Best Teen & Young Adult Fairy Tales & Folklore
1 Cinder
See where the futuristic YA fairytale saga all began, with the tale of a teenage cyborg who must fight for Earth's survival against villains from outer space. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai's, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world's future. “This series opener and debut offers a high coolness factor by rewriting Cinderella as a kickass mechanic in a plague-ridden future.” ― Kirkus Reviews on Cinder. “First in the Lunar Chronicles series, this futuristic twist on Cinderella retains just enough of the original that readers will enjoy spotting the subtle similarities. But debut author Meyer's brilliance is in sending the story into an entirely new, utterly thrilling dimension .” ― Publishers Weekly, starred review for Cinder. “Singing mice and glass slippers are replaced with snarky androids and mechanical feet in this richly imagined and darkly subversive retelling of ‘Cinderella. Marissa didn't actually go to Stadium High School, but she did attend Pacific Lutheran University, where she earned her bachelor's degree in Creative Writing.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I have never been to Beijing so I can't verify what changes are made in this version, but I loved how Meyer described the contrasting worlds of glitz and glamour and the dreary and impoverished. I also was fascinated by the descriptions of the Lunar kingdom that is mentioned through myths in this installment, but I have a feeling it will become a primary setting later in the series. The two main ones are the deadly illness that is slowly wiping out the population of the city and the impending attack from the ruthless Lunar kingdom. I also enjoyed seeing the little Cinderella tidbits that Meyer threw into the fray such as Cinder's orange "classic" car and her prosthetic foot that keeps falling off. I was especially intrigued by the way Meyer used the cyborg prejudices of Cinder's neighbors to mirror the neglect of the Cinderella from the fairy tale. Prince Kaito, or Kai as he is known to Cinder, is a unique hero in the land of young adult literature."
"I hope it this gets turned into a movie they found actors who can portray this well because those I feel were the best moments in the book."
"I have bought this book for many friends as it is a fun adventure to get lost in."
"People don't look too kindly on cyborgs, so Cinder mainly keeps to herself and gets her work done. I liked Marissa Meyer's take on the fairy-tale and the changes she made in making it her own, but regardless of these changes there is still the familiar story that many of us grew up knowing. When Peony falls ill of the plague, once again Cinder is looked at with disgust by her stepmother and offered up as a "volunteer" for a plague vaccine (which has not boded well for said volunteers). For all that I thought was predictable, I still didn't want to put down the book, and Meyer did surprise by leaving us with an open ending. I'm very interested to find out how Meyer continues on with the fairy-tale retellings while weaving together the overall conflicts she started here in Cinder."
Combining Richard Howard's translation with restored original art, this definitive English-language edition of The Little Prince will capture the hearts of readers of all ages. It's a wonderfully inventive sequence, which evokes not only the great fairy tales but also such monuments of postmodern whimsy as Italo Calvino's Invisible Cities . The author pokes similar fun at a businessman, a geographer, and a lamplighter, all of whom signify some futile aspect of adult existence. Yet his tale is ultimately a tender one--a heartfelt exposition of sadness and solitude, which never turns into Peter Pan -style treacle. Such delicacy of tone can present real headaches for a translator, and in her 1943 translation , Katherine Woods sometimes wandered off the mark, giving the text a slightly wooden or didactic accent. The result is a new and improved version of an indestructible classic, which also restores the original artwork to full color.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"So let's try to counter this right off the bat and move my ratings to the top of the page: The ratings: Le Petit Prince: 5 stars. English translations to date: Wakeman/Foreman: 4.5 stars. Woods: 4.25 stars. Howard: 1 star. Schwarz: 1 star. Testot-Ferry: 1 star. In 2000, the Richard Howard translation of The Little Prince was released to supercede the original of Katherine Woods from 1943. When a publisher comes to one to translate such a classic how does one ever turn them down and say the last translation was good enough! I grew up on Katherine Woods' translation and prefer it over the Howard, but I must admit, when I look at my French copy, the Woods too has some elisions in translation. During the farewell from the fox, she translates: "It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important." Howard translates: "It's the time you spent on your rose that makes your rose so important." Literally this translates far more meaningfully and philosophically than either of the Woods or the Howard as "It is the time which you have lost for your rose which makes your rose so important." I am not sure why both of them would dilute the original like they have, for it has surely been diluted from what St. Exupery wrote and intended, but the Woods translation is very close to St. Exupery's text and meaning and brings a layer to think about beyond merely "spent" time. Then these translators do other things. I recently found another translation of which I was unaware, from Alan Wakeman, 1995 (hardcover), illustrated from St. Exupery by Michael Foreman. Wakeman (he says in the preface), started translating in 1979, not under contract, but simply because he was not satisfied with the Katherine Woods' translation. Wakeman's translation is pretty accurate. He translates "blé", the colour of the little prince's hair, as "corn." Wakeman seems to have never spent any time by a corn field to know that, unlike the fox