#46--Howl's Moving Castle

Bibliographic Information

Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones, HarperTrophy, 1986.

Price: $7.99 for paperback; $8.99 for mass market paperback

Pages: 448 for paperback; 336 for mass market paperback

Plot Summary

Sophie’s always known that nothing will come of her life; nothing ever does when you’re the eldest of three sisters. Resigned to having a boring life, Sophie does her best to make sure her younger sisters, Lettie and Martha, have the most opportunities life can afford, especially after her father dies and leaves his hat shop to his very kind if rather young wife, Sophie’s stepmother. Because there are debts to be paid and a shop to maintain, Sophie approves of her stepmother’s choice to send Lettie away to be an apprentice at a popular patisserie while Martha, the youngest sister (and therefore the luckiest), is sent to a witch to learn magic and meet powerful people. Sophie, of course, is left with the hat shop. Soon she settles into a routine of trimming hats and working late into the night with rarely a day off while her stepmother is out whipping up business.

Her life soon changes, however, when a powerful witch sweeps into the shop and casts a curse on Sophie, turning her into a ninety year old woman. Now Sophie must make her way in the world as she tries to find a way to break her curse. She soon happens upon the wicked wizard Howl’s castle where she is soon employed as his cleaning woman after striking a deal with his shifty fire demon Calcifer. Calcifer promises to break her spell if she finds a way to break his contract with Howl. Of course, breaking spells in never easy and Sophie soon finds herself in the adventure of her lifetime filled with shape-shifting witches, grand kings, magical gardens, and a series of affectionate dogs.

Critical Evaluation

There are many things to like about Howl’s Moving Castle. Its plot is good fun, filled with funny situations that are sure to elicit laughs from readers. The setting is delightful featuring not only a pseudo-French village but a grand capitol, rickety castle, desert wasteland, and misty countryside. However, its characterization is where the book really shines. Sophie is the sort of character one cannot help but relate to and like. Although always ready to help and fight for those she loves, she has little self-esteem and no time for her own needs. It takes a witch’s curse for her to finally gain the courage to stand up for herself and speak out. Readers will root for Sophie throughout the novel as she begins a journey not only to break her curse but one of self-discovery. Howl, too, is a delicious character and one that will remind many readers of someone they know. Although he encourages people to think of him as wicked in actuality he is kind albeit in an odd sort of way. Howl is a mix of a spoiled, gifted child and a stereotypical fraternity boy making him relatable to readers as well as a fun character to read about.

However, despite the excellent setting and characterization, Howl’s Moving Castle is not a perfect book. It contains plenty of holes in its plot which can lead to confusion. For example, even though I’ve read this novel at least five times I still find myself confused over the identity of some of the characters. Much of the magic in the novel is unexplained and Sophie’s discovery of her own powers is consigned to a paragraph (if that). Much is left to the reader’s imagination as the novel contains an abrupt, open ending. However, while the novel may not be perfectly constructed, all the characters within its pages are undeniably charming leaving readers wanting more of Sophie, Howl, and Howl’s moving castle.

Interesting Tidbits

Did you know that a Hayao Miyazaki anime was based on this book? Although the setting and beginning premise is similar to the book, the movie takes many liberties. Both, however, are good!

Reader’s Annotation

Sophie must find a way to break the curse placed upon her while trying to reform the wizard Howl, bargain with Calcifer the fire demon, and help thwart the Wicked Witch of the Waste.

About the Author

Diana Wynne Jones is possibly one of the best known British authors of teen and children’s books. Although she wrote over thirty books she is perhaps best known for her Chronicles of Chrestomanci and Dalemark quartet. Sadly she passed away in 2011 of lung cancer.

Learn more about her here.

