Cinder

Cinder by Marissa Meyer. Grades 7 and up. Feiwel & Friends, January 2012. 390 pages. Reviewed from ARC provided by publisher.

What if Cinderella was a cyborg?

(I mean, seriously, if that question doesn't intrigue you, I don't think we can be friends.)

Life in New Beijing isn't easy for Cinder. Cyborgs are considered second-class citizens and Cinder's expected to support her stepmother and stepsisters with the mechanic shop she runs at the marketplace. Add to that an incurable plague pandemic and the Lunars poised for war at the first chance they get... But when dreamy Prince Kaito, heir to the imperial throne of the Eastern Commonwealth, stops by her mechanic shop with a broken android, Cinder finds herself swept up in political battles beyond her control. With all the dangers facing the Earthens, it seems that Cinder might be the key to avoiding a devastating war.

Debut author Marissa Meyer combines excellent world-building with a compelling plot for one seriously awesome book!

First of all, the world-building. Cinder is set in New Beijing, a city rebuilt after the fourth World War. In this future Earth, most of the continents have merged, leaving a handful of very large countries. There are also people called Lunars living on the moon. The Lunars are the biggest threat to the Earthens. They have the ability to mess with people's bioelectric fields in order to compel them to do things, feel things, or see things a certain way. Plus, their Queen is seriously evil. Like, killed-everyone-who-could-be-a-threat-to-her-power type of evil. When Prince Kai meets Cinder, his father (the emperor) is dying from the plague, even as scientists work around the clock trying to find an antidote. It's not the most politically stable situation.

I totally dug this speculative world. The setting in New Beijing with Asian influences reminded me of the setting of Firefly. There's a lot going on, but it never felt overwhelming and everything was explained organically in the story. The book also never felt dense, as it easily could have been with all the political stuff going on in this world. There is a lot going on, but the book's very readable.

From the get-go when Kai and Cinder meet, there's romantic tension building. Although Cinder knows that if Kai knew she's a cyborg he'd be repulsed by her, she can't help falling for him. It's not something that happens overnight, but an attraction that builds gradually as Cinder sees the prince several times over the course of the story. Cinder's a believable character that I can get behind. She's not afraid to get her hands dirty or say what she thinks. She sticks up for the people she cares about. She's smart and she's got a plan to escape her situation.

I'd hand Cinder to fans of Graceling by Kristin Cashore (for the kick-butt heroine, romance, and political intrigue), fans of Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman (for the Asian-inspired setting), and anyone looking for a fairy tale retelling that's different from any fairy tale retelling you've ever read.

Cinder will be on shelves January 3!

Dumpling Days

Dumpling Days by Grace Lin. Grades 3-6. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, January 2012. 264 pages. Reviewed from ARC snagged at ALA.

"Traveling is important - it opens your mind. You take something with you, you leave something behind, and you are forever changed. That is a good trip." - Pacy's dad (page 2*).

When Pacy and her family leave for a month-long summer trip to Taiwan, Pacy's not at all sure about the trip. She doesn't speak the language, she's going to miss her friends, and she's just not convinced that it's going to be any fun. It's true that many things seem harder in Taiwan: ordering restaurant food, using the bathroom, even an art class (Pacy's best subject!). But sometimes the most difficult things are the things most worth doing and her adventures in Taiwan will bring Pacy closer to figuring out her own identity and growing closer to those she knows best.

Grace Lin perfectly captures a child's-eye view of family vacation and reading this book was liking taking a trip to Taiwan myself! Details from the architecture to the folklore to the food (Oh! The food!) paint a picture of Taiwan that will have readers eagerly devouring the pages. I didn't want to stop reading because I didn't want my vacation with the Lins to end!

This is a perfect book for American kids to explore different cultures. It's interesting and accessible with lots of tidbits about Taiwan. Ms. Lin also explores the culture clash Pacy experiences being from the US and visiting her parents' homeland. Pacy feels like she doesn't fit in anywhere. In her New England hometown, she doesn't look like everyone else. In Taiwan, she looks like the people but she can't speak their language and doesn't know their ways. Even McDonald's is different in Taiwan!

