Category: Reviews

Eager

On By Linnea PsiakiLeave a comment

By Helen Fox

How would you like it if robots were able to do all of your menial tasks, take care of you little sibling, talk to you, and even become your best friend? For Fleur and Gavin, that’s normal. They talk to the house, discuss philosophy with a computer, and rely heavily on their robot butler, Grumps. So when he begins to run down and must be replaced, they’re less than pleased. The replacement: the experimental robot EGR3.

Know as Eager, EGR3 can learn from his experiences and even feel emotions. Quite strange for the human children, who avoid him at first. But as Eager seeks out more knowledge and strange humanlike robots begin to act suspiciously, Fleur and Gavin might need to rely on their robot friend more than they would like. As their adventure unfolds, Eager must answer one vital question: What does it mean to be alive?

Why should you read this book?

This is one of the only sci-fi books I’ve read where the robots aren’t just servants or evil creatures trying to take over the world – they’ve been developed to feel emotions and respond like humans. Maybe I haven’t read enough science fiction (I definitely haven’t) but I really liked the way the robots were depicted in this book. The characters were also relatable (even with them being futuristic) and very enjoyable. If you like robots and technology and humor, this is the book for you.

Who should read this book?

One of the main plot points of this book is the strange humanlike BDC4 robots and how suspiciously they are acting. At times, the story gets creepy, or even down right scary. But overall, the book is not a scary book, it more explores concepts and ideas that could be slightly disturbing. I would say that 5th graders are old enough to read this book.

Series:

There are two more books after this one, Eager’s Nephew and Eager and the Mermaid. I have only read Eager’s Nephew, and though I liked it, it was not as good as the first one. I have not read Eager and the Mermaid, but I assume that it will be along the same content lines.

General Stats:

  • Genre: Sci-fi
  • Book 1 of 3
  • Age: 5th grade and above
  • My rating: ★★★★★

A Wrinkle in Time

On By Linnea PsiakiLeave a comment

By Madeleine L’Engle

It was a dark and stormy night. Aside from that, life wasn’t anything special , or at least until a mysterious stranger appeared on Meg’s doorstep and changed her life forever. Meg’s father is trapped somewhere far away in space, and he can’t return to them. This stranger offers a way for Meg, along with her brother Charles Wallace and her friend Calvin O’Keefe, to save him. The three travel across space and time by way of a tesseract and must face the dark powers that threaten the universe.

Why should you read this book?

If you’re not a big science fiction fan, either because you haven’t found something that you’ve liked or you just haven’t read a ton in this genre, A Wrinkle in Time is a great place to start. It was one of the first sci-fi books I read and the first that really piqued my interest. It’s not just a book about science or technology or space, it’s a book about family, friendship, and unconditional love. It’s a book about children who just want to save their father and put their family back together. Even if science isn’t your thing, there is a great chance that you will still love this book.

Who should read this book?

The only content warning I have for this book is that it can be a little scary at times. Not really in a way that should lead to nightmares, but it can be very suspenseful at times, and that’s not for everything. Aside from that, it’s very tame. I would say that 5th graders and even adventurous 4th graders should read this book (to be completely honest, I might have been as young as 7 or 8 when I read this – but I still love the books!). As for the rest of the series, books 2 and 3 are along the same lines, but I would wait a little longer for books 4 and 5 as they deal with older characters and mature concepts.

Series Info:

This is a 5 book series contain the books A Wind at the Door, A Swiftly Tilting Planet, Many Waters, and An Acceptable Time. Though all of them are centered around the Murry family, they are all very different. I would describe them as having different focuses (from history/mythology to biblical stories) but all being told from the lens of science fiction. A Swiftly Tilting Planet was one of my favorite books when I was younger, and Many Waters remains one of my most reread books – it’s so good!

General Stats:

  • Genre: Sci-fi
  • Book 1 of 5
  • Age: 5th grade and above
  • My rating: ★★★★☆

The Islands of the Blessed

On By Linnea PsiakiLeave a comment

The Sea of Trolls Book 3

By Nancy Farmer

Are you ready for the culmination of this epic series? Well, you’re going to have to make it through four hundred more pages, because this book throws you right back into the adventure. You’re going to have to work for that ending.

Jack and Thorgil embark on yet another adventure when their village is threatened by a Draugr (the restless spirit of a dead creature). Searching for a solution, they travel with the Bard back up north towards St. Filian’s, hoping to prevent anyone from dying. Along they way, they encounter many of old characters and even meet some new ones. They are led on what I would describe as a mix of a wild goose chase and an epic quest until they reach their final destination – Notland, the dangerous and wild land of strange creatures that is, unfortunately, not always there.

Why should you read this book?

To finish the series, of course! Surely by now you’re quite committed to the characters and are dying to know what happens in the end. If that’s not enough to convince you, the author ups the mythology and legends that are worked in (there were some that even I didn’t recognize). The characters are, as usual, superb, and really bring the story to light with witty lines and lots of humor. Worldbuilding increases/new places are added as well as old ones are reinforced. Also, if you’ve been following Jack’s struggle between the different worldviews that he is presented with, that culminates in this book (as it should).

