middle grade sci-fi & fantasy mini reviews

The past couple of years have reawakened my interest in middle grade books, and especially middle grade sci-fi and fantasy.  Still, I didn’t have a real grasp on just how many books were being published in the niche each year.  Spoiler alert: there are a LOT.  Middle grade (for readers ages 8-12) is flourishing.  As a CYBILS judge for middle grade speculative fiction, I am reading some great books, and the mini-reviews below feature three that I found entertaining. 

Holy unanticipated occurrences! A cynic meets an unlikely superhero in a genre-breaking new novel by master storyteller Kate DiCamillo. It begins, as the best superhero stories do, with a tragic accident that has unexpected consequences. The squirrel never saw the vacuum cleaner coming, but self-described cynic Flora Belle Buckman, who has read every issue of the comic book Terrible Things Can Happen to You!, is the just the right person to step in and save him. What neither can predict is that Ulysses (the squirrel) has been born anew, with powers of strength, flight, and misspelled poetry—and that Flora will be changed too, as she discovers the possibility of hope and the promise of a capacious heart. From #1 New York Times best-selling author Kate DiCamillo comes a laugh-out-loud story filled with eccentric, endearing characters and featuring an exciting new format—a novel interspersed with comic-style graphic sequences and full-page illustrations, all rendered in black-and-white by up-and-coming artist K.G. Campbell.

Flora & Ulysses is the story of an extraordinary squirrel (Ulysses), a youthful cynic (Flora), and their comic book-inspired adventures.  A rather extraordinary chain of events transformed an average squirrel into a flying, poetry-typing, super-strong wonder.  Even Flora, who looks for cracks in logic and is always prepared for the worst, believes that Ulysses is special.  But every superhero has an arch-nemesis, and Flora and Ulysses must navigate obstacles, relationships, and anti-squirrel elements to eventually save the day.  K.G. Campbell’s illustrations make this hilarious and clever story come to life, and its sly humor will make readers of all ages smile.

Recommended for: young (and old!) fans of comics and superheros, those who have loved Kate DiCamillo’s previous books, and readers interested in magnificent squirrels, delicious words and wonderful surprises.

Flora the pig was born for adventure: “If it’s unexplored and needs to get dug up, call me. I’m your pig,” she says. The day Flora spots a team of sled dogs is the day she sets her heart on becoming a sled pig. Before she knows it, she’s on board a ship to Antarctica for the most exhilarating—and dangerous—adventure of her life. This poignant novel of a purposeful pig is sure to become a favorite with any young readers who have ever dreamed of exploring the great beyond.

Chris Kurtz's The Adventures of a South Pole Pig: A novel of snow and courage is the story of Flora, an unusual piglet with an even more unlikely goal - to pull a sled, alongside dogs.  When Flora boards a trip to Antarctica, she believes she's finally on her way.  Unfortunately, not everyone is on the same page.  Flora's story is one of bravery, friendship, and unlikely partnerships that will end up inspiring and changing each person (and animal!) they touch.  It's a cute, idealistic, and sweet 'talking animal' story that will appeal to young readers and their parents.

Recommended for: fans of Charlotte's Web and the The Tale of Despereuax, and anyone who needs a reminder that courage and kindness are skills you can practice and perfect.

"I bought the milk," said my father. "I walked out of the corner shop, and heard a noise like this: T h u m m t h u m m. I looked up and saw a huge silver disc hovering in the air above Marshall Road."

"Hullo," I said to myself. "That's not something you see every day. And then something odd happened."

Find out just how odd things get in this hilarious story of time travel and breakfast cereal, expertly told by Newbery Medalist and bestselling author Neil Gaiman and illustrated by Skottie Young.

Neil Gaiman’s middle grade novel Fortunately, the Milk is a brief yarn of the rip-roaring variety, with mad-cap adventure, strange encounters and space-time jumps.  It’s a sweet meditation on fathers and children and the stories that make up a family history.  It’s also beautifully illustrated by Skottie Young, far-fetched-but-charming in content and composition, and a great length (short!) for reluctant readers. 

Recommended for: kids who haven’t outgrown illustrated stories, the adult who hasn’t outgrown his/her childhood imagination, and Neil Gaiman superfans.

odd and the frost giants

One of the middle grade books I consistently see positive reviews and recommendations for is Neil Gaiman’s Odd and the Frost Giants.  I shouldn’t be surprised, as it is a book by Neil Gaiman.  He’s the author version of a rock star.  And I have liked all* of his books (though I love Neverwhere best).  So now it’s Middle Grade March and I’m catching up on titles I’ve meant to read for a long while, and well, what do you know… I had a copy of Odd on my Kindle app.

