scholarly journals Mystery at Lake Placid by R. MacGregor

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Colette Leung
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Science Fiction ◽  
Information Science ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Wide Audience ◽  
Humanities Computing ◽  
Team Members ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Lake Placid

MacGregor, Roy. Mystery at Lake Placid. 1995. Toronto: Tundra Books, 2013. Print.This Young Adult mystery novel is the story of Travis Lindsay, a twelve year old boy, and his Canadian peewee hockey team, the Screech Owls, while they play at an international tournament. Travis dreams of being an NHL hockey player someday, even though he’s small for his age and still afraid of the dark. He is not the star of his team, the title of which belongs to team captain Sarah Cuthbertsome, but Travis is a great skater, stick handler, and is very passionate about the sport and his team. The Screech Owls is a diverse team, with people of all backgrounds including the excitable and loyal Nish, the science fiction fanatic “Data”, the clever strategist Fahd, the ambitious Dmitri, the loveable and humourous coach Muck, team trainer Mr. Dillinger, and his son, Derek.In this novel, the Screech Owls team is on their way to Lake Placid, New York, where they will play at an international peewee tournament, and potentially be seen by scouting agents for other important hockey teams. This tournament is even more exciting for the team, because they get to play on an Olympic rink in a huge arena.Almost as soon as the team arrives, however, things seem to go wrong for them. At the hotel, people keep knocking on star player Sarah’s door, stopping her from sleeping and making her too tired to play. Next, Travis is knocked down in the street by a player from another team at the tournament. Finally, Sarah’s equipment is tampered with and damaged on multiple occasions during the night. The Screech Owls believe that these acts are not random, but that someone is sabotaging the team. They must use their combined skills to figure out who the culprit is. In the process, Travis challenges his own limits and witnesses the importance of teamwork and forgiveness.Roy MacGregor, the author of the novel, is also a sports columnist for the Globe and Mail. This background gives MacGregor excellent insight into the hockey world in both a national and international level, and he brings the sport to life through his detailed accounts of a hockey game. The novel takes great care in describing the workings of a team, and the various roles that coaches, parents, and other team members play. Important themes about competition, forgiveness, teamwork, and gender roles are conveyed through this detail, and MacGregor shows both the good and bad side of being caught up in the love of a sport.Mystery at Lake Placid is part of a larger series of twenty-two novels focused on the Screech Owls as they travel around the world for tournaments, and solve mysteries. It is also a re-publication, the original novel was published in 1995, but the story remains contemporary and engaging, partly due to its humour, light action, and well-developed characters. This book will appeal to a wide audience of children and young adults interested in sports or mystery stories.Highly Recommended: 4 out of 4 stars Reviewer: Colette LeungColette Leung is a graduate student at the University of Alberta, working in the fields of Library and Information science and Humanities Computing who loves reading, cats, and tea. Her research interests focus around how digital tools can be used to explore fields such as literature, language, and history in new and innovative ways.

scholarly journals Falling Kingdoms by M. Rhodes

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Colette Leung
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Social Classes ◽  
Digital Tools ◽  
Library And Information Science ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Baby Girl ◽  
Humanities Computing ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
The University

