Percy Jackson & The Olympians Series by Rick Riordan

Reviewed by: Enzo Flojo

No wizards. No vampires. No dragons.

Just gods.

Fantasy book series, whether they’re called chronicles, cycles or sagas, are a dime a dozen these days, what with the popularity of JK Rowling’s boy wizard renewing the young adult demographic’s interest in this genre. I have to admit that after reading “Deathly Hallows,” I wanted to get my hands on another set of engrossing tales. It was either re-reading C.S. Lewis’s Narnia books (my all-time fave!) or taking a risk on a new slew of titles. There were a lot of possibilities lining the shelves at the time, ranging from the wildly popular Twilight series to cult-favorites like the Abhorsen trilogy or the Inheritance Cycle, but, as the gods would have it, Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief just jumped out at me.

The premise is simple, yet, quite amazingly, never as fleshed-out by many other writers as Riordan eventually does here. The title character starts off conventionally enough – he’s not a good fit in any of his schools, his parents are separated, and he doesn’t have any friends. Just like most other young protagonists, he discovers that there is something special about him (he is a demi-god), and this opens up the layers of conflict in the story. If it sounds familiar, maybe too familiar, beside Rowling’s narrative, that’s because it is. Though it’s definitely no Potter rip-off, Riordan lays the foundation of his tale using tried-and-tested standards.

• A struggling youth out to prove himself and an attractive female lead – check. (Ged and Tenar from the Earthsea cycle? Jason and Medea?)
• A foil to the lead – check. (Ron Weasley? Flewdur Flamm? Han Solo?)
• A wise mentor – check. (Take your pick: Gandalf, Dumbledore or Obi-wan)
• A sympathetic cohort – check. (Gryffindor? The Galactic Rebellion?)
• Magical gateways – check. (Platform 9¾? A mysterious wardrobe?)
• Magical transportation – check. (Knight Bus? Magic carpets? Pumpkin coaches?)
• Multi-headed giant monsters – check. (Hydra? Cerberus? Fluffy?)
• A prophecy – check.
• Freakishly pale bloodsucker who sparkles in sunlight – ummm… thank the gods no.

These are elements that define fantasy, but these exact same elements also define fantasy’s classics and ‘best works.’ Having said that (all that!!!), Percy Jackson seeks to enthrall the reader and lure him/her to embrace the idea that Greek Mythology, American pop culture, and teenage angst can all mesh into a terrific string of quests and adventures. It succeeds, too.

As Percy wrestles with the reality that he is the son of an Olympian, he also has to contend with class bullies, pesky teachers, a giant minotaur, a mysterious villain, and, of course, saving the world (or Manhattan, at least). Did I mention that all these things happen in just the first book?

There are five in all (Lightning Thief, Sea of Monsters, Titan’s Curse, Battle of the Labyrinth, and Last Olympian), with each one critically well-received, and contributing to the series enjoying 100 weeks on the New York Times Best-Sellers List.

And the last testament to its popularity (it has yet to reach fever-pitch in the Philippines, but I am confident it soon will) – a film adaptation will come out in February 2010. We can expect Hollywood to botch this one, naturally.

Bottom-line: If you’re a fan of any or all of the following: Harry Potter, Greek Mythology, adventure, mystery, fantasy, snappy dialogue, blue birthday cakes, pens that turn into swords, black pegasi, or hairy goat-men, then you will get hooked on Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Otherwise, you’re just pretending not to like it, and Zeus will strike you down with his lightning bolt. Or Poseidon will drown you in the waves. Or Hades will suck you into Erebus. You get the picture, right? Now go get the books.

"The Graveyard Book" by Neil Gaiman

Reviewed by: Honey de Peralta

review originally published in Coffeespoons

I've loved Neil Gaiman ever since I read the original version of Stardust (the graphic novel illustrated by Charles Vess). I then followed him through Neverwhere, American Gods, Anansi Boys, his collection of short stories Smoke and Mirrors, and even his collaboration with Terry Pratchett in Good Omens. Of his young adult and children's works, I've read Coraline, The Wolves in the Walls, and The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish. Unfortunately, though, I haven't gone through his Sandman graphic novels yet.

Anyway, I was pushed to get The Graveyard Book because, aside from it being a Gaiman novel, it also won the Newbery Award, a feat which I found curious.

Let me explain: majority of the Gaiman books I had read were dark fantasy meant for more mature readers. I simply found it curious and laudable that Gaiman could so easily transition to writing for younger audiences. To be honest about it, I thought that Coraline and his other storybooks were just a "hobby" for him. I see the Newbery proves me wrong.

