Wednesday, February 10, 2010

A Small Helping of the Teen Menu

Think of the teen menu as a small but tasty helping this month. I'm currently in the middle of judging RWA's RITA contest, so all my reading time is being devoted to that. But before the entries I'm judging arrived, I did have time to read one YA novel I'd like to tell you about.

Lots of YA releases are parts of series, and that's the case of Cassandra Clare's The Mortal Instruments series. The first in the series was City of Bones, where we're introduced to the world of the Nephilim, aka Shadowhunters, (our main characters) and Downworlders (werewolves, vampires, fairies, warlocks, etc.). The book I read recently was the second in the series, City of Ashes. It's the continuing adventure of teenage Shadowhunters Clary, Jace, Alec and Isabelle and their non-Nephilim friends as their world gets more dangerous. Valentine, Clary and Jace's father, is determined to take down the current governmental system and rule and he's taking steps toward that goal that shock even those who know how scary he can be. He's even scarier because he can make people stop and wonder if maybe his viewpoint might be the right one after all.

Against the backdrop of death and betrayal, the young Shadowhunters are also dealing with typical teenage trials such as unrequited love, forbidden love and emotional turmoil. There is one story thread that is likely to make some readers uncomfortable, but I'm reserving judgment until I read the third in the series, City of Glass (which is already available). I'm thinking (and hoping) that something will be revealed in that book that will take away the uncomfortable aspect of the storyline thus far.

Have any of you read this series? Please don't spoil me on the third book, but what did you think of the series overall?

In the midst of judging the RITA, I'm also working on revising one of my own books, due March 8. But I'm still hoping to make time to go see Percy Jackson the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. I had hoped to read the book before I had to start my judging, but I ran out of time. Anyone else planning to go see it? Have you read the book?

Until next month, happy YA reading!
Posted by at 12:01 AM
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24 comments:

  1. I'm reading the book THE LIGHTNING THIEF to my class right now and it's going to be a close thing if we finish before the movie comes out this weekend! We read three chapters yesterday! My voice....
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  2. Tricia, Thanks so much for taking the time out of your busy scedule to keep us up to date on the latest greatest YA releases.
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  3. MJ, are the kids still enjoying it? I'll probably end up seeing the movie before reading the book.
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  4. Thanks, Julie. I wish I could have gotten at least one more book in this month, but it just wasn't to be. After I finish these two deadlines, I hope to get in some good YA reading.
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  5. Hey, Trish! I've not read that series, but I listened to my son read THE LIGHTNING THIEF. It is so good!! I'm listening to him read THE SEA OF MONSTERS this week (so he can take another AR test) and we plan to see THE LIGHTNING THIEF next week since the kids are out of school. We can't wait!!
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  6. Andrea, I'm hoping to see it next week too. This week I want to get through the first round of my revisions so I can go guilt-free. :)
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  7. I have not read or even heard of this series until now. It does look quite interesting and different though. The Lightning Thief is directed by the same guy who directed the first two Harry Potter movies, which were fantastic, so surely this movie will be just as good. :)
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  8. I haven't read THE LIGHTNING THIEF yet, but I'm dying to see the movie!
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  9. My throat! Got to chapter 10 today. Not...going...to....make it! But yes, they love it.
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  10. MJ, I applaud you for reading it to your class! It took my son about 8 days to read it (while I listened). What grade do you teach? My son is in fourth.
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  11. 4th! I'm trying to get the kids interested in reading longer books--they have to have their arms twisted to read anything more than 50 pages!
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  12. I haven't read TLT, but the movie looks good.
    Good for you, MJ, for reading it to your class. It seems like I start a novel with my 5th graders and other things crop up to interrupt our reading for long periods.
    Trish, thanks for being at TRD today.
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  13. Deb, yes! I've found we have more interruptions this year than last--last year I read at least 8 novels with my class.
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  14. Another great column, Trish! Thanks for taking time from your very busy schedule to share your YA recs with us.

    I haven't read THE LIGHTNING THIEF but the movie trailers look terrific. I'm definitely interested in seeing it...and not just because Pierce Brosnan is in it either. *g*
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  15. @ MJ---8??!! Wow. Again, wow.
    I've done SIGN OF THE BEAVER as a novel unit, might start SPY CAT next. I tried THE WESTING GAME, but the last two classes haven't liked it.
    I'm in the process of reading THE VIEW FROM THE CHERRY TREE aloud to them, but it's slow-going.
    To be honest, my mind is on other things. I have a parent meeting tomorrow after school and the mother is upset and loaded for bear. Gulp.
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  16. I hear you, MJ. My son didn't start reading longer books until the beginning of this year with Harry Potter. And I'm so glad that he did!
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  17. Deb, the worst part of the job is parent meetings like that. I feel for you!

    I read The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Tales of a 4th Grade Nothing, Trixie Belden, The Whipping Boy, Dive....I can't remember which others. The kids would play with Play-Doh while I read--it was destressing time for them, too.

    Andrea, I told my kids that I had already read all the Little House books when I was their age! All they want are Junie B Jones books :-/
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  18. Deb, we tried THE WESTING GAME, too, but couldn't get into it. I hear The 39 Clues is good, but my son doesn't want to read it until the summer because they're not AR. I look forward to them!
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  19. Me, too, MJ! And Nancy Drew. I looooved Nancy Drew. One series that my son really liked were the Ramona books. They are so funny. That and Diary of a Wimpy Kid. I just love hearing him laugh while he reads!
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  20. Andrea, Judy Moody is good and her little brother has his own series, too. I think his name is Stink. They are better than Ramona, IMO.

    Don't get me started on Junie B. Jones. Ugh, I can't stand the bad grammar in that series.

    I'm a Trixie Belden girl; I ate up all the books I could get my hands on when I was young.
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  21. I've not read Junie B or Judy Moody, but yes, I was a Trixie girl too. In fact, I just rebuilt my collection!
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  22. My son has read the entire series! It is excellent. I brought it to his attention because it brought in some of the Greek mythology, which I have always loved. The author is a teacher and he wrote the series for his sons. And we will be going to see the movie!
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  23. Thanks, Deb! We'll have to check out Judy Moody.
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  24. You all have been busy chatting since I got on here earlier. Did some revisions, cooked dinner, ate dinner while watching a movie with the hubby.

    I think it's great that kids seem to be back into reading. I thank J.K. Rowling for that.
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