Category: Star Rating

The five-star rating system.

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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!

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The Cat who went to Heaven by Elizabeth Coatsworth

Knowing this story won the Newbery Medal in 1931, I expected fantastic writing. Looking at the title, I assumed it was a book of faith. I was mostly correct. Yes, The Cat who went to Heaven is magnificently written, a wonderful read-aloud giving your child a full picture of the setting. Yes, it’s a book about faith—but not the Christian faith. Its themes are subtle, so it’s a book best read by children ten and up.
Look past the synopsis to see what I find worthwhile about reading a book centered on Buddhism.

Synopsis

The story centers on a talented, poverty-stricken artist who has been commissioned to paint the scene of Buddha’s death for the local temple. Such a painting includes all the animals lined up to give honor to this master teacher. Cats, however, are never included. They are traditionally associated with demons. To the artist’s dismay, his faithful housekeeper brings home a cat, but this cat seems different. He observes its gentleness with other living creatures and with his art, and he names her Good Fortune.
As he adds more and more animals to his paintings, the cat seems sadder and sadder, which makes him feel guilty for not putting her into the picture. She’s such a sweet cat! Finally, he gives in to his conscience. Even if the priest refuses to pay him, he adds a painting of his cat as the last animal in line to honor Buddha. What happens next would give away the ending!

Pros
1. With supervision, The Cat who went to Heaven makes for an excellent education about Buddhist history and myths, and it creates plenty of room for discussion on how Buddhist beliefs compare to the Christian faith. For example, it is filled with side stories of Buddhist myth. While each story is an example of another incarnation of Buddha, in every instance, the story involves Christlike self-sacrifice.
2. The entire message of the book teaches compassion, kindness, and mercy.
3. Told like a fairytale, the prose is almost poetic in its beauty.
4. Lynd Ward’s illustrations are exquisite.

Cons
1. Because it features a different religion, Christian parents may feel wary reading a book that promotes a faith other than their own.

Discussion Questions
1. The artist would think about the stories he’d heard about Buddha while he painted his masterpiece. How are those stories like the stories you know about Jesus?
2. What is the biggest difference between Buddha and Jesus? Why is that important?
3. How was the painting different at the end of the story? What do you think that means?

Conclusion
Elizabeth Coatsworth (1893-1986), a product of Ivy League colleges of Vassar and Columbia, traveled to the Philippines, Indonesia, and China throughout her twenties. Her knowledge of Buddhism and the man who initiated its teachings far exceeds mine. Believed to have lived in the fifth century B.C, Siddhartha gave up his status as a Hindu prince, lived an impoverished life, taught others to show mercy to the unfortunate, and to display kindness toward all. We might call him a secular humanist by today’s standards since he gave more credit to the possibilities of goodness in man than he did to any of the Hindu gods. If even a portion of what is known of Siddhartha Gautama is true, I can’t help but wonder if he would have embraced Christianity, for surely, he would have admired Jesus.
The blessing of sacrificing self for the sake of others is central to this story. It’s worth your time.

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Killing England – The Brutal Struggle for American Independence

https://www.amazon.com/Killing-England-Struggle-American-Independence-ebook/dp/B06XFGWZZ2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1515043460&sr=8-1&keywords=killing+england+bill+o%27reilly

A Broad Perspective of the Era of the Revolutionary War

Killing England – The Brutal Struggle for American Independence is an excellent historical account of the Reagan Era. While the other books in this series that have been reviewed, Killing Jesus and Killing Lincoln, have been rated as suitable for middle grade up. Like Killing Patton, and Killing The Rising Sun, and Killing Kennedy,  Killing England should be categorized as new adult because the book was not written for children. There is mature content in Killing England although lacking the crude language found in Killing Reagan and Killing Kennedy. Like Killing Patton and Killing the Rising Sun there is content that is not appropriate for younger and more sensitive readers, however, there is less violence in this book. There is some sexual innuendo including allusions to homosexuality of a minor historical figure as well as adultery.

Pros

The book offered a broad view of the political climate surrounding the era of the Revolutionary War. The authors detailed the years that led up to the Revolutionary War including the French and Indian War, taxation without representation, and other factors that necessitated the Colonies to seek independence from England. The stakes were high for those who would be essentially traitors to England.

