Flora's Dare: How a Girl of Spirit Gambles All to Expand Her Vocabulary, Confront a Bouncing Boy Terror, and Try to Save Califa from a Shaky Doom (Despite ... to Her Room) (Flora Trilogy Book 2)

Flora Fyrdraaca wants nothing more than to be a ranger, and for that she must master the magickal�and dangerous�language of Gramatica. But before she can find the ideal teacher, her aspirations are put to the test. Would a true ranger be intimidated by a tentacle that reaches for her from the depths of a toilet? Be daunted by her best friend�s transformation into a notorious outlaw, thanks to a pair of sparkly stolen boots? Be cowed by the revelation that only she can rescue the city of Califa from the violent earthquakes that threaten its survival? ����������� Never. Saving her city and her best friend are the least a Girl of Spirit can do�yet what Flora doesn�t expect are the life-altering revelations she learns about her family and herself. This book features a teaser chapter from the third Flora book, Flora�s Fury. From School Library Journal Grade 8�10�The feisty protagonist from Flora Segunda (Harcourt, 2007) returns in another fantasy adventure. It's three months after her 14th birthday, and Flora, now officially an adult, is wrestling with new challenges. She's determined to find someone who will help her expand her Gramatica vocabulary (and thus her ability to do magick); her best friend tries on a dead outlaw's fancy footwear with alarming results (the boots attach themselves to Udo's feet and he takes on Springheel Jack's evil persona); and, having discovered the source of the frequent earthquakes threatening Califa, she vows to take action before the entire city topples. Flora's world is highly imaginative, and the politics, teen angst, and family dysfunction are integrated neatly with the fantasy elements. The setting, which geographically resembles California, and the Spanish-language-influenced names and words set this book apart from similar titles. However, this ambitious sequel misses the mark. The plot will make little sense to those who have not read the first tale, and even fans of Flora Segunda may find this installment occasionally hard to follow. Many scenes are so fast paced that they come across as superficial, and it often feels as though the author is trying to fit too much into the telling. Consider purchasing Flora's Dare only where the first book is popular.� Genevieve Gallagher, Buford Middle School, Charlottesville, VA Copyright � Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Review Praise for Flora Segunda : � �Highly original, strange and amusing ...treats young readers with respect.�� �Diana Wynne Jones (star) �A thoroughly original magical world marks this witty debut...Tantalizingly, the open-ended conclusion hints there might be more to come from this compelling and funny heroine.� � Kirkus Reviews (starred) �Like [Philip] Pullman�s Lyra Silvertongue or [Terry] Pratchett�s Tiffany Aching, Flora Fyrdraaca is a descendant of Jo March rather than a fainting beauty who needs rescuing.� � The New York Times Book Review The winner of the Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy from the author of Flora Segunda and Flora’s Fury. Flora Fyrdraaca wants nothing more than to be a ranger, and for that she must master the magickal—and dangerous—language of Gramatica. But before she can find the ideal teacher, her aspirations are put to the test. Would a true ranger be intimidated by a tentacle that reaches for her from the depths of a toilet? Be daunted by her best friend’s transformation into a notorious outlaw, thanks to a pair of sparkly stolen boots? Be cowed by the revelation that only she can rescue the city of Califa from the violent earthquakes that threaten its survival? Never. Saving her city and her best friend are the least a Girl of Spirit can do—yet what Flora doesn’t expect are the life-altering revelations she learns about her family and herself. This ebook features a teaser chapter from the third Flora book, Flora’s Fury. “This fresh and funky setting is rich with glorious costumes, innovative language and tantalizing glimpses of history.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review “Wilce creates a fantastic and unique world . . . Guaranteed thrills, chills, and amazing revelations.” —Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) “The author had me firmly in her grip and I followed Flora’s magical mishaps, her accidental time travels and the big showdown with great pleasure.” —SFF Book Reviews “Fast moving and fun . . . The action is nonstop, and the characters enchanting.” —SF Site *How a girl of spirit gambles all to expand her vocabulary, confront a bouncing boy terror, and try to save Califa from a shaky doom (despite being confined to her room).* Flora Fyrdraaca wants nothing more than to be a ranger, and for that she must master the magickal—and dangerous—language of Gramatica. But before she can find the ideal teacher, her aspirations are put to the test. Would a true ranger be intimidated by a tentacle that reaches for her from the depths of a toilet? Be daunted by her best friend’s transformation into a notorious outlaw, thanks to a pair of sparkly stolen boots? Be cowed by the revelation that only she can rescue the city of Califa from the violent earthquakes that threaten its survival? Never. Saving her city and her best friend are the least a Girl of Spirit can do—yet what Flora doesn’t expect are the life-altering revelations she learns about her family and herself. Fourteen-year-old Flora Fyrdraaca fights a giant sea creature, rescues her best friend from a mass murderer, and more, all while lamenting her father's newly-strict enforcement of household rules now that he is no longer drinking. Fourteen-year-old Flora Fyrdraaca fights a giant sea creature, rescues her best friend from a mass murderer, and more, all while lamenting her father's newly strict enforcement of household rules now that he is no longer drinking