Leviathan, Behemoth, Goliath
By Scott Westerfeld
Young Adult Steam Punk
*A Trilogy
I read the first book in this series, Leviathan, several years ago, and knew I had to nab the rest of the series to know what happened, but I just got around to finishing it.
This series is an alternate history of World War I, with elements of steam punk and fantasy. It follows Alek, a young prince of Austria without a throne running for his life. He is part of a Clanker nation, which surrounds itself with metal and machines.
Deryn, a girl disguised as a boy in the British air service, also plays a crucial role in this series. She is a lover of fabricated beasts, from flying whale-like airships to message lizards, and detests anything metal.
Fate throws the two together, and they must battle to end the war before it ends everything they know, both metal and beast.
I highly enjoyed this series! Something exciting is always happening, so the story flies by. The books are also littered with excellent drawings depicting the fabricated beasts, metal creations, and characters so you can better imagine these bizarre things that Westerfeld imagined.
Alek is a bit dimwitted and naive at times, especially in the last novel, but Deryn more than makes up for his idiotic moments. She is clever, daring, adventurous, and basically a 'better' boy than he is. I do get frustrated with many of the female characters in today's world acting like boys. Can't there be a strong, clever girl who's more feminine? I suppose one must look to Jane Austen for that. But overall, Deryn was a great, realistic character (even with all of her crazy stunts); I just wish she didn't have to help/prod Alek so much.
As I mentioned above, the series moves along at a gallop, which is mostly a good thing. However, I did find myself, especially in the sequel, Behemoth, wishing for the action to slow down a bit so the characters would interact more and grow. There was such a spate of action, that it was hard to keep track, in the second and third books, what was happening, and how everything is connected. Certain events in Goliath seemed random, or that Westerfeld just wanted to put them in the novel because they were cool.
I enjoyed the first or the last book the best. I like certain characters in the final novel, but not how thick Alek acts. But once you've started the series, there's no going back! You must finish it, or you probably won't sleep at night. This series deserves a 3.5 out of 5, and I recommend it for 10 year olds and up.
What I learned: Don't judge someone on just their appearance (including gender). Also, fabricated beasts are awesome, and it's really too bad that thylacines are extinct.
*Westerfeld also wrote the Uglies, Pretties, and Specials series which is deeply provocative and fabulously written.
The Great Train Robbery
By Michael Crichton
Historical Fiction
This novel is based off the true story of the Great Gold Robbery of 1855, a massive gold heist, which takes place on a train traveling through Victorian-era England.
My husband has opened the Michael Crichton door for me, and I'm not sorry. The Great Train Robbery has a different narration than the others I've read, as it's told from an objective historical view rather than a character's perspective. It took me a while to dive into the story due to that, and I missed being in the character's heads. But once I became accustomed to the historical narration, I chugged through the story as fast as the train on the cover.
There are fascinating tidbits thrown into the tale, which sometimes seem a bit dull or overkill, but they're not. These historical almost-lectures are important for the reader who doesn't live in Victorian England to understand what is going on and why it's integral to the plot. Crichton definitely did his research! It's amazing how many books he wrote with all the digging around he had to do for them all.
The plot of this novel is gripping and fast, the characters mysterious and daring, and the end even more so. If you think you know what's going to happen at the end (like I did), you're wrong! The fact that most of the events in this novel actually occurred and the characters actually lived make it even more breathtaking.
I give this novel a 4 out of 5 and recommend it for 17 year olds and up due to one particular scene.
What I learned: Criminals (the good kind) can be some of the most clever people alive.
Spring is in the air! That is why I've compiled a list of some great books to read in the Spring, due to their themes of new birth/beginnings, because they are light and joyful, or for other Spring-esque reasons. Most of them are YA, but a few other genres snuck into the batch.
Bloomability by Sharon Creech
This was one of my favorite books in elementary/middle school, and I'm aching to read it again. This is a great tale for any age about how a girl is torn from all she holds dear, and is thrust into a different culture (in Switzerland!) for good reasons by her Aunt and Uncle. She must learn how to bloom in this new place with new people or suffer from hiding from the world.
Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
Although this novel takes place in the heat of summer, it has a physical spring in it, so Spring must obviously be the best time to read it! But seriously, the main character must face a difficult decision about a possible new beginning that could possibly change her life forever. Will she follow this decision with its serious, heady repercussions, or continue in the current season of her life?
Surprised by Oxford by Carolyn Weber
This is a true story about a young woman who travels to Oxford for a Masters degree. But what she discovers there about the world and the One who made her turns her world upside down. This is a lovely book about the beauty of knowledge and England and one woman's journey into a different life. So pull up a chair out on the porch, and pour yourself a large mug of tea! You can read more about my thoughts on it here: http://rachsreads.blogspot.com/2018/01/best-of-2017.html under 'best biography.'
Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman
This young adult novel is based off of Shusterman's son, who struggled with schizophrenia, just like the main character. There are even drawings from Shusterman's son scattered throughout the book. This is a rich, poignant tale of one boy's journey to the depths-as far as Challenger Deep-and the opportunity to arise as someone whole and complete.
Black Dove, White Raven by Elizabeth Wein
This novel is full of new beginnings. The two main characters, Teo and Em, follow their mother to Ethiopia after tragedy strikes. There, as soon as they settle into a new life, war strikes. They must battle for this place they have come to love and for each other.
Through Gates of Splendor by Elisabeth E.
This novel follows the true story of the missionary Jim Elliot and his friends and wives who journeyed into the heart of South America to share the gospel. Things did not go as planned, however, and the wives must wrestle with the aftermath. The natives that the missionaries reached out to and who bring so much heartache, also bring healing and joy to those involved in this inspiring story.
Forest Born by Shannon Hale
This book is actually the fourth, and last, novel in the Goose Girl series. All of the books are a delight, and some of my favorites, but this one has some special Spring themes. Firstly, trees play a large role in the story, as the main character can control them. As she learns how to shift these giants of the forest, she also learns more about herself in the process and blooms into the person she is destined to be, even though it might be different than who she wished she could be. A delightfully deep, provocative read!
What other books do you think would make exceptionally good Spring reads? I'd love to read your thoughts in the comments below!
If you liked this post, you might like my Best of 2017 post.
Leviathan, Behemoth, Goliath
As I mentioned above, the series moves along at a gallop, which is mostly a good thing. However, I did find myself, especially in the sequel, Behemoth, wishing for the action to slow down a bit so the characters would interact more and grow. There was such a spate of action, that it was hard to keep track, in the second and third books, what was happening, and how everything is connected. Certain events in Goliath seemed random, or that Westerfeld just wanted to put them in the novel because they were cool. 
