a duck) of her impending memory loss. Or rather, memory theft. She spent a great deal of time investigating, and found evidence of a traitor within the Court. But who? Rook Gestalt, whose four bodies share one mind? Bishop Alrich, the vampire? Lady Farrier, who infiltrates dreams? The traitor has betrayed them to the Checquy’s arch-enemies, the Grafters, a group of mad scientists in Belgium who have been medically transforming human bodies for hundreds of years. The narrative alternates between letters from the original to the current Myfanwy, which provide needed back-story, and the present action, which is full of increasingly bizarre (and at times hilarious) battles against supernatural manifestations. This is a funny, cool, inventive, at times violent and gross trip that teens who are into speculative fiction will thoroughly enjoy.–Angela Carstensen, Convent of the Sacred Heart, New York City
This creative little book will make your teens stop and take notice. The publisher puts it best, “You can open the book in either direction to decide whether you’ll first read Brendan’s, or Evelyn’s account of the mysterious love affair. Choose a side, read it like a regular novel—and when you get to the end, you’ll find yourself at a whole new beginning.” Except that I would say it is more of a short story or novella – at a little over 40 pages per “account” that is more accurate. Still, it is a satisfying story, and I liked both the characters and the setting. Cornwall by the sea – what’s not to like?
This video on Amazon does a good job of showing what the book looks like – it’s difficult to describe in words, easy to see in pictures. Fortunately, it comes in an attractive slipcover, which makes it library-friendly for shelving and labeling.
This is not, however, a book to read one-handed, a fact I learned while standing in a subway car suddenly watching the entire book unfurl to the floor. Oh yes, another wonderful New York City subway moment!
GOSS, Theodora. The Thorn and the Blossom: A Two-Sided Love Story. illus. by Scott McKowen. 82p. illus. Quirk. 2012. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-59474-551-5. LC 2011933427.
Adult/High School–Evelyn and Brendan’s story is told twice, once from each perspective, in this intriguing production. After a semester abroad at Oxford, American Evelyn Morgan takes a vacation in the Cornwall fishing village of Clews. Brendan Thorne is a local, minding his father’s bookstore when she stops in. They hit it off immediately, and Brendan is inspired to show Evelyn the town’s one attraction, a circle of standing stones. “The Tale of the Green Knight,” a local legend, has it that Elowen, queen of Cornwall, came to King Arthur’s court looking for help against a group of giants led by an evil sorceress, Morva. Gawan volunteered. The circle marks the spot where Elowen and Gawan defeated the giants, but Morva, jealous of their love, cursed them to be separated for 1000 years. In the present, Evelyn has a history of seeing imaginary things, like fairies and trolls. Medication has always helped make them go away–until she kisses Brendan, has a vision, and flees without a word. More than 10 years later, they meet again, both medieval specialists whose writings are based on “The Tale of the Green Knight.” Their fates are clearly intertwined with this legend. Could they be the most recent incarnation of the cursed lovers? This simply told short story is enhanced by the physical design of the book–accordion style pages with hardbound covers. One cover is titled “Evelyn’s Story,” and the other is “Brendan’s Story.” Teens who enjoy a romantic tale will be enchanted by the clever packaging and the fanciful, touching story of young people thwarted in love.–Angela Carstensen, Convent of the Sacred Heart, New York City
“The Best Vampire Fiction Releases of 2011″, a recent post on Explorations: The BN SciFi and Fantasy Blog, highlights this series and looks forward to both the final book in the trilogy, due in September, and Justin Cronin’s The Twelve (to follow 2010’s The Passage), as titles to look forward to in 2012. Agreed!
GRIFFITH, Clay & Susan Giffith. The Greyfriar. Bk. 1. 301p. 2010. ISBN 978-1-61614-247-6.
––––. The Rift Walker. Bk. 2. 402p. 2011. ISBN 978-1-61614-523-1.
ea vol: (Vampire Empire Series). Pyr. Tr $16. LC number unavailable.
