Patrick Carman’s new book Floors is one of the most inventive, imaginative books for kids that I’ve ever read. It takes me back to the wonder I felt when I first read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I’m still reading it at the moment but will post my review soon.
Check out the cool website for Floors too – www.floorsbook.com
Author C. J. Daugherty’s first book for Young Adults, Night School is being released in January. She’s doing a blog tour to celebrate the launch and My Best Friends Are Books is lucky enough to be having a Q & A and a giveaway. Here’s the blurb for Night School:
“When everyone is lying, who can you trust? Allie Sheridan’s world is falling apart. She hates her school. Her brother has run away from home. And she’s just been arrested. Again.
This time her parents have finally had enough. They cut her off
from her friends and send her away to a boarding school for problem teenagers. But Cimmeria Academy is no ordinary school. It allows no computers or phones. Its students are an odd mixture of the gifted, the tough and the privileged. And then there’s the secretive Night School, whose activities other students are forbidden even to watch. When Allie is attacked one night the school begins to seem like a very dangerous place, Allie must learn who she can trust. And what’s really going on at Cimmeria Academy.”
Join us for the fun on Wednesday 11 January.
Lauren Oliver’s Liesl and Po was one of my favourite books of 2011. I absolutely loved her very descriptive writing and magical story. While I haven’t read Delirium yet it’s definitely on my to-be-read pile. I know there are lots of Delirium fans out there and I like to support and promote authors whenever I get the chance, so here’s some special news for you:
“We now have a special Christmas treat for all you Delirium fans: whilst you’re eagerly awaiting its sequel, Pandemonium, out in March, you can read Lauren’s amazing short story, Hana. It’s told from the point of view of Lena’s best friend (who, you might have guessed, has some secrets of her own…) There’s a shocking twist to her tale that will leave you with your heart in your mouth. The short story is out exclusively in eBook this Christmas – it’s available to buy for just 99p for a limited time only over the festive season.
Now, we know you’ll be desperate to order it immediately, but we have a favour to ask you. We’d love to give Lauren the best Christmas present ever: seeing Hana at number one in the eBook charts on Christmas Day.
Will you help us get it there by joining in on one big Christmas Eve push? If we all buy it on the 24th December, that will propel it up the charts into (hopefully!) the top spot.”
I’ve been a fan of Michael Pryor’s ever since I first picked up Blaze of Glory, the first book in his Laws of Magic series. I was captured by the old-style covers and as soon as I started reading I was transported to a world very similar to ours. The series was full of magic, politics, intrigue, espionage and brilliantly witty characters. When I found out that Michael had started a new series I was eager to delve into his new story and meet new characters. His new series is called The Extraordinaires and the first book, The Extinction Gambit, introduces us to a shadowy London where dark creatures lurk just below the surface.
Kingsley Ward knows nothing of his parents. His foster father, Dr Ward, refuses to tell him how he came to be looking after Kingsley. On the night that he is to make his professional debut on stage with his death-defying escapology, his performance ends in disaster. Kingsley has a wolfish nature that bursts free at the most inappropriate times, especially in the middle of his performance in front of hundreds of people. A strange albino girl called Evadne comes to his rescue and takes him back to his foster father’s house, only to find his father is missing, the house keeper has been murdered, and two abnormally large, very ugly men are ransacking Dr Ward’s library. Kingsley has no idea who these men or what they have done to Dr Ward. Evadne takes Kingsley to her secret hideaway and explains that she is part of the Demimonde, the ‘world of the dispossessed and the fugitive, of outlaws, thieves and cutthroats, of the lost and abandoned, of the strange and uncanny.’ Through alternate chapters Michael Pryor introduces us to other members of the Demimonde: Jabez Soames, the human inside the Demimonde who wheels and deals and knows just how to bargain with the various groups in the Demimonde; the True Humans or Neanderthals (depending on whether you’re one of them or not) who want to wipe out the Invaders (Homo sapiens) by travelling back in time and killing them; and the Immortals, a group of immortal sorcerers who need to inhabit the bodies of children to live the longest. As the story progresses the paths of these various groups cross and it’s up to Kingsley and Evadne to disrupt their plans before it’s too late.
Michael Pryor has once again created a story filled with action, suspense, mystery and fantastic characters. I loved the idea of this group of shady characters lurking underneath London and having a group of Neanderthals that didn’t die out is brilliant. The Immortals at first sounded a little like vampires, but I think they’re far creepier. There’s also a slight hint of the Frankenstein story creeping into this story, as the Immortals create their minions, the Spawn, from their own body parts that they cut off. Like Aubrey in The Laws of Magic, Kingsley is a fantastic character who is intelligent and witty. At first I thought Kingsley’s wolfish nature might be hinting at him being a werewolf, but the true is much more exciting, and is linked with Rudyard Kipling who is also a minor character. Evadne is a girl who can look after herself (and Kingsley at times) and is also incredibly intelligent. There is a sense that there are many layers of Evadne that Kingsley, and the reader, hasn’t been introduced to yet. The Extinction Gambit is the perfect book for anyone who likes their supernatural/fantasy stories without the gushy romance. I can’t wait to see what Michael Pryor has in store for Kingsley and Evadne next.
