Synopses & Reviews
Thirteen-year-old Natalie Minks loves machines, particularly automataself-operating mechanical devices, usually powered by clockwork. When Jake Limberleg and his traveling medicine show arrive in her small Missouri town with a mysterious vehicle under a tarp and an uncanny ability to make Natalies half-built automaton move, she feels in her gut that something about this caravan of healers is a bit off. Her uneasiness leads her to investigate the intricate maze of the medicine show, where she discovers a horrible truth and realizes that only she has the power to set things right. Set in 1914, The Boneshaker is a gripping, richly textured novel about family, community, courage, and looking evil directly in the face in order to conquer it.
Review
When Jeremy Thatcher stumbles intoand#160;Mr. Elives'and#160;magic shop, he leaves with a small marbled dragon's egg. When it hatches, Jeremy's wildest dreams take wing.and#160;and#160;
and#160;and#160;Includes an author's note.The bestselling book in the Magic Shop series, now in a brand-new paperback edition
[set star] "A funny, enjoyable, imaginative story whose serious undercurrents lend it unexpected depth."--Kirkus Reviews(starred)
"Not only is the story involving but the reader can really get a feeling for Jeremy as a person."--VOYA
"Will bring laughter and near tears to readers . . . Dragons really exist for a little while."--School Library Journal
Review
A 2011 ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults Book
"Not to be confused with Cherie Priest's steampunk novel of the same name (though there is just the barest whiff of steampunk here), this historical fantasy uses the classic devil-at-the-crossroads motif as the foundation for an elaborate and intricate gearwork story set in the little town of Arcane, Missouri, in 1913...Both impressive and ambitious, Milford's first novel rarely overreaches as it lays out an eerie and atmospheric vision of early-twentieth-century Americana, electrified by supernatural traces and a generously complex look at good, evil, and the wide swath in between."—Booklist, starred review
"The tale is shrouded in mystery and explores themes of gaining confidence and recognizing evil, and Milford's detail-rich prose makes it all the more haunting ("In the gaslight and what morning sun that filtered through the heavy curtains, startling shapes began to resolve themselves into familiar objects. Seeing them clearly didn't make her like them any better")."—Publishers Weekly
"This unusual story, with elements of folklore, tall tales and steampunk, has rich details of small-town America in the early 20th century as well as the impact of budding technology. Natalie is a well-drawn protagonist with sturdy supporting characters around her. The tension built into the solidly constructed plot is complemented by themes that explore the literal and metaphorical role of crossroads and that thin line between good and evil."—Kirkus Reviews
Review
"Consistently entertaining."—
Publishers Weekly"A testament to Vande Velde's storytelling magic."—The Horn Book
"A stylish tale [that] addresses both fantasy gaming and censorship."
—The New York Times Book Review
"Plausible, suspenseful. . . . Hilarious. . . . It's riveting reading for
experienced gamers and tyros alike."—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
A Junior Library Guild Selection
A New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age
Review
* "A funny, enjoyable, imaginative story whose serious undercurrents lend it unexpected depth."and#8212;
Kirkus Reviews, starred review and#160; "Not only is the story involving but the reader can really get a feeling for Jeremy as a person."and#8212;
VOYA and#160; "Will bring laughter and near tears to readers. . . . Dragons really exist for a little while."and#8212;
School Library Journal Children's Choice Award Nominee (in sixteen states)
IRA Teachers' Choice
Review
"Delightful . . . Vande Velde's sly humor and snappy dialogue make this story a joy to read."--
School Library Journal"[A] charming and funny fantasy . . . The plot playfully wanders all over the map; readers will likely get just as much enjoyment from Wendy's sly and self-deprecating humor as from the whimsical adventure itself."--Publishers Weekly
Review
" . . . nonfiction writer Halpern and debut author Kujawinski offer some compelling battle scenes. Alfonso's quest believably demonstrates that the path home can be the most trying."--Publishers Weekly ". . . this is an adventure yarn that takes its time, building mild suspense that does not overwhelm the progress of the tale. It is old-fashioned storytelling, ably done, where action supports story development rather than substituting for it. This fantasy is a wonderful intergenerational read-along and is a strong choice for readers still mourning the end of the Harry Potter books."--Booklist "Middle school students who enjoy a good fantasy romp full of adventure and suspense will enjoy Dormia. The amusing, colorful cast of characters, the suspense throughout the terrifying journey, the exotic lands, and the ever-evolving powers of Alfonso combine to create a page-turner of a tale. Put this one on the shelf next to D. J. McHales Pendragon series or Angie Sages Septimus Heap books."--VOYA (4Q4P)
Review
Nominated for the William C. Morris YA Debut Award
A Kirkus Best Teen Book of 2012
"Broken but resilient, Portia is a sympathetic heroine whose simple, unadorned need for love and acceptance will be immediately recognizable to any young reader."
—Bulletin
"This will appeal to readers looking for something a bit different than most YA fare."
