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Lost and Found
Lost and Found
Orson Scott Card | 2019 | Contemporary, Crime, Science Fiction/Fantasy
7
7.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
‏I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card is one of my favorite books. Being offered the opportunity to read his latest, Lost and Found, is an honor and privilege. I know I am supposed to be unbiased when doing reviews but it was difficult in this case.

Lost and Found is not long, less than 300 pages, and flows wells so it is a quick read. In it, we are introduced to Ezekiel Blast who has a gift for finding lost items. He feels compelled to return his finds. Instead of being thanked, people accuse him of taking the items in the first place. He is friendless and an outcast until a girl walks up to him and asks "Are you really a thief?

This story is charming and engaging. The well-developed characters are endearing. It is being marketed as SciFi and Fantasy as well as Teen and Young Adult. I agree it is a Teen/YA book but, if anything, it is light SciFi and Fantasy. People who do not usually read SciFi and Fantasy will enjoy this story.

I believe I gave an unbiased opinion on this story especially since it is not a typical SciFi and Fantasy book.

This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 1/27/20.
  
The Society of Imaginary Friends (The Conjurors Series #1)
The Society of Imaginary Friends (The Conjurors Series #1)
Kristen Pham | 2018 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
8
7.7 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review. The Society of Imaginary Friends (The Conjurors Series #1) by Kristen Pham is a Young Adult Fantasy novel. According to Goodreads, its original title was ÒInto the DarkÓ and published March 11, 2011.
Growing up, many children have imaginary friends. This story introduces Valerie, a girl bounced around foster homes. Helping her survive foster care is Cyrus, her imaginary friend. After ValerieÕs ÒpowersÓ become too much for her to handle on Earth she is transported to the Globe, a magical world. Here, Valerie realizes imaginary friends are real people with special powers which allow them to be seen by children on Earth and help them navigate their troubles. Of course, the Globe is not utopia and a fraction exists that wants to go back to Earth.
Most YA novels portray the heroine as perfect but Pham shows that Valerie is flawed. Doctors have diagnosed her as schizophrenic and, because of her ÒepisodesÓ her life is not easy. It is because of her difficult life that she is able to survive and help others.
I would read the rest of the series and would recommend the series for tweens, for people who enjoy YA fantasy, and especially middle school aged girls.
  
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review. Even though this is the ninth edition of Buzz Books: Young Adult, it is the first I had read. It includes excerpts from upcoming and recently published young adult books. After finishing some of the stories, I immediately ordered their corresponding books because I HAD to finish reading them and was annoyed I didn't have it available to finish it immediately. Others, well, I liked reading them but would not continue reading the rest of the book. This edition provided an eclectic line up of stories and a nice mixture YA sub-genres. Because of people's natural tendency to gravitate to what you are comfortable or familiar with I tend to read the same sub-genres of YA more than others. If I have a choice, I prefer to read more fantasy YA then novels that about real life. I enjoyed reading excepts from books that I would not have normally chosen.

I like the idea of possibly knowing about the next huge book or series before it's published. Also, knowing about them makes a great conversation starter with my children. I would definitely read other Buzz Book collections to help make informed suggestions of selecting books for myself and my children.
  
LT
Let the Sky Fall (Sky Fall, #1)
10
8.7 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Vane has no memory of his life before his parents were killed in a tornado. Audra has spent her entire life guarding him, but always from a distance. But when the winds of change come into their lives, can Audra train Vane to meet his destiny? I really enjoyed this YA fantasy novel with a strong romance. The characters were great, and it was easy to pull for them. And the plot moved along well, leading to a climax that kept me turning pages.

My full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/04/book-review-let-sky-fall-by-shannon.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
Severed (Cloud Prophet Trilogy, #3)
Severed (Cloud Prophet Trilogy, #3)
Megg Jensen | 2011 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Reychel may seem weak at first glance, but after reading through the three books in this part of the story, she is a lot stronger than she appears. She does not take the easy option and will continue fighting for what she believes in even if other people have given up.

This has been an entertaining and intriguing set of books to read, the storyline has followed through at a wonderful pace and all of the characters are well developed, whether you like them or not.

I would recommend this book/series for all fans of Fantasy, not just YA, as I think it appeals to all ages.