Mastiff

Mastiff
by Tamora Pierce
The Legend of Beka Cooper, book three

Beka and her friends will face their greatest and most important challenge ever when the young heir to the kingdom vanishes. They will be sent out of Corus on a trail that appears and disappears, following a twisting road throughout Tortall. It will be her greatest Hunt—if she can survive the very powerful people who do not want her to succeed in her goal. (description from author's website)

Picking up three years after Bloodhound, Beka embarks on her most important case, yet. She and Achoo must truly prove that they are the best scent team in Tortall to find the heir to the throne. In their search, they uncover the many pitfalls the kingdom faces by allowing the slave trade to run through it's borders.

I find Beka's cases fascinating. It's like reading about medieval policework and it's sooooo intriguing. Some readers complain about the style of this series - that it's written in journal form, that it jumps too quickly on the timeline, with years passing between books. This is one of the best features of this series for me.

Tamora Pierce has created one of her strongest characters yet. Beka is tough, she is dedicated, and she is defined by her job. That's why it doesn't matter how much time has passed between books. We only see the most important parts of Beka's life. Her big cases. The moments that define her life. What happens day to day doesn't affect her truly, it's the big moments that make her who she is.

Without letting you know all the secrets in this book (you'll have to read it for yourself, lol!), there is a romance that develops. It is sweet and believable. That is another thing that makes Tamora Pierce my favorite author. She creates strong female characters and they never have to compromise for love. The men in their lives love them for who they really are...they accept them wholly and do not ask them to change. They become the strongest pairs and their love lasts because they are truly meant for each other.

Finally, (I know, enough gushing!!) I just want to mention that my favorite book of ALL TIME is Tamora Pierce's, Alanna: The First Adventure. Immediately upon finishing this title, I did something I hardly ever have time to do anymore. I spent an entire afternoon rereading my beloved Alanna series. Though I have shelves of unread books, this particular one inspired me to immediately rip into my old favorites. It was blissful. :)

If you love strong female characters, are fascinated by police cases, and like a touch of fantasy, you would do well to check out this series by Tamora Pierce.

The Eleventh Plague

The Eleventh Plague
by Jeff Hirsch

In an America devastated by war and plague, the only way to survive is to keep moving. In the aftermath of a war, America’s landscape has been ravaged and two thirds of the population left dead from a vicious strain of influenza. Fifteen-year-old Stephen Quinn and his family were among the few that survived and became salvagers, roaming the country in search of material to trade for food and other items essential for survival. But when Stephen’s grandfather dies and his father falls into a coma after an accident, Stephen finds his way to Settler’s Landing, a community that seems too good to be true, where there are real houses, barbecues,a school, and even baseball games. Then Stephen meets strong, defiant, mischievous Jenny, who refuses to accept things as they are. And when they play a prank that goes horribly wrong, chaos erupts, and they find themselves in the midst of a battle that will change Settler’s Landing forever. (description from Amazon.com)

One of the dystopian novels that has really stuck with me after reading is Cormac McCarthy's The Road. Hirsch's new book reminds me of The Road in all the best ways. Though it is a (and I hesitate to use this word) lighter feeling novel than the classic, it hits all the same notes. Now by lighter, I just mean that there is slightly more of a sense of hope...partially because the main character is a teen...not that it is in any way less than The Road.

The Eleventh Plague takes a teen to the breaking point in a seemingly unforgiving world. When Stephen finds himself alone and not on the trail, but in a town, he has no idea what to do with himself. His entire world has gone upside down. As he begins to fit into Settler's Landing, he discovers that even the idyllic hides ugliness. Hirsch raises questions about discrimination, racism, morality and consistently presents Stephen with a world that is layered and impressively realistic.

Amid the flaws that Stephen must continously face in the humanity around him, he also finds little jewels. People willing to step up to save one another. People who fall in love. People who help one another without thought to the consequences. That is the hope that this novel has...The Road only shows the barest glimpse of better possibilities, but here a reader could truly believe that even in the darkest night, dawn is still coming.

Finally, this book has a realistic and satisfying ending. It's not perfect...there are still moments of fear, but there is also happiness. I really enjoyed the whole book and felt that it ended just right. Kudos to Hirsch!

Full disclosure: Audio book received to review for AudioFile
2011 Debut Author Challenge title