Ride For Rights by Tara Chevrestt

" Women can aid the war effort by darning socks and packing care packages, but they do not belong on motorbikes," a man to Angeline's right loudly declared.
"What a ridiculous notion! All the motorcycles would crash, all the women would be killed, and the information would end up in the wrong hands." 

In the summer of 1916 American women do not have the right to vote, let alone be motorcycle dispatch riders. The Hanson sisters, Angeline and Adelaide, are determined to prove to the world that not only are women capable of riding motorcycles, but they can ride them across the United States. Alone!
From a dance hall in Chicago to a jail cell in Dodge City, love and trouble both follow Angeline and Adelaide on the dirt roads across America. The sisters shout their triumph from Pike's Peak only to end up lost in the Salt Lake desert. Will they make it to their goal of Los Angeles or will too many mishaps prevent them from reaching their destination and thus, hinder their desire to prove that women can do it?

I very seldom read Young Adult books but I do like historical fiction and particularly historical fiction based on real people who I haven't previously heard of.

Ride for Rights is a fictionalised account of the Van Buren sisters, Augusta and Adeline, New York society girls who exchanged their fashionable dresses for breeches and leather helmets , took on the challenge of mastering heavy Indian Model F motorcycles and riding them 5000 miles over hazardous roads ......pioneers for Women's Rights.

The narrative of the story , interspersed with excerpts from Angeline's diary and contemporary newspaper reports , is fast-paced and has a wonderful 'girls can do anything' energy and I particularly enjoyed the appearances of other well-known names like Amelia Earhart and the Astaires . The author includes explanatory notes at the end which saves any confusion about what is fact and what is fiction.

Ride for Rights is the sort of book I read and loved as a young girl and which fostered a lifelong love of historical fiction. It's fun, it's an adventure, it's informative and its heroines are an example of independence and having the courage to follow your dream.
I enjoyed it immensely!

Zan-Gah and the Beautiful Country by Allan Richard Shickman

Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Earthshaker Books, 2009
151

New Land, New Life

In this sequel to Zan-Gah, A Prehistoric Adventure Zangah and his brother, Dael, are both married. But Dael, who suffered so much in captivity, in the opening lines is dealt another blow ....
"When Lissa-Na died, Dael wept real tears."

 Angry and disturbed he becomes obsessed with destroying the Wasp Men who live in the Beautiful Country but when he, Zan-Gah and others of their people travel  there they find the Wasp Men have all died. The decision is made to migrate to the Beautiful Country and make it their new home. Unfortunately there are others who have the same plan - the Noi, Dael's cruelest enemies .......

The book itself moves into new territory. A Prehistoric Adventure is a growing-up story but those boys are now men and dealing with adult issues both practical and emotional. War, sickness and death, relationships........the battle for survival, these themes are such that I'd not recommend this one for preteens.

As an adult I really enjoyed it and became more involved on an emotional level . One can't help feeling some pity for the seriously disturbed Dael and to feel Zan-Gah's distress as he tries to help him.

"The volcanic turbulence that shakes Dael's mind carries him to vicious extremes. It is Zan's task to calm his brother and lead him away from thoughts both destructive and self-destructive."

One of my favourite characters is Zan-Gah's wife, Pax and I'm sure girls will love the introduction of a strong female........she carries a spear and is as fine a hunter as her husband and the complications in their relationship make for some fine drama.

But overall for me it is the authors gift for descriptive prose , particularly of the natural environment, that kept me captivated. He creates magic with words that is a pleasure to read and then return and read again.

I recommend!


Thanks again to Earthshaker Books for sending me a copy of Zan-Gah and the Beautiful Country.

Zan-Gah: A Prehistoric Adventure by Allan Richard Shickman

Genre: Historical Fiction

Publisher: Earthshaker Books, 2007
148p

A story of a search, of courage, survival and growing up.

"Then, at the moment the attack finally was sounded--when the men, putting down their drums and torches, charged on the run with their spears--the lioness saw what she was looking for. One of her enemies was smaller, weaker than the rest. There was a point in the strengthening line that could be broken! Thought merged with furious action and the beast, with a mighty bound of astonishing swiftness, darted toward Zan. Five hundred pounds of snarling fury sprang directly at him with claws bared and fanged mouth open!”

A rite of passage, the first hunt for the young Zan who bravely kills the lion and will thereafter be known as Zan-Gah , begins the story . Zan-Gah has proved himself and is now determined to leave his home and search for his lost brother, Dael, who he has never believed to be dead. His journey , the dangers that test his courage and ability to survive , make exciting reading.
Allan Richard Shickman has a gift with words that makes the prehistoric setting, the people and places, not only believable but very real. I have a love of descriptive prose and the vivid imagery was a pleasure to read.

