Ten Terrific Trip Tales- Great Roadtrip Movies

We have all had a horrible or utterly fantastic roadtrip. They tend to go to an extreme and are very rarely somewhere in the middle. In a departure from my book-centric lists, here I am thinking movies. These are the best movies that capture the horror and joy of being trapped in a car for an extended period with other people.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles is a classic travel disaster movie. Steve Martin as an uptight executive and John Candy as a bumbling boob are trying to get to their destinations as crisis after crisis comes their way. Granted Candy's character is often the cause of said crisis. The movie is funny, has a great soundtrack and a terrific ending. What more could you be looking for?

Thelma and Louise is another classic roadtrip movie. Great cast chemistry makes this story of a weekend out of town gone wrong a fantastic flick about women, friendship and freedom. Great chase scenes help this movie transcend the label of chick flick.

Midnight Run is full of great action sequences and exchanges between the two main characters, played by Robert De Niro and Charles Grodin. De Niro plays a bounty hunter and Grodin is his prisoner as they head cross-county, but mobsters want Grodin too.

National Lampoon's Vacation is the first and best of a collection of Lampoon roadtrip movies. This movie introduces us to the Griswald family. Chevy Chase plays the well-intentioned patriarch of the family and leads them on a crazy, disaster filled family vacation.

Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle is an over the top comedy about two guys on a quest for their favorite burgers. It is silly and depraved, but sometimes you are just in the mood for that sort of thing.

The Darjeeling Limited is a comedy about three brothers on a spiritual roadtrip through India. The brothers are quirky and well played. Disasters fall upon the brothers one after another, and they reforge their bonds.

The Muppet Movie is a roadtrip movie that makes me smile just think about it. Kermit and the gang heading out to Hollywood. Things go wrong and critters get crazy, the result is a fun film for everyone. 

The Gumball Rally is a hysterical comedy from 1976. It is about an illegal cross-country race with only bragging rights and a gumball machine for the prize. The cars and the action scenes are all phenomenal, and I do not believe that a better movie of this sort has been made.

Smokey and the Bandit is another great example of a road trip movie done right. Bandit and Cletus are hauling beer to win a bet, but pick up a run away bride hitchhiker. The jilted groom just happens to be a sheriff's son, and the chase and all its misstep begin.

The Motorcycle Diaries is based on the memoirs of Che Guevara, leader of the Cuban Revolution. The movie focuses on his journey in the 1950's across South America with his best friend.

Some Werewolf Romances Worth Reading

Romance readers have seen a swift uprise in paranormal reading material. Vampires, witches, psychic gifts, and things that you might never have seen in your dreams have been becoming increasingly visible in popular literature. Werewolves are on the rise in this sub-genre, so if you want to read some romance where at least one major player turns furry here are some great places to start. I have tried to stick with some of the lesser known series and authors, since most of the same books come up in every werewolf series discussion.

 

The Crimson Moon series by L.A. Banks begins with Bad Blood. This series has science fiction elements, government conspiracies, supernatural creatures, romance and great action. Banks does a great job of creating a realistic and culturally diverse world. In this series Sasha Trudeau is a special operations soldier working to help the government keep the supernatural in the world under control and secret from the general population. Rules change, dirty deals made and revelations had. Sasha's world is changed, and that is just the beginning.

Karen MacInerney writes the Tales of the Urban Werewolf trilogy, which begins with Howling at the Moon. This series centers on Sophie Garou and her seemingly perfect life. She has a great career, fantastic boyfriend, and is gorgeous. However she also happens to turn very hairy and cranky once a month. All three books show up Sophie's struggle to keep her secret safe, her career moving in the right direction and the people she cares about safe.

Never Cry Werewolf by Heather Davis is a young adult novel about sixteen-year girl that has made some bad choices. With some urging by her stepmother Shelby is sent off to what she terms "brat-camp" where she meets the other teens that are there for a wide variety of reasons. One resident is a werewolf, you can guess that from the title, and most are from families of the rich and famous. I do not want to ruin the book by telling you who the werewolf is and how it all plays out, however I will assure you that it is not Shelby.

Carrie Vaughn writes the Kitty Norville series. The first book in the series is Kitty and the Midnight Hour. The series focuses on Kitty in her life as a late night radio host and her secret life as a werewolf. Her radio airtime becomes a talk show for the supernaturally inclined, which makes her attempts to keep her own furry side to herself nearly impossible as other real supernatural creatures call in, take action against her, and simply cause trouble. This is a fun and entertaining series with a lot of character growth in each installment. The eighth book in the series is due to be released at the end of June 2010.

Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause is a young adult novel that was made into a movie. If you saw the movie, forget it. It does not do a good job following the book. The book, as cliché as it may be, is much better than the movie. The story follows a teenage girl, that just happens to be a werewolf. She is struggling to balance what she wants with what is expected of her. The conflict between the pack culture and she desire to be normal and accepted by both of her worlds is both touching and relatable.

If you like this sub-genre of romance and have already read these books, or are just looking for a larger list, or some of the better known authors in the genre, then I also recommend books by Kelley Armstrong, Maggie Stiefvater  (young adult), Eileen Wilks, Terry Spear, Susan Krinard, Rebecca York, Patricia Briggs and Kresley Cole.

Three Series of Books Full of Allusions And Are Great, Fun Reads

I get a kick out of reading a book, watching a movie or television show, or reading an article when I get to use my mind more than expected. Literary or pop culture references that make me stop and smile or think really can increase my enjoyment of something if it is done correctly. Here are some books that use references to myths and literature in ways that made me enjoy the book even more. 

Here, There Be Dragons by James A. Owen is the first book in the Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica series. These series is full to the brim of references to authors, literature and myths. The main characters are three men from attached to Oxford University. The murder of an Oxford professor and the interference of a very strange man named Bert bind the three together and set them onto a path of adventure of mythic proportions. I do not want to tell you who the three main characters are, but I will say that they are all well known authors of their day, and it isn't said exactly who they are until near the end of the book, so I don't want to spoil it for you if you haven't already guessed. Through out this series there are allusions to Greek Mythology, Arthurian legends, Narnia, Oz and Pythia.

Michael Buckley has gifted us with The Sisters Grimm series of books, which begins with Fairy Tale Detectives. This book is marketed to children, but I honestly think anyone interested in the evolution of fairy tales will enjoy this series, I know that I do. In this series, we see two young girls who have bounced around in the foster care system since their parents disappeared. A grandmother the girls did not know still lived claims custody of the girls, and then their adventures really begin. Grandmother Grimm just happens to live in Ferryport, a town for fairy tale characters whether they are willing or not. The variety and depth to the fairy tale characters is fantastic, and worth the read. We see Prince Charming, the Big Bad Wolf, Snow White, and Peter Pan all trying to survive in today's world. The series is also honestly funny for children and adults without resorting to childish humor, it is witty and clever.

Another series heavy with literary references is Cornelia Funke's Inkheart and the two books that follow. Even though some of the allusions self referential to this series, much like in William Goldman's The Princess Bride, there are also allusions to actual books and legends. We see a major player come into the story line from Arabian Nights and references to several mythological creatures throughout the series. Even though the amount of references to known literary works is less in this series than in the ones I mentioned previously, it has the same feel to it.

There are of course several other workers that touch on mythology or commonly known literature to deepen their own plot and enrich their own stories. I think these authors did more than that, they expanded on the original works rather than simply borrowing from them.

Book Review: Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger

Etiquette &Espionage is the first book in the Finishing School series for young adults by Gail Carriger. Fourteen-year-old Sophronia Temminnick is more interested in dismantling clocks and climbing trees than proper manners. Mrs. Temminnick is desperate for her daughter to become a proper lady. So she enrolls Sophronia in Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality. Quickly Sophronia realizes the school is not quite what her mother might have hoped. At Mademoiselle Geraldine's, young ladies learn to finish everything. They do learn the fine arts of dance, dress, and etiquette; but the also learn to deal out death, diversion, and espionage, but politely, of course. Sophronia and her friends are in for a rousing first year's education.

Etiquette &Espionage is a great start to a new series. The world building is seamlessly woven into the story, a steam punk world with all the trappings of polite society including corsets and stays. Sophronia, her family, and the girls she meets at the school all are like people you could meet anywhere- they have the traits you can find in any crowd, but with a twist of skill in espionage to keep you guessing of everyone's true nature and intent. I liked Sophronia's genuine nature, and interest in most unlady like things, as well as her willingness to go outside of conventions- and to accept others for their own quirks. There is the expected mean girl necessary in every book involving teens, but there is also aerobatic escapes, air battles, a werewolf attack, a vampiric professor, a ball, and some social commentary. There is a fun variety of people and characters, as well as a great layer of mystery and intrigue.

I would recommend Etiquette & Espionage to readers that enjoy spy novels, young adult books, steam punk, historical novels, and good old fashion adventure. I really feel into the world, and have had trouble leaving it behind, thankfully the next two books in the series are waiting for my attention on my Kindle.

