Tag Archives: Scholastic Press

the raven boys

Book Review of The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle #1), by Maggie Stiefvater

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Somehow I own both a mug and a T-shirt with quotes from Maggie Stiefvater‘s The Raven Boys, but had never read it. I opted to correct this oversight and borrowed an copy through my library.

Description from Goodreads:
Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue never sees them–until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks to her.

His name is Gansey, a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul whose emotions range from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She doesn’t believe in true love, and never thought this would be a problem. But as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

Review:
I’ll be honest, I have a real hit and miss relationship with Young Adult fiction. But I have been on a real roll so far in 2018 and this is the third series I’ve started an truly enjoyed. Further, I went in not really expecting to love this. It’s so popular and I’m often the odd (wo)man out, disliking what everyone else seems to like. But I got a lot more than I bargained for with The Raven Boys. It was surprisingly snarky, subtly funny, lyrically written and interesting.

Yes, I think occasionally clarity was sacrificed for beautiful prose, but this was rare and I finished the book hoping the library had an copy of book two, because that I could checkout online and read immediately. (It does and I will.)

Book Review of The Bicycle Spy, by Yona Zeldis McDonough

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Last year I won a copy of Liberty, by Kirby Larson. When it arrived in the mail, this book, Yona McDonough‘s The Bicycle Spy was mysteriously included. I figured it was a surprise gift or extra bonus or promo or maybe someone somewhere’s mistake. But there it was either way.

Description from Goodreads:
Marcel loves riding his bicycle, whether he’s racing through the streets of his small town in France or making bread deliveries for his parents’ bakery. He dreams of someday competing in the Tour de France, the greatest bicycle race. But ever since Germany’s occupation of France began two years ago, in 1940, the race has been canceled. Now there are soldiers everywhere, interrupting Marcel’s rides with checkpoints and questioning.

Then Marcel learns two big secrets, and he realizes there are worse things about the war than a canceled race. When he later discovers that his friend’s entire family is in imminent danger, Marcel knows he can help — but it will involve taking a risky bicycle ride to pass along covert information. And when nothing ends up going according to plan, it’s up to him to keep pedaling and think quickly… because his friend, her family, and his own future hang in the balance.

Review:
Now, this is written for 3rd to 7th graders, according to the info page in the front of the book. So, I’m hardly the target demographic, being almost 40 and all. But I want to give it to my 9yo and be able to discuss it with her, so I went ahead and read it too. The writing is appropriately simple and it trims some very thick themes into fairly thin ideas, such that a child can grasp it.

I do think it shies away from really engaging the subject matter. Because of this I think they’d need a little knowledge of WWII to really understand it. A lot is explained, but I still feel a minimal base knowledge would be needed or at least appreciated. But Marcel is a sweet character and his story is interesting enough, though again fairly simplistic. I think a 3rd to 7th grader would likely enjoy the book. I’m hoping mine will, especially given the state of the world at this moment.

What I’m drinking: Green matcha, which I’ve had several times in cafes/restaurants. This was the first time I tried making it at home though, and I’d call it a moderate success.