Rhodes, Morgan. Falling Kingdoms. New York: Penguin Group, 2012. Print.This young adult fantasy novel tells the story of three different fictional kingdoms: the prosperous Auranos, the impoverished Paelsia, and the oppressed Limeros. The book opens with a short prologue where two witches steal a baby girl, who is prophesied to become a powerful sorceress.Sixteen years later, the story continues with Princess Cleo of Auranos, who is out with some friends and Lord Aron, whom she hates but may one day be her betrothed. They visit a wine merchant in Paelsia, as the country is known for its wonderful wine. After tasting a sample, Aron uses his position to bully the wine merchant into letting him buy many cases of wine for only a fraction of their cost. When the merchant’s two sons, Tomas and Jonas, interrupt the trade, they become insulted and start a fight with Aron, who pulls a dagger and kills Tomas. The incident serves as a catalyst for war between all three kingdoms.The novel follows four different storylines. One is the story of Princess Cleo, who feels incredibly guilty about the death of Tomas.  She discovers love and loss, and is kidnapped by the neighbouring kingdoms, who wish to use her to make the King of Auranos give up his realm. Another major storyline is that of Jonas, who seeks revenge for his brother’s death. He aligns himself with the Chief of Paelsia, and helps instigate a rebellion with the help of the Kingdom of Limeros, in order to conquer Auranos. The last two storylines deal with the royalty of Limeros. Prince Magnus, who grew up under the abuse of his tyrannical father, struggles to live up to the king’s expectation as heir, and also to protect his younger sister Lucia. Even more torturous for Magnus are his strong, romantic feelings towards Lucia. The last storyline is that of Lucia, who is in fact the baby stolen years ago, raised as a princess in Limeros. At age sixteen, her powers manifest, and she learns to control them, and she seeks to protect her brother at all costs. Her father wishes to use her powers to his advantage during the war on Auranos. All four of these stories converge by the end of the book.Falling Kingdoms takes a serious look at politics, and the effects of economic discrepancy between social classes. The book ends on a cliffhanger. It is the first in a series, the second of which is called Rebel Spring. This series explores not only the repercussions of the war between kingdoms, but the place of magic in this fictional world.As the book alternates between the four different viewpoints, and each of these viewpoints engage multiple characters, the story is complex, and might be hard for some to follow. The novel also deals with heavy themes, including war, revenge, death, incest, abuse, and sex.Recommended: 3 out of 4 starsReviewer: Colette LeungColette Leung is a graduate student at the University of Alberta, working in the fields of Library and Information science and Humanities Computing who loves reading, cats, and tea. Her research interests focus around how digital tools can be used to explore fields such as literature, language, and history in new and innovative ways.

scholarly journals Above by L. Bobet

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Colette Leung
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Humanities Computing ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Black And White ◽  
State Of Mind ◽  
White Good ◽  
The Times ◽  
Gray Areas ◽  
The Right

Bobet, Leah. Above. New York: Arthur A. Levine Books-Scholastic, 2012. PrintThis Young Adult urban fantasy novel takes place in present-day Toronto, Canada. The main character is Matthew, a teenager growing up in an underground, secret community known as Safe. This community was founded by Matthew’s guardian, Atticus, for disabled outcasts and people with abnormalities.  For example, Atticus has claws for hands, and Matthew has scales. In this underground community, Matthew is Teller, which means that he collects and remembers the stories of different individuals living in Safe. Matthew is in love with the traumatized girl Ariel, who can shape-shift into a bee and has wings. Ariel came to the Safe as a teenager, and lived in the city before then, but she is slow to trust others, including Matthew, and runs away frequently.Safe is threatened by an exile, known as Corner, who works with an army of shadows. Eventually, Corner invades Safe by following Ariel home after one of the times she ran away. This causes the community to disperse Above, which is actually downtown Toronto.  Once there, with the help of Ariel, Matthew has to reunite his community, and reclaim Safe. In order to do this, Matthew must discover the history of Corner, and its connection to Safe. He learns that there are two sides to every story, and not everything is black and white. Good people can make mistakes, and love and relationships are complex and defining elements of what it means to be human.Above has important messages about themes of “good” and “evil” and the gray areas in between. By blurring the lines between fantasy, magic, and medicine, these themes are easy to bridge into the real world. The focus on outcasts and disabled people gives the book a unique perspective, and the setting takes readers to both well-known and often passed over areas of downtown Toronto.The book suffers from poor setup, however, and slow character development.  Leah Bobet uses a stilted writing style, meant to reflect the main character’s education and state of mind.  Often this style makes the plotline difficult to follow, and undercuts some of the more intriguing descriptions of Toronto.  Readers are also launched into the world without explanation, which can make it difficult to figure out what is going on for the first half of the book. The story can be even more confusing as it is told in patchworks. Outside of Matthew’s main storyline, the narratives of other characters are interwoven into the book, so not all events are chronological.Above has a good premise that will appeal to the right group of young adults, but with the difficult writing level and the lack of setup, some of the target audience might lose interest before finishing the novel. It is worth nothing that some of the content deals with difficult topics, including mental illness, abuse, disability, poverty, gender-identification, people of different and mixed ethnicities, experimentation on people, and death.Recommended with Reservations: 2 out of 4 starsReviewer: Colette LeungColette Leung is a graduate student at the University of Alberta, working in the fields of Library and Information science and Humanities Computing who loves reading, cats, and tea. Her research interests focus around how digital tools can be used to explore fields such as literature, language, and history in new and innovative ways.

