The Wanderers of No Safe Place

Where do you go if there is no place for you to go? If you are alone and unwelcome in your former country, is there a place you can call home? That is the question four kids struggle with in the book No Safe Place by Deborah Ellis. In the book, Abdul, an orphan from the Middle East, seeks asylum in Britain. He is joined on his journey by Cheslav and Rosalia, immigrants from their own countries. The three get on a boat to England; the owner of the boat is a smuggler and has a nephew whose parents are dead. After trying to throw the boy overboard, the smuggler is supposedly killed by the three, and the boy is rescued. Jonah also joins them to go back to England.

Abdul is a quiet, but exceedingly sweet guy. He is an Iraqi-Kurd, and because of the war his father and brothers died. His mother and almost little sister, Fatima, tried to escape, but they were killed by religious groups in Iraq. He was left with nowhere to go and no one to go with, so he set off for England. He hit many rough patches on the way, barely making to it France in a year. He is secretive, but he’s very nice to the boy, Jonah, after he rescues him from the smuggler. He sympathizes with Jonah, being the only other one who remembers his parents before they died.

Cheslav never had a home to begin with, except for the Russian military. He was put in the military school when he was seven, and grew up there. When he was older, he discovered he had an extraordinary talent for the trumpet, and ran away from Russia. Not much is revealed about him, and I’d like to have known more about him. He is very interesting; he acts very tough, but he still has compassion for his fellow runaways. Even though he is not revealed to be as nice as Abdul, he’s the one who captured my attention.

The toughest one of them, though, seems to be Rosalia. She is a Polish Romani girl, who I believe was sold, or given away, to people in Germany. She never shows emotion or none that I can see, and she bosses the boys around. Even the reluctant Cheslav eventually falls under her control.  She’s smart and always seems to know what to do to survive. I admire her character very much because she can take care of herself, and she is barely a teen.  Jonah, on the other hand, isn’t even a teen, and has lost everything over the course of his life. He is quiet and dependent on the other characters.  

This book is not long at all; barely 200 pages, but what it provides is a message. A new point of view to look through and something to think about. If we cared half as much for the people who have no home, maybe we could see that they already have had enough losses. All these people need is help.  This book inspires me to try to be as much help to people as I can. It may be hard to find and help these people, but they deserve our attention at least. All we can do is take the initiative to help the people that cross our paths.

No Safe Place by Deborah Ellis

RED’S ALL-STAR RATING: 3 stars out of 5 because it’s a very easy and short, but it’s got a powerful message behind that I enjoyed.

MASS APPEAL: I think anyone would like this book. Guys would like it because there’s no mush, just action and story-telling. Girls may like it because it gives you something to think about. I’d recommend for anyone, especially people who can’t read long, hard books but still want a good story.

Witches, Ghosts and Beautiful Darkness

I have just finished Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, and I can’t believe what I have just read. When I said there were twists and turns that’s exactly what I meant. There are adventures, surprises and special appearances that blew my mind. It’s slightly more fast-paced than the first part of the book, and I loved it. I’m not even sure how to describe it, but I’ll try.

Ethan and Link are up to their usual trouble. Ethan is obsessing over Lena, and trying to get her back. Link is just along for the adventure. This time, though, they’ve dragged along Liv, who isn’t even supposed to get involved, into it. She volunteers to go, but for reasons unlike Ethan’s or Link’s. She has a crush on Ethan; she tries to hide it but it’s obvious. But what is unexpected is the help they receive from the other characters in the book. Amma, Arelia, Aunt Prue and Ethan’s dead mother, Lila are the most mentionable. We meet some new characters like Twyla, Leah, Abraham and Hunting in the deep, dark caster tunnels and the Great Barrier.

The most unexpected visit is by Lena’s uncle Macon, who was previously thought to be dead. He is revealed to be held hostage in a device his aunt Marian gave to him. He was put there by Lila because she knew Ethan and Lena would need him soon. When he is resurrected by Ethan and Liv, he is no longer an Incubus, but something else that is not yet told. Although, he is not able to fight for Lena with them, his sister Leah comes to rescue the pack of Ethan, Liv, Link, and a reformed Mortal Ridley.

The scary part is not the battle, but for me it’s what happens to the characters after. Link is forever changed when he is bitten by an Incubus, becoming one himself. He is no longer able to eat, sleep and can never be with normal mortals. Ridley, who is still Mortal, is still the one girl he can’t have, but he still likes her. It appears, although denied, that she likes him as well, but if, and until, she receives her powers again, she is staying with Lena at Ravenwood manor, and will attend Gatlin’s high school. I have to see this.

