Where's my heart?

As fate would have it, a family of brothers rush to the dying girl’s aid and fill the gaping hole in her chest with a mechanical heart built by the clockmaking brother. This heart sputters and stutters, but it works. Sophie has a new functioning heart. She also has a home. The brothers are enchanted with this charming, albeit naive princess. They are determined to protect her from the machinations of the queen. Sophie, on the other hand wants to get back to the kingdom, certain that her betrothed prince will rescue her and help her vanquish the queen.

What's to become of a young heir to the throne who has been constantly told that she is too week, too soft-hearted to be a monarch? How can a girl who has only a loud clunking mechanical heart attempt a journey to find her real heart and reclaim her rightful place as ruler of the kingdom?

Donnelly is a master storyteller. Sweeping in its scope, at turns violent then becoming tender, the pace keeps readers’ hearts racing. Sophie’s life is fraught with peril. She is battling foes both visible and unseen. Danger awaits at every page turn. Tension builds with a constant stream of crescendos, leading Sophie to a precipice from which there appears to be no escape.

A word about the setting. The tale is filled with references to the land of the Grimm brothers.  Food is described in mouthwatering detail: schnitzel, mushroom strudel, spaetzle, plum cake. There are sly references to things Germanic. Who knew that polka music serves as a poison antidote?

Jones brings her considerable performance gifts to the narration. Each character's voice is distinctive. For a family of German brothers, that is quite a feat. Of note is the voice of Sophie, who begins the story as a girl with a soft and gentle heart, tentative and unsure. As the tale progresses, our heroine becomes more confident. The final scenes depict a woman who has overcome obstacles and is now stronger and more resilient.

There are many dark forces at work here and the evil queen in not Sophie's greatest enemy. There is a villain more fearful than the queen. There is deception. There is betrayal. There are vicious vipers, a giant scorpion, and of course, a poisoned apple. But far more deadly, there is self-doubt. Donnelly does not let up. The tension escalates as Sophie races against time to defeat her foes and reclaim her heart. A fairy tale retelling not to be missed.

Try this selection of tantalizing bonus treats. If you enjoyed Poisoned, try reading Stepsister. Meet Jennifer Donnelly and discover her inspiration for Poisoned.

The result of her plan is not exactly what she envisioned. The pirates want her to be their “mother.” She will do the cooking, mending, and laundry. Wendy wonders: Where is the adventure she longed for? And where is Peter Pan?

She discovers that there’s a lot more happening in this fantasy world. Hook’s objective is to destroy Neverland and Wendy has unwittingly become an accomplice in his sinister plan. She realizes that she has played into his schemes and determines that she must outwit Hook. This involves obtaining Peter's shadow and returning it to its rightful owner, recruiting the Lost Boys to help her defeat Hook and save Neverland.

The narrative is fantasy from Wendy's perspective, exploring the relationship between reality and the land of stories. Wendy discovers that the Neverland she and others dreamed of has become her reality. She wonders if imagined stories can truly come to life.

An interesting subplot is the relationship between Tinkerbell and Wendy. Initially Wendy is thrilled with the prospect of meeting a fairy, a tiny little being who sparkles and can fly. She hopes that they can become friends. This enthusiasm is squashed by the fairy’s excessive jealousy. Wendy examines her feelings for Peter and knows that while she is intrigued by this boy who never grew up, that’s just it. He will never grow up. She wants more from a relationship than this youngster can offer her. It takes time and patience but eventually the girl and fairy reach a truce and take tentative steps toward friendship.

After successfully dealing with pirates, fairies, Captain Hook, and The Lost Boys, Wendy comes to terms with who she is and what her life will be. She wants to return to England but no longer in the role of surrogate mother. She wants to be her own woman and pursue her own dreams. Writing stories will certainly be a part of that dream.

Bennett's narration captures the distinctive personality of each character. Her lovely British accent gives the tale an enchanting storytelling quality.

Camila constructs an elaborate charade to conceal from her family her passion for fútbol and her identity as La Furia. She tells her mother that she is with a friend when she participates in games and team practice. So that she can’t be contacted, she allows her phone to run out of minutes. She waits until no one is home to wash her uniform and pretends to study for an upcoming medical school entrance exam.
Her life is further complicated when a childhood friend, now an international fútbol star, returns to Argentina for a brief visit. It is apparent to both that this is more than friendship. The attraction is mutual. Camila faces a heart wrenching dilemma. Does she abandon her dream of becoming a world class athlete and follow the guy who makes her heart sing? Or does she remain focused on her life-long ambition and reject his offer of a life together?

