BOOKS FOR CHILDREN: How do you know what's good?

While there are many places (especially on the internet) where you can read book reviews, how do you really know if it's a good book or not when a single book might receive anywhere from one to five stars?
The answer: read the reviews of a book-addicted teacher librarian.


NOTE:
** The age recommendations are guidelines only; whether or not a certain book is suitable for a particular child depends on multiple factors, including their maturity, reading level, interests, and in some cases their experiences.
** While the ratings are largely based on my own personal appreciation/enjoyment of the book, they are also influenced by my experiences as a teacher and the potential attraction for the target-aged child (acknowledging that what one child may love, another may find exceptionally boring). A rating of 5 indicates the book is likely to be popular with the majority.


Monday, September 6, 2010

Series: Monster Blood Tattoo (YA Fic)

AUTHOR: D.M. Cornish (Aust) PUBLISHED: 2008+
PAGES: ~600 pgs. SERIES: Monster Blood Tattoo
BOOKS: Foundling, Lamplighter, Factotum

PLOT (Lamplighter):
A young boy becomes an apprentice lamplighter: people charged with lighting the lamps lining the roads in order to keep people safe, and deter the monsters who live in the area. One night he witnesses a carriage attacked, and he forges an unsteady friendship with one of the occupants.

REIVEW:
The language is archaic and new vocabulary is added. Different names are given to known objects, tasks, etc, making it a difficult read, even for those who love to do so. Overall, the story drags. It is a very long book (599 pgs, not including appendices), and a tedious read.

Links to a website.

The Ranger's Apprentice is FAR better.

AGES: 11+
GENRE: Fantasy
RATING: 3 stars. It holds little appeal overall, but some may thoroughly enjoy it.
Posted by at
Labels: , , , , , ,

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)