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By Ingrid Law

Gypsy Beaumont has always been a whirly-twirly free spirit, so as her thirteenth birthday approaches, she hopes to get a magical ability that will let her fly, or dance up to the stars. Instead, she wakes up on her birthday to blurry vision…and starts seeing flashes of the future and past. But when Momma and Poppa announce that her very un-magical, downright mean Grandma Pat has Alzheimer’s and is going to move in with them, Gypsy’s savvy—along with her family’s—suddenly becomes its opposite. Now it’s savvy mayhem as Gypsy starts freezing time, and no one could have predicted what would happen on their trip to bring Grandma Pat home…not even Gypsy.

This has been a long time coming! I’m so glad that Ingrid Law is continuing the stories of the Beaumont family and the Savvy world. The special thing about her books is that they aren’t just about fantastical powers or crazy plots, they’re ultimately about finding your true self. Gypsy is a free spirit, utterly unique and a bright spot in her family, but coming up on her 13^th Savvy birthday Gypsy is not only wondering what her Savvy will be, but is dealing with how others see and treat her. Trying to be ‘normal’ and have friends makes her shrink a little from who she really is, and she has a tough choice to make; be whirly-twirly self, or someone who doesn’t stand out, but is accepted in society. True to form, while tackling this question, all kinds of havoc is wreaked as Gypsy gets her Savvy and the family goes through yet another change with Grandma Pat coming to live with them. The result is another Beaumont road trip. If you’ve read Savvy and Scumble, (And if you haven’t, please please do!) you won’t be disappointed in Law’s third book.

I give it a 3.75 out of 5

Flora and Ulysses

By Kate DiCamillo

The 2014 Newbery Medal winner. Holy unanticipated occurrences! This is a laugh-out-loud story filled with eccentric, endearing characters and featuring an exciting new format—a novel interspersed with comic-style graphic sequences and full-page illustrations, all rendered in black and white by K.G. Campbell.

Tackling hard themes, Kate DiCamillo introduces little Flora, a girl with a big imagination, divorced parents, intriguing neighbors, and a super-powered squirrel she names Ulysses. Be ready to follow the meeting and friendship of Flora and Ulysses with a ready smile and a thoughtful heart. This is a story of belonging, loyalty, and learning just what really matters in life. There’s a definite reason this book won a Newbery. My only disclaimer is that the mother smokes quite heavily and also is a writer of romance novels, which comes into play in a few minor instances. I suggest this book for older kids at least 12 and up just for some of the more mature themes of divorce and relationships.

I give it a 4 out of 5

Firefight

By Brandon Sanderson

Newcago is free.

They told David it was impossible, that even the Reckoners had never killed a High Epic. Yet Steelheart—invincible, immortal, unconquerable—is dead. And he died by David’s hand.

Eliminating Steelheart was supposed to make life simpler. Instead, it only made David realize he has questions. Big ones. And no one in Newcago can give him answers.

Babylon Restored, the city formerly known as the borough of Manhattan, has possibilities, though. Ruled by the mysterious High Epic Regalia, Babylon Restored is flooded and miserable, but David is sure it’s the path that will lead him to what he needs to find. Entering a city oppressed by a High Epic despot is risky, but David’s willing to take the gamble. Because killing Steelheart left a hold in David’s heart. A hole where his thirst for vengeance once lived. Somehow, he filled that hole with another Epic—Firefight. And now he will go on a quest darker and even more dangerous than the fight against Steelheart to find her, and to get his answers.

Once more, I listened to the audiobook, and I loved it. This was not just amazingly narrated, but the story itself was intense, funny, and full of shocks that I loved and simultaneously screamed at. I started this series knowing that the last book was coming out in 5 months, but I didn’t realize how much I would get involved in the series and now I am stuck waiting until February and having to practice my patience. I loved the dynamic and how it changed from a revenge story to a story about understanding and problem solving. David’s character growth is awesome. I’ve never cared much for revenge stories, but this turned into a story about people, fears, love, friendship, and where true power really lies. I can’t really delve into the story without spoiling the amazing surprises in store for the readers. This had all the right touches for me personally. I laughed out loud, I gasped, I froze, and even teared up a little. If you are looking for a great read, perhaps if you enjoyed Michael Vey or I Am Number 4, this is a great follow-up (It’s way better than those books, but similar in tone).

I give it a 4.5 out of 5

Steelheart

By Brandon Sanderson

Ten years ago, Calamity came. It was a burst in the sky that gave ordinary men and women extraordinary powers. The awed public started calling them Epics. But Epics are no friend of man. With incredible gifts came the desire to rule. And to rule man you must first crush his will.

Nobody fights the Epics…nobody but the Reckoners. A shadowy group of ordinary humans, they spend their lives studying Epics, finding their weaknesses, and then assassinating them.

And David wants in. He wants Steelheart—the Epic who is said to be invincible. The Epic who killed David’s father. For years, like the Reckoners, David’s been studying, and planning—and he has something they need. Not an object, but an experience.

He’s seen Steelheart bleed. And he wants revenge.

First off I need to say that I began reading this when it first came out and my interest flagged pretty quickly (partly because I started it when I wasn’t in the mood for it) so I put it aside so I could give it the attention I thought it most likely deserved, knowing Sanderson’s ability to write phenomenal worlds and characters. I decided to wait until the last book was fairly close to coming out so I wouldn’t be in yet another waiting line for a series. So I decided to listen to this on Audible. I am SO glad I made that decision. MacLeod Andrews, who narrates the audiobook is fantastic. I was immediately grabbed by his voice and his subtle way of reading the story. I felt like it was a whole new book and I loved how he narrated as David. He has this amazing ability to deliver the dialogue in the perfect way that animates and brings to life the situation and the characters. I devoured this audiobook and couldn’t wait to listen to it. I’ve tried audiobooks before and this is the first time I listened to an audiobook when I wasn’t driving and had other things to do. Combining Mr. Andrews’ presentation with Sanderson’s brilliant writing was genius. I loved this book. The plot was amazing, I was left flabbergasted at some of the turns and surprises at the end. This is an awesome twist on ‘superhero’ books, where the question is put: what happens if everyone who acquires superhuman powers actually becomes evil? By the end of the book you’re realizing the straightforward plot that you were handed at the beginning is the tip of the iceberg. I finished this audiobook knowing that I didn’t want to read the next book, I wanted to listen to it. In fact, I immediately went and grabbed it on audible and am now listening to Firefight. I’m still trying to figure out how I’ll survive the wait until February for Calamity.

Anyway, plot is solid, action-packed and rendered in crystal-clear quality. Characters are fully realized, unique, and diverse. You have Cody, the Scotsman from the Southern States, Abraham, The Canadian with a French accent and heavy artillery, Tia, the Redhead with a plan, Megan, the young serious fighter, and Prof, the man, the myth, the legend. And David, a kid with a vendetta, a serious lack of social life, and whose metaphors need a lot of help.

Tons of fun from Sanderson. I’m liking this one in a major way.

I give it a 4.5 out of 5 (A 4 if it’s without MacLeod Andrew’s performance, it really does bring it up another level!)