Dark Life Kat Falls

Dark Life by Kat Falls

The first time I remember seeing this book was at one of Charlotte's Science fiction and fantasy round ups. I must confess, I don't read all the summaries. Sometimes I simply look at the cover. That's what I did with Dark Life. It didn't stand out enough for me to stop. When I saw it in the store the next day, I did a double take. Some covers must been seen in person for the full effect. Dark Life has on of those covers. After, reading the first three pages, I was very excited. Why? - 1 male protagonist - not including continuing series there seem to be less middle grade novels with male leads this year. 2. Its an apocalyptic future story set in the deep sea. Apocalyptic tales are very popular right now but as far as I know no middle grade novels that explore humans living in the deep sea.

3 " But my trance was cut short by a series of green sparks bursting out of the gorge. I fell back, every muscle in my body tense. Only one fish glittered like an emerald and traveled in a pack: the green lantern shark. Twelve inches long and deadly as piranhas, they could rip apart something twenty times their size. Forget what they could do to a human. I should have seen it coming even this deep. I should have known the squid had squirted its radiant goo to diver a predator. And now my helmet's crown lights served as an even brighter beacon. With a jab to my wrist screen, I snapped them off, but it was too late - I couldn't unring that dinner bell."

That's from the first page. Its a very strong beginning. There's action, danger, science facts and great visuals. If a reader isn't sold on the cover, if you can get them to read the first page you might hook them.

In Dark Life thanks to global warming there's less land. People are forced to lived crammed together. Ty's parents were pioneers in the movement to living in the ocean. 15 yrs later the Benthic Terriory is establishing itself as a viable living option. Ty was the first child born in the deep sea. Dark Falls opens with Ty exploring and meeting Gemma, a topsider, (a person who lives on land) Gemma's searching for her older brother, Richard.

When Ty turns 18 he's going to claim his own land. His plans are threatened when the government forces the people of the Benthic Territory to catch outlaws raiding government supply ships. The outlaws known as Seablite gang are becoming more dangerous. Ty is willing to go up against the leader to protect his way of life.

The people of the Benthic Territory are struggling for independence, rights and respect. The deep sea setting is something very different, the author uses this to her advantage. Since Ty diet includes abyssal fish, his skin has a shine to it. As, Ty shows Gemma around the territory and his home, we learn how people are able to live and thrive in the ocean.

All children born in the deep sea have a special ability known as a dark gift. Ty has decided to hide his ability. Since he's the oldest the other children follow his lead. Falls explains the reasoning behind Ty's wanting to keep his ability a secret. Though I wished the author would've expanded on the idea of the dark gift.

Dark Falls has some nice action and close call moments. It's also a very visual story. Ty comes face to face with many different ocean animals. I am looking forward to seeing what the author does with Ty. At the end everyone knows about dark gift. I hope the author will explore the stories of the pioneers. I would love to hear Ty's parents tell stories of the first few years. Especially Ty's mother, who seems like a strong female protagonist to balance out Gemma.

Deep Sea life doesn't scare Gemma, she's fearless but that girl is not quick. At the end Gemma is used as a shield or a hostage twice. The first time I was like okay it happens. The second time I was like come on Gemma please be aware of your surroundings or have quick feet. Soon after the second time Ty must save Gemma again. The last incident Gemma couldn't have prevented but a female character having to be saved so many times by the male character rubs me the wrong way.

Falls has created a detailed world. The author does an excellent job of incorporating answers of how humans can survive in the deep sea. I enjoyed Dark Falls. It was an entertaining read with some serious growth potential. I think young readers who enjoy non fiction books on ocean life will really enjoy it. Read an excerpt

Celia's Robot Margaret Chang

Celia's Robot by Margaret Chang

10yr old Celia Chow is not very organized. After everything goes completely wrong one school morning, Celia's dad thinks of the perfect birthday gift, a robot. Robot keeps Celia on task. Celia's mom is White and her dad is Chinese. There are moments when Celia wonders what others see when they look at her family. Celia worries her parents fight too much.

I really enjoyed this book. Celia was a very well drawn character. I thought it was pretty cool that her hobby was picking locks. The author does an excellent job with the Chow family relationships.

I was also pleasantly surprised to discover, there's a bad guy. Another computer scientist, Mr. Fisher wants to steal Robot. When Robot goes missing Celia is determined to get, her new friend back. There were a few exciting and scary moments when Celia confronts the men who took Robot.

"I reached into Robot's body and picked out the wire connecting the locator to the big battery. Fisher had left all his tools scattered around. It was easy to find the right one to splice the wire again. It was all I could do for Robot. I longed to make it whole, but I knew it was more important to find Dad's laptop. My legs felt weak and trembly, so I steadied myself by holding the edge of the bench.

The swish of an opening door startled me. I spun around to see a tall bony man coming through the door at the back of the lab. His curly blond hair framed a face that looked as if it had been colored with white chalk, and his eyes were as blue and cold as a winter sky. He could have been handsome, but he wasn't. He looked horrible. I started to run but he was too quick."

Read an excerpt. It gives a great feel of Celia's voice and her family.