who lives there, so Wakeman does not get that his quirky translation allusion is a stretch in reminding one of the little prince's hair colour. Foreman's illustrations are what is special about this Wakeman translation. But where Foreman has really excelled is in introducing 8 beautiful full page or double page paintings of the little prince and the pilot: comforting the little prince when he was sad, walking with the little prince in his arms when exhausted to find water, sharing his drawings with the little prince, running with his revolver to kill the snake if he could... whole new enhancements to the story, bringing more forward the relationship that it was, not just story-telling about the little prince. The Woods translation is still head and shoulders above the new ones, except for the Wakeman. The Foreman illustrations with the Wakeman translation I think makes it even better. The Woods translation hardcover is now a collectors item and can often be very expensive and harder to find in the U.S. The Howard translation, both hardcover and softcover (blue cover), both with color illustrations (and some black and white), is easily available at a quite reasonable price. I cannot vouch for the paperback version, publications of which often get cheap and sometimes are done with black and white illustrations only, like the Katherine Woods paperback and the Testot-Ferry translation (see below and see my review of Michael Foreman's Arthur High King Of Britain for more.). The ratings: Le Petit Prince: 5 stars. English translations to date: Wakeman/Foreman: 4.5 stars. Woods: 4.25 stars. Howard: 1 star. Schwarz: 1 star. Testot-Ferry: 1 star. P.S. The Testot-Ferry translation is awkward. There are better (more accurate) translations and more richness and layers of meaning in the Wakeman and the Woods translations, which are missing and awkward in the Testot-Ferry, and which such a classic piece of literature deserves. St. Exupery’s birth family appears to have approved of the Wakeman translation, but St. Exupery’s wife Consuelo (and now her family), I believe, own the copyright, and my guess is, have a pretty strict and exclusive agreement with Harcourt Brace in North America."
"In 2000, the Richard Howard translation of The Little Prince was released to supercede the original of Katherine Woods from 1943. Then Howard modernises Katherine Woods' rendition, "cry" with his "weep" during the departure from the fox. I am not sure why both of them would dilute the original like they have, for it has surely been diluted from what St. Exupery wrote and intended, but the Woods translation is very close to St. Exupery's text and meaning and brings a layer to think about beyond merely "spent" time. The colors have been filled in like old cellular film animation, and are just flat, losing St. Exupery's delicate drawing and watercolour washes. The drawing of the fox in his lair has completely lost all the grass that was so delicately drawn by St. Exupery. Here the baobab trees and the weeding of Asteroid B-612 are now set against the dark background of space, not the daylight of the originals. Their approach to translation, like Howard's is unforgivable, and is another reason this book too should absolutely just sit on the rubbish heap until someone re-does it properly. The book itself is charming: tiny, hardcover, with gilt page edges and a ribbon marker. I recently found another translation of which I was unaware, from Alan Wakeman, 1995 (hardcover), illustrated from St. Exupery by Michael Foreman. He worked in his favourite retreat by the sea, overlooking the Golfe de Giens, which turned out, from the beginning discovery in 1993 of St. Exupery's sunken plane, to overlook the crash site in the sea where St. Exupery was lost. Nice, and with a layer of fate the Schwarz's miss, but which Woods captures, albeit a bit more clumsily with "in danger of speedy disappearance." Technically correct, but an odd choice usually considered much more a secondary meaning to the more common one of "wheat." The tassels, while colour correct, are overwhelmed in a corn field, especially from a fox's point of view, by all the green and are not really seen either. The line work and watercolour is far more skilful than St. Exupery, but extraordinarily faithful, and retains that childlike naiveté. All drawings have been given color, which brings a satisfaction absent from some, even in the original publication, where for example, I have been sorely tempted to pull out my own paint box for the little prince watching the sunset. The Woods edition appears to be available economically as a paperback (white cover, usually pre-2000 publishing date), but with no color illustrations. The Howard translation, both hardcover and softcover (blue cover), both with color illustrations (and some black and white), is easily available at a quite reasonable price. The Schwarz translation is available in England and Canada easily, but hard to locate and has very poor notes on amazon.com. The Wakeman/Foreman collaboration (hardcover) can still be found used, in good shape, economical, for now, but also as a very expensive collectors item. You will learn more about life and language and different cultures in doing so than in many larger weightier, more adult tomes and our children will too from this timeless story with so many layers and such depth in its simplicity. I have also discovered there is enough of the Irene Testot-Ferry translation (Wordsworth) on the amazon "read inside" feature to render an opinion on it too. A recent comment elsewhere prompted this post script: If you have a Cuffe translation of The Little Prince it too is very rare and likely will never be re-printed. St. Exupery’s birth family appears to have approved of the Wakeman translation, but St. Exupery’s wife Consuelo (and now her family), I believe, own the copyright, and my guess is, have a pretty strict and exclusive agreement with Harcourt Brace in North America. Which means yes, the Katherine Woods version is still available in England where it is beyond HB’s taste and control, thankfully."