In usual Gaiman style, The Graveyard Book starts out with something dark--the murder of a family, with the exception of a little toddler, who somehow finds his way to the local graveyard. Though the murderer follows him there, the residents of the graveyard--a plethora of ghosts and one vampire--decide to grant the boy protection and give him the freedom of the graveyard. Hence, the live boy, adopted by ghostly parents and named Nobody "Bod" Owens, becomes a resident of the graveyard.

Bod grows up nurtured by the different ghosts in his home. His guardian Silas, the vampire, manages his education by finding him tutors among the dead in the graveyard and basically feeding Bod's curiosity about the world. Bod's world, although seemingly grim, is actually warm, homey, and caring. It is when Bod insists on going into the world of the living that things get positively threatening.

Gaiman was right--he mentions in an interview with Stephen Colbert that it is the humans in this book who are scary. The "monsters" are the decent ones. I would say this is an excellent summary of his world view.

Within a graveyard and the cusp of the world of the living and the dead, Gaiman has created a story of charm, wonder, and coming of age. Beyond the sinister aspects, this is what resonates, though I do love a good sinister tale. Most importantly, however, the story gives hope without fudging the reality of the world--that bad things happen, change is constant, and people will have to leave at some point. And this is a great thing to tell children...at some point.

"Haroun and the Sea of Stories" by Salman Rushdie

Reviewed by: Joel Falgui

Haroun and the Sea of Stories is a story in a story about stories. It begins in "a sad city, the saddest of cities, a city so ruinously sad it had forgotten its name." In this saddest of cities, only the family of Haroun Kalifa is happy. Haroun is the only son of the professional storyteller Rashid Kalifa, who is such a fantastic storyteller that his listeners forget even their own unhappiness. However, when Haroun’s mother runs off with their neighbor who hates stories, her loss is so painful to the family that Rashid loses the ability to tell stories. Haroun’s desire to give his family any chance at becoming whole again leads him to an adventure to save Rashid and all the stories of the world.

At one point, when Haroun comes face to face with Khattam-Shud, the tyrant of the those who poison the Story Waters, source of all stories, Haroun asks, "But why do you hate stories so much? Stories are fun." Khattam-Shud replies, "The world, however, is not for Fun. . . . The world is for Controlling, And inside every single story, inside every Stream in the Ocean, there lies a world, a story-world, that I cannot Rule at all."

This then is the story in a story about stories that I love so much. This is Haroun and the Sea of Stories.

"The Tale of Desperaux" by Kate DiCamillo

Review written by: Jill dela Paz
Book Watch, Vol. 1, Issue 4

The Newbery Medal Winner in 2004, The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread, is a story about a mouse that goes on a quest to happily ever after. Despereaux Tilling journeys to the land of the humans where he meets an imprisoned prison guard, an ill-treated girl, and a remorseful prisoner. He also finds the love of his life and longs to be her knight in shining armor.

Though the book is intended for children, readers of all ages will surely be fascinated and captivated by how the author puts the stories of the characters together into a different kind of happily ever after.

"Falling Leaves" by Adeline Yeh Mah

Reviewed by: Enzo Flojo

Book Watch, Vol. 1, Issue 2

Summary: The main character (this was sort of an autobiography) was shunned by her family because of her birth circumstances. She had a terrible time with her father, but, in his old age, the father turned to her for aid. In the end, all the events come full circle for the main character.

Comments: It is quite inevitable for the reader to empathize with the main character. Her struggles and small triumphs are easily absorbed by anyone who reads her life’s journey. It fits Pinoys to a "T" because it revolves around the issue of family, which is a staple in Filipino culture.

"Twilight" by Stephanie Meyer

Reviewed by: Honey de Peralta

Book Watch, Vol. 1, Issue 2

Published in 2005, Twilight skyrocketed to the top of the New York Times Bestseller list and immediately spawned a wide fan base reminiscent of Harry Potter proportions. The first book in a series, Twilight introduces us to the love story between Isabella Swan, a seventeen-year-old new transferee to the town of Forks, and Edward Cullen, a 107-year-old vampire masquerading as a high school student. As Bella finds outs more about Edward and his family, her life is increasingly placed in greater danger.

In turns dark fantasy and romance, this compulsively readable book has, for a strong hook, the sweetness and headiness of first love, plus the excitement and danger of supernatural beings at work. Moreover, “Twilighters” are soon to get a treat as the movie adaptation is to be released in Dec 2008. Read it and understand why I say the book is probably as yummy as Bella smells to Edward.