The Chronicles of Harris Burdick

When I learned about the concept of this anthology, I immediately added it to my list of things to read to my children.  When they were little, the picture book by Chris Van Allsburg called The Mysteries of Harris Burdick was one we frequently checked out from the library.  It consisted of marvelous black and white illustrations depicting unusual images, such as the one below, with just one sentence that seemed to be the beginning of a story that the reader had to imagine for herself.

Years later, this anthology arrived - stories told by prominent children's (and adult) authors, each telling what they imagine the rest of the story to be.  There is an introduction by Lemony Snicket told in true Lemony Snicket style, that sets the mood for the rest of the book.  Authors of the tales include Stephen King, Kate DeCamillo, Cory Doctorow, Louis Sachar, and Walter Dean Myers.

This was an interesting book to read to my children (who are now eleven and thirteen, and I'm ridiculously grateful that they are still letting me read to them!).  We all had such different reactions to the stories.  My thirteen-year-old's favorite was "Under the Rug" by Jon Scieszka, the tale of a man who should have listened to his grandma's advice not to sweep things under the rug.  Really, he should have listened!

My nine-year-old's favorite was "The Third-floor Bedroom" by Kate DiCamillo, which is an epistolary story about a girl writing to her brother about a strange experience brought on by a fever when she is staying with her aunt.  It's difficult to tell what is real and what is not, but there is the illustration of the wallpaper in the bedroom to back up the girl's story...

I enjoyed this anthology, but not quite as much as I thought I would, although my kids really loved almost all of the stories.  I have to say I got a huge kick out of reading the Stephen King story (which I believe was my favorite) to my girls - it was fun to share their first experience with King's under-the-skin, creepy storytelling style. Some of the stories, Walter Dean Myers' in particular, didn't follow the illustration as closely as we all would have wished, and others didn't make much of an impression at all.  But it was fun to see the different directions the writers took the tales - and to talk about what we expected or didn't expect.  Best of all, the stories my kids enjoyed the most have spurred them to find more fiction by the authors who wrote them.

The Chronicles of Harris Burdick: 14 Amazing Authors Tell the Tales edited by Chris Van Allsburg (Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2011)

Picture the Dead

Jennie is an orphan, living with her aunt's family during the American Civil War. It is a cold, loveless household, particularly with her two cousins off fighting in the war. She loves both cousins - one as a brother, and the other as something more. But only one brother returns to them, and unfortunately, it is is not the one she was hoping to marry.

Soon it becomes clear that there are mysteries surrounding her fiance's death - and her surviving cousin Quinn, a shell of his former self, knows more than he is letting on.  Jennie feels that the spirit of Will has returned to his family, and she is determined to discover the truth about how he died.  When her aunt insists they visit a photographer who claims to be able to photograph the spirits of dead loved ones, Jennie is skeptical.  But the resulting photo is certainly unusual, and it leads to even more unanswered questions.

Ghosts, spiritualism, mystery, romance, and a sense of menace and desolation pervade this eerie novel.  The illustrations are a fascinating and integral part of the story, which is essentially Jennie's scrapbook of her experiences.  I did find the tiny, crabbed handwriting that accompanied the illustrations to be tiny and difficult to read, particularly the letters that accompanied the text.  But I did enjoy this historical ghost story.

Fans of A Drowned Maiden's Hair will particularly enjoy this one, as will fans of historical mysteries and ghost stories in general.  It's a quiet, eerie story, rather than an overtly frightening one.  There is also an informative section at the back of the book for readers who are interested in learning a bit more about the Civil War and spiritualism.

Picture the Dead by Adele Griffin and Lisa Brown (Sourcebooks, 2012)

Source: Review copy from publisher

Also reviewed at:
Bookish Blather: "Brown's illustrations really add to the story, giving us glimpses into the scrapbook that Jennie keeps throughout the story. My one complaint is that the writing in the illustrations, as Jennie keeps many letters and writes captions, is only readable if you're sitting on a couch in a well-lit room."
My Friend Amy:  "I have to admit to feeling a bit disappointed it wasn't a little creepier, and even though the book isn't long, I still felt the story could have been condensed a little bit. But it was still an enjoyable read and a different kind of story."
Small Review:  "If you like books likeThe Thirteenth Tale then read it. If you want a good ghost story (even if you’re a wimp like me) then read it. Even if you don’t like historical fiction, read it."

Bone of Contention

This third installment in the Magdalene la Batarde series, set in England during the twelfth century, sees Magdalene traveling to Oxford.  Her patron, William of Ypres, has requested her presence there, as King Stephen has called a council, and political machinations are underway.  William knows that while Magdalene may appear to the rest of the world as nothing more than a whoremistress, but he she is intelligent and loyal. He can hold political meetings in her chambers, and no one will suspect they are anything more than simple dealings with a prostitute.  Magdalene is a savvy woman, and she is eager to help William, to whom she is extremely grateful for her current situation.  She is also a good judge of character, and she knows that discussing the meetings with William gives him insight that can be very helpful indeed.

