City of Ashes

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

I might need an intervention. But I've discovered that I'm not alone in my obsession. There are actually other people out there, just like me, who feel compelled to finish all of the books in all of the series they have started. No matter how disappointed we are in the series. No matter how lackluster a series is. And no matter how much we tell ourselves that we are reading inferior literature, we simply cannot look away from the train wreck.

I began reading the Mortal Instruments trilogy because the first, City of Bones, won the Illinois Abraham Lincoln Award. I can definitely see why the teens like it. Vampires and werewolves and demons and love triangles are all very popular and not just right now, but they have been for a long time. When I was a teen, I had the works of Anne Rice including Interview With a Vampire. So in retrospect, I am glad there is a new resurgence of this genre specifically for the young adults. My mother probably shouldn't have encouraged my thirst for Rice's handiwork.

Having read this, the 2nd in the trilogy, I stumbled upon the fact that there are now two other trilogies in the works to be prequels, sequels, or maybe simply companions to this original work. And I have to ask myself, "are they worthy of my time?" And in two respects, yes - for a break and for a little fun.

I have talked to many teachers and librarians who fall back on acknowledged trash in order to give their minds a rest. Such novels require very little thought. I would consider it my dirty little secret, but many are quite willing to lay that info right out there.

Fun you ask? Why fun? I also discovered that Cassandra Clare got her start writing fan fiction for Harry Potter. She acknowledges that she borrowed extensive amounts of her work from various books and television series including Discworld, Harry, Buffy, The X-Files,and even fan fiction, while others would say that she definitely plagiarizes. Clare's reasoning is that it is all for fun and games. See how many lines you can recognize and from where.

If I look at her series from that light, I can accept and even tolerate it and my own decision to keep reading it. Because there is one thing I can agree upon concerning the Mortal Instruments.It is derivative. To explain this from my point of view, at times I can hear John Williams' Star Wars music playing in the background of my mind. So to continue reading these books, I will make a game out of how much I can find that's been lifted from elsewhere.

Now that I've cleared my conscience, here is the taboo. The main character, Clary, is madly in love with Jace and the feeling is returned, however, we found out in the last book that they are brother and sister. I don't have much of problem with this incestuous possibility because I get the feeling that they have been misinformed. I feel pretty strongly that they will turn out not to be related and therefore will be allowed to date much to their relief.

Alec, who was unable to hide the fact that he was gay in the first book has entered into a relationship with the High Warlock of Manhattan in the second book . But they both seem satisfied with keeping it quiet/secret around their family and friends.

Finally, and most importantly, this is demonology based upon myth and legend. And perhaps that is reason enough for me not to continue the series …

Mockingjay

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Try this one on for size. Post-apocalyptic / Pre-apocalyptic literature. Yeah. Try to stay upbeat amidst that. Dare you to NOT become depressed. Add a healthy dose of songs in the Key of A Minor, some Skillet and Manafest on your iPod, and weed a bunch of books you cannot afford to replace after you leave your Kindergartner in tears at school. And I wonder why I'm anxious.

I gravitate to these kinds of books. They are the ones I get excited about. From the moment I read the reviews for The Hunger Games, I knew that I would be a part of the cult following. I was already a fan of Suzanne Collins and her prior series, Gregor the Overlander. I knew I would not be disappointed.

The conclusion to the trilogy left me in a sobbing heap in the Children's Department Office. Maybe some ideas are just TOO close to home.

When I was young, maybe 8, I used to be concerned that the Russians would invade the United States. I was convinced that they would show up in Decatur and kill us all as they traveled door to door with their swords. Yes, I said swords. Actually, more like scimitars in my mind. My main concern was always, who goes first? Do I watch my parents die? Do they watch me die? Can we be killed simultaneously? All that worry for nothing.

I also remember thinking, when I was younger, that we really needed something cataclysmic to happen in order to shake us out of our complacency. Now I would call it an inciting event. Thanks Don Miller. 9/11 is the idea, but on a much grander scale. Something that would stay with us longer than a few, several years.

What if we no longer had access to gas. Imagine, if I could no longer drive my children to school 20 minutes away from our home. Like a never ending snow day. Trapped in our houses with limited food stuffs. Could we survive?

Reality shows are our entertainment these days. But what if Survivor wasn't about verbal back-stabbing, but the real thing. 24 people placed on an island with limited weapons, food and shelter and no one was allowed to leave until only one remained standing - alive. And let's say that we choose not to kill our fellow contestants? The powers that be either force us to do it, or unleash demon beasts to do the work for us.

