Solimar: The Sword of the Monarch by Pam Muñoz Ryan tour 15-year old heroine on a magical adventure to rescue her kingdom and save its sacred symbol.

The time for Solimar’s quinceañra and official coronation as princess is fast approaching.  She has mixed feelings about the changes and new responsibilities coming her way.  She loves her family.  She is proud of her heritage and holds deep respect for her elders.  She, as are all the citizens of San Gregorio, is a fierce protector of all the natural wonders around her.  Still she questions and wonders about how “new and different” might strengthen her kingdom rather than diminish it.

While waiting for her grandmother, Solimar slips quickly into the forest to witness a moment in the annual migration of the sacred butterflies.  Though her visit is brief, she is chosen by the monarchs to be their champion.  In return for her protection, Solimar receives a magical gift.  As she is learning how to use this new gift wisely, a neighboring king plots to kidnap her family and force the kingdom under his will.  Solimar, alone, has what it takes to rescue her family and save her kingdom if only she can follow signs with strength, courage and speed.

What a surprising and wonderful story!

Happy Reading. 📚

by Christina Soontornvat

Wow!  What a wonderfully layered book.  I was breathless as read the last word and shut the cover, eager to read it again to catch what I’d missed the first time.  A real gift!

Once upon a time Chattana was full of magical wonders, but when catastrophe struck, that changed.  In the present magic exists, but is mostly invisible.  It is there, but tightly controlled.  

The only light and power allowed in the city comes from  glowing orbs.  The citizens use these to light their homes, cook their meals and power their machines.  The orbs come in a spectrum of colors.  The dimmest and most affordable orbs are Violet and Blue.  The brightest and most dear are Jade and Gold.  The color of the light has become a symbol of wealth and status so the wealthy are bright and illuminated, while the poor are dim and shadowed. The city Chattana literally has a dark side and a light side – where you reside seems to define your position and worth.

The law of Chattana requires a child born in prison to remain there until his or her 13th year.  Pong, born and orphaned in Namwon prison, is nine.  He dreams of what his life will be like when he is finally able to enter the city.  Inspired by a poster in his classroom, Pong aspires to serve the Governor, Chattana’s savior, ruler and sole source of power.

When the Governor comes to inspect the prison, Pong he hopes he’ll make a favorable impression.   A misunderstanding by the Warden’s daughter,  Nok, makes that impossible.  In fact the Governor proclaims, “Light shines only on the worthy”  and adds that there is no worth to be found in anyone “born in darkness.”   These words crush Pong, and so when the opportunity for escape occurs, he takes it.

Out of the prison, Pong has to flee.  The tattoo on his wrist forever connects him prison, and if caught, he’ll be sent back, for life.  That would be unbearable and so Pong heads south to the sea.  When he is feeling most desperate, he stumbles upon a temple in a small town.  There he meets a wise and generous monk, Father Cham.  Father Cham teaches him about boundless compassion, staying true to yourself and looking for ways to lift others. At the temple, with Father Cham Pong learns and grows – his life is changed forever.

Four years after the prison visit, Nok is faced with a dilemma.  Her parents have asked her to leave the city to attend a well respected school run by monks in the country-side.  They feel it will be best for the family – Nok disagrees.  She has always tried to make her parents proud.  She is the best student and the best spire-fighter.  She believes if she can perform one more impressive feat, she will prove her worth to her family and to the elite.  She just has to realize what that feat will be.

When visiting the school, she discovers it.  Nok recognizes a young monk in the village as the boy who escaped from Namwon on the day of the visit that caused her father to lose his position.  She believes that if she can bring this fugitive to justice, no one will again question her worth.  Thus begins Nok’s relentless pursuit of Pong driving them both into the impoverished darker side of Chattana.  Their the rumblings of discontent and protests of the oppressed are stirring.  As they become louder and more intense, both Pong and Nok recognize the importance of empathy and compassion in the face of the blinding power of self-righteousness.  Will that understanding come soon enough to change the course of the future?  Will they survive?  Will Chattana?

A Wish in the Dark is masterful and magical. A must read book!

Happy Reading! 📚  

The Silver Gate by Kristin Bailey is set in medieval times, when superstitions ran high, and anything different was seen as an omen or curse.  The people of the village are on edge.  They’ve been dealing with one unexplained hardship after another.  Perhaps, they think, a fairy curse has been set upon them – perhaps, unbeknownst to them,  a changeling lives in the village.  The child must be found and left to die so the rest of the villagers can survive – that is the rumor running throughout the town.

At the start of the story, Elric is running to the village church to get out of torrential spring storm.  The whole village is gathered there for warmth and safety.  Elric is the keeper of the village sheep and he’s lost them all in the storm.  Everyone is cold.  Everyone is angry.  Everyone is working hard.  It is easier to blame the next person for this present. misery.   Elric isn’t looking forward to the cold muddy work of finding the sheep; neither is Hereward the keeper of the town’s pigs.   It seems as though everyone is crowded, uncomfortable and on edge… and then, a baby starts cry.

“Shut him up,” the townspeople yell.  “We’ve been cursed.”

It’s a changeling.”

“Cuthburt take the child and leave it outside where it belongs.  The fairies can just take it back if it’s supposed to live.”

“What does it matter, it’s just a halfwit,” yells Hereward.

That’s all Elric can take.  No one should live in fear of losing their child, half-wit or not.  He helps the mother of the crying baby escape the church mob by throwing a punch at Hereward, the one who in their conversation about lost pigs and sheep had  claimed halfwits had no reason to live.  The brawl was ended by the priest. Elric can’t/won’t explain himself, nor will he apologize, so he leaves.

He leaves to keep his biggest secret.  His mother is hiding and living with his disabled, “halfwit” sister in the forest.  With all the talk or curses, Elric knows he must go and warn them.  What he finds when he arrives sends him forth on a quest he is bound to make to honor the promise he made to his mother, to keep his sister, Wynnfrith, safe.  How can you stay safe when the place you seek is from a fairy tale?  Is it possible that trusting in fairy tales will help Elric and Wynnfrith survive?  Read The Silver Gate  to find out ~ sometimes you have to bring magic of your own to open doors.

This book and its sequel, Into the Nutfell Wood will give you lots to think about.  What gifts matter?  What is the difference between fact and fiction?  What matters most in a life?

Happy Reading! 📚

PS – If you’ve been reading some great books, please share them.  Books are great, but they are better shared.   Leave a comment…write a review… 📖