The Lost Kingdom of Bamarre

By: Gail Carson Levine

Genre: Young Adult/Middle Grade Fantasy

Pages: 385

Published: 2017

Told In: First Person

Compare to:

Goose Girl, Shannon Hale

Shadow Spinner, Susan Fletcher

The Seer and the Sword, Victoria Hanley

In a nutshell:

Perry, raised in a war driven culture with prejudices against the serving Bamarre, doesn’t know that she is actually of Bamarre descent. Learning the truth about her heritage brings new challenges and the desire to free her oppressed people.

What you may enjoy:

This book has great themes and fun characters. Levine creates a beautiful world. Perry inspires readers by making big changes through small actions. Heartwarming and fun!

What you may NOT enjoy:

Not one of Levine’s best books. While enjoyable, there is no push to keep reading. Some parts seem arbitrary and unnecessary.

Note: Although this book is placed in the same world as Levine’s “Two Princesses of Bamarre,” both books can stand-alone. (Although, readers may recognize the name of one common character)

Warnings:

Violence and Disturbing Images:

Man loses leg below the knee; Woman hit in the chest by a horse and dies; Men hit over the head; Boy kills a man; Woman’s throat cut open, laying in a pool of blood; Ogre stabbed in the leg and bleeds; Woman slapped; Woman punched; Man whipped; Children killed; Gryffins stabbed and killed; Gryffins shot with arrows; Ogres killed; Woman stabbed in the shoulder; Man convulses and dies

Sex and Nudity:

Boy and girl kiss

Language and Profanity:

None

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Alphabet of Dreams

By: Susan Fletcher

Genre: Young Adult Fiction

Pages: 304

Published: 2006

Told in: First Person

In a nutshell:

Mitra and her young brother, Babak, are Persian nobility in hiding. Mitra dreams of finding their family in Palmyra, while Babak dreams for whoever’s item of clothing he sleeps with. With this strange ability and the king’s men after them, Mitra and Babak find themselves with three wise Magi who depend on Babak’s dreams of stars to lead them to a new born king in Bethlehem.

What you may enjoy:

This is a great perspective of the Christmas story without the book being about Christmas. The book has a historical fiction feel to it that keeps it from being religious. And if you like determined female characters disguised as a boy, this book is for you. It’s a creative take on the wise men that moves steadily along.

What you may NOT enjoy:

Mitra is not a very likable character. She doesn’t make rational decisions and is a bit whiny. The story is aimed at young girls, somewhat predictable, and at times a little slow. If you’re looking for a stunning, take your breath away kind of read, this is not it. For most, this book falls in the average to mildly enjoyable category.  

Warnings:

Violence and Disturbing Images:

Girl is drugged; boy convulses; boy falls and splits chin open; boy torture, implied and mentioned; family massacred, implied and mentioned; girl slapped; girl nearly stabbed; men fight with knives, non-graphic; babies killed, mentioned and mildly graphic.

Sex and Nudity:

Girl mentions physical attraction; girl begins her menstrual cycle

Language and profanity:

G*d

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