Author: Karen deBlieck

Karen deBlieck’s writing reflects the tension of identity and the sense of belonging she struggled with as a black American born in Japan and adopted by white Canadian parents (phew!). From a very young age she found solace in putting her thoughts and feelings down on the page. Writing in poem, short story and novel form her pieces are emotionally and conflict charged. Her stories are written for the general market but she hopes that it challenges her readers to dig further into what True Life is really about. She was a finalist in The Word Guild’s (Canada) “God Uses Ink”, ACFW’s “First Impressions”, and The Reading Rooms “Aspiring Writers” contests. The short story Talking Drum can be found in “The Story – 2014 Anthology”. Her day job is Awards Director for The Word Guild, a group that supports Christian writers across Canada. She dreams of travelling through space and time, being sorted into a Hogwart’s house and finding her way to Neverland. When she’s not writing or cooking for her hubby and four kids she enjoys teaching teens about life and words. Check out more about Karen, the current novel she is working on and her blog at http://karendeblieck.com/.
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The Crescent Stone by Matt Mikalatos

The Crescent Stone by Matt Mikalatos

Power has its Price…

Synopsis

Madeline Oliver is dying from lung disease and there’s no cure. Jason Wu, after tragedy strikes, is left grief stricken and promises to only speak the truth from that point on. When a mysterious stranger name Hanali appears to Madeline and offers to heal her in exchange for one year of service to his people, Madeline and Jason are swept into a strange land where they don’t know the rules and where their decisions carry consequences that reach farther than they could ever guess.

Pros:

  • great writing
  • rich world building
  • plot line that kept me engaged
  • unique characters
  • original folklore

Cons:

  • once in awhile I caught the author “preaching” about societal issues which I found a little off putting (I like things to be a little less on the nose)
  • I did not find Madeline’s character made a big impression on me

This book took me a bit to get into but I really enjoyed it once I got further in! I really loved Jason’s character and his sense of humour. The story line is intriguing and full of just enough twists and turns to keep you turning to the next page. The characters in the Sunlit Land are unique and full of life and it was a wonderful place to visit. I’m looking forward to book 2!

*This book releases today! So you can now get your copy of it on Amazon!*

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Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

They killed my mother.
They took our magic.
They tried to bury us.
Now we rise.

Synopsis

Once, Zélie Adebola’s world was filled with magic. The land of Orïsha had Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zélie’s Reaper mother summoned forth souls.

But when the ruthless king kills all the maji the magic disappears leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope.

Now Zélie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good.

Pros:

  • wonderful writing
  • engaging characters
  • lots of action
  • rich story world and history
  • timely topic

Cons:

  • there is a sense of mysticism (magic) if a reader is opposed  to that which includes necromancy/blood magic.
  • has at its base African mythology and those deities associated with it
  • hints at sex/romantic interlude at one point but no graphic descriptions

Conclusion:

I love, Love, LOVE this book! I cannot recommend it enough. My friends are tired of me talking about this book. lol One person I recommended it to was a little taken aback by the anger of the main character but if you read the note from the author at the end you will understand why. What I really love is how Adeyemi can see that unbalanced power is not good on either side.

I gave this book only 4 stars because of the sense of earth magic that runs through it that may be off putting to some Christian reading.

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Heartless by Marissa Meyers

 

Heartless by Marissa Meyers

Before she was the Queen of Hearts she was just a girl in love…

Synopsis:

In Heartless, Catherine just wants to open a bakery with her best friend. But the King of Hearts wants her as his wife. How can she keep hold of her dream when her parents are convinced that this marriage is best for her and the kingdom?

When she meets Jest, the very irreverant and handsome court jester, she is drawn to him like a magnet. She falls in love and realizes that she would sacrifice everything to be with him.

However, in a land of magic of madness fate might have other ideas.

