Book Review: The Graces

THE GRACES by Laure Eve is the first book in a new paranormal series exploring the lives of teen witches.

The Grace siblings Fenrin, Thalia, and Summer are popular. River is the new teen in town and seeks to befriend the Graces. However, her quest for friendship soon becomes an obsession. Multiple twists set the book for a sequel.

Librarians will find that fans of paranormal young adult titles such as Twilight will be drawn into this new series. The somewhat predictable plot and characters aren’t likely to deter fans of this genre.

To learn more about the author, go to http://www.laureeve.co.uk/.

Published by Abrams on September 6, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Book Review: Julia Vanishes

JULIA VANISHES by Catherine Egan is a fast-paced fantasy filled with thieves, spies, witches, and other fascinating characters.

Julia is a spy with the ability to hide in plain sight. Her latest mission involves acting as a servant in a mansion filled with secrets. When she’s asked to betray the people she’s come to love, she’s forced to make a life-changing decision. Set in a world of witches, monsters, and murder, this first book in a new trilogy introduces an intriguing and dangerous world populated with an array of compelling characters.

Librarians will find this young adult novel in high demand. The mystery elements combined with the supernatural aspects and witchcraft theme add to the appeal of this fantasy. Teens will be clamoring for the next book in this hot new trilogy.

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

Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House on June 7, 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: Alistair Grim's Odd Aquaticum

ALISTAIR GRIM’S ODD AQUATICUM by Gregory Funaro is the second book in this quirky fantasy series for children.

Ruthless villain Prince Nightshade wants to steal the power of the Odditorium. Young Grubb, his newly found father Alistair Grim, and a crew of eccentric characters set out on an underwater quest to find the legendary sword Excalibur and save the Odditorium. They must survive a witch, sea monsters, an assassin, and other magical adversaries to reach their destiny.

Weaving together elements of steampunk, fairy stories, witches, and magic, this series has broad appeal. The combination of whimsical settings, legendary characters, and action-packed adventure will have youth coming back for more.

Librarians will find that fans of the first book will enjoy this new addition to the series. Because both the first and second books have been well-received, interest in the series is growing.

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

Published by Disney-Hyperion on January 5, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Book Review: The Door by the Staircase

THE DOOR BY THE STAIRCASE by Katherine Marsh is a fantasy adventure based on the Russian Baba Yaga folktales.

Designed for middle grades, this dark fantasy follows the story of orphan Mary Hayes who is adopted by the mysterious Madame Z. Mary’s new home seems ideal until she begins to realize that her savior may have a dark side.

Librarians will find this fantasy to be popular with children who enjoy folk tales. Teachers wishing to explore traditional folklore at the middle grades may consider this title as part of a literature circle focusing on folklore adaptations.

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

Published by Disney-Hyperion on January 5, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Book Review: Snow White and the 77 Dwarfs

SNOW WHITE AND THE 77 DWARFS by Davide Cali and Raphaelle Barbanegre is a silly retelling of the classic fairy tale.

On the run from an evil witch, Snow White moves in with 77 dwarfs in the woods. She’s grateful for the safe harbor, but she quickly becomes overwhelmed by the task of supervising a large household filled with dwarfs.

Young readers will enjoy the illustrator’s bright colors and the increasingly harried look on Snow White’s face as she becomes more and more stressed-out.

Librarians will find a readership for this picture book among children who enjoy adaptations of popular fairy tales. Consider an activity where children compare the original version of a book with alternatives.

Published by Tundra Books an imprint of Random House on April 15, 2015.

Book Review: Baba Yaga's Assistant

BABA YAGA’s ASSISTANT by Marika McCoola is an engaging middle-grade graphic novel fantasy featuring a central character in Russian folklore.

Masha isn’t looking forward to a new stepmother and stepsister, so she decides to leave the family and apply for a job as Baba Yaga’s apprentice. She inherited a love of folklore and bit of magic from her grandmother, but that may not be enough to save her from this supernatural old woman who preys on children and flies around in a mortar wielding a pestle.

McCoola builds a convincing bridge between old folklore and modern society in this well-written, fast-paced graphic fantasy. Emily Carroll’s convincing illustrations draw readers into the plot. Of particular note are the beautifully bordered folktale sequences woven throughout the story.

This spooky, yet lighthearted tale will delight readers who enjoy fairy tales, but it will also be a hit with graphic novel fans. Librarians looking for age-appropriate graphic novels for middle grade children will be thrilled with this short, illustrated work. Teachers will enjoy the many curriculum connections related to folklore.

Published by Candlewick Press on August 4, 2015.

Book Review: Clover's Luck

THE MAGICAL ANIMAL ADOPTION AGENCY is an adorable new series by Kallie George. The first book titled CLOVER’S LUCK sets the stage for the series by introducing an unlucky girl named Clover who stumbles into a summer volunteer position at an animal adoption agency. However her job isn’t to match cute puppies with new owners. From unicorns to dragons, the animals in her care are all magical and the potential owners are princesses, witches, and wizards.

This enchanting fantasy series will appeal to a broad range of independent readers who enjoy fairy tales and magical creatures. The writing includes a nice balance of description and dialogue perfect for the target audience. The very short chapters and fast-moving story will keep young readers interested.

Readers will be lining up at school and public libraries to check out Clover’s Luck. This charming series will be particularly popular with children who are seeking a gentle story with only brief glimpses of the scary side of fantasy.

Be sure to download the teacher’s guide at http://www.magicalanimaladoptionagency.com/…/Clovers_Luck_t….

Readers will enjoy exploring the series website at http://www.magicalanimaladoptionagency.com/.

Published by Disney-Hyperion. Publisher ARC used for review.

Book Review: The Witch's Boy

THE WITCH’S BOY by Kelly Barnhill is an imaginative fantasy combining an engaging adventure with classic story elements. Without the wands of Harry Potter fame or the black caldrons of classic witch tales, the magic in this story comes alive to readers as a haunting, volatile character.

The plot revolves around the son of a witch who escapes near-drowning only to be bound by a dangerous magic and the daughter of a bandit who is also subject to magic’s dark side. Both boys and girls alike will be drawn to the characters of Ned and Áine, while animal lovers will enjoy the young wolf. From small villages and grand castles to the enormous boulders awakened in the dark woods, the setting plays a central role in this enchanting story.

Barnskill’s skillful prose makes this an excellent choice for read-aloud, however it may be a bit slow and wordy for some children.

This book is an excellent opportunity for teacher librarians to think about magical themes in their library collection. Rather than lumping everything into the classic fairy tale or the world of medieval wizards, consider the broad range of magical elements that attract young readers. It’s also important to examine books for potential as read-alouds.

To learn more about the author, go to Kelly Barnhill’s blog at http://kellybarnhill.wordpress.com/.

Publisher ARC used for review