4 Books for Middle Grade (and Older) Readers

Wait! Stop! Don't click away. I know what you're thinking: you don't have kids and you don't read kids' books. What you might not know is that today's juvenile fiction often addresses real-life tough issues, like homelessness, disabilities, gender identity, loneliness, and family problems. Of course, you'll also find plenty of fantasy, historical fiction, and action-adventure too.

I like middle grade fiction because it's devoid of the angst and love triangles that are so common in young adult fiction. I also like to stay in touch with the topics that might be on young people's minds. Plus some of the world's most beloved stories were written for young readers (think Harry Potter, Little House on the Prairie, and Narnia). Finally, it's always fun to be able to recommend books to readers of all ages.

Here are four middle grade novels that are on my list for March.

Brightstorm by Vashti Hardy (illustrated by George Ermos) (Norton Books YR, March 17) is a steampunk action-adventure story starring 12-year-old twins. When their father, a world-renown explorer, is reported dead along with his crew while exploring South Polaris, Arthur and Maudie are suddenly homeless. To make matters worse, there are rumors that their father didn't always play fair. The two find a place on a sky-ship and set off to clear their family name and uncover the truth about their father's doomed expedition.

• Themes: disability, family, self-confidence, learning about others who are different from yourself
• Extras: great illustrations throughout; a map
• Reviews: much praise for good world building, lots of action, appealing characters
• First line: The heavy chug of a sky-ship firing its engines rumbled through Lontown.

The Great Upending by Beth Kephart (Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, March 31) is set on a Pennsylvania farm in contemporary times. As a drought threatens to bankrupt their family, 12-year-old Sara and her brother, Hawk, come up with a scheme that will solve all the family's money problems. Complicating matters are the mysterious man who has rented an apartment on their farm and Sara's ever-growing need for heart surgery. Oh and did I mention their plan involves breaking one of their mother's hard-and-fast rules?

• Themes: family, secrets, troubled times, plans gone wrong (or maybe right)
• Extras: some short chapters are set and read like free verse
• Reviews: praise for Kephart's signature beautiful language and ability to convey strong emotions
• First line: "Moon's in bloom," Hawk says. "Just hanging there. No strings."

City Spies by James Ponti (Aladdin, March 10) has a global setting and features computer-whiz 12-year-old Sara who is given an offer she can't refuse. No, she's not held up by the mafia, but after getting in trouble with the law for hacking a computer to expose her foster parents' wrongdoings, she is given a chance to leave New York to get special training with a secret British youth spy agency. This start of a new STEM action-adventure series sets up the premise and sends Sara and her fellow spies on their first mission: they travel to Paris where they are to catch the bad guy threatening to undermine an environmental summit.

• Themes: working as a team, contemporary issues, using STEM skills, friendship, diversity
• Extras: fun dossiers of the kid spies
• Reviews: good action, diverse cast, relevant to environmental activism
• First line: Sara looked at the water stain on the wall and imagined it was an island.

Blue Skies by Anne Bustard (Simon & Schuster Books YR, March 17) is set in post-World War II small-town Texas and tells the story of 10-year-old Glory Bea, who refuses to give up hope that her father, missing in action since D-Day will still come home. When a good friend of her dad's comes to visit and then to stay after getting to know Mama, Glory Bea isn't happy. She tries to keep the adults apart, despite her grandmother's reputation for being a terrific matchmaker. When she learns a Merci Train will stop in their town, she's even more convinced her father will find his way home. He just has to be on the train filled with gifts from the French people who want to say thank you to America for coming to their rescue.

• Themes: family, grief, relationships, hope
• Extras: introduces readers to the real-life Merci (Thank You) Trains; an author's note gives the history behind the story; includes a bibliography for further reading
• Reviews: good period details, well-developed characters, nicely linked to contemporary issues
• First line: Miracles happen in Gladiola, Texas, population 3,421.

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Today's Read: The Queen of All Crows by Rod Duncan

What would you do if you closest friend--your soul sister, your true family--were lost at sea and presumed kidnapped by notorious pirates? Elizabeth Barnabus disguised herself as a man and set sail on a whaler to find her.

Afternoon sun rendered every colour dazzling: the green and black of the Company flag, limp at the masthead; streaks of orange rust on the white-painted deck housing; the calm ocean, a teal blue; blood blossoming from the carcass of the whale.

