Ranger's Apprentice

Published Information

Author:	John Flanagan
Genre:	Fantasy

Ratings

Violence:	PG-13 (Fantasy violence)
Sexual Content:	PG
Language:	PG
Reading Age:	Junior High
Buy Recommend:	Hardbound(My wife and children also love the books)
Overall Rating:	8 out of 10 (I recommend this to everyone I know that have children)

Plot Summary

The Ranger's Apprentice follows a young man, Will, who is apprenticed by one of the king's Rangers, an elite corp of trackers and archers who are trained to go throughout the kingdom and take care of problems for the king. It is said: "One riot, one ranger." Will's friends were also apprenticed into different disciplines and as the series progresses, different friends are brought it to work with him on missions or errands.

Most of Will's adventures involve his mentor, Halt who trained him as a ranger, and Horace, Will's best friend who was trained as a knight. They travel around the country investigating rumors and rescuing people.

Book Summaries

1. The Ruins of Gorlan (June 2005, 256pp) - Story of Will, a young boy who becomes the Ranger Halt's apprentice. Will and many of his friends have worked toward the day where they can be accepted into a school that they want. When the day comes, all of Will's friends are accepted into their chosen school of apprenticeship, but Will isn't accepted into any of them. But Halt, the King's ranger in the area, recognize some talents that the Rangers value, and take him into training.
2. The Burning Bridge (June 2006, 272pp) - Will, Horace, and another Ranger, Gilan, are sent into a neighboring country to follow up on some news that they have received. When they arrive, they find that Lord Morgarath about to invade. As they investigate, the find a huge bridge that is being built that will allow Morgarath and his armies to invade without any challenge. It is up to the trio to warn the king of the danger, as well as slow down the invasion enough to save the kingdom.
3. The Icebound Land (June 2007, 260pp) - After being captured at the end of book 2, Will and Evanlyn are heading to Skandia as slaves. Halt and Horace vow they will rescue Will and Evanlyn and are expelled from their groups because of this devotion. As Halt and Horace travel towards Skandia, they are attacked by various knights who are trying to build their reputations. But because of Horace's skill, they begin attracting the notice of various knights and rulers in the area.
4. The Battle for Skandia(March 2008, 272pp) - Will and Evanlyn have now escaped their Skandian captors, but on their return to Araluen, they find that the Temujai are invading Skandia, with Araluen being the next on the list. It is up to Will, Evanlyn and other friends to now help the Skandians repulse the invaders to protect them, as well as Araluen.
5. The Sorcerer in the North (Nov 2008, 304pp) - Several years have passed since the previous book. Will is now a ranger of his own fief. Things seems easy until one of the lords in the area die by a mysterious illness. One of Will's friends, Alyss, join him as he investigates what is happening. As he investigates, things get much more interesting. Sorcery is suspected and traitors are everywhere. On top of everything, Alyss is captured. Will will have to make a choice between he mission and his friend.
6. The Siege of Macindaw (Aug 2009, 320pp) - This book takes over right after the events of the previous book. A rogue knight, Keren, has taken over Macindaw, and Alyss is being held captive. As he investigates, he finds that Keren is working with one of the border kingdoms in an attempt to overthrow Araluen. Fortunetaly, Horace joins Will to help. Will the two be able to overthrown Keren, restore the royal family and save Araluen from invaders?
7. Erak's Ransom (Jan 2010, 400pp) - This book jumps back in time (chronologically between books 4 and 5) to the period just before Will is made a ranger and tells the story of how he earned his Silver Oakleaf to enter the Ranger corps. The Rangers learn that the Skandian leader, the man Will worked with to form a truce between Skandia and Araluen, has been captured. As they go to rescue him, they are caught in a trap and taken into the desert. Will and his friends have proven themselves against the forests, the cold, and the cultures that live there. But can they do it in the desert.
8. The Kings of Clonmel (May 2010, 314pp) - Now, back in chronological order, Will, Halt and Horace are called on to track down a religious sect that promises to protect villages from marauders. Little do the people know, the marauders are under the bankroll of the sect. They work together and rob the villages of their gold and other riches. Unfortunately, Halt knows about this sect and knows this will be a dangerous group to overcome. Not only do they rob the people, they do it in a way that makes the village people want to keep the sect in power. They are slowly taking control of more of Araluen...
9. Halt's Peril (Oct 2010, 384pp) - The book continues with Will, Halt and Horace chasing after the leaders of the outlaw group, the Outsiders, from the previous book. Soon, the leader becomes aware that they are being followed and send out his assassins to take care of Will, Halt and Horace. In the encounter, it appears that the assassins have been beaten. However, their weapons were poisoned and Halt very quickly falls to its effects. Should Will save his mentor and friend and find a healer, or continue after the Outsiders?
10. The Emperor of Nihon-Ja (April 2011, 352pp) - As the book begins, Horace is about to leave from the country of Nihon-Ja on a mission to understand and learn the warfare techniques in that country. As he prepares, a revolt is staged against the emperor and Horace finds himself making enemies as he protects the emperor. As the emperor goes into hiding, Horace follows. Will, Halt and others learn that Horace has gone missing, so they go to find him. As they do so, they end up working together to find a way to save the emperor.

