Dreams of the Golden Age by Carrie Vaughn

I haven't read any Vaughn since I reviewed Kitty’s House of Horrors  here a few years ago.  This book, in some ways, seemed more polished than the previous read.  I don't think it is classified as a YA (young adult) but I think it reads as a YA novel.  That isn't a bad thing, just my perceived market focus.   Anna, the protagonist is struggling to find her way to maturity while dealing with an inherited not so super superpower.

I got a feel for the old comic book heroes from this book.  I'm quite sure that was intentional.   Vaughn creates a good Gotham City kind of setting.   She appears to have a good grasp of the teenage psychic or a very good memory of her own teen years.   As a former guidance counselor, I recall quite clearly how teens struggle to create an identity clearly their own.   Taking after your parents is often perceived as a fate worse than death.

The book had a lot of action and angst.   Relationships are explored and renewed.  Celia's situation forces Anna to realize what is really important.   Vaughn does a nice job reinforcing family values.

I recommend the book.

  

Web Site: http://www.carrievaughn.com/

  This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Ring of Fire by P. D. Baccalario

A small hotel in Rome receives several unexpected guests. The children of the guests discover a commonality that bonds them together. The four children face adversity with courage and ingenuity and working at a millennium old secret.

This was a very entertaining book. I enjoyed the interaction of the teens and felt that it was realistic. The intricacy of the plot provided thought provoking action. The millennium old secret tantalizes with it’s obscurity. The kids are not painted as infallible which reinforces the authenticity of the story.

This is the beginning of a series and should be enough to captivate the readers to buy and read the remainder of the series.

I recommend the book.

Body of work of P. D. Baccalario

Web Site


Review:

James Bond in Seafire by John Gardner

James Bond is always entertaining and seldom intellectually challenging. This book certainly fits the mold. The book is mildly entertaining and certainly not intellectually challenging. Typical Bond, there is a monomaniacal villain with sexually charged female sidekicks. There is also a moronic giant who wants to rip off Bond’s body parts. A difference here is that Bond is monogamous. His paramour is an ex-Swiss intelligence agent, Frederical von Grusse (Flicka). The villain sees himself is the second coming of Adolph Hitler. It is a very quick read and moderately entertaining.

Body of work of Deborah Chester

Review: http://www.universalexports.net/Books/seafire.shtml

Web Site: http://www.john-gardner.com/