I’ve been reading lots of short stories lately because we’ve been getting some cool collections of short stories for children and young adults in our library. The Chronicles of Harris Burdick is a collection of short stories written by 14 amazing authors, including Kate DiCamillo, Louis Sachar, Jon Scieszka and Lois Lowry. The stories are based on the original illustrations from the book The Mysteries of Harris Burdick, in which there are only illustrations with a title and caption. I got introduced to this book about 8 years ago when I was at Teacher’s College and have loved it ever since. There’s a whole mystery to the book and where the illustrations have come from. Who was Harris Burdick and why did he disappear after dropping off his illustrations? If you’ve never seen it you should definitely get this from the library to have a go at making up your own stories to go with the pictures.
I love this book! Not only are there so many great stories by some of the best children’s authors, but the book is beautifully designed too. There are stories for everyone in this book, from the magical and funny to the strange and unsettling. There are naughty children, different dimensions, a wizard, floating nuns, aliens, ghosts, and a horrible stepfather who gets his comeuppance. All of the illustrations are amazing and you could make up all sorts of stories about them. I liked some of the stories more than others. Some of them are really strange and others just left me thinking ‘what just happened?’ My favourite story is The Harp by Linda Sue Park, about two sisters who are always bickering and get a spell put on them by a wizard. Get a copy of The Chronicles of Harris Burdick and discover this strange collection of stories from some of your favourite authors.
Two of my favourite things in the world are books and movies, so you can imagine my excitement when I saw the Hugo Movie Companion. The Invention of Hugo Cabret is one of my all time favourite books because of the combination of words and pictures, and I can’t wait to see the movie, which is directed by Martin Scorsese.
The Hugo Movie Companion is a behind-the-scenes look at how Brian Selznick’s book was made into a movie, from the vision of the director, to the costumes, make-up, sets, and editing the footage into the final movie. I was totally engrossed in the book from beginning to end because Brian takes the reader through the process of making the movie. You learn about all the roles that are needed to make a movie, from the director to the animal trainer. There are biographies of each of the actors and film crew, with information about their role in the movie. The book is filled with stunning photos from the movie (some beside Brian’s original illustrations), diagrams, sketches, and historical material from the French cinema archives. I was really interested to read Martin’s reasons for choosing to film in 3D, as it seems to be somewhat overused these days.
One of the reasons I enjoyed this book so much is that it’s written by Brian Selznick himself. You get the impression that Brian is incredibly happy with how the film has turned out and how Martin Scorsese has portrayed his characters. The Hugo Movie Companion is the perfect gift for anyone (kids and adults) who are fans of Brian’s book or just love movies.
What happens when some of the coolest children’s book authors and illustrators play a writing game that starts with one person’s ideas and ends with a novel of 27 episodes? You get The Exquisite Corpse Adventure. The title makes it sound like it should be a horror story, but it’s actually a weird, crazy, funny, out-of-control story put together by some of the coolest authors around. If you’ve read or participated in the FaBo story that Kyle Mewburn started, The Exquisite Corpse is the same idea.
The story starts with twins Nancy and Joe escaping from the circus, where they have lived since they were babies. With the help of different clues, Nancy and Joe search to piece together the Exquisite Corpse and find their parents. Each chapter is written by a different author, so just when you think you know what’s going to happen next, the story can go off in a completely different direction. The story is a little bit like Alice in Wonderland and The Phantom Tollbooth because they meet lots of weird and wonderful characters and get into some tricky situations. The first chapter hooks you in by imagining what could happen in the rest of the story:
“…there is a good chance that Nancy and Joe will have to deal with werewolves and mad scientists, real ninjas and fake vampires, one roller-skating baby, a talking pig, creatures from another planet…plenty of explosions, a monkey disguised as a pirate, two meatballs…and not just one bad guy but a whole army of villains.”
Pick up The Exquisite Corpse Adventure if you dare and be prepared to be taken on a wild ride.
It’s exciting to begin a new series. It’s like taking a first step through a secret door leading to places unknown with tantalising prospect of adventure awaiting. The release of ‘The Extinction Gambit’, the first book of ‘The Extraordinaires’, is just like that.
I also have a strange sensation that comes from leaving a series behind. In May 2011, ‘Hour of Need’ – the last book of ‘The Laws of Magic’ – was published. I’d worked on this series for more than eight years, and having it finally coming to an end was most peculiar. I’d lived with those characters for a long time, after all. I’d worked with them, I’d known their hopes, their dreams, their fears – and they’d been very patient with me as I subjected them to the bizarre, the dangerous and the embarrassing. Waving goodbye to them was sad. It was as if they were leaving home, going off and having more adventures and I wouldn’t be there to write about them.
