The Silver Child

 The Silver Child

by Cliff McNish (2006)
Book One of the Silver Sequence

The first two chapters of this book were very impressive, original and thrilling, especially for a YA fantasy. Overall the book doesn't finish as strong as the opening, it gets a bit over dramatic and confusing -- narrator switches, too many narrator self-questions (Why did I..., What should I...), and proportion issues (just how big is the "angel"???) but I'm probably being over critical.

Children start to change, gaining X-men like powers and gathering in a city dump. These aren't cool Animorph changes, there's a lot of pain and confusion and the threat of something unknown yet dangerous coming, but between the invasion situation and the children's talents I'm actually looking forward to reading the next book in the trilogy (usually I'm "One and Done").

*Author's website*

WondLa

The Search for WondLa
by Tony DiTerlizzi  (2010)

Good mix of the tried and true and new twists.  Fresh characters, interesting and creative settings, action and thought, with an ending that recalls Planet of the Apes. (Not a real "ending" of course, there must be a minimum of 3 books due to the Children's Lit Stretch It Into a Series Law, right?)

A little futuristic, a child raised by a robot with an iPad-like device, and a little medieval with dragons, beasts, and questing adventure, with a nod to Oz/Yoda as the hero gathers friends as she seeks her home. Great illustrations and interactive maps when you use your webcam to view certain images. A hint at the future of books, if we want books to have a future. Would be a good read aloud book, and I'm looking forward to the next books in the series keeping up the standard.

Boom!

Boom!

by Mark Haddon (2009)

Space aliens and teenage rebellion, with humor and British expressions.  It's been a few months since I read this so this will be a lame review, but I do remember being entertained by the story, liking the brother & sister characters, and recommending the book to my sons.