Pros:

  • Meyers writes in very rich details with great world building.
  • Great believable characters
  • Heartless has a unique plot line that has many twists and turns despite the fact we all know the ending

Cons:

  • The land of Heartless is the Wonderland that Alice visited and it contains absurd magic just like the original which some people might not enjoy.
  • Initially I found Catherine very distant but I think that is intentional. As I read further I warmed to her and saw the tragedy of the story.

Conclusion:

I loved Heartless!!! The rich details really drew me into this story. I have to admit that Alice in Wonderland is not one of my favourite stories but Meyers gives it new life. There are many twists and turns in this story where we all know the ending. It’s also fun to find the “origins” of many of the things that are in the original Lewis Carroll classic.

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The Milk of Birds by Sylvia Whitman

 

When a tree leans, it will rest on its sister.

Synopsis:

Fifteen-year-old NAWRA from Darfur lives in a camp for refugees displaced by the Janjaweed’s trail of murder and destruction. She can’t read or write but when an organization called “Save the Girls” pairs her with a girl in the states, she gets her best friend to be her scribe her thoughts and experiences.

K.C., an American teen in Virginia hates reading and writing. But when she receives letters  from Nawra she is forced to look beyond her own struggles.

Through the letters the girls form a bond that bridges two continents. Both girls find that strength is found in numbers and together they can fight for a brighter future.

Pros:

  • informative book about the atrocities of Darfur
  • Nawra and her experience in Darfur are very relatable
  • addresses issues of learning issues and how it doesn’t mean a person isn’t intelligent just because they don’t learn like everyone else.

Cons:

  • I found the character of K.C. was written a little stilted (stereotypical teenager)
  • there is rape in the book however the author doesn’t dwell on the details of it.

Conclusion:

I was instantly attracted by the cover and the saying on the front cover of this book. It is a book full of rich details about Darfur. It did keep my turning the page although I often found K.C. to be not as full of a character compared to Nawra. If you have teens who want to know more about world affairs and how they can help this is a great book.

Discussion Questions:

There are reading group questions inside. 🙂

 

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Refugee by Alan Gratz

 

Refugee is a book about three families searching for a new home. It is appropriate for older teens as it has mature themes.

Synopsis

Three kids travel to find refuge…

JOSEF is a Jewish boy living in 1930s Nazi Germany. After his father is released from a concentration camp his family must board a ship to flee to the other side of the world…

ISABEL is a Cuban girl in 1994. With riots and unrest plaguing her country, she and her family set out on a raft, hoping to find safety in America . . .

MAHMOUD is a Syrian boy in 2015. With his homeland torn apart by violence and destruction, he and his family begin a long trek toward Europe . . .

They all face terror and death but they believe that there is something better out there. A place where they can live in peace. And although these children are separated by continents and time their stories of hope are bound together.

Pros:

  • amazing stories that show the humanity behind the word “refugee”.
  • well paced, riveting book that kept me turning the pages.
  • had many historical details in it which is good for students to discuss.
  • each one of the three voices are unique.

Cons:

  • traumatic experiences are had by all the children and may be hard for the more sensitive reader.
  • the story jumps between three points of view which some people may find annoying.

Conclusion:

Honestly, I would recommend this book to everyone. It really helped me see past the generic term “refugee” and acknowledge the people/victims behind this very real crisis. Although this is a piece of fiction the author has remained true to the historical catalysts that set each of the great voyages in motion. Although at some points in time it is hard to read it is a story of hope and it really blessed me.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Did this book change your idea about what a refugee is? Why or why not?
  2. Many people in both the Canada and the US have refugees in their family tree. Talk to your family/friend and find out more about their trip to find a new home.
  3. Brainstorm some ways that we can help refugees as they travel and when they arrive to their new homes.
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The Bitter Side of Sweet by Tara Sullivan

 

The Bitter Side of Sweet is a book that shows the darker side of chocolate production as told through the eyes of a young teenager. It is appropriate for older teens as it has mature themes.

