Archive for August, 2007
Sunday, August 26th, 2007
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| Author: | Diana Wynne Jones |
| Reading Level (Conceptual): | Children 8 and up |
| Reading Level (Vocabulary): | Children 8 and up |
| Genre: | fiction |
| Year of publication: | 2003 |
Once, one of my daughters was interviewed for an article about gifted children. "Sheesh," she sighed when she got off the phone. "People don't realize that just because a person is smart, that doesn't mean that she knows everything. We still need to learn things and learn how to do things."
Diana Wynne Jones is one author who understands that many children have the potential to be great wizards, but they need guidance or they can go wrong. And although they are able to teach themselves many things, in order to reach their full potential, they often crave time with mentors.
In The Merlin Conspiracy, we meet three potentially great wizards. Roddy and Grundo are children of the royal court of Blest. Roddy is the daughter and granddaughter of wizards; her grandfather in particular is dauntingly illustrious. Grundo is the scion of a single (evil) mother. Roddy babies Grundo because of his learning disabilities; could it be that she coddles him too much? In another universe, Nick Mallory longs to learn from Romanov, a wizard who was hired to kill him, but who decided to let him go. But everything Nick does seems to harm Romanov rather than ingratiate him. The Merlin Conspiracy is the story of how all three get to know each other and find ways of getting educated about their worlds in an organized way. |
My 12 year old and I are huge fans of Diana Wynne Jones. Although we did not love this story as much as some of her others, we still recommend it highly.
Other books we've enjoyed by Diana Wynne Jones
-- Emily |
| Similar books |
If you found this review helpful and/or interesting, consider supporting our book habit: Buy this book!: Merlin Conspiracy, The |
Posted in Conceptual: 8 and up, Dragons and/or mythological beasts, Fairy tales, Female protagonist, Fiction, Gifted, Reading level: age 8 and up, Science Fiction | Comments Closed
Saturday, August 25th, 2007
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| Author: | Terry Pratchett |
| Reading Level (Conceptual): | Children 12 and up |
| Reading Level (Vocabulary): | Children 8 and up |
| Genre: | fiction |
| Year of publication: | 1990 |
"What a GREAT ending!", sighed my 12 yr. old daughter, when she finished reading this book. "And it's by Terry Pratchett, so the sequel will be great too."
In this a tale of city cousins (members of a race of small and short-lived creatures called Nomes who consider the Arnold Bros. Department Store, est. 1905 to be their universe) visited by their country cousins (also Nomes, but ones who lived Outside before visiting the store), gentle fun is poked at organized religion, sexism, and rigid inability to think in general.
When the city Nomes finally realize that Final Clearance. All Sales Final! means that their universe, or at least, Arnold Bros. (est. 1905), is ending, they must work with their visitors to save themselves.
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Truckers is a celebration of technology, engineering, observation of the world, and adaptability to changing circumstances.
Highly recommended. Note that although much of the vocabulary in the story is not difficult, young readers may need help in understanding the numerous cultural references and descriptions of what went on in department stores in their heyday.
-- Emily |
If you found this review helpful and/or interesting, consider supporting our book habit: Buy this book!: Truckers (Bromeliad Trilogy: Book 1) |
Posted in Conceptual: age 12 and up, Culture, Dickensian, Fairy tales, Fiction, Gifted, History, Reading level: age 8 and up, Science Fiction | Comments Closed
Sunday, August 5th, 2007
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| Author: | Jules Verne |
| Reading Level (Conceptual): | Children 8 and up |
| Reading Level (Vocabulary): | Children 12 and up |
| Genre: | fiction |
| Year of publication: | 1864 |
A perfect novel for science geeks of all ages.
Brilliant geologist and his apprentice/nephew discover, de-crypt, and then, with their imperturbable guide Hans, follow the directions in a Renaissance manuscript
that describes how they can travel to the center of the Earth.
My 12 year old warns that the "old-fashioned" language might be off-putting to some, but that the story is so involving that it pulls you along. For young readers, you might want to start by reading the story aloud, or listening to the audio book. |
Although the scientific theory (that the Earth's core is not hot) "proven" by the scientists/adventurers
in the story has turned out to not be true, science lovers will appreciate the
intellectual discussions, the process by which the predictions of the professor and his less
sophisticated apprentice are laid out and then "tested" experientially,
and the warning against blowing up the Earthly space in which one stands.
(See also the Pottery Barn Rule, which could be
re-stated as, "Plan carefully before you blow something up.")
-- Emily
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| Similar books |
If you found this review helpful and/or interesting, consider supporting our book habit: Buy this book!: Journey To the Centre of the Earth |
Posted in Conceptual: 8 and up, Fiction, Gifted, History, Reading level: age 12 and up, Science, Science Fiction | Comments Closed
Friday, August 3rd, 2007
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| Author: | Nick Ruth |
| Illustrator: | Sue Concannon |
| Reading Level (Conceptual): | Children 5 and up |
| Reading Level (Vocabulary): | Children 8 and up |
| Genre: | fiction |
| Year of publication: | 2007 |
This is a COOL book. It is a story about a boy named David who meets a wizard cursed into the life cycle of a monarch butterfly. David has to help reverse the curse to save the little wizard's world, the dreamland of Remin.
There are many neat, zany characters who jump in to help throughout their long journey, which leads deep into the depths and mysterious places of this new world.
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However, the story isn't just of adventure and evil, it's also a story of friendship and trust. In addition, it shows how powerful your imagination can be.
If you like stories like the Wizard of Oz, I think you should like this.
-- Fizzy, age 12
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| Similar books |
If you found this review helpful and/or interesting, consider supporting our book habit: Buy this book!: Dark Dreamweaver, The (Chronicles of Remin) |
Posted in Animals, Conceptual: age 5 and up, Fairy tales, Fiction, Reading level: age 8 and up, Science Fiction | Comments Closed