This story is about choices. Hard choices. Camila agonizes over her decisions, recognizing that with each choice, she may be closing a door. Will she choose to follow her passion for fútbol or succumb to her desire to be with the boy she loves? Can she stand up to her abusive father? Will she remain silent? Can she confide in her mother?

Narration moves fluidly between Spanish and English. Madariaga flawlessly differentiates the varying degrees of English fluency among her Spanish-speaking characters. Singing flows beautifully as a natural extension of the narration. The longing, indecision, frustration, and passion of an older teen is clearly evident in this performance.

The author obviously knows and loves the sport. The play by play descriptions bring readers onto the pitch, delivering immediacy and fierce intensity to the narrative. Méndez storytelling is a polished gem. Her characters are multifaceted. The narrative reveals their sparkling qualities as well as inherent flaws. Their lives are messy. There are no simple solutions. Things are not perfect. However, there is hope.
Furia is intense, filled with desires and dreams, heartache and disappointment, pain and passion. Camila is a girl of my heart.

Soon after this tragedy, she is assigned a new Shield. His name is Red and he is a Skyhunter, half-human, half-machine creation of the Federation. With massive metallic wings hidden in his back, he possess impressive fighting capabilities. The final phases of  Red's Skyhunter transformation were never completed and he now is a captive of Mara.

Is he a Federation operative? Can she trust him?

Lu has created a fantastic universe teeming with complex characters and high-stakes confrontations. She knows how to build tension and keep readers rapidly flipping pages to discover what will happen next.

Warning. This is the first book in an ongoing series. The conclusion of Skyhunter will leave readers on tenterhooks. Please Marie Lu don’t make us wait too long.

This explosive cover introduces Punching the Air's powerful message. Inspired by the life and writings of Yusef Salaam, exonerated after serving almost seven years for a crime he did not commit, authors Zoboi and Salaam have joined forces to create an extraordinary novel in verse.

As a young Black man falsely imprisoned, he experiences shock, confusion, despair, anger, discouragement, and mistrust. Over time his feelings slowly evolve as he meets people that he can trust and is given an opportunity to create meaningful art. He begins to hope. ​The change in Amal is evident throughout the book, revealing his developing self-awareness and literary skill.

Herrise’s narration is understated, allowing Amal’s "old soul"  to take center stage. Hearing the poetry read aloud magnifies its impact.

This is a story of pain and poor decisions, of circumstances that in an instant can change the trajectory of a life. Amal’s anguish bleeds through each phrase, each page. It’s raw. It’s real. Ultimately it is a story of overcoming impossible odds and holding on to hope. A must read.

"You're never too young for democracy"
 The Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert

Several books for young people published in 2020 are excellent resources for raising awareness of and starting conversations about the voting process. Titles run the gamut from picture books and graphic novels to books for young adults. Each are opportunities for encouraging kids and teens to become involved in the political process.

Stier uses an election scenario that is easy to understand and could be recreated in a classroom or home school setting. Dawson’s charming illustrations represent a diverse array of young faces.

Back matter consists of basic voter information Additional information on wilderness parks is a nice touch.

Word bubbles and short descriptive passages offer fascinating factoids. ​Clever numbering system creates its own game to engage readers: find each numeral and arrange the list of presidents in sequential order. ​

Shwed's illustrations are clever and engaging. For example, a sports analogy is used to show the process of amending the constitution. It looks like playbook complete with diagrams that are surrounded by referees and cheerleaders in colonial attire.

The Levinsons’ concluding consideration of the constitution is presented in text format. The authors agree on some issues and disagree on others. It is helpful to find a dialogue with opposing viewpoints presented in a respectful manner. A bibliography rounds out the backmatter.

Race and socioeconomic status are a part of the subtext running throughout the narrative. ​Duke is the son of a black father and white mother. Marva attends an exclusive private school and is the daughter of an affluent Black family.

Colbert provides information on U.S. elections including how to register to vote and what to do when there is a problem on election day. The message is clear: even if there are obstacles in the election process, don't give up the right to cast your ballot and make your voice heard.

