FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!

Which means the first day of Grad school for me.  I am taking two classes - Graphic Novels and Literature for Youth.  That's pretty much what I will be reading for the next 3 months and that is what will (mostly) be reflected here.  Actually, part of my assignment for the Youth Lit is to write a blog with reviews.  Those will stand out because they will have the unit # at the top.  

But first - 

I finished "Ink and Bone" (#1 in The Great Library series) by Rachel Caine last night.  It's VERY good.  It starts out in an alternate universe London. Ten-year old Jess risks his life smuggling books for his father.  Real books - pen and ink and paper books. These are considered contraband.  People read and learn and have personal libraries.  But they don't own real books unless they purchase them on the black market. They own -- blanks that are filled with copies of books.  The only thing I can think of to compare it to is an e-book.  The Library (capital "L" library) controls all human knowledge. Or tries to.  It is based in Alexandria, Egypt where the Great Library of Alexandria never burned down. And Gutenberg never invented the printing press. Because that would have made knowledge to accessible to the masses which, the Library believes, would be a very bad thing indeed.  

Fast forward a few years and Jess, who spends every spare moment reading his father's illegal real books, is sent off to become a member of the Library. His father wants someone on the inside to help with their smuggling projects. But something is very wrong indeed with the Library.  Jess and his friends land right in the middle of it -- which is not a good place to be. 

It's hard to describe it without throwing out spoilers.  When I first started reading it, I thought it might have a bit of a Harry Potter flavor but that quickly gave way to more of a Hunger Games feel. But the students aren't really pitted against each other -- they are fighting whatever or whomever controls the Library.  It has lots of twists and turns - and all of it is very unexpected. Caine has done an excellent job of world-building. It has a strong male protagonist; several, actually - so I think boys and girls both would enjoy it.  Probably ages 14 and up. It gets a bit grim in places. Looking forward to the next book in the series. And to meeting Rachel Caine when she comes to my library in October!!! (squee!)

And I just discovered I am in good company because Felicia Day just finished reading this also - and she gave it five stars on Goodreads. 

I am also listening to "The Conspiracy of Us" by Maggie Hall. It's... intriguing.  The Order, the Circle of 12, the Mandate, the girl with the violet eyes...  I think I'm about 1/3 of the way through it. And again - it's really hard to say much at all without spoiling the book. "An ancient puzzle; A trail of clues; An unwanted destiny" Now if I can just fight my impulse to smack Avery....  I'll let you know more when I finish it!