"I read The Little Prince for the first time about 20 years ago and it came back into my life a month ago."
"I saw a film version of this classic children's book back in the 70s."
"This book is a must read, whether you’re in 3rd or 4th grade, high school, college, or finishing your Ph.D. Beautiful book."
"A classic tale for children that should be read by adults at some point in their lives to gain perspective, I adore this this book."
"Extremely helpful to have the CD along with it; I love listening to the French version."
3 Cress
The third book in the #1 New York Times- and USA Today- Bestselling Lunar Chronicles series by Marissa Meyer! The evil space queen gives an imprisoned hacker orders to track down our cyborg heroine and her team of reimagined fairytale characters. Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker; unfortunately, she's just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice. Find out what happens in another richly imagined adventure in Marissa Meyer's world of fairytale (with characters based off of Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood and Rapunzel), science fiction, and intergalatic intruigue. Don't miss these other books from #1 New York Times - and USA Today -Bestselling author Marissa Meyer : The Lunar Chronicles : Cinder. Scarlet. Cress. Winter. Stars Above. Fairest. Her latest assignment is to search for Cinder, the escaped cyborg mechanic who crashed Emperor Kai’s ball and won his heart in spite of his announced betrothal to Lavana. In this third book in Meyer’s fractured fairy tale series, Cinder, Scarlet, Wolf, and Cress team up to stop the emperor’s wedding, preventing Lavana from becoming Earth’s queen and thus destroying it.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Cress kept up this cat and mouse game where Prince Kai and the on the run, Cinder are feeling overwhelmed yet willing to save everyone on earth in their own ways. Meeting a few new players, lots of excitement, a couple great twists and introspective moments and I had myself a very satisfying read. Cress is book three of the Young Adult dystopian fairytale retelling series, The Lunar Chronicles. There are at least a handful of correlations that fairytale lovers will adore seeing, though, the author writes a very original story here. She also has some darker thoughts and fights using her unlocked Lunar ability for the wrong reasons and turning into Levana. Oh, and then we have a few new players added to the mix that promise for some great reading in the final book, Winter. I can most definitely recommend this series to those who enjoy a blend of sci-fi, dystopian, fairytale retelling, suspense, and romance."
"I’m not one for romance in stories because I often feel it detracts from the overall plot, but the connection between Carswell and Cress made this a page-turner for me. I feel connected to every character and I’m rooting for each of their individual stories."
"This book is a brilliant addition to the series and one I was so excited to read. It starts right up where the last let off and although there are parts in it that seem a tad bit slow going or maybe needlessly stretched out, when you get into the action it just doesn't stop!"
"As the main character in book three of The Lunar Chronicles it seemed that Cress doesn't get quite as much of the novel dedicated just to her as the two previous books have to their characters. Any reader new to the series will definitely want to begin with the first book, Cinder: Book One of the Lunar Chronicles, even though author Marissa Meyer has done a really good job of integrating the backstory of all the characters up to this point."
