Tyler Reynolds's Blog - Posts Tagged "avi"
What Would You Do?
Today I'm reviewing The Player King by Avi. I read it because Mom bought it at a book fair and said I would find it fascinating. I'm not in favor of parents forcing kids to read certain books. But it worked out okay this time.
What would you do if you were an orphan, a servant in a tavern, and some priest came and told you you were royalty. It's 1486 in Oxford, England, and Lambert Simnel looks a little like the young Earl of Warwick. Two powerful men tell Lambert that he IS the missing Earl who should be king. They teach him manners and give him a crown. They even raise an army to fight King Henry VII.
What will a peasant boy do with so much power? Who are his real friends and enemies? And what life does he really want? No one ever tells Lambert the truth. But I love how he figures out each powerful grown-up's secret fears and needs. They think he is nothing so they can just use him.
But, by making him king, they are giving him power. Who will he choose to raise up or destroy? No one asked if he wanted this power. If he had a choice, what would he do?
This book is a great ride and a quick read, and it left me thinking what I would do with grown-ups kneeling at my feet. Awesome story--plus, it's true and part of history.
On the Dudes Summer Book Bingo card, here's how this book qualifies:
HISTORICAL, EVIL TWIN, MOM MADE ME READ IT, BACK IN THE DAY, I LEARNED SOMETHING.
Find the Bingo card and see how I'm filling out my card here: https://emilykayjohnson.com/TheDudesC...
What would you do if you were an orphan, a servant in a tavern, and some priest came and told you you were royalty. It's 1486 in Oxford, England, and Lambert Simnel looks a little like the young Earl of Warwick. Two powerful men tell Lambert that he IS the missing Earl who should be king. They teach him manners and give him a crown. They even raise an army to fight King Henry VII.
What will a peasant boy do with so much power? Who are his real friends and enemies? And what life does he really want? No one ever tells Lambert the truth. But I love how he figures out each powerful grown-up's secret fears and needs. They think he is nothing so they can just use him.
But, by making him king, they are giving him power. Who will he choose to raise up or destroy? No one asked if he wanted this power. If he had a choice, what would he do?
This book is a great ride and a quick read, and it left me thinking what I would do with grown-ups kneeling at my feet. Awesome story--plus, it's true and part of history.
On the Dudes Summer Book Bingo card, here's how this book qualifies:
HISTORICAL, EVIL TWIN, MOM MADE ME READ IT, BACK IN THE DAY, I LEARNED SOMETHING.
Find the Bingo card and see how I'm filling out my card here: https://emilykayjohnson.com/TheDudesC...
Magic That's Not and a Crazy Girl!
I have two more weeks of school, so, in my free time, I escaped it by jumping into the year 1491 and a spooky old castle in Midnight Magic by Avi. The main character is a magician's apprentice, Fabrizio. Everybody believes his master's tricks are real sorcery, so he's in trouble (because sorcery is illegal back then). The only way out is to get rid of a ghost so the king's daughter can marry.
Of course, the king's daughter is one of those girls, like Teresa, who is both smart and crazy and has her own scheme going. And Fabrizio is caught in the middle. There are hidden passages, secret identities, and wailing spirits.
The people in this book were great. I loved the sly humor whenever Fabrizio and his master teased each other. And the way Fabrizio balanced sucking up to powerful people and unnerving them with his sleight of hand.
Even Fabrizio couldn't decide whether this ghost was real or, as his master says, there must be a rational explanation. So it was a good mystery right down to the last page.
I would love to spend more time with these characters, and, if you're interested, there's a prequel to Midnight Magic called Murder at Midnight.
On the Dudes Summer Book Bingo card, here's how this book qualifies: CAN YOU SEE IT? (can't beat the spooky castle/hidden passageways setting), THE OLD COUNTRY, THEY TALK WEIRD (in ye olde medieval way), CONTRAPTIONS (read it and you'll see), ONE WORD TITLE OR AUTHOR (Avi), GODS AND GHOSTS (obviously), ITS ABOUT TIME ('cause it takes you back to the old days).
You can download and print the bingo card for this year at the Dudes website: https://emilykayjohnson.com/TheDudesC...
See you next week! Happy Reading!
Of course, the king's daughter is one of those girls, like Teresa, who is both smart and crazy and has her own scheme going. And Fabrizio is caught in the middle. There are hidden passages, secret identities, and wailing spirits.
The people in this book were great. I loved the sly humor whenever Fabrizio and his master teased each other. And the way Fabrizio balanced sucking up to powerful people and unnerving them with his sleight of hand.
Even Fabrizio couldn't decide whether this ghost was real or, as his master says, there must be a rational explanation. So it was a good mystery right down to the last page.
I would love to spend more time with these characters, and, if you're interested, there's a prequel to Midnight Magic called Murder at Midnight.
On the Dudes Summer Book Bingo card, here's how this book qualifies: CAN YOU SEE IT? (can't beat the spooky castle/hidden passageways setting), THE OLD COUNTRY, THEY TALK WEIRD (in ye olde medieval way), CONTRAPTIONS (read it and you'll see), ONE WORD TITLE OR AUTHOR (Avi), GODS AND GHOSTS (obviously), ITS ABOUT TIME ('cause it takes you back to the old days).
You can download and print the bingo card for this year at the Dudes website: https://emilykayjohnson.com/TheDudesC...
See you next week! Happy Reading!