There isn’t very much to say, but a lot to read about. The only way you can fully appreciate the gravity of all this is to read the book yourself. It’s, again, a long book, over 500 pages, but it’s worth it. I am sensing another book in the series, but it hasn’t come out yet, so I’ll have to wait a little longer for the finale. I can’t wait to see what happens to the characters, and most importantly, can Lena and Ethan ever be together, or are they just another Romeo and Juliet?

Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, the second in the sreies

RED'S ALL- STAR RATING: possibly 4 stars out of 5, because this book is defiantly better than the first. I enjoyed it so much.

MASS APPEAL: Same as the first book, but may appeal to guys a slight bit more.

Haunting Visions of Beautiful Darkness

No matter how badly you want things to stay the same, the never will.  Things change; it’s a part of life. Sometimes, though, it can seem like things are slipping out of your control. That’s how Ethan feels in the book Beautiful  Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. I am on page 239 of the second book in the series, and so far, in my opinion, it is the best. Things have taken a turn for the worse after Lena’s sixteenth birthday. As summer arrives, Ethan is haunted by visions of a doomed love story between Macon and some woman. To make matters worse, Ridley is back with a mysterious guy named John Breed, who seems to be different than any other person in Lena’s family. Things are just beginning in Gatlin, and it will be a summer Ethan will never forget.

To Ethan, his small town has become bigger than ever, and it seems that people are keeping secrets from him. Secrets that might save his life and explain Lena’s sudden disappearing acts. When Ethan’s father arrives back from the psychiatric ward at Blue Horizons, he notices how strange everyone is acting. Amma is cooking up a storm to hide her grief, Link is still heartbroken over Ridley, the Sisters cat, Lucille, is disappearing as well, and Lena is burning books and hanging out with Ridley and John.  Ethan wonders if she is slipping away, for good.

A new character surfaces in this book, and is more than she seems. Olivia Durand, or Liv to her friends, poses as Aunt Marian’s new summer research assistant. But Ethan wonders why an exchange student from Britain would come to Gatlin, even if it’s where his famous mother worked. Ethan and Link, who now knows the condition of Lena’s curse, set out to get Lena back before she and Ridley harm anyone, but instead they find the truth about Liv. As it turns out, she is tied in with the web of secrets, and is much more involved than Ethan anticipated.

As Ethan talks to Liv and Marian, he finds out he is not as human as he thought. He is involved in this too, and is bound to one of the Ravenwoods or Duchannes.  Although I am assuming its Lena he is bound to, the women tell him that it could be anyone. Things progress further when Ethan, Link and Liv go into the dark caster tunnels below the town, in search of answers, and in Ethan’s case, Lena. They are plagued by demons, ghosts and Amma in the tunnels, which they are never supposed to go to ever again. All three of them think that’s a good idea.

This book, keeping up with the first book, has so many twists and turns; more than the caster tunnels themselves. Readers will not be disappointed when they read this book and will want to continue reading until the end.  I know I can’t wait until I can finish this book and find out the answers to the mysteries. Like who is the woman with Macon in the visions, what on earth is John Breed, is Ridley really trying to go light instead of dark, and are things between Lena and Ethan ever going to be the same? I don’t know the answers yet, but I’m excited to find out, and you will be too.

Wicked Witches and Beautiful Creatures

I have now successfully finished Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. I read every twist up until the end; believe me there are plenty of them. I was hooked until the end, and I believe readers will, too.

First I want to comment that thanksgiving was never that crazy at my house, and I can have a pretty crazy family at times. But the shocker came when Amma had her little discussion with Lena right in the middle of it. I mean to find out something you’ve known your whole life is a lie; that takes something, and I love how Lena angrily confronts her uncle Macon afterwards. You gotta love a girl with spirit, right.

I also love the scene in the lunch room where Ethan asks Lena to the winter formal. Lena is as confused as I think all girls are about why it’s so hard for guys to ask. Lena also almost gets Ethan to admit that the loves her, which is apparent since the beginning.  I think it’s funny that neither of them really say it out loud when they do (if you’re confused, good, you’ll have to read the book to understand). I also appreciate the irony of the DAR headquarters and the Domus Lunae Libri (or those non-Latin readers, the House of the Book of Moons), and the irony of Mrs. Lincolns virtual portrayer. It adds a whole lot, I think.

