By Super Kitty

Tired of fairytales featuring heroines who spend most of their time waiting to be rescued? Girls to the Rescue is a collection of ten short stories starring smart, capable girls who use their wits and talents to overcome obstacles and save the day. Some of the stories are inspired by folktales and legends, while others are original, but all share a theme of promoting strong role models for girls of all ages.

I was about seven when I first discovered this book and its sequels, and have enjoyed them ever since—there are many girl-power remakes of classic stories, and the Girls to the Rescue series is definitely a top pick. The characters are smart, brave, and believable, refusing to let anything from stereotypes to their own fears get in the way of their success, and friendship, diversity, and self-confidence replace many traditional stories’ themes of romance and needing to be rescued. They’re also perfect books for reading aloud. Overall, Girls to the Rescue is an excellent choice for readers (girls and boys!) ages seven and up looking for strong characters and clever stories from around the world.

By Piranha T.

The first time fifteen-year-old Maya Hammond sees the man who didn’t smile, she’s on a train on the way to visit her grandparents in Maine, and he’s carefully watching another woman—a woman who looks afraid. Maya has always had intuition no one else does, and when she sees the woman, she knows she must help her. When she walks past, the woman slips a mysterious book into Maya’s bag—and the next time she looks, both the man and the woman have disappeared.

Maya soon discovers that the book is known as the Book of Everything. It can give advice, spirt people through time and space, but most important of all, it tells the truth. The Book of Cinnial, sent long ago to battle the Book of Everything, spreads lies and discord wherever it can. So far, the Book of Everything usually triumphs—but if it falls into the hands of the opposing group, the world would fall apart.

Maya meets Andy, a boy from the 1970s, when the Book of Everything sends her back in time. Then she and Andy are thrown into another world, known as Ilyria, where two dukes are battling for rule, an ancient and magical forest is in danger, and nefarious forces are attempting to make a stand. There, Maya will uncover secrets and gain new powers—but will it be enough to save not one, but two Books of Everything?

Maya and the Book of Everything was an excellent fantasy. Laurie Graves wrote a well-rounded plot which kept surprising me with twists I never would have anticipated. Maya was a clever and interesting heroine who I absolutely loved. The themes on books and reading were also fun, reminding me (although slightly younger than this book) of Finding Serendipity. I would highly recommend Maya and the Book of Everything to lovers of fantasy and complex plots ages twelve and up.

By Piranha T.

Fourteen-year-old Genna has never before broken one of the most fundamental laws of her people: never to leave her house at night, and never to go into the forest after dusk. The forest, which borders her small village, is inhabited by nightlings, mysterious creatures with legendary powers. The two realms are kept at peace only by an ancient treaty, giving humans reign over day, and nightlings rule by night.

But then Genna and her brother Dan break the pact and journey into the forest at night, thinking that only there lies the hope of saving their mother from the brink of death. Instead, they uncover something more dire than they could have imagined. A nightling slave tells them of a dangerous agreement the village’s leader has made with the nightling leader, Letrin—a scheme which, if fulfilled, could cost much more than Genna’s mother’s life.

When Genna is brought before Letrin herself, she strikes a deal with him whose terms even she doesn’t fully understand. She must set off with her brother along dark Moonroads to bring back what Letrin has requested, and uncover the truth about the nightlings, truths which will overturn the parts of her world she has always taken for granted.

The Ruby Key was an interesting, well-written fantasy with a lush and well-developed world of danger, mystery, and power. It took me a little longer than normal to get into this book, mostly because of the layers of the world I was trying to understand, but once I did, I was hooked. Genna is an excellent, relatable character with strong motivations and a likable personality. And the world is like a character in and of itself, with multilayered history and magical creatures of dangerous power, the kind of world fans of Blackbringer will love.

This book is on the older end of the middle-grade age range, so I would recommend it to readers ages eleven and up; parts of it might honestly be scary for younger readers. However, for fantasy fans of that age who like strong plots and complex worlds, I would highly recommend The Ruby Key.

By Piranha T.

Magpie Windwitch, granddaughter of the West Wind, is a fierce faerie hunter in a world where the past is all but forgotten. Of all her kindred, she’s the only one defending the legacy of the faeries who ended the Demon Wars twenty-five thousand years ago—including Magpie’s hero, Bellatrix, the champion of the king of the Djinn. For humans have begun to unleash the demons from their bottle prisons, and Magpie is intent on hunting them down.

