Fablehaven Series by Brandon Mull

Fablehaven is a novel series written by Brandon Mull. Its name comes from the Fablehaven Fantasy Preserve, which it depicts within its pages. The Fantasy Preserve acts much like a nature preserve protecting the creatures of myth and legend from the outside world. It is a sanctuary protected by a contract of rules which each creature inside must abide by. The most common rules are focused upon "the law of the harvest" and "the law of retribution." The book mainly displays the latter, as the characters can often be found agitating the creatures within, thus allowing retribution to occur against them. If they physically harm a creature, the creature may physically retaliate. If they use magic, magic may be used against them. The Fablehaven books are published by Shadow Mountain, a division of Deseret Books, which is owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Shadow Mountain children's publishing director Chris Schoebinger commissioned the series as a response to the popularity of Harry Potter books among Mormon youth.  -http://www.bookrags.com/wiki/Fablehaven

I started reading the Fablehaven Series last year and finally finished.  It's kind of sad but the series feels complete if that makes sense.  I've read several fantasy series both created for adults and children and this is one that ranks at the top of the list for me.  The characters, both human and otherwise, were believable and had dimension.  They grew and developed just as real people would.  The problems they encountered remained in the fantasy realm but it felt as if it could happen.  If someone drove me to Fablehaven and said "Those stories were actually non-fiction" I wouldn't be surprised. 

It's difficult to pick a favorite character because they all had traits that I could understand and connect with.  Each had to deal with problems that they had to sort out themselves but at the same time they depended on each other just as family and friends should.  They were confronted with difficult decisions and life altering experiences and they handled them in a believable fashion.  The preserve and its inhabitants was also extremely believable.  I could envision each species and felt that they were presented in a way that made sense.  It was nice that there wasn't any one character that was all-powerful although there were some that were very powerful.  It helped to show that although the way may be problematic or difficult nothing is impossible. 

When Gwen is older I plan on reading this series with her and talking about its implications.  I was a bit surprised that this series was commissioned in response to the success of Harry Potter but I would say that I enjoyed Fablehaven as much as I did Harry Potter.  Great read!

Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson

Praise for Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians: "Sanderson unexpectedly draws everything together in an extravagantly silly climax. Readers whose sense of humor runs toward the subversive will be instantly captivated. Like Lemony Snicket and superhero comics rolled into one (and then revved up on steroids), this nutty novel… is also sure to win passionate fans." -Publishers Weekly, starred review

"This is an excellent choice to read aloud to the whole family. It's funny, exciting, and briskly paced. Best of all, the message it gives young readers is that a person's flaws- being late, breaking things, etc.-can sometimes turn into useful talents." -Nancy Pearl, National Public Radio

"The conventional trappings of the middle-school fantasy get turned upside down in this zany novel… The adventures are engaging as well as silly. Readers who prefer fantasy with plenty of humor should enjoy entering Alcatraz's strange but amusing world." -School Library Journal

So I think I'm too old to read this book.  I love Brandon Sanderson but I was left a little disappointed when I read it.  I think it's fantastic for kids around ten years old because it has adventure, a fun character, an interesting plot, magic, etc but for older readers it left me wanting.  I guess my biggest issue was that I didn't like how the narrator (Alcatraz) kept interjecting his thoughts and disrupting the flow of the story.  Someone once compared it to Lemony Snicket and I didn't like those either so maybe it's just they writing style.  Not my favorite by a long shot.  I'll be honest, I'll probably buy the book because I'm a HUGE Sanderson fan but I'll only read it if my daughter wants me to read it to her at bed time.  I was honestly left very disappointed and would much rather concentrate my reading efforts (for both myself & my daughter) on something else. 

Being Adopted: The Life-Long Search for Self by David M. Brodzinsky, M. Schechter, and R. Henig

Like Passages, this  groundbreaking book uses the poignant, powerful voices of  adoptees and adoptive parents to explore the  experience of adoption and its lifelong effects. A major  work, filled with astute analysis and moving  truths.  http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/92304.Being_Adopted


I was so surprised when I found this at my local library but immediately decided to check it out.  This is a great and informative piece of non-fiction that anyone who is involved in adoption should read.  This book addresses each phase of life step-by-step and shows not only how biological children react but also the reactions of adopted children.  If you are interested in learning what your child may go through between birth and death (assuming they die of old age) then this book is for you.  


My daughter is adopted and so this was extremely important for me to read.  Although the book barely addresses transracial adoption I was given a lot of very good insights into what she will probably experience.  I feel a bit more prepared as she enters school and the questions and personal dilemmas she may face crop up.  The only thing I would have liked would be more information on how kids adopted by parents outside their race face life and what additional identity issues they may go through.


This really was quite interesting and I would highly recommend it to pretty much anyone.