Although culture clash is definitely an element of this book, it's not the only focal point. This is a story about Pacy and her family. Being the only American kids around, Pacy and her sisters grow closer. Sometimes it takes a journey of thousands of miles to get to know the people you live with every day. And as Pacy learns the stories of her Taiwanese family members, she grows closer to them, too.

If nothing else, read this book for the descriptions of the food! Grace Lin has me wanting to go and eat my way through Taiwan and try all the kids of dumplings that Pacy eats. ;)

There are two previous Pacy books, The Year of the Dog and The Year of the Rat. I recommend you read them because they are awesome, but Dumpling Days stands quite nicely on its own, as well. You may also want to pair this book with Grace Lin's Newbery honor-winning book Where the Mountain Meets the Moon.

Seriously, don't miss this one! This is definitely one of my favorite books I've read this year!

Dumpling Days will be on shelves January 2, just in time for Chinese New Year (January 23 this year!). Make sure you've got this and all the Pacy books in your collection!

* Quoted from ARC.

If You Like A Child Called "It"

A couple weeks ago, I was chatting with one of our regular tween patrons and she mentioned that she really wanted to read the book A Child Called "It" by David Pelzer. That was the last straw: for years as I've worked in libraries and bookstores, this title has been continually in demand by adult, teen and tween patrons alike. It was time for me to read it and see what all the fuss was about.

I confess that I only made it about halfway through because it was just too hard for me to read about the awful things being done to this child. I respect anyone's right to read and enjoy this book (and I understand that it may be a necessary book for many teens and adults who have been through abusive situations), but it just wasn't for me. Knowing the incredibly popularity of this book got me thinking about A Child Called "It" as a gateway drug of sorts - the kind of book that can captivate reluctant readers. So today, I'm taking a page from The Reclusive Bibliophile's book and I'm going to do a list of readalikes. (Be sure you check out her If You Like feature for some great lists of books and movies.)

If You Like A Child Called "It", Check Out These Books

For teens:

 

Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott. Alice was kidnapped at the age of 10 when she was on a class field trip to the aquarium. She's now lived with Ray for five years, enduring unspeakable things. Ray starves her in an attempt to keep her small and young-looking. He promises her that if she ever tries to run, he will kill her parents. And then he tells her to find him a new girl, a girl that Alice can teach to please him.

The Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin. "For Matt and his sisters, life with their cruel, vicious mother is a day-to-day struggle for survival. But then Matt witnesses Murdoch coming to a child's rescue in a convenience store, and for the first time, he feels a glimmer of hope. When, amazingly, Murdoch begins dating Matt's mother, life is suddenly almost good. But the relief lasts only a short time. When Murdoch inevitably breaks up with their mother, Matt knows he needs to take action. But can he call upon his hero? Or will he have to take measures into his own hands?" (Publisher summary quoted from GoodReads.)

 

Split by Swati Avasthi. Ever since his older brother left, Jace's dad's abuse has gotten worse and worse. Jace steps up and tries to take as many of the beatings as he can, in order to spare his mom, but one night things go too far and his dad kicks him out. Jace has nowhere to go except to track down the brother who abandoned him. Together, Christian and Jace must figure out how to find peace and how to rescue their mom... if she'll let herself be rescued.

Boy Toy by Barry Lyga. When Josh was 12, he was sexually abused by his history teacher. It's messed up everything for him. Her detailed confession made its way on to the Internet, so now everyone knows exactly what happened between Josh and his teacher. And now, six years later, she's getting out of jail. 

 

Burned by Ellen Hopkins. "Raised in a religious -- yet abusive -- family, Pattyn Von Stratten starts asking questions -- about God, a woman's role, sex, love. She experiences the first stirrings of passion, but when her father catches her in a compromising position, events spiral out of control. Pattyn is sent to live with an aunt in the wilds of Nevada to find salvation and redemption. What she finds instead is love and acceptance -- until she realizes that her old demons will not let her go." (Publisher summary quotes from GoodReads.) And also check out Ellen Hopkins' other books. 