scholarly journals Heap House by E. Carey

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Colette Leung
Keyword(s):  
Information Science ◽  
Library And Information Science ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Visual Aids ◽  
Humanities Computing ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Environmental Destruction ◽  
Set Up ◽  
The University ◽  
Large Host

Carey, Edward. Heap House. Toronto: Harper Collins Publishers Ltd, 2013. Print.This Young Adult gothic mystery novel tells the story of the Iremonger House, also known as Heap House, and its inhabitants Clod Iremonger and Lucy Pennant. The book contains Victorian themes and imagery, and also deals with supernatural elements.Clod Iremonger belongs to one of the most powerful families in England. The Iremongers made their fortune by gathering the trash of other people in London. All of this trash has combined to create the giant, toxic sea known as the Heaps. At the centre of the Heaps is the gigantic Iremonger house, made up of a combination of other houses and castles. The Iremongers live in Heap House.Although the Iremongers are very rich, they are also very reclusive, strict, and cruel. Clod’s grandfather rules over the clan, determining their futures, from career to marriage. A large host of servants run the household, known simply as Iremongers. These servants are distant relatives of the Iremonger clan, and lose all identity when they enter service. The Iremongers, servant and family alike, all share one other strange peculiarity - each member is presented with an object upon birth, which must be kept on their persons at all times. These objects could be anything - from a mantlepiece to a bath plug. Clod is about to turn sixteen, and become a man. However, Clod is also special. A sickly child, he has always been able to hear objects talking - each repeating a unique name, over and over. When his Aunt’s birth object goes missing, and a new servant girl named Lucy Pennant enters the household, Clod’s entire world begins to change. With the help of kindred spirit Lucy, Clod begins to uncover the mysteries of his family, and why he can hear objects speak. He also begins to find his own independence.Heap House is definitely a novel for older readers. The book alternates between the viewpoint of Clod and Lucy. The world set-up is slow to unfold, and complicated, which could leave readers initially confused. Some interactions and descriptions are quite drawn out, and the mystery may not be compelling enough to encourage further reading. The novel also deals with complex issues of social class, sickness, death, corruption, bullying, abuse, incest, environmental destruction, and loss of identity. Edward Carey, the author, has also provided illustrations for readers, in between each chapter. Although this can be helpful in visualizing Heap House itself, it could also be distracting for older readers who do not need visual aids to interpret the story. The novel does not end neatly either, which could frustrate readers at the lack of resolution to introduced stories and characters. The intricacies of the novel, however, do make it a very unique read, full of Victorian imagery and evocative of industrial London.The novel is part of a trilogy, including the sequel Foulsham, and a yet un-named title. The author’s website also features an interactive exploration of the setting of released novels.Recommended: 3 out of 4 starsReviewer: Colette LeungColette Leung is a graduate student at the University of Alberta, working in the fields of Library and Information science and Humanities Computing who loves reading, cats, and tea. Her research interests focus around how digital tools can be used to explore fields such as literature, language, and history in new and innovative ways.

scholarly journals Return to Titanic: Time Voyage by S. Brezenoff

2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa Blackwood
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Science Fiction ◽  
100Th Anniversary ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Reading Levels ◽  
Book Series ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Spring Break ◽  
Non Fiction ◽  
The University