Comments

These are some of the best books I have read in a while. It is meant for a younger audience, so if you are looking for a heavy read, this is not it. From the books, most of them have less than 400 pages, so they are quick and straight forward, but very entertaining. The language could be a little better, but the language that is a big strong is few and far between. If you are looking for books to interest your pre-teen through teen, these might be it.

Elantris

Published Information

Author:	Brandon Sanderson
Published:	May 2005
Genre:	Fantasy
Pages:	656 (paperback), 499 (hardcover)

Ratings

Violence:	PG-13 (Fantasy violence, two fairly detailed)
Sexual Content:	PG
Language:	PG
Reading Age:	High School
Buy Recommend:	Hardcover (Many of family will read multiple times)
Overall Rating:	8 out of 10 (BRIEF EXPLAINATION)

Plot Summary

The book is set in the land of Arelon which up until 10 years ago, was ruled by the city of Elantris. The inhabitants of Elantris held incredible magic that made seem god-like. Even their appearances were more beautiful and glorious that other men. Every so often, someone local would go to sleep and wake up as one of the "gods" and move to Elantris. But 10 years ago, something changed and the "gods" that lived in that city have fallen. They no longer control magic that allowed them to be so powerful and beautiful. Elantris is now the city of damned souls. And now, when people change, their skin blotches, and their hair falls out. Once this happens to someone, they are considered dead by all, and are sent to live in Elantris.

Now, Prince Roaden is engaged to marry Princess Sarene. They have written and communicated through several months and recognize the alliance will be very beneficial to both countries. Additionally, they both recognize something in each other that might allow their marriage to be one of more than convenience. But as she travels to meet Roaden and to be married, he dies. Their marriage contract was written so that if either died before they could actually perform the ceremony, it would be as if they had already wed. So Princess Sarene finds herself widowed without ever having met her husband. As she arrives, she finds that the city is having difficulties, politically and otherwise, and decides that since she is now a princess of this country, she will make it her home and help fix the problems. However, unknown to her, Prince Roaden didn't die. He was changed, and now lives in Elantris.

As Prince Roaden enters Elantris, he finds that things are not what they seem. They people there don't need to eat, but their bodies also don't heal. So any pain felt doesn't go away. So hunger becomes a constant state and, when added to the small pains that occur from little (and not so little) accidents, the pain drives the people of Elantris into a vegetative state where they give into the pain, lie down, and slowly become buried in the muck of the streets. Roaden, seeing and recognizing what is happening to this people, his people, he decides to see what he can do to help them.

At the same time, a leader of the Shu-Dereth faith, named Hrathen, arrives in the land with the mandate to convert or destroy the land within three months. This land, as well as Princess Sarene's home land are the last two countries still to be converted to the Shu-Dereth faith. Unfortunately, conversion is often forced through Shu-Dereth lead insurrection, or through war. Will the same happen in these two lands?

