Gr 6 Up Sophie Hatter reads a great deal and soon realizes that as the eldest of three daughters she is doomed to an uninteresting future. She resigns herself to making a living as a hatter and helping her younger sisters prepare to make their fortunes. But adventure seeks her out in the shop where she sits alone, dreaming over her hats. The wicked Witch of the Waste, angered by ``competition'' in the area, turns her into a old woman, so she seeks refuge inside the strange moving castle of the wizard Howl. Howl, advertised by his apprentice as an eater of souls, lives a mad, frantic life trying to escape the curse the witch has placed on him, find the perfect girl of his dreams and end the contract he and his fire demon have entered. Sophie, against her best instincts and at first unaware of her own powers, falls in love. So goes this intricate, humorous and puzzling tale of fantasy and adventure which should both challenge and involve readers. Jones has created an engaging set of characters and found a new use for many of the appurtenances of fairy talesseven league boots and invisible cloaks, among others. At times, the action becomes so complex that readers may have to go back to see what actually happened, and at the end so many loose ends have to be tied up at once that it's dizzying. Yet Jones' inventiveness never fails, and her conclusion is infinitely satisfying. Sara Miller, White Plains Public Library, N.Y.
Sometimes in our tumultuous world, we dream of being able to close our eyes and just… escape. What better way to do that than to find a soft place to land in these cozy Sci-Fi/Fantasy novels that will wrap you up in their adventures. We first met Travis Baldree when we fell in love with […]
Ah, Harry. Since Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone first published in 1997, the Boy Who Lived has quite literally taken the world by storm. And if you have a young Potterhead in your life, chances are they have already devoured all the books, movies, and butterbeer they can get their hands on. So, you may ask — […]
We swoon for a tale about the book world. How could we not? Look at the website you’re visiting! And, after dipping into Ashley Poston’s adult debut you will fall in love with this book as well. Poston’s got our number. We’ve got Poston’s The Dead Romantics; two perfect matches made for readers like you. For more perfect matches of books Poston and her characters recommend, keep reading!
Few things satisfy that need for escapism during the cold winter months like 1980s fantasy movies—shout-out to Labyrinth and Legend—so here’s a list of awesome fantasy/mystery novels from—or almost from, or inspired by, or spiritually connected to—the 80s. So curl up in your favorite reading spot with a cup of hot chocolate, and get ready […]