From the back cover: Tonight before I started writing this, it was me confronting Jack. It was so real I could smell it. Suddenly, according to my imagination, I'd be on my feet, screaming, "Why didn't you leave us alone? Why did you have to drag us in? You're scum, filth. I hate you. Go away. You deserve everything, everything, you understand? Everything that you get. … [Read more...] about Checkers by John Marsden: A-
YA
The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner: A-
From the front flap, edited for spoilers: When Eugenides outwitted the Queen of Attolia, she lost face. To restore her reputation and reassert her power, the Queen of Attolia will go to any length and accept any help that is offered... she will risk her country to execute the perfect revenge. Eugenides can steal anything. And he taunts the Queen of Attolia, moving through … [Read more...] about The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner: A-
The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner: B+
From the inside flap: The king's scholar, the magus, believes he knows the site of an ancient treasure. To attain it for his king, he needs a skillful thief, and he selects Gen from the king's prison. The magus is interested only in the thief's abilities. What Gen is interested in is anyone's guess. Their journey toward the treasure is both dangerous and difficult, … [Read more...] about The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner: B+
The Pearl of the Soul of the World by Meredith Ann Pierce: A
From the back cover: All the world's wisdom and magic reside within the iridescent depths of a small white pearl. "All my sorcery," the Ancient Ravenna had said to Aeriel. "It is left to you to save the world." But is the pearl powerful enough to enable Aeriel to defeat the White Witch? Aeriel's people have assembled an army and are soon to attack the Witch and her … [Read more...] about The Pearl of the Soul of the World by Meredith Ann Pierce: A
A Gathering of Gargoyles by Meredith Ann Pierce: B+
From the back of the book, with edits for spoilers: Aeriel may've done something interesting in book one, but the Witch is far from defeated! Her evil vampyre sons continue to blight the lands, defeating even the warders created by the Old Ones to protect them. There is but a single hope for the Witch's defeat—solving an ancient, mysterious riddle. So, Aeriel sets off to … [Read more...] about A Gathering of Gargoyles by Meredith Ann Pierce: B+