And more new book reviews...

The Splendor Falls
by Rosemary Clement-Moore

This story was a great quick-read, despite the daunting thickness of the book. I was initially drawn to the book by the great cover art (I realize as a librarian that I should not judge a book by its cover, but I sometimes do). Then, I read the inside cover summary and realized that this book would make a great Halloween-season read. The story takes place in the south, which always seems to be a good place for a ghost story. The main character Sylvie is sent to Alabama after an ankle injury ruins her ballet career. Even though her family roots are in the south, Sylvie has never actually visited the family mansion. When Sylvie arrives she find a dark family history that her father went to great lengths to shield her from. Read this book to uncover the mystery that surround Sylvie and her past!


Radiant Darkness
by Emily Whitman

Many know the classic myth of Demeter and Persephone. Well, Emily Whitman retells this story a little differently, but I feel with positive results. Instead of rehashing the violence of the traditional myth, she creates a love story between Persephone and Hades. And when Persephone is whisked away to the underworld, she is a woman in love and goes without violence or force. I would definitely suggest this book as a way to encourage interest in Greek myths, plus it is just enjoyable to read!


Leviathan
by Scott Westerfeld
Have you ever heard of steampunk fiction? I hadn't heard of it until I read this book. Apparently, steampunk fiction is a story that is set in the era of steam (often Victorian period until around WWI), but it has elements of fantasy and science fiction in the story. For example, Leviathan takes place at the start of WWI. There are two main characters, but their stories do not connect initially. Aleksander, a prince of the Austria-Hungarian Empire, is on the run for his life when people from his homeland turn against him. On the other side of Europe, Deryn, a girl disguised as a boy, joins the British Airforce. These two characters meet by accident when Deryn's airship crashes into the Swiss forest. Both characters are forced to join together, despite the fact that they are on different sides. What makes this story especially interesting are the battle ships, which are incredibly futurist. If you like history and science fiction, then this is the book for you! It is now on shelf.

~Shanna Smith
Teen Librarian