Grip of the Shadow Plague (Fablehaven, book 3), by Brandon Mull

Disclaimer: All reviews are the result of my personal opinion from a Christian stand-point. These reviews are provided for those who share my beliefs and morals, to help guide what fiction a reader may wish to pick up. For those who do not share these beliefs, please refrain from hateful comments. It is due to rude commenting that I must now include this note prior to all reviews. For more information, visit my purpose behind this blog. Thank you for your understanding..

Fablehaven: Grip of the Shadow Plague, by Brandon Mull, got its grip on me (though thankfully not with the shadow plague). I read it over the course of several days, but each time took great effort to put it down (a skill I have been forced to master by the need for sleep).

Kendra and Seth are still in Fablehaven with their grandparents after the Sphinx just escaped with one of the five magical artifacts. Still deciding whether or not the Sphinx is evil, the Fablehaven-ers are forced again on quests to retrieve more artifacts so as to hide them in a more secure place. But a dark plague grips the Fablehaven preserve, turning good creatures evil and wreaking havoc on all inhabitants. Having never seen a plague of this sort, the caretakers, Kendra, Seth, and some Knights of the Dawn, must fight for their lives and seek to solve the impossible mystery. They encounter more demons, complex traps, and learn about the mysteries of Kendra being "fairykind" and Seth being immune to fear.

Book 3 is a bit darker than the first two, but look at the title. It has the words "shadow" and "plague" in it, what did you expect? Somehow, author Brandon Mull manages to write the dark elements in a lighter way. He doesn't drag the reader into depression (*cough* Mockingjay *cough*) or script grotesque details of the darkness and evil.
It is still a bit scary for younger readers, though. Fairies turn dark and mischievous, brownies (not the food) turn black and set traps to kill, skewer, maim, and decapitate the occupants of the main house (aka. the characters we love), and satyrs turn into furry dark goats with sharp teeth and curling horns. Sounds amusing, but wait until you turn the page at 11pm and suddenly there's a creepy picture of a screaming goat-satyr in your face. Not pleasant.

All in all, the book is incredibly creative. Mull keeps pulling original ideas out of a magical hat that I envy. ;) Then he writes them in an easily understood way and put believable, humorous characters into the center.
He is truly a talented author.
I think the Fablehaven books remain age-appropriate and clean. I do want to warn that there is some death in this book--though it's not hugely dwelt upon. Just like almost all books, Fablehaven keeps striding into a bit more seriousness and darkness. Thankfully, Mull pulls us out of the darkness every time.

Again, there was no sure mention of God, but at one point a character comes into the story and asks Seth to "pray for him". He's a very admirable character and it leads one to wonder what he believes in the matters of faith.

Now that I've gone through three of the five Fablehaven books, I am setting them down (partially because it's time to move on, and partially because I don't own the last two). Next book on the list is Dragonspell, by Donita K. Paul--a Christian children/teens fantasy novel, which is rising in popularity. Her books can usually be found on the shelf at Barnes and Noble--sometimes in the Christian section, sometimes in the general fantasy section. I look forward to seeing what this book holds. I know there's promise.

After that, we go through the entire Harry Potter series (with a few other books in between for sanity's sake). I'll be putting the review of the last book up a couple weeks before the last movie comes out (Thanksgiving time).

Now, time for some new hiking boots. These novels have endless adventures.....but I love it. ;)

Violence Level: ***

Romance Level: ** (We have a crush going on ;)

Christian Focus: *

Readability Level: ****

Story Depth Level: ****

Recommendation: ****

For a more detailed explanation of the above ratings, visit the 6-Point Nutshell post.


Nadine Brandes is an adventurer, fusing authentic faith with bold imagination. She writes stories about brave living, finding purpose, and other worlds soaked in imagination. Her debut dystopian novel, A Time to Die, releases 2014 from Marcher Lord Press, the premier publisher of Christian speculative fiction. When Nadine's not taste-testing a new chai or editing fantasy novels, she is out pursuing adventures. She currently lives in Idaho with her husband. You can find out more about Nadine and her books at http://nadinebrandes.com.

A faithful quote.

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"No man can be called friendless who has God and the companionship of good books."
~Elizabeth Barrett Browning

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Nadine Brandes is an adventurer, fusing authentic faith with bold imagination. She writes stories about brave living, finding purpose, and other worlds soaked in imagination. Her debut dystopian novel, A Time to Die, releases 2014 from Marcher Lord Press, the premier publisher of Christian speculative fiction. When Nadine's not taste-testing a new chai or editing fantasy novels, she is out pursuing adventures. She currently lives in Idaho with her husband. You can find out more about Nadine and her books at http://nadinebrandes.com.

Why Am I Qualified to Review?

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I provide reviews--summaries of books along with my personal opinion of quality.

But who am I? Why am I qualified to write these reviews? Am I qualified?


My Life
I grew up scouring the library every week with hopes for a new adventure between pages. In the younger years, 5-11ish, it wasn't so hard. No books held threatening material. But then I reached the teen years.
I was just figuring out what it meant to be a daughter of Christ and wanted to read books with Christian themes in them. Yes, books like Stranger's Bride, A Gown of Spanish Lace and Love Comes Softly all had Christian themes--Godly romance. (In some cases, cheesy Godly romance. ;)
Even though teenage girls could like romantic themes, in my case, it would have been nicer if the romance took place in a castle dungeon guarded by a dragon and eyebrow-eating rats. A young Christian girls can only read The Chronicles of Narnia and Pilgrim's Progress so many times.

I ended up resorting to classics, which may label me as a "smart kid" (though I don't think I understood half of them), but they never really satisfied the young imagination and appetite for adventure. I just didn't know what was out there and I didn't know what was "okay" to read.

