Storyteller

Storyteller by Edward Myers, 2008 Clarion Books

     In this framed story an old man tells his grandson the story of Jack. Jack is a farmboy from a small town on the edge of Sundar--but not a simple farmboy. Jack must tell stories as they bubble up from inside him. While still at home Jack meets the mysterious Woman in the Woods and discovers her kingdom in the forest outside town. When he turns seventeen Jack leaves home to seek his fortune.
     On his journey simply Jack becomes Jack Storyteller. He finds that stories are his life's purpose and meets several new friends. Loquasto is a talking bird who has fallen in love with the fish princess Artemisia; one-eyed Garth Golden-Eye is a Robin Hood-like outlaw; the Princess Stelinda is the love of Jack's life, and the daughter of King Alphonse, older sister to Prince Yoss.
     When Yoss, with the help of illusionist Zephyrio, takes Stelinda's throne at their father's death his rule plunges Sundar into depression, both economic and psychological. Stelinda and Jack Storyteller are roped into Yoss's menagerie, driving them apart.
     Jack discovers that his life is a story he has allowed to run free. The storyteller must discover a way to re-harness his tale and put his life back on the track he planned. Storyteller is a new sort of fairytale, accessible to readers as young as elementary school while still able to capture older readers' attention.

The Secret of Red Gate Farm

The Secret of Red Gate Farm by Carolyn Keene, 1961 Grosset & Dunlap

     Nancy Drew and her friends find it strange when an exotic saleswoman refuses to sell Bess a particular fragrance while shopping. On their way home Nancy, Bess, and George encounter a young woman looking to find work in the city. The girls become friends and decide to help Joanne in whatever way they may. When Nancy joins Joanne on a job interview she finds what appears to be a mysterious code.
     Nancy sets aside the code until, when visiting Joanne's grandmother for a working vacation, she and her friends discover a mysterious secret society on Red Gate Farm. The "Black Snake Colony" is a nature cult residing on the outlying edges of the farm.
     All is not as it seems, when Nancy is accused of counterfeiting money. She presents the code she discovered and the strange cult to the authorities. The four girls are asked to go undercover in aid of the federal agents on the case.
     Nancy and her friends find adventure in seemingly simple situations. Readers become more acquainted with Bess and George through the book, with mystery and adventure around the corner.

Revenge of the Witch

Revenge of the Witch by Joseph Delaney, 2004 Harper Trophy

     Old Gregory has been hunting the things that go bump in the night for years. He is aging past his prime, but there is no one to take his place as twenty-nine apprentices have failed, fled, or died.
     Thomas Ward is the seventh son of the seventh son, and the year he turns thirteen he is apprenticed to the Spook. He follows old Gregory from his home and discovers a world of Ghosts, Ghasts, Witches, Boggarts, and other creepy-crawlies in the darkness. The work is difficult - learning the skills specific to the Spooks as well as more traditional learning in Latin and Greek.
     The apprentice is old Gregory's last chance and after a month's trial Tom is allowed to return home before making the commitment to his task. The young man hopes his mother will welcome him, but is surprised when it is revealed his Mam has planned his apprenticeship since Tom's birth.
     Being the seventh son of the seventh son gives him abilities few others possess, but it is his mother's heritage which makes Tom different. Old Gregory acknowledges Mam's ability, but only after tragedy strikes their family and Tom must make a difficult decision concerning a new friend.
     While his trials are dangerous, both to Tom and the people he cares about, he perseveres. Tom matures with the tests old Gregory administers, he stays long after he's already decided to go home, and when it comes to the most difficult choices of his young life, Tom acts with integrity and trusts his instincts. As he is fond of saying - somebody's got to do it, might as well be me.

The Princess and the Bear

The Princess and the Bear by Mette Ivie Harrison, 2009 HarperTeen

     The Princess has been returned to her normal, human form. Also returned to her natural form is the Hound. Prince George has used what little magic he possessed and the help of the Bear to return the two, but once they've been released to go their own ways, the Hound and Bear discover something isn't right in the forest.
     Spots of un-life or un-magic seem to be spreading through the woods. These pockets aren't like water where the effect lessens, rather they continue to steal the life-force from any living thing caught in the path. They use their understanding of magic to fight the spreading spots, but there comes a point where a bear and hound can only do so much to stem the tide of death through the forest.
     Returning to Princess Marit and Prince George, they describe the strange cat-man who has been leaching life from the forest. George sends the pair into the mountains where they hope to find the Wild Man who can help. The Wild Man sends the Bear and the Hound into the past before being magic became danger to stop this creature from destroying their future.
     The Bear is transformed back into his form of King Richon and the Hound becomes the woman Chala. Through their quest to find the source of un-magic Richon discovers that his bigotry against animal-magic is the root of the un-magic's strength. The pair continue to fight, yet must deal with the consequences of Richon's actions. Eventually the pair discover their place and are hopeful of saving their world.
     Magic and an appreciation of nature abound in this story of righting wrongs and finding home. Richon and Chala begin with only a vague idea of what they hope to accomplish, but as they journey and see the injustice in the kingdom a plan forms and change is evoked. Younger readers will enjoy the quest story as the Bear and Hound learn to be human and fight for the success of their plans.

A Bloom in Winter

A Bloom in Winter by T.J. Brown, 2013 Gallery Books

     After Prudence's hasty marriage and escape from Summerset with Andrew Wilkes, Victoria and Rowena are at loose ends. Neither expected the woman raised as their sister to suddenly abandon them, but Rowena's guilt over the family's treatment of Pru and Victoria's insatiable gaiety gloss over the pain of losing their friend.
     Rowena discovers her passion for flying and the young man teacher her to fly are powerful enough to bring her back from the brink of the depression she has sunk into since her father's death. Jon reappears despite his family's abhorrence of the Buxtons. The fledgling romance between Miss Rowena Buxton and Jonathan
     Victoria Buxton confides in her newly acquired best friend, Kit Kittredge, her hopes and dreams. But while Victoria is passionately fighting for what she innocently believes is right, Kit finds his friend more and more alluring.
     Prudence never belonged below-stairs at Summerset, her new marriage to Andrew shows her how sheltered her life has been. Yet as life settles between the two memories of Sebastian Billingsley surface and Prudence questions her love for her husband. Avoiding her old life is the only way she can avoid the pain Sebastian's memories bring.
     When Victoria's naivette lands her danger her desire for independence nearly takes her life. Prudence and Rowena unite against their quarrels to find their sister and bring her home safely.
     The young women of the Buxton household were raised to believe in the individual merits each person achieves. When their backgrounds no longer prepare them for the world they live in, each young woman searches for a new place to belong. Though they are limited by a woman's place in pre-World War I England, they are in possession of clever minds and passionate dreams which push them to find new stations to fulfill. While written for avid fans of Downton Abbey, readers of all ages and tastes can find something to capture their interest in T.J. Brown's Summerset Abbey books.