But when the ancient Blackbringer is released into the world, Magpie knows that she’s onto much more than a normal demon—and that if she can’t catch it, the consequences will be much more dire. She tracks it into the enchanted forest of Dreamdark, a place of dangerous magic and immense power. But as she uncovers more secrets and learns the true nature of the creature she’s hunting, she begins to wonder if there is any hope of keeping the world from unraveling completely—and catching the Blackbringer in time.

Blackbringer is an amazing book. Laini Taylor spins a complex tale which surprised me at every turn, with an intricate, magnificent plot which never seems to slow down. Magpie is a brilliant character who I absolutely love, and her quest is full of nonstop action and long-covered secrets. Not only that, but the world feels completely real and engrossing, in a way which few worlds are. This is a book for fans of the complexity of Seraphina, The Ruby Key, and Shadow and Bone.

Although there wasn’t much violence and no romance, I recommend this book for ages ten and up; there were some things which could be frightening to younger readers, and the plot was complex at a level you usually only get in young adult, to a point which might actually be hard to follow! But older readers may enjoy this book even more than younger ones, simply because of the brilliant multilayered plot. For kids 11+ who love fantasy, brilliant plots, and well-developed worlds, I would highly recommend Blackbringer.

 By Super Kitty
 
Pacy Lin is excited about the upcoming Year of the Dog—according to her parents, it’s a year to “find yourself” and make friends. As one of the only Taiwanese-American kids in her school, Pacy sometimes feels like she doesn’t fit in, and the Year of the Dog seems like a good time to figure out who she really is.

Sure enough, she becomes fast friends with Melody Ling, a new girl in school who has so much in common with Pacy that they’re practically twins! Pacy is hoping that the Year of the Dog is a sign that she’s going to discover a new talent and decide what she wants to be when she grows up, and as the year goes by she and Melody compete in a science fair, perform in the school play, enter a Halloween costume contest, and more. But as the end of the year gets closer and closer, Pacy begins to wonder: will she find something that she’s good at before the Year of the Dog is over? Or will she be stuck without a special talent forever? 

I read The Year of the Dog before Piranha T. and I started Rapunzel Reads, and we’ve been meaning to review it ever since! I loved it as second grader, and it was just as good when I re-read it recently—it’s one of those books that is impossible to grow out of, and while aimed for younger kids, older readers shouldn’t take that as a reason not to read it. There are some books which really capture what being a kid is like, and this is one of them. In an author’s note, Grace Lin, who based the story on her own childhood, says that when she was young her favorite books were about normal kids: “When I read those books, it was as if I was wrapped in a warm hug. I saw all the things that I loved and lived—my neighborhood, my friends, and my school. The only thing I didn’t see was me….I wrote [The Year of the Dog] because it was the book I wished I had had when I was growing up, a book that had someone like me in it.” Fun, believable, and engaging, I would highly recommend this book for ages eight and up. And if you enjoy it, I also loved both sequels: The Year of the Rat and Dumpling Days.
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By Piranha T.

Collun likes gardening much more than fighting, and is quite content to stay in his village for his whole life. But it seems the world has other ideas for him. When his sister, Nessa, disappears, he has no choice than to set off, away from the life he’s always led.

But as he travels, he learns more is amiss in Eirren than simply his sister’s disappearance. Legendary monsters are returning all over the land, and a great lord has disappeared. However, Collun is not alone. Along the way, he is joined by a mysterious wizard, a fierce young archer, and an ambitious bard. But will he be able to surmount the final danger and save his sister?
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Hero’s Song is a fantasy quest for lovers of mythology. Edith Pattou draws from Irish myths and legends to create a medieval landscape of monsters, danger, and magic. This is a book for lovers of Over Sea, Under Stone, and The Chronicles of Prydain series by Lloyd Alexander. I would recommend Hero’s Song to readers ages eleven and up.

By Super Kitty

Ten years ago, three young children were taken from their home, escaping an ancient being of darkness who wished to destroy them. Separated from their parents, the siblings are sent from one orphanage to the next: fourteen-year-old Kate, who promised her mother to take care of her younger brother and sister just before they were taken away; Michael, a twelve-year-old bookworm with a deep fondness for dwarves; and Emma, the fiery, fearless, and often irritable youngest, willing to fight just about anyone and who thinks dwarves are completely ridiculous. Remembering their mother’s promise that one day their family will be reunited again, they have refused to be adopted, getting transferred to increasingly horrible orphanages as year after year goes by.