I believe a child's imagination needs to grow and novels help that. There's always a place for logic and feet firmly planted on the floor, but those places should never come too early.
"But what about in the old days when they didn't have any books?" you may ask. You're right, they didn't have books, but they had amazing memories and stories that they would tell to each other. Word for word. Not missing a beat. So children then still heard of daring rescues and evil enemies that met defeat.
Nowadays we don't tell stories. Not really. But many do write them--a comforting fact. But what happens when the child can't find the story? Or that little girl has no faith in the author like she would in her Dad. She can trust her Daddy's stories--he has her best interest at heart. But can she trust this stranger's book?

So I write reviews on both Christian and nonChristian adventure/fantasy novesl for children/teens. 1) To help them figure out what is "ok" (with their own standards) to read and what's not. 2) To help them have a broader knowledge of what books are available. And 3) to help children and parents to learn about trustworthy vs. untrustworthy authors.

Which author will weave a solidly moral theme through the story with a life-learning conclusion? Which author will shove unwanted swear-words and intimate romance scenes into the story? Which author is writing with a purpose to pull you up into light with questions and wonders about life?
Which author is writing to pull you down to a dark "realistic" place of life so you can experience what true depression feels like? (Who wants that?)


My Book Knowledge
In the past 7 1/2 years, I have read 265 books (yes, I keep track. And yes, I know it's nerdy). That's approximately one book every 10 days. Translation: I read a lot. And I have the knowledge of an avid (slightly robid and obsessive) reader.

I'm Opinionated
The bold part says it all.
I'll read a book and write in a notebook my opinion about it, even if no one reads it. I form a valid (in my mind) opinion and try to look at all the angles.

My Interest in This GenreI have a passion for children and teen fantasy literature (and readers). Why? Because I always wanted well-written Christian novels as a kid (classics don't count). And because I am writing a novel for these age groups. As a hopeful author-to-be, it is important for me to stay up to date on what is out there. What's new. What's on the shelves. And what's good. Because I am seeking to be a trustworthy, moral-based, God-focused author. I don't want to let readers down.


So after all these explanations, am I "qualified" to write reviews? I guess that's up to you. I have no degree in English or history of Literature. I have conducted no studies on children/teen books. I haven't looked at the politically correct criteria of what's acceptable for children and teens to read nowadays. But I'm passionate, well-read, and trying to stay focused on God.




Nadine Brandes is an adventurer, fusing authentic faith with bold imagination. She writes stories about brave living, finding purpose, and other worlds soaked in imagination. Her debut dystopian novel, A Time to Die, releases 2014 from Marcher Lord Press, the premier publisher of Christian speculative fiction. When Nadine's not taste-testing a new chai or editing fantasy novels, she is out pursuing adventures. She currently lives in Idaho with her husband. You can find out more about Nadine and her books at http://nadinebrandes.com.


Fantasy lion picture: http://www.holyworlds.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=409&p=9688
man-on-books picture: http://www.bearcave.com/bookrev/revindex.htm

Rise of the Evening Star (Fablehaven, book 2), by Brandon Mull

Disclaimer: All reviews are the result of my personal opinion from a Christian stand-point. These reviews are provided for those who share my beliefs and morals, to help guide what fiction a reader may wish to pick up. For those who do not share these beliefs, please refrain from hateful comments. It is due to rude commenting that I must now include this note prior to all reviews. For more information, visit my purpose behind this blog. Thank you for your understanding.

Summary:
Intended Age-Group: 9
Issues of Violence: fantasy violence, some scary creatures and descriptions
Intimacy Level: non-romantic kiss
Language: none

Recommendation: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Blurb:
Rise of the Evening Star (Fablehaven, book 2), thrusts Brandon Mull's imagination into a labyrinth of creativity and he dominates once again. Kendra and Seth knew Fablehaven could be in danger in the future, but "future" suddenly becomes "present" when the last week of school ends with a literal bang.

A 'kobols' (a type of goblin) appears in Kendra's classroom the last week of school, only she sees him for what he is--an enemy. Creatures are after her and she doesn't know why. Desperate escape takes her and Seth back to Fablehaven where their injured grandpa introduces them to magical professionals. These professionals train Kendra and Seth right away in the use of different potions, protections, and magical skills. These skills will help them protect the secret artifact hidden on the Fablehaven preserve--an artifact that the Society of the Evening Star wants to steal. When a traitor is revealed in their midst and takes over the house, Kendra and Seth are forced into the thick of things again, relying on their limited knowledge of Fablehaven to save the preserve and possibly the world.

First Impression: *****
Naturally, book 2 is not as good as book 1. But that's not because of writing. It is because book 1 will always hold that special feel of "discovery" that happens when opening a new book and entering a new world. But Rise of the Evening Star is packed with even more adventure, magical creatures, and twists. It takes a more serious turn, however, delving into the darker side of Fablehaven--glutton demons, vampires, traitors, and buffalo-devouring giants (but of course!) Some sections are predictable, but others are full of nice (then again, maybe not) surprises. I enjoyed discovering more about Fablehaven (even if it was nail-biting at times) through Kendra's new talents, Seth's insatiable curiosity, and Mull's unending humor.

Characters: *****
As usual, Kendra and Seth are a delightful example of realistic sibling interaction. I'm growing more and more attached to them. I admire the way they have to push through their annoyances and differences to tackle serious topics and dangers together.

Spiritual Content: *****
Book 2 is not without its setbacks, however. Many of the enemies of Fablehaven are demons or involved with demons, which can cause a Christian reader to pause. In reality, demons are not something to be joked about or dwelt upon. But in the Fablehaven series, they are twisted into a more fantasy-type description and not necessarily as dark as real demons.

There are no Christian themes in this book, just as with the first. But for a secular children's fantasy, it remains relatively clean--no language, no romance (except for one non-romantic kiss), and no gore. 