Adult/High School–This mashup of steampunk and vampires is an exciting new take on both genres. The Greyfriar sets the scene: during the Great Killing, vampires slaughtered countless humans and took over land in Europe, North America, and Africa. Humans are kept in herds to feed vampire communities. Gareth, a member of a ruling vampire clan, is sickened by this and defends humans in the guise of the Greyfriar. Gareth’s scheming brother Cesare hears about the planned marriage of Princess Adele of Equatoria to Senator Clark of America, a political union that will consolidate their armies against the vampires. In response he plots a massive attack. After Adele lands in his hands, Greyfriar rescues her. A skilled vampire fighter herself, Adele must decide whether she can trust this vampire to help save her people. The Rift Walker sees humans and vampires even more determined to go to war, each side going further and further to destroy the other. Adele and Greyfriar have their loyalties tested as Adele begins to harness powerful abilities hinted at in the first book. Where The Greyfriar focuses on vampires vs. humans, The Rift Walker advances Adele and Greyfriar’s relationship and explores more of the internal political gamesmanship on both sides of the struggle. Teens will enjoy this fresh vampire story, full of stunning battles fought with steampunk weaponry. The political intrigue and complex relationship between Gareth/Greyfriar and Adele widens the book’s appeal. Although The Rift Walker contains some exposition, the stories are much richer when read in order.–Carla Riemer, Berkeley High School, CA
Theft of Swords is the first in Michael Sullivan’s Riyria Revelations series. Rise of Empire releases this week, and the third and final installment, Heir of Novron is expected on January 31st, all from Orbit.
The series was originally self-published in 6 volumes, and it is helpful to take a look at the author’s explanation of the progression and contents of each volume. He also offers plot summaries and free samples. A terrific article from sffworld.com explains the history of the books, and the blogger/reader popularity that led to their initial success.
SULLIVAN, Michael J. Theft of Swords. 704p. maps. glossary. Orbit. 2011. pap. $14.99. ISBN 978-0-316-18774-9. LC number unavailable.
Adult/High School–This old-fashioned adventure fantasy has had a long journey, from small press to self-published e-book and finally to print (three volumes planned). Throw in a little theft and a regicide or two and it would be a journey worthy of protagonists Royce and Hadrian, an independent thief and sword duo who find themselves becoming heroes when they must clear their names of a crime for which they’ve been framed. Wooden dialogue and misplaced modifiers galore should make for a clunky read, but in fact this is fast and fun, full of witty repartee and daring exploits, with enough big-picture mystery to keep readers hooked. The bad guys conveniently discourse in full paragraphs, so the plotting and machinations are easy to follow, and characterization tends to be fairly simple. Elves and dwarves make an appearance, just different enough to avoid feeling like a Tolkien clone but still familiar; the setting is quasi-medieval (but easier, and the sanitation seems better). Romance is thin on the ground as this is a buddy tale, and although the body count and gore are not lacking, any deep reflections on mortality are. The author’s note indicates that this was initially written with his 13-year-old daughter as the primary audience, so it’s no wonder that everything here lends itself to a perfect teen read. It’s strangely compelling fantasy for fantasy lovers, and likely to appeal to fans of Tolkien or Martin, Eddings or Rothfuss.–Karyn N. Silverman, Little Red School House and Elisabeth Irwin High School, New York City
The conclusion to Gregory Maguire’s The Wicked Years series does not disappoint. The series began with Wicked (1995), and continued with Son of a Witch (2005) and A Lion Among Men (2008). Out of Oz does stand on its own, but readers will appreciate it most if they are fans of the series.
MAGUIRE, Gregory. Out of Oz. Vol. 4. illus. by Douglas Smith. 592p. (The Wicked Years Series). Morrow. 2011. LC number unavailable.