She does not imagine that her sojourn in Oxford will include another murder, but it does indeed, and the ramifications of the crime may well lead to a devastating political scandal.  She teams up with her friend and lover, Sir Bellamy of Itchen, and together they attempt to untangle a web that is as confusing as it is dangerous.

I continue to enjoy this historical mystery series, with its fascinating historical details, the intricate plots, and characters, particularly the woman, who are strong but still ring true to their time period.  Magdalene in particular is a compelling character, as she is already outside respectable society, because of her profession, yet she is educated, intelligent, and compassionate.  She has constraints on her, but she also has a freedom that few women of her (original) class enjoy.  I am sorry that there are only four books in this series, though.  I'll be sad when I've finished the last one.

Books in the Magdalene la Batarde series:

1. A Mortal Bane
2. A Personal Devil

3. A Bone of Contention
4. Chains of Folly

Bone of Contention (#3 in the Magdalene la Batarde series) by Roberta Gellis; narrated by Nadia May (Blackstone Audio, 2004)

Also reviewed at:
Black Sheep Books:  "Some of Gellis’ other women characters also refuse to let themselves be defeated before they even begin so even though it’s not any great Oeuvre, it’s refreshing after characters such as Dorcas Slythe (A Crowning Mercy by Bernard Cornwell) who are pretty much wet dishcloths in terms of spirit."
Crested Butte Lodging:  "Although this is a work of fiction, the historical events are very true and make for a fascinating reading experience."
That's All She Read: "This is a simply entertaining story. By that, I mean, read it, enjoy it, but don't look for excellence in it."

Eyes Like Leaves

This is an early novel by Charles de Lint, written years ago, and it was never published.  Not because it wasn't good, which it certainly is, but because he was at a point where he was becoming known for his own unique kind of contemporary fantasy, and his publisher feared he'd be branded as a traditional fantasy author if Eyes Like Leaves were to be published at that point in his career.

The story is indeed a traditional fantasy story, with shades of Tolkien, the epic battle of good vs. evil, gods and mortals fighting it out, and the future of the world hanging upon a single mortal woman who is unaware of the role she has to play.

These days I don't read as much traditional fantasy as I used to.  I'm not sure why that is - I suppose it's because so much of it is the retelling of similar stories with similar themes, and after a while I found myself turning to other kinds of fantasy, things that tended to offer up the unexpected.  Charles de Lint's Newford books are among my very favorites.  They are top-notch stories that include the fantastical, with mythological overtones and characters who are complex and fascinating.  I've read most of his books, since I discovered The Little Country years ago.  (Thanks, Diane! I'll be forever in your debt for that one.)  While I adore his contemporary fantasy, I do enjoy his traditional fantasy novels as well - they offer more in the way of depth of character than most high fantasy, and this one is no exception.  The writing is skillful, and the characters are flawed and believable.  It was fascinating to read this early work.  While it doesn't hold a candle to his later books that have become firm favorites of mine, it's still a solid fantasy story, and fans of de Lint won't want to miss it.

Eyes Like Leaves by Charles de Lint (Tachyon Publications, 2009)

Reviews of other books by Charles de Lint:

Angel of Darkness

A Circle of Cats

Dingo

Little (Grrl) LOST

Waifs and Strays

Widdershins

Wolf Moon

Also reviewed at:
I'm Booking It:  "Unfortunately, after I reached the halfway point, my joy in this beautifully written, new to me yet familiar world started to fade, and I began to realize I wanted more from my characters."
The Little Red Reviewer: "And that ending? WOW. Now I know exactly where de Lint’s talent for writing page turning, emotionally stunning urban fantasy came from."
Neth Space:  "The greatest value of Eyes Like Leaves is probably in its story – not the story within the pages, but the story of the pages themselves and how they came to be. It’s a glimpse backwards in time, the view of a great writer before he was great."

The Last Dragon

Jane Yolen pairs with Rebecca Guay to tell the tale of a village beset by a ravenous dragon - in an era where dragons are believed to be extinct.  The village is unsure how to deal with the menace - clearly a hero is needed.  Some boys set off for the mainland in search of a hero, but at home Tansy, the healer's daughter has a few ideas of her own.

The story is rather simple and straightforward, but it is sweet, and I particularly enjoyed the fact that the heroes work together, pairing their own unique strengths as they work to vanquish the dragon.  I would have preferred to focus more on Tansy and her family - it feels as though the book touches on many fascinating aspects of their lives, but it never delved quite deeply enough for me.  The artwork is stunning, lush and expressive, and it imbues the tale with a true sense of wonder.  The panels are all depicted in vibrant color, and the pages themselves are thick and creamy.  It's a lovely book.