Writing: *****

No descriptions go into unnecessary gore. Mull just brings the reader into a more serious and slightly darker fight within Fablehaven. He makes sure the reader feels the same amount of fear, tension, and gravity as the characters do.

There are a few...*ahem*...'less appetizing' descriptions. One creature has a nail lodged in its neck, another creature devours a buffalo with disgusting relish. At one point, several enemy bones are broken *shudder*. I've never liked the thought of, sound of, experience of, or description of breaking bones (but at least it's the enemy, right?)

Overall Recommendation:
I enjoyed Rise of the Evening Star and have started book 3 already. The stories are truly a work of creative imagination, from the description of faeries to the creation of a three-headed, horse-sized, venom-spewing, flying panther. Do not read at night, it's hard to put down. :-)

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Nadine Brandes is an adventurer, fusing authentic faith with bold imagination. She writes stories about brave living, finding purpose, and other worlds soaked in imagination. Her debut dystopian novel, A Time to Die, releases 2014 from Marcher Lord Press, the premier publisher of Christian speculative fiction. When Nadine's not taste-testing a new chai or editing fantasy novels, she is out pursuing adventures. She currently lives in Idaho with her husband. You can find out more about Nadine and her books at http://nadinebrandes.com.

How to Read a Book

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How many times have you flippantly snatched a book off a shelf, opened it with a nonchalant shrug, and gotten sucked in like you stepped into a whirlpool?
Or, on the other side of the coin, how many times have you anxiously built up tension toward opening a book with a fabulous cover, a good description, and lots of promise, only to find it dull and unrewarding?

I want to help you figure out how to read a book. Or at least, how to prepare yourself for reading a book for the first time.



Reading a book is an intense and adventurous feat, though many may be unaware of the details involved in the process.
I've decided that the first and most important decision the reader must make when picking up a new book is to promise the book his or her full attention and involvement. This is both for the book's sake, the author's sake, and the reader's benefit.

The book's sake: you're giving it a chance to prove itself that it has a message to send and that it will steer you along with it.

The author's sake: an author doesn't just sit down and right a book randomly. He/She writes with a purpose and does his/her utmost to deliver a message. The author writes and edits as best as possible, hoping to provide the reader with the ultimate experience. Success in this area makes a good writer. An author's one reward for writing a book (other than minimal royalties) is when a reader gives the book full attention and respect.

The reader's benefit: the reader (that's you) is extracting the fullest enjoyment from this book's story.

The first read of a book is, as I tend to think of it, the "inaugural read". You will never be able to experience the same feelings, reactions, and emotions to the same extent when reading a book for a second time. This book may leave you wanting to re-experience it all over again every day. Or it will leave you severely disappointed with a desire to burn each individual page.

This is why it is so important to enjoy it as much as possible the first time through. That may be your last chance.

When I read a book, I'm deeply vulnerable to the main character's plight and trials (unless I dislike the story and/or characters from the start). I get so deep into the story that its essence stays with me even while I'm not reading it.
Sometimes, when I finish reading a book for the first time, the era and feel of the book makes me only want to read books just like it. For example, with the Mark of the Lion series (F. Rivers), I only wanted to read well-written, deep, early-A.D., historical romance (until that glorious sensation fades).
If you are left with this feeling once you close a book, the author did a job well done.




So in a nutshell, when you pick up a book, give it the benefit of the doubt. Open your mind and heart to enjoying it as fully as possible. Give it your full attention--a little respect. Don't attempt to read it when you're on a couch in the middle of a party or a crowd. Settle down for a few chapters. Allow yourself to be sucked in to the character's point of view. Let yourself experience something new and unfamiliar. Enter that other world, even if the setting is the next neighborhood over. This is a way to truly travel without leaving your home. :)


Some of my most memorable "inaugural reads" are:
The Hobbit (J. R. R. Tolkien)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (J. K. Rowling)
A Voice in the Wind (Francine Rivers)
And Then There Were None (Agatha Christie)Mara, Daughter of the Nile (Eloise Midgen)
By Darkness Hid & To Darkness Fled (J. Williamson)
The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins).

I have a story behind each of these books--my location, why I picked it up, my time in life, where it took me.
Every story leaves you with a story. Share it.

So, tell me about some of your favorite reads. I want to hear about your greatest experiences with books! Here are some questions that could help get you started:

What book took you on your greatest adventure? (Doesn't necessarily need to be your favorite book)
What's your setting behind reading that book? (Lonely in Jr. High? It was the only book on the shelf? Recommended by a trustworthy friend?)
What are some other books that are more a part of you than just a book on the shelf?



Nadine Brandes is an adventurer, fusing authentic faith with bold imagination. She writes stories about brave living, finding purpose, and other worlds soaked in imagination. Her debut dystopian novel, A Time to Die, releases 2014 from Marcher Lord Press, the premier publisher of Christian speculative fiction. When Nadine's not taste-testing a new chai or editing fantasy novels, she is out pursuing adventures. She currently lives in Idaho with her husband. You can find out more about Nadine and her books at http://nadinebrandes.com.

(Boy reading picture found at: http://www.sodahead.com/living/could-you-live-in-the-bathroom-for-five-days/question-1169879/?link=ibaf&imgurl=http://www.insidesocal.com/bargain/boy_reading_book.gif&q=how%2Bto%2Bread%2Ba%2Bbook)
(Nutshell picture found at: http://www.gemsroad.com/index.php?p=1_11_Our-Vision)
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Mockingjay, by Suzanne Collins (Hunger Games, book 3)

Disclaimer: All reviews are the result of my personal opinion from a Christian stand-point. These reviews are provided for those who share my beliefs and morals, to help guide what fiction a reader may wish to pick up. For those who do not share these beliefs, please refrain from hateful comments. It is due to rude commenting that I must now include this note prior to all reviews. For more information, visit my purpose behind this blog. Thank you for your understanding.