Book Review: Grave Witch (Alex Craft) by Kalayna Price

Grave Witch is the first book in the Alex Craft series by Kalayna Price. I listened to the audiobook, which was read by Emily Durante. Not even death can save her now. As a grave witch, Alex Craft is a grave witch, meaning that she can raise shades and speak to the dead. Unlike most, she can even talk to, and is on good terms with, Death himself. She's seen a lot of dark magic, but nothing has prepared her for her latest case. When she's raising a "shade" involved in a high-profile murder, it attacks her, and then someone makes an attempt on her life. Someone really doesn't want her to know what the dead have to say, and she'll have to work with mysterious homicide detective Falin Andrews to figure out why.

Grave Witch was a good beginning to a series, that has me interested in getting my hands on the next book. Alex has the perfect combination of power and vulnerability. She is estranged from her family, but when her sister pleas for her help, Alex cannot refuse, and that help leads her down the rabbit hole to deal with some serious dark magic, the fae, attempts on her life, ghosts, and an attempt at romance. At the end Alex is left with a couple solved cases, and more questions about herself and her love life than before. The trip was entertaining, and I liked the world and the cast of characters. I was ever eager to get plugged back into my iPod to hear more of the story. I will admit that on occasion the narrator sounded a bit mechanical, like Siri, but she regularly redeemed herself with some great voice work when switching between character's thoughts or speech.

I would recommend Grave Witch to readers that enjoy urban fantasy, particularly when witches or the fae are involved. The characters and world felt very well developed and the story answered enough questions to leave me satisfied at the end, while still having enough open possibilities to make me curious about what will happen next. A perfect combination for a series starter.

Book Review: Dead Radiance by T.G. Ayer

Dead Radiance is the first book in the Valkyrie series by T.G. Ayer . This young adult novel is about foster child Bryn Halbrook. She had always seen a glow around certain people, but she did not know what it meant until a girl from school and then her best friend dies that she discovers the meaning of those beautiful golden auras. The glow is the sign of coming death. She struggles to understand who she is and why she was cursed with the ability to see the soon-to-be-dead. The new foster kid, Aidan, seems to fit in no matter what, making her feel even more pathetic. But when his affections turn to her, Bryn finds him hard to resist. Soon Aidan disappears, leaving behind a broken heart and a mysterious book that suggests Bryn might not be entirely human. Bryn is on the threshold of a great adventure and discovery. 

In Dead Radiance we meet Bryn, a loner that has learned from experience that it is better to keep to herself, since she rarely stays anywhere long. Lost in the foster care system she trusts almost no one and cares for very few- but those she does care about are extremely important to her. She is strong, smart, and able to take care of herself. It is only when Aidan joins the foster home that Bryn’s defense crack, only to feel betrayed. Secrets about her conception and Aidan’s work lead Bryn to understand that she is not quite human, and a startling night show her just how right she is. As a valkyrie Bryn discovers that some of her lessons in foster care hold true in Asgard too- and it is up to her to save the people that are most important to her.

Dead Radiance is an interesting romp, and I enjoyed the use of mythology and science intertwined rather than at war. The story was very well written, with a great concept and solid characters. The fights were exciting and occasionally epic. I enjoyed the story, there were just a couple moment when I felt it was a bit too long, but the adventure and action moments typically came and fixed that in short order.

Book Review: The Fairy-Tale Matchmaker by E.D. Baker

The Fairy-Tale Matchmaker is another fractured fairy tale win by E.D. Baker. Cory is a young tooth fairy in training who wants to be anything but. However her mother has been pushing her onto this path forever, and  there is no way the Tooth Fairy Guild or her mother will let that happen. When Cory quits after a horrible night on the job to find ways to help others, like babysitting Humpty Dumpty, helping Suzy organize seashells by the seashore, and trying to rid Marjorie Muffet’s house of spiders. It isn't until Marjorie asks Cory to play matchmaker that Cory taps into a power she never knew she had. As she tries to understand her new-found romantic visions, will Cory finally discover her own true path?

The Fairy-Tale Matchmaker is a fun and heart warming story about Cory facing off against other people’s expectations for her with her own happiness. She wants to do anything to help other people, rather than the task of collecting teeth. Her mother and the majority of the fairy land’s population thinks she is silly for wanting to leave a powerful guild- but she knows that she will not be happy dealing with teeth. I loved that her intelligence and creative solutions where what got her out of the majority of tough spots. It is her kindness and unknown power that get her out of the rest. Some great friends, determination, wit, and a bit of good fortune will see Cory to her happy ending. 

