What do you get when you cross dystopia with cyborgs, space, and the Brothers Grimm? The Lunar Chronicles! Is it sci-fi? Fantasy? Fairy tales? The wonderful thing about the YA genre is that ALL of these things can be merged…and they can make sense. I’m a little late coming to this fan club, but let’s just say that once I picked up Cinder (Book 1), I flew through the whole series in one weekend, and I couldn’t read Scarlet (Book 2) and Cress (Book 3) fast enough. Also, let’s talk about princesses rescuing princes, because that definitely happens!

The books are well-written (a huge toss-up with YA) and really have a clever twist on the Grimm fairy tales. Each book in the series focuses on a heroine from the Grimm tales (Cinder=Cinderella, Scarlet=Little Red Riding Hood, and Cress=Rapunzel). Have I given too much away already? The reason these books are so smart is that if you know the TRUE Grimm fairy tales, there are some details from the original, German editions that Meyer does not overlook, and she uses these details to her own advantage to drive the plot of her story. While each book stands alone, each heroine’s story is intertwined with the others. Now I’m really giving too much away.

Now, for those people who had to wait 2 years between the releases of each of those books, I feel your pain. Winter is coming (quite literally) in November of 2015, and that feels like light years away. Lucky for us, Marissa Meyer, the lovely author of these books, has inserted a little bonus in the form of Fairest, a story just about Queen Levana (who is she?? Pick up Cinder to find out more) that releases 01/27/2015.

If you’ve read this far, here’s a step-by-step process to having an enjoyable weekend where all you do is nerd out and read a twist on Cinderella that includes a cyborg.

1. Read Cinder
2. Read Scarlet
3. Read Cress
4. Pre-order Fairest here at Lemuria.

You know you want to read this series. Do it. You won’t be disappointed.

Written by Clara

I have a confession.  Ok, here goes:  I’ve fallen in love with a fictional character that I will never meet…and I’m ok with that.  His name?  His name is Vango.  Well, I haven’t fallen in love with Vango himself, but more of the idea of Vango and his story.

In December, I was about to leave work.  I walked through Oz, bag in tote, cup in hand, some bread from Broadstreet haphazardly wedged under my arm and that’s when I saw it.  The cover got me first.  It was a beautiful hardback book with a cityscape colored with pastels showing the sillhouette of a boy, and there were strong typeface letters spelling out the name Vango.  Even as overloaded as I was, I had to stop, and that’s when it happened:  I was trapped in Timothée de Fombelle’s spell.

Why do I want the absolute best for Vango as a reader?  Because the reader cannot help but be drawn into his story and fall in love with his character.  Here’s a kid who speaks several languages, is athletic, fearless, can cook, and is respectful towards the woman who raised him; he’s the real deal.  He’s like that mysterious guy in high school who kept to himself that everyone was secretly in love with but never admitted.

We first meet Vango in Paris 1934 on the day he is about to be ordained as a priest.  (My thought:  Ok, so what?  A bunch of kids in Paris, lying on a cobblestone walkway in front of Notre Dame…nothing exciting here…)  Suddenly, a shot is fired directly at Vango.  (Uh…WHAT?!)  Within seconds, Vango finds himself on the run, a wanted man, for a crime or crimes of which he is completely innocent.  (OH DANG!  You have my attention.)

The story of Vango seamlessly takes its readers from the streets of Paris, to the skies of a world-traveling Zeppelin, to the Greek isles, to the forests of Scotland, and everywhere in between.  World travel isn’t your thing?  How about a story filled with Nazis, pirates, monks, and inspectors who are met along the way?  Still not good enough?  What about a storyline filled with intense action, mystery, comedy, and love all tied into one?  All so Vango can find out who he is, where he is from, and to prove he is innocent on all accounts.

Originally written in French, Vango was beautifully translated by Sarah Ardizzone.  Ardizzone captured the feel, the flavor, and the style of the storytelling.  As epic as Vango is, nothing is over-exaggerated or trivial. Everything is there for a reason.

I found myself unable to put this book down, and I wanted to savor every moment I had with this mysterious character.

Who are you?

Who are you?

Who are you?

-Ethel 

Take the time to find out who Vango is and, I promise, you will treasure this book just as much as I do.

Written by Laura 

I don’t care who you are or what you are, you are never too old to read children’s books. Perhaps I’m biased because I work in the children’s section, but I stand by my statement; especially, where middle grade books and young adult classics are concerned. In fact, I am not alone in my belief. Ask Hannah, Clara, or Justin­­; who can be quoted saying, “for every four adult books you read, you should read one middle grade book.” See? I’ve got backup––Charlie’s Angels has got nothing on us.

Part Three

Novels and Short Story Collections, of the Youth Variety:

1. Egg & Spoon, by Gregory Maguire

First off, who doesn’t love Russian folklore? Baba Yaga? Yes, please. I mean, we chose it for September’s Oz first edition club pick for a reason. On top of that, the cover is beautiful, so well done, Candlewick. You guys out there should invest.

2. Cartwheeling in Thunderstorms, by Katherine Rundell

Another beautiful middle grade book; not only has it got the looks, its got quality as well. Not just one Lemurian, but the entire four who have read it, loved it. Just ask Kelly, Adie, Hannah, or Clara. If you need any more reasons to crack open this book’s spine, just come by and ask one of them––or all––that’s what why we’re here.

3. The Glass Sentence, by S.E. Grove

So, this looks awesome. And I know, there are things much more important than looks. (I just almost typed “books” instead of “looks.” Yeah right, there’s nothing more important than books. Oxygen? Who needs it?) But come on, you should see the cover in person. In fact, you should come by right now pick up a copy, thumb through it, before you inevitably buy it because, personally, I don’t think you have a choice in the matter. If you want more proof, just check out Justin’s blog. Also, Hannah says it is the best middle grade of the year. And Hannah is right about everything. (Hannah edits this blog and appreciates the flattery.)