And what if we still persevere? Now we are on the authorities hit list. And what if the person we thought was the bad guy all along, well, they're still bad, but the alternative isn't any better … Government!!

If you need a hopeful book. If you need a feel good book. If you need a comforting book. Don't look here.

But, if you're anything like me. If The Giver, A Wrinkle in Time, The Scorpion House, The City of Ember, or First Light move you and push you to think in ways outside the Suburban box, this trilogy is a must.

Unfortunately, I so identified with the heroine, that I would have enjoyed curling up and and hiding for an extended vacation. Someone sick - please breathe on me. Or some cheerful person, please pass on something invigorating. Please and thank-you.

The Kings of Clonmel

The Kings of Clonmel by John Flanagan

The Ranger's Apprentice is one of my favorite series. Book 1, The Ruins of Gorlan, was a Caudill Nominee in 2008 and I've been hooked ever since. Book 9 is set to be released October 5 of this year. The author admits that he does not know how many volumes there will be in the series at this point. As long as he has more to add that will advance the characters, we have something to look forward to.

In book 8, Araluen is threatened again. Or rather, a neighboring country is being threatened and if that country falls, Araluen will be next.What is the threat? A cult! The followers of Alseiass move into a realm and practice their religion without trying to convert their neighbors. But when the villages are threatened by destructive thieves, the Followers of Alseiass offer prayers and protection in exchange for gold. They keep the brigands at bay until the gold runs out and then they move on to the next village. I'm sure you can guess who is in charge of the plunderers.

The leader, or prophet, of Alseiass is the charismatic Tennyson. He has been working in the country of Hibernia which is composed of six kingdoms. Tennyson has already claimed five of the six either by conquest or coercion. Clonmel is the sixth. The most famous Araluen Ranger, Halt, is from Clonmel and he has connections. His twin brother is the King.

Once again, Halt, Will and Horace set off to protect their homeland and lend assistance to the oppressed.

If you have read any of the other books in the series and enjoyed them. You will not be disappointed. Reading about Will and his trusted companions is like taking out your winter gloves in the fall. They mold quickly to your familiar hands.

I love these book and I need these books. They represent the ideals. The famous phrase "All for one and one for all" comes to mind. Will and Tug, Halt and Abelard, Horace and Kicker, all work together as a well-oiled machine for a common goal. They can finish each others thoughts as well as sentences. They would not leave each other unprotected. And they would gladly sacrifice themselves to save each other. If they say they will do something, they do. They are trustworthy and loyal. And if one doesn't show up at an appointed time in an appointed place, you can be sure something has gone terribly wrong. The bad guys are out for themselves. The good guys are out for something much bigger than themselves.

No wonder I would immerse myself in a book rather than join the living. We are selfish humans who have forgotten the grandest picture. We're all stuck in the lifeboat aiming to save ourselves by pushing the rest in the water. And ignoring the One Who Walks on the Water with outstretched hands.

Charlie Bone and the Red Knight

Charlie Bone and the Red Knight by Jenny Nimmo

I'm glad that the series is over. Am I disappointed in the series? A little. Did I enjoy the series? At the beginning. Will I recommend it? Not quickly.

When I have children who aren't quite ready for Harry Potter, yet long for a magical adventure, I suggest Charlie Bone. It looks like a big book - read: looks like a big kid book. Lines are double-spaced making the book appear twice as long as it is really.

My main concern with the series is that there was never a clear goal set that would denote the ending. So I was surprised to get number eight declaring that it was the end. It feels like she got tired and wanted to be done.

There were plenty of interesting characters. But there wasn't a lot of character development. There was a Red King that I was dying to meet, but never did. There was a Queen in the form of a horse that we met in one book but not again. The main character has the ability to travel through paintings and pictures. But he didn't use his abilities even once in this last book. The main character has a love interest in another world, and longs to see her again, but the longing is unrequited.

And what about the cats?!?! Aries, Leo and Sagitarius. They always appear when needed and then disappear. They belong with the Red King, but they are forever apart in this series.

Sorry, just couldn't get excited about this book. And I hate being unexcited by a book. Check out Jenny Nimmo's Chestnut Soldier series instead. It was republished with the success of her Charlie Bone books. It's a trilogy and the books are short. And they are different than our usual American fare. The author is Welsh.