The Narrowing Path – David J. Normoyle

Pages:  262

Genre: YA, Dystopian

Sources:  I received a copy to review, the opinions expressed here are my own

Warning: Extreme Violence

From Goodreads:

Only the strongest, smartest and most ruthless will survive.

Every six years, the world draws nearer to the sun. In Arcandis, those who want to live must claim the limited places in the Refuge, a series of underground caverns cooled by the sea.

The teenage boys of noble birth are sent out into the city to demonstrate their wits and strength. Some prove themselves in combat, others display their empire building skills, still others attempt to kill off their rivals. Out of over a hundred, only six will be selected by the leaders of the great families and allowed a place in the Refuge. The rest will perish, one way or another.

Not only is thirteen-year-old Bowe younger and weaker than most of the other boys, he has no family to support him. He is expected to die on the very first day of the narrowing path. Instead he begins a journey no one could have anticipated.

My Thoughts:

I have to say that the synopsis drew me in and the story finished me off.  This was a wonderful book.

Bowe Bellanger was the only survivor of his family.  As an infant his entire family committed suicide. He was of noble birth and raised  to participate in the Green Path.  He must win one of the coveted spots if he is to survive the Infernam, the time when the sun bakes their planet and the lucky ones survive for those two weeks in the Refuge, a series of caves under the ocean.  Bowe was raised in a caste society where he needs the help of those beneath his status, yet looks and talks down to them.  However, as the story moves along we see Bowe begin to change and question those in charge of this competition.  He is a leader.  No one thought he would survive.  They figured he would be the first to die.  They were wrong. He begins to think about others who might not win a spot. He wants to find a way to save them all.  What will he do?  Is it possible? Read to find out, then watch for the second and third book both due out in 2014. The second book is called the Treacherous Path and is due out in February. The third book is called the Collapsing Path and is due out in August.

You can find out more about the author and his books at:  http://davidjnormoyle.com/

Water’s Edge by Jane Riddell

Publisher: ThornBerry Publishing (UK)

Pages: 273

Source: I received a review copy in exchange for my honest review

Genre: Adult, Contemporary Fiction

From Goodreads:

When Madalena invites her four children to Switzerland for a family gathering, she isn’t prepared for the excess baggage of their lives they bring along – secrets they are compelled to keep and those that must be divulged; the compromises they make, and, ultimately, what can and can't be resolved – for Madalena, too, has things about her past that she would prefer not to reveal.

Set against a backdrop of mountains and lakes, Water's Edge is a tapestry of love, lies and family

My Thoughts:

This is more than just a great story.  It is a story that makes us look at our relationships with our own family members.  In this story we have Madalena who owns a lake resort in Switzerland. She is wanting to pass the business on to one of her children and retire.  She invites them up for a celebration of their 40^th year in business.  She has three daughters and one son. 

Portia is a divorced lawyer with a rebellious daughter.  Her daughter unexpectedly ends up at the reunion because she is kicked out of boarding school.

Vienne is a famous concert pianist.  All of her fame doesn’t make her happy  because she isn’t sure if her husband really loves her.  There are definitely some issues between Portia and Vienne.

Annie is part owner of a café. She is a chef.  She is having personal relationship issues.

Lawrence is the only son and is a journalist. 

All three of the girls live in the UK, Lawrence lives in Scotland.  They all go back to Switzerland, but not without bringing their issues with them.  Not only do we learn about their issues, but we learn that some of their underlying problems go as far back as to when they were younger and sent to boarding school.  Add to this the fact that their mother has always felt guilty about sending them off to boarding school and you have the setup of a lot of drama. 

Some of the issues get resolved and some of them don’t.  Anyone reading this book will be able to find themselves in one of the characters or situations.   The author does a great job of bringing us along to Switzerland.  The reader feels like they are there.  This is a book I would definitely recommend to other adults.

Student Saturday: The Secret Country - Jane Johnson

Hailey M.

The book The Secret Country, takes place during the summer in the small town of Bixbury, England where a twelve year-old-boy named Ben Arnold lives with his mom, dad, his older sister, Ellie, and his younger sister, Alice. Ben is walking to the local pet shop, Mr. Dodd's Pet Emporium, to purchase two Mongolian Fighting fish, which he has spent more than two months saving up for. When Ben is in the pet shop a talking cat named Iggy pleads for his help. Ben purchases the cat and brings him home. Iggy tells him  of a magical land called Eidolon and the wild roads to take in order to get there. A few days later, Ben and Iggy go on one of the wild roads and end up in Eidolon. However, Eidolon has changed drastically since Iggy left it a few months ago after being kidnapped by Mr. Dodds, who had been kidnapping creatures from Eidolon to sell them at his pet shop. It is no longer the magical paradise that it once was. Ben discovers that his mother is Eidolon's queen, and now that she has left to raise her own family,  the magic is slowly draining out of it. Ben, Iggy, and the creatures of Eidolon must defeat Eidolon's new evil ruler, the Dodman, and restore Eidolon's magic.

What an exciting turn of events for Ben. he went from going to buy some pet fish to finding out that he was the prince of an entire world, and that the world needs to be saved. I think it would be very cool to be the prince of an entire world, especially a magical one. I wish a world like Eidolon really did exist. If it did, humans would get to see what dinosaurs looked like, and ride on dragons!

I connected with the main character, Ben, because I too have two siblings. I also live in a small town like Ben, who lives in the small town of Bixbury. I love animals and have many pets. Ben is twelve years old, and I will turn twelve in December, which isn't that far away. I feel that we have a lot in common.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes exciting books about magic. I think it is appropriate for readers ages nine and up. It had some challenging vocabulary. I think this book is amazing.