Mockingjay, the last book of the Hunger Games trilogy, by Suzanne Collins, was disappointing. Not just disappointing, but unpleasant. I won't even pretend that I found any redeeming qualities in it, and it's going to be near impossible to provide a neutral, informative review; but I'll give it my best shot.


Katniss Everdeen is now in the real games. Not the Games made by the Capitol, but the ones that mean fighting against the Capitol. A revolt has risen, but it's weak and leaderless. Everyone is demanding Katniss's leadership as the Mockingjay. It's a hard step for her to imagine. The internal question of will she do it is topped by the thread of doubt, can she do it? Her best friend (and possibly more), Gale, is beside her with his advice and his agenda, finally joining the action--something he's wanted to do ever since he grew old enough to recognize the Capitol's control.
Peeta (Katniss's lover-on-screen-but-who-knows-what-behind-the-scenes companion) is in the hands of the Capitol. They're using him as a weapon against her.

Living in the old District 13 with the rebel group, Katniss finds herself thrust into battles on camera as filmed inspiration for the rebels. But part of her feels like a pawn--this time in the hands of the rebel leaders, not the Capitol. When District 13 is forced to take the final steps to attempt an overthrow of the Capitol, Katniss must make her decisions. Decisions that jeapordize her life, the lives of her friends, the lives of her family, and (predictably) the lives of all Panem.


Positives:
First, the fact that Collins keeps the book's focus strictly on the fight for freedom. The romance/love-triangle is still in existence, but it never dominates the story. Second, there is one scene in the book that is actually happy. I clung to all two-and-a-half pages of it. Not only does it lift the spirits of the characters, but it lifts the spirits of the readers...for a time.
At last, Collins still holds on to her brilliant skill of ending a chapter with a gasp. I've never seen an author pull this off as consistently as she has. Page-turning to a T. However, I did not read this book in one sitting (as I did with the other two). I read it over the healthy course of three days.


Negatives:
(I'm afraid this will be fairly long) We'll start with the insignificants:
Mr. Model (as mentioned in my Catching Fire review) shows up in his undies instead of a fishing net with a knot. There's torture again in this book (in more detail this time). Old victors are sold as prostitutes after the Games (male and female). And more kissing (though not as much, until the last chapter ends with the "consummation of love" between Katniss and her man-of-choice).

As much as I despise messy love-triangles, I despise sloppy, last-minute endings even more, which is how the Katniss-Gale-Peeta triangle ended. If I'm going to be forced to sit through the angst of attraction through three books, I better come out of it with a stinkin' good ending (even if it's cheesy). But no, everything "romantic" in the Hunger Games series is concluded in two measly pages of thrown-together afterthought.

Collins spends the majority of Mockingjay bringing the reader into the ugliness of war--the realness of war. And I don't think this is good. No one needs to see war at such a descriptive and realistic level. Our world already has to live it.

Collins also changes our beloved character, Katniss, into a girl unrecognizable--hollow, passive, self-focused...she's not the same girl we came to love. She's not the "girl on fire" anymore.

The deaths in Mockingjay are descriptive, creative, and gruesome. I skimmed over many of them (a rare thing for me), just anxious for the book to finish. It finally did, with an incomplete, unsatisfactory, depressing ending. Nothing came together as it should. Everything went wrong. And during the peak of action, Collins kills off a conclusion with a dazed type of writing. The main character is in a daze, leaving the reader in a daze. I wonder if the author was in a daze.

I, personally, hated it. I have found many five-star reviews, but almost all of them say that they liked the book because it was "a war book". And they're right. The book puts war on your doorstep, wiping it's uninvited shoes on your welcome mat. But you can get a similar feeling by joining our troops in Iraq--or any troops at war, for that matter. It leaves you with pain. Pain of different levels, of course--real soldiers at war will come home far more scarred than a 23-year-old grad student curled up with a book. But the book is still dark. Still disturbing. Too real with no hope. No, it did not follow the common thread of happily-forever-after. Instead, it weaves a tapestry of bitterly-forever-shattered.

As stated, there is no hope in Mockingjay, which comes off as "realistic" to many readers. But instead, it's just feeding the world the same heartbreaking lies--there's no hope. There's nothing worth living for. There's no God.
No wonder one of the world's biggest questions is, "What's the point of life?"


Suzanne Collins was asked in an interview, "What do you hope readers will come away with when they read The Hunger Games Trilogy?"

(This should be the driving question for authors. The reason behind why they write).

Collins answers, "Questions abut how elements of the books might be relevant in their own lives. And if they're disturbing, what they might do about them." (Full interview found here).

She wants the reader to come away with questions about issues in the book--the issue of war, the issue of purpose, the issue of government-control, the issue of the world's future. And she doesn't mind if they're disturbing questions. The problem is, these are questions the entire world will be asking for the rest of its life. With no clear answers. Why is there always war? Why can't we avoid it? How could we have done things better in the past with our government? What is our future going to look like?
And Collins is expecting teenagers (her target audience) to search within themselves for answers to these questions? All her books are doing is saying, "Hey, here are the same painful issues our world is going through, but in story form, with a depressing ending."

One review I found accurate and helpful was by Suzanne G. on Amazon. Her review has spoilers (gives away the story) and is written in an adult banner, but if you're not going to read book 3 and you don't mind the spoilers, I think her review is worth a read. But be aware that she does use mild language.


Here is my conclusion: read book one if you want, but go no further. Or skip the series altogether. As well-written, well-imagined, and well-delivered as The Hunger Games, book 1 was, I don't think it's good enough to compensate for the disappointment of book 2, or the brutality and repulsiveness of book 3. I wish I had never read past the first and just clung to my own imagination of an ending.