The Last Dragon by Jane Yolen and Rebecca Guay (Dark Horse Books, 2011)

Also reviewed at:
Back to Books:  "The story is somewhat predictable in that it follows expected plotlines with no unexpected twists, but it is also a lovely romance and just a perfect tale to make one's heart sigh."
Nerfreader:  "I wish there had been more on Tansy since she's a great character: feisty, intelligent, and willing to leverage other people's strengths to make up for her weaknesses. But really, the story is secondary to the fabulous images."
Things Mean a Lot:  "I kept expecting to be surprised; for the narrative to take a sudden turn and go to places I’d never imagined, but that moment never came."

Re-Gifters

Teenage Jen Dik Seong - "Dixie" to her friends - lives in Los Angeles. She mostly keeps to herself at school, and the most important thing in her life - the main outlet for her frustrations, is hapkido. She practices rigorously, and she is very good.

Her life is pushed off balance when she falls for a gorgeous blond-haired surfer boy who is also competes in hapkido.  In an impulsive act she buys him a very expensive gift for his birthday, using the money she was given to pay the entry fee for an important hapkido championship tournament. The result is not exactly what she was hoping for, though. And now that she has no money for the entrance fee, she has to compete in the sweep contest against tons of other kids in order to gain entry to the tournament.

The story that unfolds is funny and bittersweet, and although the theme is a familiar one, this story offers up some wonderful surprises along the way. Dixie is an admirable heroine, rash and impulsive and prone to making mistakes, but she owns up to her faults and does her best to learn from the consequences of her actions. The artwork is expressive and full of energy, creating a moving and believable coming-of-age story that, aside from being a ripping good tale, offers readers a fascinating glimpse into a culture and sport that may be unfamiliar to many teens.

I have not read any work by this author/artist team before, but I will be on the lookout for their other book, My Faith in Frankie, which, sadly, my library does not own.

Re-Gifters by Mike Carey, Sonny Liew and Marc Hampel (DC Comics, 2007)

Ghost at Work

Carolyn Hart is a very popular mystery book author at the library where I work, but I've never read any of her books. When I saw the first volume in her Bailey Ruth series available as an audio download from my library's digital media catalog, I thought I'd give it a try.

The premise sounded like fun: Bailey Ruth Raeburn and her husband have died and are in heaven, and Bailey Ruth joins the "Department of Good Intentions," which gives her the opportunity to return to earth to help out. Her first "case" involves the wife of the pastor in small Oklahoma town where Bailey spent her life. Kathleen has discovered a body on her back porch, and Bailey is going to do her best to make sure the innocent woman is not implicated in the crime.

This was kind of cute, but sadly it didn't deliver the kind of read I was hoping for. Bailey Ruth just kind of bumbles her way through the book, not reading the rules she's given for her job, making one mistake after another, and I never really felt that the living people in the story couldn't have solved their own problems without the "divine intervention" of Bailey Ruth's presence. There was an inordinate amount of time spent on the things that were new to Bailey Ruth, such as computers and cell phones, and although the book emphasized that Bailey was behind the times, the fact that the teenagers used terms like "swell" made me feel as if the whole thing were set in the 50s. It was a light and entertaining read, though, so fans of cozies with a supernatural twist may want to give this one a try.

Ghost at Work (#1 in the Bailey Ruth series) by Carolyn Hart; narrated by Anne Marie Lee (Books on Tape, 2008)

Also reviewed at:
Lesa's Book Critiques:  "Readers willing to suspend disbelief, and accept a ghost that investigates a murder, and interferes with the police investigation will probably enjoy Ghost at Work."
Pudgy Penguin Perusals:  "Hart writes a classic cozy with all the traditional elements of the genre. What she adds is her own exceptional brand of wit and humor along with a fabulous cast of well fleshed out characters."

The Inheritor

While this book is considered part of the Claire Moffat trilogy that begins with Dark Satanic, Claire plays a supporting role here, and the main character is psychologist named Leslie Barnes. Leslie and her younger sister, a talented pianist, move into a house in San Francisco that they both love, but soon it becomes clear that there are unusual, perhaps dark forces, at work in the house. There are apparently innocuous incidents, such as windows that won't stay closed, and a ghostly cat that comes and goes in the garden. And there are more unnerving experiences, such as the bloody visions that afflict Leslie in certain locations of the house, accompanied by a noxious stench that leaves her reeling.

Leslie has an ability to sense certain things psychically, and she was in some of the tabloids about her help in finding missing people. She wants to keep a low profile and focus on her career, but between calls for help from parents of missing children, poltergeist phenomena manifesting around one of her young clients, and the disturbing events that are escalating in her house, Leslie feels overwhelmed. Then she meets Simon, her sister's piano teacher, a brilliant musician who can no longer play the piano because of an accident.  She is drawn to him, but there is something strange and unsettling about him, too.