How refreshing it is to find a book for young people that will appeal to and encourage boys to read. Read the first chapters to an 8-year-old and he is captivated by a hero who kills lions and makes slingshots and it's well within the range of 9+ readers depending , of course, on their reading ability. It's a book that I wouldn't categorise as suitable for any particular age group as I think both children and adults will enjoy it.

An exciting and entertaining reading adventure which I'm happy to recommend.

I received a copy of Zan-gah, A Prehistoric Adventure from Earthshaker Books - thank you.

Review: Out of Shadows by Jason Wallace

Genre: Historical Fiction
Category: Young Adult
Publisher: Anderson Press, 2010
278p




Africa, Zimbabwe, 1980's....... the war is over, independence has been won and Robert Mugabe has come to power offering hope, land and freedom to black Africans. It is the end of the Old Way and the start of a promising new era.
For Robert Jacklin, it's all new: new continent, new country, new school. 

The story begins as an unhappy Robert is being driven to his new boarding school. Written as a first person narrative and with a real understanding of a young person's sense of dislocation it took only a few pages to empathise and feel Robert's sense of loss of all that dear and familiar, his uncertainties and fears for his future in this strange environment.
In the coming months he struggles to adapt, suffering the traditional hardships of boarding school life while having to confront new issues of racial tension and social change. With no understanding of the feelings of children raised in a white minority and a climate of war he is vulnerable.
As the bullying and violence grows Robert is faced with choices.............it is saddening to see him make the wrong ones but inevitable and understandable he does. His tentative friendship with the young black Nelson ends and he becomes a follower of the dominant Ivan and joins in his violent and racially prejudiced activities.

But Robert grows up: he begins to think for himself and eventually finds the courage to stand up against what he considers wrong.

I thought this book was outstanding! I don't read many YA novels and I certainly didn't imagine that the story of boys in boarding school would make an impact but I was wrong. It took hold from the first page and I didn't put it down until I finished. It's not easy reading...............moving, disturbing and at times horrifying and shocking it's beautifully constructed and makes compulsive reading. Not suitable for younger readers but I do hope it's not limited to being only a YA book for I think it is one that most adults will find worthwhile reading.

Out of the Shadows is Jason Wallace's debut novel and I , for one, will be looking forward to his next work.
Highly recommended!

I read Out of Shadows as part of it's International Book Tour

Review: Ever by Gail Carson Levine

Category: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: HarperCollins, 2008

244p

Summary: Teenaged Kezi is to be sacrificed to the Hyte god because of a rash promise made to her father, but young Olus, Akkan god of the winds, falls in love with her and together they try to change her fate through a series of quests.

Newbery Honor author Gail Carson Levine has created a stunning new world of flawed gods, unbreakable vows, and ancient omens. Her story about love, destiny, and belief is spellbinding.

I would wholeheartedly agree. Not venturing often into YA I haven't read any of her other books, although I've seen them mentioned , but I spotted this one on the library display shelf and needing something to finish off a challenge I brought it home.

This author has the gift of weaving magic from words and her mythical story, narrated alternately by Kezi and Olus, is filled with romance and adventure while also raising issues of belief and faith.
A delightful tale which I really enjoyed.

Once Upon A Time Challenge

Review: Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

Title: Wicked Lovely
Author: Melissa Marr
Category: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: HarperCollins, 2007

331p

Aislinn has always seen faeries, though they would certainly blind her if they knew of her Sight. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in the mortal world. But now faeries are stalking her. One of them, a beautiful boy named Keenan, is trying to talk to her, asking questions Aislinn is afraid to answer.

Now it's too late. Keenan is the Summer King and has sought his queen for nine centuries. Without her, summer itself will perish. He is determined that Aislinn will become the Summer Queen at any cost......

Maybe it's because I'm not a teenager but there wasn't a great deal I liked about this book. As an admirer of Brian Froud's Faeries I did at first like the way the faeries were described - I feared frills and magic wands - but then their behaviour increasingly annoyed me. They seemed rather mean and nasty.

I found it very hard to relate in a positive way to the main characters. Both Aislinn and Keenan lacked the something special they'd surely need to be faerie royalty and Aislinn's mortal boyfriend, Seth ,  is so nice and caring and protective it's impossible to believe that such a paragon of virtue could exist.
Disappointing !

101 Fantasy Challenge

Once Upon A Time Challenge

Review: Leaving Gee's Bend by Irene Latham

Title: Leaving Gee's Bend
Author: Irene Latham
Category: Middle Grade
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Putnam, 2010

230p

It is 1932 and 10- year-old Ludelphia Bennett is growing up in the poor and isolated little community of Gee's Bend in Alabama. Although blind in one eye she loves to quilt and her sewing is a comfort to her whenever life gets difficult. When her mama becomes very ill the general opinion is that nothing can be done but Ludelphia is unwilling to accept this and ,despite the fact she has never left Gee's bend before, decides to travel the 40 miles to Camden Town and bring back the doctor.
Her adventure brings her face to face with challenges, decisions and a world full of new experiences both good and bad.