The Burn Journals by Brent Runyon. "In 1991, fourteen-year-old Brent Runyon came home from school, doused his bathrobe in gasoline, put it on, and lit a match. He suffered third-degree burns over 85% of his body and spent the next year recovering in hospitals and rehab facilities. During that year of physical recovery, Runyon began to question what he’d done, undertaking the complicated journey from near-death back to high school, and from suicide back to the emotional mainstream of life." (Publisher summary quotes from GoodReads.) 

 

Sickened: The True Story of a Lost Childhood by Julie Gregory. Throughout her childhood, Julie was told that she was sick. She was starved, beaten, and taken out of school for doctor's visits and hospital stays. Her mother insisted that every possible test be done (including invasive ones), in order to "get to the bottom of this". Julie was punished if she didn't go along with the symptoms her mother told the doctors she had. This is Julie's story of her childhood and how she finally broke free.

For tweens: 

 

Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt. It's 1968 and fourteen-year-old Doug Swieteck has just moved to a new town with his family. Life's not easy for Doug there. No one expects much of him or his family and Doug never knows what to expect from his father, who flies violently off the handle at the smallest thing. Two things help him get by: the book of Audubon prints at the town library (and the librarian who's helping Doug learn to draw them) and Lil Spicer, a feisty girl in his class who becomes Doug's unlikely ally. As Doug tries to navigate his eighth grade year and the sides of his personality that would have him act just like his violent father and brothers, he's just hoping that things will turn out okay... for now.

What Jamie Saw by Carolyn Coman. What Jamie saw was his mom's boyfriend throwing his baby sister across the room. Luckily, Jamie's mom was quick enough to catch her and the three of them left that night. This gem of a book tells what happened after the incident and how Jamie and his mom begin to conquer their fears and put their lives back together.

The Underneath by Kathi Appelt. "A calico cat, about to have kittens, hears the lonely howl of a chained-up hound deep in the backwaters of the bayou. She dares to find him in the forest, and the hound dares to befriend this cat, this feline, this creature he is supposed to hate. They are an unlikely pair, about to become an unlikely family. Ranger urges the cat to hide underneath the porch, to raise her kittens there because Gar-Face, the man living inside the house, will surely use them as alligator bait should he find them. But they are safe in the Underneath...as long as they stay in the Underneath." (Publisher summary quoted from GoodReads.) 

What other books would you recommend for teen or tween fans of A Child Called "It"? 

Show Stoppers!

Kelly and I got to talking about the wonderful books on performing arts that have come out for children & teens over the past couple of years, so we're presenting today a list of great books about performing arts for the artsy kids in your life. Check out the teen stuff over at Stacked and you'll get your children's & middle-grade stuff right here!

Show-Stopping Books: Books for the Artistic Readers in Your Life

Hilda Must Be Dancing by Karma Wilson (ages 3-6).
The bouncy rhyme and rich vocabulary will have kids tapping their feet even as they're gaining valuable early literacy skills. 

Dooby Dooby Moo by Doreen Cronin (ages 4-8).
Can Farmer Brown's animals win the local talent show (grand prize: trampoline) without him knowing?

The Remarkable Farkle McBride by John Lithgow (ages 5-9).
Farkle McBride tries and rejects a number of musical instruments in this humorous, rhyming book. 

Opera Cat by Tess Weaver (ages 5-8).
When the opera star Madame SoSo comes down with laryngitis, it's up to her cat Alma to save the show!

Dancing in the Wings by Debbie Allen (ages 6-9).
Sassy longs to be a professional dancer, but she's too tall to partner with the boys in her class, so she dances in the wings during performances. When Sally competes for a prestigious dance program, her hard work pays off!

The Talented Clementine by Sara Pennypacker (ages 6-9).
When the third and fourth graders are putting on a talent show, Clementine is desperate to find an act - any act - to perform!