The authors also introduce the readers to various key historical figures from America and England as well as France, and Germany. As with the previous books, the biographical details of the various people are what makes these books so engaging.

Cons

As previously mentioned, there is some adult content primarily regarding adultery, homosexuality, and other sexual exploits of various figures. It might be a bit nitpicky but some details seemed to be a bit gratuitous and inserted for political correctness, entertainment, or to make the book a bit more “racy” but didn’t add to the narrative. I do appreciate that other than Benjamin Franklin, who was quite a character, none of the other Founding Fathers were besmirched.

Rating

4 Stars. Overall, Killing England is well-written and engaging. Unlike the other “Killing” books, I gave it only 4 stars on the content and execution. New Adult allows for a bit more mature content so I didn’t subtract points for this. As with the other books in the series, the historical details especially about the social and political climate of the time are the highlight of this book. However, I felt this book was not quite as engaging as the others. My husband and I listened to the audiobook. The narrator has an engaging voice. I suggest reading or listening to the book before deciding if it’s appropriate for your children, students, etc.

Personal Opinion

We have listened to all of the O’Reilly-Dugard “Killing” books and like the others offers fantastic insight into the social and political climate at the time. However, this one did not carry 5-star rating even though the writing quality and level of detail are the same, it was not quite as engaging. There are some situations described that might be objectionable to some people.  In that regard, the content is on par with Killing Patton and Killing the Rising Sun.

Discussion points for parents & teachers:

  1. What did you learn about pre-Revolutionary War America?
  2. Discuss the risks our Founding Fathers took when deciding to declare independence.
  3. Who would you like to learn more about after reading this book?
  4. Act out or debate with one side being the Colonies and the other being England.
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Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

I’ve previously reviewed Kate DiCamillo, and there’s a reason she consistently wins the highest awards in the nation for her stories. Because of Winn-Dixie is no exception.

Synopsis

Winn-Dixie is a dog, so named under unusual circumstances, and he really doesn’t do much in this tale except act like an average dog, but if it weren’t for Winn-Dixie, much of the story wouldn’t have happened.

Ten-year-old India Opal Buloni tells the story. Opal is new to town. Her dad’s the preacher of a little church, and her mom has disappeared for reasons we learn throughout the book. As Winn-Dixie and Opal explore the town and meet an odd assortment of characters, she learns what it means to treat people with kindness, even those who may not deserve it. And who knows? She might find a new friend.

Pros

  1. Without ever mentioning the name of Jesus, the message throughout Because of Winn-Dixie is clear. Love your neighbor, turn the other cheek, walk the extra mile, encourage one another, be kind.
  2. The language is simple, and each chapter can be read as its own short story, which makes for a great family reading time.
  3. While most kids might not ever meet characters like Gloria Dump or Otis, all kids bump up against bullies like Dunlap and Stevie, or they must deal with stuck-up princesses like Amanda. Opal learns how to deal with both types. Her example makes for a great object lesson for her readers.

Cons

Today’s child is so sucked into instant everything that the novel, as with most vintage reads, will feel too slow at first. Yet Because of Winn-Dixie was only published seventeen years ago. What does that tell you about how quickly our society has changed?

Discussion Questions

My copy has a series of questions in the back. If your copy doesn’t have it, here are three of my own:

  1. Why does Opal decide to adopt Winn-Dixie in spite of how he looks and smells?
  2. What would not have happened to Opal if she never kept Winn-Dixie?
  3. Why do you think Opal doesn’t miss her mother quite so much by the end of the book?

Conclusion

As a dog-lover, Because of Winn-Dixie is one of my favorite books. The author obviously understands doggie behaviors. As a lover of literature, Because of Winn-Dixie is a favorite. DiCamillo is an artist in using few words to evoke powerful emotions in the reader.

 

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Skeleton and Ghost by Nathaniel Dowell

Skeleton and Ghost by Nathaniel Dowell is a book for children, appropriate for ages 3 and up.