Brezenoff, Steve. Return to Titanic: Time Voyage. Illus. Scott Murphy. North Mankato, MN: Stone Arch Books, 2012. Print.    The legendary Titanic resurfaces for this children’s novel which cleverly combines history with science fiction.  The subject of the Titanic voyage is timely, since it is recently the 100th anniversary of its maiden voyage. Tucker and Maya spend their spring break helping out at a museum and as they sort through a box labeled “special collection” for the Titanic exhibit, they find an original ticket to the maiden voyage of the Titanic.  Their curiosity provokes them to open its protective case.  Once they touch the ticket, they are sent back in time to Queenstown, Ireland in 1912, the day the Titanic was to set sail across the Atlantic Ocean.  Tucker’s mother, the museum’s curator, always said there was “magic in the junk at the museum”.  Tucker and Maya must decide what to do next.  Should they stop the Titanic from sailing?  Is it possible to change history?  They begin to wonder how will they ever return back to 2012? Detailed pencil-sketch drawings by Scott Murphy decorate every few pages.  These illustrations enhance the description and imagery in the novel while supporting reluctant readers.  The shaded teal-coloured sketches assist with setting the tone of history, mystery, and adventure.  Inclusion of a map, at the beginning of each chapter, indicates the location of the characters at that moment in the novel, whether they were in Queenstown, Ireland or in New York.  To assist with these transitions, the change of time occurs at the start of a new chapter, as well as clear setting descriptions are included throughout, integral in showing the time and place.  These time transitions are smooth and easy to follow.   Themes of friendship, curiosity, history, time-travel, adventure, and courage are intertwined.  Educators can integrate this novel into lessons about the Titanic's history.  Time Voyage is an exciting adventure story to accompany non-fiction titles.  It is interesting to note the correct historical references of location, dates, and the company that sailed the Titanic incorporated in this work of fiction. Time Voyage is the first novel in the Return to Titanic four book series, written by Steve Brezenoff.   With easy vocabulary, great plot description, imagery, and consistent use of strong adjectives, this novel will captivate readers aged 9 to 13 years old, appealing to grade 2 to 3 reading levels.  The cliff-hanger at the end of the book will surely entice readers to continue reading this four book series. Recommended: 3 out of 4 stars Reviewer: Melissa Blackwood Melissa Blackwood is a Primary/Elementary teacher, presently completing a Master of Education in Teacher-Librarianship with the University of Alberta.

scholarly journals Half Bad by S. Green

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Colette Leung
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Library And Information Science ◽  
Government Control ◽  
Second Person ◽  
Humanities Computing ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
To Come ◽  
Nature Vs Nurture ◽  
The University

Green, Sally. Half Bad. New York: Viking, 2014. Print.This young adult fantasy novel tells the story of sixteen-year-old Nathan. Nathan lives in modern England, which is caught in the middle of two warring factions of witches. These witches live undetected amongst humans. The White Witches paint themselves as good and orderly, while Black Witches are known as murderous and violent. At the time of Nathan’s story, the White Witches control much of England, and hunt renegade Black Witches.Nathan is unique, as he is the son of both a White Witch, and a Black Witch. In fact, Nathan is the son of the most terrifying Black Witch alive, Marcus, who eats the hearts of other witches to absorb their powers. Nathan is raised by his grandmother, with his half-siblings Jessica, Arran, and Deborah. He has never met his father. In spite of this, Nathan exhibits tendencies associated with dark witches. He cannot sleep indoors at night, and his strength changes with the moon. The White Witches’ Council constantly watches Nathan, and tries to control him through “assessments” and restrictions on whom he can speak to, and where he can go.  Although his grandmother frequently reminds him that he is half-White too, Nathan also experiences abuse from his older sister, and bullying at school. Nathan becomes lonely and angry, although he finds comfort in the young White Witch Annalise, and the kindness of his brother Arran.As Nathan nears his seventeenth birthday, when all witches come into their power through a specialized ritual, the Council takes more drastic actions to control Nathan. He is removed from his family, imprisoned, and subjected to harsh and painful training. The Council hopes to use Nathan as a weapon against his father. Nathan must escape, and find a way to come into his magic by his birthday, or he will die. But, even if Nathan makes it out, he cannot tell who to trust, or how to keep those he loves from danger.Half-Bad presents a complex story with compelling characters, including a well-rounded LGBTQ character who plays an important role. The book starts out slow, using both in media res and a second person viewpoint, which may deter some readers. But, the story quickly builds and switches to a first person viewpoint. The events are strongly enhanced by engrossing descriptions of the British countryside, London, and Switzerland. Easy answers are not provided to readers. No character, including the protagonist, is completely good or bad. Instead, people are shaped by how they are labelled or represented to others, and the actions they take. Some themes may be intense for younger audiences, including descriptions of violence, abuse, death, murder, suicide, torture, and the classification and branding of people. The main character also occasionally uses swear words. Other important themes include: good vs. evil, nature vs. nurture, government control, freedom, forbidden romance, father-son relationships, and anger. It is the first of a trilogy.Recommended: 3 out of 4 starsReviewer: Colette LeungColette Leung is a graduate student at the University of Alberta, working in the fields of Library and Information science and Humanities Computing who loves reading, cats, and tea. Her research interests focus around how digital tools can be used to explore fields such as literature, language, and history in new and innovative ways.

