Tyger, Tyger: A Goblin Wars Book by Kersten Hamilton, Clarion Books, 2010, 320 pp, ISBN: 0547330081
Recap:
Teagan is sure she's just a typical teenage girl; maybe a little more focused on her studies than most, but there's nothing wrong with that. Right? Teagan is especially close to her family: her music-minded little brother, her father who loves to tell the stories of their Irish heritage, and her artistic mother who makes a living painting illustrations of goblins.
Finn Mac Cumhaill is the first boy who has ever made Teagan question her no-relationship-rule. Of course, Finn is no ordinary boy. His introduction into Tea's life opens up a whole new world that she thought could exist only in fairy tales. It turns out, all of her father's stories are true, and the subjects of her mother's paintings all exist in real life.
Finn Mac Cumhaill is the first boy who has ever made Teagan question her no-relationship-rule. Of course, Finn is no ordinary boy. His introduction into Tea's life opens up a whole new world that she thought could exist only in fairy tales. It turns out, all of her father's stories are true, and the subjects of her mother's paintings all exist in real life.
Review:
I've wanted to read Kersten Hamilton's Tyger, Tyger ever since reading Amelia's review at Imagination in Focus. It even made her Top 3 of 2010! I've never been a huge fan of books with fairies and goblins, but after such rave reviews, I wanted to give it a shot.
Tyger, Tyger was unique in the fact that it was based largely on Celtic folklore. I liked the idea that so many stories of the past were being brought back to the present through YA literature. Can it be considered a less traditional type of fairy tale re-telling?
Perhaps it was because I had read Fat Cat so recently, but Teagan's work at the zoo reminded me of Cat and Matt's scientific pursuits. Ultimately, I wished that Teagan were a little more like Cat. Granted, Teagan's story was a fantasy and Cat's was realistic fiction, but looking at the two characters on their own
I've wanted to read Kersten Hamilton's Tyger, Tyger ever since reading Amelia's review at Imagination in Focus. It even made her Top 3 of 2010! I've never been a huge fan of books with fairies and goblins, but after such rave reviews, I wanted to give it a shot.
Tyger, Tyger was unique in the fact that it was based largely on Celtic folklore. I liked the idea that so many stories of the past were being brought back to the present through YA literature. Can it be considered a less traditional type of fairy tale re-telling?
Perhaps it was because I had read Fat Cat so recently, but Teagan's work at the zoo reminded me of Cat and Matt's scientific pursuits. Ultimately, I wished that Teagan were a little more like Cat. Granted, Teagan's story was a fantasy and Cat's was realistic fiction, but looking at the two characters on their own
2 Comments on Tyger, Tyger, last added: 6/12/2011
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By: Katie,
on 4/24/2011
Blog: Book Love (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: fairy tale, illustrated, romance, fearless female, multicultural lit, re-telling, Add a tag
Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale, Bloomsbury USA Children's Books, 2007, 320 pp, ISBN: 9781599900513
Recap:
When Lady Salen is locked in a windowless tower for seven years after refusing to marry Lord Khasar, her mucker maid, Dashti, is required to join her in captivity.
Although the tower is filled with more food than Dashti has ever seen, their supply is quickly depleted by families of rats and Lady Salen's selfish appetites. Although danger is certainly lurking outside their walls, Dashti knows that death by starvation is even more certain if they remain in their tower prison.
Upon escaping, Dashti is certain that they have overcome their greatest challenge, but she has no way of knowing that the outside world has changed forever, and the struggles that lie ahead will test her courage, her patience, and even her heart.
Review:
Shannon Hale is one of those authors who readers are just wild about! After reading Princess Academy last year, I could see why. The story was clever and inventive, charming but still completely unpredictable. I loved it!
Diving into Book of a Thousand Days, I could quickly see many similarities between the two. The language was still poetically simple - equally suited for racing through pages or sitting and s
1 Comments on Book of a Thousand Days, last added: 4/24/2011
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Thanks for dropping by my blog. In answer to your question, "What is a nifty-Fifty cart?", I have a cart of books in my library that has 50 titles on it that are tried and true books that almost all students like. They aren't necessarily high literature, just good stories that have high interest and appeal to teenagers. If students are casting about not knowing what to pick to read next I usually direct them over to the cart.
About your review here of Tyger Tyger, do you think that high school students would like it? How old are the main characters?
I need a nifty-50 cart! What a great go-to idea for the library.
I do think HS readers could enjoy Tyger, Tyger. Maybe 9th and 10th graders in particular? The main characters are in high school themselves, and it has a good amount of romance and adventure.