Genre

Adventure, fantasy, romance

Readalikes

Castle in the Sky by Diana Wynne Jones

·         A semi-sequel to Howl’s Moving Castle

Daddy Long-Legs by Jean Webster

·         Also a coming-of-age story of a girl who grows confident in her own abilities and falls in love

Beauty by Robin McKinley

·         A fantastical retelling of Beauty & the Beast

Tags

Stereotypes, fire demon, magic, witch, wizard, romance, transformation, Wales, coming of age, milliners, patisserie, dogs, flower shop  

Awards Won/Lists On

ALA Notable Book

Boston Globe Book Award

Professional Reviews

Horn Book Magazine

Kirkus Reviews

School Library Journal

The Times Literary Supplement

Voices in the Middle

Booktalk Ideas

The Three Sisters

·         Lots of information can be pulled from the first chapter, 116-127, and the arrival of the dog-man

·         Sophie

·         Lettie

·         Martha

The Wizard’s Household

·         Sophie--1^st chapter background & current position

·         Michael--71, 103-105

·         Calcifer--41-48, 54-55

·         Howl--85-94. “Let’s have more slime!” quote

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness

This would a great book to use to promote development of self-esteem, especially for girls who are tenderhearted but not willing to stand up for themselves. It’s also a good book to use for those who are having general difficulties expressing themselves. Perhaps it could be used as a role-playing exercise such as a person pretending they are old-woman Sophie and then speaking frankly about a situation.

Reading Level/Interest Level

Reading Level: 5^th grade

Interest Level: 9^th-12^th grade

These levels are according to AR Bookfinder

Challenge Issues

This book includes the following potentially controversial elements:

·         A body made up of parts from different people

·         A male and female who are not related co-habiting together

·         Fire demon

·         Magic

·         Sharing a body part with a demon

·         Witchcraft

While there are several potentially objectionable elements in this book no doubt the most prominent would be magic and the presence of witches. Possibly librarians could explain how the witchcraft in this book differs from actual witchcraft. Similarities could also be drawn to the innocuous Wizard of Oz.

Why Was This Included?

This is one of my favorite books and I always love re-visiting it!

#47--What My Mother Doesn't Know

Bibliographic Information

What My Mother Doesn’t Know by Sonya Sones. Simon Pulse. 2001.

Price: $17.45 for hardcover; $7.99 for paperback

Pages: 259 for hardback and paperback

Plot Summary

Fifteen year old Sophie wants to find her true love. Her eighth grade boyfriend Lou certainly wasn’t it and she isn’t sure her current boyfriend, Dylan, is either. Although she gets along fabulously with her chat room friend Chaz she has doubts about him as well. Her best friends, Rachel and Grace, can’t help her figure it out as they are wrapped up with their own boy troubles. But Sophie can’t spend all her time concerned with her search as she spends plenty of time worrying about her parents’ rocky marriage, her budding breasts, and the hideous dress her mother picks out for her ninth grade Halloween dance.

Critical Evaluation

It’s easy to see why Sones’ What My Mother Doesn’t Know was picked by the ALA as a 2002 Top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers. Not only is it a fast read as it is written in verse but Sophie and her friends are funny and warm, exactly how everyone wants their best friends to be. Sones does an excellent job portraying the very real struggles of teenagers from the embarrassment of puberty and the emotional roller coaster of dating to fights with parents and ostracization from peers. A perfect blend of humor and realism, What My Mother Doesn’t Know is a great read.

Reader’s Annotation

Fifteen year old Sophie must go through a lot of relationships before she finds her true love all the while navigating the challenges of being a freshman in high school.

About the Author

Before Sonia Sones wrote verse novels for teenagers she worked as a professor, personal assistant, animator, script supervisor, film editor, and small business owner. Her latest novel is The Hunchback of Neiman Marcus, her first book written for adults.

To learn more about Sonia Sones visit her website here.

Genre

Coming of age, Realistic fiction

Readalikes

The Best and Hardest Thing by Pat Brisson

·         Also told in verse, this novel features a female protagonist who must decide what to do after she learns that she is pregnant.

The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot

·         A hilarious novel comprised of diary entries from a girl struggling to adjust to junior high and the fact that she is a princess of a small country.

What My Girlfriend Doesn’t Know by Sonia Sones

·         The sequel to What My Mother Doesn’t Know

Tags

Judaism, 9^th grade, puberty, bullying, verse novel, boyfriends, Boston, troubled marriage, absentee parents, mentally ill mother, workaholic father, dances, chat rooms, La Bal à Bougival, Renoir, drawing

Awards Won/Lists On

This book has received many accolades and awards including but not limited to:

2001 Booklist Editor’s Choice

2002 ALA Best Book for Young Adults

2002 ALA Top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers

2003 An International Reading Association Young Adults’ Choice winner

2003 VOYA Top Shelf for Middle School Readers

2005-06 Iowa Teen Book Award

It has been nominated for awards in Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Wyoming.