It is a story about choices and having the courage to follow your heart even when it means leaving the safety and security of home and step alone into the unknown.
It is Ludelphia's story and it's beautifully told from the perspective of  her youth and innocence.

It left me wanting to know more - about the quilting history that first inspired the author to write the book and about the times in which it is set. It raises a lot of questions and I think it would be an excellent book for use in the classroom by providing topics for further study and discussion.

Leaving Gee's Bend by Irene Latham is a wonderful debut novel .  Read more about the author and her writing at her blog here and website here.

I read Leaving Gee's Bend as part of its International Book Tour.

Review: Taken By Storm by Angela Morrison

Title: Taken By Storm
Author: Angela Morrison
Category: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Publisher: Razorbill, 2009

291p

There are many rules in Leesie Hunt's life. No kissing, no dating outside the Mormon faith and definitely no sex. Leesie's faith is strong and she has no problem living by the rules while she plans her college future and dreams of the day she will be safe in an environment where ..." roommates don't drink or sleep around...and thousands and thousands of the hottest guys on the planet who all live by the same rules as I do".
Leesie is about to discover that life does not always go according to plan.

Michael is not a Mormon and sex is definitely on his agenda. His dreams revolve around his passion for deep sea diving but tragically this love has brought him great pain. Michael is grieving the loss of his parents and friends in an horrific hurricane while on a diving trip.

A desire to help Michael is what first attracts Leesie to him ......an attraction that soon becomes love but can their love overcome their differences?

Taken By Storm is a beautifully written and very moving story of first love. Before I began reading I had some doubts about whether I, as a grandmother, would be able to connect to Leesie and Michael's story but I need not have feared. It took very few pages before the years fell away , I was seventeen again and reliving my own experience.

I loved the format - it's original , creative and refreshing to read something other than straight prose. It's a mixture of Leesie's poems, Michaels' dive-logs and chatroom conversations which really seem to allow the reader to get to know the characters and having both perspectives told helps understand each ones motivations and highlights the age old differences between man and woman.

Excerpt p177: "You just want to sleep with me". Even in this sweaty barn, she's turning to back to ice. "You don't care about love."
"It's the same thing." My hands sting where i touch her. "One comes from the other."
"Not for me." Her head drops. She whispers, "I really love you." Her hands curl into fists on my chest.
"And my kind of love isn't real?" I shove her off me. "It's more real than all your religious fantasies."

Once I began this book I found it hard to put down . It's intensely emotional and so very real - I would think most people could relate to it on a personal level.

Loved it! Highly recommended.

For more about Angela Morrison and her books you can visit her website here

I read this book as part of International Book Tours Taken By Storm tour.

Review: Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink

Title: Prophecy of the Sisters
Author: Michelle Zink
Category: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy/Supernatural
Publisher: Atom, 2009

343p

Twin sisters Lia and Alice Milthorpe have just become orphans. They have also become enemies. As they discover their roles in a prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other, the girls find themselves uncovering a lifetime of secrest. Secrets that could destroy everything.

Lia and Alice don't know who they can trust.

They only know they can't trust each other.

What an inspired choice I made when I stood , confused and uncertain, before the library YA shelves. Having decided it was time I read something from this category so many people love I had no idea where to start but this striking cover and the synopsis on the back did sound promising.

I wasn't disappointed. Quite the opposite.........I loved every reading minute. I was drawn into the story from the first page and found it hard to put down as the plot turned and twisted every which way. The writing style is fluid with a slightly old fashioned touch which suits the 1880's time period perfectly and dark  undercurrents add  a gothic creepiness .

I like my fantasy to have a foundation with an earthly reality : it provides balance and strengthens the otherwordly imagery. Outwardly Lia ( the narrator) and Alice, despite being orphaned ,have a normal home, family and friends and Lia also has a young man to provide a romantic interest but as the story develops not all of these people will be quite what they seem.

Light and Dark.

Good and Evil.

The age old battle between the two reflected in the sisters but the boundaries are not clearly defined. Something that made sense once I realised that this is only the first book of a trilogy. Lia is good, Alice is bad, but these are still young girls confronting a destiny they don't fully understand  which is complicated by a confusion as to birth order and each one is still fighting both forces. Even knowing that Alice is the 'dark one' I couldn't help feeling sorry for her as she stands alone watching her sister with her new friends.

Angels and druids, mediumship, astral travelling , Celtic myths and spirituality - all subjects I'm interested in and are woven together very well in this fascinating and satisfying story. I look forward to the second book 'Guardian of the Gate' which I understand will be published later this year.

I also think the book's presentation is worth a mention. The black and silver cover is very attractive but what I really loved was inside. At the bottom of every page and at the beginning of each chapter are borders of entwined thorny branches and I thought this really added  something special to the reading experience.

Highly recommended.