Conjured

By Sarah Beth Durst 

     Conjured is a magical story.  In the beginning, the reader is left guessing and wondering what has happened in young Eve's past that has forced her to lose her memory.  She is a lost teen whom does not  recognize her face when she looks in the mirror.  The only two people that she recognizes are the two witness protection agents that are protecting her.  Malcomb and Aunt Nikki are the agents that are trying to access Eve's memory, in order to save lives.  They believe that somewhere in Eve is the key to catching a magical serial murderer.  Try as she might remember her life before she keeps having lapses in her days and she is troubled by visions of a carnival a magician and a storyteller.  Finally, things begin to change when she begins to work in the library.  

    Aunt Nikki believes that it is a good idea for Eve to have a job, like a normal teen.  So she encourages Malcomb to allow Eve to work in the library.  On her first day among the books, she meets a very interesting boy named Zach.  He is very talkative and inquisitive.  Eve is instantly intrigued by this young man.  As their relationship deepens, Eve continues to lose large chunks of her days.  This is magnified when she meets the others.  They are teens that are being protected by the agents as well, but they have magical powers.  This revelation and confrontation solidifies the idea that Eve is in fact magical.  Yet everytime she uses her talents, she passes into a vision and looses time.  She is unstable but powerful.  

    As her relationship with Zach blossoms and she is feeling torn between her past and her future, danger begins to mount as the killer is hunting again.  She is unsure who she should trust, the agents, the others or Zach.  She opts for Zach and charges into other worlds looking for the magician.  But what she discovers when she finds the carnival of her dreams, puts a whole new twist on her nightmares.  She finds her past, but can she live with the consequences?  Will Zach still love her?  Will she be able to escape the yarn that binds her?  

    I am going to be honest this book was okay.  It felt disjointed, from the onset, since the story was told in first person, from Eve's point of view, so at times it was very confusing.  I just feel that it tried to add to much to the story line, which left it unbelievable. I am giving this book a 3.5 out of 5 stars and did appreciate the craft of the story if not the story itself.  It would be enjoyed by girls in 7th grade and up.  If you are an individual that likes romantic, sci-fi, gothic horror books this is the book for you.   

Links 

Sarah Beth Durst - Author

Witness Protection Program

Amnesia

    

The Alchemist

By Paolo Coelho

    What a book of self awareness.  This is a masterfully crafted book of never giving up on your personal journey.  This really is about remaining true to yourself and your dreams or goals, even when fate puts very large hurdles in your way.  How else would a simple shepherd boy sell his flock and head to the pyramids in search of a treasure.  He is faced with many hardships, but learns to listen to the omens and the world around him to further his dream.  

    Meet Santiago a shepherd in Spain, he is unusual in that he was studying to become a priest, but his dream was to travel and to see the world around him.  His parents, gave him some money to help him buy his sheep and his journey began.  He became adept at reading the signs of the hills to keep his flock safe and well fed.  When he begins to have a recurring dream, he decides to seek help from a gypsy.  She tells him that he is to go on a journey and find a treasure.  Of course, he scoffs at this and does not believe her, but after meeting an old "king" and discussing the possibility, he decides to hint down the treasure.  He sells his sheep and sets sail for Africa.  After being robbed of all of his money and feeling deserted by the fates, he decides the only way to better his situation and survive would be to help himself.  He begins to help an old crystal dealer.  He learns about the crystal and befriends the old man that runs the shop.  With his help the shop soon becomes a destination and thrives.  Santiago knows that it is time for him to move on and joins up with a caravan heading to Egypt.  

    The rather large caravan is full of many different people.  The boy meets an Englishman that is heading to the oasis in search of The Alchemist, a man that can make gold.  Santiago reads of the wonders of alchemy and  learns to love the desert.  He continues to be open to the omens around him and to continue understand the language of the universe.  He befriends a camel rider that lives in the moment and never takes anything for granted.  He had been married and wealthy, but lost everything, now is happy and content where he is in the moment.  he doesn't begrudge the past or fear the future but looks at the now as a blessing.  

    As the caravan approaches the oases, tribal tension mounts and war surrounds them.  Tensions among the travelers escalates, as the sounds of their surroundings become ominous.  When they finally reach their destination, they discover that the warring tribes have called a halt to the progression.  It is safest to stay within the safe zone of the watering hole.  The head chief, offers hospitality to the travelers, but they must relinquish their weapons and be willing to stay with residents of the oases.  Santiago maintains his friendship with his traveling companions, and helps the Englishman find the Alchemist.  He also meets the girl of his dreams, and falls in love.  As the days of waiting stretch on, Santiago continues to look for omens and listen to the language of the universe. After saving the oases, he is offered the job of being a counselor to the Chieftains, but he knows that this is not his personal treasure, wealth yes, but not his ultimate goal.  After some guidance from the alchemist, he becomes an apprentice, and he continues on his personal journey, into the desert.  