In this inventive, short, yet perfectly formed novel inspired by traditional Norse mythology, Neil Gaiman takes readers on a wild and magical trip to the land of giants and gods and back. 

In a village in ancient Norway lives a boy named Odd, and he's had some very bad luck: His father perished in a Viking expedition; a tree fell on and shattered his leg; the endless freezing winter is making villagers dangerously grumpy. 

Out in the forest Odd encounters a bear, a fox, and an eagle--three creatures with a strange story to tell. 

Now Odd is forced on a stranger journey than he had imagined--a journey to save Asgard, city of the gods, from the Frost Giants who have invaded it. 

It's going to take a very special kind of twelve-year-old boy to outwit the Frost Giants, restore peace to the city of gods, and end the long winter. Someone cheerful and infuriating and clever…

Someone just like Odd.

Odd is a Viking boy with a lame leg, a clever turn of mind, and a strong sense of self.  When one of the harsh Norse winters threatens to continue unendingly, he leaves the safety of his village and sets off into the forest.  While Odd isn’t necessarily looking for adventure, it comes and finds him anyway, in the shape of a fox, an eagle and a bear.  Odd’s decision to travel with these three will change his future, and give him a place in legend.

Odd and the Frost Giants was lovely and brief and true.  At the same time, it didn’t skimp on the sorts of elements that boys and girls love: talking animals, epic adventure, riding bears and conquering giants!  At the story’s core are themes of transformation, story-telling, and discovering the secret desires of our hearts.  There’s also a strong dose of mythology and problem solving and several journeys toward home. 

What I found most intriguing was Gaiman’s use of the Norse gods as characters in the story.  Gaiman has done this (weaving deities from many traditions into an original tale) before in his adult works, particularly in American Gods and Anansi Boys.  While the gods’ inclusion works mostly to highlight Odd’s personal transformation, the hints at well-known story sagas and the mention of Thor’s hammer (which even the uninitiated will recognize from recent Avengers films) should spark interest in traditional tales and further reading in general.  And that is a marvelous thing.

Recommended for: young readers, fans of fantasy and mythology, and anyone looking for a quick read that will find its way into your heart.

*I should mention that I didn’t make it through Coraline the first time I tried it – I was creeped-the-heck-out.  Totally going back and reading it again soon!

waiting on wednesday (47)

Today I’m participating in "Waiting On" Wednesday, a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. Its purpose is to spotlight upcoming book releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

I read Neil Gaiman and Michael Reaves’ InterWorld back before I started blogging, and I loved its sci-fi plot.  Its tone reminded me a bit of a grim Diana Wynne Jones – with a full measure of inventiveness, a couple of unreliable characters, mystery and worlds unknown.  I packed that book up when I moved across the country, and I haven’t read it since.  When I went through the spring YA catalogs I was surprised and pleased to see a sequel is on its way.  The Silver Dream: An InterWorld Novel by Neil Gaiman and Michael Reaves will be released by HarperTeen on April 23, 2013.

The sequel to the New York Times bestselling fantasy adventure InterWorld, from award-winning and bestselling team Neil Gaiman and Michael Reaves. 

Sixteen-year-old Joey Harker has just saved the Altiverse-the dimension that contains all the myriad Earths-from complete destruction. After mastering the ability to walk between dimensions, Joey and his fellow InterWorld Freedom Fighters are on a mission to maintain peace between the rival powers of magic and science who seek to control all worlds. 

When a stranger named Acacia somehow follows Joey back to InterWorld's Base, things get complicated. No one knows who she is or where she's from-or how she knows so much about InterWorld. Dangerous times lie ahead, and Joey has no one to rely on but himself and his wits-and, just maybe, the mysterious Acacia Jones. 

Full of riveting interdimensional battles, epic journeys between worlds, and twists and turns along the way, this sequel to InterWorld is a thrilling, mind-bending adventure through time and space.

What books are you waiting on?

guest post on neil gaiman and a giveaway

One of my most faithful blog followers is Alyce of At Home with Books. She seems to read in all genres, and her reading choices (and reviews) always make me reconsider my old standbys. So it was an honor to be asked to contribute to her one of her current weekly events, ‘Best and Worst.’ I chose to write about Neil Gaiman. I know what you’re thinking – does the man really do worst? Find out for yourself and read my thoughts over at Alyce’s blog!

And to make life a bit sweeter this holiday season, also enter to win any Neil Gaiman book (up to a $25 US value), shipped from the Book Depository. Entering this giveaway is simple – just fill out the FORM! Open internationally, will end December 31^st at 11:59pm EST. Winner will be selected randomly and notified via email.

Feel free to tell me in the comments which Neil Gaiman book you’d choose!

oh for the love of picture books

The success of graphic novels has taught us that adults are never too old for pictures. I knew this was true for me, but I am glad that it’s an across-the-board thing as well. There’s less shame in a crowd (not that I should be ashamed of loving pictures, but it’s…well…you probably know what I mean). While I’ve yet to really dive into the world of graphic novels, I do appreciate a beautiful picture book, and still find them almost as refreshing and wondrous as I did as a child.

Beautifully illustrated versions of fairy tales from my childhood probably count for much of my attraction to the genre of retellings today. And I recently read two fairy tale-type picture books that made me wish I’d found them in my younger years. Such fun and flights of fancy! In honor of Once Upon a Week, I’m doing mini-reviews of them here.

Princess Hyacinth by Florence Parry Heide and Lane Smith

Princess Hyacinth has a problem: she floats. And so the king and queen have pebbles sewn into the tops of her socks, and force her to wear a crown encrusted with the heaviest jewels in the kingdom to keep her earthbound. But one day, Hyacinth comes across a balloon man and decides to take off all her princess clothes, grab a balloon, and float free. Hooray! Alas, when the balloon man lets go of the string…off she goes. Luckily, there is a kite and a boy named Boy to save her.

This book is beautifully designed, with the perfect blend of quirky, hip and traditional. It’s also practically and humorously written, and the final lesson, that not all problems can be solved, but life can be made interesting, is healthy and fun. It’s a great blend of the weight of real life and the lightness of childhood and curiosity. It also made me wonder whom I would invite to a popcorn and tea party.

Instructions by Neil Gaiman and Charles Vess

Trust Dreams.
Trust your heart, 
and trust your story.

A renowned storyteller whose words have transported readers to magical realms and an acclaimed illustrator of lushly imagined fairy-tale landscapes guide a traveler safely through lands unknown and yet strangely familiar…

…and home again.

Vess’ illustrations take what is essentially a poem that could be read like anything (well, not anything, precisely, but you know what I mean) and turn it into a fairy tale adventure featuring a finely rendered fox man. Gaiman’s mastery with words and Vess’ detailed illustrations make this not only a pretty collector’s piece for the Gaiman fan, but also a story and a ‘guide’ of sorts to myth and fairy tale for children of all ages. Even the adult ones.

Have you found any recent picture books that you especially loved?

These books also count for the Once Upon a Time Reading Challenge. Hurrah!

where’s a sequel when you want one?

The Book List is a short and fun meme that allows you to share books with the blogosphere and make a list. Who doesn't love lists (quiet, you!)? It is hosted weekly by Rebecca at Lost in Books.

This Week's Topic is: 3 books you wish had a sequel

I’ve never been one to beg for a sequel, even if the ending of a book seems ambiguous. I just let my imagination have free reign and savor what is actually written. But if I have to choose – and I do for the meme – I’m going to choose old favorites. I’ve imagined new endings for these books countless times as I’ve reread them over the years, but I’d love to know how the authors themselves envision their continuing stories (it they do at all).

1. The Only Alien on the Planet by Kristen D. Randle

Whenever people say they like ‘contemporary fiction’ best, I wonder a bit, and try to place a book that I love in the genre. Inevitably, I end up with this one. I wouldn’t mind knowing how Ginny and Caulder and Smitty end up, because I love them all so much.

2. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

As Neverwhere as a book ends, another adventure is already beginning for its characters. I’d love to follow the Marquis and all the other zany denizens of this novel on further adventures in London Below. I’m sure they’d be hilarious, dark, frightening, and joyous by turns.

3. Magic for Marigold by L.M. Montgomery

I will admit that I’ve always been a bit miffed that there wasn’t a follow-up book for this title. I mean, didn’t L.M. WRITE in series? I had that thought tucked away somewhere…oh wait, it’s a natural expectation, seeing as she wrote how many Anne books? *le sigh* Magic for Marigold leaves off in Marigold’s early adolescence. I know it’s too late now, but I’d love to know how she was meant to grow up, and maybe even grow old.

Can you name three books that you wish there were sequels for?

books i've read over and over and over

I’ve never taken part in this meme before, but K at We Be Reading had a lovely list today at her blog, and I followed the link. I officially suggesticate it.

The Book List is a short and fun meme that allows you to share books with the blogosphere and make a list! Who doesn't love lists?!? It is hosted weekly by Rebecca at Lost in Books.

This Week's Topic is: 3 Books You've Read Over and Over and Over and...

1. A Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton Porter

I’ve read this book so often that my paperback copy is falling to pieces. And I take METICULOUS care of my books. Porter’s story is a childhood comfort read that resonated with me all through my teens. I have very clear memories of lugging it on multiple camping trips and enjoying a cool afternoon in a tent in the shade, reading about Elnora and the Limberlost swamp. I haven’t read it in a while (maybe a year?), but I know that it will always remain one of my favorites.

2. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

Perhaps best described as my ‘gateway’ to the world of Neil Gaiman’s writing. I’ve read this one cover-to-cover and then all over again right afterward at least once. There are scary characters, noble characters, and a lot of people just trying to survive. It’s set in London Below, which always seems magical to me, even though it’s mostly just dark. Oh, and did I mention that the author has a wicked sense of humor?

3. Snow White and Rose Red by Patricia C. Wrede

This one was written expressly as part of a series of ‘fairy tales for adults.’ It is set in Elizabethan England, and the language and dialogue match the era. I don’t think I need to explain how utterly difficult that must have been to write. But the result is a intriguing take on the traditional fairy tale and a smashing good read. I’ve read it almost as many times as Neverwhere – it was definitely a comfort book during my college years. And a vocabulary-improver, too.

What are three books you re-read?

quick giveaway - american gods

WINNER - A Bookshelf Monstrosity! Congrats!

I’m going to hold a quick little giveaway for Neil Gaiman’s American Gods. If you’d like a new paperback copy of the book, just comment on this post with an email address or another way to reach you, and I’ll pick a winner tomorrow at 3pm PST. Open to residents of the US & Canada.

After three years in prison, Shadow has done his time. But as the days, then the hours, then the seconds until his release tick away, he can feel a storm building. Two days before he gets out, his wife Laura dies in a mysterious car crash. Dazed, Shadow travels home, only to encounter the bizarre Mr. Wednesday claiming to be a refugee from a distant war, a former god and the king of America.

Together they embark on a very strange journey across the States, along the way solving the murders which have occurred every winter in one small American town. But they are being pursued by someone with whom Shadow must make his peace...

Disturbing, gripping and profoundly strange, Neil Gaiman's epic new novel sees him on the road to finding the soul of America.

This book won all sorts of awards, and though I only say I ‘like’ it, rather than ‘love’ it, it’s definitely a masterpiece of dark imagining. For fans of myths, dark fantasy, horror, and the quirky and bizarre.

the results are in

And the randomly-generated winner of Robin McKinley’s Sunshine or Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere, depending on the winner’s preference, is:

Sheere

of Donde la lectura te lleve

Who answered the question, “What is your favorite genre?” with:

“My favourite genre is fantasy and supernatural. I think that I'd never get bored with it... I could be ninety and still love reading stories of vampires and fairies.”

The other responses for favorite genre:

Classics – 1

Fantasy (or Paranormal) – 12

Historical Fiction – 4

Mystery – 2

Science Fiction – 6

Women’s Fiction – 1

Young Adult – 9

It was fun to read about your favorite genres, and hear your thoughts about what makes reading enjoyable. Look for another giveaway soon!

101 more reasons to love fantasy + quick giveaway!

Ryan at Wordsmithonia recently directed me to Bella of A Bibliophile's Bookshelf's project to create a list of the 101 Best Fantasy Books. You have a chance to nominate and vote on the best in fantasy, so if you have an opinion (and I know you do...even if it's just that Twilight - yes, I mentioned it - was addictive, if not good), go and share it, and vote on the very best when that time comes around. Yay!

.......

And because book giveaways are fun and happy-making (Uglies trilogy, you've changed my vocabulary!), and because book-buying supports my favorite authors and creates new fans, I'm giving away one (1) paperback copy of Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere, or Robin McKinley's Sunshine. The winner chooses the spoils.

To enter:

Leave a comment on this post answering the question, "What is your favorite genre?"

+1 extra entry if you enter my contest for The Only Alien on the Planet. If you've already entered, you do not need to do so again.

Please include your email address. Giveaway is open internationally. Comments will close on August 21 at 11:59pm EST, and I will notify the randomly selected winner via email.

Good luck!

neverwhere

Alyce at At Home with Books has started a weekly tradition of revisiting past reading favorites and bringing them into the spotlight.

I really can’t help myself this week. I HAVE to spotlight a Neil Gaiman book. I know I’ve gone into raptures about his writing before, but I’m in the midst of a cross-country move (read: frazzled), and I don’t have anything else prepared. Plus Neverwhere is one of the only books I have unpacked at the moment – everything else was shipped to Seattle this morning – it escaped by dint of having been lent out to a friend (and returned at the last minute). It really and truly is a favorite, though, and it just plain ROCKS.

I think I first read Neverwhere in high school. I’ve just remembered a rather tattered library copy that made its way into my hands. The young adult section at that local library was glorious! Oh, and I loved the book. I wasn’t really into fantasy literature at that point, but something about the sheer imagination and quirkiness and horror and subtle humor and ADVENTURE of it really struck a chord. So I went to college, bought my own copy, and re-read Neverwhere a couple of times.

Then I lent the novel to a friend, who likewise raved about its genius. I never saw that book again. Meanwhile I dove into the rest of Gaiman’s novels (Stardust, American Gods, and eventually Anansi Boys…I tried to read Coraline, too, but got scared), and tried not to worry about the whereabouts of the missing book. In one of my more fanciful moments I even speculated that it was making the rounds of the college, discovered (and loved!) anew by other students every couple of weeks.

I went to grad school and bought another copy, which I lent to a new friend. That book also disappeared. It started to feel as if Neverwhere created its own black hole of borrowed books. A couple of years later I moved to Atlanta for continued grad schooling, and when a friend came to me last month for leisure reading recommendations, I sent her home with The Graveyard Book and my newest copy of Neverwhere. For while I do worry that my Gaiman books won’t make it back to me, or will be harmed (I may be slightly obsessive about books staying in pristine condition), I can’t NOT lend them out. They’re so good! They must be shared! I am glad to report that my 3rd copy of Neverwhere returned safely this time, and that a brand-spanking-new Gaiman fan has been created. Yay!

Neverwhere takes place in a fantasy world that sits right next to ours, though it goes unnoticed and unknown by those who live Above. The denizens of Below (in this case, London Below) live much more perilous, fateful and interesting lives. It’s a dark, fantastical, urban mystery-adventure, peopled with terrible nemeses, courageous, strange, and weird characters, and an unlikely hero who just wants to get back to the way things were before it all went pear-shaped. What happens, who meets whom, and a treacherous chase to the finish make this novel not only a favorite, but a must-read and a perfect fit for just about anyone (the truly squeamish need not apply).

Richard Mayhew is a young man with a good heart and an ordinary life, which is changed forever when he stops to help a girl he finds bleeding on a London sidewalk. His small act of kindness propels him into a world he never dreamed existed. There are people who fall through the cracks, and Richard has become one of them. And he must learn to survive in this city of shadows and darkness, monsters and saints, murderers and angels, if he is ever to return to the London that he knew.

i'm afraid of the dark. and zombie movies.

I’m a wimp. A scaredy-cat. A pansy (although I technically don’t like that term—flowers are always getting a bad rap. Pansy, shrinking violet, bleeding heart, etc. Do you see what I mean?). I’m NOT dying to meet anything that goes bump in the night. No problem with the night itself, especially if there’s a nightlight, a full moon, or some other illumination source nearby. I can even do camping. But your run-of-the-mill night monsters? Not my thing. I won’t be fantasizing about vampires, werewolves or zombies anytime soon.

I’m probably the most easily startled in my circle of acquaintances. Example: I can’t watch horror movies. Can’t do a lot of drama or suspense, either. The weeks leading up to Halloween are the worst of the whole year as far as television programming goes, in my opinion. All those “I know what you did last summer”-type movies and dudes named Freddie and Jason on TV. **shudder** M. Night Shyamalan’s The Village is about as scary as I can stand (I know it’s not that scary. I’m the problem.). In fact, I had to walk out of the theater during Will Smith’s I Am Legend. This was due in part to the fact that I didn’t know it was a zombie flick until ten minutes before show time, but also in part to straight up cowardliness. A valiant Gryffindor I am not.

It therefore makes almost no sense that I can stomach dark, even scary, books. One of my favorite authors is Neil Gaiman. Description: Nice man who writes creepy and/or disturbing things. Another favorite writer: Robin McKinley. She’s penned an award-winning book with vampires in (called, ironically enough, Sunshine). Other recent reads: Pretty Monsters (win a copy here!) and The Forest of Hands and Teeth. Soon-to-be-read selections for the Everything Austen Challenge: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and Mr. Darcy, Vampyre (contest to win a signed copy here). You can count on the fact that if either of them are made into movies, though, I will be far, far away.

[Note: I will grudgingly admit to having seen the movie version of Twilight. I was fairly sure it couldn’t be traumatic, as the book was heavy on teenage obsession and light on gore. I was right. Giggled in disbelief and incomprehension through the whole thing.]

Perhaps there’s something in the written word: a distance, or more nuanced and underlying humor in the sinister that renders it endurable to me rather than the film and television adaptations of those dark books. In any case, I think that a good collection and contrast of mediums (written, filmic, aural) is necessary to any full life. Perhaps one of these days I will let someone tie me to a chair to watch Silence of the Lambs. You never know. Pigs may start flying too.

But I digress. These recent reading choices inspired me to a) Petition my excessively talented and creative sister to make a ZOMBIE CARD (see lovely photos), and b) Hold another contest to give away a similar hand-made bookmark (inspired by the card) tucked inside a paperback copy of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. My next post will share the details. In the meantime, check out this contest for the forthcoming YA book Never Slow Dance with a Zombie and another for a goodie bag (also including the book!). And be sure to look at September Zombie Week. Whatever your feelings about zombies (you’re afraid of them, laugh at them, or don’t care much either way), there’s a surprising amount of zombie-lit out there, and some of it can be truly entertaining. Err…yeah. Go celebrate undead monsters!?!

(Zombies were never so cute, if I do say so myself...)

interworld contest winner and new giveaway

InterWorld by Neil Gaiman and Michael Reaves is fun and clever entertainment suitable for most ages (I’d say 10 years and up…but there will be those nine year-olds who are ready for it). It’s adventure, science fiction, fantasy, coming-of-age, and world-moving ideas all rolled into one mad package. Plus it’s got lovely cover art.

Neil Gaiman is a hilarious, dark-yet-comfortable and immensely talented author who wins accolades and awards whenever he puts pen to paper. He has novels for adults, children, those in between, and those who will never grow old. I’ve just bought his Blueberry Girl picture book for my pregnant cousin-in-law. Imagine that kind of scope, will you?

So that was the rationale behind my last giveaway book pick: it had to be amusing, it had to be something in my own library (and thus properly endorsed), and it had to be something that I was fairly sure no one would have (yet want to own).

And the winner is…Alyce!

Congratulations! I’ve sent an email your way. Thank you to everyone who participated! My first contest/giveaway was a lot of fun and a success as well. To think I was afraid that no one would enter!

The problem is that I had too much fun. Not a problem for you all…a boon of sorts, really. Because I’ve now caught the contest-holding bug, and must host a NEW giveaway right away. Seriously.

So I’m giving away one (1) copy of Kelly Link’s Pretty Monsters.

…

Link, who has two breathlessly received books of strange, surrealistic tales for adults under her belt, makes the leap into the YA fold with this collection of short stories (most previously published in separate anthologies) that tug at the seams of reality, sometimes gently, sometimes violently. In nearly every one of these startlingly, sometimes confoundingly original stories, Link defies expectations with such terrific turnarounds that you are left precipitously wondering not only “What’s going to happen now?” but also “Wait, what just happened?”

Her conception of fantasy is so unique that when she uses words like ghost or magic, they mean something very different than they do anywhere else. Perhaps most surprisingly—and memorably— is Link’s dedicated deadpan delivery that drives home how funny she can be, no matter how dark the material gets. After gobbling up a group of campers, a zombie with a self-proclaimed sense of humor bargains with the terrified lone survivor, “How about if I only eat you if you say the number that I’m thinking of? I promise I won’t cheat. I probably won’t cheat.”

Shaun Tan contributes a handful of small illustrations that are, of course, just plain delightful. -starred Booklist review

…

To Enter:

Leave a comment on this post answering the question, “What fantastical nemesis would you least like to be confronted by?”

Please include your email address. Giveaway is open to US & Canadian addresses only. Comments will close on July 14 at 11:59pm EST, and I will notify the randomly selected winner via email.

Good luck!