Book of a Thousand Days by Hannon Hale

Book of a Thousand Days by Hannon Hale

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA

Publish Date: September 2007

ISBN: 1599900513

Page #: 320pp

Reading Level: Young Adult

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Fantasy

Subjects: Central Asia, Dysfunctional Family, Fairy Tales, Friendship, Love, Magic, Orphans, Secrets, War

Annotation:

Dashti thought life within the tower with her sullen lady was hard, but her real challenge begins when she escapes. A re-telling of the Brothers Grimm tale, Mail Maleen, through the simplistic voice of Dashti, maid to Lady Saren.

Summary:

This is a beautiful retelling of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale Maid Maleen. Lady Saren and her lady’s maid Dashti, a common “mucker” from the dirt-poor steppes, are locked up in a stone tower when Lady Saren refuses to marry the cruel Lord Khasar. Lady Saren worries and seems to welcome death, but the illustrious Dashti decides to keep a journal of their imprisonment in between her lady’s maid duties. She sings mucker healing songs to attempt to lift her lady’s complaints, in which seems to not always work. All is dark and depressing within the tower, but Dashti never succumbs to the distressing mental anguish. It is when Dashti leaves the tower that she is faced with an imminent threat by Lord Khasar and his armies. Lady Saren is too scared to do anything, leaving Dashti to pull from her inner strength and simple healing songs, and cultivate courage she never believed possible. Her actions may cost her life, but it might also bring her happiness she never thought was possible.

Megan says:

Book of a Thousand Days is a lovely Brothers Grimm fairytale, Maid Maleen, re-told by Shannon Hale. This is a story about Dashti, a ladies maid to Lady Saren, who during a seven year incarceration in a tower overcomes the tragedies that befall them with unfailing optimism. I liked how the story was told in the form of a journal of sorts, but unlike some books, where this convention has been used awkwardly, this story flowed easily and enjoyably as told from the view of Dashti. I highly recommend this book.

Stars: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Shannon Hale Website

Wake by Lisa McMann

Wake by Lisa McMann

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Publish Date: December 2008
ISBN: 1416974474
Page #: 216pp
Reading Level: Young Adult
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Supernatural/Real-life

Series: The Wake Series

Wake (2008)

Fade (2009)

Subjects: Abuse, Drugs, Dysfunctional Family, High School, Murder, Mystery, Nightmares, Relationships, Romance

Annotation:

For seventeen-year-old Janie Hannagan, getting sucked into other people's dreams is getting old. But when one of those dreams turns into a frightening nightmare and Janie finds herself participating in the dream, things change.

Summary:

Lisa McMann takes the reader on a trip between the conscious and the unconscious of protagonist Janie Hannagan who cannot stop her lucid dreams, only they aren’t her dreams, they are other people’s dreams. All Janie wants is a better life, so she works hard, studying and working at the nursing home to hopefully get into college and get out of the "white trash" persona her peers label her as. Her plans get complicated when she meets Cable Strumheller and enters a nightmare where she participates. Janie doesn't know what is happening but she has many issues presented to her, involving an alcoholic mother, a turbulent relationship with her boyfriend, Cabel and her role in other people's dream.

Megan says:

I found Wake to be a haunting and complex tale. I thoroughly enjoyed the journal style format Lisa McMann uses. The story is very realistic as it deals with issues of abusive and negligent parents yet tips over to the fantasy/supernautral genre as we enter the dreamworld of Janie Hannagan, or rather the dreamworlds of the people near Janie. I highly recommend this to older teens.

Stars: ★ ★ ★ ★

Wake Book Trailer