Author: Loraine Kemp

Loraine Kemp is a MG fantasy author and illustrator who is crazy about animals both real and unreal. When she is not writing or illustrating, she is golfing, skiing, eating dark chocolate, or daydreaming about fantasy worlds. Visit her at www.lorainekemp.com or www.facebook.com/lorainekempartist.
Posted on

Rose by Meredith Finch and Ig Guara

Rose, a Young Adult graphic novel written by Meredith Finch and illustrated by Ig Guara, is the first book in a new fantasy series.

Being both an illustrator and a writer, I was enticed to finally review a graphic novel. I wasn’t disappointed, however, I admit, the style took some getting used to.

Synopsis:

Rose survives a decimating attack on her village by a villainous sorcerer, Drucilla, who has sent her army to rid her kingdom of rebels and opposing magic. Rose’s mother is one of the victims in the massacre. This event is the catalyst that propels Rose on a mission to avenge her mother and her village.

Rebels halt the impulsive and inexperienced Rose, and take her into their care. Rose has always toyed with her magical abilities, but when the rebels discover her powers, they are sure that she is the one to become the legendary Guardian who leads their fight against Drucilla. But Rose has serious doubts that she is one of the famous Guardians who team up with Khats, enormous and powerful feline warriors who bond telepathically with their human partners.

The rest of the story centres on the emergence of Rose’s magical powers and her search for Thorne, her Khat. Drucilla and her army race to squash Rose’s and the rebels’ efforts to oppose her.

Pros:

  • The illustrations done by Ig Guara are amazing. Guara does not add the colour; another artist, Triona Farrell, finishes them off. As an artist, this surprises me, but the effects are brilliant. I love how the colours and backgrounds blend and change with the mood and subject matter.
  • This genre lends itself to readers going back again and again to notice different facets of the illustrations. The book is an art piece to be enjoyed more than once, and on different levels.
  • The old plot of the weak and scared overcoming the powerful and wicked is gratifying, albeit a bit trite.
  • The pacing is quick and exciting. Teens will enjoy the imagery that is also dramatic in its delivery.

Cons: 

  • The ending is abrupt and a bit unsatisfying. It reminded me slightly of the end of the first Star Wars movies. (After a significant victory by the rebels, Luke has realized his powers and has bonded with his new family of resistance fighters.) In Rose, there is no major victory at the end, merely a continuation of the fight.
  • I feel the writing is not as strong as the illustrating. The stereotypical bad guys weren’t as layered as I’d like. The rebels were more developed, but I felt Rose’s character needed more development. She basically morphs from scared girl to determined warrior. She could have used a few weaknesses to up the ante.

Final Impression: 

Meredith Finch is a well-known writer (Wonder Woman, Little Mermaid) and Ig Guara a fan favourite artist (Batman: Arkham Knight, Blue Beetle, The Ravagers). So I was looking forward to a good romp with this new series. Overall, the experience was very positive and I would consider reading more. But I’m used to reading books with a solid beginning, middle and end. I didn’t appreciate investing the time to read, then being denied a more satisfying ending. I will definitely look for more from Ig Guara, and Triona Farrell!

Posted on

The Forever Man by Eoin Colfer

The Forever Man is book #3 in the middle grade fantasy Warp Trilogy written by well-known Eoin Colfer, author of the Artemis Fowl series.

 

Riley, a fifteen-year-old, lives in Victorian London as a magician. In book #1, he defeated his murderous master Albert Garrick, with the help of Chevie Savano, a seventeen-year-old FBI agent who travelled back in a time pod.

Garrick, who had been banished in a wormhole for two hundred years, vowed to return and seek revenge on Riley. Garrick returns in book #3 with wormhole caused mutations that enable him to seem immortal.

Garrick lures Riley (and Chevie) to a prison under false pretences to see Riley’s long-lost brother. After the three are swept inadvertently into another wormhole, they end up in a puritan village in 1649. Due to the wormhole spitting out many horrific mutations to the village in the past, the villagers are fearful and Garrick is known by previous visits, as the witch hunter and protector.