Information retrieved from: http://www.sonyasones.com/books/whatmymother/honors.html

Professional Reviews

 Booklist

Entertainment Weekly

Kirkus Reviews
 Publishers' Weekly

School Library Journal

VOYA

Booktalk Ideas

How do you know who your true love is?

·         A first love (Lou—2)

·         A passionate relationship (Dylan—3, 9, etc)

·         Online soulmates (Chaz—84)

·         Someone who needs you (Murphy—15)

·         Or someone altogether different

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness

This is a great book for mothers and daughters to read together as it invites open, honest discussions about what it is like to be a teenager. It’s also an excellent book for those with a mentally-ill parent or parents whose marriage is floundering.

Reading Level/Interest Level

Reading Level: 5^th grade

Interest Level: 9^th-12^th grade

These levels are according to AR Bookfinder

Challenge Issues

This book includes the following potentially controversial elements:

·         Brief mention of a voodoo doll

·         Bullying

·         Emotional cheating

·         Erotic dreams

·         Inattentive mother

·         Offensive slurs against Jewish people

·         Puberty related changes

·         Sexual assault

·         Talk of masturbation

·         Talk of sex

·         Workaholic father

What My Mother Doesn’t Know has made ALA’s Top Ten Challenged Books in 2011, 2010, 2005, 2004 for reasons including but not limited to offensive language, nudity, sexually explicit content, and being unsuited to the age group. However, while arguments can be made that the book contains all those things it still is one of the most candid novels about growing up that I have ever encountered and Sones’ realistic portrayal of teen life should not be easily discounted. Because of the frank feelings discussed in the novel, it makes it an easy choice for parents wishing to discuss puberty and high school with their teens.

Why Was This Included?

Frequently listed as a challenged book, I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. I had seen Sonya Sones’ books on library shelves for years but had never read any. I also love novels in verse as they usually are written beautifully and read quickly.

#48--A Confusion of Princes

Bibliographic Information

A Confusion of Princes by Garth Nix. HarperCollins. 2012.

$17.99 for hardcover; $9.99 for paperback

Pages: 352 for hardcover; 352 for paperback

Plot Summary

A prince of the empire is born not made as Prince Khemri knows full well. He cannot remember the parents he was taken from nor the mostly comatose state he endured for ten years as his body was genetically altered. He knows, however, that it will all be worth it when he becomes a full prince. Then, he will tour the galaxy in command of his own starship, enjoying the full measure of his power. But when he wakes on the morning of his investiture to discover that not only are there 9,999,999 other princes but that their favorite hobby is killing each other he starts doubting his newly exalted position. Somehow Khemri must find a way to survive while proving that he is worthy of becoming emperor. Fortunately, he is assigned a highly experienced master-of-assassins who guides him to the relative safety of a naval academy. While there Khemri discovers there is much he doesn’t know and that not everyone plays by the rules. The more Khemri learns the more he is forced to question the Empire and everything it stands for including his life dream of becoming emperor.

Critical Evaluation

As someone who has read very little science fiction I am not sure what to make of A Confusion of Princes. It certainly is an engaging novel that manages to simultaneously to be serious and tongue-in-cheek. Prince Khemri’s journey is action packed and full of mysterious twists and turns, something that will please most readers. Not only are there space battles but pirates, secret missions, military training and duals! There really is something for everyone in this novel—oodles of technology for the scientifically minded, a love story for romantics, and court intrigue for history lovers.

Still, there are problems with the novel. For example, with the exception of eighteen year old colonist Raine and possibly Khemri’s master-of-assassins, all the characters are wooden. Khemri has little emotional scope making his transformation at the end of the novel somewhat unbelievable. His rival, Prince Atalin is little more than a stock character as are all the other people Khemri briefly encounters. There is little character development throughout the whole novel (with the exception of Khemri) which results in a book driven by numerous action sequences. As a result, A Confusion of Princes was not as enjoyable as some of Nix’s other work such as his Keys to the Kingdom series. However, I must admit that my indifference toward this novel is probably due to my lack of experience with science fiction novels. I have no doubt that for science fiction fan  A Confusion of Princes is a brilliant read.