The Voting Booth is a sweet romance. Bonus: meet an adorable kitten named Eartha Kitty who has a huge Instagram following.

Ellie is devastated when her cousin Trevor dies, leaving his grieving widow and seven-month-old son. Authorities report his death is the result of a tragic auto accident. But Ellie has reason to believe otherwise. In a dream, Trevor's ghost informs his cousin that he was brutally murdered. He identifies his killer and asks Ellie to avenge his death. She enlists the help of her best friend to locate the killer and bring him to justice. In addition to traditional sleuthing methods, Ellie relies on the assistance of a tribal Elder and other spiritualists.

The climax is a thriller which crackles with nonstop action. Look for a ghost dog, a mother-daughter team, vampires, an agile cheerleader, and basketball bridesmaids wearing rhinestone-embellished trench coats to join forces in an epic battle to defeat evil.

Little Badger lightens the tension with wry tongue-in-cheek humor. There is a discussion of veggie burgers that taste like beef because they are made with "plant-synthesized hemoglobin." When the fighting escalates there is a request to “Keep things PG” because kids are present. Ellie fires back “We’re at least PG-13...At least. But I appreciate your consideration.”

The satisfying conclusion holds the possibility of new directions for Ellie that will honor her heritage, prepare her for the future, and bring peace to the family. The final tender scenes may cause the book’s pages to be wet with readers’ tears.

Australian artist Cai's soft ink wash illustrations set off the book's mystical ethereal quality.

Set in south Texas, near the Rio Grande River known to the Lipan as Kunétai, the land is more than setting, it’s an integral part of the story. The way of the Apache Lipan is woven throughout the tale with inclusion of Apache mythology, culture and traditions.

Speculative fiction that explores timeless relationships, family loyalty, the bond between animals and people. Ties which death cannot sever. Elatsoe holds readers under its spell long after the final page.

Looking for an updated version of a classic romantic fairy tale? 

Grey, a brooding loner, is facing his own personal crisis. He is destined to die when he turns eighteen due to an ancient curse pronounced by one of Jaya’s ancestors. The clock is ticking for Grey. Just when it seems that his life is ending, he has fallen in love.

Jaya is wrestling with the question of loyalty. Must she respect the wishes of her parents without question? What should she do to protect her family’s reputation? What will become of the Rao dynasty ? Does she need to ignore her own feelings?

This modern retelling of Beauty and the Beast includes a glittering ball, several misunderstandings, a despicable cad, one stunning ruby pendant, a bookstore named Bookingham Palace and a terrific snowball fight. It's a sparkling romance with an intriguing hint of magic.

The two have an explosive secret: a cell phone containing damning photographs and documents detailing human trafficking that originates in Mexico and extends into the United States. Those involved include a federal government employee. Before they part ways, Sara entrusts the phone to her brother. Sara and Emiliano must protect this valuable piece of evidence without endangering one another.

Stork ratchets up the tension as both lives are on the line. Sara is locked in solitary confinement within a detention center in Fort Stockton Texas because she refuses to disclose the whereabouts of her brother. Emiliano tries to stay one step ahead of a killer hired to track down the phone. It’s a nail biting, intense read.

The narrative includes fascinating details about everything from technical processes used to open a phone to some of the legal intricacies in the asylum process. There are striking contrasts: Emiliano sharing tender moments with his half brother while Sara endures horrific cruelty. A stunning betrayal keeps the central characters constantly questioning who to trust. Both siblings are faced with moral dilemmas. There are no easy solutions. Every choice has positive and negative consequences. ​

Long ago, somewhere between the age when dinosaurs roamed the earth and the advent of Walkman cassettes, I discovered Richard Armour’s The Classics Reclassified. Armour's tongue-in-cheek synopsis of literary standards such as The Iliad, Julius Caesar, and Ivanhoe are awash with witty observations, puns, and a plentiful side of silliness. An example is this title and subtitle "The Scarlet Letter: An A for effort."
​I enjoyed that slim volume and would carry it around, quoting it to anyone who would listen.

This is a book for those with a literary bent. Readers familiar with these titles will appreciate Brown's wit and her remarkable ability to distill a magnum opus into a few cleverly drawn panels. Well drawn. Well done.