Chevie is caught and is to be burned at the stake for being a witch, but Riley breaks free from his entrapment. With the help of a few new characters, Pointer (an FBI mutant who is a dog), Fairbrother Isles (another FBI agent), and the ghost of Professor Smart (the scientist who created the wormhole), Riley devises a plan to save Chevie. But they also must save humanity before Garrick destroys the wormhole.

 

 

Pros

 

  • As in the previous two books in the trilogy, Eoin Colfer’s incomparable style pulls the reader in with his wit and the lure of fast-paced action.
  • Garrick is a well-developed antagonist, and I found myself fascinated/horrified at his actions, as I would have been watching a black widow catching a bug in slow motion. He reminded me of Heath Ledger’s portrayal of the joker in Batman, The Dark Knight.
  • The romantic attachment between the Riley and Chevie is at the core of the story, so the reader is more invested in the outcome.
  • Each character he introduces is unique and identifiable.

 

Cons

 

  • By this time, I was more or less used to the omniscient POV, although at times I still found it irritating to be jumping back and forth so quickly between the heads.
  • This story is classified as MG, however I feel that there was too much violence and the style was slightly confusing for most readers of that age group.
  • The scientific details on the wormhole and how humanity was going to be obliterated by the destruction of the wormhole was not clearly explained. I never did quite understand that.
  • Chevie in this story seemed to lack her zeal and powerful persona that she possessed in the previous books. She was more or less just a maiden in distress that needed to be saved. I was disappointed in her role.

 

 

Final Word

 

I quite enjoyed this final book, and I feel of the three, it was the best.  I still enjoyed the Artemis Fowl series better, but this was a close second. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves Eoin Colfer, but I would caution that it is a bit more dark and technical to be regarded as MG.

Posted on

The Hangman’s Revolution

The Hangman’s Revolution is a YA novel aimed at grade seven readers and up, and is the second book in the Warp Series written by the incomparable Eoin Colfer.

At the beginning of the story, seventeen-year-old Chevie lives in the present, a strange world where she is a cadet in the vast army of the Boxite Empire. The dictator of this strange new order is Colonel Box, who has achieved his position by manipulating an FBI program called Warp (Witness Anonymous Relocation Program). The intended use of this program was to relocate witnesses by the FBI to a different historical era using a time tunnel perfected by the genius, Charles Smart. Colonel Box, however, used it to his own advantage by smuggling technology and weapons into the past to dominate the Government, executing millions in the process.

So, returning to Chevie, we see that her position as a cadet is being hampered by voices in her head that tell her something is amiss. Her unpredictable actions and outbursts have been noted and she is brought before the authorities. To prove her devotion to the empire, she is instructed to assassinate the suspected spy, Charles Smart. (He is just getting in the way of Box’s plans) Accompanied by two Thundercats, high-ranking soldiers in the Boxite army, Chevie pays Smart a visit. Things get complicated when Smart suspects something and establishes a time tunnel in his home to escape. But in the process, Smart is shot and the Thundercats and Chevie get sucked into the time tunnel and wind up in 1899 England on Emergence Day.

The above-mentioned present world was started on Emergence Day when Box and his troops, who were armed with future weapons, emerged from their headquarters in the sewer. They executed Queen Victoria and her government, and the rest of the world soon succumbed to Box’s army.

Chevie seeks out her old buddy, a fourteen-year-old magician named Riley, and with their new ally, Otto Malarkey, (a gang leader) they set out against the Thundercats, Colonel Box and their allies to halt the events that lead to Emergence Day and the altering of history.

 

Pros:

 

  • Eoin Colfer’s witty style of writing pulls the reader happily into his yarns. No matter what happens, there is an element of humour to the action.
  • Eoin Colfer has a marvellous imagination that keeps you guessing and most often catches you off guard.
  • The main characters have identifiable flaws and endearing qualities that keep you looking for the next book.
  • There is not one character that isn’t well thought out, and his constant backgrounds on each of them, make them believable.

 

Cons:

 

  • Eoin Colfer’s Warp books are in the omniscient POV. This is a bit distracting to me, as there is a lot of head hopping and background info on each character. I would rather have gotten to know the main characters a bit more.
  • There is a lot of violence (shooting, stabbing) so younger YA readers should be warned.
  • The lingo of the era was likely done well, but I stumbled a lot on the terms, and often didn’t know what was meant by many words. I would suspect younger kids would stumble even more.