Side Notes

A Short Guide to Prince Khemri’s World

There are:

10 million princes

17 million systems

10s of millions of worlds

Trillions of subjects

Every prince is assigned a master of assassins by the Emperor when they become a prince. They then collect other priests along the way.

Houses are ways for princes to band together. There are over a thousand in existence.

Priests serve the emperor/princes in a variety of ways (called aspects). Some of the most frequently mentioned ones include:

·         The Cold Calculator—measures probabilities for princes

·         The Noble Warrior—protects princes through physical combat

·         The Emperor’s Discerning Hand—decides which princes should be reborn

There are seven ways princes can serve the emperor:

• Navy
• Marines—perfectly respectable but often looked down upon by other princes. Serious-minded princes usually turn up here.
• Diplomatic Corps
• Colonial Government
• Imperial Government
• Adjustment—princes who monitor the activity of other princes & intervene accordingly.

Random Facts

Did you know that the multi-player computer game Imperial Galaxy is based on A Confusion of Princes?

Play it here

Reader’s Annotation

As Prince Khemri tries to protect himself from assassination while gaining favor in the eyes of the emperor he must come to terms with the increasing discrepancies between what he has been taught about the Empire and what it actually is.

About the Author

There is no doubt that Garth Nix has made a significant contribution to young adult and children’s literature as he is the author of twenty-six wonderful novels with more on the way. Surprisingly, he only became a full-time author in 2001. Before then he worked in the book world as a literary agent, editor, publicist, and bookseller. He currently lives in Sydney with his wife and two children where he is working on a fourth Old Kingdom book entitled Clariel: The Lost Abhorsen.

Learn more about the author here.

Genre

Science fiction, Space opera

Readalikes

Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

·         Also about a boy who undergoes genetic enhancements courtesy of the government; also takes place in space

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

·         Also contains a main character who is trying to figure out who wants to kill her; also takes place in space

Crown Duel & Court Deal by Sherwood Smith

·         Also contains a main character caught in court intrigue.

Tags

Princes, space, technology, science fiction, 18 year old, 20 year old, dueling, assisnations, government cover-ups, corrupt government, factions, hierarchy, court intrigue, space ships, space, colonies, pirates, survival story

Awards Won/Lists On

I could not find any awards or lists this book was on save unofficial ones like the ones of GoodReads:

2012 Aussie YA Reads, Teenagers…IN SPACE!, and Best Books of 2012,

Professional Reviews

ALA Booklist

Horn Books

Kirkus Reviews

Publishers Weekly

School Library Journal

Booktalk Ideas

Focus on Khemri’s 3 deaths

·         1^st death—battling Sad Eyes (Chapters 6 & 7

·         2^nd death—battling pirates (Chapters 21 & 22)

·         3^rd death—ultimate sacrifice. Make sure to be vague on this one

Focus on the discrepancy between what Khemri thought his life would be and what it actually is

·         Khemri’s dream—Pages 15, 25-26

·         Reality—hard naval training, secret missions

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness

This book could be used to discuss the responsibilities of growing up, how to right corruption, and how to find meaning in life. This last topic is particularly interesting as Prince Khemri goes from a life where he is part-hedonist, part-power seeker to one where he values love, loyalty, and honor.

Reading Level/Interest Level

Reading Level: 3^rd grade

Interest Level: 6^th grade and up

These levels are according to AR Bookfinder

Challenge Issues

This book includes the following potentially controversial elements:

·         Killing innocents during war

·         The word priests to refer to people who serve the emperor

·         Genetic modification to body

·         Government snatching children from their homes

·         Drug abuse

·         Occasional swearing

·         Brief mention of sex

·         Brief mention of having sex with both male and female courtesans

·         Gritty fighting sequences

·         Vivid drowning scene

Librarians can point out that while there are potentially objectionable elements to the book they are often brief and they were included because the book was heavily influenced by other space opera novels. The hedonistic elements in the book were necessary in order to show how Prince Khemri changes as a character. Ultimately, the book contains the positive message that power and lust do not fulfill.

Why Was This Included?

I have always meant to read more of Garth Nix’s books since I greatly enjoyed his Keys to the Kingdom series. I also heard from some that A Confusion of Princes might win the 2013 Printz. I also have little experience with science fiction and wanted to read more titles in that genre.