—The Queen of All Crows by Rod Duncan (Angry Robot, 2018, opening lines)

Quick Facts

• Setting: an alternate contemporary world; England, the Atlantic Ocean
• Circumstances: Elizabeth Barnabus appeals to the authorities, asking to be hired as a spy to not only find her friend but to gather intelligence about a colony of women pirates who have built a floating island community and live outside the law and society. The first step is to disguise herself as a male ship's scientist for a British whaling ship. Adventure and danger ensue.
• Genre: steampunk women's fiction (is there such a genre?)
• Themes: friendship, gender, women's issues, freedom
• General thoughts: I thought I'd give The Queen of Crows a try because it was the first in a trilogy, and I've enjoyed a couple of steampunk books. To my disappointment, I quickly realized that this book is the beginning of a new adventure for established characters in an established universe: the Gas-Lit Empire. While I wasn't completely lost, the story assumed you knew things about the characters' background and their world.
• The world: An organization called the International Patent Office maintains world peace by controlling (read: suppressing) technological advances. The year is 2012, and the world runs on steam. Society is very male-centric and has shades of the Catholic Church: the men who sign on to be agents for the Patent Office take vows of celibacy. There are a few outlaw countries: of the two we hear about, one has good intentions but operates under the idea of the ends justify the means. The other is just evil.
• Plotting: Elizabeth's adventures on the whaler and then on the floating island are full of danger: she must hide her identity all the time and her gender sometimes, as she searches for her friend Julia. Her life is on the line a couple of times, but I never felt any true sense of impending doom. The story dragged in the middle, and the ending just, well, ended. It wasn't a cliff-hanger and it wasn't satisfying. The story just ended.
• To be fair: I think if I had read Duncan's first trilogy set in the Gas-Lit Empire I would have appreciated this story more. But as it was, I didn't connect strongly to Elizabeth or her mission.
• Final thoughts: If you're curious about a gender-fluid protagonist in a steampunk universe, then I suggest you read Duncan's books from the start instead of beginning here. Personally, I'm not curious enough to read more.
• Audiobook: Genna Whelan's excellent narration of the unabridged audiobook (Random House Audio; 9 hr, 54 min) is what kept me going. I doubt I would have finished the book without her good characterizations and expressive performance. Thanks to Random House for the review copy; the audiobook itself was grand.

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8 New Speculative Fiction Books for Your Wish List

It's just two weeks into the new year, and my reading list is already overflowing. As you know, I enjoy books from many genres, but I will always have a soft spot for speculative fiction, especially fantasy. January is bursting with so many great books for those of us who like to venture into different worlds that I had a hard time narrowing down my choices for today's post. Featured here are the 8 books at the top of my speculative fiction reading list this month. Which titles have you read? Which January releases have I missed?

• Between the Blade and the Heart by Amanda Hocking (Wednesday Books; Jan 2): I really like Hocking’s writing and am looking forward to this first in a young adult fantasy duology (yay! no long series), especially because it features Valkyries. The plot centers on a conflict between a mother and daughter and promises good action, Norse mythology, and young love.
• The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert (Flatiron, Jan 30): You won’t want to miss this young adult contemporary fantasy: It deserves all its prepub hype and starred reviews. The story involves three generations of women, a book of fairy tales with a cult following, and dark magic. This is not your sugar-coated princess kind of tale, but it is bewitching.
• Shadow Weaver by MarcyKate Connolly (Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, Jan 2): Middle grade readers will love this story about Emmeline, a girl who can control and befriend shadows. When her parents decide to “cure” her of magical abilities, Emmeline is caught up in a dangerous game of survival that tests her and her shadow's friendship and loyalties.
• The Wolves of Winter by Tyrell Johnson (Scribner, Jan 2): Looking for an adult dystopian that may seem scarily possible? Johnson's novel is about a woman trying to survive in a frozen, post-nuclear world. The story, set in Canada, has been described as having elements of outdoor adventure, thriller, and coming-of-age.

