Student Guest Blogger - Book Review

A few weeks ago I was contacted by Melissa Jensen, a Teacher-Librarian from Trillium Woods E.S. in Barrie, to see if I would accept some book reviews from her students, for my blog.  I think it's a great idea to hear from students, and today I welcome my first student guest blogger, Alyssia.

Here's what Alyssia had to say about "Doll Bones" by Holly Black:

"Zach, Poppy, and Alice have been best friends for as long as they can remember.  Every day after school they play this game where anything is possible.  There are warriors, pirates, thieves, evil mermaids, and one character that is the most important one of all…the Queen.  The Queen is played by a bone china doll that Poppy’s mom bought at a garage sale and is now kept in a cabinet for the rest of her days.  Until one day Zach is forced to stop playing the game and Poppy is haunted by the ghost that haunts the Queen’s body.  Will they do as the Queen pleases and go on a life changing quest to put her ghost to rest, or will they stop playing the game and lose their friendship forever? 

Hi everybody I’m Alyssia and I’ve just finished Doll Bones.  It’s a great book that will fill you with suspense and make you want to read until the very end.  I love how the author Holly Black uses three kids around the age of 12-13 (perfect for intermediates) and uses their game full of mythical creatures, and brings it to life by making them play their game by going on a quest to help the Queen.  Intermediates would love this book because it has lots of adventure and it has a creepy side to it.  This is a great book with a creepy twist that will take you in its clutches and never let you go."

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The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

If you kiss your true love, he will die.  This is what Blue Sargant, daughter of the town psychic has been told all her life.  Blue is used to living with predictions, but things change when she meets Gansey, a privileged boy who attends the prestigious Aglionby Academy for Boys.  Gansey and his friends (known as the Raven boys, because of the Raven crest on their school uniforms) are on a quest find Glendower, a sleeping Welsh king.  Legend holds that whoever finds him will be granted a wish.  

Although Blue doesn’t have the same psychic powers as her mother, she does have the ability to amplify the messages that come through for her family.  It’s for this reason that she annually accompanied her mother to an old churchyard on St. Mark’s Eve. where the soon-to-be-dead spirits would walk past.  Blue never sees the spirits herself – until this year, when a boy steps up to her and speaks.  He tells her his name is Gansey.  

What does this mean?  When will Gansey die, and will it be Blue that causes his death?  Is he her true love?  Why is she so drawn to Gansey and his friends?  Blue has never really believed in true love and the repeated warning from her mother.  But now she isn’t so sure.

I can imagine this story being handled really poorly by a not-so-great writer.  Thankfully, Maggie Stiefvater has done a great job in presenting well-drawn characters, in this intriguing mystery. I love this story because the characters are all so different, and yet so vital.  Gansey is determined, has dignity, and really takes care of his friends.  Noah doesn’t say much, seems vulnerable and mostly observes.  Adam is the scholarship student who resents the wealth around him and doesn’t like handouts.  Ronan is the 'bad boy,' very cynical and angry.  And then there’s Blue, the quiet girl who lives with her psychic family – all women.  I think my favourite scenes were the ones that involved all these women and their predictions.  I loved the complexity of their personalities and the occasional conflicts between them.  They were strong, funny women, who I wanted to learn more about.

The other part of the story that kept me hooked, was the question of whether or not Gansey and Blue were destined to be together.  Was he really her true love?  Or was it one of the other boys?  Would she kiss him and therefore cause his death?  Why did she see him on the churchyard path on St. Mark’s Eve?  What was the importance of what he said to her on that road?  These were some of the questions that kept me intrigued.  

Magic is something that should be treated with respect and integrity, and I feel this author did just that.  I loved being suspended in this world of unexpected friendships, love and impending doom!

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