Tuesday 26 August 2014

Leandra's Enchanted Flute


Leandra’s Enchanted Flute is one of the most unique stories I have read for some time.  It is the kind of story that could be turned into an enchanting BBC special for older children or any young of heart lover of sweet fantasy.  Leandra and her flute are chosen to join a prince and some talking birds in a quest to heal a world that has been blighted.  Leandra is specially chosen to journey to Finian Jahndra because she has fought and won a battle with cancer on earth. Leandra has a spiritual connection with the world of Finian Jahndra that causes her to rejoice in its places of beauty and feel a deep sense of grief when the world is impacted by the canker that is blighting it.  

There was one place in the book where I wondered if I had skipped some pages.  The raven Eyepecker goes too quickly from being a suspected enemy to a friend.  I was left with the feeling that there was dialogue missing. 

However, all in all the book was very well written. Katy Huth Jones is a gifted writer.  I think this book would be widely acclaimed if it were not for the great many books being published at this moment in time.  

Wednesday 13 August 2014

Andy Smithson, Blast of Dragon's Fury by L.R.W. Lee

Andy Smithson, Blast of Dragon's Fury is a book that has it all. Well almost all. There is a vengeful ghost, dragons, an ancient curse to break, a magic sword, a trip through space and time, as well as a hero's quest. There are some very fun and imaginative elements in this story which tickle the funny bone.

 
I found there was a little too much background and side information that did not add to the story.  That said, it was still a good story. I enjoyed reading about the quest to break the curse that plagues the land of Oomaldee and would recommend this book to others, particularly to MG readers.  I really liked how the story ended, but of course I am not going to tell you. You will need to read Blast of Dragons Fury for yourself.

Friday 1 August 2014

Mudbound


Mudbound is an incredibly good book which deals with difficult subjects: racism, sexism and the struggle to put into words those things that scar us and leave us limping through life.
Two soldiers come back from the war. Ronsel, the black son of a sharecropper, comes home with a sense of pride in who he is and what he has accomplished.  This pride makes it hard for him to fit into the deeply racist Mississippi Delta. Jamie, the brother of the farm owner comes home deeply wounded by the things that he has seen and done during the war.  There is no one he can talk to so he tries to forget by drinking far too much.  Jamie and Ronsel develop something of a friendship. Their time as soldiers give some common understanding. Although Jamie still carries the prejudice he was born into. 

There is a bit of a prodigal son theme in this story in that the older brother is responsible and tries to do what is right – although he is blind to the racism and the sexism that are a part of the fabric of his life. Jamie on the other hand seems to throw away all that he has. In real life we often see this when people live with a lot of self-hatred and don’t feel worthy of good things. Which brings me to another point: The characters in this story were believable and took on flesh.  The father in this story does not represent love, but is a vicious mean spirited man who cuts down his son, makes his daughter-in-laws life miserable and instigates the  conflict that is at the heart of this story. 

I highly recommend this first book by Hillary Jordan. It is worthy of the prizes it has won.