Dragon Slippers, by Jessica Day George

Creel, the heroine of Dragon Slippers is hardly a damsel-in-distress. After her aunt totes her out to the local dragon in desperation (with the hope that the local prince will rescue her from certain death and marry her), Creel refuses the haughty prince and finds friendship with the dragons, who set her on a journey to the center of the kingdom with a pretty pair of what only seem to be ordinary slippers. Along the way we discover Creel's enormous talent at embroidery, and you can't help but linger over the rich descriptions of her lovely tapestry-like gowns, which quickly make her the most sought-after dressmaker in the kingdom. But soon enough those mysterious slippers begin to wreak havoc, and it's up to Creel to save the kingdom from disaster and defend the dragons from certain doom. Creel's feisty spirit breathes fiery new life into this epic world at every turn, making this one the most memorable and fun fantasy debuts to hit shelves since Cornelia Funke's Inkheart. -Amazon.com Review.

September's Read: Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Tally Youngblood lives in a futuristic society that acculturates its citizens to believe that they are ugly until age 16 when they'll undergo an operation that will change them into pleasure-seeking "pretties." Anticipating this happy transformation, Tally meets Shay, another female ugly, who shares her enjoyment of hoverboarding and risky pranks. But Shay also disdains the false values and programmed conformity of the society and urges Tally to defect with her to the Smoke, a distant settlement of simple-living conscientious objectors. Tally declines, yet when Shay is found missing by the authorities, Tally is coerced by the cruel Dr. Cable to find her and her compatriots–or remain forever "ugly." Tally's adventuresome spirit helps her locate Shay and the Smoke. It also attracts the eye of David, the aptly named youthful rebel leader to whose attentions Tally warms. However, she knows she is living a lie, for she is a spy who wears an eye-activated locator pendant that threatens to blow the rebels' cover. Ethical concerns will provide a good source of discussion as honesty, justice, and free will are all oppressed in this well-conceived dystopia. Characterization, which flirts so openly with the importance of teen self-concept, is strong, and although lengthy, the novel is highly readable with a convincing plot that incorporates futuristic technologies and a disturbing commentary on our current public policies. Fortunately, the cliff-hanger ending promises a sequel.–Susan W. Hunter, Riverside Middle School, Springfield, VT

Grades 6 and up

448 pages

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

As I was looking through some lists on Goodreads.com for books for my 9- year-old son to read, this book seemed to be at the top of many of the lists of favorites. Although this book can be found in the Young-Adult section of my library, I found it on a list for 10 year-olds to read. I thought I'd better find out why it was in the YA section before letting my 9 year-old get his hands on it. I'm glad I did.

Taken from Wikipedia, here is the general summary of the book:

"Set in Earth's future, the novel presents an imperiled humankind who have barely survived two conflicts with the Formics (an insectoid alien race also known as the "Buggers"). In preparation for an anticipated third invasion, an international fleet maintains a school to find and train future fleet commanders. The world's most talented children, including the novel's protagonist Ender Wiggin, are taken at a very young age to a training center known as the Battle School. There, teachers train them in the arts of war through increasingly difficult games including ones undertaken in zero gravity in the Battle Room where Ender's tactical genius is revealed. "

This book is very well written with wonderful character development, and a sense of mystery throughout the book. I can see why it is a favorite of many. Although I enjoyed the plot the main character, and the storyline, I found myself having a hard time getting through this book. It has a general dark feeling to the book. There isn't a lot of happiness or hope in the story. There is also a lot of cruelty in the story, which I didn't enjoy reading about. I was also surprised at the amount of language used in this story. More language in this book than in any I've read for a long time. Not what I expected from an LDS author.

I don't think I'll be reading any more of Orson Scott Card's books. It took me a long time to get through this one and I didn't feel like I came away with anything of benefit. I would definitely not recommend this book for anyone under the age of 16. It had a lot of manipulative personalities and strategies that would be hard for a younger child to really grasp. It also had so much language and cruelty, I don't think it would be appropriate for younger children, either.

Sorry Mr. Card. I'm not a fan.

Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale

When Dashti, a maid, and Lady Saren, her mistress, are shut in a tower for seven years because of Saren’s refusal to marry a man she despises, the two prepare for a very long and dark imprisonment.

As food runs low and the days go from broiling hot to freezing cold, it is all Dashti can do to keep them fed and comfortable. With the arrival outside the tower of Saren’s two suitors—one welcome, the other decidedly less so—the girls are confronted with both hope and great danger, and Dashti must make the desperate choices of a girl whose life is worth more than she knows.

With Shannon Hale’s lyrical language, this little-known classic fairy tale from the Brothers Grimm is reimagined and reset in a land inspired by the Asian steppes; it is a completely unique retelling filled with adventure and romance, drama and disguise.

Discussion questions:
· How would the story have been different if Dashti had been less patient and subservient with her social superiors?
· Could Dashti have been the same person if she were beautiful? Would it have changed her relationships with the other characters?
· Dashti’s relationships with animals are also important to her. Have you had a pet who meant as much to you as My Lord or Mucker did to Dashti?
· If you were going to be locked into a tower for seven years, what would you take with you?