Just when they think things can’t get any worse, they are moved once more—this time to an ancient, crumbling house in a half-forgotten town that no one seems to know anything about. While searching for the truth about the strange village, the siblings stumble across a hidden book, and are pulled into a conflict that has raged for eons. The book holds a power that some fear and some desire, and to unlock its secrets and set right the wrongs that have been done in its name, Kate, Michael, and Emma begin a journey that will take them through time itself. Along the way, they will meet monsters and sorcerers, allies and enemies—and, perhaps, find out the truth of who they really are.

Kate, Michael, and Emma are great main characters—they might have extraordinary destinies and be the key to ridding the world of evil, but they’re also believable children who argue and make mistakes, much like the protagonists of Trenton Lee Stewart’s The Mysterious Benedict Society. In fact, the entire cast is well done, especially the (very intriguing) villains, who we can’t wait to see more of in the rest of the trilogy. There are lots of books which include time travel, but the way John Stephens uses it doesn’t feel cliché—the various twists and side effects of altering the past are both creative a​nd amusing. Clever, fast-paced, and fun, I would highly recommend The Emerald Atlas to readers ages nine and up.

By Piranha T.

Sabriel is used to danger. Her father, the necromancer Abhorsen, has taught her such things from a young age. She knows how to use the seven bells which are the root of the craft of necromancers, has journeyed through Death, and bound the creatures who lurk there. But despite this all, she hasn’t grown up in the magical and mysterious Old Kingdom, where she was born. Instead, she attends school in the modern realm of Ancelstierre, as far from anything magical as it is possible to get.

But Sabriel is pulled into an ancient conflict when Abhorsen disappears. Now, she must journey into the Old Kingdom, overcome dangerous creatures, and brave trials which she has never even imagined. And over her journey, she discovers that her father’s disappearance may just be part of a bigger plan—a plan orchestrated by one of the most powerful, nefarious beings she has ever encountered.
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Sabriel is an engrossing read, starring a capable, clever, and believable heroine. This book, widely acknowledged as a modern classic, is set in a well-developed fantasy world with intricate, dangerous magic and a plot with mysteries that keep you wondering at the ending. That said, Sabriel is a young adult book, and though it’s amazing when you’re old enough, there are parts which may be disturbing for younger readers. Because of that, I would highly recommend it (and the rest of the series) to high fantasy fans ages twelve and up.

By Piranha T.

Cimorene is far from a normal princess. To the consternation of her tradition-loving parents, she has had various people at court teach her fencing, magic, cooking, and all sorts of other things before the king and queen have found out and put a stop to it. Finally, in an attempt to get her to settle down, her parents arrange a marriage for her with the prince of a neighboring kingdom. Cimorene’s response is to run away.

On the advice of a talking frog, she journeys into the Mountains of Morning and volunteers to become princess of the dragon Kazul. There, she finds all kinds of excitement—from a plot among the dragons to the suspicious activities of the neighboring wizards, to the troublesome number of princes who come to Kazul’s cave to try to rescue her, assuming she got there by force and not by choice. Cimorene’s life is now far from the boring monotony she’d experienced at the castle—and when she learns more about what’s going on in the Mountains of Morning, she realizes it’s about to get even more interesting still.
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Dealing with Dragons is a hilarious, entertaining read. Patricia C. Wrede spoofs classic fairytales in a unique way which is extremely funny. Cimorene is a strong, interesting and determined heroine who is just about as far from a stereotypical princess as you can get. I would highly recommend Dealing with Dragons to readers ages ten and up.

By Super Kitty
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Ten-year-old Keladry of Mindelan plans to become a knight like her hero Alanna the Lioness, who, years ago, disguised herself as a boy so she could train for knighthood. The law forbidding girls from entering the training changed ten years ago, and Kel becomes the first to take advantage of the new decree, making history as the first girl to officially become a page—but not everyone is happy about it. Lord Wyldon, in charge of training pages and squires, even insists on putting her on probation, which no other page has ever had to endure.

