Book Review; The Hazel Wood

THE HAZEL WOOD by Melissa Albert is a dark fantasy suspense for young adults.

Alice and her mother are unlucky in life and move frequently. When her mother disappears, Alice must immerse herself in the dark world of her recently dead grandmother’s supernatural world. Filled with strong and sometimes abrasive female characters and lots of twists, Alice along with her acquaintance Ellery must visit the creepy Hazel Wood estate in search of answers.

Librarians will find a following for this book among teens who enjoy fairy tale fantasy, contemporary mysteries, and dark thrillers. Fans of Alice in Wonderful and teens who enjoy literature will enjoy discussing the many literary connections.

Published by Flatiron, an imprint of Macmillan on January 30, 2018. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Website Review: Unfairy Tales

UNFAIRY TALES is a collection of animated stories exploring the plight of Syrian refugees.

Produced for UNICEF, the website contains three sections: Malak and the Boat, Mustafa Goes for a Walk, and The Story of Ivine and Pillow. In addition, videos show the children telling their stories.

Librarians will find this website to be useful in talking with children about issues regarding child refugees. Students will be particularly interested in how the children narrated the stories themselves.

To visit the website, go tohttps://www.unicef.org/em…/childrenonthemove/unfairytales/en.

Book Review: The Girl Who Drank the Moon

THE GIRL WHO DRANK THE MOON by Kelly Barnhill is an engaging coming-of-age fantasy for middle grade readers.

Xan the witch rescues a baby and accidentally fills her with magic. As the child approaches thirteen, her magic emerges. At the same time, a series of events will change the forest and nearly village forever.

Librarians will find this fairy tale popular with fantasy fans. From a monster and dragon to a volcano and magic, this book has a wide range of appealing characters and settings. The many fairy tales elements make this an excellent book for discussing this type of strong telling.

To learn more about the author, go to https://kellybarnhill.wordpress.com/.

Published by Algonquin on August 9, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Book Review: Violet and Victor Write the Most Fabulous Fairy Tale

VIOLET AND VICTOR WRITE THE MOST FABULOUS FAIRY TALE by Alice Kuipers is a beautifully illustrated picture book about twins who write a fairy tale together.

When Violet begins writing a fairytale, her twin Victor joins in with helpful and not-so-helpful ideas and advise. While Violet writes about fictional creatures in a marvelous kingdom, Victor prefers to weave in Australian animals and a wicked witch.

The unusual, mixed media illustrations use rich blues and purples to create a fascinating imaginary world. Different text colors denote the narrator and easy-to-read, handwritten sheets feature the twins’ creative writing.

Librarians will find that the attractive cover and cute storyline will make this a popular picture book. Young readers will enjoy the sibling banter and humorous situations, while teachers will appreciate the author’s nod to the writing process and the twins’ use of vivid vocabulary.

To learn more about the author, go to http://www.alicekuipers.com/.

To learn more about the illustrator, go to http://www.aquapup.com/.

Published by Little, Brown, and Company, an imprint of Hachette on January 19, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Book Review: Echo

ECHO by Pam Muñoz Ryan is a beautifully written circular novel tracing the lives of people who come in contact with a unique harmonica.

Crossing two continents, the inter-connected stories weave the theme of music into compelling stories focusing on discrimination, injustice, and hope.

Written for ages 9 through 14, the novel will appeal to a broad cross-section of readers including those who enjoy historical fiction, fairy tales, and a hint of fantasy. Teachers will enjoy the connections to historical events including the Holocaust in Germany and the Japanese Internment in the United States during World War II.

Although it’s a sizable book, the engaging short stories, well-developed characters, and engaging writing style will keep readers spellbound from beginning to end. Librarians are likely to find this book on the “best of 2015” lists.

To learn more about the author, go to http://www.pammunozryan.com/.

For a discussion guide, go to http://goo.gl/C8Q6lf.

Published by Scholastic, February 2015.

Book Review: The Darkest Part of the Forest

THE DARKEST PART OF THE FOREST by Holly Black is a young adult fantasy featuring a changeling, a menacing monster, and a mysterious horned boy. Set in a small town near a haunted forest, teen siblings explore their magical powers, uncover long-kept secrets, and strive to survive in a battle between mortals and faerie creatures.

The idea of a faerie fantasy set in the modern world is intriguing. Unfortunately, Black’s world building lacks the depth necessary to fully realize its potential. Although the cast of characters is distinct and at times even compelling, the plot is unnecessarily disjointed. Even with these flaws, readers are likely to enjoy this dark fairy fantasy.

From Doll Bones and The Coldest Girl in Coldtown to the new Magisterium series, Holly Black is popular with both middle grade and young adult readers. As such, this new title is likely to have a large following. Keep in mind that The Darkest Part of the Forest is a young adult urban fantasy that may attract a different audience than some of her recent works.

To learn more about the author, go to http://blackholly.com/.

Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Publisher e-ARC used for review.