Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Nzingha: Warrior Queen of Matamba by Patricia McKissack



In which 13 year old Nzingha, the first daughter of Ngola Kiluanji, loves to practice with her bow and arrows, and try to get her father's attention. While she waits for her father to come back from fighting the Portguese she gets ready for her coming of age ceremony. After talking, hunting, and becoming closer with her father, he sends her out to go talk the leader of the Portguese, who wants to ask for slaves every year. There she talks with a maid who tells her what happens to slaves that go over the sea. She is shocked. When she goes to talk to the Portguese king he tells her that she can sit on the floor. Not okay with Nzingha, she tells a servant to get on his hands and knees so she can sit on his back and be at equal height with the king.

I had never heard of Nzingha before this book. She is now my new favorite queen! She married and had one son who was later killed by her half brother. Her husband died in battle. After her father died her youger half-brother took over and went crazy with power. Some people say that when she went to talk to the Portguese king she had him killed. No matter what really happened, at age 42 she became king and ruled for 40 years! She lived until she was 82 years old, which is very old for those days. Wait! That's really old even for today :) Her sister became king after her. I now LOVE Nzingha (also spelled Nzinga) who is just like Queen Elizabeth I and I can't wait to learn more about her!

This is in the Royal Diaries series.

Recomended for people who like: spunky African princesses, warrior queens, and really awesome old wise women!

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Anastasia: The Last Grand Duchess by Carolyn Meyer


In which Anastasia is living with her family, who happens to be the imperial family of Russia. She loves to play with her sisters, and hates her lessons. One day her brother hurts himself and a 'saint' comes and makes him feel better. Anastasia and her family go on a cruise where the sisters catch each other doing things they are not supposed to do, make plays about bears, learn that a friend of theirs has been killed, and that the 'saint' has been attacked. Anastasia's father must send armies out to start a war, which he hopes will be over by Christmas. Christmas comes and goes and the war is still going. After her father abdicates the crown Anastasia's whole family is put under arrest and are no longer allowed to go wherever they want. Will they be rescued from this misery?

Sadly they were not rescued but end up being shot the same year the book ends. What happened to that family is just Horrible. Whenever you read a history book or listen to someone talk about history you will always hear "and then so-and-so got overthrown. then the next ruler was...." What you don't hear is what happened to the families, people, and children involved in the revolutions. This story I think is well known because it happened in the 20th century.

This is in the Royal Diaries series.

 Reccomended for people who like: Anastasia Nholaievna Romanov, sledding, and Russia.

The Chimera's Curse by Julia Golding



In which Connie tries to stop her friends from finding a terrible creature, a crazed chimera who argues with itself for all eternity, and ends up being attacked herself. On the verge of death she is saved by Windfoal the Unicorn.When she goes and talks with the Trustees they start to wonder if the chimera has been sent by Kullervo. The Trustees tell her not to prepare for Kullervo's next attack but she does it anyway, causing everybody to get mad. When Col goes missing Connie and Rat go to find him but when the Chimera attacks will Connie escape? Will Kullervo take over Connie's mind and will all humans be destroyed?

This book is SOOOO exciting!.......That's all I have to say. Have fun reading!......No I'm kidding. It is very exciting and worrying, and you feel feeling bad for Connie. She is trying to learn to be a Universal but some in the Society are worried that she will become too powerful. There is one scene with Col and Skylark that my brother and I loved. There is a very big surprise (or should I say surprises) that happens at the end making you reread the sentences again and again (I love when writing can be shocking like that). Golding writes a great ending to the series and I hope that you will enjoy it as much as I did :)

This is in the Companions Quartet.

Recommended for people who like: adventure, excitement, and a very cool, exciting (I said that before didn't I?) and happy ending.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Mines of the Minotaur by Julia Golding.



In which Connie finds herself being woken up by Col on the beach. She learns that she has subconsciously been using dangerous powers but Col's warnings to tell someone go unheeded. At a party Col tells Dr. Brock about what is happening to Connie, which makes her mad; she loses control and almost blasts Col, Dr. Brock, and their new friend Rat with a lightning strike! When she gets expelled from the society she goes to the moors with Argand and she hides in a mine where lives a minotaur who tells her all about mythical creatures who live underground who have been abandoned by the Society.

I love Rat and you will too! He is funny, rambunctious and loves to tease Col and Connie. His companion is very cool and is perfect for him. This is my favorite book out of this seires. It is interesting to read how Connie must learn to love all of herself, even the scary or bad parts. The minotaur is very sweet and is very protective of Connie.

This is book three of the Companions Quartet.

Recommended for people who like: hidden powers, minotaurs, and a great story all around.

Monday, November 2, 2009

The Gorgon's Gaze by Julia Golding


In which Connie is getting lessons in being a universal companion when her great aunt Godiva comes with the news that Connie can no longer be in the society! Godiva takes Connie to her house and homeschools her in a bad way. She won't let Connie see her society friends or mythical creatures. But when Connie hears that Col has gone missing with his mother she must get away. Skylark the pegasus comes for her and takes her to where Col is trapped, she saves him only to be caught by Kullervo herself. After lots of searching and worry, Connie learns to have empathy for Kullervo, and Col and his Dad dress up for a medieval fair to save a forest. Can Connie comes out on top?

This was a very exciting book to read by myself (I couldn't put it down) and to my brother (I tried to give each character his or her own voice).We both loved Argand, the little golden dragon. She is very cute in how she likes to be close to Connie. One scene my brother and I both like was when Connie is studying with Godiva and Argand flys through the window to get to Connie and Godvia screams "That damned parakeet!" We both laughed at that. And even though I don't like Kullervo, what he and Connie did together was very cool.   

This is book two in the Companion's Quartet.

Recommended for people who like: Little dragons, being brave for friends, and really funny dads.