This week's Trailer Tuesday is more of an author interview. Sarah Crossan, author of Breathe, tells us where she got her inspiration for the book...and some good advice for wannabe writers out there! If you are a fan of dystopian/sci-fi books and you haven't read Breathe yet, I highly recommend it (and not just because her inspiration for the story was a trip she made to Washington). In this post-apocalyptic world, there is a shortage of air, and the government controls who gets to breathe it. I enjoyed that this story is told from the alternating perspectives of the three main characters, and that it leaves room for the story to continue (in a planned trilogy). Great, suspenseful writing.
I posted on Sunday about how this book by debut author Leigh Bardugo would make a good movie (and a good gift for fantasy lovers on your holiday list). Turns out, I'm not the only one. One of the "Harry Potter" movie producers thought so too and snapped up the movie rights. Here's the scoop on making it into a movie:
The first installment in the Holiday Gift Ideas posts is a book that I talked all week to my 7th graders (and their teachers).
Title: Shadow & Bone Author: Bardugo Genre: Fiction, Fantasy, Magic, Orphans, Abilities Pages: 358 Rating: 4 1/2 stars out of 5 This is the first book in a planned trilogy by a debut author, and has also been optioned for a movie. Within the first few pages, you will know why. This book is such a treat: the writing is exquisite, the sense of place is magical and exotic, and the heroine is memorable.
Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, an area of darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now Ravka's fate may rest with Alina, an orphan taken from obscurity and her only friend, Mal, when it is discovered that she is the mythical Sun Summoner who might be able to destroy the monsters in the Fold. She must train with the mysterious Darkling to join the magical Grisha. Mal, handsome and competent, and Alina, are two young orphans who form an immediate bond. The story really begins when the two friends have joined the King’s Army and Alina is plucked from the ranks to join the Grisha, who train at the heart of the royal court.
The setting resembles Czarist Russia, the Darkling vaguely Rasputin-esque. Extravagance and deceit abound at court and Alina finds herself with allegiances on both sides. This is an engaging, captivating fantasy with a terrific supporting cast and amazing world building. Glad that I finally read this one, but sad that I have to wait for the next book!
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