The Boundless by Kenneth Oppel

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theboundlessIf you are looking for a book full of suspense and twists, read ‘The Boundless.’ The protagonist, William, is the son of a railroad worker. When the book opens the race to complete the railroad through the deep wilds of the United States is heated. The works is dangerous, the men are desperate, and William is caught in the madness of men seeking fortune, power, and immortality.

While William waits for his father to come down off the mountain from his job laying train tracks, he stumbles upon a traveling circus. A cunning girl catches his eye and lodges herself in his heart for good. William lets her convince him to meet his father in the mountains. He can simply board the train going up and ride the train back down with his father. However, a simple plan rarely remains simple. William heads into the snowy mountains and is reunited with his father. As soon as he thinks he is safe and sound, the crew is about to drive the last stake into the track, his plans are destroyed. A bloodthirsty Sasquatch, a gold hungry railroad worker, and an intricate conspiracy take William on an untamed ride in unchartered territory. Part magical realism, with historical references to the first railroads, there is suspense on every page. It is thrilling, wild, and touching.  Perfect for a 6th-8th grade reader looking for an adventure novel, with full adult appeal as well.

To Purchase this book on Amazon, click here:  The Boundless

Josie Jameson and the Stone Witch by Jennifer Hotes

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Josie-Jameson-and-the-Stone-Witch-CoverJosie Jameson delves deeper into the supernatural, her mother’s unknown powers, and her destiny in the second installment of the Stone Witch Series. When our story opens Josie is in distress, emergency surgery has her in pain, and wracked with confusion. She has all too realistic dreams of old England, with a clear connection to some long hidden secret in her family’s past. This book travels in time through Josie’s dreams. The dreams both explain her present day circumstances, and leave her with unanswered questions. Through her dreams she knows there is an ancient curse drawing her into a world of spiritual mystery. She has a calling of deep purpose, but must seek out answers and find her mother’s hidden secrets. Josie seeks the truth about her mother, and her own identity. In the middle of her spiritual journey she still finds time to graduate from 8th grade and go through ups and downs of friendships and romances.

I loved the historical mystery component, if historical mystery is not a genre, I think Jennifer Hotes just created it. The friendships are more mature, but with a tender coming of age spin. The book is just a touch creepy, in an intriguing and compelling way. A great read, especially if you like history, folklore, and ghost stories woven together.

To purchase this book on amazon, click here: Josie Jameson and the Stone Witch (The Stone Witch series) (Volume 2)

If you liked The Book Thief…

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Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan

echoIf you liked The Book Thief or All the Light We Cannot See, this is your next book, without the sadness.  The value of this novel is two fold; it is a brilliantly written and powerful historical fiction. The story is about three children facing different life circumstances as World War II is unfolding. All the children are musical prodigies, with their own hardships to overcome. The children’s lives follow an invisible magical trail as a harmonica is passed around the world.  Music plays an integral role in the novel; it is the background character orchestrating the life paths of each child.

Their stories seem separate, yet there is a magical and invisible tie that connects their lives. It exemplifies for children the complicated and devastating rise of Adolf Hitler, the irrational and unfair treatment of the Japanese, and the people who never stopped working for good in the face of evil. These hard themes are balanced with the hope of love and family, and the power of music to comfort and create beauty in hard times. The beautiful writing and finely crafted story make this a read for a voracious grade school reader, or any adult.

To Purchase this book from Amazon, click here: Echo

Book Club! Read With Us!

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We are reading The Game of Love and Death by Martha Brokenbrough

To purchase this book on Amazon, click here: The Game of Love and Death

love and death

She is a local Seattle Writer, and I am very excited about this book, I saw her interviewed by Nancy Pearl and it was wonderful.

Here is the interview: It was inspiring, watch it!

http://www.seattlechannel.org/BookLust?videoid=x56548

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Nevin

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If you liked A Fault in their Stars, this is your next book

all-the-bright-placesViolet and Theodore meet in the bell tower of their high school, but begin to actually know each other when they are paired on a school project about the history of Indiana. Violet is popular, Theodore is on the outskirts of every crowd, but they meet in the middle of their own pain, join hands, and step back off the ledge. All the Bright Places is a coming of age, teen angst, wrestling with emotional junk book, done well. I loved The Fault in our Stars because the characters were endearing, the dialogue was sharp and rich with quick banter. This book has the same elements, with characters a reader can care about, relate to, and root for. Indiana’s suburbs and small towns are the backdrop to Violet and Theodore’s friendship, which adds a small town rural feel to the novel. It makes you want to make a mix tape and drive with someone you love. I need to warn you this is a sad book, I was not prepared for the ending, I am glad I had the journey, but I was hoping for a happy ending. Life does not always grant us the happy ending, and this book does not either, but it is a notable young adult read. If you liked A Fault in their Stars or have not read it because of all the hype, this is the Indy version.

To Purchase this book on Amazon, click here:

All the Bright Places