This is a creepy ghost story that I read when it was first published, over twenty years ago. It's funny how  distance and time (or age and experience?  I feel old!) can change your reaction to the same book. I remember finding it creepy back then as well, but what I don't remember is wanting to reach into the book and shake some sense into Leslie. She was infuriating! And her relationship with Simon was profoundly disturbing to me this time around. Yikes. It was a more unsettling read for me this time because of the issues surrounding the romantic relationship, as well as the way Leslie interacted with the other characters. Don't get me wrong - it is a gripping story, and I enjoyed the sense of foreboding that escalates through the course of the novel, along with the atmospheric setting and the sense of mystery. I just found myself liking almost every character better than the main character this time around. I have the other two books in this series on my bookshelf downstairs, and I'm planning on reading them again, too, at some point - along with Bradley's Darkover novels, which I absolutely adored when I was younger.

Books in the Claire Moffat trilogy:
1. Dark Satanic
2. The Inheritor
3. Witch Hill

The Inheritor (#2 in the Claire Moffat trilogy) by Marion Zimmer Bradley (Tor, 1984)

Saturn Apartments, Volume 2

The opening book of this series saw young Mitsu starting out in his job as a window washer, the same job his dad was doing five years earlier when he died.  In Mitsu's world, the Earth has been abandoned by humans in order to turn it into a nature preserve; everyone lives in orbiting housing in space.  It is a crowded place to live, particularly on the lower levels where Mitsu and other less wealthy people must stay.

Mitsu is the new kid at work, and he feels he can never begin to live up to the image of his father. But he does the best he can, and his impulsive kindness begins to win him the respect and friendship of his co-workers - most of them, anyway.  In this second volume, we learn more about the future world where Mitsu lives, and we gain insight into the social situation of the Saturn Apartments.  An element of mystery is introduced, thanks to some cryptic comments a character makes about the true nature of the situation on Earth.

This is a quiet, contemplative series that spends a lot of time focusing on the characters and their relationships with each other.  There is a sense of something larger that is building as the the books progress, but the smaller stories that are told along the way are thoughtful and compelling.  I particularly enjoy the subtle interactions among the characters that reveal very interesting things about them.  The artwork is in many ways typical of manga, but there is great attention placed on illustrating the unusual setting, particularly the architecture, that really brings the story to life.  I continue to enjoy this series, and I look forward to reading volume 3.

Saturn Apartments, Volume 2 by Hisae Iwaoka (Viz Media, 2006)

May B.

When one of my blogging friends contacted me quite some time ago, asking if, when her book was published, I'd consider reading and reviewing it on my blog, I immediately said yes.  It's always a pleasure when a fellow writer gets a book out there, and one of these days she may be getting a similar email from me.

When the book arrived, I was immediately charmed by the lovely cover, which happily turned out to suit the atmosphere and tone of the story perfectly.

Our heroine is May B., a twelve-year-old girl growing up on the Kansas frontier.  One moment her biggest problem is dealing with the new teacher, who is much different from the previous one, who was kind and supportive of the difficulty May has learning to read. The next moment that problem shrinks in comparison, as she discovers that her parents have agreed to send her to work for a newly married couple, far away from her own comfortable little home. Not only can her parents use the money, but the fact that while she's gone there will be one fewer mouth to feed means it will stretch their winter food stores as well.  May isn't happy - how will she ever learn to improve her reading if she's missing months of school?  How will she manage living with two complete strangers on a homestead miles from her family?

May isn't sure what to expect, but she tries to make the best of things. Then things suddenly change, and May finds herself in a truly harrowing situation, with no one to rely upon but herself.

May B. is a delightful heroine, resourceful, clever and sensitive, and her story has a powerful sense of immediacy, told in free verse from May's point of view.  This story is clearly an homage to the Little House books, but I have to say that while I was never a huge fan of that series (nor have I had any luck getting my own children to enjoy it), I know I would have loved this novel as a child.  The writing is spare and powerful, with evocative sensory details that transported me directly to the freezing winter prairie.  My eleven-year-old daughter picked this one up as I was reading it (we had two bookmarks going for a while there), and she adored it.  This is the most gripping historical novel for children that I have read in a long, long time, and I know I will definitely be recommending it to young readers at my library.

May B. by Caroline Starr Rose (Random House Children's Books, 2012)

Also reviewed at:
The Fourth Musketeer:  "I particularly enjoyed the author's use of free verse in this short novel, which is accessible to even reluctant readers."
Things Mean a Lot:  "May B is a quiet, beautifully written and girl-centric pioneer story."
Waking Brain Cells:  "A taut, frightening novel of solitary confinement set in wide-open spaces, this book would work well with reluctant readers or as a classroom read."