The Fairy-Tale Matchmaker  was a great read. While it is written for children, I think the coming of age and fractured fairy tail aspects will make this story resinate with older children, teens, and adults as well.

Book Review: The Magician's Fire by Simon Nicholson

The Magician's Fire is the first book in the Young Houdini series by Simon Nicholson. Manhattan was a tough place for kids in 1886, especially when you are alone or feel that you are. Young Houdini spends his days practicing magic tricks with his two best friends, Arthur and Billie. At least when he is not making enough money to pay for his room and to eat. But when Harry's magical mentor, Herbie, disappears after a performance at the theater, the three friends band together, determined to rescue the beloved magician. With nothing more than a mysterious puff of purple smoke, an ominous threat, and a menacing Bulgarian for evidence, Harry, Arthur, and Billie embark on a dangerously thrilling investigation that pushes their skill, and friendship, to the limits. Can Harry find Herbie and learn what it means to be a true friend before it's too late? 


The Magician’s Fire is an action packed mystery for the middle grade set. Harry is a shoeshine boy with a keen eye for magic and fine details. Billie works in a glue factory, and is very street smart and practical. Arthur has a father that pretty much ignores him, and has emerged himself in books, making him very smart and a great researcher. Together they make a fabulous team for creating and pulling of new magic stunts and for solving mysteries. However, astray search for Herbie and face the dangers of that mystery, they also face issues of trust and friendship. The combination makes for a great read, full of action and puzzling out who the culprit is and how the friends will come together to save the day. 

I would highly recommend The Magician’s Fire to all middle grade readers because there is a little something for everyone. It is historical fiction, mystery, action adventure, coming of age and magical read.  

10 Great Vacation Reads

When relaxing on the beach, poolside, fireside or anywhere else on vacation or even a fun long fall weekend the best bet is to go with a paperback. Not only is it easier and lighter to hold, but it also tends to be less expensive. That way if it is lost, left behind somewhere or damaged you will not be as upset at the loss. Here are my top ten picks, in no particular order.

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger is fairly well known now because of the movie, but the book is still a great read. If you don't know the general idea of the book, then here is a quick run down. Henry and Clare are a married couple very much in love. However, Henry randomly gets transported to different times in his life. The narration of the book gives us the thoughts of both Clare and Henry at all the different points in time, and we see great character development. This book is a great romance with thought provoking aspects of science or speculative fiction. 

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows has been very popular among book clubs that use my library. This book an enjoyable book that is told completely in the form of letters. It takes place in the 1940's and is a journey of discovery, friendship and fellowship. While the majority of this tale is fun and light there are some darker moments, since the Nazis occupied Guernsey, that is to be expected. I think that rounded out the total feel of the book.


The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards is a tear jerker, for those that enjoy heart wrenching reads. This story starts with the birth of fraternal twins. The boy, Paul, is completely healthy. However, his sister is not as lucky. The father tells his wife that the baby is dead, but he really sent the baby away with a nurse to be sent to a institution. The nurse couldn't bring herself to do it and raises the baby herself. The novel shows us the two very different households. One full of healthy successful people that are troubled and at odds, and one that had some grief and struggles but is full of love.

The Beach House by Jane Green is sentimental, light read about people at a crossroad in their lives. We see a widow that might have to sell her long time home, instead she converts her home into a bed and breakfast. He son returns home with mistakes and problems effecting him, and guests all arrive facing varies changes in their lives with decisions and realizations that need to be made. It is an easy read with several intersecting story lines, great for reading beach or pool side.

The Princess Bride by William Goldman is a all time favorite of mine. What is not to like? True love, adventure, pirates, giant rodents, death machines, this book has it all. If you do not already know the basics of this story via the movie, then shame on you. You need to read the book and watch the movie. In no particular order, and many times. Seriously, just do it. 

Size 12 is Not Fat by Meg Cabot is a fun mystery, real woman story with some romance. Heather Wells is a former teen idol, but then her boyfriend dumps her and her manger (and mother) runs off with all her money. Heather turns to a local college to work as a resident hall director for funds and free tuition. To make things both easier and harder the now ex-boyfriend's brother offers Heather free room and board for some clerical work in his Private Investigator business. Of course he is hunky, intelligent and honest. Unfortunately, a student in Heather's dorm is murdered and she ends up neck deep in the investigation. This is a cute, fun read with two more books in the series to follow it up.

Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner is a very witty book. Candace asker her boyfriend for a break, and he apparently doesn't understand her request. He thinks that they are through and writes a humiliating article about larger women in bed. We then see Cannie deal with a variety of issues including her weight, being emotionally abused and deserted by her father and her sister's struggles. She changes and grows towards becoming a confident woman who loves herself. 

Metro Girl by Janet Evanovich is a great fun read. If you are a fan of the Stephanie Plum series than you will enjoy this as well. In this series we meet Alexandra Barnaby, otherwise known as Barney. She knows her way around cars and great one liners. She flies to Miami to get her brother out of what ever mess he's gotten himself into, only to find much more than she bargained for. Her brother is missing and she ends up working with Sam Hooker, another race car driver, even though he is everything she tries to avoid. Together they work to solve the mystery, save Barney's brother, and stay in one piece.

I'm the Vampire, That's Why by Michele Bardsley combines a divorcee soccer mom romance with vampires and werewolves. We see Jessica, divorced mother of two, get attacked my a crazed werewolf then turned vampire to save her life, unlife?, whatever. Of course all the supernatural guys are gorgeous and Jessica falls hard, but she needs to take care of her kids. The book, and the books that follow in the series, combine a lusty romance with smart, sassy characters trying to do the right thing and take care of their responsibilities.

Sunshine by Robin McKinley might not be the typical vacation read, but it is a great one. Rae, nicknamed Sunshine, is attacked and kidnapped by vampires while walking through the woods. She is brought to a huge house and chain to a wall, across from her is a vampire who is also chained. Her attackers leave the pair chain, one to die and one to kill, but Sunshine and her fellow prisoner defy their captives, convention and themselves. This is a great story, and there is much more to it but I would hate to destroy the surprises in store for those that do give this book a chance.

Vacation should always be relaxing and enjoyable, what better way to make it even better than a good book? I could keep on listing great books to read, but who really wants to spend their entire summer, or winter, vacation reading. Well, besides me.

Book Review: Egg and Spoon by Gregory Maguire

Egg and Spoon by Gregory Maguire is a middle grade fantasy novel. Elena Rudina lives in the impoverished Russian countryside. Her father has been dead for years, and her mother lies dying as her brothers have left home. One brother was taken into the Tsar’s army and the other taken as a servant in the house of the local landowner. There is no food, and very little hope. Then a train arrives in the village carrying a noble family destined to visit the Tsar in Saint Petersburg—a family that includes Ekaterina, a girl of Elena’s age. Lives collide and an adventure is set in motion, an escapade that includes mistaken identity, a monk locked in a tower, and Baba Yaga complete with her house perched on chicken legs.

Egg and Spoon is a book that takes the prince and the pauper along with classic tales of Russian folklore and turns them on their heads. Elena is our pauper, she has nothing- no food and a dwindling family- but she does have innocence and a few people that care for her deeply. Ekaterina has so much food that she refuses to eat everything on her plate in fear of gaining weight, but has only a great aunt that cares for her. When their lives intertwine everything changes, for everyone. Baba Yaga, the firebird, and the ice dragon all have their roles to play- as does a legendary Faberge Egg and a visit to the Tsar. I found the story itself to be delightful, and I loved the twists to folklore and the preconceived notions that everyone had about themselves and each other. What I did find distracting was the pacing. I felt like it took me forever to read this book, but I wanted to found out how things came together enough to finish the book. It just seemed to plod along. 

Gregory Maguire is a name you might recognize as the author of Wicked and it's sequels. So it is no surprise to readers that know this to find the take on Baba Yaga is not what you might expect in Egg and Spoon. If you have not ventured into Maguire's adult fiction, then his thorough descriptions and attention to detail might have caught you unaware. The same could be said for his unusual take on mythology and the struggles of class. 

I would recommend Egg and Spoon to Maguire fans, and those that enjoy highly descriptive fiction. There is fantasy, and the struggles of young people trying to find their way. However, I think adults will be the ones most likely to enjoy the book, as its slow pace might lose younger readers along the way.

Three Paranormal Mystery Series You Will Love; Spooky Mysteries that Keep You Guessing

There is an ever increasing number of books to chose from when trying to decide what to pick up next. Luckily, no matter what genre or combination or genre you are looking for there is someone out there writing and publishing it. The hard part is finding books that are worth reading in each little niche, rather than ones that are just being written to fit into the next big craze. If you like mysteries with a touch of the paranormal or mystic here are some series that are great reads but not often brought up in book lists or discussions.