Synopsis

Fifteen-year-old Amadou counts the things that matter. For two years what has mattered are the number of cacao pods he and his younger brother, Seydou, can chop down in a day. This number is very important. The higher the number the safer they are because the bosses won’t beat them. The higher the number the closer they are to paying off their debt and returning home to Moke and Auntie. Maybe. The problem is Amadou doesn’t know how much he and Seydou owe, and the bosses won’t tell him. The boys only wanted to make some money during the dry season to help their impoverished family. Instead they were tricked into forced labor on a plantation in the Ivory Coast; they spend day after day living on little food and harvesting beans in the hot sun—dangerous, backbreaking work. With no hope of escape, all they can do is try their best to stay alive—until Khadija comes into their lives.

She’s the first girl who’s ever come to camp, and she’s a wild thing. She fights bravely every day, attempting escape again and again, reminding Amadou what it means to be free. But finally, the bosses break her, and what happens next to the brother he has always tried to protect almost breaks Amadou. The old impulse to run is suddenly awakened. The three band together as family and try just once more to escape.

Pros:

  • an accurate and thorough portrayal of what the chocolate trade looks like
  • believable characters that make you think and feel.
  • educational (learn about how the chocolate we consume is made)
  • action moves the story line forward.
  • the feelings of Amadou are accurate and well done for a male protagonist.

Cons:

  • there is some language during stressful times (about five words for the entire book).
  • graphic violence/abuse against children (this book is not for the more sensitive reader)

Conclusion:

I really enjoyed this book. It opened a whole new world to me and made me more conscientious of the chocolate I consume. The characters were rich and unique and the author did a great job of drawing you in to the danger. This book is definitely best for an older or more mature teen as it deals with some difficult truths. A great book for discussion. The loss of the half star is due to the language and violence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. If you were in Amadou’s place would you have done the same as him? Write a pros and cons list to leaving the farm.
  2. Have an in class debate for and against consuming chocolate based on the information that you learned from this book.
  3. Research the process of making chocolate from start to finish.
  4. Research what “fair trade” chocolate is and where people can obtain it.
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The Skin i’m in by Sharon G. Flake

Synopsis

If people aren’t taunting Maleeka about her dark skin then they get at her about her homemade clothes or her good grades. She’s learned to find a way to survive by keeping her head down.  That is until  a new teacher, whose face is blotched with a startling white patch, shows up to teach.  But when the students mock Miss Saunders she doesn’t it let her bug her. Maleeka can’t help but wonder how this new teacher can truly love her flawed skin. Or why she thinks that Maleeka is so special.

Pros:

  • lots of white space on the page which makes it accessible for all types of readers.
  • looks at a topic/situation that not all teens may deal with (racism within the black community).
  • deals with bullying, peer pressure, being unique and loving yourself without becoming a bully yourself.
  • authentic African American voice without resorting to gratuitus language or overly lewd descriptions.

Cons:

  • does have some mature themes: Maleeka talks about some students “locking lips” in the hallway, smoking (including the main character once), drinking and partying in one scene, two boys try to force their affection on Maleeka and when a friend comes to help they beat him up.
  • the slang and writing are authentic which may be a pro or a con. I loved stepping so completely into another world. Others may find the reading of it a little rough or coarse.

Final Word:

I really enjoyed this book. It was easy enough to read but dealt with some dark subjects which may not be for everyone. The rough moments in the book all have a purpose in the plot line and give a glimpse into Maleeka’s (and many other black girls) life. I rated this as a teen book due to its mature content but the reading level is closer to Middle grade as is the protagonist.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How is Maleeka’s life similar to your own? How does it differ?
  2. Compare Maleeka’s life with that of the slave girl, Akeelma, that Maleeka writes about.
  3. Do you think Maleeka dealt well with the bullying she experienced? How might you deal if you were in her place?
  4. Describe a time when you didn’t feel comfortable in “the skin your in”. Also describe how/if you resolved it.