January Book Reviews

First, a little note: One of my goals or resolutions for this year is to use my blog as a place to review the books I read. Since reading is one of my passions, I spend a lot of time with my nose in a book or hanging out at the library or Barnes & Noble. I would like to share with you why I read the books I do, what they're about, and what I think of them, so I will try to post a monthly review to do just that.

Title: The Shadow Children Series (Among the Hidden, Among the Impostors, Among the Betrayed, Among the Barons, Among the Brave, Among the Enemy, Among the Free)

Author: Margaret Peterson Haddix

Genre: Middle Grade, Science Fiction/Fantasy

My Rating: ***

One day last fall, I was helping re-shelve books at a school library, and I noticed that there were numerous titles by an author I did not know: Margaret Peterson Haddix. After asking the librarian about her, I found out that she is a local (Dublin, OH) writer. I called up my friend at Scholastic to ask if she had heard of Haddix, and she said that the author is very well known for her middle grade fiction. I decided that if she was so popular and she lived nearby, I should definitely check out a few of her books.
I decided to pick up Among the Hidden, which is the first in a series known as The Shadow Children.

The story is set in an unknown future fourteen years after the government has implemented a population law making all third children illegal. Luke, the main character, is a third child who has had to remain in hiding his whole life, not allowed beyond the protective trees that border his family's farm. When the woods are bulldozed to make way for a new housing development, Luke is confined to his windowless attic bedroom, but it's not long before he spies what he believes to be another third child in one of the new homes. As Luke sneaks out to try to meet this mysterious person, he starts a chain reaction of events that carries the reader through the seven book series, the last of which I finished earlier this month.

I found this to be a captivating story and flew through the entire series very quickly, which is pretty easy to do at this reading level. The theme of freedom is compelling, and Luke's dilemma will intrigue readers.

Title: The Piano Teacher
Author: Janice Y.K. Lee
Genre: Historical Fiction
My Rating: ***


I think I put The Piano Teacher on my list of books to read after it attracted my attention at the book store last year.

Moving between 1952 and 1941, the novel tells the story of two Britons living in colonial Hong Kong: Claire Pendleton and Will Truesdale. Will comes to Hong Kong in 1941 and falls in love with the beautiful and exotic Trudy Liang. In 1952, Claire moves to Hong Kong with her husband and begins teaching piano to the daughter of Victor and Melody Chen, who are among Hong Kong's elite social class. Through this connection, she meets Will and the two begin a unique affair that will reveal secrets of a hidden past bigger than either of them.

What I enjoyed most about this book was the illustration of life during the Japanese occupation. During the course of Will's relationship with Trudy, the Japanese Imperial Forces take over Hong Kong, and nearly all the non-Chinese residents are placed in internment camps (including Will). I love reading historical fiction because I feel like through the lives of fictional characters I experience and learn what it might have been like to live during a certain time period or through a specific historical event. While I wouldn't call The Piano Teacher a page-turner, it was engaging and interesting.

Title: Atonement
Author: Ian McEwan
Genre: Literary Fiction
My Rating: ***


Atonement was the January selection for the book club I'm in, and I finished it just in time for our discussion. Though I saw the movie when it came out in 2007, I didn't have a desire to read it, but I'm glad I did.

The novel is divided into three parts. In part one, a young girl with an active imagination and a knack for story-telling named Briony witnesses an event that she cannot fully understand as child. Her subsequent story and accusation lead to ruin for the other characters involved. The second part of the novel is set a few years later during World War II and follows another character, Robbie, as he takes part in the British retreat to Dunkirk and evacuation of France. In the third and final section, the long-term effects of Briony's recrimination are revealed.

The attention to detail and development of characters in Atonement makes it a profound read. McEwan has received much praise for his writing style and theme development, but one of my favorite quotes that I think sums the book up well is from The Ottawa Citizen: "Class conflict, war and the responsibilities of the artist are among the themes of Atonement, but it is Ian McEwan's writing that makes this novel one of his best: lush and langorous in the long first section, understated and precise in the latter two."

Title: City of Bones
Author: Cassandra Clare
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction/Fantasy
My Rating: ***

One of the students in my class (when I was long-term subbing) was reading City of Bones, and I thought it sounded interesting, so I added it to my list of books to read. When it became available at the library earlier this month, I picked it up and proceeded to read it in just a few days.

Clary Fray goes to Pandemonium club in New York City with her best friend, Simon, just hoping to have some fun, but after witnessing a murder that turns out to be anything but normal, she is quickly drawn into a world she never knew existed. She discovers that she can see beyond the "glamour" that hides the faeries, demons, vampires, and other Downworlders  from the mundanes (regular humans).  Then, her mother is kidnapped by a demon before Clary can ask her what it all means, and the only person who can help is Jace, a gorgeous and powerful warrior, known as a Shadowhunter, whose purpose in life is to fight the demons and keep the mundanes safe.

City of Bones is part of the rapidly growing young adult fantasy genre, which, as is typical, means it is part of a series. Though vampires, werewolves, and wizards all make appearances, this is not another Harry Potter or Twilight. If anything, I thought it felt like a more mature Percy Jackson that appeals to girls. There's unrequited love, sexual tension (though not inappropriate for its audience), fighting, adventure, and mystery. I find that I'm looking forward to Book Two.