Stringz Micheal Wenberg

Stringz by Michael Wenberg

Jace Adams and his mom are never in one place too long. The only constant in Jace's life since he was six is playing the cello. Jace will be starting his freshman year at a new school in a new state.

"In fact, it's been so crazy the past couple of years I've barely had enough time to figure out the location of the safe bathrooms at a school before mom hauls me off somewhere new - again. But she always has a very good reason : better job, shorter commute, more money, nicer apartment, She even promised that this was going to be our last move - because she finally had a really good job" (from the arc)

Sometimes its the little things that stand out for me in a passage. Jace's wanting to find the safe bathrooms is one of those. In Seattle, Jace and his mom will be living will Aunt Bernice. Though they are living with a relative money is still tight. Jace decides to play his cello outside for money, like he did in San Diego.

Jace is mixed raced, his father is White, his mom Black. Thoughout the novel he identifies as Black. Jace has never meet his father and that's how people see him. He joins the school orchestra. The music teacher, Mr Whitehead doubts Jace can play the cello. Jace quickly proves him wrong.

I suppose it seems a little obvious for Wenbreg to put in a scene where the White music teacher doesn't believe Jace is a skilled cellist. But sadly people are placed in boxes of what we can and can't do, like and don't like. The author didn't overplay the interaction between Mr. Whitehead and Jace. It was simply a reflection of what a person faces when they do something outside of the supposed norm for their race or gender.

When Jace finally lets Elvis and Marcy, they become good friends. They are in the orchestra as well. The two convince Jace to enter the Volt competition. Its a national string competition for Black and Latino, high school students. Jace and Marcy get even closer when they take private cello lessons together.

I really liked Stringz and Jace. Though I wished the author would've slowed down a bit. The story seemed to move quickly towards the strings competition. Wenberg doesn't skip anything but there could've been more. I loved that Jace refused to be boxed in, besides playing the cello, he also surfed. It was pretty cool picturing Jace playing Jay Z on his cello. I appreciated that Jace's musical taste were very broad. The author did a good job connecting everyone close to Jace from his Aunt to his music teacher.

"When I woke the next morning, there were new clothes hanging on my door. Black suit, white shirt, black tie. New black shoes and black socks. I even had new boxer shorts. Damn. "Thanks for the, well everything," I said to Bernice. "No problem," Bernice said. "I didn't think you and your lunatic teacher would have thought about it. I called up your girlfriend and Elvis. We made a day of it. Decided to go for the Obama look." (from arc)

Compromised Heidi Ayarbe

Compromised by Heidi Ayarbe
This is Ayarbe's second YA novel. and the author has been honing are craft. It's always been just 15yr old Maya's and her dad a con -man. Maya has a mind for science, using hypothesis, to outline ways to keep her dad from getting caught. This time there is no getting away. Maya's dad is sent to prison and she's placed in orphanage.After Maya meets her potential foster parents she decides to runaway. Maya's searching for an aunt she's never known and is not 100% sure exist.

Maya's plan to go it alone is changed when Nicole, a girl who has always been in the system follows. The two walk and hitchhike to the state Maya's aunt may or may not be in. Maya formulates hypothesis that read like journal entries.

Nicole is still with me. I never really thought seh'd actually go through with it - running away for real. It's unlike her previous patterns of sticking around and waiting to be found. That's the thing about humans - highly unpredictable variables. I have to construct a new hypothesis, change the materials and variables. And that irritates me, because even my purpose has to change.

Maya's is book smart. Nicole can keep them safe and feed on the street. The two had the worst luck finding places to spend the night.

"I sigh. It's like we're doomed to share our sleeping arrangements with druggies. From the smell of things, we might as we have been lying on a bed of smoldering pot."

After Maya and Nicole feel each other talking becomes easier. I'd call what Maya and Nicole had conversations not dialogue. Ayarbe's has written a wonderfully realistic well layered novel. I loved Compromised, especially the ending, which Ayarbe crushed. Read an excerpt

Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing - Smithsonian Books

Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing edited by Richard Carlin and Kinshasha Holman Conwill

This book is amazing, beautiful and filled to capacity with information. Its the entire history of the Apollo Theater in Harlem, NY. Even the tree of hope. At amateur night at the Apollo, kiss the tree hope stump before coming on stage for luck.

In 1965, the owners of the Apollo Theater donated $5,500 to Dr. King and the Civil Rights movement. The book highlights many Apollo theater acts like James Brown, Bessie Smith, Ella Fitzgerald Aretha Franklin and Pearl Bailey.

The history of Harlem is intertwined with the story of the Apollo. Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing tells the story of how Harlem became Harlem, beginning in 1905 with White tenants moving out. The struggles Black renters faced with higher rents.

The text is very readable. Including many quotes and references. There are also personal stories from the artist.

There are amazing photographs of every era at the Apollo Theater beginning in 1914. If this book had no text it would still be worth it. The pictures alone tell many stories.

Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing is published by Smithsonian books. In Washington D.C. they've opened an exhibit with the same name to celebrate the 75 anniversay of the Apollo Theater

I've linked this post to Non Fiction Monday. The round up can be found at Bookends