Legendborn

 Legendborn  

By Tracy Deonn  

Legendborn centers around the life and story of Bree Mathews, a student enrolled in the Early College program at the University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill. She enrolls shortly after her mother dies mysteriously. She doesn’t remember much about that day and tries to investigate what happened. This book is a story of power and self-discovery. Shortly after arriving at school, Bree discovers she can be a part of a secret magical society where all the members are Legendborn and descended from the Knights of the round table. She soon meets a boy named Nick and they grow very close. Romance is essential to the plot but does not take up the whole of it, which can be a problem in young adult literature nowadays,  Legendborn includes both Celtic mythologies along with stories of slavery and the great migration. Deonn does a great job of intertwining all of these stories. The book is action-packed and engaging and would be perfect for any library to be put in their young adult section. There are some triggering aspects to the book. Particularly with death and dying; readers should be warned beforehand. Bree is a very complex, likable, and fleshed-out character which is very refreshing. The themes of slavery and injustice are deftly explored with care and consideration. The ‘uncomfortable’ subjects are not shyed away from or downplayed. Legendborn would also be very good for a book club or book reading so participants could share their ideas. There are so many plot twists that would make the book enjoyable for this audience. Deonn is an amazing writer, and this book is filled with great worldbuilding and engaging prose among other things. This book won the Coretta Scott King award which is very prestigious. It has a sequel called Bloodmarked that has great reviews.  

BIBLIO: 2020 Margaret K. McElderry Books, Ages14-18, $13.99-$19.99 

REVIEWER: Ella Frey  

FORMAT: Young Adult  

ISBN: 9781534441606 

House of Salt and Sorrows

 

House of Salt and Sorrows  

By Erin A. Craig  

House of Salt and Sorrows is a retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses, a dark fairy tale by the Grim Brothers. It follows a girl named Annaleigh Thaumaus, one of 12 children. When the story starts, four of her sisters have died in tragic accidents. The first chapter is set at her sister Eulalie's funeral. Annaleigh lives on an island with her remaining siblings, her father, and her stepmother. She quickly meets a boy named Cassius and asks for his help in stopping more deaths from happening. Annaleigh starts seeing the ghosts of her sisters and discovers that they have been sneaking away to a magical land to go to dances. They seem not to be able to stop when they start. As the story goes on, she unravels the mystery of why her sisters keep dying. Annaleigh is very likable and is a strong female protagonist which can sometimes be hard to find.  Since there are some darker elements and descriptions of different kinds of death, readers should be informed of what they are about to read. These topics could be triggering for some, and educators and librarians have a responsibility to respect that. This book is a creative way to introduce readers to a fairy tale that is not very popular. Certain elements such as the romance between Cassius and Annaleigh could also draw readers in. Erin A. Craig has other books that are inspired by fairy tales, including a Rumpelstiltskin retelling. This book is a good introduction to her writing and could help readers discover a new favorite author. The characters are written well, the dialogue is engaging, and the book is fast-paced and enjoyable. This book would fit well in a Young Adult section at a Library, given that there was a warning about the content.  

BIBLIO: 2019, Penguin Random House, Ages14-18, $6.99-$19.99 

REVIEWER: Ella Frey  

FORMAT: Young Adult  

ISBN: 9781984831927   

Bee, A Peek-Through Picture Book

Bee, A Peek-Through Picture Book 

By Britta Teckentrup 

    Bee is part of the Peek-Through picture book series by Britta Teckentrup. The book follows the adventures of a honeybee as she goes through her day. Some intrigue is added because the reader may not be sure what a bee does all day since this book is marketed to a younger age. The reader sees the bee go through many scenes, including different forests and meadows. The bee gets to her hive and tells the other bees that there is work to be done. The book ends with all the bees flying away. Bee is a highly effective way to introduce children to the concept of how bees are good since a lot of children fear bees or have been stung by them in the past. The pictures are visually stunning and there are shapes cut out on almost every page. The cover is cut out with a hexagonal honeycomb shape that continues throughout the whole entire book. There is a lot of attention to detail present. If the reader looks closely, they can trace certain animals throughout the book. There are ladybugs on almost every page which is something a child could enjoy. There are animals grouped together such as a hive of bees or a pair of foxes. The words are uncomplicated and easy to follow. Bee also has a good rhyming structure and is very lyrical when read aloud. This element greatly adds to the story and makes it easy for a young mind to follow. On the last page, there is a meadow scene that shows each animal featured on the pages hiding in the flowers. This addition is sure to be useful to children and parents alike. Bee is highly informative and is sure to be a favorite in any classroom, home, or library setting.  

BIBLIO: 2016, Doubleday, Penguin Random House, Ages 2-6, $14.99 

REVIEWER: Ella Frey  

FORMAT: Picture Book 

ISBN: 978-1-5247-1526-7