I do not recommend this book for anyone, even if it stays within PG-13 limits (pushing it...). It is effective in making the reader feel what the character is feeling--398 pages of depression, frustration, mistrust, anger, and hopelessness. What do you expect to feel when you're done? I felt the need for Christ--to open my Bible or pick up a devotional. Or even just grab a happy book to get me out of the funk that Mockingjay put me in.
It is unhealthy and damaging to the focus on Christ that we should be having. So, if you've read book 1 or even book 2, put down book 3, write your own ending, and leave it at that. Then read something wholesome.

That's what I'm going to do--pretend I never read Mockingjay. I'll imagine things ending how I wish they had, and I'm going to snag a Christian fantasy novel as my next read.

Good bye Hunger Games...I hunger for you no more.

Violence Level: ***** (inappropriate)

Romance Level: *** (In the last chapter, it insinuates sex, but there is no detail or specific words used.)

Christian Focus: *

Readability Level: ***

Story Depth Level: **** (Sadly, not as deep or well-thought as the first two)

Recommendation: *

For a more detailed explanation of the above ratings, visit the 6-Point Nutshell post.



Nadine Brandes is an adventurer, fusing authentic faith with bold imagination. She writes stories about brave living, finding purpose, and other worlds soaked in imagination. Her debut dystopian novel, A Time to Die, releases 2014 from Marcher Lord Press, the premier publisher of Christian speculative fiction. When Nadine's not taste-testing a new chai or editing fantasy novels, she is out pursuing adventures. She currently lives in Idaho with her husband. You can find out more about Nadine and her books at http://nadinebrandes.com.
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Catching Fire, by Suzanne Collins (Hunger Games, 2)

Disclaimer: All reviews are the result of my personal opinion from a Christian stand-point. These reviews are provided for those who share my beliefs and morals, to help guide what fiction a reader may wish to pick up. For those who do not share these beliefs, please refrain from hateful comments. It is due to rude commenting that I must now include this note prior to all reviews. For more information, visit my purpose behind this blog. Thank you for your understanding.

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Catching Fire, by Suzanne Collins (the sequel to The Hunger Games), did not catch my imagination on fire. The good writing continues, a good plot continues, but there's a crudeness to this book. It may have stemmed fromthe fact that Katniss Everdeen's life has taken a tougher turn than before the Games and she's now thrust into a less pleasant lifestyle while the Capitol tries to ruin everyone's lives. I did not enjoy book 2 as much as book 1 (then again, sequels are never a match for the first one--unless it's Toy Story).

Katniss is living in a nicer house with nicer clothes and money. But around her, the people of District 12--her people--are barely surviving. And that's before the Capitol sends in the Peacekeepers to whip (literally) everyone into shape. Katniss is forced to continue playing along with the Capitol's wishes if people she loves are to live. But then President Snow takes the Districts on a surprising and nasty twist, sending Katniss and other loved ones spiraling into another nightmare. But in the midst of this, Katniss is seeing pendants with her Mockingjay charm on it, cookies with the Mockingjay stamped on their faces, and people are looking to her for leadership. But leadership in what?

No matter how hard the Capitol tries, they can't completely subdue a growing revolt. But they can take down as many as they can (including entire Districts) with just the push of a button. Katniss is so worried about those who might die, that she fails to realize she's at the top of the hit list. And she's trapped.

I read this book in one sitting, just like the first one, though it was not quite as page-turning. Catching Fire pursued what I wanted it to--more focus on freedom and government than on the love triangle (although the love triangle was in there). I was happy to see that the main character remained smart, that she made the right choice (aka. the choice I wanted her to make), and that the love triangle was not filled with angst and immaturity. We follow every thought of Katniss's and, to the credit of the author, Katniss thinks like a human being, not a fictional character. But there are also the expected signs of non-Christian thinking.

At one point, Katniss gets drunk. Like the first book, there is frequent mention of alcohol (more-so in book 2) and it's not hugely looked down upon, it's more of a joke. But unlike book 1, there are also mentions of eating disorders (encouraged in the Capitol so people can eat as much as they want. Katniss does not condone), prostitution (also looked down upon by Katniss, but still mentioned), and the phrase "knocked up" is used once. There's more kissing--about the same amount as book 1--but there is another matter in which Peeta (Katniss's Hunger Games companion who is in love with her) sleeps with Katniss because she has nightmares.

Nothing romantic takes place, but there are several nights that he joins her in bed just because she wants the company and comfort. At one point, Katniss feels a bit immoral about Peeta sleeping with her, but it's mentioned in passing.

There is more violence in Catching Fire than The Hunger Games. Descriptions go more indepth on the way people die, the heartlessness of the Capitol, whipping, guns to heads, murders, etc. And there's a lot of nudity. One girl frequently flaunts her naked body and a man who's taken the breath away from the Capitol by his good looks wears only a fishing net in one scene (with a rather large knot to cover him).

But, in the book's defense, it never delves into completely inappropriate detail. I would still call it PG-13, but a less enjoyable PG-13.

I am putting this book in the "neutral" rating for recommendation. It is up to you to decide what you want to read. I still recommend the first one, but I understand the difficulty that comes with reading the first of a series--it's hard to stop. So I leave this choice to your good judgment.

Personally, I would read the first one again, but probably not the second.

However, tonight I do plan to read the third book, Mockingjay, and see if the conclusion will pull the trilogy closed with a jaw-dropping smash. I have a feeling it will. . .

Violence Level: **** (The same amount as book 1, but more description)

Romance Level: *** (Still, just kissing. A bit more insinuation.)

Christian Focus: *

Readability Level: ***

Story Depth Level: ***** (Following in the prequel's footsteps)

Recommendation: ***

Nadine Brandes is an adventurer, fusing authentic faith with bold imagination. She writes stories about brave living, finding purpose, and other worlds soaked in imagination. Her debut dystopian novel, A Time to Die, releases 2014 from Marcher Lord Press, the premier publisher of Christian speculative fiction. When Nadine's not taste-testing a new chai or editing fantasy novels, she is out pursuing adventures. She currently lives in Idaho with her husband. You can find out more about Nadine and her books at http://nadinebrandes.com.