    As the Alchemist and his young apprentice move forward into the desert, Santiago learns to listen to his heart and to remain true to his intent.  He does eventually move forward without the Alchemist, to the location of where his treasure is supposed to be, what he discovers is more than he even suspected.  Treasures come in all different forms, some of them are very surprising.  Sometime an unexpected journey with all of its hardships is the treasure that was needed.  

    This is definitely a worthwhile read.  I loved all of the symbolism.  This is a very interesting story, and really think that many upper middle school students would enjoy the tale.  I do think that younger students would have difficulty accessing the nuances of the story, and the poetic nature of some of the passages.  I am giving this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars, and strongly suggesting it for all students in seventh grade on up.  This is a great book of self realization.  

LInks

 Author - Paulo Coelhro

Andalusia

History of Travel in the Sahara Desert

Serafina and the Twisted Staff

By Robert Beatty 

     It is not too often that I say that a sequel is way better than the original, but I loved this book!  This book was highly entertaining and a pleasure to read.  The tale of the Twisted Staff begins shortly after the black cloak ends.  Serafina is in the forest and sees something she does not understand, the animals seem to be leaving the area, she is attacked by some large wolfhounds and she is saved by a mysterious boy, her mother and another mountain lion.  Her mother, a catamount, encourages her to return to the Biltmore Estate, she claims for her safety, but Serafina is sure that something is threatening her life, the estate and her loved ones.  As Christmas approaches the estate is filling with new guests and animals are going missing.  A detective enters the story, he is interested in what happened to Mr. Thornton.  He specifically asks to speak to Serafina and Braeden and is very curious about their actions on the night that Mr. Thornton went missing.  

    As more animals leave the Blue Ridge Mountains, Serafina looks to her Mother for more information.  Her mother is not to be found but the boy and her half siblings are around.  She hears that they plan on leaving the area with the other animals, in fear of the encroaching evil.  She finally talks to Braeden and they devise a plan on figuring out what is threatening their existence.  

   The animals that are still around are acting differently, they are going where they have never been before and they are attacking Serafina.  After a harrowing escape from the rafters above the ballroom, Serafina knows she has to do something drastic.  She goes out into the forest looking for answers finds, animals that have been caged, meets a man in a long cloak, and he magically takes away her breath and body.  After she is roused she returns home.  How is she going to overcome this new magic, how can she protect her loved ones and the Biltmore Estate?  Who is threatening the Blue Ridge Mountains?  

   This book is full of adventure, twist and turns and a flowing plot.  You hear more of the back story, surrounding the Biltmore Estate and discover who/what Serafina is intended to be.  I loved the story and the writing was phenomenal!  I could not put this book down, a real page turner.  Therefore, I am giving this book a 4.5 out of five stars and encourage all students grades 4 and up to check out it out.  

Links 

Author - Robert Beatty

The Vanderbilt Family

Blue Ridge Mountains

Savvy

                                                              By Ingrid Law 

     Savvy is an entertaining fantasy tale by Ingrid Law.  She really hit a note, I know I wanted to be unique and believe that my family was special at one time in my youth.  This was followed by a strong desire to fit in and have friends.  Young Mibs is a very identifiable character and lovable character.  This is a great "What if" story and answers my own what if?
     Mibs is a young girl quickly approaching her 13th birthday.  For many this is a time of joy and excitement, but Mibs is worried.  She is worried about what form her Savvy will manifest and she is worried about her injured father.  She misreads her Savvy initially, which leads to an unexpected adventure and new friends.  Mibs concocts a plan to stow away on a pink bus to try to reach her father in Salina but the bus heads the wrong way.  Mibs and the rest of the stowaways are stuck and try to convince the bus driver, Lester, to help them reach Salina.  Mibs is joined by Will and Bobbie, the preachers children and her brothers Fish and Samson.  Mibs savvy reveals itself en route and her special skill that she thought would help her father, now she wonders if it will be beneficial at all, but she has no other choice since the children are now considered as missing.
     This bus trip is like no other, especially with two Beaumont's and their volatile savvy's!  Somehow they avoid detection until they reach Carlene's.  She recognizes the five kids from television bulletins and immediately calls the police.  When the cops arrive, mass confusion occurs especially since Samson is missing and Carlene has hidden him from the rest of the Beaumonts.  The police, of course, suspect, Lester and Lil of kidnapping and won't listen to the kids explanation until Big Bill shows up to unravel the mess.  He listens and finally gets everyone back on the road to Salina.  Does Mibs Savvy help her father?  What happens to the kids?  What exactly is Mibs savvy? You are going to have to read the book to find out
     I enjoyed this book immensely and would encourage this for fourth grade and up.   This story is appropriate and enjoyable for everyone.  I give this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Links 

Author: Ingrid Law

Lesson Plans

Literature Unit