Synopsis​

Skeleton lies in his coffin, listening to the earthworms crawl, and longs to walk around outside. Unfortunately, he is stuck underground because he has a ghost. Then one day, he meets a sad little ghost who is looking for his mother and father. Skeleton his happy to help his new friend reunite with his family, and with his help, rises from his coffin and pokes his head out into the night sky. As the two journey together through the peaceful night in search of the little ghost’s family, a beautiful friendship is formed.

Pros:

  • Sweet, positive characters who genuinely care for each other
  • Beautiful, colorful illustrations
  • No mischief or trickery
  • It is not an overtly Halloween story, but it is an option for those who prefer a “soft,” family-friendly Halloween for their children free of creepy elements. Honestly, the only creepy aspect of it is the fact that it is about a skeleton and a ghost.

Cons:

  • Some may be uncomfortable with a book about a skeleton and a ghost.

Personal Thoughts

If you are a child at heart who loves Halloween but are not into the over-the-top creepy aspect of it, or if you are looking for a book to share with an important child in your life, this is the book for you. This is a simple, sweet story about two characters that happen to be a ghost and a skeleton. I found the writing enchanting and the illustrations were gorgeous creations by the author himself. This is the perfect book for you to enjoy with your child, little sibling, niece, nephew, or friend.

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Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes

Until last week, I had never read Johnny Tremain. Shame on me! And shame on me that after the first thirty pages, I was ready to recommend only the most patient of readers should stick with the book. Sure, it was a Newbery Medal Winner. Of 1943. Language has changed and Esther Forbes’s habit of explaining the obvious to her readers was annoying.

HOWEVER, I urge you to stick with it! The deeper I progressed into the story, the more I could see why it was a medal winner, and I didn’t want to stop reading. Esther Forbes was an avid historian of the Revolutionary War. She was particularly interested in the goings-on of the Sons of Liberty in Boston leading up to Paul Revere’s famous ride and the Shot Heard Round the World. She then took what she had learned and used a small incident, the boy who took the message to the friend who would hang the lanterns in the North-Church-tower (“one if by land and two if by sea”), and created a children’s novel in order to bring Revolutionary times to life for every generation.

Not only are we reminded of historical events, but Forbes lets us peek into the real, and often flawed, lives of many of the leaders of the Revolution. She depicts the British as real men,  not monsters. They tried to keep the peace by allowing rebels freedom of movement in the hopes that war could be averted, for after all, the Revolution was all about Englishman vs. Englishman. A civil war.

As I read, I could see the book was well researched. If you obtain a copy with Gary D. Schmidt’s introduction, you will see just how well researched it was. Study it! Schmidt gives fascinating insights into the author, her scholastic abilities, and her message.

revolutionary-war-minutemen

Synopsis

Johnny Tremain is apprenticed to a silversmith. When an accident to his hand prevents him from following his dream to surpass the skills of the famed Paul Revere, he searches for whatever work the maimed hand will allow him to do. Thus, he becomes involved with the Sons of Liberty, a messenger boy who shares what he learns listening to British soldiers in the taverns of Boston.

Pros:

  1. Homeschool parents and teachers, the novel itself supplements the best history curricula of the Revolutionary War. It would make a great novel for reading class or for reading as a family.
  2. I’m a strong believer in learning how to adjust to different writing styles. Well-written books published in 1943 or in 1843 or in 1743 were great for their time and are still great today. The twenty-first century’s arrogant sense of “get to the point with as few words as possible” needs to be displaced by an appreciation for timeless literature regardless of style. Johnny Tremain is one of those classics.

Cons:

I can think of two that reflect worse on the reader than on the author.

  1. The writing style is wordy and “telling.” We value succinct and “showing.” Both can be done well. The reader who can’t stand wordiness will not like this book.
  2. Readers who don’t want their idols knocked off their pedestals won’t want to read Johnny Tremain. Samuel Adams is displayed in all his energy, his enthusiasm, and—his thirst for British blood. I was surprised and uncomfortable by the revelation. But I’m planning on buying his biography to learn more.

Discussion Questions:

These can range from simple discussion of historical events to soul-searching questions of right and wrong. I’ll mention a couple that came to mind regarding the latter.