Comments

This is one of my favorite books of all time. There is so much to read into the narrative. Leadership, religious differences, and prejudices are all discussed in the book, and done in such a way that the storyline is not interrupted.

One of the main themes of the book deals with when good (or in the book "god-like") people "fall from grace." In our lives, we often see those who seem to be doing everything right. They work hard, they are good to their friends, live their religion, and yet bad things still happen to them. In this book, the fall from grace has nothing to do with how the Elantrians lived or how good they were. Rather, there was some aspect of their environment that was out of their power. How do we react when that happens in our lives? Do we give up after we have hurt too much? Or do we endure no matter what the difficulties and survive?

The Book Thief

Published Information

Author:	Markus Zusak
Published:	March 2006
Genre:	Historical Fiction
Pages:	560

Ratings

Violence:	PG-13 (Some scenes of war)
Sexual Content:	PG
Language:	PG-13 (Lots of German swear words)
Reading Age:	High School
Buy Recommend:	Hardbound (One of the best books I have read in a while)
Overall Rating:	10 out of 10 (Well written, feel good ending after terrible tragedy)

Plot Summary

The book is about a girl, Liesel, who lives in Nazi Germany during the time of World War II. She is left by her mother to live with an older couple who raise and take care of her. Her new "father", Hans, plays the accordion and is a painter for the town in which they live. Her "mother", Rosa, swears, harasses people (mostly her husband), does laundry for many of the folks in town and takes care of the house. She has a friend (who is a boy) named Rudy. However, the book is told from the point of view of the Grim Reaper. He talks about how he meets Liesel several times over the course of the war, and how this girl changes him.

As Liesel gets to know her new "parents", they take in a Jewish man. Obviously, this is very dangerous in Nazi Germany, but Hans had made a promise to help this man years earlier. But the best they can do is keep him in the basement. Liesel becomes good friends with this man and spends much of her time talking to him and helping him live the world through her eyes. At one point, he becomes very sick and she brings him gifts of the outside world to try and help him know that she has been thinking about them.

As the war begins to wind down, things become very dangerous for the family, especially with them hiding a Jewish man. We begin to see how fear can truly beat down on the people in the town, especially Hans family. More than anything, through some of the sub-plots in the book, we see the true power of words, both spoken and written and how they can change the course of the world.

Comments

This is one of the best books I have ever read. Recently, I have wondered if I have ever read a book that I would consider a 10 on a scale of 1 to 10. It wouldn't necessarily be a book that was action packed, or a book that was incredibly funny. Rather, it would be a book that would lift me up and make me a better person for having read it. It would make me thing about life and what it is to be human. I would be one that I would think about for days after having read it. And even though it might not be an exciting book, it would be one I would have a difficult time putting down. This is one of those books. It does have its moments of excitement. It is very funny. But it also brought me to tears, and made me feel alive. I feel like a better person for having read this book.

The Wednesday Wars

Published Information

Author:	Gary D. Schmidt
Published:	May 2007
Genre:	Historical Novel
Pages:	272

Ratings

Violence:	G
Sexual Content:	PG
Language:	G
Reading Age:	Junior high (Elementary would even be ok, but much of history in book might be missed)
Buy Recommend:	Hardbound (Great feel good book, many in my family have read and will read again)
Overall Rating:	9 out of 10 (One of the best books I have read in a long time)

Plot Summary

Main Chars: Holling, Mrs Baker, Heather (sister), Meryl Lee

The book is set in the late sixties, during the Vietnam war, in New York. Holling Hoodhood is a seventh grader who is convinced that teachers are out to get him, in particular, Mrs. Baker. He assumes they arrange schedules and make assignments specifically to torture their students. Especially, him. However, as any teacher will tell you, this is not the case.