Best Teen & Young Adult Fairy Tale & Folklore Adaptations
See where the futuristic YA fairytale saga all began, with the tale of a teenage cyborg who must fight for Earth's survival against villains from outer space. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai's, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world's future. “This series opener and debut offers a high coolness factor by rewriting Cinderella as a kickass mechanic in a plague-ridden future.” ― Kirkus Reviews on Cinder. “First in the Lunar Chronicles series, this futuristic twist on Cinderella retains just enough of the original that readers will enjoy spotting the subtle similarities. But debut author Meyer's brilliance is in sending the story into an entirely new, utterly thrilling dimension .” ― Publishers Weekly, starred review for Cinder. “Singing mice and glass slippers are replaced with snarky androids and mechanical feet in this richly imagined and darkly subversive retelling of ‘Cinderella. Marissa didn't actually go to Stadium High School, but she did attend Pacific Lutheran University, where she earned her bachelor's degree in Creative Writing.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I have never been to Beijing so I can't verify what changes are made in this version, but I loved how Meyer described the contrasting worlds of glitz and glamour and the dreary and impoverished. I also was fascinated by the descriptions of the Lunar kingdom that is mentioned through myths in this installment, but I have a feeling it will become a primary setting later in the series. The two main ones are the deadly illness that is slowly wiping out the population of the city and the impending attack from the ruthless Lunar kingdom. I also enjoyed seeing the little Cinderella tidbits that Meyer threw into the fray such as Cinder's orange "classic" car and her prosthetic foot that keeps falling off. I was especially intrigued by the way Meyer used the cyborg prejudices of Cinder's neighbors to mirror the neglect of the Cinderella from the fairy tale. Prince Kaito, or Kai as he is known to Cinder, is a unique hero in the land of young adult literature."
"I hope it this gets turned into a movie they found actors who can portray this well because those I feel were the best moments in the book."
"I have bought this book for many friends as it is a fun adventure to get lost in."
"People don't look too kindly on cyborgs, so Cinder mainly keeps to herself and gets her work done. I liked Marissa Meyer's take on the fairy-tale and the changes she made in making it her own, but regardless of these changes there is still the familiar story that many of us grew up knowing. When Peony falls ill of the plague, once again Cinder is looked at with disgust by her stepmother and offered up as a "volunteer" for a plague vaccine (which has not boded well for said volunteers). For all that I thought was predictable, I still didn't want to put down the book, and Meyer did surprise by leaving us with an open ending. I'm very interested to find out how Meyer continues on with the fairy-tale retellings while weaving together the overall conflicts she started here in Cinder."
Best Teen & Young Adult Fairy Tale & Folklore Anthologies
It includes Thumbelina, a little girl no more than a thumb-joint high, The Emperor's New Clothes, the tale of a man who cares only for his appearance and The Little Mermaid, who longs to one day marry a human prince. Hans Christian Andersen (1805-75) was born in Odense, Denmark, the son of a poor shoemaker and a washerwoman.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"He complained that the story of the princess and the pea was shorter than expected (3 paragraphs) but there's a ton of stories he can read instead."
"He was a great psychologist and most of his tales are not focused on love stories (unlike majorities of tales around the world)."
"Second, there is a hyperlinked table of contents for instant access to any of the stories, unlike many of the free ebooks I've seen."
"So if you, like me, are determined to try and re-visit your childhood via fairy tales written by Hans Christian Andersen no matter what, at least take pity on yourself--or pity on your children if you're trying to read the stories to them--and read this version."
"My daughter (who is 3 1/2) is totally all about "frozen" and "the little Mermaid" and I was telling her that the stories were written a LONG time ago... She loves the other stories and we haven't tackled the long ones yet, cause I read to her at bedtime, and we generally only get in 4-5 pages before she zonks out!!"
"I remember these stories growing up."
"I ordered and read this book after reading the Snow Queen."
Best Teen & Young Adult Country & Ethnic Fairy Tales & Folklore
From the authors who wrote and illustrated Ola, Leif the Lucky, and Children of the Northlights comes their collection of Norwegian folktales. Known for their vibrant and imaginative interpretations of Scandinavian folklore, Greek and Norse mythology, and American history, the books of Ingri and Edgar Parin d’Aulaire have entertained readers for more than seventy-five years.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Beautiful reprint."
"Superior quality printing."