A Post for Parents

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Parents,
I understand your concern for your children. And that is why I create posts for both parents and readers--so they can find out what the book is about and make good judgment calls. But I read a post by a gentleman the other day on the Focus On The Family Community page. He addressed an issue, as a parent, that I would like to discuss here:

He says:

"Unfortunately, as Christians, we cannot simply direct our kids to the Christian section of the local bookstore. Much of the Christian fiction looks like total garbage. CS Lewis is a good Christian author, but I don’t think it reasonable, to expect anyone to just read Lewis and Chesterton. As a teen attending a Christian school, if my parents had told me I could only read Lewis, I probably would have been in total rebellion. As parents, we need to set reasonable boundaries.

When your [child] begins to attend College, there is probably a good chance, it will not be a Christian college. Most people, and indeed most Christians, don’t attend Christian College. In college [he/she] will be exposed to literature, all kinds of literature, from the innocuous, to the totally profane. Yes, as long as [he/she] is under your roof, you can probably prevent [him/her] from reading any books outside the Christian lexicon, but will that honestly prepare for the world outside? Rather, giving [your child] thoughtful guidance on the books [they] read, and discussing the books with [them], after [they] finish them, might be a better tact.[...]Ultimately, you want your [child] to come to you and talk to you about the books that [he/she] is reading. If you ban these books altogether, you are only forcing [him/her] to go underground. I am not talking about letting [children] read “anything” [they] want, I am saying that boundaries need to be sensible and reasonable...."

And, with this quote from this gentleman, I want to express in more detail my purpose in writing these reviews:

Yes, I want to recommend good Christian writing for parents to advise their children to read. Meanwhile, I also want to recommend good non-Christian writing. Why? Because it exists and because you can never stop an avid reader. You can just help direct his or her steps. It is better for you to give suggestions for books than to ban them all together--spoken from experience as the daughter who bought a few books behind her mother's back (sorry, Mom, if you're reading this). But eventually, my mom trusted my judgment and allowed me to buy and read those books. This made me more determined to have good judgment and increase my mom's trust.

So when there's nothing in the Christian section and your teen wants to read, now you have reviews of the secular books out there that are still appropriate.

Even as Christians, we can learn from non-Christian books. So that is why I sometimes recommend secular novels like The Hunger Games or Fablehaven. Because it's good writing and it's not inappropriate.

I pray this is clear and helps parents out there who want the best for their children.

The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins

Disclaimer: All reviews are the result of my personal opinion from a Christian stand-point. These reviews are provided for those who share my beliefs and morals, to help guide what fiction a reader may wish to pick up. For those who do not share these beliefs, please refrain from hateful comments. It is due to rude commenting that I must now include this note prior to all reviews. For more information, visit my purpose behind this blog. Thank you for your understanding.

Here's how it started:

"You have to read The Hunger Games," my little sister, Melanie, said over the phone. "I just finished the first one, and the last book just came out."

I miss her. So I said, "Of course I'll read it," and put it on my mental list. I just didn't think I'd pull out that mental list so soon.

Inside Barnes and Noble's coffee shop with 30mph winds outside and a hot chai in my hands, I pick up the bent copy of The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins. Clearly, someone read it before me.
For some reason, I imagine this book is about animals. It's a weird title and not very catching (same with the cover....). I shrug. Melanie liked it and this wasn't the first time I'd heard the book title. When I hear a book mentioned more than 3 times, I need to read it. It's growing popular. Reviews are needed for those parents who will soon be peppered with, "Mom, can I read The Hunger Games?" and "Dad, but Bobby's reading it. Why can't I?"
Inevitably, the reply is usually, "Because I don't know what it's about." or "I don't know if it's safe."


The Hunger Games is unique. It pulls an idea from books like, We (Yevgeny Zamyatin)and 1984 (George Orwell), and movies like Equilibrium--the idea of a overruling government--and makes a similar story with thrilling twists, a very believable character, and geared toward teens.

North America has returned to a somewhat primitive state years in the future due to revolts, natural disasters, and the growth of the all-powerful government. The common people live in 12 different Districts surrounding The Capitol. To keep the people in line and in fear, the Capitol created The Hunger Games 74 years ago, forcing each district to send one boy and one girl into an arena to fight to the death. Each district is required under law to watch the entire game on television live as the contestants (called "tributes") are forced to battle each other and the government-programmed environment for survival.

How do you win? Be the last one alive.

Katniss Everdeen, an eligible teenager and our heroine, ends up in the games through a cruel twist of fate. We follow her as she struggles with the idea of killing someone, but feel her desperation to return home alive as promised to her 12-year-old sister, Prim. Can she resist the strong hand of the Capitol, or does she need to play into it to win?


This is a serious book with its funny moments. The main character is very likable and, as the book is written brilliantly in first person, it's hard not to feel like you are Katniss Everdeen. I almost cried in the second chapter, not because it was hugely sad, but because it was intense and well written.
I've never cried reading a book, and I can only remember one time that I've come close. The fact that The Hunger Games got me to the point of tears when I was in the middle of a crowded Barnes and Noble and only on the second chapter (it did it again in chapter 9), says a lot about the book. Now if a tear actually drops, then this book has accomplished the impossible.

The writing is exceptional and Katniss's character development is very thorough. The reader understands her drive, her reasons behind things, her thinking. I enjoy being in her point of view. The story keeps you on the edge of your seat. I sat in Barnes and Noble for over 6 hours and read through the whole thing--clearly it's a page-turner (book two is already in the mail on its way to my itching hands).
The author has a habit of backtracking--stepping back into Katniss's thoughts and reliving a bit of history. I have always found backtracking horibbly annoying in books--all books but this one. Collins does it in a way where I think, "Oh good, I wanted this information." I've never seen a book accomplish that so far.


