MrsK Books: Gabriel Finley and the Raven's Riddle by George Hagen

Saturday, August 9, 2014

Gabriel Finley and the Raven's Riddle by George Hagen

George Hagen

ISBN: 9780385371032

Net Galley Synopsis:

A fast-paced, exciting—and emotionally rich—fantasy

novel for middle graders that reads like a cross between Harry Potter and The Phantom Tollbooth.

How can 11-year-old Gabriel find his missing father, who seems to have vanished without a trace?
With the help of Paladin—a young raven with whom he has a magical bond that enables them to become one creature—he flies to the foreboding land of Aviopolis, where he must face a series of difficult challenges and unanswerable riddles that could lead to his father ... or to his death.

MrsK's Review:

In Gabriel Finley's world, our every day ravens love riddles. Yes, I said that those black "menacing" ravens like speaking and solving riddles. Did you know that a "good many raven jokes are about owls... because ravens fear owls... they consider owls to be stupid and dangerous... There isn't an owl alive who is as clever as a raven."

At the time, Gabriel "didn't know anything about ravens..." but he liked riddles because he enjoyed unlocking them and trying to discover the double meanings in the words: When is a door not a door? Now just for a moment, think about what it would be like to be raised in a home where instead of sports... riddles were your daily challenge, entertainment, and connections with your father. You will realize just how much of a "riddle master" Gabriel's father truly was if you accept this "riddled" journey with Gabriel.

As Gabriel turns 12, he learns of a quest that very few are allowed to embark on. His father has gone missing. his mother has been missing since he was born, there's a new boy in seventh grade that for whatever reason wants to "cheat" off of him and keeps hanging around, and there is this raven (Paladin) that begins appearing every where. Gabriel's Aunt Jaz remembers that his father once kept a diary, in which he discovers that his father knew a raven by the name of Baldasarre. Within the diary are very important clues to events that will help Gabriel discover his skill of paravolating. On his twelfth birthday, his aunt remembers there is a gift his father has left him, it turns out to be a riddle of sorts. Why would an old key be so important that his father prepared it as a specific gift for... a specific age? And now there's this new girl in school, Abigail Chastain (I personally adore her). Add in these obnoxious visitors and a writing desk that is on the move. You do know that riddles can be more than words... Why after all these years would his Uncle Corax's mysterious departure be such a major "key" to where his father has gone?

I must let you know a bit about the raven, Paladin. He is learning all about the history of ravens and humans. His mother instructs him in the skill of "meaningful" riddles (think of these riddles as being multi-layered investigative research). Paladin learns about the evil Valravens, these ravens are not the type of playmates any mother would want hanging around the neighborhood. He is being schooled about the dwarf's underground dungeons and mazes of Aviopolis. Then during one of his lessons, Paladin's mother provides a riddle:

"Every house has one of me,
I will not let you in, you see,

Unless you feed me with a meal

Of jagged brass or hardened steel."

The promise within the covers of this journey is that you will be "mystified" by the paralleled paths for Gabriel and Paladin. As each of these characters are uncovering their true quest, the riddles they are given are meant for you. You can discover the "intersections" that are just around the corner for them... if you have the skill to decipher the meaning behind the words!

Are you willing to travel this path? Do you know how to keep Corax from finding the torc? Are you good at solving riddles?

Please help Gabriel and Paladin...

MrsK

Meet the Laments—the affably dysfunctional globetrotting family at the center of George Hagen’s exuberant debut novel. Undeniably eccentric, the Laments are also universal. Through the Lament’s restlessness, responses to adversity, and especially their unwieldy love for one another, George Hagen gives us a portrait of every family that is funny, tragic, and improbably true.

When is a book like a key?

"I received this ebook for free from Net Galley for this review."

http://www.randomhouse.com/book/236795/oliver-and-the-seawigs-by-philip-reeve

Random House Children's Publishing

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MrsK's Reading Bio

Reading is important! No questions asked, not even a blink of the eye from any student I grew up with. On the first day of the First grade, we were given our first books. Day two we all read aloud, round robin of course. Day three we were place in our first basal, now known as a lit circle group. Books were so important, publishers designed new curriculum so that every student was reading by the end of the first week. These early readers had images that looked like what we could see in the classroom, beyond the classroom, even on the big screen. Reading is important, throughout history every generation has believed that “Reading” opens up the world for endless possibilities.

I adore the 1950’s Dick and Jane books. Actually, most reading specialists and experienced (45+) educators believe that every student learned to read with Dick and Jane. Since these books are being re-issued, I have heard many parents, grandparents, and students claim that Dick and Jane stories of repetition does teach students to read.

Early influences from my mother influenced my desire to read. I would watch her read and we would go on “secret” excursions to the library. The library became my playground. I owned every book I could carry home, of course they needed to be taken back to their home after visiting with me for a week or two. My first book that I could pull off of the library shelf and read was, Father Bear Comes Home. I only saw my dad on Sundays for a few hours. I would pull this beginning reader off of the library shelf every week. Every week I would try to read the first chapter. Every week I got further in the story. My mom would let me check it out, only if I could read it myself (She didn’t like the illustrations therefore she didn’t want to take time to read it to me). One day, I pulled the book from the shelf and when mom came to get me from the children’s corner, I realized that I had read the whole story. I ran to the check out desk and the Librarian KERCHUNKED the checkout card. My mother, brother and neighbors read. My teachers read. We all read aloud all day long in school. The Priest read aloud every day at mass, even in Latin. Everybody in the Doctor’s office read. People on the bus read. Dad’s waiting in their cars as the Mom’s and children grocery shopped, read. In fact, once you could read and write, Sunset Magazine considered you a reader and sent you mail every day.

Reading is important; I’ve spent my life reading. I’ve traveled around the world and into space through books. My favorite genre is whichever book I have open at the time. Children’s Literature is my passion. Book clubbing is one of the best past times, especially if food is involved. In fact my friends of old are in a book club and we are about to embark on a beach trip to “read” and discuss our newest selection.

My “home-run” book story has helped every student find his or her own “home-run” reads. Every year, I have shared my, Father Bear Comes Home, and every year my students have brought in their “home-run” books. That’s the “diving board” into our Lit. Studies.

In “Growing Up Digital,” Tapscott’s insights into the new generations enthusiasm for the Net reminded me of my generation’s enthusiasm for reading, movies, TV, parties and our driving permits. The Net-Generation, as Tapscott describes, “are learning, playing, communicating, working, creating communities, and enforcing a social transformation.”
N-Geners are interactive “techies” who are always looking for a way to “work it” verses the TV Generation of “Baby Boomers” who started out looking for “how it works.” Reading development is tougher today, society moves too fast to invest their “non-working” free time into a book or even “home work.” Since I stepped into my own classroom, I have seen students being told to read, being forced to read, and threatened into reading. Homework is not any longer the vehicle for students to gain their future lifestyles or careers with. Yet, the Internet does create an enthusiasm for learning. Since I have been enrolled in these courses, I have used the computers in every subject. My students are using the newest technology in the classroom because I am giving them investigative sites to use as they learn from each other and books. I agree with Tapscott, in order to bridge the gap with this up and coming generation we must “live and learn with them.”

FTC Required Disclaimer: I receive these books from the publishers. I did not receive monetary compensation for these reviews. These reviews have been posted in compliance with the FTC requirements set forth in the Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (available at ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf)