The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey (reviewed by Bear Schacht)

Mon-strum-ol-o-gy n.

1: the study of life forms generally malevolent to humans and not recognized by science as actual organisms, specifically those considered products of myth and folklore

2: the act of hunting such creatures

It was a spring night in 1888 when Will Henry, orphaned assistant to Dr. Pellinore Warthrop, was called out of bed by the arrival of a grave robber who had found something more gruesome and terrifying than anything the twelve year old boy had yet experienced in his year of working for the doctor. The find launches them into a case of nightmarish monsters, some human, and some very much not.

There were so many things I loved about this book; I almost don’t know where to start. The cast of the story included some really interesting characters, characters that not only stayed interesting, but got more interesting as the story went on. Doctor Warthrop struck me as being similar to Sherlock Holmes in many ways, if Holmes hunted monsters instead of criminal masterminds. You also get the sense that there is something more to Will Henry than meets the eye, though I can’t really put my finger on what it is. Of course, Dr. Kearns (if that is his real name) is the scariest character I have encountered in a long time. He definitely knows about monsters, and you know how they say it takes one to know one…..

Then there was the gore, something that you can’t ignore with this book. I have the habit of eating while I read, but if you are at all weak of stomach I would not recommend doing so with this book. I am not usually the biggest fan of gore and horror, but this was different. The way the story was told had the perfect blend of emotion-capturing horror as well as the slightly detached journalistic reporting of facts. With these two flavors of storytelling working together, even the most over the top grotesque parts of the book seemed more believable and less gratuitous than other horror I have read.

I could go on about this book some more, but I would much rather go read the sequel now. I guess that means you will just have to go get the book and read it for yourself, but remember that “Yes my dear child, monsters are real. I happen to have one hanging in my basement.”

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Ah, Bear. An amazing review of one of my favorite series ever. Think you can handle it? Click here to check our catalog to see if The Monstrumologist is on our shelves.

Misfit by Jon Skovron (reviewed by Xian Eutsler)

Misfit by Jon Skovron is a book about a teenager named Jael who is a half demon, and what takes place after she has embraced her demon side. When she learns that Belial (One of the Grand Dukes of Hell) is after her because of what she is, Jael has two choices. Keep running, or stand and fight. Of course she is tired of running and chooses to fight. With the help of her demon uncle Dagon and her father, she may just get the hang of being a demon.

What I really like about this book is that it incorporates elements of the Bible, and other cultures gods. It also shows what happen in the past between Paul and Astarte. How they met and why they had to keep running from Belial.

Misfit uses the past and the present to create a story about survival and standing up to your fears. Though the help of the demon uncle does make things more manageable; I really like this book. The fight against Grand Dukes of Hell isn’t an easy one. Throughout the book Jael learns to influence the elements water, air, earth, spirit, and fire. Not control but influence, this is the first time I have read a book where you couldn’t control the elements. They have to be influenced, or persuaded, to do what you want. Which I thought is another cool way to view the elements.

I hope there will be another book coming out, as I have enjoyed this one immensely. It looks like Jael will have much more to achieve if she is to fight off the Grand Dukes of Hell that want a go against her. Luckily she has her dad and her uncle to back her up!

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Thanks Xian for this amazing review. Xian reviewed Misfit from an Advance Reading Copy, but I saved this review until the today because today is Misfit's release day, hoorah! \o/ Happy book birthday to Misfit! After Xian's review, we're definitely buying a copy, so keep your eyes peeled!

Do YOU want a chance to read and review books before they're published? Do YOU think you could give your opinion on if the library/other people should buy these books? If so, you can ask at youth services or send us an e-mail for more information on how you can get a chance to be an advance reviewer. We have lots of ARs waiting for your reviews, so ask today!

The Healer's Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson (reviewed by Amethyst Collins)

Oh, where to start. I LOVED this book. Absolutely adored it. I figured out the ending about halfway through, but then for the rest of the story the author had me second-guessing myself. The words “historical fiction” usually have me running and often screaming as I go, but I’m beginning to learn that the fiction is usually more prominent in the story. (History is not my favorite subject.) I recently read another “historical fiction” novel that I really enjoyed, though, and I think I’m discovering a love for a new genre.

The author did a lot of research for this book, and it was very realistic. Apparently she loosely based the story on Sleeping Beauty, but there was only one moment where I was reminded of that fairytale. In my opinion, that’s a good thing, because it means she brought a lot of her own ideas to it. The romance in this story made me extremely happy. I kept exclaiming out loud so much about events that were happening, my mom actually came into my room to see what was up - I think she thought I was talking with a friend, and it was getting to be late at night.

This is one of those books that I never want to end because the world I’m in is so interesting and the characters are so lovable and the writing is so real. I envy you who are going to read it for the first time, because it will all be a surprise. Do I recommend? With all of my heart.

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YAY, Amethyst, is there anything better than finding a new genre and a new book to love!? Want to see if you could fall in love with this book too? Click here to check our catalog to see if The Healer's Apprentice is on our shelves.

Family by Micol Ostow (reviewed by Alanna Cover)

“when i was six years old, i drowned”

After Melinda Jensen runs away from a sexually abusive stepfather, Uncle Jack, and the empty shell of a mother at the age of 17, she's lost. She's given up. She gave up on mirror-mel who taunts her. She will become new. And she does, with the help of a man named Henry.

Henry is everything amazing. The stars, the sunset, Jesus Christ, messiah, beautiful music, and infinity all rolled up into one. She wants and he has.

Henry has infinity.

And Henry has a message. A message of love. He takes her home, to a ranch, to a family she always dreamed of. Or not. Either way, it's a family. An open, loving family. People Uncle Jack would call, “dirty hippies.” She is accepted, loved. She is chosen. Henry enjoys her. Drinks her up. She loves. They're full of love. Something she's never seen before. Something she has never experienced before. Love.

Henry is their god. Their father. Their husband. Their family. Their everything.

And Mel will do anything for him. Die. Kill. Anything. Anything to spread his message. Their family. Their love. Their open-armed, free love. Happiness.

But will she truly kill for the sake of a message? Will she give herself away?

When a man doesn't come to hear their music, hell breaks open. Henry is upset. And his family will do anything to help him, to make him happy again. He has told them to kill the man. He has chosen four of his “children” to do his bidding. Junior. Leila. Shelly. Mel. Will Mel help her family, or save herself?

This book was written amazingly. The language is so alluring, entrancing, beautiful. I could not put it down. Written in episodic-verse, the words flow easily, in a dream-like, thought-like environment, where you're so captivated, you forget where you are. Who you are. It made me wanna read a little more about the Manson Family.

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Wow, Alanna - what a beautiful review of a book that truly sounds stunning. Click here to check our catalog to see if Family is on our shelves.

The Warlock by Michael Scott (reviewed by Carolyn Adkins)

The Warlock, The Secret of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, is the 5^th book in the 6 book series by mythological writer Michael Scott. Do you know what’s better than seeing William Shakespeare battle non-human creatures on space ships? Nothing. Which is exactly what happened in this book, nothing. It was boring! The battles were lame and the story only advanced what, a couple of hours? Going back and forth to four or five different locations with different characters, being introduced to characters that have nothing to do with the plot, and being told one thing then told another all amounted to one thing. Yes, you must go through the entire boring and drab book, where nothing happens, to read the last sentence. The last sentence, not even the last paragraph, the last sentence is probably the biggest twist in the entire series! I highly recommend this book, just as long as you read the first four, just so you can read that last sentence. And to watch William Shakespeare battle non-human creatures on space ships.

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Oh, Carolyn - this was hilarious! I love an honest review, but is anything more frustrating than when a series doesn't turn out the way you want? Click here check our catalog to see if The Warlock is on our shelves so you can see if you agree with Carolyn.

Nightspell by Leah Cypess (reviewed by Amethyst Collins)

This is an intriguing new installment by Leah Cypess that, while showing her ability and style in writing, manages to create an entirely different story in a world previously created. I love the way she took something often used in fiction stories – ghosts – and made them entirely her own. Only people who were murdered stay as ghosts, and they only stay until they avenge themselves. Also, they have weaknesses such as silver and sunlight, can eat food and fool people into thinking they’re alive, and their whole reason for existence comes from a spell. Cool, no? And while romance was practically nonexistent, there is a lot of love in this story.

One of my favorite lines goes something like: “I don’t like my sister, but I love her.” I think a lot of people can relate to this feeling, even if it’s only at moments. The basic plotline is a girl going to save her sister from a forced marriage to bind two kingdoms together. In case you haven’t guessed, things don’t go quite according to plan. I enjoyed the time I spent reading Nightspell, and there were several instances where I would be so drawn into the book that I would gasp out loud. Would I recommend it? Well, though I liked Mistwood better, Nightspell is definitely a story well worth reading.

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Thanks Amethyst for this great review. Amethyst reviewed Nightspell from an Advance Reading Copy, but I saved this review until the today because today is Nightspell's release day, hoorah! \o/ Happy book birthday to Nightspell!

While you wait for the library's copy of Nightspell to arrive, you can click here to see if the companion novel, Mistwood, is on our shelves!

Do YOU want a chance to read and review books before they're published? Do YOU think you could give your opinion on if the library/other people should buy these books? If so, you can ask at youth services or send us an e-mail for more information on how you can get a chance to be an advance reviewer. We have lots of ARs waiting for your reviews, so ask today!

Paper Towns by John Green (reviewed by Emily TenCate)

If you're anything like me, if I told you that the novel Paper Towns by John Green detailed the lives of a gamer and a popular girl in their last month of high school, you would be bored (or at least pretty skeptical) already. If I told you the novel also included romance, beer, and mischief, you'd groan and mutter, "Typical," and you'd probably cross the book off of your list without a second thought. Paper Towns is, indeed, about all of these things. But it's also about something more, and, in fact, that's the whole point of Paper Towns: it's impossible to sum something up if you only look at its components. To understand something, you really need to have seen the whole.

Paper Towns points out in excruciating detail that we (especially as high schoolers) only see people by parts. Take Margo Roth Spiegelmann, for example, the enigmatic sort-of-protagonist who is usually summed up (incompletely) as queen bee of the high school. When you get to know her, though, she's actually a marvelous prankster, with a head full of plans and stories and metaphysical theories about life. Take Quentin (also known as Q), an avid gamer and the boy-next-door, whose undiscovered inner hero only surfaces when Margo goes missing. Take "Bloody Ben", another obsessive gamer, whose whole life is defined by one embarrassing incident.

Throughout the book, these people discover that everyone has three dimensions. (Well, mostly everyone; the drunk jocks in this novel are as senseless and two-dimensional as ever.) They learn that you have to read people the way you read poetry: you can't understand the meaning if you only read and understand a couple of lines. You have to understand the poem as a whole before you can really say what it's all about.

And if you think philosophy is too boring and you'll never read this book, never fear, because Paper Towns is also deliciously, unexpectedly hilarious! And when I say hilarious, it's not just funny, it's laugh-out-loud ridiculous. It's intense, engaging, and (though this is coming from a senior in her last couple months of high school), completely understandable... well, maybe all except the part about naked graduation. Read it; you won't regret (or forget!) it.

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OH EMILY, WHAT A GREAT REVIEW OF ONE OF MY FAVORITE BOOKS OF ALL TIME. I can only express my feelings about Paper Towns as such - <3 <3 <3

If you haven't read anything by John Green, you need to fix that ASAP, so click here to see if Paper Towns (or anything else by John Green) is on our shelves.

Eon: Dragon Reborn by Alison Goodman (reviewed by Carolyn Adkins)

Eon: Dragon Reborn takes place in a world where one of twelve dragons makes a pack with a dragoneye. Together, they fight for peace, but that peace is about to be destroyed. Eon is a new dragoneye fighting to protect the peace, but Eon is not as he seems, because Eon is a girl and girls are not allowed to be dragoneyes.

Eon is a book that is hard to put down and jammed-packed with actions that both teens and adults will find thrilling. Eon takes you to a world with vibrant description and you know exactly what is happening and there's never a dull moment. I love this book and can't wait for the second!

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I love this book too, Carolyn! Soooo good. It reminded me of Tamora Pierce and who doesn't love Tamora Pierce, right?! Click here to see if Eon: Dragoneye Reborn is on our shelves.

Carolyn reviewed Eon: Dragoneye Reborn so she could have a chance to read an advance review copy of Eona BEFORE it came out. How did Carolyn find out about this awesome opportunity? She's signed up for the library's teen e-mail list, so she gets to hear about all the latest news, promotions, programs, and events first. Want to be on the list? Send us an e-mail at ysweb @ lacnm dot us to get added! You can also hear about what's happening by visiting the library's teen website!

Do YOU want a chance to read and review books before they're published? Do YOU think you could give your opinion on if the library/other people should buy these books? If so, you can ask at youth services or send us an e-mail for more information on how you can get a chance to be an advance reviewer. We have lots of ARCs waiting for your reviews, so ask today!

Fury of the Phoenix by Cindy Pon (reviewed by Xian Eutsler)

Fury of the Phoenix by Cindy Pon is the next and last book to Silver Phoenix. The first book is called Silver Phoenix. They both follow Ai Ling and Chen Yong, then in Fury of the Phoenix Zhong Ye, the emperors most trusted advisor.

In Fury of the Phoenix Ai Ling accompanies Chen Yong to look for his father. During the journey Ai Ling is haunted by Zhong Ye and the time she spent with him. They meet Sea Shifters, storms, pirates, and months on a ship called Gliding Dragon.

Ever since I read Silver Phoenix I was thinking if there would be another book, and there is! This book takes place mostly outside the Kingdom of Xia, people who come from the kingdom are referred to as Xian. (My name is Xian, without the apostrophe between the i and a.) When I started reading Fury of the Phoenix I could not put it down. At first I was confused as to why the point of view of Ai Ling changed to someone else’s point of view. Then I found out it was from Zhong Ye’s point of view, and how he met Silver Phoenix. (Ai Ling’s previous reincarnation.) The book kept switching between the two points of view. Ai Ling and Chen Yong on a journey to find Chen Yong’s father, and how Zhong Ye gained immortality and came to love Silver Phoenix.

This book has adventure, romance, secrets, revelations, action, and suspense. There was nothing I didn’t like about the book. I was most interested in the truth about Zhong Ye and his status with the emperor, and with Silver Phoenix.

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Thanks Xian for this great review. Xian reviewed Fury of the Phoenix from an Advance Reading Copy, but I saved this review until the today because today is Fury of the Phoenix's release day, hoorah! \o/ Happy book birthday to Fury of the Phoenix!

Cindy Pon liked Xian's review so much she sent us some amazingly cool bookmarks and cards and if you show up at a library teen event, you just might get some, yay.

While you wait for the library's copy of Fury of the Phoenix to arrive, you can click here to see if Silver Phoenix is on our shelves!

Do YOU want a chance to read and review books before they're published? Do YOU think you could give your opinion on if the library/other people should buy these books? If so, you can ask at youth services or send us an e-mail for more information on how you can get a chance to be an advance reviewer. We have lots of ARs waiting for your reviews, so ask today!

Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting (reviewed by Xian Eutsler)

Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting is the second book in The Body Finder series. It takes place after the serial killer was revealed in The Body Finder.

Violet Ambrose is approaching seventeen years old, and is dating her best friend, Jay Heaton. On a trip with Chelsea to visit one of the islands in western Washington Violet hears an echo. It is something only she can hear. It calls to her, the source however is something once living. The echoes are the dead calling to her. The dead that have died violently, such as murder; they call to her. When she follows the echo to a cargo container she knows what is inside; a dead body. No one else besides her uncle, mother, father, and Jay know about her ability to find dead bodies. Now the FBI wants to know about Violet’s ability. Not only does the discovery of the body remind Violet about what happen last time; but there is another string of murders. All leading up to a murderer who is closer then she thinks.

When I heard that there was a second book in this series, I couldn’t wait to read it. In this book Jay and Violet have begun dating. The relationship has some rocky parts, but all turns well. In this book the points of view switch between Violet’s and another person’s point of view. In the mind of the mysterious person makes you think about what is going on, and who it might be. This book kept me guessing till the end. The suspense, action, mystery, romance, and horror; all come together in the second book in The Body Finder series.

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YAY, Xian! Last year Xian wrote an amazing review of The Body Finder, the first book in this series. The author, Kimberly Derting, was so amazing, she sent us a bunch of great stuff (like bookmarks and stickers!) because of Xian's review. Whooo! Click here to check our catalog to see if The Body Finder is on our shelves.

This year, Xian had the chance to review an ADVANCE READER'S COPY (ARC) of the second book in the series, meaning she got a chance to read it before it was published and she had a chance to let the library know if it she thought we should purchase it for our shelves or not.

Do YOU want a chance to read and review books before they're published? Do YOU think you could give your opinion on if the library/other people should buy these books? If so, you can ask at youth services or send us an e-mail for more information on how you can get a chance to be an advance reviewer.

And guess what? Kimberly Derting liked Xian's second review so much she sent us more great goodies!! If you show up at a library teen event, you just might get some too! ^___^

The Host by Stephenie Meyer (reviewed by Amethyst Collins)

Do you love science-fiction? Aliens? Romance? World apocalypse, peaceful style? Intense conflict and personal enlightenment? If you answered yes (or maybe) to any of those, then The Host is the book for you.

As a reader, I first liked The Host because of its size. I want a book I can lose myself in, and that doesn’t usually happen in the 200 pagers. At over 600 pages (hardback copy), I was definitely drawn toward this novel.

Told almost entirely in first person, this story is unique in being able to tell the story from two points of view – without actually switching point of view. How is this possible, you ask? Well, you see, the most main character, Wanda, is a parasite, an alien, who has been inserted into a human body, Melanie, and taken complete control. Or at least, that’s what’s supposed to happen. This particular human is not going down without a fight, and even though she has lost her body, Melanie is not giving up her mind.

This is where the romance kicks in. Since Melanie is still present in Wanda’s head, Melanie’s thoughts and desires are a major distraction. And one person is thought of a lot. That would be Jared, Melanie’s partner before her capture. Wanda’s tie to Melanie’s body is complete, and Melanie wants Jared, so isn’t it natural that Wanda would want Jared, too? But Jared is still free, still part of the resistance, and he no longer trusts Melanie – or whatever it is that is inside her.
Wanda was supposed to receive the joys of Earth – the sights, the emotions, the experiences – without a pesky human interrupting her attempt at a normal (for them) invasion. Their species, of which the individual is called a “soul,” has taken over many, many planets in the galaxy. They have technology far advancing the human race – there is no disease, no hunger, no pain – and when they take over a planet it is peaceful. One could rightly argue they make that world a better place. On Earth they cured cancer, eliminated conflict and murder. They truly improve everything around them; but the cost is each individual’s presence in the world. Is it really worth that?

I don’t want to spoil any more of it for you, but by the time you finish this book you will see some things differently (and you will find at least one male character that you love; unless of course you yourself are a male, and then you will just enjoy the violence of the resisting humans and the intricate plot design).

And for anyone who is put-off because this is by the same author who wrote Twilight? Don’t be so ridiculous. Whatever your judgment of Twilight is, put it aside for just a moment. You don’t want to miss out on this because of negative bias.

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OMG Amethyst, I totttttalllly agrreeeee. There's nothing worse than judging a book by comparing it to another book. And this book is a crazy-good-sci-fic romp! I hope she writes another one soon! Click here to check our catalog to see if The Host is on our shelves.

The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke (reviewed by Bear Schacht)

When browsing for a book at the library the title The Thief Lord caught my eye. I recognized the author's name, Funke, from another book I enjoyed, Dragon Rider. The Thief Lord takes place in Venice, Italy and follows a small band of thief children. The story focuses on Prosper and Bo, two runaway brothers, and Scipio, the group's leader, a boy who wants to be grown-up. When the guardians of Prosper and Bo send a detective after them the band of thieves's way of living is shaken up and Scipio gets the biggest job he ever has to do. The friendshop between the children, especially the brothers, and how they use their wits to get by, combined with some very amusing bits and some mystery as well, made it very enjoyable to read. Unlike most of my other favorite books, The Thief Lord is not part of a series. It is a very solid, self-sufficient story that is about 350 pages long. I would recommend this book to just about anyone.

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I love Cornelia Funke! This one had an ending I did not see coming, which was a real surprise for once. Click here to check our catalog to see if The Thief Lord is on our shelves.

The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa (reviewed by Xian Eutsler)

The Iron Queen by Julia Kagawa, is about a soon to be seventeen Meghan Chase, an exiled winter prince, a comical fey, a war against the Iron Fey, and her return to the Nevernever.

When sixteen year old Meghan Chase is summoned by her fey father Oberon to come and help fight the war against the Iron fey, she doesn’t have a choice. Along with the winter prince, a childhood friend and a cait sith must fight a war with the Iron fey. A war that could destroy the Nevernever, and everyone Meghan cares about.

I couldn’t put this book down! I read the previous books, The Iron King and The Iron Daughter. Now there is The Iron Queen!

This book has suspense, mystery, romance, action, and adventure. All the characteristics that make the series exciting! There are riddles and the mysteries characters, secrets and sacrifices. This book is one of my favorites, it’s something I’ll read over and over again.

There is nothing that I didn’t like in this book. All the elements that make a book exciting are here. This kind of book combines the nature of the Fey, with modern time alternate universe aspect. It is a world that could be very real...it’s there, we just don’t see it.

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Since Xian was such a huge fan of this series and she writes such great reviews for us and she tells EVERYONE to read Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series, I contacted the publisher to see if they could send us a review copy. A BIG THANKS to HarlequinTeen for sending a review copy for our teen ARC reviewers to take a look at! YAY!! ^___^

Xian reviewed an ADVANCE READER'S COPY (ARC) of this book, meaning she got a chance to read it before it was published and then she had a chance to let the library know if it she thought we should purchase it for our shelves or not. Do YOU want a chance to read and review books before they're published? Do YOU think you could give your opinion on if the library/other people should buy these books? If so, you can ask at youth services or send us an e-mail for more information on how you can get a chance to be an ARC reviewer.

Click here to check our catalog to see if other books in Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series are checked in or to pre-reserve the The Iron Queen today!

An Infinite Thread by Maggie Stiefvater, Tessa Gratton, and Brenna Yovanoff (reviewed by Amethyst Collins)

The genre of short stories is one that I think is very overlooked. (I myself am guilty of this.) However, the stories, or perhaps I should say scenes, in An Infinite Thread are proof of how short stories could be making a larger appearance in public reading.

This book was put together as a collection of writing exercises by the three authors, who call themselves the Merry Sisters of Fate. This means that they often leave the reader in suspense, wondering what happens next. Many times they start right in the middle of an important moment, and only by reading on can the reader get an idea of what is happening. (Isn’t that the point of a story? To get someone to read it?) I think they are good because they have realistic descriptions and even the tensest moments often have humor. Example: Your best friend is deadly vampire staring at you silently, about to bite you, and the author makes a subtle diss on Twilight. Perfect.

I like short stories because they give me a good stopping point. If I have homework or chores to do, but I really want to read, I can pick up a short story book and read a story in ten minutes, do some of my work, read another story, do more work, read another story… And it’s also nice in school, because when I finish my work early I can take it out, read a story and be at a stopping place before I have to pay attention again.

Each of the Sisters has their own unique style of writing, and every reader I’ve talked with has their favorite. The Sisters also have a website, so after reading the book you can go there and read more by your favorite author. Also, they self-published An Infinite Thread, so I give them major kudos. Recommended? Yes.

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Our FIRST review of a short story collection, woot!

Amethyst reviewed a book that wasn't yet added to the library's collection to let us know if she thought it was worth adding to the shelves. Do YOU think you could give your opinion on if the library/other people should buy or add books? If so, you can ask at youth services or send us an e-mail for more information on how you can get a chance to be a pre-reviewer for certain titles! (and yes, we're definitely adding this title, so keep your eyes on the shelves for your chance to check it out!)

We used this book for prompts and discussion in our library's teen writing group and we all loved it so much! We loved it SO MUCH we asked Brenna Yovanoff to be our next featured author in our Best!Book!Ever! book club and she agreed! She'll be live-chatting with us about her book The Replacement on MARCH 1, 2011! Starting reading today to join the conversation! Maybe we can ask her questions about stories from An Infinite Thread too!

Click here to check our catalog to see if Brenna's The Replacement is on our shelves. Interested in some of the amazing Maggie's books? Click here to check out catalog to see if any of Maggie Stiefvater's books are on our shelves. And, of course, keep an eye out for Tessa's debut novel Blood Magic, due out this April. (Why, I might even have an ARC of Blood Magic just waiting to be reviewed ...)

The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman (reviewed by Emily TenCate)

The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman is the factual tale of an extremely isolated tribal mountain people, the Hmong, who are driven from their homes in the Laotian mountains and eventually are relocated to America, where they are confronted with Western ideas, values, and science. The novel details the case of Lia Lee, an epileptic Hmong child. Hmong tradition believes that epilepsy is a condition where "the spirit catches you and you fall down," which refers to the spirit temporarily leaving the body to commune with other spirits. The Hmong regard this as a gift from the gods, and the afflicted are treated as royalty. When Lia's parents immigrate to California, though, and she has a severe grand mal seizure, her parents decide to take her to nearby Merced Medical Center.

The doctors on call instantly sedate the seizing child according to protocol, taking the parents' terrified silence as consent. The parents, frightened and confused, watch as their child is hooked up to foreign machines and injected with strange, colorful substances. They fear that these strange procedures might scare Lia's spirit and drive it away permanently. The hospital staff provides instructions for medications, but Lia's parents cannot understand them and turn to their own traditional methods of animal sacrifice and prayer. This goes on for a very long time because of the unrecognized communication gap, and Lia's condition deteriorates.

Finally, one social worker does recognize the real problem. She makes a concerted effort to teach Hmong young adults how to speak English and pursue higher learning which they can then bring back to their own community. It's a long and arduous process, but she's successful in coaching several young Hmong so that they are able to gain admission and successfully graduate medical school. They are finally able to explain Western science to their parents, relatives, and the entire Hmong community in a way that is compatible with their traditional beliefs.

Through the efforts of this lone woman, the growing Hmong refugee community in Southern California was able to integrate itself positively into Western society without losing its cultural identity.

I REALLY recommend this book; it's a fascinating window into a completely different culture and how its people overcame huge adversity and stereotyping.

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Yay, Emily, our first ever review of an adult non-fiction title! Click here to check our catalog to see if The Spirit Catches You and you Fall Down is on our shelves.

This book was selected by YALSA for their 2009 Outstanding Books for the College Bound lists. These lists cover a wide array of subjects and genres and the books on them are AMAZING. If you're feeling like reading some different, interesting, challenging, and great books (like this one!) try some selections off these lists!

Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne (reviewed by Bear Schacht)

Journey to the Center of the Earth is one of those classic pieces of fiction that has survived for many years and it is still a gripping and exciting story about mans desire to explore the unknown. It is slightly difficult to read and the more scientific bits are sometimes hard to get through, but otherwise it is a fantastic adventure story that makes you wish it was actually possible to descend through a volcano down to an underground ocean and prehistoric monsters. I think Journey to the Center of the Earth is a book that anybody could enjoy reading.

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Ah, Bear! A true classic! Who doesn't love some Jules Verne?! ^___^ This is also a good reminder you can review ANYTHING for this blog (as long as the library has a copy or you're writing as an advance reviewer/pre-reviewer) it doesn't have to be a brand new.

Click here to check our catalog to see if Journey to the Center of the Earth is on the shelves.