*deep breath*


Now for the negatives:
This book has many violent areas. Look back to the plotline--it's a battle to the death with 24 teenager contestants. Many are going to die. There is fighting, brutality, blood, death, wounds, some poison-induced hallucinations, etc. It's harsh and I cringed a few times, but Collins never goes into grotesque detail. She always keeps it at an age-appropriate level. PG-13.
There is also romance--only kissing so far, but there are several instances of it. Also, at one point in the book, Katniss shares a sleeping bag with the boy from her same district in order to keep warm. Nothing happens and there's not even insinuation, but it's good to be aware of it.

I do not recommend this book for young readers (13 and under). Think of it as an appropriately rated PG-13 movie and whether or not you like to watch/read that content.
There are no Christian themes or mentions of God (or any other "worshipped" source), but the novel carries good themes of fighting for freedom. The next few books continue on to address the issue of the overruling Capitol.
Age-appropriate? Yes. Uplifting and spiritually feeding? No.
I enjoyed this book because I enjoy the thought of overthrowing bondage. I love the search for freedom because it is built into our souls--and I have the ultimate freedom through Christ. The idea of "freedom" has always been a favorite topic of mine--to read, to write, to watch...and so I enjoyed The Hunger Games.

Many people are calling The Hunger Games the next Twilight. Personally, that bothers me because I think they are very different novels. One is well written, the other not so much. One is completely focused on action, the other completely focused on romance. One I would recommend to people, the other I wouldn't. One makes you think, one makes you want your brain cells back.
So, I will comment more on this topic once I have finished The Hunger Games series and I will compare the two appropriately.

If you choose to read it, I hope you enjoy it and share your opinion in the comments area. I look forward to hearing other views on the subject matter and writing. And I thank you for allowing me to share my completely honest opinion with you.


(For those still wondering, I did not drop a tear. But I still haven't read books 2 & 3).

Violence Level: ****

Romance Level: *** (Still at an age-appropriate level. Aka. safe.)

Christian Focus: *

Readability Level: *** (easy to understand in appropriate age-group)

Story Depth Level: ***** (Very adult and deep--makes the reader think...which is unusual)

Recommendation: **** (Only to teens and above with discretion)

For a more detailed explanation of the above ratings, visit the 6-Point Nutshell post.

Nadine Brandes is an adventurer, fusing authentic faith with bold imagination. She writes stories about brave living, finding purpose, and other worlds soaked in imagination. Her debut dystopian novel, A Time to Die, releases 2014 from Marcher Lord Press. When Nadine's not taste-testing a new chai or editing fantasy novels, she is out pursuing adventures. She currently lives in Idaho with her husband. You can find out more about Nadine and her books at http://nadinebrandes.com.

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The Girl Who Could Fly, by Victoria Forester

Disclaimer: All reviews are the result of my personal opinion from a Christian stand-point. These reviews are provided for those who share my beliefs and morals, to help guide what fiction a reader may wish to pick up. For those who do not share these beliefs, please refrain from hateful comments. It is due to rude commenting that I must now include this note prior to all reviews. For more information, visit my purpose behind this blog. Thank you for your understanding

Summary:
Intended Age-Group:  7-12+
Issues of Violence: A mild moment of torture
Intimacy Level: none
Swearing: d*mn, a few underwear jokes pertaining to a kid who can see through anything.
Recommendation: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Summary:
Piper McCloud, our heroine, can fly. No reason why, she just can. It is built into her blood. But, being a piggy-tailed farmgirl of Lowland County, flying just "isn't the way of things" and, though her flying is still unveiled, the town gossip spreads rumors about Piper being an "odd girl."

When a government caravan arrives at Piper's homestead, she decides to attend a top-secret, specialized school for other children with special abilities--other children that will accept her. But this dream eventually fades into reality when she encounters bullies, mysteries, and the strongest urge to disobey rules. Risking her life to unearth the answers to her many questions (like what happened to the sweet girl Bella? And why is a glowing giraffe locked in the basement?) and to act on what she believes in, Piper is thrown into a life much more crazy and intense than the gossip of Lowland County could have ever been.

Initial Reaction: *****
I crawled into bed with my new book victim, The Girl Who Could Fly, and checked the time. Just perfect, I'd get the first chapter under my belt and then drift off peacefully. Four hours, 328 pages, and several sleepy yawns later, I closed the book with a content sigh. If a novel can keep a sleep-deprived, time-crunched, exhausted graduate student turning the pages until 2am...it's worth a read.

Spiritual Content: *****
There are also several mentions of God in there. At first, I was wary, but as the book progressed, the mention of being who the Lord made Piper to be (a flier!) stayed steady. Her parents are good, old Baptist church goers and Piper's been raised with the same beliefs.
It's not a Christian book, per se, but it's nice to see the faith in God (even with it's limitations).

Characters: *****
Piper remains wonderfully innocent and pure-hearted through the entire book and you love her for it. The other characters in the book are light side characters, but still engaging.

Plot:*****
The storyline surprised me. I really thought this would be a bit of a simpleton book when I first picked it up. Boy was I wrong! It's written with the young and simple viewpoint of Piper, but takes intense turns and gets a little nail-biting going in the reader.

The ending was good, but not hugely unique. At one point, a character has a stroke of genius which, threw me for a loop and I thought, "Wow! This author's amazing! I never would have thought of that ending. Brilliant!" But...she didn't end up going where I thought she would with it and it turned out good, but not amazing. :P

Writing: *****
Victoria Forester writes with humor, wit, and genius. It's a fun story for children and age appropriate.