Drumbeat in Our Feet by Patricia Keeler (ages 6-10).
"If you can walk, you can dance. If you can talk, you can sing." - African proverb. Explore the traditions and meanings of African dance in this colorful picture book.

Babymouse: The Musical by Jennifer L. Holm & Matthew Holm (ages 7-10).
When Babymouse is assigned the role of Felicia's understudy, she's sure she's never going to be on stage. Filled with references to musicals from Phantom to West Side Story to Fiddler, this is a great choice for any young musical theater buffs. 

Ballet for Martha by Jan Greenberg & Sandra Jordan (ages 7-10).
Get a behind-the-scenes look at the work that went into creating the ballet Appalachian Spring. 

The Last Holiday Concert by Andrew Clements (ages 8-12).
When school budget cuts mean that the music and art teachers will soon be gone, Hart Evans decides to make this year's holiday concert the best ever... but it'll take all his powers of persuasion to get his classmates to cooperate. 

The Barefoot Book of Ballet Stories by Jane Yolen and Heidi E. Y. Stemple (ages 8-12).
This beautifully illustrated book retells the stories of some of the most famous ballets. Background information about each ballet is included before the story, making this a book that young ballerinas will cherish.

A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban (ages 8-12).
Zoe Elias dreams of playing the piano at Carnegie Hall. Imagine her surprise when, instead of the piano she was so hoping for, her parents get her an organ. An organ that comes with lessons from Maybeline Person and her book of organ songs... Hits from the 70s.

The Mozart Season by Virginia Euwer Wolff (ages 9-12).
When 12-year-old Allegra is selected as the youngest competitor in the Ernest Bloch Young Musicians’ Competition, it means a summer of not only practicing Mozart's notes, but learning how to let the music into her heart.

The Rising Star of Rusty Nail (ages 9-12).
In Rusty Nail, Minnesota, Franny takes piano lessons from the Russian lady that just moved in. Is it possible she's a spy? 

To Dance by Siena Cherson Siegel (ages 9-13).
Siena Cherson Siegel studied at ballet school in New York from when she was six until she was eighteen. This sweet graphic novel memoir describes her time there. 

Four Seasons by Jane Breskin (ages 9-13).
Allegra, piano student at Julliard, must decide whether she wants to commit her life to her music career.

No More Dead Dogs by Gordon Korman (ages 10-13).

Eighth grader Wallace Wallace is forced to join the school play after turning in his real opinion of the book Old Shep, My Pal for a school book report. But with Wallace involved, the boring school play turns into something much different.

Lemonade Mouth by Mark Peter Hughes (ages 11 and up).
Wen, Stella, Charlie, Olivia, and Mo take turns telling the story of their band, Lemonade Mouth, and how they achieved fame and glory.

What other great performance books for kids and tweens would you add to this list?

Audiobook Review: The True Meaning of Smekday

The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex, read by Bahni Turpin. Grades 4-7. Random House/Listening Library, 2010. 10 hours and 38 minutes. Review copy provided by my local library.

Plot summary from publisher via GoodReads:

It all starts with a school essay.

When twelve-year-old Gratuity (“Tip”) Tucci is assigned to write five pages on “The True Meaning of Smekday” for the National Time Capsule contest, she’s not sure where to begin. When her mom started telling everyone about the messages aliens were sending through a mole on the back of her neck? Maybe on Christmas Eve, when huge, bizarre spaceships descended on the Earth and the aliens - called Boov - abducted her mother? Or when the Boov declared Earth a colony, renamed it “Smekland” (in honor of glorious Captain Smek), and forced all Americans to relocate to Florida via rocketpod?

In any case, Gratuity’s story is much, much bigger than the assignment. It involves her unlikely friendship with a renegade Boov mechanic named J.Lo.; a futile journey south to find Gratuity’s mother at the Happy Mouse Kingdom; a cross-country road trip in a hovercar called Slushious; and an outrageous plan to save the Earth from yet another alien invasion.
Hype. You know how it is. Sometimes everyone's gushing about a book (or an audiobook in this case) and it wins the Odyssey Award and yet... for some reason, you're reluctant to pick it up. Everyone loves this, but I will probably be the one dissenter, you might think to yourself.