"D'Aulaires' Book of Norwegian Folktales was originally published in 1938 with the title East of the Sun and West of the Moon. They quickly realized that there were already near perfect translations available so they relied on an old Norwegian edition, Dasent's translation, and their own translation to perfect the stories. He found a poor girl to be his bride, but she messed things up, so he had to leave her and marry someone else. The stories were easy to read and very fascinating, because it exposes the reader to a culture they might not understand, but also might not get a chance to experience otherwise."
"Three grandkids are enthralled with myths and folk tales."
"The binding doesn't look very sturdy, pages are thick old fashioned cream color."
"Any D'Aulaires fans will enjoy!"
"My children have treasured these books since they were very small.I hope someday that I will get to share them with grandchildren."
"Wonderful illustrations...exciting, but not too scary for children......a favorite book that I am giving to a young reader."
Best Teen & Young Adult Myths & Legends
All five books in the Heroes of Olympus series -- in a paperback boxed set of heroic proportions. "Fans won't be disappointed as the cliff-hanger ending from the previous book, The Mark of Athena , leads to further exciting adventures by the intrepid demigods. PRAISE FOR THE MARK OF ATHENA. PRAISE FOR THE BLOOD OF OLYMPUS.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I still can remember that night I went to his room after bedtime to tell him to go to bed and he was reading Percy Jackson!"
"Grandson's favorite stories - Thank ."
"I ordered this series for my grandson who loves the Percy Jackson series and Magnus Chase as well, so I bought him The Heroes of Olympus boxed set."
"My granddaughter asked for any of the books in the series except the first one."
"Just what my niece was looking for."
"Great set for our community library."
"My 11 year old granddaughter is on the 4 th book since I gave her at Christmas."
"Grandson loves these, was a great gift and price."
Best Teen & Young Adult Dark Fantasy
The Infernal Devices, the Complete Collection: Clockwork Angel; Clockwork Prince; Clockwork Princess
All three books in the #1 New York Times bestselling Infernal Devices trilogy, are now available together in a collectible paperback boxed set. Enter the secret world of the Shadowhunters with this handsomely packaged boxed set that includes Clockwork Angel , Clockwork Prince , and Clockwork Princess . She is the coauthor of The Bane Chronicles with Sarah Rees Brennan and Maureen Johnson and Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy with Sarah Rees Brennan, Maureen Johnson, and Robin Wasserman, as well as The Shadowhunter’s Codex, which she cowrote with her husband, Joshua Lewis.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The epitome of the best (& most emotional) love triangle I would've ever hoped to have read/imagined."
"I found the story and it's previous books, to not only be enchanting but also beautifully written, with extreme detail and a very good description of current and past land marks and locations, Tessa's London and Williams Wales made me inspired to travel."
"This book really helps you understand James and Tessa in suck a deep sense."
"Charlotte and Henry's love was explained more and left me smiling."
"Absolutely love the whole clockwork series."
"I don't want to give it away, so I will just say that the thing I didn't like was later redeemed by Cassandra because of all the other events that happen. I did take a peek at Cassandra's web page though, and am happy to say 2 more Shadowhunter type series are in the works, so I will just have to hold on to that!"
"I think it's beyond comprehension that a force is about to annihilate your race & you call a council meeting to argue about it. I also wish the mundane servants could have made more practical use of their second sight. I was stunned at the choice Jem made, but after finishing the book, I understand it better."
"I read this series before the Mortal Instruments, which are set it the same world but present day, and I have to say I like this set more (although both are on my favorites list!). I loved the Mortal Instruments as well, but I don't feel like I would have fully experienced them without reading these, as the Mortal Instruments didn't delve as deep into some of the important aspects of the shadow world (like the parabatai connection between shadowhunters)."
Best Teen & Young Adult Epic Fantasy
Perfect for fans of Lord of the Rings, the New York Times bestselling Inheritance Cycle about the dragon rider Eragon has sold over 35 million copies and is an international fantasy sensation. Gifted with only an ancient sword, a loyal dragon, and sage advice from an old storyteller, Eragon is soon swept into a dangerous tapestry of magic, glory, and power. A #1 New York Times Bestseller. A #1 Publishers Weekly Bestseller. A Wall Street Journal Bestseller. A Book Sense Bestseller.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I am really enjoying this story!"
"This is a great book with a great universe and a very interesting storyline."
"My son enjoyed this book."