• Chainbreaker by Tara Sim (Sky Pony Press, Jan 2): This second entry in the steampunk Timekeeper series is set in Victorian (British-occupied) India and stars a gay clock mechanic. Sim’s stories are more than mashups of diversity themes; the fast-paced adventures feature gods, magic, and mythology; clockworks; and time bending, all set on a foundation of facts tweaked into an alternate world.
• Reign the Earth by A. C. Gaughen (Bloomsbury, Jan 30): A trusted publicist told me about this fantasy in which a young woman agrees to marry the enemy king and suppress her magic in return for the safety of her people. After her brother turns rebel and her powers call to her, she must weigh the costs of taking control of her own future.
• Sinless by Sarah Tarkoff (Harper Voyager, Jan 9): What if your sinfulness were made manifest for all to see? In Tarkoff’s dystopian world, each wrong act results in physical disfigurement, but who decides what is good and what is evil? Our hero, the preacher’s daughter, begins to notice the gray areas, making her question everything she’s been taught as true and threatening the very fabric of her world.
• The Beginning Woods by Malcolm McNeill (Sky Pony Press, Jan 9): Although geared to a middle grade audience, this story of a boy found abandoned in bookshop should have wide appeal. Full of magic, dreams, mysterious disappearances, and a quest to a dangerous place, the novel puts a fresh twist on familiar fantasy elements and introduces you to Max, who will win your heart.

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Today's Read: The Fog Diver by Joel Ross

Would you be able to survive in a world of mountaintops and airships? In the distant future, thirteen-year-old Chess and his fellow crew members live on an air raft high above the earth and the thick misty fog that covers all the once-inhabitable lands.

My name is Chess, and I was born inside a cage.

Imagine a wooden platform jutting from a mountain cliff. Now picture a chain falling from that platform and vanishing into the Fog, a deadly white mist that covers the entire Earth.

That's where I was born: locked in a cage, at the end of a chain, inside the Fog.

—The Fog Diver by Joel Ross (HarperCollins / HarperCollins Children's Books, 2015, p. 1)

Quick Facts

• Setting: mountaintops and airships; in the future
• Circumstances: The woman who has provided Chess and his crew with a home has fallen sick, and the young teens don't have enough money to buy her a cure. When trying to raise the funds to save Mrs. E, the kids get on the wrong side of air pirates, junkyard gangs, and a slum lord. Will they survive to help to their friend?
• Characters: Chess, a tetherboy, who dives off the raft into the Fog to search for salvage; Hazel, the captain of the air raft; Swedish, the pilot; Bea, their mechanic; Mrs. E, who acts as their foster mother; various air pirates, slum lords, gang members, and neighbors
• Genre & audience: dystopian with a steampunk feel; despite some techie elements, I wouldn't call this science fiction; the book is geared to middle grade readers
• Topics & themes: friendship, pollution, survival, family, trust, loyalty
• What I like so far: Ross has done a great job creating four distinct characters, each with his or her own personality and skills. The futuristic earth is easy to envision, especially because the items Chess finds in the lands under the Fog are from our own era. Snappy dialogue and fast action keep us invested, as the kids run from rivals and hide from pirates. Readers of all ages will appreciate the corny humor, which also serves to ease the tension. In addition, I sense there might be a little romance brewing, but so far it's pretty tame, age-appropriate stuff.
• Extras: I understand that this is the start of a new series. I hope so, because I really enjoy being in Chess's world. The novel has won several starred reviews.
• Recommendations: Perfect for anyone who likes dystopian and/or steampunk stories. Chess and his friends are resourceful, smart, and independent but still retain enough vulnerability to be likeable and believable. Fun reading for the whole family.

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: What My Family Is Reading

Stacked-Up Book Thoughts are my random notes about books I've read, movies I've watched, books I'm looking forward to, and events I hope to get to.

Even though we're focusing on a hospitalized relative, my family is still reading. Reading offers comfort, a way to escape, and reduces stress.

Here are just a few of the books and magazines that my family and I--aged thirteen to eighty-six--are reading to help ease the long hours at the hospital.

The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros (Vintage, 1991): my mother and older brother just finished this modern classic because they had a chance to see the author at a local book event. They both recommend it. Frog Music by Emma Donoghue (Little Brown, 2014): my husband is reading this because I thought he might like it. He was not immediately hooked but is giving it a chance. And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini (Riverhead, 2014): my brother's girlfriend is reading this on the recommendation of a friend. She's totally absorbed. The Sasquatch Hunter's Almanac by Sharma Shields (Holt McDougal, 2015): one of my nephews recently read this and convinced my parents to give it a try too. All three had a lot of fun dicussing it. The Mapmaker's Children by Sarah McCoy (Crown, 2015): I started listening to this one and am so far fascinated. The Fog Diver by Joel Ross (HarperCollins, 2015): I'm reading this one in an eGalley; fun combo of dystopian and steampunk for middle grade readers. As Red as Blood by Salla Simukka (Skyscape, 2014): I'm also reading this Finnish thriller; I've just started it and am reserving judgment until I get a little farther along.