scholarly journals Sea of Shadows: Age of Legends by K. Armstrong

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Colette Leung
Keyword(s):  
Young Adult ◽  
Information Science ◽  
First Year ◽  
Library And Information Science ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Humanities Computing ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
The Dead ◽  
The University ◽  
The Village

Armstrong, Kelley. Sea of Shadows: Age of Legends. Toronto: Doubleday Canada, 2014. Print.This Young Adult fantasy novel tells the story of identical twin sisters Moria and Ashyn. In this mythical world, twin girls are special, because they can sometimes communicate with spirits. This means that when they are babies, twins are submitted to a ritual to see if they are destined to become Keeper and Seeker – magical roles that require the girls to quiet the souls of the damned, and protect the rest of the empire. Bond beasts accompany the twins – a giant wildcat for the Keeper, and a giant hound for the Seeker.Moria and Ashyn live in the village of Edgewood by the Forest of the Dead. Moria is a fiery warrior with a penchant for telling scary stories, and Ashyn is a shy romantic who often doubts herself, although both sisters are very close. The Wastes separate the Forest of the Dead, where criminals are often exiled from the rest of the empire. Every year, during the ritual of the Seeking, the Seeker and her hound must find all the restless spirits of the dead in the Forest, and quiet their souls. Often the dead are exiled criminals or are angry because they were not granted justice in life. The imperial court’s Keeper and Seeker have trained Moria and Ashyn for this ritual, and this is the first year they will perform the Seeking alone.During the Seeking, things quickly go wrong due to forces beyond the girls’ control. As a result, the girls’ village is destroyed, and their friends and family are killed by evil spirits. In the aftermath, Ashyn is separated from her sister. With the few remaining village survivors, Ashyn decides to set out with Ronan, a young thief she met in the Forest of the Dead. She hopes to take her people to safety. Moria follows her sister’s trail with the help of the last of the village guards, the stubborn Gavril, who is himself descended from sorcerers.Along the way, both sisters face mythical beasts, and discover their own strengths and weaknesses. They also deal with loss, and the harshness of a world beyond their village through encounters with bandits, kidnappers, and outcasts. Once the girls reunite, they learn that the failed ritual and the destruction of their village were not accidents. They are forced to warn the emperor and travel to court, where they must learn to navigate the politics of the realm. They also discover one of their companions may not be what he seems.This book is the first in a trilogy, although the journey of the two sisters is a complete story. The novel is told through the viewpoints of both sisters. Many deaths occur, and there are several violent scenes. The story also features creatures from horror stories that might frighten younger readers. Overall, it is a story well suited to young adult audiences, featuring interesting characters and mythology.Recommended: 3 out of 4 starsReviewer: Colette LeungColette Leung is a graduate student at the University of Alberta, working in the fields of Library and Information science and Humanities Computing who loves reading, cats, and tea. Her research interests focus around how digital tools can be used to explore fields such as literature, language, and history in new and innovative ways.

Also received - Report of the Department of Antiquities, Cyprus, 2001. vi+441 pages, figures, tables. 2001. n.p.: Department of Antiquities of Cyprus; ISSN 0070-2374 hardhack. - Miles Russell (ed.). Digging holes in popular culture: archaeology and science fiction (Bournemouth University School of Conservation Sciences Occasional Paper 7). xvii+174 pages, 39 figures, 1 table. 2002. Oxford: Oxbow; 1-84217-063-5 paperback £18 & US$29. - Martha C. Nussbaum & Juha Sihvola (ed.). The sleep of reason: erotic experience and sexual ethics in ancient Greece & Rome. viii+457 pages. 2002. Chicago: University of Chicago Press; 0-226-60915-4 paperback £18.50 & $26. - Laura K. McClure. Sexuality and gender in the Classical wor1d: readings and sources. xiii+318 pages, 9 figures. 2002. Oxford & Malden (MA): Blackwell; 0-631-22588-9 hardback £55 & $62.95,0-631-22589-7 paperback £15.99 & $27.95. - Luciano Floridi. Sextus Empiricus: the transmission and recovery of Pyrrhonism. xvi+150 pages, 5 figures, 4 tables. 2002. New York (NY): Oxford University Press; 0-19-514671-9 hardback £35. - David McKnight. From hunting to drinking: the devastating effects ojalcohol on an Australian Aboriginal community. xiv+239 pages, 1 figure, 21 plates, 2 tables. 2002. London: Routledge; 0-415-27150-9 hardback, 0-415-27151-7 paperback. - Ralph Barker. The Royal Flying Corps in World War I. xx+507 pages, illustrations. 2002. London: Robinson; 1-84119-470-0 paperback £9.99. - Paul Doherty. The godless mun: a mystery of Alexander the Greut. xii+303 pages, 1 map. 2002. London: Constable; 1-84119-496-4 hardback £16.99.

