Tag Archives: 21st Century

Sophomore Undercover by Ben Esch

American Literature February 27, 2009 Superfast Reader 2 Comments

Synopsis: When wannabe journalist Dixie Nguyen stumbles into the story of a lifetime in the boys’ locker room, he risks everything, including his place on the football team, to bring down an albino drug lord–who happens to be another high school student. Review: Sophomore Undercover is written in a breezy, comic style that will definitely appeal to readers, especially boys. I wasn’t so into it myself, because I found the plot really frustrating from the get-go. Dixie makes some assumptions that send him down the…

The Year the Swallows Came Early–Blog Tour Wrap Up

American Literature February 25, 2009 Superfast Reader 5 Comments

It’s been so much fun being a part of the blog tour for Kathryn Fitzmaurice’s The Year the Swallows Came Early. All the other participants have written great stuff so I thought I’d highlight some of my favorites. Noel at Neverjamtoday names some books that reminded her of Swallows–great recommendations if you liked it as much as she did. Marie at Fireside Musings has an interview in a few parts with author Kathryn Fitzmaurice. I wish I’d had time to talk to her, because I…

The Year the Swallows Came Early by Kathryn Fitzmaurice

American Literature February 24, 2009 Superfast Reader 9 Comments

Synopsis: When 13-year-old Capistrano native Groovy’s father gets arrested, she has to face the devastating truth about her family and look for the courage to forgive. Review: In The Year the Swallows Came Early, debut novelist Kathryn Fitzmaurice gives us a winning protagonist in Groovy (nee Eleanor), named by her ne’er-do-well father because as a toddler she loved to dance. Now Groovy’s beloved dad has been hauled off to prison, and her salon-owner mother won’t give her a straight answer as to why. What I…

The Year the Swallows Came Early ~ Book Tour

American Literature February 23, 2009 Superfast Reader 3 Comments

I am very excited to be part of the blog tour for The Year the Swallows Came Early by Kathryn Fitzmaurice. This is Kathryn’s first YA book and she’s blogging all about it here. It’s so fun to see her enthusiasm for receiving her first copy of the real book–what a dream come true! Check back here tomorrow for my review, and in the meantime please visit the other bloggers on the tour: A Christian Worldview of Fiction All About Childrenâ€™s Books Beckyâ€™s Book Reviews…

Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

British Literature February 15, 2009 Superfast Reader

Rather than give you my review of Confessions of a Shopaholic, I’ll point you to my review of the movie. I read the book to prepare and quite enjoyed it. The movie? Well…

Feast of Souls by CS Friedman (The Magister Trilogy)

American Literature January 29, 2009 Superfast Reader 4 Comments

Synopsis: In a world where the price of magic is human life, one woman dares transgress against the prevailing power structures even as an ancient enemy threatens humankind. Review: Man, I hate synopsizing epic fantasy. The premises always end up sounding so silly. That’s a shame, because Feast of Souls actually really intrigued me with its central idea. Basically, there can be no magic without a human life force as fuel. Women who can control the life force become witches, but every act of magic…

Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry

American Literature January 13, 2009 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: Orphaned Kira is tapped to continue her mother’s work as a weaver with mystical powers, but her glimpses into the world lead her to question everything she’s ever known. Review: Gathering Blue is Lois Lowry’s follow-up to The Giver, her dystopian look at a world without pain. Gathering Blue is a much lighter work, and feels like a bridge to the next book in the trilogy, Messenger. I wasn’t really blown away by this book so I’m not going to say much, other than…

The Magician’s Book: A Skeptic’s Adventures in Narnia by Laura Miller

American Literature January 10, 2009 Superfast Reader 3 Comments

Synopsis: A literary critic recalls her childhood love affair with CS Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia, and her subsequent disappointment at learning that he was a Christian apologist. Review: I confess that I was hesitant to read The Magician’s Book for reasons that Laura Miller herself would understand. Narnia is mine, I tell you, mine! I had a Voyage of the Dawn Treader cake for my sixth birthday–and I still have my coverless copy. I have read and re-read this series more times than I can…

Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri

American Literature January 7, 2009 Superfast Reader 3 Comments

Synopsis: A collection of short stories featuring Indian American protagonists. Review: Jhumpa Lahiri’s novel The Namesake was one of my favorite books I read the year I was pregnant with Superfast Toddler, and I was so happy to get Unaccustomed Earth for Christmas this year. What I love about Lahiri’s stories is that I never feel shortchanged by them. No matter how good a short story is, for the most part I always wish I were reading a novel instead. Short stories are too brief,…

Shelter Me by Alex McAulay

American Literature January 6, 2009 Superfast Reader 4 Comments

Synopsis: Sent to a convent on the Welsh Coast during the Blitz, a teenage girl finds herself on the run and afraid for her life–from the scarred, terrifying Mother Superior. Review: I am hoping that Alex McAulay is planning a follow-up to Shelter Me, because while he wrapped up the plot quite well, I certainly did not feel I was done with Maggie’s story. I don’t want to spoil anything, so I’ll just say that where she winds up at the end is just as…

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