I've also spotted other family members reading manga, the New York Review of Books, National Geographic, Entertainment Weekly, and various newspapers.

What are you and your family reading?

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Review: The Mark of the Dragonfly by Jaleigh Johnson

In Solace, a land bombarded by debris and meteors from other worlds, thirteen-year-old Piper, an orphan, supports herself by scavenging. She is also a gifted machinist, a skill she learned from her beloved father, and seems to be able to fix everything from watches to music boxes.

While protecting a friend caught out in a meteor storm, Piper discovers the unconscious body of a young stranger. Noticing the girl's tattoo that marks her as being under the protection of the Dragonfly Kingdom, Piper takes her home, dreaming of ransom money. But when Anna wakes up, her memory doesn't fully return; all she knows is that she must escape capture by the evil man who seeks her.

On impulse, Piper helps Anna, fleeing her desolate home town via the 401, the main supply train to and from the royal cities. Once on board, Piper's perceptions of her world, herself, and Anna are forever altered.

Jaleigh Johnson's The Mark of the Dragonfly is an action-packed adventure that introduces us to a world like no other. Although billed as middle grade steampunk, the novel's mix of dystopian, scifi, and fantasy elements and its strong, well-paced plot give the book a much wider appeal.

Young readers will like the bits of steampunk and magic and getting to know Piper, Anna, and their new friends and enemies. Older readers (both adults and teens) will be caught up in the setting and the politics of this strange new world.

This multilayered, genre-bending story would make a great book club selection, and not just for middle grade readers. Discussion topics include friendship, made families (as opposed to birth families), what makes us human, getting past first impressions, sociopolitical divisions, prejudices, and the intricacies of Piper's world.

The Mark of the Dragonfly is the first in a proposed series and thus sets up the larger story to come. Fortunately, it also stands strongly on its own, leaving us wanting to know more but reaching a satisfying conclusion. The novel's complicated and conflicted characters and unique world pull you in, and the hints of future battles, political struggles, and even romance will make you look forward the next dragonfly installment.

If you've had enough of vampires and werewolves but still like to escape reality, place Jaleigh Johnson's The Mark of the Dragonfly on your reading list. You'll love Piper's spunk and Anna's passion for reading and will be as amazed as they are at all they learn about the world of Solace.

I listened to the unabridged audiobook (Listening Library; 9 hr, 49 min) read by Kim Mai Guest. I loved Guest's expressive reading, great characterizations, and excellent pacing. The Mark of the Dragonfly would make a great family listen, perfect for a road trip or rainy-day entertainment.

Published by Random House / Random House Kids / Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 2014
ISBN-13: 9780385376150
Source: Print: review; audio: review (see review policy)
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy)

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Review: Amulet Book Two: The Stonekeeper's Curse by Kazu Kibuishi

Last December I raved about the first of Kazu Kibuishi's Amulet books, a graphic novel series for middle grade readers that, as I said in my review of The Stonekeeper, combines elements of fantasy, adventure, and steampunk. I had high hopes for Amulet Book Two: The Stonekeeper's Curse, and I'm happy to report that Kibuishi didn't let me down.

Although I will not spoil this installment in the series, I can't help but reveal a minor spoiler for the first book. If you want to remain completely in the dark, then you might want to skim or skip the first couple paragraphs.

When book one ends, Emily and her little brother, Navin, have one clear mission. With the help of their mechanical friends they must travel to the city of Kanalis and find a cure for their mother, who has been poisoned. Once at the hospital, the kids learn that the only way to save their mother is to climb a mountain and pick a magical fruit. Sounds simple, but there's a twist: no one who has gone searching for the fruit has ever been seen again.

Meanwhile, the evil elf king is on their trail. He wants to capture Emily so he can tap the power of the amulet she wears. He sends his son and his best warrior to bring him the girl . . . dead or alive. The king has covered all his bases, even ordering the warrior to kill the prince if the boy's rebellious tendencies get the better of him.

The Stonekeeper's Curse keeps young readers (and their parents) on the edge of their seats. Can Emily learn to control her powers? Will she find the fruit and figure out whom to trust? Will the elf king succeed in capturing the amulet? Can the elf prince find a way to escape his father's control? Kazu Kibuishi builds tension, works in tricky dilemmas, introduces new characters, and pumps up the action, nicely avoiding the sophomore slump of many series.

