 It is September—and time for we Quills to get together for our joint post. This month we are sharing our thoughts about some of our favorite reads. Well, Robin Lythgoe, author of As the Crow Flies, I can just imagine you mulling this one over. What have you come up with for us?  After standing in front of my bookshelves tapping my chin and saying “Hmm… Hmm…” several times, I finally chose Fortress in the Eye of Time, by C.J. Cherryh, the first of her incredible “Fortress” series. Dontcha love when there’s a whole string of scrumptiousness lined up when you get to the end of a book and wish for more? Read more here. Next up is our newest member, P.S. Broaddus, author of A Hero’s Curse. So, Parker, what witty things do you have for us this time?  We are fond of our pets. We have a dog, Indiana, (Indiana Jones reference, anyone? “We named the dog Indiana!”), who is one part funny, two parts hardheaded, but all three parts loving (Remember The Incredible Journey? We thought we were getting Shadow but Indy is really more like Chance). So when you find a tale (oh no, puns…) with talking animals, there is nothing to do but read and share. Read more here. Now, it's my turn! It’s my turn! So, here are my thoughts---  For my part, I’m going to share about the work of an author I met at the Literary Classics awards ceremony this past April. Amalie Jahn writes YA sci-fi. In her debut novel, The Clay Lion, Jahn asks young readers to consider what they might do if they could go back in time to save someone they love. I previously reviewed The Clay Lion, and would like to share some of my thoughts with you now.
You know how, when you listen to a symphony, all of your senses are engaged? You catch the sight of the furious violinists; the feel of the pounding percussion beneath your feet; and the various different parts that if you heard individually, you might wonder at. However could they all come into accord? Yet, when you hear the “whole,” they do. For me, reading is a similar experience. I look for things that are different from what I’ve read before, that are engaging and memorable, but I want the pieces to flow together smoothly. For me, The Clay Lion, hit every note with perfect pitch and with inimitable timing. Brooke and her brother, Branson, share a sincere love and friendship. So when Branson, who is diagnosed with a life-threatening disease, dies, Brooke is devastated. After investigating the potential causes of his illness, she travels back in time in an attempt to stop the events that brought about his illness. But along the way, she discovers that playing with time and events can have some devastating consequences—and that some things are meant to be. Even the pain that we experience has a purpose, as it can teach us about far more than merely suffering. In Brooke’s case, her loss teaches her to (as the author herself might say) “live in the present.” I highly recommend the multi-award winning, The Clay Lion, for both teens and adults!
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