  1. The Tories, those loyal to the Crown of England, did not feel the colonists had a good enough reason to go to war. Over taxes? Was it worth it to go to war over money? What’s your opinion?
  2. The Whigs, also known as rebels, felt it was wrong to meekly accept taxation without representation. A few went further, deciding that a revolution in the American colonies would pave the way for freedom for every citizen of every nation in the world someday. If you had lived in Boston in 1773, would you have been Tory or a Whig? Why?

Conclusion:

Shortly before the confrontation at Lexington, James Otis made an informal speech to the Sons of Liberty speaking on the eternal values liberty represented. He claimed it wasn’t worth it to fight for money or for representation in the British Parliament. But it was worth it to fight for the right of a man to “stand up.” This was the author’s message as men stood up for freedom in World War II. The same message applies as men stood up for freedom in Korea, in Vietnam, in Kuwait, and they stand in Iraq and in Afghanistan today. It’s why the world fights ISIS and its ilk.

I’ll finish with a Bible verse, perhaps taken slightly out of context, but its meaning applies. Because there are principalities and powers of the air who direct more than we may be aware of, God instructs us to put on His armor and face the enemy. Ephesians 6:13 sums up the idea in one verse: “And when you have done all, STAND.” This is the message of Johnny Tremain. Men of ideals, not all of them perfect ideals, stood for what they believed was right and true. When they had done all that they knew in dealing peaceably with King George III, they stood and held their ground against tyranny. Johnny Tremain teaches our children to do the same.

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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.

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Miracle’s Boys by Jacqueline Woodson

Sometimes, life gets too hard. How can the remnants of a family hold on to what was good?

In Miracle’s Boys, Jacqueline Woodson answers the question: how does a kid survive losing both parents before he’s reached adulthood? That question must pass through every child’s mind at some point in their growing-up years. I remember asking those questions around the age of ten. Who would take care of me? Would I ever be happy again?

Winner of the 2001 Coretta Scott King Author Award, the novel is told through the eyes of Lafayette, the youngest of three boys. Laf had lost his father years before and barely remembers him, but his mom died from insulin shock, and he didn’t know how to save her. He and his brothers, Charlie and Ty’ree deal with their grief and sense of helplessness in three different ways.

Ty’ree, the oldest, sacrifices his college scholarship to take a job and support his brothers so they can remain a family. Charlie already angry over his father’s accident, finds his “family” in gang activity, and ends up in a boys’ prison for armed robbery. Lafayette, has withdrawn into himself, keeping an emotional wall between himself and the rest of the world.

While Charlie has been gone for two years, Ty’ree and Laf manage to find a quiet, comfortable relationship, but once the still-angry Charlie returns, the boys have to figure out a new dynamic. Lafayette calls him “Newcharlie” because this middle brother is not the kindhearted boy from years before. Still, Laf has hope that something will change for the better.

The story progresses as each boy faces his fears and the obstacles of living in the inner city. Can Ty’ree keep Charlie in check, or will he lose his brother once and for all to the state? Can Charlie resist the temptation of the gangs, or is he willing to trade in his anger for acknowledging the pain of his loss? Can Lafayette get Charlie to remember what a great big brother he used to be, and can Laf ever get rid of the guilt for his lack of action when his mother was dying?

Pros

  1. The setting gives young readers an accurate view of the inner city without getting too graphic.
  2. Regardless of setting, all readers identify with the problems of family. How siblings relate to each other is a key component to the plot and theme.
  3. Woodson does a superb job in getting the reader to eagerly flip to the next page, and the next, and the next.

Cons

Woodson covers a lot of social issues in a small space which leaves us with a sense that some problems got solved too easily. But then again, the book is aimed at young readers, as one reviewer pointed out. Miracle’s Boys serves as an introduction to a complex society.

Discussion Questions

  1. If you had to depend on an older brother to take care of you, how do you think you would try to help out?
  2. Why do you think Charlie was the only brother who reacted in anger? (Hint: this becomes clear by the end of the book.)
  3. How was Lafayette able to steer away from the gangs in his neighborhood?

Conclusion

The novel is worth reading to discover what works out for the boys—and what doesn’t.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Hillbilly Elegy

Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance Photo: Amazon.com
Hillbilly Elegy is the biography of man raised in poverty who overcame adversity to graduate from Yale law school.
 

