The Revenge of the Shadow King by Derek Benz and J.S. Lewis

The Revenge of the Shadow King by Derek Benz and J.S. Lewis is about the Grey Griffins (Max, Natalia, Ernie, and Harley), teens from Avalon, Minnesota who enjoy the mysterious card game Round Table. Little do they know that the cards they play their game with are actually meant to teach them the true history about the Knights Templar and the Shadow King's rise to power. Max finds out that he is a descendant of one of the knights and has been tasked with protecting their secrets from the Shadow King and the evil Morgan LaFey (King Arthur's immortal step sister and murderer). The Grey Griffins go through one adventure after another as they work to conceal the Codex Spiritus, an ancient book passed down amongst the knights, and retrieve the jewel of Titania in order to stop the Shadow King from returning.

This book was good. There was a lot of action and some really neat history about King Arthur and the Knights Templar. To me, it felt like the story just kept going and going and going. The teens made mistake after mistake, and had battle after battle with the evil forces bent on stealing the ancient book. This is the first book of the Grey Griffins series.

Storm Thief by Chris Wooding

Storm Thief by Chris Wooding is about Moa and Rail, two ghetto thieves in the town of Orokos. Orokos is a strange land that is subject to 'probability storms' at any given moment. When a probability storm hits, things change. For instance, parts of town are flipped and moved and people develop serious illnesses, like Rail who must use a respirator to breathe now. Moa and Rail steal a device left over from hundreds of years ago, when people who lived on Orokos possessed technology that no one now understands. They are being hunted by the Secret Police, a shifty ghetto rat who works for the head thief, and scary energy beasts called revenants. Moa's life goal is to make it off of Orokos, sure that there is something more out there. Rail's life goal is to make a happy life for himself and Moa, sure there is nothing beyond Orokos.

I loved this book. Of all of the books I read this summer, this has been my favorite. I read it in one day because I just couldn't put it down! I will definitely be reading more books by Chris Wooding!

Faerie Wars by Herbie Brennan

Faerie Wars by Herbie Brennan is about Henry, a typical boy who likes building cardboard models. He works for an old, crusty man named Mr. Fogarty. The two of them stumble upon an extraordinary discovery - a fairy has landed in Mr. Fogarty's garden. Pyrgus is the crown prince of the faerie realm, his father is the Purple Emperor. Pyrgus gets himself into a bit of trouble and has a price on his head. His family sends him to our world through a special portal. That's how he ends up in Mr. Fogarty's garden. Unfortunately, someone tampered with the portal and poisoned Pyrgus in a plot to overthrow the Purple Emperor. Now, Pyrgus is in a race for his life. With the help of Henry and Mr. Fogarty, Pyrgus tries desperately to solve the mystery and get back to his own world before it's too late.

I really liked this book! It was interesting to read about the different characters and get to know them through their interactions with their families and friends in their own worlds. This is the first book of four in the Faerie Wars Chronicles Series. I will definitely be reading the second book soon!

Heat by Mike Lupica

Heat by Mike Lupica is about brothers Michael and Carlos Arroyo. They are immigrants, having come to the United States from Cuba. Shortly after arriving, their father dies of a heart attack, leaving 17 year old Carlos the head of the family. They are terrified that if anyone learns the truth about their situation that they will be separated, placed into foster care, or even shipped back to Cuba. Michael is 12 and the best pitcher on his Little League team. Their team has a chance to make it to the big championship game! Unfortunately, some of the boys on the other teams begin making trouble for Michael. Because he is trying to "lay low," there is nothing he can do about it, and ends up not being able to play baseball for several games.

This was a great story about baseball and family. It was interesting to see the sacrifices that both Carlos and Michael had to make in order to stay together. They were both so supportive of each other! There were some twists and turns along the way that made the ending that much more heartfelt. This is one of the 2008-2009 Maud Hart Lovelace Nominees.

I am a Taxi by Deborah Ellis

I am a Taxi by Deborah Ellis is about Diego, a boy who lives in a prison in Cochabamba, Bolivia. His parents were both arrested on false charges of drug trafficking and were imprisoned there. Diego is free, but must live with his mother in the women's prison because he has no where else to go. Diego helps his mother pay rent on their cramped cell by running errands for the prisoners. They pay him to leave the prison and go to the market or deliver things for them! One day Diego and his friend Mando are offered a job and promised lots of money by some shading looking men. They decide to go with them, and end up deep in the jungle working for drug smugglers without a hope of any payment or escape.

This book gave me a different take on drugs and smugglers. I felt so badly for Diego and Mando! They were trying to make things better for themselves and their families and ended up in a hopeless situation. The smugglers treated the boys as though they were expendable - to them, they were. They could easily find more boys in the city who could be tricked into hard labor for free.

Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World by Jennifer Armstrong

Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World: The Extraordinary True Story of Shackleton and the Endurance by Jennifer Armstrong is a nonfiction account of what actually happened on Sir Ernest Shackleton's failed attempt at reading the south pole in 1914. Jennifer Armstrong used many resources as she compiled all of the information, including the personal diaries of the shipmates!

I read this book after reading the fiction story Shackleton's Stowaway by Victoria McKernan. I was so intrigued by the story that I wanted to find out more! Victoria McKernan's fictional novel closely follows the actual events on the Endurance, Shackleton's ship. It was really interesting learning more about this expedition and the men that survived. There are many pictures of the crew and the ship.

The Land of the Silver Apples by Nancy Farmer

The Land of the Silver Apples by Nancy Farmer is the sequel to The Sea of Trolls. This book follows Jack on another adventure as he attempts to save his sister, Lucy, and return the water to Bebba's Town. Jack has many hardships and meets many interesting creatures, including hobgobblins, yarthkins, elves, picts and an evil half-kelpie who has named himself king. Accompanied by a whiny slave from Bebba's Town and a recently freed slave named Pega, Jack encounters his old friend Thorgil, and they all continue the adventure together.

I really enjoyed this book! It took me a little while to get back into the story, as it's been over a year since I read The Sea of Trolls, but Nancy Farmer gives plenty of clues that help with that. There is a really interesting appendix at the end of this book that describes many of the interesting elements of this story, including the different religions present, symbols used by the picts and Thorgil's shipmates, and background information about St. Filian's Well and Din Guardi.