YA and juvenile fantasy fiction

Thoughts and Reviews 

• Out of the Wild by Sarah Beth Durst
  I have been reading through these so fast, I can't keep up with my website. This one (Into the Wild) I also found through www.fantasticfiction.com (great website by the way, except that it is based in the UK and my library has informed me that some of the books I am asking for have not yet been released in the US. Oh well, I can wait.)
  This was a very creative story about the daughter of Rapunzel. Set in this day and time, it takes the reader into the Wild where fairy tales are true. I really enjoyed this and I am looking forward to reading the next one, Out of the Wild.
  I have just finished reading Out of the Wild. What a great book! I look forward to reading more from this author.
• This Book Is Not Good For You by Pseudonymous Bosch
  Again, I found this one on www.fantasticfiction.com and I have to tell you, I love a book that starts out by telling me not to read it. Of course, I have to read it after that. This book is great so far and I have already requested the next two from this author from the library. Let the adventure begin (or continue)!
  Great book! I love the way it was narrated, very interesting and attention keeping. The next two in this series are on their way to me through the library as we speak. Looking forward to continuing the adventure.
  I have finished the second book in the Secret Series, If You're Reading This, It's Too Late and have started the third book, This Book Is Not Good For You. I loved how the chapters in the second book were numbered backwards and the third book starts out with the narrator taste testing a bunch of chocolate (he is a chocaholic if you didn't know). I am really enjoying this series and would highly recommend it.
• Troll Fell by Katherine Langrish
  Once again, I found this one through www.fantasticfiction.com. Not really sure what I think at this point but the title of the next chapter has me wanting to read more, so it can't be all that bad. I will let you know what I think.
  This was very Swedish Alps folklorish. It was okay. I am still trying to decide if I am going to read the next book, Troll Mill. I probably will but not until after Thanksgiving.
• Happenstance Found by P.W. Catanese
  I actually came across this one while browsing www.FantasticFiction.com. It was under Brandon Mull's recommended reads. I have been looking there often now for new ideas. I am not really sure what to expect here but here it goes . . .
  Wow! What a great book. I am definitely going to have to read forward and will probably have to catch up on some books he already has out. Very well written and attention catching.
• Syren by Angie Sage
  This is the next book in the Septimus Heap series. I have read and loved all of these and I know I will enjoy this one.
  Once again, I came across these while browsing the shelves at the library a couple of years ago. I quickly caught up on everything that was out at the time and have been anxiously waiting for each next installment. These are beautifully written, imaginative stories. I love the artwork and how you can tell who the chapter is going to be about by the picture on the first page.
  And 600+ pages later . . . Wow! What a great book and continuation of this tale. I love Marcia Overstrand and Spit Fyre. What great characters! I hope another one comes out soon.
• The Bronze Pen by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
  I actually came across this one by accident while browsing the internet. I was immediately interested in this one in particular (she apparently has lots of books out) because of the cover. Now that I have the book in my position (thank you Gordon Cooper Library), I love the fact that it says "Loathed by Lemony Snicket" at the bottom of the front cover. Needless to say, I am intrigued. I will let you know what I think.
  I have to say I may well be on the road to fandom. This was a great book -- quick read but thoughtful and mysterious. You will probably be seeing more of her books come up here over the next couple of months. I need to delve deeper to know for sure.
• The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey by Trenton Lee Stewart
  I discovered The Mysterious Benedict Society by accident on one of my many perusals of the library shelves. And I was pleasantly surprised. This is the story of four exceptional children brought together by an exceptional old gentleman who puts their intellect to surprising use. This was a wonderful adventure and it continues in this book, The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey, and then in The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma which I looked forward to picking up soon.
  Well, as you can see, the newest of these is out, and I have started reading it. I fully expect to enjoy!
  This one was a little slow starting out but definitely came through by the end. Great story!
• The Atherton Series by Patrick Carman
  I just finished the last book in the Land of Elyon Series. First of all, I am captured by the picture of the beautiful young girl and then I am drawn in again by the wonderful storytelling. It has been a while since I read the first books in this series but I was easily brought back into the story with this one.
  I am now looking forward to reading his Atherton series starting with The House of Power . I actually have all three of these books on my bedstand right now. I will let you know what I think . . .
  I have now read the first one and am half way through the second one, Rivers of Fire . The Dark Planet after that. Great writing, interesting story.
• Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
  I recently discovered Suzanne Collins and have been very pleasantly surprised. I sped through the Underland Chronicles, loved every minute of it. So creative! And I wasn't disappointed when I picked up The Hunger Games not long ago.While it was slightly disturbing, it was still a very good read. I had this next one on my request list at the library for several weeks now and it finally came out. I can't wait to see what happens next!
  Wow! I couldn't put it down. This took me about twelve hours to read -- a time in which I still managed to get the laundry done, pull out the winter clothes for my kids and keep my children alive. It was amazing! You need to read this.
• The Magic Thief: Lost by Sarah Prineas
  I picked up the first Sarah Prineas book because the artwork reminded me of Angie Sage's Septimus Heap Series -- which I loved. And it didn't disappoint me -- quirky, likeable, unique characters. So when I saw the second book in the series (I really like series) I couldn't help but pick it up. It will be a quick but delightful read. . . and I wasn't wrong. This book took me about twelve hours (amidst the rest of my life) to read and I loved every minute of it. I can't wait for the next installment!
• The Magician (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel) by Michael Scott
  I read the first one of these a year or so ago and wasn't terribly impressed. But then last week, my local librarian (who knows I like young adult fiction) asked if I read these. I told her I had read the first one and wasn't impressed enough to keep reading, she said I should, that the second and third were much better.
  So here goes . . .Okay, so I loved it and I am looking forward to the next installment "The Necromancer". Have I mentioned how much I love series?