Synopsis

J.D. Vance is the grandchild of hillbillies from Kentucky who emigrated to Ohio with the promise of good jobs in a steel mill. He was raised by a single mother with addictions and a string of failed relationships. A feisty grandmother kept J.D. from being a statistic of working class white families throughout our country. Instead of ending up in a cycle of poverty, addiction, and abusive relationships, J.D. is a success story. He deferred a college education to enlist in the Marine Corps and graduated from Ohio State in 2.5 years while working sometimes three jobs. He entered the Ivy League as a Yale law student. Now equipped with a good job and happily married to a Yale law classmate, J.D. is an inspiration and mentor to future generations of at risk youth. Hillbilly Elegy is his story.

Pros:

  • No matter where you stand politically, you need to read Hillbilly Elegy.
  • The story is inspiring and eye-opening to the plight of the white working class. While this demographic takes heat as receiving “white privilege”, they do not share many of its advantages.
  • Hillbilly Elegy is a frank and often raw portrayal of what it’s like to grow up poor and white in Midwestern America.
  • J.D. offers a perspective that rises above political talking points. He is an admitted conservative. But the book offers both praise and criticism to all sides of the issues of poverty, opportunity, and how to give all Americans the opportunity to succeed. As a result, it’s never a diatribe against the other side or propaganda for his side of the argument.

Cons:

  • Not exactly a “con” as much as a disclaimer. Hillbilly Elegy is a New Adult book. The subject matter is not appropriate for younger audiences. Not only because of the raw language/innuendo (see other con) but because the subject matter is best for older teens and adults with good critical thinking skills. This is a book that screams for self-assessment/discussion afterwards. Consequently, it’s not light reading.
  • There is a lot of rough language including numerous F-bombs. The language is never gratuitous except maybe a chapter later in the book. The author coaches himself through a social situation with “elites” by telling himself several times to not be an “A******”. I listened to the author read the book. The language may not be as jarring in print. But there is enough that I gave the book 4 stars instead of 5.
  •  Really, the language was the only negative

Recommended Audience:

In conclusion, I would recommend Hillbilly Elegy to adults and mature teens. This is not a book to read for entertainment’s sake, but one to offer insight into the problems plaguing the working class in America. Most of all, there’s a hopelessness and desperation in this community as well as broken families, addiction, a cycle of poverty, and waning opportunities.

Final Word:

This was a deeply personal book for me. I went through most of my life oblivious to those suffering around me. As a result, It’s not often  a book sucker punches me with such self-awareness.

The first day of my professional life began in J.D.’s hometown (Middletown, OH). My trainer described himself as “a Tennessee Ridge Runner” (i.e. hillbilly from Tennessee). I reflected on that time. Did J.D. walk by me? A faceless tween in the public library. At the time, I didn’t care about students in a crumbling steel town. My goal to learn what I needed and move onward and upward in the company.

Before then, I was raised in a city not too different from Middletown, OH, I was a middle class kid surrounded by working class peers. I think back to my school days and wonder which of my classmates grew up like J.D. I’m sure some went to bed hungry. Some likely hid from abusive parents. Or played grownup because their parents were addicts or absent. As a student, I was long on ambition and low on empathy.

As an adult, I’m can see how privileged we are and try to pass that insight onto my children. I want to help those in my community who I think might have it a bit harder than the rest. After reading this, I’m even more inspired to look for ways to mentor the J.D.s of this generation. 

 Discussion Questions
 
  1. Do you believe in “white privilege”?
  2. What are obstacles poor white people have in common with minorities in a similar situation?
  3. Think about a child in J.D.’s situation and brainstorm ways you could help a child like him.
  4. How do you think as a country we can help improve the lives of the working class?
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A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas is categorized as a Young Adult fantasy by its publisher.  However, it should be classified as New Adult based on the age of its protagonist (19), sexual content, and graphic violence. 

I was on the fence about giving this book a two-star review or a three-star review; however, in our star rating description (on the Home page), a three-star review must be “a decent read.” Based on the content, I do not think it meets that criterion.  In good conscience, I cannot recommend this book. 