"I'm not reading this with the expectation of LOTR level of writing."
"My son loves reading this collection."
"Great read."
Best Teen & Young Adult Sword & Sorcery Fantasy
Then, on Harry's eleventh birthday, a great beetle-eyed giant of a man called Rubeus Hagrid bursts in with some astonishing news: Harry Potter is a wizard, and he has a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He is left only with a lightning-bolt scar on his forehead, curiously refined sensibilities, and a host of mysterious powers to remind him that he's quite, yes, altogether different from his aunt, uncle, and spoiled, piglike cousin Dudley. Of course, Uncle Vernon yells most unpleasantly, "I AM NOT PAYING FOR SOME CRACKPOT OLD FOOL TO TEACH HIM MAGIC TRICKS!" So far it has won the National Book Award, the Smarties Prize, the Children's Book Award, and is short-listed for the Carnegie Medal, the U.K. version of the Newbery Medal. After 11 years of disregard and neglect at the hands of his aunt, uncle and their swinish son Dudley, Harry suddenly receives a visit from a giant named Hagrid, who informs Harry that his mother and father were a witch and a wizard, and that he is to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry himself.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"SPECIAL NOTE: For U.S. customers purchasing the illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, you will notice the text has NOT been converted to the "Americanized" version of the original U.S. releases (with the exception of changing all "Philosopher's Stone" mentions to "Sorcerer's Stone"). Good or bad is naturally for each reader to decide--just know, if you plan to read the books while listening to Jim Dale's audiobooks, you'll notice a few superficial differences. The quality of this new illustrated edition is phenomenal. All chapter intros are illustrated."
"IMPORTANT: For U.S. customers purchasing the illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, you will notice the text has NOT been converted to the "Americanized" version of the original U.S. releases. This difference isn't as prominent or noticeable as it was with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's/Philosopher's Stone, but still something to keep in mind. Also, to answer a question that has come up quite a bit, this is the FULL BOOK and not an abridged or shortened version. Underneath the book jacket, the novel is bound in a sturdy orange hardback with green lettering on the spine."
"I was ravenous to get my hands on my copy as soon as it was delivered this morning, but was quickly disappointed. But when I took a close look at my dust jacket, I was extremely upset to find that the gold foil lettering for "Harry Potter" had been rubbed away and destroyed completely in some places leaving ugly, black matte in its place-- pock marking the otherwise handsome gold lettering. Needless to say I'm in awe how Bloomsbury has managed to put together such an incredible project, with JK Rowling's remarkable literature and Jim Kay's otherworldly illustrations-- and allowed it to be put together in a low quality binding! Not all alone in a box... Update (October 9th): I have finally received my new book and it was in much, much better condition. The cover and spine were tight, intact and falling apart from the binding like my original copy."
Best Teen & Young Adult Contemporary Fantasy
The Angel Experiment (Maximum Ride #1) School's Out--Forever (Maximum Ride #2) Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports (Maximum Ride #3). He is the author of the Alex Cross novels , the most popular detective series of the past twenty-five years, including Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider .
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The characters are loveable and 3-dimensional (which seems rare in books written for a young audience) and it makes it that much more heart breaking when bad things happen to them."
"Christmas gift... well liked."
"This was something I bought for my granddaughter and she loved them."
"My son is hooked!!!!!"
"I really like this for a fun series for kids and grown ups alike."
"The books were very nice."
"In this thrilling collection of Maximum Ride, James Patterson whips up all he can and then dishes it out on a warm plate fresh for you to eat."
"If you have enjoyed James Patterson's books before you will most likely love this series."