4. The Thickety: The Whispering Trees, by J.A. Whiter

Now, this is a book I am really excited about. In fact, I’m reading an advance copy right now. IT IS SO GOOD, you guys. It’s wonderfully dark, but not in an overwhelming way. Ugh, I can’t wait to finish it. It comes out this March, so for those of you out there who have not yet read the first book in the series, The Thickety: A Path Begins, you have time.

5. The Blue Fairy Book, Andrew Lang                                                                                                         

I really enjoy fairy tales; the darker the better. Save those Disney flicks for the little tykes at home. Personally, I like something a little more Grimm. (As in the Brothers Grimm, their name could not be more accurate.) From time to time, I pick this book up, late at night, and read the stories my mother never let me enjoy as a child––even though she so totally should have.

6. The Princess and the Goblin, by George MacDonald

Ooooh, this looks so good. But do you want to know what sold me on this book, or should I say whom? Hannah’s mother read this book to her as a child, and the she describes the image of the way the light hit the staircase at night in the story stuck with her. And her story stuck with me.

7. The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien

Do I even need to state my reasons for wanting to read this book? Let’s just pretend I have read this book, for my benefit. Please, this list is starting to make me feel disappointed in myself. And I call myself a book lover…

8. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, by Lewis Carroll

Deep, deep personal shame, I feel for not yet reading this book. How has it slipped through my fingers for this long? How dare I quote this book on a regular basis? I have no right whatsoever. And do you know what the worst part of all of this is? I’m sure that I’m going to love this book, you know, the kind of love when you feel like a book was specifically written for you. (I feel like we’ve talked about this before.) Some of you out there know me personally, for those of you who don’t; I’m as weird as can be. “But I’ll tell you a secret, all the best people are.”

Written by Elizabeth 

In an effort to be a more well-rounded book seller and to figure out what the teens were talking about, I was persuaded to read Divergent.  I understand why it is so popular, and it’s surprisingly dark, the way old Disney movies used to be.  The female lead just coming to understand her emotions and desires in an easy to understand 5 point system was a clever way to simplify everything.  Not to mention- scratching a personal itch of mine-  I finally got to see some protagonists with tattoos and piercings.  I wasn’t a fan of the way everything developed in the story and the cheesy romances, but the book wasn’t aimed at me.

I don’t know about you but there is always a moment of panic after I finish reading a book: what do I read next?  What if I pick something only realize 200 pages in that I’ve come to hate all the main characters and hope they all somehow blow each other up?  Unfortunately, if I don’t have a next-book already lined up I tend to read the first book my hand physically touches. In such a manner I came to read Catcher in the Rye right after I finished Divergent.

I’ll skip the summary of a book everyone knows (what a big phony, can’t even review the book he’s writing about).  Except to say, I truly loved Holden Caulfield.  I was more proud of the way he handled himself than any other protagonist in recent memory, despite his self-desctruction and confusion; let’s just say I could see where he was coming from.  Yes, he ruined everything he touched, but I don’t think he can be directly blamed (or at least, should be forgiven) for the stupid things he did.  It was so nice to see a classic live up the reputation… Now that I’m thinking YA thoughts, Perks of Being a Wallflower is sounding pretty good again.  If you need me, I’ll be the one in the group of crying teenage girls that has the beard.

Written by Daniel 

Scholastic school days: a week many of us lived for when we were in elementary school. Well, except for me. Why? Because I had a scholastic book warehouse all to myself. Well, it wasn’t actually ALL to myself, but it was a warehouse that sat behind my great uncle’s house out in Rankin county.

There were rows and rows and rows of books that I was allowed to peruse and pillage. It was a dream come true. I am not sure how or why he had the warehouse as he was a judge. Also, I am not sure how I was able to get whatever books I wanted without paying a single penny for them; all I do know is that I found some really cool books to read!

A series of books that I particularly fell in love with was the His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman. My uncle had so many of the series in his warehouse because many of the schools had “banned” the books from their library shelves. My school, a small private academy, was one of the many schools where this series was banned; so I felt special and a bit like a rebel for being able to have the series. One day at school, I sneaked The Subtle Knife into my 7^th Grade study hall, and read it within the pages of my Bible. No one ever knew the difference.

Recently, as I remembered those days of reading Middle Grade series like His Dark Materials, I thought it would be great to read a middle grade book again. One of our managers, Hannah, pointed me towards a book entitled, The Glass Sentence by S.E. Grove. As I read the cover and some of the reviews, Philip Pullman’s name kept being invoked. I knew that this was the book I was supposed to be reading; and I sure am glad that I read it.

The novel itself is a new and fresh take on time travel, adventure, mystery, all the while talking about map-making. I could not put it down. It was nothing like the His Dark Materials trilogy in the narrative; however, the feeling I got while I was reading The Glass Sentence was the same feeling I had when I read The Northern Lights for the first time. Reading The Glass Sentence also renewed within me a love for middle grade books.

Young Adult books are good, but middle grade books are the best at telling stories and weaving together captivating narratives that leave the reader wanting more. As and adult, it is important for me to read these kinds of books because the stories are deep and thoughtful without delving into adult situations and problems. In middle grade literature, I get lost in the adventure, the narrative, and my imagination takes off into the wonderful world of fantasy. I actually think for every four or five books an adult reads, one needs to be a middle grade book.

S.E. Grove’s The Glass Sentence is only the first book of the Mapmakers Trilogy, and I cannot wait till next fall when book 2, The Golden Specific is released.

Written by Justin