"Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" by Ransom Riggs

Title: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
Author: Ransom Riggs
Published: June 7th 2011
Genre: Young Adult

"I used to dream about escaping my ordinary life, but my life was never ordinary. I had simply failed to notice how extraordinary it was."

As a little boy, Jacob Portman would listen to his grandfather's stories. He was enthralled by a magical place filled with unusual children and "The Bird" who watched over them, while pouring over his grandfather's photo album that contained creepy yet beautiful photographs of these strangely talented kids and their keeper.

Now as a teenager living in Florida and working at his parents' drug store, Jacob has no time or patience for the old stories. He dismisses the tales as a simple outlet for his grandfather's PTSD from WWII and the photographs as a product of a talented PhotoShop artist.


However, tragedy strikes and Jacob witnesses something that he will never forget, which sends him on a journey to a small European island and into the world of floating girls, invisible boys, and the woman trained to keep them safe. But danger is lurking just around the corner, and Jacob might just be the only person who can help.


Miss Peregrine's is probably the best YA Fantasy novel that I've read since the Children of the Red King series by Jenny Nimmo, which, coincidentally, also features children with extraordinary abilities. The story is wonderfully written; I was taken up in an instant and wasn't put back down till the very last word. 

One compelling feature of this novel is the inclusion of the photographs that Jacob finds in his grandfather's album. They aid the reading experience by allowing you to see exactly what the author wants you to see. Riggs began collecting these strange and sometimes frightening photographs from flea markets and private collectors long before he began writing the manuscript. He then created characters and a story around the photographs, tying them together in an almost believable way. The fact that someone somewhere actually took these pictures is amazing! I've included some of my favorite ones in this post.

Even though the work is considered a fantasy novel, I think YA readers will still be able to relate to the main character, Jacob. He deals with the same trials and tribulations that plague all young people: complicated familial relationships, friends (or the lack thereof), girls, and finding one's purpose in life. 

I've since discovered that this novel is part of a trilogy. I can't wait to get my hands on Hollow City and Library of Souls. This is definitely a book that you'll want to add to your reading list!

Kaylee says:

What's in My Mug Monday

Welcome to our first "What's in My Mug?" Monday! 

Everyone who knows me knows that I love trying new coffees and teas! They are also well aware of my ever-expanding mug collection (just ask my roommate Allison). So on these days, I'll share with you what I'm drinking, as well as what I'm reading or any other thoughts from the weekend.

Today's brew is one that I picked up at a local Fair Trade store. It comes from a company called Peace Coffee located in the Twin Cities. It's their Ethiopian blend, which is a light roast with notes of orange, hibiscus, tamarind, and brown sugar. Let me tell you, it smells AMAZING while it's brewing and tastes just as good! Pick some up from yourself! It's worth it!

As I sipped my coffee, I finished up the last few pages of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. I only started it yesterday afternoon, but I was so captivated that I finished it in almost a day. It's one of the best YA Fiction works that I've read since high school! Expect a full review soon!

Do you guys have any favorite coffees or teas that I should try?

Hannah Reviews: "Unwind Dystology" a Series by Neal Shusterman

Title: The Unwind Dystology Series
Author: Neil Shusterman
Published: 2007-2012
Genre: Young Adult

I'm so excited to welcome our first guest contributor! Meet my friend Hannah! Rather than me telling you about her, however, I'll let her introduce herself. Check out her review below!

"Hi! My name is Hannah and I am a good friend of Kaylee's. We met at college where I am working towards a degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Communication Arts and Literature. (I only have one year left! Yay!) I can always be found reading at least one book. In my free time I enjoy hanging out with my friends, spending time with my family, and watching TV and movies. I hope you enjoy what I have to add and can use some of my recommendations to expand your own libraries!"

In one of my college classes, I was introduced to an excerpt from the first book in Shusterman's series. I had never read any of his books before, and if I had judged them by their cover art, I probably would never have. What got my attention is the deep issues covered and the realism portrayed through parts of his descriptions. 

These books are about a future in which the United States has had its second Civil War over whether or not women could have abortions. Although this seemed over the top at first, I found that the story seemed similar to that of other religious or faith-based wars. As with most treaties, the agreement that ended this war made neither side very happy. It said that a mother could no longer abort a child. After giving birth, she could drop him/her off on a random door step in the dead of night and the family who owned the house would have to care for it. However, a parent could decide to retroactively abort their child when he/she is between the ages of 13 and 18. These children would be taken away from the government and "unwound", meaning they would be painlessly taken apart, and their parts would be a way of supplying organ registries. The books followed a few of these "unwinds" as they escaped from custody and struggled to change the laws while living their lives as outlaws.

I try not to get dragged into too many young adult fiction series because I feel like it is an endless spiral, as it is such a widespread and fast-growing genre. The fact that this one discussed abortion caught my attention because it is not often addressed even in adult literature. Without taking a definite side, Shusterman fully covers the issue and the divide the argument creates. The main characters do at one point come to the conclusion that in an ideal world, all fetuses/unborn children would be wanted.

       

I give this series 3 coffee beans. It had a different plot line in each of the four books as well as characters who developed realistically over time. I am not sure that I would recommend this for anyone under 15 or 16 years old though, because of the heavier, darker subject matter.

Hannah says:

"Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore" by Robin Sloan

Title: Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Booksktore
Author: Robin Sloan
Published: October 2, 2012
Genre: Fiction

I found Mr. Penumbra while rummaging through the stacks at a library sale that I went to with my mom (you can find my haul post from that trip here). I thought the cover art looked neat (I found out completely by accident later that it glows in the dark), and the description on the back was intriguing. My initial thought before diving in was that I would be reading a mystery book about...well, books. The word "bookstore" is in the title, after all. However, what I ended up finding was a story that I can only describe as Lord of the Rings, National Treasure, and Jobs all rolled into one.