Young readers will love the animal creatures and the mechanical beings and will quickly become fans of Emily and Navin. Kibuishi's characters display a wonderful mix of strength and self-doubt, so no one comes off too good to be true. Although we're all sure Emily will prevail, the plot isn't simple or straightforward. Expect a few surprises as the children gain confidence and learn to believe in their own instincts.

As I mentioned in December, I just love Kibuishi's artwork. The colors in the Amulet books really call to me (check out the two scans; click the images to enlarge them) and it's easy to understand the characters' personalities by their facial expressions and body language. After I finished reading the story, I went back to the beginning so I could spend more time with the illustrations.

If you're looking for an action-packed fantasy with a steampunk bent, pick up the Amulet books. They are perfect for middle grade readers and their parents and make an excellent choice for book clubs. There are many topics to discuss, including family relationships, the nature of power, and the meaning of friendship. The kids face several ethical dilemmas, and these too could jump-start a discussion.

Buy Amulet Book Two: The Stonekeeper's Curse at an Indie or at bookstore near you. This link leads to an affiliate program.
Scholastic / Graphix, 2009
ISBN-13: 9780439846837
Rating: B+
Source: Bought (see review policy)
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy).

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Review: Amulet 1: The Stonekeeper by Kazu Kibuishi

Shortly after I discovered graphic novels a few years ago, I bought Kazu Kibuishi's Amulet: The Stonekeeper, book 1 of a series that is now up to volume 6 of a projected ten-book project. I don't know why waited so long to read it, but I'm so happy I rediscovered this book on my shelves.

The Amulet series is a mix of fantasy, adventure, and steampunk and is perfect for middle grade readers and their parents.

Two years after Emily Hayes's father died in a car accident, her mother moves the family to a small town so they can live in an abandoned house once owned by Mrs. Hayes's grandfather, Silas Charnon. While exploring their new digs, Emily and her brother, Navin, discover a pretty necklace that Emily decides to wear. Later that night, they are awoken by a thumping noise coming from the basement. When the family goes to investigate, Mrs. Hayes is kidnapped by a strange creature. Emily and Navin chase the monster, entering an alternate world in which they learn the secrets of the amulet necklace and look for help saving their mom.

From p. 75

Amulet 1: The Stonekeeper is a fast-moving story that's full of fanciful creatures, mysterious messages, and awesome machines. Emily is forced to make several decisions, including whom to trust and when to use the power of the amulet. The rescue mission is exciting and has unexpected results, which set up the basis for the next book in the series.

I just love the muted blues and teals of the illustrations, which are punched up with a bit of pink (click the scan to enlarge it). The expressions on the characters' faces telegraph quite a bit of emotion, and Kibuishi clearly conveys motion and speed.

The Stonekeeper is a fun and engaging read all on its own but it would also make a great book club selection. Topics for discussion include family responsibilities, brother-sister relationships, loss of a parent, and moving to a new home. I don't want to give away the story, so I have to be vague here, but several of Emily's choices would also make great discussion points, especially because Navin often disagrees with her.

In the following video, Kazu Kibuishi introduces the series and then talks about the production process. The colors in the video are much more vibrant than the finished book.

Buy Amulet #1: The Stonekeeper at a bookstore near you (link leads to an affiliate program).
Scholastic / Graphix, 2008
Rating: B
ISBN-13: 9780439846813
Source: Review (see review policy)
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy).

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Review: Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

Aleksandar Ferdinand--the son of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his commoner wife, Sophie Chotek--is secreted out of the Austro-Hungarian palace only hours after he becomes an orphan. In the dead of night, loyal countrymen, Otto Klopp (master of mechaniks) and Count Volger (fencing master), help Alek into a Cyklop Stormwalker to begin their escape to the Swiss Alps.

Meanwhile, young Deryn Sharp wants nothing more than to join the British Air Service and become a pilot. There is just one large problem: The service doesn't accept girls. Nevertheless, her brother, Jaspert, has been coaching her in aerology and the use of a sextant. She plans to pass the entrance tests and muster in disguised as a boy.

After air battles and land skirmishes, Alek and "Dylan" Sharp meet on a glacial field in Switzerland. The teens, each hiding behind a false identity, must decide whom to trust.

Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan is a steampunk novel that offers an alternative look at the start of World War I. Deryn and Alek's world is divided by two principal ideologies: One that believes in breeding and harnessing living machines and one that relies on building nuts-and-bolts inanimate devices. Although the particulars are fresh, the foundation of Leviathan's Europe is utterly familiar; thus the reader is immediately at home.