Adult/High School–The concept of an alternate universe has been introduced to generations of children through stories of the fanciful Land of Oz. Springing from the imagination of L. Frank Baum, and then transformed into one of the most popular movies of the 20th century, the sights and characters of Oz are both strange and familiar. With Gregory Maguire’s series, these same characters are once again re-created but in unexpected ways. Teens who know the musical Wicked will already know the backstory: The Wicked Witch of the West is not evil but impassioned by an unpopular sense of justice. In Maguire’s Oz, the Wicked Witch has a name, Elphaba. She is not a mean-spirited loner, but embroiled in complex family relationships. She has a secret lover and a secret child. The bare bones tale presented by the musical version, however, cheats the audience of the magical chemistry of Maguire’s prose. The books in this series are epical, following the friends, enemies, and descendants of Elphaba through adventure after adventure. By the time this fourth volume begins, the cast of characters has expanded to include old faces, such as Brrr (aka The Cowardly Lion), and new ones, most prominently Rain, Elphaba’s granddaughter. Maguire provides readers with a quick synopsis of the first three volumes, as well as plenty of filler details during the course of the book, so it’s possible to begin the journey with this final book. Teens who enjoy sophisticated fantasy laced with humor and social conscience will be greatly satisfied with this reprise of a childhood favorite.–Diane Colson, Palm Harbor Library, FL
You know you’ve discovered Adult-Books-4-Teens gold when an author takes the time to assure readers that he has not written a YA novel. Lev AC Rosen posted the following note on his website homepage:
“Note from the author: A lot of people who have approached me or emailed me about the book seem to be working from the assumption that it is a Young Adult book, and I feel I should state, for the record, that it is not intended as YA. Certainly, there is some crossover appeal, and yes, the protagonist is 17 and in college, but there’s more than a fair amount of bad language, and some sexual content as well. My publicist says that in her opinion it’s for High School and up, and I’m inclined to agree, in general. Obviously, some kids aren’t going to be mature enough for this in high school, and some might be mature enough before. And of course, I think anyone who wants to read it and feels they are mature enough should do so, but I feel it needs to be emphasized: this is not intended as YA.”
Interesting. I think the issue is likely the cover art — it does look quite young. He is probably concerned that an unsuspecting 7th or 8th grader is going to get more than he or she bargained for. He is certainly correct to say that there is crossover appeal — this is exactly the sort of adult book that teen readers enjoy. Accessible writing, imaginative plot, charming characters, a hint of conspiracy. It’s all here.
Rosen’s site offers a preview (the first two chapters), as well as a definition of steampunk for the uninitiated. His bio reveals that he has already written the sequel.
ROSEN, Lev AC. All Men of Genius. 462p. Tor. 2011. Tr $24.99. ISBN 978-0-7653-2794-9. LC number unavailable.
Adult/High School–The Importance of Being Earnest meets Twelfth Night in this steampunk fantasy. Violet Adams obsessed with science and inventions, but in Victorian England, there aren’t many doors open to young women. Certainly not the doors to Illyria, the science college. What else is a girl genius to do? She swaps identity with her twin brother, Ashton–a fabulously gay blade who is witty and sharp as a tack–and heads off to Illyria, immersing herself in the life of a young male college student while trying to dodge the innocent advances of Cecily, the Duke of Illyria’s ward, herself a smart young inventor. The problem, of course, is that Violet is falling for the duke, who is worried that his attraction to her is not acceptable, or “inverted.” This tale of cross dressing, science, romance, and rampaging automatons, complete with a host of quirky professors who might remind readers of those in the “Harry Potter” series, will delight teens, as will the rough and tumble descriptions of college life, with the young men’s focus on sex and drinking. Rosen’s wonderfully inventive vision of Victorian-era London has just enough staples of steampunk–automatons, super-light airships, and analog computers (the inventor of the first computer, Ada Lovelace, is a wonderful character here). The romance will appeal to fans of Gail Carriger’s “Parasol Protectorate” series (Orbit). The villain, the blackmailing Malcolm Volio, is a bit underdeveloped and so his comeuppance feels a little less than satisfactory. Otherwise, a brilliantly fun novel.–Caroline Bartels, Horace Mann School, Bronx, NY
John Ajvide Lindqvist is single-handedly establishing Swedish horror as a sub-genre of its own. Although there’s some debate as to whether Harbor is really a horror novel. Our reviewer says it plays out as more fantasy than horror, while others find it closer to psychological thriller. I think this is only to its advantage when it comes to teen readers. Many teens want something scary, but not TOO scary. Creepy and unsettling, but not terrifying.
Lindqvist is best known for his first novel, Let the Right One In (Thomas Dunne, 2008). Next he took on zombies in Handling the Undead (Thomas Dunne, 2010). Now he takes on the sea.
LINDQVIST, John Ajvide. Harbor. tr. from Swedish by Marlaine Delargy. 512p. Thomas Dunne. 2011. Tr $25.99. ISBN 9787-0-312-68027-5. LC number unavailable.
