Pryor, Bonnie The Iron Dragon:

Pryor, Bonnie The Iron Dragon: The Courageous Story of Lee Chin
Enslow 2010 160p 27.93
978-0766033894 elem E-BNe Historical Fiction Adventures(Enslow)


A young Chinese immigrant comes to work on the railroad. He learns to stand up for himself, defy his father, and pursue his desires to learn English and become an artist.
Set during construction of the Transcontinental Railroad.
After several years of famine in China, Le Chin accompanies his father to America to help build the Transcontinental Railroad. As a younger son, Le Chin constantly disappoints his father who wants him to save money and return to China to be a farmer. Le Chin wants to be an artist and sees the advantages in learning as much as possible about America and Americans. He makes friends in the railroad camp, saves the son of a financier of the project, and saves his money to buy back his sister who was sold to pay for the boat passage. Through the Americans he befriends, his sister is rescued and joins him in America. They witness the laying of the Golden Spike.
Through the story we learn about life in the railroad camps, construction methods of the time, Chinese customs, and early photography. The story is followed by historical information which formed the background to the story. A fairly large list of additional books for more information on the topic is included, as well as some web sites.
Excellent both as historical fiction and for the background information on the building of the Transcontinental Railroad. Historical Theal, Joan

Redmond, Shirley Raye Cities of Gold (Mysterious Encounters)

Redmond, Shirley Raye Cities of Gold (Mysterious Encounters)
Kidhaven Press see Gale/Cengage 2010 48p 27.50 978-0-7377-5036-2 ms Geographical myths VG-BNS Mysterious Encounters


Man's quest for gold has led him on adventures world-wide.
Long-lost exotic cities filled with great riches provide the lure of instant wealth that sparked the imaginations of adventurers throughout the ages.

Here is a collection of the "good parts" versions of many adventures experienced by men touched by gold fever. Students will enjoy the taut, concise tales of El Dorado and Cibola, Aztec and Incan treasures, accompanied by colorful illustrations, reproductions, and photographs. The historical context accompanying the tales is thin, but the facts that are incorporated into the text are solid. A good choice for reluctant readers or sparking interest that will lead to other, more in-depth sources of research. Welliver, Hilary

Walls, Jeanette. Half Broke Horses.

Walls, Jeanette. Half Broke Horses.
Simon & Schuster/Little Brown 2009 272p 26.00 978-4165-8628-9 hs/adult Subtitled “A True-Life Novel,” this is the story of Wall’s grandmother’s life in the southwest as a rancher, mother, teacher, flyer, and rebel. Lily Casey Smith is a character that readers will not soon forget as she relates the adventures, hardships, and triumphs of her memorable life in a spellbinding manner that keeps the pages turning. The book is subtitled “A True-Life Novel” and is the story of Wall’s grandmother’s life in the southwest as a rancher, mother, teacher, flyer and rebel. Lily Casey Smith is a character that readers will not soon forget. Told through Lily’s expressive voice, she relates the adventures of growing up on a ranch in the hard scrabble West and becoming a rancher’s wife. Lily suffers many hardships along the way, the cad of a first husband and the death by suicide of her beloved sister but manages to overcome her sorrows. She always works hard and does what is necessary to make a living and raise her children the way she sees fit. In addition to being a wife, mother, and rancher, Lily teaches in one room school houses and learns to fly airplanes. Her triumphs over adversity are rollicking and at times very humorous. At the end of the book, the author explains why this is categorized as a work of fiction even though most of it is true. After reading this story, I want to go back and read Crystal Palace, the memoir of the author’s life as the child of Lily’s own rebellious daughter. Half Broke Horses is wonderfully written, spell binding, and hard to put down as the reader will want to find out what will happen next in Lily’s quest to live life to its fullest. Recommended for Tristate Books of Note. Weinraub, Tina

Breen, M.E. Darkwood.

