This is the first book I have read by TJ Klune. I picked it up after a recommendation by a colleague in one of my graduate classes. I am going to let you all know right now that this book is not going to be for everyone. There is an LGBTQ+ element in the book as well as some irreverence towards religion, so if these are deal-breakers for you, you can stop reading this review now. The basics of the story is that it is set on an island, and on the island is an "orphanage" where magical children live and are overseen by a caretaker. One of the children is a child of Lucifer and is referred to as the anti-Christ (which is where some of the jabs at religion come in). A worker for DICOMY which oversees the orphanages is sent to check in on the orphanage and the children to make sure they will not bring about the end of the world. There are some comical and endearing scenes that follow. I enjoyed the writing style of the author as well as the development of the characters. The author does an amazing job of helping the reader get to know each of the characters and developing the magical island where they live. There are also some great themes about inclusivity within the book Approximate Grade Level - 6th-8th (As previously mentioned, due to the inclusivity of a homosexual romantic relationship and some jabs taken at the Christian religion, this is not a selection I would recommend for everyone. I know these are controversial topics to many so just be aware before you read.)
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Sometimes when I read a young adult book, I wonder why it is classified as young adult. This is one of those books. The characters in the book are teens to young adults, so I guess that is why it is classified as a YA novel, but I think it would be equally liked by adults. This book was recommended in one of the graduate classes I am taking, and I knew nothing about it other than that, but I must say, it was not what I expected. Within this book lies a pair of brothers - Finn and Sean who were abandoned by their family and only have each other to cling to until Roza comes along. Roza is a beautiful young woman from Poland who brings mysteries of her own, and the boys fall for her, until she disappears. This book includes a bit of everything - -obstacles that must be overcome, mystery, coming of age aspects, romance, a hero's journey, suspense, fantasy, and some magical realism. As I was reading the book, I couldn't pin down whether I was enjoying it or not, but I kept picking it up, and wanted to finish it. In the end, I enjoyed the book because of the characters and the writing style, but I am still not sure whether I liked the storyline. There are a few sexual scenes that border on racy, a really creepy character, and a young lady who is objectified and held against her will; add that to a somewhat convoluted writing style and storyline, and I would definitely not recommend this book for readers under the 10th grade. Approximate grade level - 10th grade + We Hunt the Flame is the first book in the Sands of Arawiya duology by Hafsah Faizal. It is a young adult fantasy novel set in the fictional kingdom of Arawiya which is inspired by ancient Arabia. The novel is 480 pages in length and is geared towards high school level readers, and although the Lexile level is calculated around 750, I would not recommend this novel for middle school readers simply because of the complexity of the text and some of the content. The novel recounts the story of Zafira, a legendary hunter(ess) who cloaks herself in the guise of a man in order to provide for her town, as well as, Nasir who is the prince and sultan's assassin. The two collide on a journey as they travel deep into the Arz, which is slowly engulfing the kingdom. They are both on a quest to locate the Jarawat in order to bring magic back to the Arawiya and stop the spread of the Arz. Throughout the story, Faizal infuses Middle Eastern culture through the use of Arabic words and phrases as well as descriptions of food and culture. I am a fan of this book and plan to read the next in the duology. As I read, I was reminded of The Hunger Game series by Suzanne Collins as well as the Shadow and Bone Series by Leigh Bardugo; there are quite a few parallels that can be drawn between these books and We Hunt the Flame. I also enjoy the author’s writing style which tends to be descriptive but not overly ornate. I would recommend this book to students who enjoy fantasy books and learning about other cultures. Although this is a fictional story, readers can glean information about Middle Eastern customs and culture by reading the book and paying attention to the word choice and then researching the authenticity of the language and customs presented. The novel is well-written and the characters are very well developed. A wonderful example of character development can be seen on page 224 which contains one of my favorite scenes: “‘If you want me to be obedient, Prince, kill me and carry my corpse.’ Her voice echoed in the silence. Her mouth was crooked in rage, her eyes ablaze in a fire of ice. Nasir should have turned away. He should not have given in to the sensations of how she looked. Of how in one fell swoop, she had thrown the Prince of Death to the ground and trampled his existence with her words. But he did. So his traitor of a chest made him laugh.” If I had to convince my students to read this book, I would read them the above quote, and we would discuss what it tells us about the characters and have them make some predictions about the book. I would also share with them that the book contains action as well as some romantic tension; it has a little bit for everyone. I would have students discuss what makes someone a hero and a villain and draw parallels to the novel and the characters. One could have quite a philosophical discussion with the topic of heroes vs. villains within the context of this novel which I think students would enjoy. And finally, I would ask students who do not normally read fantasy, to give it a try to broaden their horizons. Approximate grade levels - 9th-12th grades due to complexity of the text as well as some dark scenes and romantic tensions |
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