The characters don’t seem to change, except for Link, who becomes emotionally attached to Lena’s evil cousin Ridley. Lena still doubts herself and Ethan just wants to be with her. This is even more pronounced after the dance, which is ruined by the likes of Lena’s family. We get more acquainted with Macon Ravenwood, and so does the town, which is quite the shocker. Uncle Macon also gives Mrs. Lincoln a run for her money, keeping his niece out of expulsion from the school. The expulsion, set up by the cheerleaders and the DAR women, who still hate Lena, was repealed.  

Lena still wasn’t out of trouble yet, though. Her 16^th birthday was two months ways, and that was the day of the curse. She wasn’t ready for it based on her actions, but she did alright. I can’t say what happens but I am very happy with the outcome. It’s tragic, but happy at the same time. A life is lost, and a new one gained.

I said it before; this book is not for the easily bored. It takes a little time to get to the answers and to the end of the book. But it doesn’t take away the brilliance I believe it holds in the writing. While I was reading this book I could not believe what was happening to these poor characters. So many things that make things hard, and so many things that are completely clear, and yet unseen until revealed. I was captivated by the story and cannot wait to read the next book in this series.

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

RED-HEAD’S ALL STAR RATING:  3 ½ Stars out of 5, because it takes some time but it’s a good book overall.

MASS APPEAL:  Mainly female readers, I’d imagine. But the story is in the viewpoint of a boy, so if there are guys who love the supernatural, this book is for you.

The Curse of Beautiful Creatures

Do you ever feel like you know something or someplace like the back of your hand? Then something happens and you find out there’s a whole other side to the story. That’s how Ethan Wate feels in the book Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. In the book, Ethan lives in small southern town of Gatlin, where everything is the same, until Lena Duchannes moves in with her crazy recluse uncle. As the town laughing stock, Lena feels out of place in a town where everyone is the same. As Lena and Ethan get closer, they start to dig into the pasts of their families to uncover a dangerous mystery. But only if they can survive a deadly curse, a mob of cheerleaders, a town of crazy DAR women and a crazy witch that haunts Lena’s family.

So far I’m only about halfway through the book; to page 279. The book takes the view of Ethan, who has a particularly curious mind. His approach to leap without looking and follow his gut, instead of his head, is quite endearing.  This comes out especially strong when he gets closer to Lena. When the others make fun of her, he’s the one that sits with her in class, gives her rides home and makes her feel better. Even when his friends start to question him, he stands his ground with her, making all of his friends, except Link, turn against him as well.  His passion for the things he loves is something I admire, and something I think most people don’t have. This is especially apparent in Gatlin, where you’re not accepted if you aren’t a clone of the Gatlin cheerleaders. I commend Ethan for having the courage to stick up for what he believes in, despite the consequences.

From the minute I met Lena, I fell in love with her character. She is portrayed as a free spirit who does what she wants whenever. This is ironic, considering how much she tries to fit in. She is self-doubting, always telling herself that the family curse is going to happen to her, which makes people want to help her. At least Ethan does, when she finally breaks down and tells him what she is and what the curse will do to her. She is always putting her family and Ethan above herself, almost willing to give up to save them.  She also believes she is a danger to them, especially Ethan who she can’t quite touch, and her uncle Macon, who’s now keeping secrets from her. She wants the truth, but she doesn’t understand why she can’t be normal, which is why she buries into herself. She cuts off all contact with the people she puts in harm’s way, no matter how much they want to help. Even when Ethan wants to help, she just pushes him away.

The book has many characters besides these two, but the one I love the most is Ethan’s best friend Link. Link is eccentric, but in a lovable way. He’s crazy, but loyal to Ethan when things get thick. He even stands up against his mother, who is one of the crazy DAR women who are hell-bent at getting Lena out of town.  He seems over confident, especially about his music, and thinks he’s a huge ladies man. He isn’t.  No matter how crazy Ethan seems to get, Link is with him to the end.  Another character who is straight-up crazy is Amma. Amma is the one that takes care of Ethan, since his mother’s dead and his father’s a recluse. She gets him up, yells at him when he skips basketball practice to be with Lena and cooks all his meals. She can boss anyone is town around and no one stands up to her. She is the man, there’s no doubt about that. Although, it seems like Amma is working an angle she doesn’t want Ethan to catch. I can tell she knows more than she says she does. I just want to find out what it is.

The book is 563 pages. It’s a long book, and it takes patience to read because it moves a little slower than most books, but its worth it.  It’s a great book so far. It keeps you reading because you want to find out what’s happening. The only thing is, when you do figure it out, another problem arises in the book, so it doesn’t end until you finish the book.  Great strategy by the authors, you have my complements, to make you care about the characters and about what happens to them. I can’t wait to finish this book.