Conclusion:
I enjoyed this book. A lot. Maybe it was the hick humor at the beginning, or the character's innocence & pure spirit throughout the whole book, or the fact that I've always loved "flying" dreams. But The Girl Who Could Fly was fun, and I recommend it. 

Stephanie Meyer (author of The Twilight Saga) has a quote on the cover of this book, which I think captures the book's style perfectly:

"It's the oddest/sweetest mix of Little House on the Prairie and X-Men..."

I couldn't have put it better myself. And, if you can even imagine a mix like that, then you should release that imagination and read The Girl Who Could Fly. You may find yourself daring to jump off a roof afterward with hopes of soaring to the stars.

For a more detailed explanation of the above ratings, visit the 6-Point Nutshell post.

Nadine Brandes is an adventurer, fusing authentic faith with bold imagination. She writes stories about brave living, finding purpose, and other worlds soaked in imagination. Her debut dystopian novel, A Time to Die, releases 2014 from Marcher Lord Press. When Nadine's not taste-testing a new chai or editing fantasy novels, she is out pursuing adventures. She currently lives in Idaho with her husband. You can find out more about Nadine and her books at http://nadinebrandes.com.

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Fablehaven, by Brandon Mull

Disclaimer: All reviews are the result of my personal opinion from a Christian stand-point. These reviews are provided for those who share my beliefs and morals, to help guide what fiction a reader may wish to pick up. For those who do not share these beliefs, please refrain from hateful comments. It is due to rude commenting that I must now include this note prior to all reviews. For more information, visit my purpose behind this blog. Thank you for your understanding.


I want book 2.

I don't know if I picked up Fablehaven when in the perfect mood, or if it's just a brilliant story (I think a perfect mixture of both), but I loved it. It appealed to every demand of my imagination.

Fablehaven, by Brandon Mull, is the first in a series of 5. Two siblings, Kendra and Seth, are forced to stay with their nearly-estranged grandparents for a couple weeks as Mom and Dad go on a cruise. After a thorough mix of curiosity, disobedience, and mystery, the children discover fairies in the backyard, witches in ivy shacks, and poisonous white frogs in secret ponds. And that's just the beginning.

(My parents are going on a cruise and my little sister will be coming to stay with me for those weeks. I think we may just have to explore the surrounding land.)

Grandpa reveals to Kendra and Seth that he is caretaker of a magical preserve--one of many across the world. The preserve provides places for the magical creatures--fairies, naiads, satyrs, golems, imps, etc.--to live. He keeps things in order. However, the arrival of Seth & Kendra, a handful of mishaps, and Seth's mischievous antics sets things out of order.
Seth and Kendra catch on quickly to the magical lingo and mindset, but when things go wrong and they're thrown into a desperate situation on their own, they must rely on their little knowledge to save their lives, their grandparent's lives, and the lives of all good creatures in Fablehaven.

I loved the story. It is a bit "typical" for a young fantasy book (but what isn't, these days? I'll read and let you know! *wink*). The discovery of a new world in your backyard, that world is threatened by Mr. Evil, and newcomers (aka. main characters) must save everything.
But Mull manages to make Fablehaven unique (as good authors usually do). His writing style is wonderful--smooth, catchy, clear, easy to read, and not dumb. He gives credit to his readers. I believe all ages can read this book, and enjoy/understand the writing style in a mature way.

I particularly love the interaction between Kendra and Seth. It captures a sibling relationship perfectly and had me laughing quite often. The adventure in this book is far more creative and in-depth than I'm used to seeing. There is nothing cliche about the trials or discoveries the children go through. Every page promises enjoyment.


Even though Fablehaven is wonderfully imagined, like several other books of this genre, it gives no credit to God. God is lumped in with "...religions are based on truths, but...also polluted by the philosophies of imagination of men" (pg. 114). Page 262 gives reference to worshiping cows because Fablehaven houses a magical one. It is sacred and "...worshiped by all creatures of fairydom."
Other than those two instances, there is no other mention of God or anything relating to religions, which can be both good and bad. Good because it's not blatantly against God, and bad (sad is a more appropriate term) because it is instilling this common belief that God is nothing more than an imagined being like all the other religions and so-called "gods".

On a less heavy note, the book is pretty clean through and through. There is one mention of "booze" and a description of an ogress that has saggy *ahem*. But neither are written in crude or suggestive manners. There is one last part in the book where the siblings have to milk a giant magical cow with udders the size of a garden shed. It's a tricky act of impromptu on their part that involves ladders and (as Seth puts it on pg. 214), "Hug the thingy and slide down?" (How would you milk a barn-sized cow?). The scene is more humorous than inappropriate and, incidentally, does teach children the details of milking a cow. :P


Overall, I would definitely recommend this book. There is a bit of magic used by fairies and evil witches, which is questionable to some, but I think it is just a product of imagination God has given us (read my views on magic here).
I'm afraid Kendra and Seth will have their work cut out for them to keep such thrilling action going in book 2 (read the review for book 2 here and book 3 here). I plan to join them as the adventure continues. I don't think they could stop me if they wanted to.

Violence Level: **

Romance Level: * (zip! Zero! The boys will like it.)

Christian Focus: *

Readability Level: **** (Easy, but not amateur.)

Story Depth Level: ****

Recommendation: ****

For a more detailed explanation of the above ratings, visit the 6-Point Nutshell post.

Nadine Brandes is an adventurer, fusing authentic faith with bold imagination. She writes stories about brave living, finding purpose, and other worlds soaked in imagination. Her debut dystopian novel, A Time to Die, releases 2014 from Marcher Lord Press. When Nadine's not taste-testing a new chai or editing fantasy novels, she is out pursuing adventures. She currently lives in Idaho with her husband. You can find out more about Nadine and her books at http://nadinebrandes.com.