Breen, M.E. Darkwood.
Bloomsbury see St. Martins 2009 273p 16.99 978-1-5999-0259-3 ms/hs
The kinderstalk are taking the children of this small town. Annie is afraid to go out for too long because she fears she is next. Then she hears her uncle and aunt talk about someone coming for her and how much they will get paid. That is the night Annie the orphan decides it is better to let the forest get you than to be sold to some awful man who will surely hurt her. As Annie takes her chances out in the forest she is amazed that the kinderstalk miss her completely or they simply do not see her. She is caught by the bad men and she gets a chance to see how awful it truly is for the children but she also wonders about the kinderstalk because children that were supposed to have been eaten by the kinderstalk are also here at the awful dark camp. Annie is able to escape and she has a few adventures on her way to the palace to get help for the children. A delightful tale with a very good twist. The Annie is charming and loves her cats, her friends are likable and very caring. The author weaves a tale that at once entrance you as well as keeps you wondering what is going on and the king is handsome but has his flaws making him likable and keeps you guessing as to his role in the whole plot. Just an excellent fairy tale with a great surprise ending. Diaz, Magna

The Yggyssey: How Iggy wondered what happened to all the ghost, found out where they went, and went there.

Pinkwater, Daniel. The Yggyssey: How Iggy wondered what happened to all the ghost, found out where they went, and went there. Houghton Mifflin/Clarion/Graphia/Kingfisher 2009 245p 16.00 978-0-618-59445-0 elm/ms
Iggy lives in a hotel that is haunted by many ghost most of them friendly. Then One day she and her friends notice that the ghost are missing! Where to look? But Iggy and her friends are determined to solve this mystery. Iggy Lives in the Hermoine hotel That is haunted by many ghost. All friendly with Iggy who is their constant companion. Then one day Iggy and her friends notice that the ghosts are all missing. She manages to catch a few of them on their way out and interrogates them and finds out that they going to some mysterious activity of which they are not allowed to tell anyone. So Iggy and her friends follow the ghost into the world of phantoms and ghost to uncover the truth.

In a series of adventures and misadventures Iggy and her friends have a delightful time unraveling the mystery and the truth behind the missing ghosts of the hotel Hermoine. You will meet a ghost who can actually drive, even though no one can see him except Iggy and her friends.
This is a story for all ages full of laughter and funny adventures. MD

Historical fiction

Chabon, Michael. Gentlemen of the road.
Ballantine see Random House, 2007. 204p $21.95 978-0-345-50174-5
Historical

Michael Chabon has written a medieval buddy story and historical adventure of epic proportions about two men in the tenth century Jewish kingdom of Khazaria. The diametrically different men, Jewish Zelikman, a skinny blond Frank, and Amram, a huge black Abyssinian, are traveling together towards the legendary empire west of the Caspian Sea. In the midst of pulling another moneymaking scam on unsuspecting locals, the two adventurers become involved with the only survivor of a royal coup. They are convinced to help restore Filaq to his true position as war king and keeper of the elephants. They will need the help of a small army, their brains, and a few elephants to overcome the overwhelming odds facing them. The two, however, will have enough tricks up their sleeves to defeat a rampaging Viking war party as well as the forces of the evil usurper.
This is a terrifically enjoyable novel. Written in dense “purple prose,” the novel presents a fascinating look at an area of the world that is fairly unknown. Chabon’s tale of derring-do is filled with unlikely heroes and villains, wild countryside, and unusual situations. The plot always thickens and then will take an unexpected turn. Both Zelikman and Amram are thoroughly likable scoundrels who have even less desirable friends but all comes out as well as could be expected. SO

Street Magic: a must purchase for fantasy readers

Pierce, Tamora. Street Magic (unabridged audiobook).
Full Cast Audio, 2006. 8 CDs $39.00 978-1-933322-48-3
Fantasy

In the second book in the Circle Opens series, the four young mages have been sent out into the world to discover how to better develop their particular magics. Briar Moss, now an accredited plant mage, is in the faraway city of Chammur with his mentor Rosethorn. They are working with the local farmers to overcome a serious drought when Briar becomes aware that a young girl is able to work magic with stones. Briar is forced by mage law to mentor Evvy without a stone mage willing to train her. Complications arise when Briar notices that one of the local gangs, controlled by the evil Lady Zenadia, has become interested in Evvy and her magic as well. Briar must now cope with both Evvy's training and her protection from the warring gangs. The plot is rich and interesting, the locations are beautifully rendered, and the characters are very three-dimensional.
This full-cast audio version offers a sprightly spoken and exciting adventure. There are both fantasy, and suspenseful action in a well-paced plot and with engaging characters. The story is told through the intertwined voices of the main characters, alternating between them with the characters articulated in a very convincing manner. The story is rich and interesting; the locations are beautifully rendered. The author and the cast have mixed adventure, political intrigues, and a magical background into this very well-done rendition.
This is a must purchase for any library who numbers fantasy readers among its users. They will be waiting impatiently for a next audio book. SO