Guardians of Ga'Hoole Book 1: The Capture

Written by: Kathryn Lasky

First line: The world spiraled, the needles of the old fir tree blurred against the night sky and then there was a sickening sensation as the forest floor raced toward him.

Why you should read this book: Like all the barn owls in the Forest Kingdom of Tyto, little Soren is growing up under the care of two loving parents and a doting blind nurse snake, his life filled with wonderful ceremonies, comfort, safety, and adoration of his baby sister, Eglantine, until the day that his sociopath older brother pushes him out of the nest, leaving him vulnerable to the rash of kidnapping that's been going around. Captive of the moon blinked owls at St. Aegolius Academy for Orphaned Owls, Soren struggles to maintain his sanity in a world where asking questions is a punishable offense and bizarre and un-owl-like practices like sleeping at night while staring at the moon are designed to hypnotize every kidnapped owlet into complacent servitude. With his new friend, the tiny elf owl Gylphie, Soren is determined to learn the secrets of St. Aggies, escape his imprisonment, and return home to his family before similar disaster strikes his darling Eglantine.

Why you shouldn't read this book: You don't let your minions ask questions, either.