And finally, if, like me, you’re a die hard Thorgil fan, this book truly finishes the character arc she started all the way back in The Sea of Trolls. She’s not a sullen little girl now – she’s growing up. She’s faced struggles and trials and gotten back up on her feet every time. She has also become a much more caring, compassionate (at times), and loving character. Some might debate me on this, but read the book! I promise you will enjoy it, and if not, you can fight me with your comments.

Who should read this book?

Like I said last time, if you’ve read the other books in the series, you’re going to be fine. It’s written in the same style with the same type of content. If you haven’t read the other books – what are you doing here? Go read them!

General Stats:

  • Genre: Historical Fantasy/Mythology
  • Book 3 of 3
  • Age: 6th grade or above
  • My rating: ★★★★☆

Goodreads Review: (Warning: Contains MAJOR spoilers – read after you’ve read the book!) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8512966847

The Land of the Silver Apples

On By Linnea PsiakiLeave a comment

The Sea of Trolls Book 2

By Nancy Farmer

Did you like The Sea of Trolls? If you, then you need to read the sequel. From criminal monks to soulless elves to mushroom-addicted hogboons, this book expands the world of the first book to include so much more.

It had only been a year since Jack and Lucy returned to their village, and they are right in the middle of another problem. When Lucy disobeys the rules of a sacred ceremony, potentially bringing doom and destruction on the village, Jack sets out on another adventure, this time not just to save his sister, but to save his entire community. With the help of Pega, a “froggy” slave he has picked up along the way and a certain saucy shield maiden who turns up in the last place to be expected, Jack journeys underground to a land full of extraordinary creatures. From elves to kelpies to hogboons to yarthkins, you never know what to expect next.

Why should you read this book?

It continues the story laid out in The Sea of Trolls. There is so much more worldbuilding and so many more characters that you feel like you are seeing an entire different side of the world. Aside from new characters, old ones who played smaller roles in the first book (such as the Bard and Jack’s family) are brought more to center stage and given more dynamic roles. Jack also continues to grow as a Bard.

All of the tensions present in book one that make it such a interesting story are present here. In fact, tension between Christianity and other worldviews is heightened as a new perspective is revealed through the monastery. This book continues to make you answer hard questions.

As usual, it’s funny. The hogboons were especially amusing and made me laugh a lot.

Who should read this book?

If you read The Sea of Trolls, then I’m assuming you’re capable of reading this book and dealing with the themes. If you didn’t read The Sea of Trolls, why are you reading this? As in the previous book, there is a decent amount of violence but not in a disturbing way. Practically no romance.

Being completely honest here, I did have one problem with this book that I feel like I have to mention. Some of the characters were really obnoxious to me. I won’t say who here (*cough* Goodreads review *cough*) but there were times when I was so frustrated by characters that it detracted from my general enjoyment of the book. None of these were main characters, and most of this was very necessary to the success of the story, but it still annoyed me.

General Stats:

  • Genre: Historical Fantasy/Mythology
  • Book 2 of 3
  • Age: 6th grade and above
  • My rating: ★★★★☆

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8510514437

The Sea of Trolls

On By Linnea PsiakiLeave a comment

By Nancy Farmer

Do you like fantasy? Do you like medieval history? Do you like England? Do you like really funny characters? Then this is the book for you!

The Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer follows the young Anglo-Saxon apprentice bard Jack and his sister Lucy as they are kidnapped by Vikings and taken to Scandinavia. Soon after they arrive, Jack finds himself on a quest seeking the fabled Mimir’s Well. If he succeeds, he will earn his freedom and save his sister’s life. If he fails…well, things won’t turn out so well for everyone involved. With him, he brings the enormous captain Olaf, the voiceless skald Rune, and the surly shield maiden Thorgil. Along the way, they encounter a plethora of creatures and figures that will be familiar to avid readers of Norse mythology.

Why should you read this book?

There is a lot of character growth. Most of the main characters experience dramatic shifts in who they are from the beginning of the book to the end which is always fun to read.

The characters are witty. My favorite line in the book was “Just say no to pillaging”. You’ll find yourself laughing over plenty of funny parts.

Though this is a fun adventure story, a lot of deeper themes are explored. Notably, Jack struggles to define people as good and evil and grows to understand that people are nuanced. He also faces the tension between his own Christian beliefs, the Norse gods, and the Bard’s magic. Both of these areas of tension continues throughout the series and at times they force you, the reader, to think about and struggle with the same questions.

Who should read this book?

There’s nothing extremely objectional about it but it does deal with violence and its aftermath. There is no gore or gruesome scenes, but remember, the Vikings were a violent society who killed a lot of people, and this is a book that heavily features them and their culture. Different religions/worldviews play a large role in the story. There is no romance.

I would say that this is a 6th grade and above level book because of the role violence plays in the story. The text itself isn’t difficult, there are just some themes that are better for older readers. It’s possible that a mature 5th grader would be ok with it, as long as they were used to reading books that dealt with similar themes.

General Stats:

  • Genre: Historical Fantasy (by this I mean that while it technically takes place in 793 AD and you can recognize a lot of historical facts, magic, trolls, and Viking gods are all real).
  • It’s part of a series! There are three books total and each one is over 400 pages (but the font is large) so you’ll be busy for a while.
  • Level: 6th grade and above.
  • My rating: ★★★★☆

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8507885771