A book that promised to be exciting, I think the best thing I can say about Sovay is that the story made me curious enough to keep reading until I finished the book. As I turned page after page, though, I found myself skipping large sections of the book because I wanted to know how it would all end, and nothing else. Set in England in the late 18th century, Sovay had all the makings of a wonderful historical novel for children. I loved the atmosphere and choice of character, but the promise of the book remained unfulfilled. Sovay's character, which began with the power of a Georgette Heyeran heroine, was a little disappointing. Rather than emerging as a brave character, capable of saving the lives of ones she loved, Sovay emerged as a rather reckless character, whose plans somehow held together. Yet, there was something that made me want to read on. The atmosphere and setting were … [Read more...]

It's unfair to compare any book with any other book, I know that. Yet, I could not resist comparing The Truth about Leo with Moon-Pie. The subject was similar - a dead mother and a drunk father. But Moon-Pie moved me in a way that The Truth about Leo did not. Leo spends each day covering up for his father Dr Rake. Dr Rake is a surgeon to the world, but nothing more than an alcoholic to Leo. Building a world of his own, Leo finds himself living there more and more so as not to face the realities of school and a drunk father. The careful, precarious world that Leo has built begins to fall apart when a bottle of vodka rolls out of Leo's bag. Dr Rake chooses a new place to hide his bottles each day - that day he chose Leo's school-bag. The Truth about Leo is an important book. In addition, it is moving and, in places, hurtful. Yet, I wanted more. I wanted to cry out. I wanted the book to … [Read more...]

Too much telling and too little showing. Never mind. I'll read some more. This is strange and unbelievable. Never mind. I'll read some more. That is exactly how I ventured into Spellbound. And before I knew it, I had finished reading it. Athene and Zach are opposites in every possible way. They just happen to be brother and sister. Athene hates Zach. She hates him, resents him, and takes joy in bringing him grief. Zach, on the other hand, is a happy-go-lucky kid and never seems to mind that his sister Eeny is always nasty to him. Everything changes when Athene meets Humdudgeon and Huffkin, two members of the Humble Gloam. In a world where Athene, a day creature, is called a 'Glare', the young girl finds the perfect way to get rid of Zach. But she does not account for the guilt that kicks in and compels her to take risks she would never have dreamed of facing for herself, let alone for … [Read more...]