Best Teen & Young Adult Wizards & Witches Fantasy
Then, on Harry's eleventh birthday, a great beetle-eyed giant of a man called Rubeus Hagrid bursts in with some astonishing news: Harry Potter is a wizard, and he has a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He is left only with a lightning-bolt scar on his forehead, curiously refined sensibilities, and a host of mysterious powers to remind him that he's quite, yes, altogether different from his aunt, uncle, and spoiled, piglike cousin Dudley. Of course, Uncle Vernon yells most unpleasantly, "I AM NOT PAYING FOR SOME CRACKPOT OLD FOOL TO TEACH HIM MAGIC TRICKS!" So far it has won the National Book Award, the Smarties Prize, the Children's Book Award, and is short-listed for the Carnegie Medal, the U.K. version of the Newbery Medal. After 11 years of disregard and neglect at the hands of his aunt, uncle and their swinish son Dudley, Harry suddenly receives a visit from a giant named Hagrid, who informs Harry that his mother and father were a witch and a wizard, and that he is to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry himself.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"SPECIAL NOTE: For U.S. customers purchasing the illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, you will notice the text has NOT been converted to the "Americanized" version of the original U.S. releases (with the exception of changing all "Philosopher's Stone" mentions to "Sorcerer's Stone"). Good or bad is naturally for each reader to decide--just know, if you plan to read the books while listening to Jim Dale's audiobooks, you'll notice a few superficial differences. The quality of this new illustrated edition is phenomenal. All chapter intros are illustrated."
"IMPORTANT: For U.S. customers purchasing the illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, you will notice the text has NOT been converted to the "Americanized" version of the original U.S. releases. This difference isn't as prominent or noticeable as it was with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's/Philosopher's Stone, but still something to keep in mind. Also, to answer a question that has come up quite a bit, this is the FULL BOOK and not an abridged or shortened version. Underneath the book jacket, the novel is bound in a sturdy orange hardback with green lettering on the spine."
"I was ravenous to get my hands on my copy as soon as it was delivered this morning, but was quickly disappointed. But when I took a close look at my dust jacket, I was extremely upset to find that the gold foil lettering for "Harry Potter" had been rubbed away and destroyed completely in some places leaving ugly, black matte in its place-- pock marking the otherwise handsome gold lettering. Needless to say I'm in awe how Bloomsbury has managed to put together such an incredible project, with JK Rowling's remarkable literature and Jim Kay's otherworldly illustrations-- and allowed it to be put together in a low quality binding! Not all alone in a box... Update (October 9th): I have finally received my new book and it was in much, much better condition. The cover and spine were tight, intact and falling apart from the binding like my original copy."
Best Teen & Young Adult Coming of Age Fantasy
Harry must allow Professor Snape to teach him how to protect himself from Voldemort's savage assaults on his mind. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is currently the featured read in Pottermore’s Wizarding World Book Club. As his fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry approaches, 15-year-old Harry Potter is in full-blown adolescence, complete with regular outbursts of rage, a nearly debilitating crush, and the blooming of a powerful sense of rebellion. Somehow, over the summer, gossip (usually traced back to the magic world's newspaper, the Daily Prophet ) has turned Harry's tragic and heroic encounter with Voldemort at the Triwizard Tournament into an excuse to ridicule and discount the teen. With an overwhelming course load as the fifth years prepare for their Ordinary Wizarding Levels examinations (O.W.Ls), devastating changes in the Gryffindor Quidditch team lineup, vivid dreams about long hallways and closed doors, and increasing pain in his lightning-shaped scar, Harry's resilience is sorely tested. The head of the Ministry of Magic is determined to discredit Dumbledore and undermine his leadership of Hogwarts, and he appoints nasty, pink-cardigan-clad Professor Umbridge as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher and High Inquisitor of the school, bringing misery upon staff and students alike. There are a lot of secret doings, a little romance, and very little Quidditch or Hagrid (more reasons for Harry's gloom), but the power of this book comes from the young magician's struggles with his emotions and identity.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"SPECIAL NOTE: For U.S. customers purchasing the illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, you will notice the text has NOT been converted to the "Americanized" version of the original U.S. releases (with the exception of changing all "Philosopher's Stone" mentions to "Sorcerer's Stone"). Good or bad is naturally for each reader to decide--just know, if you plan to read the books while listening to Jim Dale's audiobooks, you'll notice a few superficial differences. The quality of this new illustrated edition is phenomenal. All chapter intros are illustrated."
"IMPORTANT: For U.S. customers purchasing the illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, you will notice the text has NOT been converted to the "Americanized" version of the original U.S. releases. This difference isn't as prominent or noticeable as it was with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's/Philosopher's Stone, but still something to keep in mind. Also, to answer a question that has come up quite a bit, this is the FULL BOOK and not an abridged or shortened version. Underneath the book jacket, the novel is bound in a sturdy orange hardback with green lettering on the spine."