My General Opinion

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I still think that his previous Artemis Fowl Series is more appealing. Perhaps it is because he concentrated more on the reader getting to know Artemis. But all in all, and rollicking fantasy that will be enjoyed by young and old readers!

 

 

 

Posted on

The Reluctant Assassin by Eoin Colfer

The Reluctant Assassin by Eoin Colfer is a fun science fiction novel with historical elements, and is aimed at young teens and up.

Synopsis:

Riley, a teen who is living in Victorian London, is an apprentice to Albert Garrick, a malicious and evil assassin, who misuses his illusionist conjuring skills to gain access to victim’s dwellings. During an assassination attempt, Garrick brings the reluctant and nervous Riley to commit his first murder. Their intended victim however turns out to be a scientist from the future, sent back in time as part of the FBI’s Witness Anonymous Relocation Plan (WARP).

Riley shrinks from his task so Garrick takes over. However, a protective pendant comes to life and transports not only their fatally stabbed victim but also Riley to a time capsule in modern day London via a wormhole. Chevron Savano, a nineteen-year-old FBI agent, who’d had some disastrous operations to her name as well, guards the capsule.

Riley and Chevie must now escape an infuriated Garrick after he also finds his way through the wormhole to modern London. Garrick is not only evil, but also possesses new skills and intelligence as a result of mutations from being transported. He is determined to track Riley and Chevie down to ‘silence them forever’ and gain their timekey so he can return to Victorian London and change the world to his benefit.

Pros:

  • I found the book engaging from the start to finish. The action was well paced, and the scenes’ descriptions pulled you in.
  • The characters were well developed and believable. Even the bad guy was not two dimensional, and he had a past that showed character development.
  • Colfer’s details of Victorian London seemed well researched and fascinating.
  • There are a few steam punk elements that will broaden the appeal for teens.
  • Colfer uses a sharp wit to keep the reader thoroughly entertained.

Cons:

  • I’m not a fan of the omniscient point of view and the head-hopping broke up the smooth story for me. I really wanted to get to know one character a bit better rather than all of them.
  • The beginning of the story is a bit grisly, but not overly. There were no horribly graphic murder scenes, and the rest of the story was just about the MC’s Riley and Chevie fleeing Garrick.

Overall comments:

I have read many Eoin Colfer books, but most enjoyed his Artemis Fowl series. He has a wicked sense of humour and a gift for engaging action in his stories. This book is the first in the WARP series. Personally, I enjoyed the Artemis Fowl series more than this first book, but am definitely going to carry on, as Colfer is an amazing writer who never disappoints me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted on

Stepping Stones, A Refugee Family’s Journey by Margriet Ruurs

Stepping Stones, A Refugee Family’s Journey is a story from a Syrian girl’s perspective about having to flee her country.

Rama loved playing with her dolls and her brother Sami, going to school, drinking tea with her neighbours and buying produce at the market. Life was peaceful and fun in her Syrian village. But her grandfather, Jedo, complained that they were not free to sing their favourite songs, or dance, or to pray the prayers of their choice. Then a few neighbours started to leave. When bombs began to fall near her village, the birds didn’t sing, and there was not enough to eat. More people left, fellow villagers in search of a place where they could be safe from bombs and enjoy life. The day came when Jedo told her family they had to pack up and join the rest leaving their village, their pets, and their life in Syria. They walked for a long time, carrying blankets, food and clothing.

They finally came to the sea and boarded a boat with many others. The ocean tossed and punished their boat and some people didn’t make it. Prayers were said for those they had to leave at sea. When they landed, again they walked, but this time they walked without the fear of war. New friends helped them and gave them food and clothes, and a doll for Rama. She and her family were called the lucky ones, the ones with hopes and dreams of peace.

Pros:

  • Margaret Ruurs has stayed away from politics, and has simply told a story from a child’s perspective. The child neither understands why the conflicts happen or when it will stop.
  • The Syrian illustrator, Nizar Ali Badr, has achieved so much with so little. He gathers stones from the seashore where he lives and creates amazingly powerful and expressive illustrations that are truly inspiring.
  • Children will love the details of the story, and feel for Rama who merely wants the security of having family and friends around and to live in peace.
  • Terrible things happen, but they are written in such a way so as not to scare small children.