Adult/High School–The waters giveth, the waters taketh away. Though providing a beautiful setting and a good livelihood for the people of Domarö, the seas surrounding the island exact a price. The disappearance of a small child–one in a series of disappearances and strange occurrences that residents prefer to let go unexplained–sets off a search to uncover the secrets of the waters that, while well known, are never discussed. Readers learn that the island’s inhabitants have a long history of being bullied by the waters and that one man–a former magician–has a special relationship with them. What begins as a struggle to uncover the truth about their power turns into a man’s unyielding quest to bring back his missing daughter. Horrifying things do happen in this book, but the events are described in a semi-mystical way, with a very matter of fact tone that lets readers keep some degree of distance from what’s happening. Not unlike Ransom Riggs’s Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (Quirk, 2011), the mystery of the terrifying incidents is unraveled in a way that is more fantasy than horror. This is a good choice for teens who enjoy scary stories but don’t want to be kept up at night.–Carla Riemer, Berkeley High School, CA
In Thomas Mullen’s new thought-provoking novel of speculative fiction the government is trying to preserve a Perfect Present by going back in time to make sure the disasters of the past are not altered. But is the present really so perfect?
The publisher description calls it “A fast-paced literary thriller that recalls dystopian classics such as 1984 and Fahrenheit 451.” The author himself says it involves “post-9/11 paranoia about government surveillance and ubiquitous threats.” There’s a great Q&A on the author’s website.
Mullen’s debut was an equally genre-mixing novel, a sort of dystopian historical fiction. I read The Last Town on Earth (Random House, 2006) when it came out, and although I don’t see a lot of teen appeal there, I highly recommend it to adult readers of the genre.
MULLEN, Thomas. The Revisionists. 448p. Mulholland. Sept. 2011. Tr $25.99. ISBN 978-0-316-17672-9. LC number unavailable.
Adult/High School–This thrilling novel examines trust and truth through the lens of time travel. In the not-too-distant future, the government controls time-travel technology. Instead of using it to correct past wrongs, they use it to make sure that all of history’s worst events–genocide, war, terrorist attacks–happen without disruption. These events lead to the Great Conflagration, after which society reaches the Perfect Present, a time when hate, violence, and suffering have seemingly been eradicated. As a Protector with the Department of Historical Integrity, Zed is responsible for making sure history goes unchanged, ensuring realization of this Perfect Present. He works to counter the efforts of a revolutionary group within the government who sees things differently. The hags–historical agitators–discover things that make them question who the Perfect Present truly benefits. They refuse to stand by and let millions of people suffer and die to protect these questionable interests, and instead try to reroute history’s path. Instead of a simple hags vs. protectors plot, Mullen creates a complex, compelling story where right and wrong are for readers to decide. Issues are explored through Zed’s journey, as well as those of two “contemps” he gets involved with during his mission. Teens are often concerned with trying to bring clarity to gray areas in their own lives; The Revisionists gives them a complex and engaging way to observe others wrestling with finding the truth.–Carla Riemer, Berkeley High School, CA
Writing books from a wolf’s point of view isn’t easy, but that is Dorothy Hearst’s goal in her trilogy, The Wolf Chronicles. Hearst writes, “The biggest challenge was getting the level of anthropomorphism right. If I were to be completely accurate in depicting how a wolf perceives the world, the book would have been impenetrable for my (human) readers. But I didn’t want to make the wolves seem like furry people. Striking that balance was the biggest challenge, though it was more fun than frustrating.”
This is one of the rare books reviewed here on AB4T that is suitable for readers as young as middle school. There is no reason that The Wolf Chronicles should not be recommended to younger readers.
As for authenticity, Hearst conducted extensive research in, from her biography, “the areas of wolf biology, behavior, coevolution, cognitive science and other related areas…and…also interviewed many of the top wolf and dog experts in the world.” She includes FAQs and a reading list on her website. Animal-obsessed teens will appreciate both, and their teachers & librarians will appreciate the Reading Group Guide.
HEARST, Dorothy. Secrets of the Wolves. Bk. 2. 384p. (The Wolf Chronicles). S & S. 2011. Tr $24. ISBN 978-1-4165-7000-4. LC number unavailable.
