Geeky Books--Says Who?

I went to a magnet high school for communication arts, so "geeky" was a relative term, and then discovered in college how to truly embrace my inner geek. That being said, I pretty much always read fantasy. In my youngest years that included C.S. Lewis and E. B. White. As I got older, I got to know and love Susan Cooper and Anne McCaffrey, Robin McKinley and Ursula K. LeGuin, Lloyd Alexander and Madeline L'Engle--all still some of my favorites of all time.

But I was curious to explore some newer authors, so I went in blind to the Young Adult section to my local library, and started pulling books that had fantasy-sounding titles. Here's what I came up with:

Chima, Cinda Williams. The Warrior Heir. (2006). New York, NY: Hyperion Publishers.

This is the story of Jack, a sixteen-year-old who throughout his life has taken a special medicine for what he's been told is a heart problem. After forgetting one day to take it, he has outsized strength and confidence, and learns that he is a warrior of a magical society that lives among regular people. Though this plot device is overdone (teen finds out he/she has magical powers), I read the first several chapters and found it surprisingly well-written and intriguing. I also liked that it was from a boy's POV, as I often read books with girl main characters, so this was a refreshing change.

Bujor, Flavia. The Prophecy of the Stones. (2004). New York, NY: Hyperion Publishers.

In a similar plot device, three fourteen-year-old girls find out their unique destiny: to use three stones to help save a world called Fairytale. The outcome of their efforts also affects the life of a Parisian girl who is sick and dreaming of a world called Fairytale. I only realized after making this selection that it was written by a thirteen-year-old French sensation named Flavia Bujor. After reading the first few chapters, I was disappointed by the book. It read flat and uninspiring to me, either because of the translation or perhaps just the original writing was problematic. I won't try reading further.

Bell, Hilari. Fall of a Kingdom. (2003). New York, NY: Simon and Schuster Books For Children.

Yet another three teens are trying to save the mythical kingdom of Farsala in this book. Just reading the jacket copy and then the first two chapters left me so confused, I cannot tell more about what is happening in this book. Unfortunately, this book has many of the issues non-fantasy-lovers dislike about fantasy: confusing plot and unfamiliar character and place names that make it difficult to get into the story. I won't try reading this one further, either.