SUN AND MOON, ICE AND SNOW

Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow

Jessica Day George

2008 * p. 317 * YA Fantasy

Pika is the ninth child of a very poor family. And a girl. So displeased was her mother that she had another worthless girl that she pretty much left her to fend herself, and didn't even give her a name. Pika simply means girl.

Though she doesn't have a name, she grows up with identity nonetheless, strong and caring. She is mostly attached to her kind eldest brother, Hans Peter. He returned from his travels after a few years, but now seems lifeless. And he is now a disappointment to their fortune-seeking mother. Pika knows something happened to Hans Peter, but he never speaks of it.

Pika's family live in The North where it is always winter and conditions are harsh. When a white reindeer, a magical creature that grants a wish to whoever captures it, is seen in the countryside everyone wants to find and capture it. Pika, more out of curiousity stumbles about the snow in Hans Peter's parka. She happens to find the magical white reindeer stuck in a prickly bush. She frees the white reindeer and is suprised to find that it can talk. Though Pika says a wish is not necessary, the reindeer grants her two remarkable gifts: a name, and the ability to talk to animals.

Her secret name becomes a source of courage and confidence for the Pika. Her ability to talk to animals also because crucial when an isbjorn comes to the village. An isbjorn is a large white polar bear. The isbjorn has the Pika come with him and live in his palace of ice for a year. After the year is over she can leave.

The Pika finds that the isbjorn is kind and nice to talk to. She is given beautiful dresses, elegant meals, and kind service. But things turn strange when servants start to disappear, a weird smell pervades the palace and a strange young man comes to sleep next to her every night in the dark:

"After her second night in the palace, the stranger was her constant bedfellow. The first two times the stranger climbed into bed with her, she climbed right out and slept on the divan, but the third time the lass tried this she was awakened by someone lifting her. Without a word the stranger carried her to the bed and tucked her in. Then the visitor walked around to the other side, got in, and went to sleep, back turned to her.

She knew it was a man, because on that third night, after he had carried her back to bed, she dared to reach over and touch him. She ran her fingers over his face: he had high cheekbones and a shapely nose. His hair was straight and very thick, worn long so that it brushed the collar of his nightshirt (and she was relieved to feel he had one)" (99).

The Pika soon learns that everything is not what it seems: the palace, her brother, the isbjorn, and her role in the bargain. Aided by magic and true love she seeks to free her isbjorn.

I enjoyed this retelling of the fairy tale The Polar Bear King. However, I thought that the isbjorn and Pika's relationship wasn't as developed as it should have been. It never moved past "the friendship stage" for me, and as events unfolded I found it felt shallow because of the lack of "love." Compared to George's Princess of the Midnight Ball, I thought this book was more silly (in a good way) than suspenseful. The descriptions are more ridiculous than scary and would be appropriate for a younger audience.

-Reading level: age 12 & up

-Ideal for young women

-I suggest watching the movie "The Polar Bear King" as a companion to the book if you want something a little more suspenseful and mature. It is excellent.

-Completely appropriate.

TWILIGHT

Twilight

Stephenie Meyer

2005 * p. 498 * YA Supernatural

Bella Swan moves to Forks to live with her dad while her mother enjoys time with her new baseball player husband. Bella is a little awkward, and not spectacular in any certain way. But she is a novelty in the small town of Forks and quickly gains a lot of unwanted attention.

Everyone is admiring. Except for Edward Cullen--her stunningly gorgeous and pale lab partner who keeps to himself and his four siblings. On her first day, Bella is stunned by the revulsion that seems to emanate from him in her direction. She tries to ignore the tension, but eventually glances in his direction:

"I peeked up at him one more time, and regretted it. He was glaring down at me again, his black eyes full of revulsion. As I flinched away from him, shrinking against my chair, the phrase if looks could kill suddenly ran through my mind" (24).

Edward confuses Bella. One day he can barely stand to sit next to her, and the next he is peppering her with questions desperate to learn everything about her. As time goes on, Bella finds herself drawn to Edward and his enigmatic persona. Edward in return tries to maintain a distance telling her that its for the best.

But as Bella puts the pieces together and Edward warily spends time with her, she discovers that Edward is more than human. He is a vampire. And so begins the struggle. Edward wants to protect Bella from himself, but Bella is attached to his hip and refuses to leave him. Edward must control his thirst to keep his true love alive.

What can I say? I LOVE this book. Probably more than any other. And its not just because of the romance. But because of the feelings of the characters. Bella is self-conscious and normal. That is what I love about her. A lot of the book is her thoughts. She loves unconditionally and fears for others more than herself. Every day she is still in awe over Edward and constantly asks, "Why me?" She can't understand why Edward loves her, and secretly thinks that she is much more in love than he is.

Edward is soooo forgiving. (Read the sequels and you'll see why:) He thinks Bella is this perfect creature and wants to keep her that way. He refuses to make her a vampire and wants her to experience everything that is human and normal, just as she would have if he did not exist. Bella is his reason for living, but he secretly hates himself for selfishly holding onto her.

The emotions are complex and delightful. The story is suspenseful and so original. Wonderful.

I have the movie and I love it because it's Twilight. But, like any great book, only reading it can do it justice. You will not be disappointed.

-Reading level: ages 14 & up

-A few mild swear words and scenes of kissing

-Themes of love, sacrifice, good vs evil, judgment and morality

-Everyone should read this book!

PRINCESS OF THE MIDNIGHT BALL

Princess of the Midnight Ball
Jessica Day George

2009 * p. 272 * YA Fantasy

After the war ends, 18-year-old Galen Werner heads for the kingdom of Westfalin. His family has all died in the midst of the war, but Galen has survived even though he was often on the front lines in the army. He hopes to find his mother's relatives and a place to stay.

Once they are found, he is surprised to learn that they hold a very prominent position as the King's gardeners. So Galen joins the family business. But there is more than gardening in Galen's future.

King Gregor has twelve daughters--all of them named after flowers, from Rose to Petunia. But something is amiss with these daughters. Every third morning their dancing slippers are worn to pieces and they are exhausted. Yet none of them can explain to their father how and why and with whom they are sneaking out to dance.

After meeting and becoming enamored with the eldest princess, Rose, Galen sneakily discovers that the princesses do not want to dance and are being forced by some immortal being underground who has forbidden them to share the secret.

When Rose falls deathly ill things turn for the worse:

"Death alone could free a soul from the Midnight Ball, as the girls knew all too well.

'There's nothing we can do,' Rose said, and a tear slipped out of the corner of her eye and ran down to wet her pillow. 'If I don't go, he'll be so angry.' She rolled onto her side and pulled the blankets over her head again.

...And then, at eleven o'clock, Lily and Jonquil helped Rose out of bed. They washed her face and applied rouge to her pale cheeks and lips... Then they helped her into the yellow dress and the new dancing slippers.

The eldest princess could barely walk. She was near delirious with fever and racked by coughing spells that left her breathless and teary-eyed. Lily and Jonquil had to support her all the way to the Midnight Ball'" (48-9).

Galen is more determined than ever to rescue Rose and her sisters from the Midnight Ball, and the shadows that dance there.

Princess of the Midnight Ball is a sweet fantasy filled with princesses, flowers, magic and innocent romance. It is a perfect book for the sentimental female who loves the world of heroic princes and beautiful princesses who live happily ever after. It was a refreshingly unpredictable retelling of the fairy tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses.

-Reading level: age 12 & up
-Completely appropriate for all ages
-German names with pronunciation guide in the back
-Themes of bravery, kindness, trust, love and family
-Ideal for young women