The Road to Vengeance

The Road to Vengeance by Judson Roberts
This the third book in the Strongbow Saga. 15 year old Halfdon is a newly freed thrall. His mother was born in Ireland to a royal family, but was captured in a Viking raid. His father Hrorik was a Viking chieftain. Halfdon was granted his freedom at his father's death bed. Harald and Sigrid Halfdons half siblings accepted him into the family. Harald an experience Viking warrior was training Halfdon. The two became very close. While visiting land Hrorik left for Halfdon they were attacked. Harald's men were unprepared. The attackers promised the children, women and thralls would not be hurt. The attackers went back on their word, everyone was killed.

Halfdon was spared only because Harald cleared a path for his escape. Halfdon made a vow to kill everyone involved in the slaying. In the sequel Dragons from the Sea, Halfdon joins a Viking crew to gain experience. In the Road to Vengeance Halfdon is still with the same Viking crew. The Danes are attacking the Franks. The author does a great job of describing the battle unfortunately it doesn't start until halfway into the novel.

I love the way Judson Roberts blends Viking facts and terminology into the story avoiding the did you know factor.

"My warriors, do not fear death this day. The Gods themselves will be watching this great battle. They will look to see who fights bravely and scorns fear. Odin's shiel maidens, the Valkyries, will carry our brave warriors who fall in this day's contest to the great feast all of the Gods, and their glory will be sung of there forever. It is a good day to day."

Halfdon is a very smart young man. His weapon of choice is a bow and arrow. Halfdon doesn't react he acts, weighing the pros and cons of a situation. Even though he joined a Viking crew he still thinks for himself.

"I thought it a better day to live, but the army once again roared its approval of
Ragnar's words.

I enjoy the Strongbow series. I loved the first book, Viking Warrior its always a go to recommend especially if the customer is a fan of the Rangers Apprentice series. In the back of each book the author has a list of characters, glossary and historical notes. I only skimmed the historical notes but I am sure non fiction fans will enjoy every word.
The Road to Vengeance goes on sale June 17, 2008

It Chicks Sixteen Candles

Sixteen Candles by Tia Williams
This is the second book in It Chicks series. I really liked, the first one and was very excited when I saw Sixteen Candles on the new release cart last week. I got the last copy yesterday. This made me very happy for two reasons 1) its selling by itself (I only sold one) and 2)I don't have to wait for more copies to come in. These books are filled with some serious page turning drama. I wouldn't expect anything less from teenagers attending a performance arts high school.
The It Chicks are made up of four girls. Skye a drama major, who is always upstaged by her talented older sister and mother. Tangie a badazz dancer with a ghetto booty. Skye and Tangie have been friends since grade school. Kamillah a drama major from the Bronx who don't take no shit. Regina the film major who plans on doing a documentary on her high school years. They attend Louis Armstrong Academy of Performing and Creative Arts. The book begins with Syke trying to quickly make amends with her friends. Her 16th birthday party will air on Music Video Network (MVN) for their Sixteen Candles reality show, so Skye needs to have friends by her side. In the first book Tia Williams juggled a lot of characters but I thought she did a good job. The author has trimmed down the characters in Sixteen Candles. Though I seriously missed the Regina and Nick scenes they where so much fun together. With less characters and more focus the writing was stronger.
As much as I enjoyed Sixteen Candles I am still wondering what happened to Spotlight tryouts? A spotlight performance is coveted at Louis Armstrong only a few students from each major and class are selected to perform. In the second chapter we find out Tangie is preparing a dance number for Spotlight tryouts. She is called upon in Street funk class to show the routine. Tangie is nervous but ends up killing it. The author does a great job of describing Tangie's dancing. So I was looking forward to the Spotlight tryouts. Unfortunately it's only mentioned a few more times. (with no dancing) I understand its all about Skye's party I only wish the author would've fit in the tryouts or eluded to it more for the next book. It seems like they were forgotten, which is a shame because spotlight auditions had some serious scene potential. Even with that bump in the reading road, I highly recommend the It Chick series.
I will share 3 very from parts from Sixteen Candles so you'll know its worth it to add these books to your tbr list.

All the students must meet with their guidance counselors weekly for Self Awareness Sessions where they are free to say anything. Its to help them channel their emotions for artistic gain. Enough background scene

Exactly, Miss Abdulrayjid

Abdelrashid

A... del... Fuck it just call me Jane Smith. Can we get to my problem?

Skye's mother Alexa Carmicheal starred in a famous 1980's soap opera. She has been known to drink too much. Skye her sister, Eden and mother are picking male models. Enough background scene
"Kenny, if I was half my age I'd make love to you for three days straight and happily bear your mulatto love child."

No background needed scene
"Look at Ciara folks think she's a damned transvestite, okay? And She's out their doing her thing. So don't trip."

If you're a chick lit fan you should really check out the It Chicks series. They are very entertaining and laugh out loud funny. I love that the It Chicks are black. (It Chicks come in all shades) The author doesn't try too prove their blackness they just are who they are, one of the many cliques in a very competitive and diverse performing arts high school.