On Wednesdays, most of his class is off early in the afternoon to attend either Jewish or Catholic services for youth. Holling, being Presbyterian, goes to neither of these, so has to stay in class. He is the only one. So Mrs. Baker decides to make use of his time. First, she assigns him busy work like cleaning the erasers for the school. But after a few weeks of this, she decides this is a waste of time and so comes up with another scheme to make Holling miserable. They are going to read Shakespeare together.

Turns out, Holling loves to read. His favorite book is Treasure Island, but can't imagine Shakespeare can be that good. However, as the book moves on, Holling realizes that Shakespeare's plays are very applicable in our life and he begins loving this reading. Holling and Mrs. Baker begin to truly enjoy this time together, and as the year progresses, Holling realizes there is much more to Mrs. Baker, and for that matter, many other people in his life that he either took for granted or dismissed, than meets the eye. She helps him grow up in a much more real sense than his father and mother do.

Comments

I loved this book! Once again, I find that often times, my favorites are books that make me stop and think about my own life. What are my priorities? What are my shortcomings? What can I laugh at in my laugh? This book made me stop and think about each of these, along with many other questions. There are times in the book that I had to put the book down because I was laughing so much. I remember when my wife read the book and she kept laughing. I didn't understand it then, but I do now. As an adult, it is so funny to me to think back on when I was a youth, looking at parents, teachers, other adults, and couldn't understand their motives. As an adult, it is hilarious to see life through the eyes of a seventh grader, when I understand more, now, what the adults are thinking.

There are also times I had to momentarily stop reading because of other emotions it made me feel: sadness, joy, or anger. I love how Superman's father (bear with me a sec…) talks about the great promise we humans show both for good and bad. While there aren't super villains in this book, you still see the good and bad in people. We see people who are insensitive to race, or are diva types, as well as the power of forgiveness and love. Once again… great book.

Hunger Games

Published Information

Author:	Suzanne Collins
Series:	Hunger Games #1
Published:	October 2008
Genre:	Science Fiction
Pages:	374

Ratings

Violence:	PG-13 (Book about teenagers killing each other)
Sexual Content:	PG (There is quite a bit of kissing once the game starts)
Language:	PG
Reading Age:	High school (More mature themes)
Buy Recommend:	HARDBOUND, PAPERBACK, BORROW. (EXPLAINATION)
Overall Rating:	9 out of 10 (Plot driven, fast moving, makes you think when done)

Plot Summary

The background of the story is a future earth after some kind of holocaust. At some point after the disaster, a state system evolved where there was a capital and 13 districts. Each of the cities was responsible for some type of production: coal mining, fishing, agriculture, fabric, etc, with the capital city being the governing body. At some point, the 13 districts revolted against the Capital because of working conditions, or something along those lines. The 13th district was made an example of and was destroyed. All the other districts were forced into submission once again. But as a constant reminder of the power of the Capital over the other districts, the Hunger Games were created.

Each district, excepting the Capital, must use a lottery system to choose one girl and one boy from each city. These "tributes" then go to the Capital and compete in the Hunger Games. The games are a duel to the death in a fabricated environment that can be a jungle, snowy wasteland, beach, or anything else that can be imagined. The environment is built to force the tributes to come together to fight. In some cases, the landscape causes this (for example, only one body of water to drink from). In other cases, the game coordinators release some form of destruction that you must run away from (such as a fire) and by running away from it, the game coordinators herd you into proximity of other tributes. When the tributes first enter the game, there is basically a pile of weapons, food, and survival gear available. But if you want any of it, you have to be prepared to fight/kill others to get it. Only one person is allowed to leave the games. The winner then gets a life of luxury and immunity from other games. However, previous winners do serve as coaches for the current games, so you never really get away from it. Again, the idea is that the Capital has all control and can do what they want, so the districts shouldn't even hope to think they can be successful in revolting again.

With this back drop, we are introduced to district 12. District 12 is the coal mining district. It is very poor, and most activity is severely limited. You can't leave the district, you can't hunt, you can't speak freely against the capital, etc. Kitness lives in District 12. Her father was killed in a coal mining accident, and her mother completely shut down after that for a while, so she has been the provider for the family. She provides by illegally hunting outside the district and then selling her catches to others in the district. As the tribute selection occurs, Kitness' little sister is chosen. Kitness immediately volunteers to go in her sted, thus again protecting her family. So Kitness and Peeta, the other tribute, leave for the capital to prepare for the games.