Adult/High School–It has been three months since young wolf Kaala prevented a war between her pack and the humans. While gracefully reminding readers of the events in Promise of the Wolves (S & S, 2008), the action barrels forward. There is division within the Greatwolves Council. One faction, led by upstart Milsindra, believes that wolves and humans must remain separate. Zorindru, the ancient wolf leader of the Wide Valley, believes that they must work together to survive. The Council grants Kaala one year to demonstrate that humans and wolves can live together. If she fails, all Wide Valley wolves and humans will be killed and the experiment taken up elsewhere. Kaala is controversial. Some wolves believe she is the prophesied “one pup to save them all,” while others believe she is drelshik, cursed. She depends on her allies–packmates Azzuen and Mara; her raven friend Tlitoo; and TaLi, the human with whom she has bonded–for help. Kaala also consults the spirit wolf in a realm poised between life and death. Kaala and TaLi believe that an alliance is crucial for maintaining the Balance, for reminding humans that they are but one part of the natural world. The story is recommended for readers who enjoy stories told from an animal point of view, such as David Clement-Davies’s Fire Bringer (2000) and The Sight (2002, both Dutton), though some may tire of the politics of human tribe and wolf-pack hierarchies. Still, most will be fascinated by the mythology of the valley, the insights into wolf behavior (carefully researched by the author), and a peek at life 14,000 years in the past. –Angela Carstensen, Convent of the Sacred Heart, New York City
The Magicians won Lev Grossman both the Alex Award and the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. While this sequel may not be as perfectly attuned to teen readers, his fans will hardly mind.
By the way, when it comes to books with teen appeal, the John W. Campbell Award is a good one to keep an eye on. Given to fantasy or science fiction writers, other recent winners include Seanan McGuire (for Feed, under the name Mira Grant) and Naomi Novik, whose Temeraire series is popular with many fantasy-loving teens.
Lev Grossman may be a relatively new fantasy novelist, but he’s been writing for quite a while. He is book reviewer for Time Magazine and also writes about technology for them. And he has a couple earlier novels under his belt.
Many, many articles and interviews accompanied the release of The Magician King. One of my favorites is this Q&A because it addresses Narnia, Ender’s Game, Harry Potter, and even A Wizard of Earthsea in relation to Grossman’s work.
The Magician King has been out since August 9th. Try as I do to publish reviews the week of a book’s release, this one is more than a little late. Karyn, our fabulous fantasy reviewer, read the ARC in plenty of time — but then reports began to trickle in that the finished hardcover was different from the advanced reader copy. Yes, she got to read the book a second time…
So, thank you Karyn, and enjoy the review!
GROSSMAN, Lev. The Magician King. 400p. Viking. 2011. Tr $26.95. ISBN 978-0-670-02231-1. LC number unavailable.
Adult/High School–At the end of The Magicians (Viking, 2009), Quentin and his friends were off to Fillory to be kings and queens, and it seemed that the reward for their sacrifices was to live happily ever after. Now, it’s two years into ever after, and Quentin is bored. Fillory is a magical utopia; there’s little for a monarch to do, aside from drink and worry about fellow monarch and old friend Julia, who seems strangely altered. So Quentin takes off on an adventure of sorts, while alternating chapters tell Julia’s story. Quentin’s quest for meaning has poignant overtones of a midlife crisis (he’s actually 20-something), and the adventures are a bit rambling and prosaic, all of which eventually fits into the deeper subtext of magic and life, chaos and chance. It’s Julia’s backstory that grants this volume the crossover appeal its predecessor had. While Quentin enjoyed life at Brakebills, Julia learned magic on the streets. Her journey, from lost to found to broken and back, is powerful and horrifying. The awkward dance of friendship between Julia and Quentin speaks to the power of a shared past; they have drifted so far apart, and yet again and again Quentin’s best self is evoked by his compassion for Julia, making this a treatise on growing up. Adulthood means adventures that may not only go badly but lack a happy ending; adulthood means looking beyond oneself. Readers will look forward to the final volume to see what comes after the growing pains. A magical, even elegiac tale.–Karyn N. Silverman, Little Red School House and Elisabeth Irwin High School, New York City
Angela Carstensen is Head Librarian and an Upper School Librarian at Convent of the Sacred Heart in New York City. Angela served on the Alex Awards committee for four years, chairing the 2008 committee, and chaired the first YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adult committee in 2009. Recently, she edited Outstanding Books for the College Bound: Titles and Programs for a New Generation (ALA Editions, 2011). Contact her via Twitter @AngeReads.