Cons:

  • Frankly, I couldn’t think of a single thing to put here! I felt it was a powerful and moving story, and one that should be told.

My Personal Opinion: 

As an artist, I was pulled into the story because of the sincere understated style and the expressive and sensitively portrayed figures. The fact that the illustrator is also a Syrian who used local materials in such an ingenious way was a bonus. I always appreciate artists who think and work outside of the box, and the illustrations in this book showed amazing imagination. I also loved the story from a child’s perspective. Being a parent, her plight hit home. Their predicament will also help children see how lucky they are to live where they live.

Discussion Questions: 

  • Before the war, how did Rama’s lifestyle compare to yours?
  • Rama had to leave her home and bring very little with her. Have you ever been sad to leave a home? If so, what could you not leave behind?
  • The illustrator did not draw or paint the pictures. How do they differ from most of the illustrations you have seen?
  • Have you ever created pictures using something out of the ordinary? If so, what did you use?
  • When Rama and her family landed in a new country, they had to learn a new language. Have you met or played with someone who either didn’t know English at all, or knew only a little? If so, were they shy and scared?
  • If you know of someone who doesn’t know English, what are some ways to help them learn and to feel welcome?

 

Posted on

Amber The Story Of A Red Fox by Shirley Woods

Amber, The Story of a Red Fox, is a fascinating early chapter book that follows a red fox, from her birth to adulthood.

We are introduced to the parents, the playful young kits and their lives in the country as they dodge eagles, dogs, and learn lessons about porcupines and skunks.

By fall, Amber’s parents have left, and her brothers have gradually gone their separate ways. Amber still has much to learn. Driven by hunger and fear, she will use every instinct and intelligence she possesses to feed herself and stay safe.

She survives encounters with armed farmers, wolves, foothold traps, and one of the more lethal menaces, winter. But we rejoice when she finally pairs up with another fox that becomes her hunting partner and mate.

Pros:

  • Shirley Woods educates us about foxes, without distracting the reader from her story. The facts happen naturally around the actions of the foxes, so we are happily immersed into their world.
  • The story does not candy-coat nature. Animals die so others can eat and live. It is neither cruel nor sad, it just happens and life moves on.
  • The main character, Amber, is a spunky little fox that learns quickly, and is a sure heroine for young readers.
  • I thoroughly enjoyed the illustrations and felt that the style was very appropriate for the story.

Cons:

  • The book is written in the third person omniscient POV, and I would rather have heard the story from Amber’s point of view only. I wasn’t a fan of the ‘head-hopping’ and would have felt closer to Amber if the story was from her perspective.
  • With all the dangers that she encounters, Amber succeeds in never getting injured. Not even a little. I find that a bit hard to believe, and it belittles the threats she constantly faces. At the risk of sounding mean, I feel that if she suffered a bit more, the reader would sympathize with her more, and fear for her future.

My Personal Opinion:

I was drawn to this early chapter book as an illustrator, a writer for middle grade, and a lover of animals. It was a pretty easy sell, however, I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the writing and the obvious research involved, and illustrations. Kids will love this story, as it seems there is danger around every corner, as there is in nature.

Questions For Discussion:

  1. What is the difference between a fox and a dog? (Hint-look at chapter 2)
  2. What were some of the lessons the kits (baby foxes) learned before they left their parents?
  3. What did Amber learn about surviving after she left her parents?
  4. How is the survival of foxes increased by having a partner?

 

 

Posted on

ICARUS DOWN by James Bow

Icarus Down by James Bow is a YA Sci/fi that takes the reader on a fast-paced journey to a planet far from Earth. Sixteen-year-old Simon Doud lives in Iapyx, one of thirteen cities suspended down deep chasms. The sun on the diamond lands above can kill a human in less than five minutes. Below the cities in the fog-shrouded jungle, much feared tick tock monsters live.

All Simon wants initially is to be is a pilot of the battery-operated ornithopters, their only means of travel. But during his first flight, accompanied by his brother, a horrible accident happens. Simon is badly burned and his brother is killed.