—Booklist
"Through skillful description, the dreariness of the Home and the fantastical nature of the carnival world comes vividly to life."
—Horn Book
"This predominantly third-person narration is richly textured with psychological tension, complex characterization, a vivid setting, and a suspenseful plot . . . one will be spellbound by this intriguing reading experience."
—SLJ
* "Infused with nostalgia and affection, this celebration of the deliberately constructed self will hold readers in its spell from beginning to end."
—Kirkus, starred review
Review
"Witty, light, and funny . . . Regency romance as well as fantasy fans are going to line up for it."--
The Bulletin"A cult epistolary fantasy . . . Beguiling."--Kirkus Reviews
"Older girls who have outgrown Harry Potter will like their slightly rebellious natures, the magical twists and turns, and especially the humor and quick pace."--The San Diego Union-Tribune
Synopsis
Thirteen-year-old Natalie Minks loves machines, particularly automataandmdash;self-operating mechanical devices, usually powered by clockwork. When Jake Limberleg and his traveling medicine show arrive in her small Missouri town with a mysterious vehicle under a tarp and an uncanny ability to make Natalieandrsquo;s half-built automaton move, she feels in her gut that something about this caravan of healers is a bit off. Her uneasiness leads her to investigate the intricate maze of the medicine show, where she discovers a horrible truth and realizes that only she has the power to set things right.
Set in 1914, The Boneshaker is a gripping, richly textured novel about family, community, courage, and looking evil directly in the face in order to conquer it.
Synopsis
When Jeremy Thatcher stumbles into Mr. Elives' magic shop, he leaves with a small marbled dragon's egg. When it hatches, Jeremy's wildest dreams take wing.
Includes an author's note.Synopsis
Wendy's new glasses give her a whole new way of seeing things . . . that aren't there.
Synopsis
In the virtual reality game
Heir Apparent, there are
way too many ways to get killed--and Giannine seems to be finding them all. Which is a darn shame, because unless she can get the magic ring, locate the stolen treasure, answer the dwarf's dumb riddles, impress the head-chopping statue, charm the army of ghosts, fend off the barbarians, and defeat the man-eating dragon, she'll
never win.
And she has to, because losing means she'll die--for real this time.
Synopsis
How can you tell if a riverand#8217;s under a spell? River trolls, rock trolls, blue-wing fairiesand#151;the usual suspects. The stretch of the Mississippi where Claire lives has rumors of them all, not that sheand#8217;s ever spotted any. But then Claireand#8217;s cousin Duke takes a swim and sprouts a hornand#151;a long, pointy, handsome thing. After that, Claire doesnand#8217;t have much choice but to believe that something rivery is going on, especially since sheand#8217;s the only one who can help Duke lose his new addition.
Synopsis
The bestselling book in the Magic Shop series, now in a brand-new paperback edition
Synopsis
From Edgar Award-winning author Vivian Vande Velde comes a rollicking story that puts a high-tech twist on the classic medieval fantasy-adventure
Synopsis
Sixth-grader Jeremy Thatcher discovers a strange magic shop he has never seen before. He enters, and his life is changed forever. Buying what he thinks is a marble, he discovers he has really purchased a dragonand#8217;s egg. and#160;
Synopsis
Wendy isn't as blind as a bat--there are bats that can see better than she can. Which is why, when her new glasses break, she's all too happy to wear the dorky pair of sunglasses she finds on the lawn. They seem to match her prescription, and that's all that matters if she's going to be able to make it through her school day.
But the glasses correct her vision too much. She begins to see things that no one else can see: cheerful corpses, frightening crones disguised as teenyboppers, and portals to other worlds--places where people are all too aware of the magical properties of her new shades . . . and will do anything to get them.
Synopsis
Introducing Alfonso Perplexon, hero of the epic fantasy tale Dormia!
Alfonso Perplexon is an unusual sleeper. He climbs trees, raises falcons, even shoots deadly accurate arrows, all in his sleep. No one can figure out why.
Then one evening a man arrives at Alfonsos door, claiming to be Alfonsos long-lost uncle Hill. This uncle tells a fantastical tale: Alfonsos ancestors hail from Dormiaan ancient kingdom of gifted sleeperswhich is hidden in the snowy peaks of the Ural Mountains. According to Hill, Dormia exists thanks to a tree known as the Founding Tree, with roots that pump life into the frozen valley. But the Founding Tree is now dying, and in a matter of days, Dormia faces an icy apocalypse.
Dormias salvation lies with the Great Sleeper, who possesses the special powers to enter a sleep trance and grow a new Founding Tree. Hill suspects that Alfonso is just such a person. In fact, Alfonsos sleeping-self has already hatched this tree. Now the question is: Can Alfonso and his uncle deliver it in time? They must hurry, but they also must be careful not to be followed by Dormias age-old enemy, the Dragoonya, who are always hunting for one of the secret entryways into Dormia.