Faced with nastiness, bullying and heated opposition in addition to the already demanding training schedule, Kel has been given a far more difficult test than any boy has ever had to experience. Whether or not she is able to prove herself will determine not only her own fate, but that of any other girls who wish to follow in her footsteps. Fortunately, Kel is more than up for the challenge…

I’ve read a lot of Tamora Pierce’s books, including many of those set in the Tortall* universe, and the Protector of the Small Quartet is my all-time favorite. The author is known for her powerful female protagonists, and out of all of them I’ve liked Kel best. She’s tough, brave, smart and is an excellent tactician—she’s very human, and is all and all the sort of shero I love to read about. Also, unlike Alanna, she doesn’t have magical powers or a legendary destiny; she’s just an incredibly skilled young woman who’s willing to deal with the prejudice that the first openly female knight must face in order to pave the way for other Lady Knights.

Like Alanna, Kel ages quickly over the course of the quartet—in First Test, she’s ten, but by book four she’s about twenty, and the series gets progressively more ‘Young Adult’ in the later installments. So I although I would recommend First Test for ages 10 and up, younger readers may lose interest after the first two books. But it’s a great series, and older readers shouldn’t be put off by the fact that Kel is younger in the first book—she’s an awesome character, and I would highly recommend the Protector of the Small Quartet to readers who love fantasy, action, and strong, fearless heroines.

*Note: Although the quartet is set in the same world as many of Tamora Pierce’s other books (The Song of the Lioness Quartet and the Trickster’s Choice Duology), you don’t need to have read any of them before starting Protector of the Small (we didn’t!)

By Piranha T.

Aventurine is a fierce dragon who longs to go out into the world. But she’s still young by dragon standards, her scales not yet hard enough to dare to venture out into the world. When she finally gets fed up with staying in her family’s caves, she leaves in an attempt to prove that she’s able to take care of herself in the outside world.

But instead, she gets duped by the first human she meets into drinking a pot of enchanted hot chocolate. She’s transformed into a twelve-year-old human girl, helpless without her fire and scales. One thing, however, keeps her from despair. She’s finally found her passion--chocolate.

Aventurine leaves for the city to find an apprenticeship at a chocolate house. But when she finds one, she discovers that the business is in danger. Can Aventurine save the chocolate house, follow her passion, and at the same time be reunited with her family?
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The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart was a fun read. Aventurine was an entertaining main character who was extremely funny, particularly because she saw everything in a medieval-type world through a dragon’s eyes and looked at things in a very different way. I love dragons, and I love chocolate too, but you don’t have to love either to love this book! This book reminded me of The Girl in the Tower and The Language of Spells, so if you like either of those books, check this one out! I would highly recommend The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart to readers ages eight and up.

By Piranha T.

Nathaniel is apprenticed to one of the magicians who forms part of London’s government. Although he isn’t entirely content, he’s happy enough to stay that way. But things change when one of the most skilled magicians in London, Simon Lovelace, humiliates him. Keen on revenge, Nathaniel learns spells necessary to get him back—and summons a five-thousand-year-old djinn called Bartimaeus.

Bartimaeus isn’t particularly pleased at being summoned by an eleven-year-old boy, but he’s forced to do Nathaniel’s bidding. He’s sent to steal one of Simon Lovelace’s most prized possessions—the Amulet of Samarkand, which authorities have been searching for for years. Nathaniel’s plan is to use it to show the public what Lovelace is really like—but instead, it pulls him and Bartimaeus into a tangle of complex politics, the rebellion known as the Resistance, and the plans of Lovelace—which may be much more ominous than either of them realize.
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The Amulet of Samarkand was an engrossing read, with lots of complicated plot twists so it read like a mystery. Although it alternates between Bartimaeus and Nathaniel, it isn’t confusing. Nathaniel’s narration has more of an upper-class tone, while Bartimaeus has five thousand years of experience and an extremely snarky narrative, which makes the book even better—and much more amusing. I would highly recommend The Amulet of Samarkand to readers ages ten and up, but older readers would enjoy it as well!

By Piranha T.

Rose is the youngest of eight children, subject of many of her mother’s superstitions. Despite what her family would prefer, she has always loved to explore. She has always dreamed of a white bear who would explore the northern regions of the world with her.

But when such a bear comes, he has a different request. In exchange for her family’s well-being, Rose must come with him and leave the world she has always known. When she goes with him, Rose discovers a world of ice and snow, where magic is real—and enchantments can bind a life. The bear has secrets of his own, and Rose’s choices will decide his fate.