Anyone who looks for novels touching on the paranormal has heard of Charlaine Harris and her Sookie Stackhouse series, which I also enjoy. However, that is far from Harris's only series. Harris has three other series to her credit and a selection of stand alone books. The Harper Connelly quartet is absolutely fantastic, and my first recommendation. In Grave Sight we are introduced to Harper, a smart and loyal woman who gained a strange ability when she was hit by lightning. She can sense and find dead people, and then figure out how they died. Harper and her step brother slash manager Tolliver go to a small Midwestern town to try and solve the mystery of a teenager's disappearance but get more than they bargained for because someone has a lot to hide. Harper and Tolliver have a strange relationship, which you see explained through the series. The characters are deep and edgy and the mysteries and puzzles found in each of the books are challenging. This series is not light and fun like the Sookie books, although there is some humor. Everything is more real and quite a bit darker than what you might have already read from this talented author. On a side note I do also recommend the Shakespeare series by Harris, it is free of psychic or supernatural aspects but full of dark reality, mystery and intriguing characters.

On a much lighter note you might be interested in Victoria Laurie's Psychic Eye Mystery series. Here we see Abby Cooper; Psychic Eye who had been trying to keep her gifts at bay for most of her life. Just when she has decided to try and use her gifts to make a living and help people one of her clients dies, and she never saw it coming. To make it even more challenging for Abby she just might be a suspect, the real killer is after her and the led detective was her own blind date. The mystery is well done, but it is really the great characters and fun, engaging writing that makes the series a must read. Each book has been high quality with new twists and turns and great character development. 

Another great mystery series with some mystical elements is Madelyne Alt's Bewitching Mystery series, which starts with The Trouble With Magic. Maggie O'Neill is dissatisfied with her job, and honestly her life. So she takes a leap of faith and takes a job as a clerk in an antique shop Felicity, her new friend and employer just happens to be a practicing witch and helps Maggie in her ever continuing journey to figure out what she really wants. Along the way Felicity is accused of murdering her own sister and Maggie is introduced to the mystic, a coven of witches and hunky and mysterious Marcus. The story is absorbing and the mystery surprising. The cast of characters is charming and really well fleshed out. No cookie cutter or flat players in this story. What makes the read even better is knowing that more is coming. At last count there were five books in the series.

This is only a small sampling of this unique cross section of genres. Other suggestions for readers that enjoy the type of books I've mentioned above include Shirley Damsgaard's Abby and Ophelia Mysteries, Wendy Robert's Ghost Dusters series, Terry Garey's Nicki Styx series and Casey Daniel's Pepper Martin Mystery series.

Early Book Review: Centaur Rising by Jane Yolen

Centaur Rising is a middle grade to young adult novel by Jane Yolen. It is currently scheduled for release on October 21, 2014. Arianne has always wished for magic in her life, a meteor shower and some team work might just make that reality. During the Perseid meteor shower, Arianne thinks she sees a shooting star land in the fields surrounding her family’s horse farm. About a year later, one of their horses gives birth to a baby centaur. The family wants to protect the young boy and has had enough attention already. Arianne’s six-year-old brother was born with birth defects caused by an experimental drug, and their rock-star father has deserted them. They do not want the limelight, but soon the horse farm's clients growing suspicious. How long can they keep their secret and everyone safe? What will happen if the world learns about the miracle on the farm?

Centaur Rising keeps with the record of Yolan never disappointing me. I really enjoyed the characters, the setting, and the premise. Arianne is a girl that has grown up faster than she should, and is still both compassionate and weary. Her father left the family when her younger brother was born with birth defects. Her outlook was realistic with still a wistful hope for magic and better things. I loved her younger brother's determination and resilience, and her mothers efforts to protect them both.  I will say that my favorite character is still Martha, a employee that is more of a family member on the horse farm. I think that the description of the centaur foal and his development was key to the story. It kept the wonder of his very existence, but also dealt with the practicalities and truth that made him much more human and real than most people here in reality, This is much more than a fantasy, more than a coming of age story, this is a look at how real people facing extraordinary circumstances still have to keep moving forward and dealing with the minute details that are often left out of books and television.

I really enjoyed Centaur Rising. Yolan, as usual, brings her characters to life. She leaves readers with a feeling that this family, this farm, could really be out there somewhere. Her characters are so real. Like in real life, there are funny moments, moments that make you want to scream, and moments that make it all worth while.