The action will keep you turning the pages, but the characters make the novel shine. Deryn is so likable, you cannot help but root for her; she is smart and capable but is also a bit lost in the world of boys and sometimes finds it difficult to keep her gender hidden. Alek is both brave and fool-hearty, and we hope that he will find a way to deal with his parents' deaths and his changing status.

If you are unsure about steampunk, you might want to try Leviathan because it is quite accessible. The machinery is, of course, key to the story, but Westerfeld makes sure the reader doesn't become bogged down in new terminology. Furthermore, the novel is wonderfully illustrated by Keith Thompson, and the black-and-white charcoal (pencil?) drawings are not to be missed.

I listened to the unabridged audio edition (Simon & Schuster, 8 hr, 20 min) read by Alan Cumming. Cumming was a great pick for Leviathan; his expressiveness, accents, and pacing kept me glued to my mp3 player. As I listened, I was fortunate enough to have a print copy at hand so I didn't miss out on the fabulous artwork.

Both the audio and the print book end with an author's note that talks a little bit about the nature of steampunk and where (besides the obvious) Leviathan departs from historical fact.

Leviathan's story continues in Behemoth (also narrated by Cumming), and I can't wait to listen to it. I'm holding out, however, until I buy a print copy, so I can see Thompson's illustrations as the novel progresses.

The book trailer gives you sense of both the story and the illustrations (it is not narrated by Cumming).

Leviathan at an Indie

Leviathan at Powell's

Leviathan at Book Depository
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Published by Simon & Schuster / Simon Pulse, 2009
ISBN-13: 9781416971733
YTD: 6
Source: Bought (see review policy)
Rating: B+
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy)

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Thursday Tea: Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

A few weeks ago I listened to Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare. The novel is the first in a new series, called The Infernal Devices, and is apparently considered a prequel to Clare's Mortal Instruments series (which I have not read). Although I own several Steampunk books, this is the first one I've read. (Or is Tan's work considered Steampunk?)

The Book. Tessa Gray is alone in New York after her aunt dies and is grateful when her brother arranges to bring her to London so they can be together. From the moment Tessa steps off the boat, nothing goes according to plan.

The two old ladies who have come to fetch Tessa show her a Victorian London that most of us mundanes (humans) have never seen. She learns that witches, vampires, shadowhunters, and other beings of the Downworld are real and that she herself has hidden talents. Caught in the middle of a struggle for control of both the mundanes and the Downworld, Tessa must decide whom to trust and if and how to use her own powers.

The Tea. It has finally gotten cool enough to drink hot tea in the afternoons. This week, I'm drinking Peet's Masala Chai. This particular blend includes "pungent Assam and South India broken leaf teas . . . with cinnamon, ginger, cardamon, cloves, and fresh-ground tellicherry peppercorns." Peet's suggest that you drink it with milk and sugar, but I have opted for just a little honey instead. The tea is not my favorite chai blend, but I would likely buy it again.

The Assessment. The novel takes place in Victorian England, and there was certainly plenty of tea being drunk. I'm not so sure the mundanes would be drinking chai, but Tessa and other beings of the Downworld would probably find the Eastern flavors and aromas of this tea to be just perfect.

Mini Review. Clare did an excellent job developing an alternative world, and her take on witches, demons, vampires, and other creatures is fresh. The conflicts Tessa faces--from her relationship with her brother to discovering her true identity to her first feelings of love--are complex and keep the reader engaged. This is a new to me genre, so I'm not sure if the novel is typical of Steampunk, but I am definitely looking forward to more. The audio edition of Clockwork Angel is read by Jennifer Ehle, who is an experienced narrator. Although I enjoyed the audiobook, I felt that Ehle could have made a stronger emotional bridge between listener and characters. Regardless, I'm looking forward to listening to the next book in the series.

Clockwork Angel at an Indie

Clockwork Angel at Powell's

Clockwork Angel at Book Depository
For the audio edition, click on the buttons in the sidebar.
These links lead to affiliate programs.

Thursday Tea was the brainchild of Anastasia at Birdbrain(ed) Book Blog.

Published by Simon & Schuster / Margaret K. McElderry Books, August 2010
ISBN-13: 9781416975861
YTD: 100
Source: Review (see review policy). Audio review published by AudioFile magazine.
Rating: B
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy)

FTC: I buy all teas myself, I am not a tea reviewer.

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