By Super Kitty
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Makenna has grown up in a small village, learning to become a hedgewitch like her mother, running wild with the village children. One tragic day, however, her mother is betrayed by those she thought were friends, and she is killed. Narrowly avoiding death, Makenna becomes bitter with all humankind, and instead befriends a small group of goblins, where she finds that her mother’s death is just a small part of a larger and darker plan, one she swears to stop at all costs.
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When Tobin, a young knight, gets tangled in a dangerous misunderstanding, he loses everything. His only hope of earning it back lies in a dangerous quest to destroy the allegedly evil sorceress that is said to live in the Goblin Wood, along with her army of goblins. Tobin has been raised to see right and wrong, good and bad, but as his mission gets more complex, he begins to realize that the world is more complicated than he always thought.

As the Tobin and Makenna struggle in the growing conflict, it becomes clear that the battles being fought are not what either of them thought they were, and that loyalties cannot be divided—decisions must be made, and they could change the tide of war…

I liked this book for several reasons. First of all, the goblins were very well done. Hilari Bell has created a species that are not in essence just small, powerful humans, as too many fantastic creatures seem to be, but beings which see the world in a unique way and act accordingly, something which I always appreciate. The characters and their relationships very well done, and I particularly liked Makenna—she’s like the best combination of Keladry of Mindalin (the Protector of the Small Quartet) and Lyra Belaqua (The Golden Compass) that I can imagine! The story is told alternating between Makenna’s and Tobin’s perspectives, and while I usually prefer one main character, the two perspectives made it even better. Also, I liked that there were good and bad people on both sides of the conflict—one species or race is never purely one or the other, and the story felt much more believable that way. I would recommend The Goblin Wood to those ages ten and up looking for a satisfying, absorbing, and sometimes amusing read.

Guest contributor: Sylvie Strawberry (age 14, Massachusetts)

Masha. Her dead mom, her dead grandmother. Her dad who proposed to a woman with a girl named Dani who bit Masha minutes after they met. How was Masha supposed to stay with a family who didn't notice her talents like her grandma had? Was she supposed to sit there and pretend life was all fun and games? That's when Masha remembered the Assistant Wanted ASAP ad in the paper. "Must have skills in hauling, obeying orders, cooking, and cleaning. Magical talent a bonus. Must be good with heights," it read. Then the last part. "Enter Baba Yaga's house to apply." Would Masha do it? Baba Yaga was a witch. An ugly witch who was famous for eating bad kids. She lived in a house on chicken legs, kept eels in jars, had long teeth, and was quiet one minute then extremely wicked and hungry the next. This was exactly what Masha was looking for as an assistant. Even if it meant kissing angry bears, washing a closet full of snakes, disappointing the witch, and finding Dani in Baba Yaga's bathroom, Masha will be tackling her new job no matter what. Join Masha on her journey as you read this spooky, funny, and surprising graphic novel full of wonderful pictures and never ending twists. Put your war face on like Masha as she enters a world full of danger and witchy disaster. And you'll wonder...Was it worth it becoming Baba Yaga's assistant?

By Piranha T. and Super Kitty

“In the land of Ingary, where such things as seven-league boots and cloaks of invisibility really exist, it is quite a misfortune to be the eldest of three.” So starts Howl’s Moving Castle, an amusing, clever, and fast-paced favorite among Piranha T. and Super Kitty.

Sophie Hatter is one such burdened individual, staying hidden away in her stepmother’s hat shop. She knows that nothing exciting will ever happen to her, but her life takes a turn for the worse—and the more exciting—when the nefarious Witch of the Waste notices her and transforms her into an old lady. Knowing that she can’t stay where she is, Sophie goes from her home and out into the world.

Her life gets very complicated all at once when she makes a bargain with a fire demon, tangles with the greatly feared Wizard Howl and his apprentice, and at the same time tries to free herself from the Witch of the Waste’s curse. For she’s about to discover that not only Howl, but herself as well, are much more interesting than first meets the eye.

We have read several things by Diana Wynne Jones, and have enjoyed all of them, but none have come close to Howl’s Moving Castle. It is one of those books that we have been recommending to everyone we know, kids and adults alike. Weaving in elements of classic fairytales (and sometimes making fun of them), Diana Wynne Jones creates an all-time favorite with Howl’s Moving Castle. We’d recommend it to ages nine and up, to kids, teenagers and adults as well! And if you're into audiobooks, we'd recommend the narration by Jenny Sterlin. It's great!

Note: Howl’s Moving Castle was made into an animated film by Hayao Miyazaki. The book is very, very different—so whether you loved the movie or despised it, READ THE BOOK! This is one of those cases where the movie is not just different from the book, they are almost separate stories.