This is one of those books that I don't think I would have finished if I had been reading the print version. It's funny and wacky, but despite the madcap action it dragged in a few places. Young science fiction fans will certainly eat it up, but it would have been easy for me to declare, "Not My Genre!" and put it aside. That's where Bahni Turpin comes in.

Bahni Turpin embraces the text fully and becomes her characters. Yes, she was absolutely hilarious as the alien J.Lo with his high voice and strange accent and clicks. But Turpin was also able to bring me to tears with a single phrase as Gratuity. This is a superb performance and Turpin is a perfect match for the text. If you've been holding out on this one, wondering if it could possibly live up to the hype, I'm telling you to give it a chance!

The wacky humor makes this a good choice for fans of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglass Adams, well-read by Stephen Fry. I'd also try this on kids who enjoyed Aliens on Vacation by Clete Barrett Smith or Bruce Coville's titles.

Check out more reviews of the audiobook at Reading with My Ears and Book Nut.

The True Meaning of Smekday is on shelves now!

Hey, I'm an Audible affiliate, so if you purchase items after clicking the links on my site, I may get a small commission!

A Wonderful Problem

I'm over at the ALSC Blog today, talking about a wonderful problem my department's been having recently... Please check it out!

Planet Middle School

Planet Middle School by Nikki Grimes. Grades 4-7. Bloomsbury, September 2011. 154 pages. Review copy provided by my local library.

When Joylin starts middle school, things begin to change. Her body's changing (making playing basketball with the boys sort of awkward). She's suddenly sitting with different girls in the cafeteria (since her best girl friend joined choir). And worst of all, she finds herself obsessed with catching Santiago's eye (a boy she'd never noticed previously), even if it means squeezing her feet into heels, getting her ears pierced, and experimenting with makeup. Life seems to be wobbling out of orbit for this tomboy, but Joylin's doing her best to navigate Planet Middle School.

In short prose poems, Nikki Grimes tells the story of an infinitely relatable girl facing problems that many of our tween readers are facing. This verse novel may not be breaking new ground, but I appreciate a coming-of-age story written by an author of color, featuring a protagonist of color, and I definitely have some kids in mind who will snatch up this book.

The verse format is another appeal factor for kids. This is a slim book anyway, and the verse format makes the pages fly by. The poems are well-constructed and Ms. Grimes is able to paint pictures that get her point across without wasting a word. Girls will see themselves in these poems. Here's one example:

Silent Shift


On the way out, 
I pass by KeeLee
laughing with her new friends
from show choir.
We smile and wave
at each other
like our not sitting together
is no big deal. (pg. 49)

I absolutely think you could lift this poem right out of the book and still get a complete picture of what's going on between Joylin and KeeLee. This is the case for many of the poems in the book, which (to my mind) is the mark of a nicely written verse novel.

Hand this to tweens who are unsure about starting middle school, girls who are noticing boys for the first time, or fans of Confetti Girl by Diana Lopez, Shug by Jenny Han, or Judy Blume's coming-of-age books.

Planet Middle School is on shelves now.

A Good Day

Wednesday was a good librarian day.

I think I have finally won over the kids at my toughest afterschool site. It's almost all boys at this site and the older ones are way too cool for school. It's not unusual for me to be greeted by groans of "Not YOU again!" when I arrive at this school (I assume they're saying that with love, of course). But this time, one of the younger boys saw me arrive and raced to open the door. When he spotted my bag of books, he gave me a big hug and said, "You're the book lady!"

The kids were more attentive than they've ever been and after several of the younger kids clamored to do the craft (scratch-art snowmen), most of the older boys drifted over to do it, too. I sat at their table and they showed off by saying rude things about the people in their classes and telling me who liked who in their classes and which girls were "smokin' hot".