Kitness knows if she is to return to District 12, Peeta will be killed, if not by someone else, then by her. And while she doesn't feel anything towards him romantically, he did help her at a very desperate time in her life. He tossed her some burnt bread when her family had nothing. That small act saved her life and the life of her family, right after her father had died.

As she participates in the games, she also begins realizing that some of the other tributes have also lived very similar lives as her. In fact, one from District 11, Rue, reminds her so much of her sister, that they form an alliance to help each other. So how can she win if it means she has to kill others that are beginning to mean so much to her?

Comments

This is one of the best books I have ever read. It is well thought out, and fairly simple. Yet the commentary it provides on today's society kept me thinking about it for days. It is not a happy book, though it does end well. Suffering and death are key elements of the book, and what the tributes are forced to go through to survive is psychologically hard (though not necessarily to the reader).

I just read this for the second time in preparation for this review, and by the third chapter, you begin feeling a little drained just reading it. But it is very hard to put down.

In looking at our society, some of the themes that are dealt with are: handling government when we feel it has overstepped it bounds, why some of society don't care or even realize there are others suffering and dying while they enjoy an incredible amount of indulgence, how some of the more wealthy see others simply as entertainment or worker bees and treat them as little more than a pet, and how difficult it is for some in our society to step outside the bounds their environment has placed them in. The book doesn't present solutions for these problems, but rather makes us re-evaluate our lives and recognize if we are part of the problem rather than the solution.

With all that in mind, I would not recommend this for junior high youth unless you are planning on reading it with them. The issues dealt with, and the actions the tributes are forced to take are fairly intense, and could be disturbing.

Artemis Fowl

Published Information

Author:	Eoin Colfer
Series:	Artemis Fowl
Published:	May 2001
Genre:	Fantasy
Pages:	288

Ratings

Violence:	PG (There is one scene fairly intense)
Sexual Content:	G
Language:	PG (There is swearing in fairly tongue...)
Reading Age:	Elementary
Buy Recommend:	Hardbound(This is one of my most favorite books of all time)
Overall Rating:	9 out of 10 (Funny, good for children as well as adults, very fast paced)

Plot Summary

Artemis Fowl is a 12 year old boy who has lost his father, and his mother has gone crazy. He is also a genius criminal mastermind. In his searching for ways to make money to find his dad and heal his mother, he has discovered a secret. Fairies exist, they do hoard gold, and they have a book of rules they must follow. With that combination, Artemis realizes he can exploit the fairies and make enough money to fund his future plans. One challenge is that no one has ever successfully laid claim to fairy gold. Of course, the fairies have never dealt with someone like Artemis Fowl.

Comments

This is the second time I have read this book. I love it! While the rest of the series is excellent, the first is still the best. It is full of humor and had me rolling several times, even being the second time reading the novel.

This book/series is also one of those that are difficult to classify. It has all the magic, creatures, and adventure of a fantasy, but has techology and gadgets like you would expect in a Sci Fi. It is targeted towards young readers who are advancing to more advanced, long chapter books, yet the story and writing style still keep an adult entertained.

Some of the interesting themes or aspects of the book revolve around Artemis' style of a criminal. He has no problem exploiting anyone, but he usually does it for a specific reason. In this case, gathering enough money so that he can hunt for his father. Also, by the end of the book, he begins questioning his motives and recognizes he has crossed bounderies that he is not comfortable crossing. As the series unfolds, it becomes clear that he is slowly getting out of the criminal game. With the last book coming out in a couple of weeks, it will be interesting to see how he ends up.

