School is Cool / Fun Fictional Schools

With the first month of school almost finished, I thought it would be fun to round up books that feature fictional schools - that at times seem like a lot more fun than our real schools!

Jedi Academy by Jeff Brown
The School of Good and Evil by Soman Chianani - this is the only book on the list I haven't read yet, but it's been on my to-read list since it was published!
The Dunderheads by Paul Fleischman
Spy School by Stuart Gibbs
The Storybook of Legends by Shannon Hale
Regarding the Fountain by Kate Klise
The Lunch Lady series by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling 
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
The Ability by M.M. Vaughan

Check out my Goodreads shelf for a few more suggestions as well!

Book Review / The Wildwood Chronicles by Colin Meloy

The Wildwood Chronicles by Colin Meloy and illustrated by Carson Ellis has been one of my favorite series ever  since the first book came out.  The presentation of these books is absolutely beautiful with illustrations by Carson Ellis that bring Colin Meloy's quirky and whimsical world to life.  I have been recommending the Wildwood Chronicles to kids and parents every chance I get and I'm sorry to see this series come to an end. 

The third and final book in this series brings all the separate story lines from the second volume together as Prue, Curtis, the reformed Wildwood Irregulars, and Unthank orphans join forces in an epic fight to save the Wood. Absolutely wonderful storytelling and beautiful illustrations seamlessly combine to make this an amazingly satisfying conclusion to an epic series. 

I love the way all three volumes of the Wildwood Chronicles reflect elements of classic fantasy stories like the ones from C.S. Lewis and Tolkien, but is also clearly a product of Meloy's own quirky creative imagination. 

Give this series to readers who have enjoyed the Chronicles of Narnia, the Harry Potter series, or who enjoy their fantasy with a heavy dose of realism.

Book Review / Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant by Tony Cliff

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas holiday!  I'm back after a Picture Book Advent series with a review of a graphic novel for a whole new audience - Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant by Tony Cliff:

This is one swashbuckling graphic novel! Delilah Dirk is an adventurer and sword fighter extraordinaire who rescues Selim, a kind, tea-loving lieutenant and turns his world upside down as the two unwittingly set off together in Delilah's flying boat. From stealing gold from a greedy Sultan to staged explosions, its clear that neither of their lives will ever be the same again!

Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant is a perfect graphic novel to share with new readers of the genre. The book's winning combination of action and beautiful artwork will leave readers wanting more after finishing the last page. In addition, Delilah is a spunky, strong female protagonist that readers will want to root for.  Keep an eye out for upcoming installments of this series on Delilah's website. Give this one to readers age 10 and up.            

Book Review / The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud

I'm starting to think ghosts are the new "paranormal trend" in tween & YA lit...move over vampires and werewolves!  However, that's not necessarily a bad thing; between Shadow Breakers by Daniel Blythe and The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud (set for publication September 17th) as well as this title on my to-read shelf, it's looking like there are some seriously good books coming out this fall!

A dark and dangerous Problem has occurred in London: ghosts, specters, and spirits are appearing all over the city and no one seems to know why. However, kids are the only ones who are able to see these unfriendly Visitors.  As a result, physic detective agencies employing young people as "ghost hunters" have sprung up all over city to help deal with the Problem.

Jonathan Stroud's new series follows the talented and ambitious Lucy Carlyle as she joins an up & coming young agency called Lockwood & Co. Run by the charismatic Anthony Lockwood and his rather dumpy colleague George, Lockwood & Co is run without any adult supervision and as Lucy discovers, is trying desperately to create a legitimate reputation in the ghost hunting business.  After a disastrous and almost deadly job however, Lockwood & Co finds itself facing bankruptcy & closure. Fortunately, a mysterious benefactor offers them a job: survive one night in the most haunted estate in England and the future of their business is secure.  However, things, as usual, are not what they seem and the three intrepid ghost hunters will have to fight for justice, the future of their business, and their very lives before the night is out.

The Screaming Staircase is a wonderfully well-written paranormal fantasy for young adults.  Normally, I'm not a huge fan of scary stories & movies but Stroud's novel was just creepy enough to keep me interested and was balanced out with a healthy dose of humor.  The main premise of the Problem that's pervading London is mysterious & intriguing rather than off-putting, giving readers a sense of a much bigger set of events driving the immediate plot lines.

The characters were probably my favorite part of this novel.  Lucy, Lockwood and George are all seem so different on the surface but as readers get to know each character throughout the book they'll discover the characters have more in common than they thought.  It's because of these hidden similarities that they all work so well as a team.  

I devoured The Screaming Staircase in about three days and I already can't wait for the next installment in the series.  This title is perfect for readers age 10 and up, especially those who are paranormal fans or who are looking for a darker and more challenging read after finishing Rick Riordan's series.

Reviewed from a digital review copy courtesy of NetGalley.

Book Review / Shadow Breakers by Daniel Blythe

I've got a huge "stack" of galleys waiting to be read on my Kindle and Shadow Breakers by Daniel Blythe was the first off of the pile over the weekend.  I'd been reading it in bits and pieces during my lunch breaks at work but couldn't wait to sit down with it for more than half and hour.  Once I did, I couldn't put it down!  It's a definite must-buy for middle/high school or YA collections!



Miranda May has just moved with her mom & baby brother from London to a tiny seaside town in England where nothing seems to happen - until the "Shadow" that has been haunting Miranda's dreams starts showing up around town.  Not only is Miranda desperately trying to ignore the mysterious Shadow", but she meets a group of secretive students who moonlight as paranormal detectives.  They seem to think Miranda has some kind of special skill or power to offer their group as they investigate unexplained occurrences around town.  Miranda isn't sure of herself or of these new friends, but as the world as she knows it begins unraveling faster and faster around her she must come to terms with who (and what) she is and decide where her loyalties truly lie.

Shadow Breakers by Daniel Blythe is a paranormal thriller perfect for tween & teen readers 12 and up. Blythe's writing has a descriptive, cinematic quality that will keep readers' rapt attention as well as send the occasional shiver down their spine!  The story wraps up well by the end of the book but leaves readers wanting to know more about each of the characters as well as a few open story lines for a sequel.  This is a great choice for fans who are ready to graduate from the Percy Jackson series or enjoy Mary Downing Hahn's ghost stories.

Reviewed from a digital ARC courtesy of NetGalley.