Darla Jade and the Balance of the Universe is part of an exciting YA series for fans of fantasy, adventure and Christian literature.
The story begins in a cemetery when 13-year old Darla Jade's soul is 'raised from her grave' by Striker, the creature that calls the souls at the resurrection before they're to go to either Heaven or Hell. Darla is sent to Heaven while another boy, Johnny, is sent to into the vortex of Hell. Once in Heaven, Darla must attend school for training as a Guardian Angel--or Guardian, for short. There, she makes friends but also has a tough time controlling her temper and rudeness. She keeps getting demerits for bad behavior. However, Darla is brave and good at heart and this is what matters, especially because, as the story develops, it becomes clear that she is 'The One,' the Guardian who will save the world from Evil. In the Heaven academy, Darla learns a lot from famous teachers such as Leonardo DaVinci, Tesla and Benjamin Franklin.
Meantime, down in Hell, Johnny and other demons are planning to tip the Balance of the Universe in the forms of a evil storm on earth. For this to succeed, Darla must be destroyed, for she is the only one who can stop it and bring the Balance back.
I have a lot of good things to say about this YA fantasy: the pace is quick, with lots of dialogue and action scenes; the worlds of Heaven and Hell are rich, intriguing and imaginative. Author D. L. Reynolds certainly has a flair for world building. What I especially like about it is that the world building doesn't come in information dumps that slow down the pace, but instead it's incorporated into the scenes with the action and dialogue. One aspect that got my attention, though--and this is only an observation--is that the first several chapters of the story read more like middle grade (for ages 8-12), and it is only after some time that the plot acquires more 'heavy' elements which are more suitable for the YA audience (13 and up). Overall, I'd say this is a novel for the tween and YA audiences and not for middle graders.
Darla Jade and the Balance of the Universe was a surprisingly interesting and pleasant read and I look forward to the 2nd book in the series.
Visit the author's websites:
www.theguardians.co www.darlajadeandthebalanceoftheuniverse.comwww.dlreynolds.co
Deatheaters are not the friendliest chaps. They don’t sit around the pool sipping on a cocktail. Here is a list of ten things that you should never say to Deatheaters:
- Could you come to our school and do some magic tricks?
- Are you a spy? Isn’t it a bit warm to be wearing a cloak?
- Do you know who I am inviting to my birthday party?
- Have you thought of wearing a pink cloak instead? It would bring out the softness in your eyes.
- I said that we were having a Fire Sale. I didn’t mean for you to set my store on fire.
- Have you ever seen the Wizard of Oz? You’d just love the movie.
- I don’t know where Potter is. I do know where a Pan Handler lives.
- Nice broomstick. Would you mind sweeping my home?
- Would you like to go on a date? I really dig the Gothic look.
- I heard that you’re a really good speller. Are you planning to make it to the National Spelling Bee event?9.
Today's high five is a prayerful one from famed San Ildefonso Pueblo potter, Maria Montoya Martinez. I added a picture of one her sublime pots.
Once upon a time I thought about becoming a potter. I learned to throw pots on a wheel. I also learned hand-building techniques. I studied for two years. I went to the studio for six hours twice a week. It was enough time to learn how to throw a set dishes in a afternoon. It was messy, back-breaking work, but there was a wild joy in you when you pulled four exactly matching plates, saucers, and cups. Then you hoped, hoped, hoped, hoped, there were no hidden flaws that would break them during the firing. Then there was a glorious moment when your friends sat down to a dinner on dishes you actually made. It's a wonderful feeling. I get a similar feeling when someone says I read your book.
Today, I'd like to see all The Golden Coffee Cuppers opening up to the extensive craft of storytelling either with words or pictures. It takes time, practice, revision, tenacity, and just a lot of elbow grease to create wonderful work. Open up to the journey today.
Maria’s six-step process “…finding and collecting the clay, forming a pot, scraping and sanding the pot to remove surface irregularities, applying the iron-bearing slip and burnishing it to a high sheen with a smooth stone, decorating the pot with another slip, and firing the pot." Susan Peterson, The Living Tradition of Maria Martinez
Last, I thought I add little bits about our Golden Coffee Cuppers. We are in the company of several brilliant writers. Chris and Holly are both in. Now, I'd like to mention Carole Estby Dagg. She has a historical fiction book coming out down the road. It was entitled From Mica Creek to New York City, One Step at a Time. . I'm not sure if that has held, but regardless, watch for her book. I heard a chapter of it a few years ago. Her careful crafting in that chapter was breath-taking. I knew when I heard it, I'd heard something special, something lasting. Kudos to Carole. I hope her new novel is humming!
Last night, after becoming bored with paying work (which is something my wife says REALLY needs to stop happening) I took a little break and sketched some of the characters from the children's novel I'm currently writing.
I would say that I'm about halfway though the story, which I think I may have to extend out to a second book in order to tell properly. Thus far, I like what I've written - which is weird because I'm usually my toughest critic.
This is either a good thing, or a very, very bad thing. Only time will tell I suppose.
Steve
Chronicle Books is running two sweepstakes: One for Taro Gomi's Squiggles and Doodles series and the other for the super-fab and fun Ivy and Bean books.
Since we're on the line, so to speak, I'm going to use this opportunity to mention how wonderful Taro Gomi's "coloring" books are. I have a copy of this particular beauty--Squiggles--in front of me.
Taro Gomi, author of the famous Everyone Poops, has designed Squiggles as an anti-coloring book. Each over-sized page has the outline of a picture, or a verbal prompt (who's on the skateboard?), or part of a picture. Everything in the book is in black or gray with plenty of white space per page. It's up to the child to provide the color and detail--in paints, in crayons, or in marker. The paper weight is heavy, so a child can go wild with materials. This is a book you can give as a gift with a tray of paints or a packet of colored pencils and be sure the recipient will get hours of joy from it.
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Blog reviews of Squiggles
Jen Robinson's Book Page
Gail Gauthier's Original Content
Blog from the Windowsill
Curled Up Kids
A Chair, a Fireplace & a Tea Cozy
An angry young boy out of Ms. Froggie´s squiggle.
It´s not just yet halloween, but that´s what I made of Mike´s squiggle.
A silly little drawing from someone's squiggle down below. I use real thread on the spool, but it didn't scan very well.
I tried to make a beautiful lizard or snake, but I am not a good enough artist and returned to the cartoon squiggles. Top two available for making squiggle drawings. Click images to view larger or copy.
Well... voilà my contribution ;)
Great review! I've retweeted.
All the best,
Donna
awesome.............