Man's Search for Meaning

Published Information

Author:	Viktor E. Frankl
Published:	1959
Genre:	Historical Biography
Pages:	165

Ratings

Reading Age:	High school
Buy Recommend:	Hardbound
Overall Rating:	8 out of 10

Plot Summary

This book is a memoir of Mr. Frankl and his experience in a concentration camp. In particular what he and others did to survive the experience, in comparison to those that didn't survive. Then he uses these ideas to discuss how others should live their lives because of what he has learned. It is very short book, and doesn't go into much depth on the actual suffering, leaving that to works by other authors, but rather the mentalities and tools needed to survive traumatic events in life.

Comments

Mr. Frankl's experience and the ideas/teachings he was able to draw from are inspiring. It is interesting to me that often times, the greatest teachings or lessons learned in life are from the greatest adversity. We see the same idea in religion and around the world. And while I won't being reading this book every day, I will be picking it up every couple of years to see if I can pick up other lessons that might apply to a different epoch in my life. This was a powerful and humbling book.

This is one of those books that is the "Book of the Month" by many book clubs my friends belong to. It is life changing, with plenty to discuss. This was required reading for one of my MBA classes, as well as required reading for my daughter in high school this next year.

Dune

Published Information

Author:	Frank Herbert
Series:	Dune
Published:	1965
Genre:	Sci Fi
Pages:	544

Ratings

Violence:	PG-13 (Brutal fight scenes, battles)
Sexual Content:	PG-13 (Some sexual dialog)
Language:	PG-13 (B-word used)
Reading Age:	High School
Buy Recommend:	Hardbound (I have read several times)
Overall Rating:	9 out of 10 (See below)

Plot Summary

The book is set in a futuristic society that spans galaxies and intergalactic travel is common. There are several races or societies that exist: the navigators and the CHOAM guild who have the ability to guide shape ships through interstellar "space folds", Bene Gesserit sisters who have memories of generations of other sisters in their heads and are expert at manipulation and mind/body control, Suk School doctors who are highly trained physicians supposedly totally loyal to their employers, mentats who are basically human computers (most computers having been outlawed because of history predating the novel), and several important families, chief in the book being the Atreides, and the Harkonnens. And most important of all, melange or the "Spice", is a enhancement drug that most of the universe depends on for space travel, computations, and other abilities that people depend upon. This drug is only found on one planet, Arrakis, desert world and home of the Fremen and the gigantic desert worms the Freman ride.

Dune is the story of Paul Atreides who starts the book as the son of the Duke Leto Atreides, but is left to die in the deserts of Arrakis with his mother, after Duke Leto is captured. They find their way to the Fremen and are taken in and live with them. As Paul grows, it becomes evident that he is more important to the universe than anyone thought. Paul becomes the leader of the Freman and the one man that can control the spice distribution. In the end all the factions travel to Arrakis to fight for who controls the spice and who rules the galactic empire.

Comments

The book is the standard "prince is exiled/thought dead but in the end is able to regain his position and more" book, but in a science fiction world. But though the tale is very common, the specifics are so imaginative and believable that it has become one of the classics, much like the Lord of the Rings is in the fantasy realm.

The book encompasses so many different ideas that you pick up different gems each time you read. "Fear is the great mind-killer" is a mantra that many characters take up, meaning when you allow fear to take over, you can't accomplish anything. Fear, itself, ends up being the killer if you can't control it because you panic rather than doing what is rational.

Another theme is the greatest strength comes from passing through the greatest affliction and suffering. In the book, a Bene Gesserit's rite of passage is suffering a torturous pain without flinching, the greatest warriors in the universe are trained in the most harsh and destitute climates, and the Reverend Mother's sight comes from allowing a deadly poison to enter your body and making your body change the poison to something that is safe. In real life, some of the greatest heroes are those that have overcome great odds to be able to influence lives. In some cases that is poverty, in other cases, oppression and hatred. But in the book, as with life, our greatest accomplishments are after we have passed through our individual trial, our own gom jabbar.

One thing to note. This is one of Frank Herbert's most tame books as far as content goes and this in the only one I would recommend. Be careful picking up other books of his, or other Dune books written after his death by his son. Specifically, violence and sexual content are ratcheted up quite a bit in some of the other books.