Zahrah the Windseeker Nnedi Okorafor

Zahrah the Windseeker by Nnedi Okorafor This book was first published in September 2005. The paperback edition was released earlier this year. I only heard of Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu after her second novel, Shadow Speaker was a finalist for the 2008 Essence Magazine Literary Award. In February in honor of Black History Month, The Brown Bookshelf blog, interviewed 28 black authors. Okorafor-Mbachu was one of the authors. Her interview was my favorite. Last month I finally ordered Zahrah the Windseeker. I love the cover of the paperback, cover design by Sheila Smallwood and Carol Chu. I went back and forth about whether or not to include the cover designers. I finally decided to, illustrators are mentioned all the time why not cover designers. Besides the cover is the reason why I stopped straddling the fence and brought the book. I definitely made the right decision. I really enjoyed Zahrah the Windseeker. It was a visual treat. Its not often I get to picture scholarly baboons, trees as tall as The Empire State building, a talking compass with an attitude or spiders big enough to trample a 14 yr old girl. My ears got a treat as well. Hip-Pocalypso and Tree Rhythm are just two types of Ooni music. Hip-Pocalypso sounds cool as hell and I can almost hear the smooth melodies of a Tree Rhythm song.
Zahrah was born with the mark of dada upon her head. Vines intertwined inside her locks. (dadalocks) Dada are rear and believed to have powers. Zahrah lives in northern Ooni on planet Ginen where nature and technology are one. The planet is overrun with vegetation rather then fight it Ooni people embrace it. Everything is cultivated from seeds including computers and buildings. I love how the author explains it.

"My father had given me the cpu seed when I was seven years old, and I had planted and taken care of it all by myself. It was my first responsibility. My flora computer had grown nicely because of my care."

When the story begins Zahrah is 14, since her parents never feared the mark of dada, she has never had to cut her dadalocks. On any planet, if a teenager is marked as different they will be teased. Zahrah starts off as a shy quiet girl teased by classmates and feared by others. Dari, her only friend was a born intellectual. He is a very good influence on Zahrah, challenging her to question why, pushing her to face her fears. About a chapter into the book Zahrah begins her menstrual cycle. That evening she begins to float off her bed. Zahrah can fly. This new ability scares her silent. Finally she confides in Dari.
Zahrah's people embrace nature but they are afraid of Greeny Jungle, known as the forbidden Greeny Jungle. The forbidden Greeny Jungle is an untamed wilderness that no one from Ooni will enter. Everyone happily pretends the jungle does not exist. Ooni adults fear of the forbidden Greeny Jungle is ingrained, their days of exploring have long past. Children are born hearing the stories and warnings of the Forbidden Greeny Jungle, and thus will not enter. The unknown will remained just that until a child refuses to expect stories as truth without evidence. Dari, is that child. He will not allow fear to stop his desire to explore and learn. Though Zahrah is afraid, she goes with Dari. Their friendship is that strong. They don't go just to go, they need a private place so Zahrah can practice flying.
At first everything goes well, then Dari is bitten by a war snake and goes into a coma. The only thing that can save him is the yolk of an unfertilized elgort egg. Elgorts are vicious animals that live deep inside Forbidden Greeny Jungle. To save her friend Zahrah will enter the Forbidden Greeny Jungle alone. Let the adventure begin. Okorafor-Mbachu created a very colorful, entertaining, enjoyable read with Zahrah the Windseeker. I'll leave you with a taste of the books goodness.

"After I screamed I could only gawk as the giant tortoise cracked the scorpion's hard head with its powerful jaw and began to feast on its now limp body with both of its heads! The wet meaty sound and inky color of scorpion's blood, which covered the tortoise's mouths and oozed out of the scorpion's body made me gag with disgust."

I'd run for Percy

Two girls ran past customer service today not in a blur but close. My first thoughts were what the hell where are their parents and don't they know better then to run inside a store. A few minutes later though they ran by again Battle of the Labyrinth in hand. I was annoyed no more. I can't hate on new release excitement. Battle of the Labyrinth is a book worth running for.

The Dragon's Child - Jenny Nimmo

The Dragon's Child by Jenny Nimmo

The one good thing about doing recovery is finding new books. I was putting back some early chapter books and came across The Dragons's Child by Jenny Nimmo. I gave a little happy squeal. I am always excited to find new chapter books for early readers. Jenny Nimmo is the author of Charlie Bone books, a bestselling series for middle grade readers. I haven't read any of the Charlie Bone books. However, if an early chapter book looks slightly interesting I will read or at least skim it.

The story begins on an island with a mother dragon trying to teach the dragon child, Dando, how to fly. I loved the voice of the mother dragon. You could hear her frustration and impatience as she tried to teach Dando to fly. "No, no sighed the mother dragon lift your wings not your feet." Dando practiced and practiced yet couldn't fly. Flying is a must for dragons, as a group they always fly north. When its time to go he still can't fly. Mother dragon is desperate, so she decides to fly him on her back. Unfortunately Dando can't hold on, and mother dragon doesn't notice him fall. He would be alone on the island if not for bird. Bird and Dando had recently meet becoming quick friends. (for some reason bird makes me think of Woodstock, the snoopy bird) I won't give anything else away you'll have to read it for yourself. Though there is a girl who speaks the language of dragons (If there's a sequel I hope the author explains how she can speak the language of dragons) The island is inhabited by doggins, evil creatures who hunt in packs. Okay that's really it, no more. Check out the rest for yourself. This was a fun well paced read. I would recommend The Dragon's Child to struggling readers. It doesn't read young and is reluctant reader friendly.