Antiquity ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 76 (293) ◽  
pp. 884-884
Author(s):  
N. James
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
World War I ◽  
Science Fiction ◽  
World War ◽  
Aboriginal Community ◽  
Oxford University ◽  
Sextus Empiricus ◽  
Sexuality And Gender ◽  
Australian Aboriginal Community ◽  
And Gender

scholarly journals Pathfinder by O. S. Card

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
David Sulz
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Elementary Education ◽  
Science Fiction ◽  
Harry Potter ◽  
Theoretical Physics ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Library Studies ◽  
Sense Of Time ◽  
Will Power

Card, Orson S. Pathfinder. New York: Simon Pulse, 2010. Print. Two warnings are in order before you read the first line. It is long (657 pages) and just the first in a series. Warnings are offered because the story is so completely engrossing that your sense of time will be altered. While you are in the story, time will speed up or slow down with the pace of the story and you will want to linger in some passages to figure out what is going on but speed through others to find out what will happen. When you are away from the story, your sole thought will be how to get back to it. Hours will pass in seeming minutes and minutes will linger for hours. And, as you approach the last few pages with the disappointment that comes when a great story ends but the satisfaction that all the loose ends will be tied up, a twist gets thrown in to make you desperate for the story to continue. These are the likely reactions for those who love science-fiction fantasy stories set in a future that is more like the past, with multiple story lines that converge and diverge, and characters who discover they have abilities that seem far-fetched yet somehow possible if only we knew a few secrets and had the will-power to practice them. This is a story about time travel and intrigue where people are not simply good or bad; in fact, each character is both with the ultimate judgment falling on the reader. The typeface splits the novel into two strands. In one, Ram and the expendables control a spaceship filled with sleeping human colonists that “make a daring leap into theoretical physics” to colonize another earth-like planet. The jump into the fold creates nineteen ships moving backward (yet forward) through time. In the other strand, thirteen-year-old Rigg is thrust from his life in the forest with his father’s dying order for him to find his mother and sister using a bag of nineteen jewels and the name of a banker in the city. Along the way, Rigg collects a trusty band of companions to help him. As expected, they have many adventures which are quite unexpected even for readers of similar novels. Fortunately, all that seemingly useless education from his father in the forest turns out to be very useful after all. The writing is fantastic without a word out of place, the characters are believable whether they are youths or adults, and the author is a master of creating new worlds and new words that are readily understandable. I saw hints of many favourite fantasy/science fiction/historic future adventure stories: Harry Potter, the Hobbit, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and of course, Orson Scott Card’s own series starting with Ender’s Game. It would be impossible to put an appropriate age on this book as it can be enjoyed (or not) at many different levels – the writing is probably understandable for some starting in grade 5; the cover says “12 and up.” Highly recommended: 4 out of 4 stars Reviewer: David SulzDavid is a librarian at the University of Alberta working mostly with scholars in Economics, Religious Studies, and Social Work. His university studies included: Library Studies, History, Elementary Education, Japanese, and Economics. On the education front, he taught various grades and subjects for several years in schools as well as museums. His interest in Japan and things Japanese stands above his other diverse interests. 

scholarly journals Apparition by G. Gallant

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Colette Leung
Keyword(s):  
Young Adult ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Library And Information Science ◽  
Humanities Computing ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Canadian Youth ◽  
Young Adult Novel ◽  
To Come ◽  
The University ◽  
The Impact

