The Hollow Kingdom by Clare B. Dunkle

Name: The Hollow Kingdom (trilogy)
Author: Clare B. Dunkle
Genre: Juvenille Fiction/Fantasy
Reviewer: Karen Pellett
Rating: Fabulous
Alerts/Warnings: Goblins kidnap teenage girls who wander out in the night. Might be scary for younger kids.
Premise (be brief): - In nineteenth-century England, a powerful sorcerer and King of the Goblins chooses Kate, the elder of two orphan girls recently arrived at their ancestral home, Hallow Hill, to be his bride and queen. (King County Library)
Opinions: I just went ahead and read the entire series again for the second time. For three books it took me under four days and that is while taking care of my teething seven month old. I love this series. It is imaginative, spooky, thrilling and there is this whole underlying theme of not judging on looks, etc. which is really good. I love Kate - the strong, ellegant sister who sacrifices her freedom to save her sister - and I adore Emily - the headstrong, determined, fun-loving younger sister who would consider it an absolutely grand day if she were ever kidnapped by goblins. This is a fun read. The good guys may not be so good and the bad guys might just be the night in shinging armor, but then what if it was the girl who had to go save them all? Hmmm.....something to ponder as you read.

Secret of the Sirens by Julia Golding

Name: Secret of the Sirens (Book 1 in the Companions Quartet)
Author: Julia Golding
Genre: YA Eco-Fantasy
Reviewer: Karen Pellett
Rating: Love
Alerts/Warnings: None
Premise (be brief): - Upon moving to her aunt's seaside home in the British Isles, Connie becomes part of a secret society that shelters mythical creatures, and must use her ability to communicate with these beings to protect them from evil and the incursions of humans. (King County Library)
Opinions: This entire series has been a joy for my husband and I to read. Though heavily environmentalist throughout the book we were so easily drawn into the life of Connie, a girl thrown into a world full of mythical creatures, as she learns to communicate with all of them (a talent that was thought long lost from the earth). Through many trials Connie strives to help these wonderful creatures avoid extinction through mans carelessness with some humans treat the earth, all the while fighting against the worst of mythical creatures - a shape shifter named Kullervo who is determined to pit man against beast until all are destroyed. For those who enjoy reading Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Olympians series should enjoy this series as well.

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Name: To Kill A Mockingbird
Author: Harper Lee
Genre: Historical Fiction
Reviewer: Karen Pellett
Rating: Love
Alerts/Warnings: Swearing, Drinking, Rape, Racism
Premise (be brief): - Scout Finch, daughter of the town lawyer Atticus, has just started school; but her carefree days come to an end when a black man in town is accused of raping a white woman, and her father is the only man willing to defend him. (King County Library)
Opinions: This classic is a must read, but only if you are prepared. Tough subjects are talked about throughout this book, but they are well done. I love that we see this story through the mind of a child in all its purity. If you wish to have your children read this book, or if they are assigned to read it in school, I highly recommend that you read it with them so you can discuss it thoroughly on your terms.