"I was ravenous to get my hands on my copy as soon as it was delivered this morning, but was quickly disappointed. But when I took a close look at my dust jacket, I was extremely upset to find that the gold foil lettering for "Harry Potter" had been rubbed away and destroyed completely in some places leaving ugly, black matte in its place-- pock marking the otherwise handsome gold lettering. Needless to say I'm in awe how Bloomsbury has managed to put together such an incredible project, with JK Rowling's remarkable literature and Jim Kay's otherworldly illustrations-- and allowed it to be put together in a low quality binding! Not all alone in a box... Update (October 9th): I have finally received my new book and it was in much, much better condition. The cover and spine were tight, intact and falling apart from the binding like my original copy."
Best Teen & Young Adult Superhero Fiction
The highly anticipated, entirely new coming-of-age story for the world's greatest super hero: WONDER WOMAN by the # 1 New York Times bestselling author LEIGH BARDUGO. But when the opportunity finally comes, she throws away her chance at glory and breaks Amazon law—risking exile—to save a mere mortal. Even worse, Alia Keralis is no ordinary girl and with this single brave act, Diana may have doomed the world. When a bomb detonates aboard her ship, Alia is rescued by a mysterious girl of extraordinary strength and forced to confront a horrible truth: Alia is a Warbringer—a direct descendant of the infamous Helen of Troy, fated to bring about an age of bloodshed and misery. — The Bulletin "Bardugo breathes zippy new life into the story with a twisty plot, whip-smart characters, and her trademark masterful writing." " Cinematic battles and a race against time keep the excitement high, but the focus on girls looking out for each other is what makes this tie-in shine. Alia taps into her own bravery and Diana learns about sexism, racism and something the Amazons have always dismissed: the courage, resilience and ingenuity of mere mortals."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Since this was written by Leigh Bardugo, you know you are going to love the writing style and the character development."
"Great take on Amazons, mythology, hero’s quest to defend innocent and villains quest for power and blood."
"I absolutely loved the way Leigh Bardugo told Diana's story, this is the first book of hers I've read, and I hope to read her others."
"So far, LEIGH BARDUGO never Disappointed me."
"In her previous novels Leigh Bardugo created some phenomenal and unforgettable worlds set in their own time, their own universes with extraordinary and beautiful creations for characters. Wonder Woman: Warbringer, her latest, takes place in our world and present day time and as the kickass superhero has been around since 1942, the back story and world are already known but Bardugo has taken some creative liberties in fleshing out Themyscira a little and adds her own touch. When the teenage Diana (she is never called Wonder Woman) rescues a young girl from a floundering boat she breaks one of the cardinal rules of Themyscira: no humans allowed on the island or face permanent exile. Then, events on the island lead Diana to consult the Oracle and what it tells her about Alia forces Diana to leave Themyscira and face the human world. This is the sixth Leigh Bardugo's YA fantasy novel that I have read and I feel this book is more young young adult than either The Grisha Trilogy or Crooked Kingdom series."
"Diana is the obvious highlight; she's courageous, fiercely loyal, and equally passionate and compassionate, much like Gal Gadot's portrayal of Wonder Woman in the 2017 film. Also, Diana's observations and reactions to New York City and modern-day life in general were delightfully amusing, and I appreciated the insights that Bardugo offered into Themyscira and the Amazons (some of which were familiar to me, and others brand new). More in the "liked it" sense than "loved it," but I'd still recommend it to readers who are looking for action, butt-kicking heroines, science-minded teens, and diverse characters (in terms of racial / ethnic background and sexuality) in their YA reads."
Best Teen & Young Adult Paranormal & Urban Fantasy
All six books in the #1 New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments series, now available in a collectible paperback boxed set. She is the coauthor of The Bane Chronicles with Sarah Rees Brennan and Maureen Johnson and Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy with Sarah Rees Brennan, Maureen Johnson, and Robin Wasserman, as well as The Shadowhunter’s Codex, which she cowrote with her husband, Joshua Lewis.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Really enjoyed the book as it was more detailed than the new show."
"Love these books and the set definitely saved me some money!"
"Package came in great condition."
"However, after finishing the fifth book I was still wondering where the story was going... so many unfinished stories that are waiting to be told."
"Great priced set."
"Great price for this set of great books!"
"As a serious and avid reader I didn't know what to expect from this series. I had seen the movie and thought that was actually not bad so I figured I would read the books."
"I love these books!!!"