Enchanting Review: Dandelion Fire

DANDELION FIRE (BOOK 2 OF THE 100 CUPBOARDS)

N.D. WILSON

Middle Grade Fantasy

Random House Children’s

ISBN# 978-0-375-83883-5

480 Pages

$16.99

Hardcover--Available February 24, 2009

Rating: 3.5 Enchantments

Henry York has two weeks left in Kansas with his Aunt and Uncle before he’s going to be sent back to Boston and his parents--well, one of them, whoever gets custody in their sudden unexpected divorce. Two weeks to explore the cupboards and find out where he’s really from and who he really is. Two weeks really isn’t a long time to make his way through all the cupboards, a timeframe that gets even smaller when what looks like a freak accident seems to render Henry blind.

An imaginative tale, DANDELION FIRE is nothing like I’ve read before. From the unusual raggant, the creature that Henry believes was sent to find him, which has to mean someone in one of the cupboards is out there looking for him too. I have to admit, some of the early chapters were a little hard to follow since I hadn’t read Book 1 in the series, but by the 100 page mark I was totally immersed in the story and actually enjoyed the parts with Uncle Frank and Aunt Dotty not too mention what was happening to Henrietta at times more than Henry. The story splits soon after Henry‘s blindness, following Henry as he fights to get away from the mysterious and evil Darius and get back to the farmhouse; Uncle Frank and Aunt Dotty along with Anastacia and Penelope, along with a few surprise guests; and Henrietta, who finds herself alone in one portal, escaping from being held hostage and trying to find the only person she thinks can help her, Eli. Filled with vivid imagery, a compelling story that makes you wonder if things will work out and the entire family will ever be reunited again, fans of middle grade fantasy will no doubt enjoy this addition to the 100 Cupboards series.

Nathan D. Wilson holds a Master's degree in Liberal Arts from Saint John's College in Annapolis, Maryland (2001). He served as a part-time Lecturer at New Saint Andrews from 2001-2004, and was promoted to Fellow of Literature in the fall of 2004. He still teaches part-time. Visit him online at http://www.ndwilson.com/ and check out the 100 Cupboards website at www.randomhouse.com/kids/100cupboards

Lisa

Enchanting Reviews

February 2009

Enchanting Review: Cycler

CYCLER
LAUREN McLAUGHLIN
Young Adult
Random House
ISBN# 978-0-375-85191-9
256 Pages
$17.99
Hardcover-Available Now

Rating: 5 Enchantments

CYCLER has a really intriguing premise that had me hooked from the jacket blurb. Four days out of every month Jill becomes Jack, in every single way possible. With the help of self hypnosis, Jill’s been able to block out those four days, but Jack on the other hand, well he’s been able to find a way to view Jill’s days to keep up with what’s happening in the world. Now he’s no longer happy having to spend his four days cooped up in Jill’s room. He wants out and he wants out for one reason: Ramie.

I loved this book. Aside from a really unique premise, Jill and Jack have their own voices that drew me straight in and made me like each of them almost instantly. Jack is your typical guy, except he only exists four days each month, but he’s growing desperate to escape his prison, one that becomes even more solitary when Jill and her mother find out about Jack’s first escape. Jill’s your typical teenage girl, obsessed with prom and going with the guy of her dreams, who also just happens to have Jack to deal with. I loved how different Jack and Jill were, and how the black moment brought them together in one horrifying moment that actually had me cringing as I read the last few pages.

CYCLER has one of the best scenes I’ve ever read, when poor Jill in an effort to attract her crush goes to the ski hill with her best friend Ramie. What happens with her and the J-Bar is absolutely hysterical and mortifying.

Ms. McLaughlin creates a very vivid, at times hilarious page turner with CYCLER.
I was so glad to read in the author bio at the back of the book that Ms. McLaughlin is currently at work on a sequel, as the ending leaves things wide open for one and I can’t wait to see what happens to Jill and Jack next.

You can learn more about Ms. McLaughlin at her website, http://www.laurenmclaughlin.net.

Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
September 2008