Alfonso agrees to take the tree to Dormia, and thus begins one of the greatest adventures a twelve-year-old boy could ever wish for.
As he woke up from a late afternoon nap, Alfonso blinked open his eyes and discovered that he was perched at the top of a gigantic pine tree some two-hundred feet above the ground. The view was spectacular. Alfonso could see for miles in every direction and he could even make out his house in the distant hamlet of Worlds End, Minnesota. Unfortunately, there was no time to enjoy the view. The small branch that Alfonso stood upon was covered with gleaming snow and creaked dangerously under the pressure of his weight. Icy gusts of wind shook the entire treetop. Alfonso looked down grimly at the ground far below. If he fell, he would most certainly die.
Oh brother,” muttered Alfonso to himself. Not again.”
Synopsis
A striking historical fiction YA debut about a wayward girl amid the freaks and sideshows of a late-1930s traveling circus.
Synopsis
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, step inside Moscos Traveling Wonder Show, a menagerie of human curiosities and misfits guaranteed to astound and amaze! But perhaps the strangest act of Moscos display is Portia Remini, a normal among the freaks, on the run from McGreavys Home for Wayward Girls, where Mister watches and waits. He said he would always find Portia, that she could never leave. Free at last, Portia begins a new life on the bally, seeking answers about her fathers disappearance. Will she find him before Mister finds her? Its a story for the ages, and like everyone who enters the Wonder Show, Portia will never be the same.
Synopsis
The prim and proper world of Regency England crossed with the wizardly doings of high fantasy--now
that's something to write home about!
Synopsis
A great deal is happening in London and the country this season.
For starters, there's the witch who tried to poison Kate at the Royal College of Wizards. There's also the man who seems to be spying on Cecelia. (Though he's not doing a very good job of it--so just what are his intentions?) And then there's Oliver. Ever since he was turned into a tree, he hasn't bothered to tell anyone where he is.
Clearly, magic is a deadly and dangerous business. And the girls might be in fear for their lives . . . if only they weren't having so much fun!
About the Author
Jake Halpern is a journalist and author born in 1975. His book, Braving Home was a main selection for the Book of the Month Club by Bill Bryson and was a Library Journal Book of the Year. He is a contributor to NPR's All Things Considered and This American Life. He has written for The New York Times Magazine, The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal, Sports Illustrated, The New Republic, Slate, Smithsonian, Entertainment Weekly, Outside, New York Magazine, and other publications. He is a fellow of Morse College at Yale University, where he teaches a class on writing.
When he isn't writing, Peter is a Foreign Serice Officer with the U.S. Department of State. Over the last ten years, he's lived in Israel, Haiti, and France. Currently, he is assigned to the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in New York. Peter attended both the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference and the Iowa Writers' Workshop and has published commentary in the International Herald Tribune. He lives in Brooklyn, NY.Table of Contents
Contents
ONE
Happy Birthday to Me 3
TWO
Off to a Fantastic Start (Not!) 12
THREE
Fun and Games with the Family 22
FOUR
A Heavenly Visitor 32
-Rasmussem interoffice e-mail 41
FIVE
Simple Math 43
SIX
"Do Not Pass Go; Do Not Collect $200" 47
SEVEN
Shuffle and Deal Again 52
EIGHT
Hey, Loser, Start Over Again (Again) 58
NINE
Stop Me If You Think 68
You've Heard This One Before
TEN
Family History 70
ELEVEN
A Poem Can Be a Home 80
to Those Who Roam (Or, Like, Whatever)
-Rasmussem interoffice e-mail 87
TWELVE
One 88
THIRTEEN
Disarming the Troops 98
FOURTEEN
Are We Having Fun Yet? 106
-Rasmussem interoffice e-mail 120
FIFTEEN
Bright Sword, Dim Brother 121
SIXTEEN
Lunch 136
SEVENTEEN
Treasure Hunt 150
EIGHTEEN
Calling in the Reinforcements 164
NINETEEN
Magic Realism (without the Realism) 177
-Rasmussem interoffice e-mail 192
TWENTY
Siege 193
TWENTY-ONE
Back to the Battlements 207
TWENTY-TWO
Did Someone Say Déjà Vu? 217
-Rasmussem interoffice e-mail 219
TWENTY-THREE
Will the Guilty Party Please Step Forward? 220
TWENTY-FOUR
Fast Forward 231
TWENTY-FIVE
Morning Comes Early 240
When There's No Snooze Button
TWENTY-SIX
Keeping Everybody (But Me) Happy 247
TWENTY-SEVEN
Preparations for a Journey 258
TWENTY-EIGHT
Xenos's Dad 267
TWENTY-NINE
A Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins with 278
a Single Step (and Other Trite Nonsense)
THIRTY
Dead Oxen and Gold 284
THIRTY-ONE
Home Sweet Home (Or Not) 292
THIRTY-TWO
The End 302
THIRTY-THREE
Satisfaction Guaranteed, Or Your Money 309
Cheerfully Refunded