After his lengthy rehab, Simon becomes aware of a conspiracy to mask a dark history of the human colonies. With the secret organization ‘Grounders’, Simon tries to discover the truth. This sets off a cataclysm of events that eventually causes their whole city to break away from its tethers and plunge into the forest, killing thousands of city dwellers.

Simon survives, barely, with the help of a young human female, Eliza, who speaks the alien ‘tick tock’ language. Over months in the jungle, they get to know each other, and learn each other’s language. She becomes his only friend and companion and together in the forest, they discover the truth about the horrifying connection between the aliens and the humans.

PROS:

  • The environment plays a huge part in the story, and in fact becomes almost a character. The details of the colonies, the climate, the seasons and the jungle are well researched and believable.
  • The story is told for the most part, from two distinctly different characters: Simon Doud, and Eliza, a human who lives with the aliens in the jungle.
  • I enjoyed the portrayal of flawed and dangerous leaders and so-called tick tock monsters that have compassion.

CONS:

  • Eliza, who initially only speaks in the tick tock language of the aliens, thinks in perfect English but speaks in broken English. I found this a bit of a bump.
  • I found the first part of the story a bit slow before the city plunges into the jungle and Simon is thrown into survival mode.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

  • How did Simon’s accident and his disability put him in a unique position to discover a conspiracy in the city of Iapyx?
  • How was Eliza different to the inhabitants of Iapyx. How was she similar?
  • How did Simon’s character change during the story?
  • How did Eliza’s character change during the story?
  • Why was it important for the story to descend into the jungle? What do we gain as a reader from this experience?
Posted on

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness is a bittersweet teen fiction about a boy struggling to come to terms with his mother’s serious illness.

Synopsis:

Connor, a twelve-year-old-boy, is faced with unbelievable stress – a dying mother, a father who has split from the family, a recurrent nightmare, a domineering grandmother, and bullies at school. Then, a monster visits. But this monster, which Connor initially believes is just a dream, insists that Connor “called” him. Between dealing with the above problems, Connor must listen to the monster’s stories that urges him to confront his anger, confusion, and frustrations. And at the end of the monster’s three tales, Connor is forced to reciprocate by describing his nightmare – a story of truth, and the root of his depression and anxiety.

Pros:

  • Connor is a believable, imperfect boy, who many readers will be able to identify with.
  • This story deals effectively with a thought provoking and tough issue of a parent’s grave illness.
  • All characters are well formed and sincere. The adults don’t have everything figured out, and they are portrayed as flawed humans dealing with a difficult situation as best they can. Even the bully has depth and isn’t your paper-thin rendition of a bad guy.
  • The story is written in a compelling action-packed fashion, which encourages you to turn the pages.
  • A Monster Calls can be enjoyed on many different levels. Younger kids can enjoy it on a fantasy level, and older teens can delve into the symbolism of the monster and the stories it tells. This is why I have classified it as both Young Adult and Middle Grade.

Cons:

  • The story deals with a sensitive and heart-wrenching tragedy of losing a parent to illness. This could be very disturbing for kids, who are sensitive, or are dealing with the same issues.
  • A bully receives what he deserves, which is satisfying, but not always realistic.

Impression:

When I picked up A Monster Calls to read, I was surprised to see it was coming out as a movie, with big names involved, like Liam Neeson and Sigourney Weaver. I quickly fell in love with the style and the content. I enjoy reading a book that has heavy symbolism and this didn’t disappoint. The story is based upon an idea of writer Siobhan Dowd, who has written four other amazing Young Adult novels. Tragically, this would have been her fifth, if she too hadn’t been taken too early by cancer. Patrick Ness, the author, has been passed the literary baton, and he ran with it, creating a powerful and provocative piece of work. In his words, he challenges other writers to “…go. Run with it. Make Trouble.”

Discussion Questions:

  • What is Connor’s real nightmare and why is he so ashamed of it? Why does the monster force Connor to tell it?
  • What lies do Connor and his mother tell each other during her illness? What lies do they tell themselves? Are they necessary? Why do those lies ultimately need to be replaced by the truth?
  • Why does Connor allow himself to be bullied by his classmate Harry? What does Harry understand about Connor that no one else does?
  • Connor O’Malley is often unsure about what separates the real from the imagined, and so is the reader. How does this book continually keep its readers off-balance? Why?