College graduate and amateur programmer Clay Jannon is out of work and running out of options. He manages to find himself a job at a bookstore. However, it doesn't take him long to realize that this store is not ordinary by any standards. For example, Penumbra's Bookstore is open 24-hours straight and is often visited in the late hours of the night by a collection of unusual patrons. They come to "check out" large, ominous volumes that Clay is forbidden to look at. Using his computer skills and receiving help from his variously talented friends, Clay pieces together the movements of the quirky clientele and discovers a secret that quickly becomes bigger than he could ever imagine.

I was captivated by Sloan's storytelling in  Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, though it didn't happen immediately. Things started a bit slowly, but as Clay got closer and closer to solving the mystery, I got roped in more and more. Written in the first person from Clay's point of view, the prose is witty and engaging, especially when Clay describes Penumbra and his friends who frequent the bookstore. 

One hitch that I encountered while reading was the technological jargon that peppers the story. Clay is an amateur computer programmer, but he runs in a circle of geniuses who are all technologically savvy. One, Kat Potente, is a high-ranking programmer at the Google company. The characters often mention things like "code" or "data processing" and all sorts of other computer words that I have no hope of understanding. Their dialogue left me confused in places.

To me, the absolute best part of reading this book was that Sloan crafted it as a love story to books in a time when people are addicted to their phones and tablets. He praises the independent bookstore owners and the people who still value the magical experience of opening a book with printed pages instead of ones pasted on a screen. Those people who still get excited at the smell of their favorite book will enjoy this novel.

Kaylee says:

"Chopsticks" by Jessica Anthony and Rodrigo Corral

Title: Chopsticks
Author: Jessica Anthony
Published: February 2, 2012
Genre: Young Adult

I've recently discovered the wonder that is the graphic novel; it's a genre that is growing more and more popular among young adult readers. When you hear the phrase "graphic novel" I'm sure many minds jump right to comic books. However, from a teacher standpoint, graphic novels have much to offer in a classroom setting. I won't go into too much detail in this post, but the National Council for Teaching English shares a fantastic article about using comics and graphic novels to build literacy in the classroom. You can read it here.

I found this particular book during my recent library sale hunt, and I couldn't wait to check it out. 

Chopsticks by Jessica Anthony and Rodrigo Corral is an edgy, modern-day adaptation of the classic Romeo and Juliet story told in pictures. The plot follows two madly in love teenagers, Glory and Frank. Glory is a piano prodigy who is raised by her single father after her mother passes away. Frank is the boy next door, an aspiring artist raised by his immigrant family. The two are drawn in by the talent that the other possesses, she to his paintings and he to her beautiful music. The two share mix CDs and late-night text messages, much to the chagrin of Glory's father, who considers Frank an obstacle to Glory's rising popularity.

Fame's pressures finally get to Glory, and she suffers from a mental breakdown. Once known as the "Brecht of the Piano", Glory can now play nothing but the children's song "Chopsticks". Frank faces his own struggles throughout the book. He never quite adapts to his new school, and his grades slowly drop as he becomes more consumed by his art and his love for Glory. The story begins with the breaking news of Glory's disappearance from a rest facility for gifted musicians. From there the reader is left to piece together what happened to Glory and Frank, separating what is truth and what is madness.

The first thing that caught my attention about the book was the aesthetics. It really is beautiful! The story is told through a series of pictures, newspaper clippings, scrapbook

pages, and screenshots of text messages. Since there are very few written words, the reader is left to interpret what happens to Glory and Frank. I liked this feature. I felt that it made the story more personal because the ending became what I wanted it to be.

The book did not take a very long time to get through, maybe 45 minutes tops. However, some of the text messages include links to YouTube videos that actually exist! I didn't look every single one up, but if I had, it might have made the experience last longer. There are also the playlists of real songs that Glory and Frank make for each other that I would recommend checking out, as they will put you in the mindset of the characters.

Chopsticks was a standard teen romance. Girl meets boy, girl falls for boy, parents try to keep them apart, etc. It got to be a little predictable, despite the air of mystery that hangs over the entire piece. What made it worth reading was its unique design and layout. I can see myself adding it to my future classroom library because the young ladies would find it attractive, especially when the more comic-like graphic novels are more appealing to boys.

Kaylee says: 

Library Sale Haul - May 28

It's that time of year again when Libraries sort through their shelves and remove poorly-circulated items, resulting in one thing: BOOK SALE! Like a true bibliophile, I went with my mother to sift through the racks and see what we could dig up. The total cost for all 17 books was only $4.75! Again, I came home with a pretty eclectic mix. There's some mysteries, fiction, nonfiction, and some YA sprinkled in for good measure. Here's what I got:

O Pioneers! by Willa Cather
Bagombo Snuff Box by Kurt Vonnegut
The Last American Man by Elizabeth Gilbert
Night by Elie Wiesel
The Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Dallas
Small Island by Andrea Levy
Three to Get Deadly by Janet Evanovich
Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
A World Away by Nancy Grossman
Shooting The Boh: A Woman's Voyage Down the Wildest River in Borneo by Tracy Johnston
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
Chopsticks by Jessica Anthony and Rodrigo Corral
You Don't Know About Me by Brian Meehl
Jazz by Toni Morrison
The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman
The Dante Club by Matthew Pearl

Time to get reading!