"Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures" by Kate DiCamillo; Illustrated by K. G. Campbell

(image borrowed from goodreads.com)

4/5 stars

This 2014 Newbery winning book is actually a hybrid novel.  The majority is told in novel form, but several times, switches to a comic form, especially when something truly heroic and super is happening.

It’s the story of a girl named Flora, a self proclaimed cynic, and a squirrel named Ulysseus, who develops super hero type powers after an unfortunate run in with a vacuum cleaner.

I could see this story as being very popular among kids.  In fact, I have book talked it to some of my older kids and have gotten a few of them interested in the story.  It’s funny, fast paced, and entertaining. 

That being said, as an adult, I found it to be almost a little too much.  All the quirkiness of the story kind of hit me in the face and just kept coming and coming.  Almost like Kate DiCamillo was trying too hard to make this seem like an award winning book (which obviously worked).  I was glad when it all ended and I could actually sit back and reflect on what happened.

I did really like the characters.  You can tell that underneath her “cynic” persona, Flora is a normal ten-year-old girl going through her parents divorce and basically being ignored by her mother.  She just wants to know that her mother loves her and approves of her.  I will say, I hated Flora’s mother the entire way through.  I’ve recently had discussions with other librarians about how that woman should not even be allowed custody of Flora. Always good to have a villain that people deeply despise J.

I look forward to getting my students to read this.  I think they will really enjoy and a big congratulations to Ms. DiCamillo for another Newbery win!

"The Ring and the Crown" by Melissa de la Cruz

(image borrowed from goodreads.com)

4/5 stars

Set in an alternate early 1900s England, The Ring and the Crown follows the stories of several characters as they attempt to navigate the London season. 

Princess Marie-Victoria, as heir to the throne, must marry to make an alliance with a neighboring country to end a war, and secure the royal line. Aelwyn, the daughter of the Mage of England, has recently returned to London after a magical misshape four years ago that banned her from court.  American Ronan is on her way to London for the season to make a marriage match and save her family from financial disaster.  Wolf would rather participate in underground fight matches than face his duties as a Prince of Prussia and attend the London season to celebrate his brother’s engagement.  And Isabelle has just had her engagement broken and must now face the court that caused it.

The Ring and the Crown is a story that has everything you would expect in a book set during the London season: romance, political intrigue, duels, and murder attempts.  What makes this story different is the large presence of magic.  This entire world is completely dependent on magic and it is used to show wealth and power.  If you don’t have magicians at your every beck and call, then you are nothing. 

The characters in this story are very strong, although you don’t really see a whole lot of development.  All of the characters with POVs are very likable, even though they have plenty of personal flaws.  You see the biggest changes with Marie-Victoria and Aelwyn, as they discover their roles in the world and make decisions based on what’s best for others, rather than themselves.  If there are changes with the other characters, they’re kind of minor.  Ronan and Isabelle sort of just get tossed to the side at the end.

I think my biggest problem with the story was the pacing.  The first three quarters of the book had a nice, steady pace.  You were introduced to the characters and the world, and everything was explained well.  But then at the end, everything speeds up!  All of a sudden, all the big dramatic stuff is happening with little explanation.  I was left a little dizzy and a tad confused.  I’m just going to go ahead and assume that many of these things will be answered in the sequel (goodreads says that this is book 1, so I’m assuming this will become a series).

I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend to anyone who loves books about royalty and the London season.  This is a fascinating new twist to the London season and I enjoyed every minute!

I was given an ARC of this book through the publisher in exchange for an honest review.