And so, to ‘The Extinction Gambit’. Like ‘The Laws of Magic’, this new series is set in a world that is delightfully old-fashioned. It’s a world of manners and decorum, of society and class, of being dreadfully proper – and of some of the most stylish clothes you’re ever likely to see. Top hats anyone? Gorgeous lace? Silk capes and gloves?
Unlike ‘The Laws of Magic’, ‘The Extinction Gambit’ isn’t set in an alternative Edwardian world. It’s set fairly and squarely in London in 1908 – the time of the first London Olympic Games. The Olympics form the backdrop to a dizzying adventure that mostly takes place in the Demimonde, mysterious world that lies side by side with the ordinary world. The Demimonde is a world of magic, of lost legends and of sinister plots, of inhabitants who are startling, shadowy and highly unpredictable.
The main characters in ‘The Extinction Gambit’ are Kingsley Ward and Evadne Stephens. Kingsley is a young man, seventeen years old, who has decided to put his studies to one side and pursue a life in the theatre. He has always had a dream to be a stage magician. More than that, he wants to be an escapologist, one of that special breed of magician who escapes from handcuffs, from locked trunks, from straitjackets suspended over a pit of crocodiles. At his first ever professional engagement he meets Evadne Stephens, an astonishingly beautiful, outstandingly talented juggler, who also happens to be an albino and an inventor who delights in building frighteningly lethal weapons and other machines of destruction. She also makes an excellent cup of tea.
When Kingsley’s foster father is abducted, Kingsley hurries to find him. Evadne insists on coming along and soon proves her worth as they plunge into the Demimonde. They flee through drains, tunnels and along London’s long lost underground rivers. They battle ancient magic and strange devices. They encounter the last surviving Neanderthals who are fanatically determined to wipe out the human race. They are assaulted by a trio of immortal magicians who want Kingsley as part of their plan to enslave the world. They are assisted by a famous author who seems to have an agenda of his own.
None of this was what Kingsley had been imagining when he stepped onto the stage of the Alexandra Theatre, and it’s made more difficult for him as he constantly has to struggle with a side of him that is wild, uncontrollable and undeniably wolfish. This is only natural, of course, since he was raised by wolves as a young child.
In short, ‘The Extinction Gambit’ is a helter-skelter fantasy comedy adventure with sandwiches, at the appropriate time.
I’ve had a wonderful time writing ‘The Extinction Gambit’. As usual, I’ve had to undertake mountains of research, but this is almost as much fun as writing the actual story. I’ve uncovered surprising details about the underground geography of London, about the organisation of the Olympic Games and about the nature of Homo Neanderthalis. Much of this didn’t end up in the book, but nothing is ever wasted. After all, we have another two books to come in the series!
One of my favourite Australian authors, Michael Pryor will be joining me on the blog tomorrow to talk about his new book, The Extinction Gambit, the first in his new series, The Extraordinaires. I’m a huge fan of his Laws of Magic series (great mix of fantasy, history and political intrigue for kids/teens) so I’m eager to get my hands on a copy of The Extinction Gambit (due out December 1st). To whet your appetite here is a book trailer for it that Michael himself produced.
The recent trend in the publishing world of dystopian fiction is one that I am embracing whole-heartily. I love the way different authors portray our future society, throwing in a corrupt ruler or organisation, a touch of romance and a mystery that their hero has to solve. The majority of recent dystopian novels are set in America (or what was once America) so it was refreshing to read about a future Britain in Philip Webb’s Six Days.
Cass, her brother Wilbur, and their dad are Scavvs. They work day in, day out ransacking what’s left of London, looking for a lost relic that no one has ever seen. London is one of the only cities in the world left standing after the Quark Wars. The Vlads have taken over control of the city and have forced those still alive to scavenge London to look for the ‘artifact.’ Cass’ brother, Wilbur, believes he knows where the artifact is and he’s determined to find it. When Cass has to rescue her brother from what was once Big Ben, they meet a mysterious boy who looks nothing like a scav. Not only is he not a scav, he’s also not of this world, and he knows the truth about the artifact that everyone is looking for. This artifact has the power to begin and end life on earth and the Vlads will stop at nothing to get hold of it.
Six Days is an original, exciting mix of action, adventure, mystery and science fiction. While I was reading it I was reminded of a quote from Shrek, ‘Ogres are like onions,’ because Six Days is also like an onion – there are so many layers to the story. At first it seems like a dystopian story because you’ve got a future society ruled over by the invading Vlads. Then there’s the mystery of the artifact and the race to find it. There’s also the story of where the artifact has come from and it’s link to the mysterious boy Cass meets in Big Ben. All of these different parts come together in one incredible story that rockets along. Cass is a fantastic narrator and will appeal equally to boys and girls (there’s no gushy romance to put guys off). Philip Webb makes you really care for the characters and that’s what got me so engrossed in the story. One of the reasons I like Six Days so much was because it’s not the first book in a trilogy, so Philip has packed so much into one book and you finish it satisfied that the story has come to a conclusion. I can’t wait to see what Philip Webb writes next!
My Best Friends Are Books 