The Iron Trial (Magisterium #1) by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare

A book written by both Holly Black and Cassandra Clare?  OMG!  OMG!  OMG!  OMG!  OMG!  OMG!  OMG!  OMG!  OMG!

Release Date:  September 2014

Genre: Fantasy

Protagonist:  Callum Hunt

The Story:  For as long as Callum can remember, Callum's father has made it clear that all magic and mages are dangerous and not to be trusted.  Forced to attend the Iron Trial to determine his admission into the Magisterium, Callum is determined to fail the tests spectacularly so that he can continue his life of normalcy.  Despite his best (or worst) efforts, Call is chosen to attend the Magisterium to learn how to control his magic.  Grouped with two other students, Aaron and Tamara, Call learns for the first time what friendship is and what a person can overcome in the name of loyalty and friendship.  Along the way, Call discovers a shocking secret that explains his father's suspicion of the Magisterium.  Faced with the ultimate choice between good and evil, Call must make an irreversible decision that will put him on the path to his destiny.

Reaction:  Any time you see to power house authors paired up like this, readers are going to have high expectations.  I love both of these authors, and I think they've done a really bang up job of crafting a fun new fantasy series for middle grade students.  The majority of The Iron Trial is focused on world building and character building, which is extremely important in a fantasy novel where the universe is so profoundly different from our reality.  Callum's background and character development are effectively crafted to help us develop sympathy; Callum is the boy bullies pick on, the one chosen last for team activities, and the person others choose not to associate with.  After we've learned to care about Call and have sympathy for his situation, the authors drop a bomb on us and leave us wondering about what will happen next.  What other choices will Callum make, and how will those decisions impact not only his friends, but the world?  Those last few lines of the book, that wicked little twist, is a cliffhanger designed to make you want to read the second book in the series...and I say to the authors:  Hurry up, please!  

If You Liked... Harry Potter, The Spiderwick Chronicles,Fablehaven and Howl's Moving Castle, then The Iron Trial is right up your alley!

Rating:  4

Teacher Notes: Put this with Harry Potter, The Spiderwick Chronicles, Fablehaven, and Howl's Moving Castle.  Fans of high fantasy and fantasy will eat this one up!

Damselfly (Damselfly #1) by Jennie Bates Bozic

Date: November  2013

Genre:  Fantasy/Dystopian

When and Where: 2065, Denmark

Protagonist:  Lina, 16 years

The Story:  For the past sixteen years, Lina has been led to believe that she is the star achievement and one-of-a-kind creation of the Lilliput project.  At six inches tall and with the wings of damselfly, Lina has spent her entire life learning how to survive in a world where everything, from her creators to the wild things in nature, are bigger and stronger.  Lina has fantasized about turning sixteen for years, dreaming of a day when she is old enough to make her own way in the world and to meet with Jack in real time instead of online worlds via virtual reality.  Turning sixteen is nothing Lina imagines, however, as she is considered to be inhuman, despite her human DNA.  She is forced to participate in a reality show where she is introduced to six young men, Toms, who also happen to be her size.  Realizing that everything she has been told is a lie and that she is considered less than human and determined to prevent Jack from harm, Lina is coerced into  participating in the reality show, which is intended to force her into selecting a mate. Nothing is as it seems, everyone seems to have a hidden agenda, and Lina doesn't know who to trust.

Reaction:  There's a lot going on in this smart, unusual fantasy/dystopian novel.  Budding romance and dystopian undertones clash in a novel that has moments of lighthearted fun and moments of pure sadness.  Despite being isolated, Lina is surprisingly similar to other teens her age.  Author Jennie Bates Bozic nails the teen voice and angst while delving into themes addressing human and animal rights and bio-ethics.  The one flaw in the book that really stands out is the epilogue.  It felt out of place and unnecessary to me, what with all the hints that are included in the climax and resolution of the tale.

If You Like...  fairy tales, this book is for you!

Rating:  4 stars

Inhuman, by Kat Falls

Fetch #1
Scholastic
ISBN:  978-0545370998
October 2013
Young Adult

INHUMAN, the first in the Fetch series, is an engaging dystopian adventure, blending action and science fiction in new ways.  In the not-too-distant future, the United States has been ravaged by disease.  Lane McEvoy has spent her entire life hidden on the safe side of the Wall, which separates the safe West from the hazardous East via the Mississippi River.  The East, known as the Feral Zone, is populated by those infected with the Ferae virus and criminals no longer welcome in the West.  When her father disappears and is implicated in a crime against the government, Lane is forced to enter the Feral Zone to find her father.  Relying on the survival skills she learned in classes and enlisting the unlikely assistance of two young men, Lane is determined to locate her father.  As ill-prepared as Lane is for the violent life on the other side of the wall, she is even less prepared for the truths the government has concealed. 

INHUMAN shares a lot of the same elements as other dystopian novels, such as THE HUNGER GAMES, DIVERGENT, and ASHES, and like these other books, the target audience is middle grades and up.  Fans of the genre, regardless of age, will enjoy this dark and interesting tale because of the heavy themes that dominate the novel, including abuse of power, medical ethics, and quality of life.  The premise of a deadly virus causing permanent loss of life and change to a country is quite believable, though some of the outcomes of the mutation of the virus are a little more far-fetched.  In INHUMAN, the author successfully establishes a believable futuristic world, a heroine who doesn’t yet know her own inner strength, and a potential love triangle that’s sure to keep readers hooked.  Ending in an emotional cliffhanger that will both please and taunt readers, INHUMAN is an engaging, action-packed adventure sure to successfully ride the wave of dystopian literature that is so very popular at present. 

Rating:  4