Gallant, Gail. Apparition. Toronto: Doubleday Canada, 2013. Print.This Young Adult mystery-ghost story tells the story of seventeen year-old clairvoyant, Amelia MacKenzie. Amelia has seen ghosts since she was a little girl, and after her mother passed away from cancer, Amelia saw her mother’s ghost too. Until recently, Amelia thought she was imagining these visions, but that all changes when her best friend and crush Matthew dies.Amelia lives near the small city of Owen Sound, Ontario, with her grandmother Joyce, and her two brothers Ethan and Jack. Amelia struggled with depression after her mother’s death, but her friendship with Matthew helped her through the hardest time of her life, and leads to burgeoning romantic feelings. After Amelia gathers the strength to express her feelings to him, Matthew is flustered. The next time she meets him, however, Matthew is acting strangely, and while giving Amelia a ride home, begins to talk about a mysterious girl. Amelia finds out the next day that Matthew apparently killed himself in a nearby barn. Although devastated, Amelia feels something is off about Matthew’s death.At Matthew’s funeral, Amelia meets a local journalist named Morris Dyson. Morris investigates paranormal occurrences, as he believes ghosts travel along specific geographic routes, and sometimes become stuck or cause trouble. Morris also believes Amelia can see ghosts, just like he knew her mother could. Morris suspects Matthew’s death is linked to similar deaths that happened in the same barn - all young men who committed suicide after heart-break surrounding a mysterious woman named Dot. Morris theorizes a ghost is in the barn and causing all these problems.With the help of Morris’ handsome and charming son, Kip, Amelia and Morris begin to unravel the mystery of the barn, the ghosts who still haunt it (including Matthew), and the impact for those who come into contact with the barn. At the same time, Amelia learns to come to terms with her gift, her grief, and to explore her own identity.Gail Gallant conveys the stark beauty of the Canadian landscape throughout her novel, and captures the unique and realistic culture of small town Ontario. The setting will strike home with many Canadian youth. Even with its supernatural elements, Gallant’s characters are interesting and realistic, especially for a young adult novel. Amelia makes a notable heroine not because of her clairvoyance, but from how she learns to understand her own feelings as an ordinary teenager. Amelia cares deeply for her brothers, and her stern, no-nonsense grandmother, but can at times find them aggravating. She also navigates realistic issues, such as family, friendship, and integrity in relationships. Gallant presents these themes with sophistication and empathy.Apparition tackles mature issues including depression, grief, death, romance, the afterlife, and murder. Young readers may find some content scary, although the novel is more suspenseful than frightening. The book stands complete on its own, but has a sequel, Absolution.Recommended: 4 out of 4 starsReviewer: Colette LeungColette Leung is a graduate student at the University of Alberta, working in the fields of Library and Information science and Humanities Computing who loves reading, cats, and tea. Her research interests focus around how digital tools can be used to explore fields such as literature, language, and history in new and innovative ways.

scholarly journals The Riddlemaster by K. Crossley-Holland

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Colette Leung
Keyword(s):  
Young Children ◽  
Graduate Student ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Picture Book ◽  
Digital Tools ◽  
Library And Information Science ◽  
Humanities Computing ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Literary Characters ◽  
The University

Crossley-Holland, Kevin. The Riddlemaster. Tradewind Books, 2015.The Riddlemaster is a picture book aimed at children between the ages of four and seven, although the story may interest readers of multiple ages. It tells the story of three children: Anouk, Ben, and Cara. Together, these friends seek to cross a harbour to a special island full of treasure. The children are offered passage on a boat with the mysterious old man known as the Riddlemaster, and many terrifying island creatures. Anouk, Ben, and Cara must answer seven riddles the Riddlemaster and island creatures ask them during the voyage, or be eaten alive. If they succeed, however, they will meet the rest of the islanders, who are well-beloved literary characters from around the world.The riddles within the story are generally drawn from classic mythology, and may be difficult to guess for young children. The story is told in approachable and masterful language, however, and is well-paced. The watercolour illustrations in the book match the text well, and add a layer of diversity, especially among the children, who come across as distinct in personality and culture. The setting is haunting, and reminiscent of coastal medieval European towns.The Riddlemaster presents a different story for children, with a lot of charm. It strongly celebrates literature and mythology, although some references may not be understood by younger children. The Riddlemaster is a rich read for families that naturally leads to new thoughts, questions, and conversations. It also serves as a good jumping board for further myths, legends, and literature.Recommended: 3 out of 4 starsReviewer: Colette LeungColette Leung is a graduate student at the University of Alberta, working in the fields of Library and Information science and Humanities Computing who loves reading, cats, and tea. Her research interests focus around how digital tools can be used to explore fields such as literature, language, and history in new and innovative ways.

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