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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 16, 2010)
INCARCERON and SAPPHIQUE by Catherine Fisher. Dial, $17.99. Fans of Catherine Fisher’s Incarceron, which racked up starred reviews earlier this year from just about everywhere that reviews young adult fi ction, didn’t have to wait long for the book’s sequel, which sneaks in just at the year’s end (it’s offi cially out Dec. 28). Like Incarceron, Sapphique takes place both in the sentient prison that gave the fi rst book its name — a giant, ever-changing, seemingly boundless place that bears some resemblance to the arenas of Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games series in scope — and in the Realm, a world held captive by a Protocol that demands its residents hew to the rules of a bygone era. Technology is banned, but technology runs Incarceron. In this complicated, often false world, two young people fi ght to free others from the prison, and to restore honesty to their own lives: Claudia, daughter of the Warden of Incarceron, who has ventured back into the prison, and Finn, who spent years in the prison and may or may not be the Realm’s long-lost prince. Inventive, smartly structured and already headed for a big screen near you, Fisher’s novels use breathless plot to explore identity, compromise and the nature of reality — big questions in a shiny, engrossing package. — Molly Templeton HO! HO! HO! Here's where you gotta GO! Have a JERRY Christmas and a HEMPY New Year with gifts from the PIE! EWool glittens, muklux, scarves & hats ERecycled cotton armwarmers, legwarmers & socks EGrateful Dead or Bob Marley calendars, candles & gifts EHemp wallets, purses, twine & clothing EOrganic cotton socks, clothing, bras & undies ELocally-made products galore! Jewelry, glass, tees & more! Find us on Facebook under 'Sweet Potato Pie Eugene' We're GRATEFUL for your support! Mon-Sat 10-7 / Sun 12-5 Corner of 11th & Willamette in the ❤ of downtown BUTTERFLY by Sonya Hartnett. Candlewick, $16.99. This YA/adult horror book masquerading as a coming-of-age story hits at the heart of family and friendship. Thirteen-year-old Plum Coyle lives a self-centered life, just like most people her age, and her point of view carries through most of the book, from the painful opening scene to the pitch-perfect and Cat’s Eye-level alarming scenes with her group of so-called friends. She badly needs an adult to talk to, but as it turns out, adults have secrets of their own, some of which threaten her family and their tentative, isolated fi laments of connection. Occasional wrong notes (each character turns omniscient at odd times) and a claustrophobic, deliberately mysterious fi nal scene don’t mar the overall feel of the horrors of adolescence and the threat of grown-up life. — Suzi Steff en FINNIKIN OF THE ROCK by Melina Marchetta. Candlewick, $18.99. With the fantastic, heartbreaking Finnikin of the Rock, Melina Marchetta makes a sharp turn away from the realistic fi ction of her last novel, the Printz Medal-winning Jellicoe Road. Some things don’t change: Marchetta creates complex, passionate, fl awed characters whose relationships to one another tie into their strong sense of place — in this case, the place is the imaginary land of Lumatere, one of the smallest kingdoms in the larger island world of Skuldenore. Ten years ago, Lumatere was torn apart by betrayal and locked away from the rest of the world by a blood curse. Exiles live in camps throughout Skuldenore’s other kingdoms — some in terrible conditions. Finnikin, who as a child played with Lumatere’s young prince, Balthazar, roams the land with his mentor, Sir Topher, hoping for some sign of Balthazar, or of his father, Lumatere’s captain of the guard. When a dream sends him to a distant cloister, Finn meets a young woman, Evanjalin, who’s quite clearly not what she seems. Silent, fi erce, smart and manipulative, Evanjalin has her own agenda. How it lines up with and changes Finn’s hopes and dreams, and how they both connect to the future of Lumatere, is carefully spun out in Marchetta’s sometimes wrenching, sometimes romantic high fantasy, which has its footing fi rmly in very real ideas about power, home, displacement and connection. — Molly Templeton Pick up milk & snacks! Check out our great selection: • Granola bars • Pretzels • Nutrition/ protein bars • Teas • Yogurt • Cheese • Crackers • Juices • Sports drinks • Fruit cups • Nuts • Jerky • Baked chips • Deli salads • Tomato/ vegetable drinks MONSTERS OF MEN by Patrick Ness. Candlewick, $18.99. In this third book in the Chaos Walking trilogy, we’re back with Todd and Viola, at last. Will they survive? Will the Spackle rebel and get back at those who massacred them? Will the Mayor reveal himself and his plans? Because we know he has them. And guess what? There’s a third point of view in this book, somewhat like the extra complexity that enters Jonathan Stroud’s Bartimaeus trilogy in its fi nal volume. By the time they get to Monsters, readers have already dealt with two tomes of perpetual present tense, which turns annoyingly frantic with Ness’ neck- breaking plot pace. The book shares with other fantasy trilogies (most famously, Lord of the Rings) an issue around endings — it has, to put it mildly, several — but for young readers, the actual ending may be more satisfying than it was for this adult, who rolled her eyes at lost opportunities. — Suzi Steff en WWW.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM • BLOGS.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM Quick, convenient, healthy EUGENE WEEKLY DECEMBER 16, 2010 21