East is a retelling of the classic fairytale East of the Sun, West of the Moon. Unlike many other books like this, Edith Pattou doesn’t completely change the classic tale. Instead, she adds to it, weaving the story’s threads in unexpected directions while still holding to the normal course of the story. Yet at the same time, it’s much more multilayered, with all the characters seeming real. Rose is an exceptional heroine who I could completely relate to. Many of the things which might seem rash or odd in the original fairytale are explained fully, and though a part of me knew a few things weren’t great decisions, I could understand why Rose did them.
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This book is set in Norway, with many of the names Norwegian, but it wasn’t confusing to me. Likewise, although there are several different narrations in this book, it didn’t feel awkward or confusing. This is an excellent fantasy novel which I would recommend for ages twelve and up.

By Contributing Reviewer FalconX, Age 11

Orïsha was a kingdom that hummed with magic. Different people possessed different powers and talents that commanded the elements. That all changed. Zélie Adebola's mother was a maji. This meant that Zélie's mother was magical; and she could summon souls. Under a ruthless king's order, all maji were killed and hung from trees to display to the world the true death of magic. Zélie's mother was among them. No matter what Zélie does, her mother will never return. Then, Zélie's powers begin to manifest. She must keep it a secret. The princess, the daughter of the king responsible of the murder of magic, embarks on a quest with Zélie. Zélie's brother Tzain, the princess, and Zélie set out on a quest to bring magic back. However, the crown prince (the princess's brother) is onto them, and catching up. He has one goal: kill Zélie and kill magic. Zélie is in more danger than she thinks. The crown prince is capable of hunting them down and killing them quickly, but not with Zélie's powers. Tzain tries to protect the princess and Zélie, but they are no match for an army of trained soldiers. Even with Zélie's newly manifested powers. But perhaps the most challenging thing for Zélie is suppressing her growing feelings for the supposed enemy. Will they succeed in bringing magic back to Orisha and returning it to what it was always meant to be? Or will they fail and magic will be lost forever?

This book was so intriguing, good, and cleverly written. I picked it up and could not put it down. Tomi Adeyemi weaves a vibrant and imaginative world. Join Zélie and her companions on a quest to bring the true Orïsha back. I love the plot twist at the end. It is not at all what you expect. The story is rich and full of interesting side plots and different perspectives. By the time I'd gotten the book in my hands, it had been recommended to me by at least eight different people. I love how Tomi Adeyemi makes you feel like you are standing next to the characters, that you are fighting and celebrating and mourning right along with them. This is the first book in a trilogy that the second and third book has not yet come out. I would recommend this book to grades 6-9 because there are very violent parts. 

By Piranha T.

The daughter of the famous warrior Alanna the Lioness, Alianne (known as Aly) has inherited none of her mother’s dreams of knighthood. She has a different passion: she wants to become a spy. It seems, in some ways, a likely dream. Her father is the head of the realm’s spies, and has taught her secrets of the trade from a young age. But he refuses to let her become one, insisting that it’s much too dangerous. Soon, though, Aly gets her chance—though it’s not where she expects it. She is captured by pirates and sold into slavery in the Copper Isles, islands known for political tensions between the native people and those who invaded three hundred years before, tensions that are ready to break.

At first, all Aly can think of is trying to escape, even after she has been sold at auction to a noble family known as the Balitangs. But she gets her chance without having to risk her life. The patron god of the isles, known as Kyprioth, offers her a deal. If she can protect the two oldest girls of the Balitang family over the summer, he’ll get her out on the Autumnal equinox.

But the deal isn’t as simple as it seems. Kyprioth, often called ‘the Trickster’, has his own plans for not just Aly, but everyone in the Isles as well. Rebellion stirs among the natives, who have been oppressed and enslaved for generations. Aly gets her chance to test her skills as a spy—but at the same time, she must test her life.
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Trickster’s Choice (and its sequel, Trickster’s Queen) is an excellent, well-plotted book. The Copper Isles offer a rich setting full of hidden conspiracies and well-concealed secrets. Tamora Pierce has written three quartets also set in this world (including the Song of the Lioness Quartet and the Protector of the Small Quartet), which I would highly recommend, but Trickster’s Choice was different from them, because Aly was different from those heroines. She is a funny, sarcastic, and clever character who won’t let anything stop her, with the personality of a spy. I would recommend Trickster’s Choice to readers ages thirteen and up.