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A Librarian Reads Zombies Vs Unicorns

Monday, December 13th, 2010

Zombies Vs. Unicorns edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier

This anthology easily became one of my favorite reads of  the year. It poses a simple question: which supernatural creature, zombie or unicorn, is better?  In order to find out the answer the editors gathered zombie and unicorn stories from some of the best young adult writers in the world.

The stories in the anthology rotate between zombie themed and unicorn themed. The interesting aspect of the anthology is that there is so many different aspects of both zombies and unicorns that ideas rarely get repeated. Each story feels fresh and original, as well as fun. There is definitely a tongue in cheek feeling to most of the stories in the anthology.

So if you are looking for a quick, fun, and engaging book for winter break then pick up Zombies Vs. Unicorns. I highly recommend it. It is appropriate for readers 16 and older due to some foul language and sexual innuendo in a small number of the stories.

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A Librarian Reads The Enemy

Tuesday, July 27th, 2010

the-enemyThe Enemy by Charlie Higson

Life has changed. It has been a year since a mysterious disease has infected everyone older than 16. The adults have become hideously deformed and driven mad because of their illness. After awhile the boils and tumors that have taken over their bodies burst and the adults mercifully die.

But those adults who continue on as walking monsters follow their basest of desires, hunger and anger. The only ones not infected are the children; who have inherited London. But the children must watch out for there are new dangers in town. The adults are hungry and they will kidnap and eat whomever they can find.

The easiest prey are  the youngest and weakest of the children. But fortunately there are older kids around who have learned to survive by killing the monsters who would gobble them up. One such group has taken shelter in a small supermarket. They send out scavengers everyday to find canned goods, or to hunt animals for food.

Their leader, Arran, is the wisest, bravest, and fiercest fighter they have. Unfortunately he has been recently bitten in the latest skirmish with the adults and lost a fellow fighter. He is weary of eking out a meager existence by merely surviving. As the bite festers, he becomes feverish and his desire for peace and quiet increases.

When a young stranger shows up at their supermarket with the promise of a urban paradise Arran is unable to resist. Their new plan is to trek across London to Buckingham Palace, where another group of kids have settled and begin to reclaim civilization.

But London is a dangerous place and the adults are getting smarter. Will this young army of children be able to make it to the palace? And if they get there will life be any better? They will have to hope for the best, but it is doubtful that all of them, if any, will make it to the palace alive.

The Enemy is a grisly survival story. It presents a different take on traditional zombie tales, and is full of suspense. Recommended to horror fans who need an action-packed adrenaline rush. Appropriate for ages 14 and up due to the amount of gore.

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A librarian Reads The Demon’s Covenant

Thursday, July 15th, 2010

demons-covenantThe Demon’s Covenant by Sarah Rees Brennan

Mae has killed someone in order to save her brother Jamie. Her victim was an evil magician who tried to feed her brother to demons, but he was still a person. She has tried not to think about it and move on. But then she discovers her brother, who has a gift for magic but not the knowledge or skill to use it, being harassed by the school bullies. Before she can intercede she finds herself frozen. A magician has spelled her. He then scares away the bullies and helps Jamie out. Jamie is relieved and treats the magician like a good friend. But Mae knows who this magician is; he is the leader of the circle of magicians who threatened she and Jamie mere months before. His name is Gerald and Jamie should be very afraid of him, but he’s not. Once Gerald and Jamie leave together, the spell on Mae is broken. She immediately seeks the aid of Alan and Nick, the brothers who helped defend she and Jamie from the magicians before.

But things are not easy between the two brothers. Something has happened between them that has strained their loyalty to each other. It doesn’t help that Mae is attracted to both of them. However they are all in agreement that Jamie is playing a dangerous game by hanging out with magicians. As they try to decipher Gerald’s motivations they come across a deeper plot that will change the balance of power between the magicians and all who oppose them. Gerald needs to be stopped because he seeks to expand his power and the only people in his way are Mae, Jamie, Alan, and Nick. Soon Mae will need to make tough decisions again; decisions in which she may have to kill again, or watch allies die. She will have to put her feelings aside and focus on the fight ahead, because if they lose, then the magicians and their demons win.

The Demon’s Covenant is a superior book to its predecessor, The Demon’s Lexicon. If you enjoyed the first book you will definitely be thrilled by the second. This story is shaping up to be a great new series and I am looking forward to the third installment. Appropriate for ages 14 and up; recommended to urban fantasy enthusiasts.

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A Librarian Reads Eclipse

Monday, July 12th, 2010

eclipseEclipse by Stephenie Meyer

We all know the love triangle between Bella, Edward, and Jacob. Eclipse offers us more of the same tension that New Moon did.

However there is more of a plot here than the previous novel. People are going missing in Seattle and the Cullens fear that someone is creating a army of new vampires. Eventually Bella figures out that the army is coming after her, and it is led by her nemesis Victoria. Edward and Jacob will have to devise a plan of stopping the army while also protecting the girl they both love.

While not a fan of the Twilight novels, Eclipse is probably the best written one (I haven’t read Breaking Dawn yet). While I feel that the books dwell too much on the brooding between Bella, Edward and Jacob (the majority of each book is just brooding, and I feel could have been better edited) this one does have some interesting moments. The native american stories of the spirit warriors is a great scene. Edward and Bella’s conversation on marriage, losing her virginity, and becoming a vampire is a great ethical discussion on virtue and whether being old-fashioned (i.e. waiting for marriage) is still appropriate in today’s age.

Obviously, Eclipse is  recommended to Twilight fans, or those of romance. Appropriate for ages 12 and up.

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A Librarian Reads The Demon’s Lexicon

Tuesday, July 6th, 2010

demons-lexiconThe Demon’s Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan

Nick, and his older brother Alan, have been on the run from evil magicians and demons since he was a baby. Although they have no magical ability themselves, they do rely on talismans, and train relentlessly to fight off evil when it finds them.

The magicians are after Nick and Alan’s mother, a magician herself who has been driven insane by the very magic she possesses. She wears a very valuable and powerful talisman. Nick and Alan have sworn to protect her. Even though Nick is only 16 he has fought many magicians and even killed when it was necessary.

The odd thing is that Nick is ambivalent about killing. Alan is tortured by what they have done to survive, but Nick feels no remorse. He even enjoys the thrill of the hunt a little bit. Nick isn’t worried by his feelings, but he knows that something isn’t quite right with him. When the brothers get new visitors, a young boy (Jamie) and his older sister (Mae), Nick feels defensive that his brother Alan can bond with them more easily than his own brother.

Jamie needs help, he has been marked by a demon. Nick wants to ditch them so he can keep Alan away from the beautiful Mae.  But soon demons attack and Alan is marked himself. Now the four of them will have to find the magicians who are hunting them and get the marks removed.

But something is nagging at Nick. He can’t seem to relate to their new friends. He becomes suspicious and starts snooping into the history behind one of his brother’s favorite books. Soon he discovers a horrible secret; a secret that tests his loyalty. Will he stay true to his family or will he turn his back and join the horde of magicians and the demons they employ?

The Demon’s Lexicon is a pretty good read. It starts off extremely rough. It took me at least 150 pages to get into a groove with it. But it finishes strong and I look forward to reading the sequel. The book is appropriate for ages 14 and up and recommended for those who are fans of Holly Black and Cassandra Clare.

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