Synopsis​

Feyre is a young, human woman who kills a wolf while attempting to find food for her starving family. She soon discovers that she killed (and skinned) a faerie in disguise, and the cost of her unwitting crime is her life—life in the faerie world of Prythian as the property of Tamlin, High Lord of the Spring Court. And it goes downhill from there.

It’s not that the world-building isn’t superb. The writing is far above par. But what’s billed as being a “. . . blend of action, romance, and witty banter as well as a sexier, edgier tone” by the School Library Journal is, in retrospect, a pandering slosh through unbelievable attraction and unexciting action.

Maas, the beloved author of The Throne of Glass series, seems to be laboring to make it work in this uninspiring book. This is Twilight meets Beauty and the Beast, set in the cruel and sadistic world of the legend of Tamlin. All the elements are there: the (much) older supernatural male and the (crazily attractive) young female who spark off one another the moment they meet; the curse only the female can break; the cruel faerie queen; Lumiere—Lucien—the witty matchmaker; Alis, the helpful housekeeper; and finally, there is Rhysand, the Jacob wannabe.

Pros:

Maas is a master world-builder.  Wow. As a writer and editor, I appreciate the luxurious prose.

The cover is pretty. Love the map.

The main character is loyal to a fault for the first half of the book. I could al-most like Feyre at the beginning of the tale, but then she loses her way.

Cons:

Feyre establishes her street cred as a sexually-active young woman by acknowledging her casual rolls in the hay with a local man when she needs to escape reality. This relationship is entirely meaningless in the scope of the story and trite, like an item that must be marked off a characterization checklist: “Main character must not be a virgin.” Check.

Her first “sexual” encounter with Tamlin is after he has taken part in a rite of spring (um, I’m trying to keep it PG) and comes back to the mansion all crazy. He bites her on the neck, and the reader is supposed to think it’s hot. Smashing a woman against the wall and biting her is assault. This is very disappointing in any book, but especially so in a book marketed to teen girls. Bloomsbury USA Children cannot claim otherwise; as of this writing, the novel is #19 on Amazon in Books>Teens>Romance> Fantasy.

Yes, Tamlin and Feyre eventually get together in bed. He’s so five-hundred-plus-years-old, and she’s so nineteen. To be absolutely fair, she (spoiler) is no longer a human when this takes place, though they’ve been diggin’ each beforehand.

Tamlin and Feyre are not as likable as the sidekick, Lucien, or even the ruffian, Rhysand. About that checklist: “Make main characters likable.” If you are going to write a kick-butt heroine, she cannot also be too stupid to live. If you are going to write a swoon-worthy hero, he cannot be abusive or controlling. Not ever.

The High Lords, including Tamlin, are practically gods (little g) with powers beyond imagination. They are immortal (mostly). As is common in faerie tales, the faeries in this story are amoral creatures, doing whatever seems best at the time. Tamlin is considered a Goody Two-Shoes by his peers.

The crisis of curse and cruelty takes place in Queen Amarantha’s court, and it goes on forever. Maas holds nothing back, churning out one hundred pages of torture and sexual innuendo. Again, the frail human is somehow the key to defeating the evil queen. The girl is also seemingly irresistible to male faeries. Why? I kept thinking of Bella in Twilight and her effect on an entire school of boys. Talk about fantasy!

Later, to save her life, Feyre strikes a deal with another High Lord, Rhysand, to stay with him one week every month for the rest of her life. His expectations are obvious. I suppose she has to “pay up” in Book 2, but that doesn’t matter to me since I won’t be reading it.

Kirkus Reviews wrote, “Sexy and romantic.” Sexy? Too much so. Romantic? Nah.  And that’s too bad because I’m a sucker for romance.

This book contains so much violence that I cannot list it here.

Also, there is language in the book that is not appropriate for its intended audience.

Finally, at the last showdown, Feyre has an ah-ha moment that is outrageously contrived.  The resolution relies entirely on deus ex machina, a suddenly revealed fact about Tamlin (the god, in this case) that saves the day.

Personal Thoughts

Sadly, this book does not live up to the author’s reputation.  I wanted to like it. I was predisposed to love it. But I had to force myself to finish it so I could write this review. Not recommended.

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