Title: Earth Girl Author: Janet Edwards Genre: Science Fiction Publisher: Pyr (US) / Harper Voyager (UK) Publication Date: March 2013 (US) / August 2012 (UK) Hardcover: 271 Pages 2788. Only the handicapped live on Earth. Eighteen-year-old Jarra is among…
8 Rated Books
Title: The Three Loves of Persimmon Author: Cassandra Golds Genre: Historical, Fable, Magical Realism, Romance Publisher: Penguin Books Publication date: August 2010 Paperback: 212 pages Persimmon Polidori is a fine young lady, but within her is a rebel. She…
Middle Grade Review Bonanza: The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken, Permanent Rose by Hilary McKay, and From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg
The Middle Grade Review Bonanza is a new feature of 2-3 mini-reviews for short (typically 250 pages or less) MG books we both really wanted to read. It’s a new Regular Thing (and we’d love to hear your thoughts…
What She Said: The Princess Curse & The Name of the Star
Today we bring you the latest installment in our feature, “What She Said…” in which we both review books that the other has previously read and reviewed. This feature arose because of a very serious dilemma we faced at…
Title: The Different Girl Author: Gordon Dahlquist Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopia, Young Adult Publisher: Dutton Juvenile Publication Date: February 2013 Hardcover: 240 Pages Four nearly identical girls on a desert island. An unexpected new arrival. A gently warped near…
2012 Kitschies Golden Tentacle Award: Thoughts on The City’s Son by Tom Pollock
The Kitschies are the UK based awards that reward the year’s most progressive, intelligent and entertaining works that contain elements of the speculative or fantastic. The Golden Tentacle is awarded annually to the debut novel that best fits the…
Welcome, everyone, to a brand new weekly Smugglerific feature: Old School Wednesdays! We came up with the idea towards the end of last year, when both of us were feeling exhausted from the never-ending inundation of new and shiny…
Joint Review: The Best of All Possible Worlds by Karen Lord
Title: The Best of All Possible Worlds Author: Karen Lord Genre: Science Fiction Publisher: Jo Fletcher Books / Del Rey Publication date: January 31st / February 12th 2013 Hardcover: 352 pages A proud and reserved alien society finds its…
Today we bring you the latest installment in our feature, “What She Said…” in which we both review books that the other has previously read and reviewed. This feature arose because of a very serious dilemma we faced at…
Old School Wednesdays: The Catalogue of the Universe by Margaret Mahy
Welcome, everyone, to a brand new weekly Smugglerific feature: Old School Wednesdays! We came up with the idea towards the end of last year, when both of us were feeling exhausted from the never-ending inundation of new and shiny…
Title: Academy 7 Author: Anne Osterlund Genre: Science Fiction, Young Adult Publisher: Speak (Penguin) Publication Date: May 2009 Paperback: 272 Pages With a past too terrible to speak of, and a bleak, lonely future ahead of her, Aerin Renning…
Book Review/Discussion: The Six-Gun Tarot by R.S. Belcher
Today we are mixing things up a bit! Both Ana and I read The Six-Gun Tarot by R.S. Belcher, and we both had different interpretations and reactions to the book. So, to give a dual perspective, Ana reviewed the…
Title: Indigo’s Star Author: Hilary McKay Genre: Contemporary, Middle Grade/Young Adult Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books Publication date: 2003 Paperback: 244 pages It’s back to school for the start of a new term, and the eccentric Cassons are up…
Title: The Siren Depths Author: Martha Wells Genre: Fantasy Publisher: Night Shade Books Publication date: December 2012 Paperback: 320 pages All his life, Moon roamed the Three Worlds, a solitary wanderer forced to hide his true nature — until…
Title: Ordinary Magic Author: Caitlen Rubino-Bradway Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens Publication Date: May 2012 Hardcover: 277 Pages In Abby’s world, magic isn’t anything special: it’s a part of everyday life. So when Abby learns that…
Thea’s Smugglivus 2012 Feats of Strength
The Feats of Strength are an integral part of our annual Smugglivus Tradition. In previous years, the Feats of Strength were a challenge in which we dared each other to read a book that we knew was so far…
Ana’s Smugglivus 2012 Feats of Strength
The Feats of Strength are an integral part of our annual Smugglivus Tradition. In previous years, the Feats of Strength were a challenge in which we dared each other to read a book that we knew was so far…
Title: Above World Author: Jenn Reese Genre: Science Fiction, Middle Grade Publisher: Candlewick Press Publication Date: February 2012 Hardcover: 368 Pages Thirteen-year-old Aluna has lived her entire life under the ocean with the Coral Kampii in the City of…
It’s Friday so this means we are over at Kirkus! This week, Thea reviews speculative fiction novel The Testament of Jessie Lamb by Jane Rogers. Longlisted for the Man Booker Prize, The Testament of Jessie Lamb is a hefty,…
Title: Cetaganda Author: Lois McMaster Bujold Genre: Science Fiction Publisher: Baen Publication Date: October 1996 Paperback: 302 Pages The fifth installment of the Hugo-award winning adventures of Miles Vorkosigan. In this novel Miles Vorkosigan and his cousin Ivan travel…
Joint Review: In A Glass Grimmly by Adam Gidwitz
Title: In a Glass Grimly Author: Adam Gidwitz Genre: Fantasy, Fairytale retelling, Middle Grade Publisher: Dutton Children’s Books Publication date: September 2012 Hardcover: 312 pages More Grimm tales await in the harrowing, hilarious companion to a beloved new classic…
Title: The Changeling Sea Author: Patricia A. McKillip Genre: Fantasy, Fairy Tale, Young Adult Publisher: Firebird Publication Date: October 1988 Paperback: 144 Pages Since the day her father’s fishing boat returned without him, Peri and her mother have mourned…
Book Review (& Giveaway): Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm by Philip Pullman
Title: Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm Author: Philip Pullman Genre: Fantasy, Fairy Tales Publisher: Viking Adult Publication Date: November 2012 Hardcover: 400 Pages Two centuries ago, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm published the first volume of Children’s and Household…
Title: Verdigris Deep (UK) / Well Witched (US) Author: Frances Hardinge Genre: Fantasy, Horror, Middle Grade Publisher: MacMillan Children’s Books / Harper Collins Publication date: 2008 Paperback: 400 pages Ryan and his friends don’t think twice about stealing some…
Title: And All the Stars Author: Andrea K. Höst Genre: Science Fiction, Young Adult, PoC, LGBT Publisher: Self-published Publication date: October 1 2012 Paperback: 193 pages Come for the apocalypse. Stay for cupcakes. Die for love. Madeleine Cost is…