After my afterschool visit, I had Teen Otaku Club and it went really well. I had 30 kids and we had a really nice discussion about their favorite manga. I know they were a little disappointed that we cut the program back to one hour (previously, we let it go for two hours), but it really was more manageable. I'm getting to know some of the kids and we have some great leaders that participated and helped me moderate our discussion. They talked for almost 45 minutes, telling others about new manga and explaining their favorites to me. (Take-away: the girls tend to like any manga with attractive male characters. The boys tend to like manga with violence and gore, the bloodier the better.)

So, all in all, it was a good day.

#FlannelFriday: Santa Had a Christmas Tree

Well, ho ho ho! Look who finally got her act together to participate in Flannel Friday?

Since today's the holiday extravaganza, I wanted to share a flannel that's been a HUGE HIT with preschool classes in my community. I know not everyone's comfortable sharing Christmas materials at storytime and I think that's just fine not to. However, we do in my community (although we stick to more secular stuff).

Here's the flannel:

As you know, we love to pass out felt pieces and have our kids come up and put them on the board. You can do that this way or you could put the felt pieces on yourself!

(Apologies, but I don't have a source for this song!)

Santa Had a Christmas Tree (To the tune of "Old MacDonald")

Santa had a Christmas tree
Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho
And on that tree he had a star
Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho
With a twinkle, twinkle here
And a twinkle, twinkle there
Here a twinkly, there a twinkle
Everywhere a twinkle, twinkle
Santa had a Christmas tree
Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho!

Repeat with:
Under his tree he had a gift... with a rattle, rattle here
On that tree he had a light... with a sparkle, sparkle here
On that tree he had a bell... with a jingle, jingle here
Next to his tree he had some cookies... with a crunch, crunch here

And, of course, you can add more verses if you think of different items you want to put on or around your tree.

Our Head Start teachers loved this so much that they all asked for the words to the song after we went there.

Today is the Flannel Friday Holiday Extravaganza, hosted by Loons and Quines, so head on over there to check out the roundup!

AudioSynced: November Roundup

Of course, I love hosting AudioSynced (along with my good pal Kelly) all year round, but the November roundup might have a special place in my heart. We just finished our holiday travel for Thanksgiving (in the States, anyway) and December's coming soon, bringing another round of road trips and crowded airplanes as people travel to see family for those holidays. So if you're looking for a great listen to make your next road trip more fun, check out our November audiobook reviews!!

Audiobook News and Posts


James Parker's examining the audiobook in the New York Times Sunday Book Review section.

AudioFile's released their lists of Best Audiobooks of 2011 and Best Voices of 2011. Do you agree? What was YOUR best audiobook of 2011?


Sarah's over at The Hub with some great audiobook suggestions for your holiday travel this year!


Be sure and head over to Audiobook Jukebox for LOTS MORE audiobook reviews!


Children's/Middle Grade Audiobooks


The Ballad of Jack Johnson by Charles R. Smith, Jr., illustrated by Shane W. Evans, read by Dion Graham, reviewed by Lee at Reading with My Ears. Lee says, "Johnson's strength and pride are clear in Graham's sterling narration that builds in intensity and volume to the championship fight."

A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban, read by Tai Alexandra Ricci, reviewed by Brenda at proseandkahn. Brenda says, "This short, sweet, gentle read is peopled with memorable characters, leavened with much humor and lovely moments where imperfect people do the best that they can, and where friendship can creep up and surprise a person."

Dear America: Like the Willow Tree: Portland, Maine, 1918 by Lois Lowry, read by Sara Barnett, reviewed by Abby (me!) at Abby the Librarian. I say, "Narrator Sara Barnett was well-chosen for this role. She reads with a girlish inflection that is totally appropriate for an 11-year-old's diary and it adds to the authenticity of the audiobook."

How They Croaked: The Awful Ends of the Awfully Famous by Georgia Bragg, read by L.J. Ganser, reviewed by Brenda at proseandkahn. Brenda says, "Perfect for your trivia lovers and history buffs. It will also be appealing to reluctant readers."

The Mysterious Howling (The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place #1) by Maryrose Wood, read by Katherine Kellgren, reviewed by Sarah at YA Librarian Tales. Sarah says, "This book is an ABSOLUTE JOY to listen to..."

Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm, read by Becca Battoe, reviewed by Allison at Reading Everywhere. Allison says, "[Becca Battoe] suits the sassy character of Turtle perfectly, and her performance really enhanced my experience with this book."


YA Audiobooks


Eight Keys by Suzanne LaFleur, read by Georgette Perna, reviewed by Sarah at YA Librarian Tales. Sarah says, " It has some great lessons to learn and in the audio version, the characters' voices are really well done. The story is rather slow and I can see it losing readers along the way. Overall, a rather mixed bag listening experience."

Fever Crumb, written and read by Philip Reeve, reviewed by Jeanne at Books for Ears. Jeanne calls it "[An] [i]maginative and original steampunk story set in a distant future London and beautifully read by the author."

Goliath by Scott Westerfeld, read by Alan Cumming, reviewed by Lee at Reading with My Ears. Lee says, "Goliath, in the hands of Westerfeld and Cumming, is -- as our heroine Deryn Sharp would say -- barking brilliant!"

The Mermaid's Mirror by L.K. Madigan, read by Katie Schorr, reviewed by Brenda at proseandkahn. Brenda says, "I'm glad that I chose to read this one with my ears because I think the narrator's voice did a lot to coax me into not abandoning the book."

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, read by Jason Isaacs, reviewed by Lee at Reading with My Ears. Lee says, "...Isaacs knows how to tell a good story, his delivery of the monster's three tales has a tension and pacing that helps keep you listening."

Ostrich Boys by Keith Gray, read by Bruce Mann, reviewed by Lee at Reading with My Ears. Lee says, "[Mann's voice] works for these teenaged boys; while he knows how to speak in their ebullient riffs and rhythms, they all sound just a little bit lost and lonely in Mann's interpretation."

Perfect by Ellen Hopkins, read by a whole buncha people, reviewed by Drea at Book Blather. Drea says, "Hearing the words spoken aloud really turned up the wow factor. With each character having their own distinct voice, they became real like, tangible, as if I were listening to one of my best friends talk."

This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel, read by Luke Daniels, reviewed by Lee at Reading with My Ears. Lee says, "Sure, there are some very exciting bits... But there's no heart at the center of this story."

Adult Audiobooks


The Help by Kathryn Stockett, read by Jenna Lamia, Bahni Turpin, Octavia Spencer, Cassandra Campbell, reviewed by Melissa at The Book Nut. Melissa says, "There were parts that I would have gotten frustrated with if I'd just read it, but I found loving listening to. I adored the inflection the narrators would give to the sentences, the rich Southern accents..., and the voices they'd give to the characters."

The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides, read by David Pittu, reviewed by Jeanne at Books for Ears. Jeanne calls it: "A dark overly dramatic story, mediocre reader and no one to root for."

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, read by Jim Dale, reviewed by Melissa at Mel's Books and Info. Melissa says, "Dale is a superb narrator and probably one of the bests in the industry... It comes as no surprise then that the audio version of The Night Circus would be so remarkable. It is a great way to read this wonderful novel."

Reamde by Neal Stephenson, read by Malcolm Hillgartner, reviewed by Lanea at Books for Ears. Lanea says it's, "A fantastic, well-read, fast-paced novel of hackers, criminals, anti-heroes, terrorists, and gamers."

Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend, written and read by Susan Orlean, reviewed by Lee at Reading with My Ears. Lee says, "Orlean reads her own work and she's quite easy to listen to. I can hear the care that she takes to read clearly, and her familiarity with the story shows in the comfortable way that she reads."

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand, read by Edward Herrmann, reviewed by Lee at Reading with My Ears. Lee says, "[Edward Herrmann] reads everything -- from what could be mindnumbing detail of airplanes to the way the sharks circled the life rafts -- in a committed way that makes all of it easy to listen to."

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Have a post or review that I missed? Please leave me a link in comments and I'll update this post to add it! Be sure and check out the AudioSynced archives for links to tons of great audiobook reviews!