Abarat

The story all starts in the boring little place called Chickentown, named accordinly, due to the large amount of chickens there. Candy Quackenbush was just another resident in this isolated town, but not for long. During school, while being sent down the hall to the principal's office, she feels the need to get out. Something pulls at her mind and she runs away from her school to a field she has never seen before, beyond the limits of the town. The wonderful adventure begins there when she meets a strange man with seven other faces attached to antlers coming out of his head. This is John Mischief and his brothers. They are on the run from an evil being named Mendelson Shape and Candy has to help Mischief. When she does, an ocean of possibilities opens up in front of her (that will make even more sense if you read the book). She is carried away to a mystical archipelago called the Abarat where anything is possible, and anything that can happen, does.

When I began reading this book, it reminded me greatly of The Wizard of Oz. For those of you who have not read that timeless classic, I shall explain. The Wizard of Oz (and all of the other parts of the series) are fantastical books filled to the brim with strange creatures and much adventure. Abarat has so many magical, interesting creatures! I loved this book! I would rate it a 8 out of 10 and recommend it to all ages!

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Hannah Baker committed suicide-but not without a reason. Thirteen reasons to be exact...

---------------------------------------

Clay Jensen finds a box of audio cassette tapes by his front door. Recorded on them is Hannah's voice. She has recorded thirteen reasons, thirteen people who gave her a reason to end her life. Clay Jensen is one of those reasons and if he listens to the tapes, he'll find out why. Clay Spends the night with Hannah's voice as his guide, touring his neighbor hood to visit places where Hannah found her reasons.

This book is simply enthralling! Thirteen Reasons Why is definitely a page turner. You just can't stop reading once you start! I would rate this a 9 out of 10. It is very thought provoking and I promise you will laugh and cry during the course of the story! Thirteen Reasons Why is an amazing accomplishment for first time author, Jay Asher!

Harry Potter

Is there truly a human in the world who can bring millions of people together-- people from all over the world, people of different races, nationalities, ages; a human who can change lives with nothing but sheets of paper and printer's ink; who can be wise and funny and sarcastic all at once; and who can touch hearts by spinning life-changing morals onto a page, disguised beneath a phenomenal plot and characters that so many would kill to be? You betcha!

You've heard her name whispered, screamed, idolized. You've seen the rage she has caused, this huge phenomenon thrown into the world that changes lives and tugs at heartstrings.

She's J. K. Rowling.

Maybe you think Harry Potter is overrated. Perhap

s you think all this passion and enthusiasm and obsession with her novels is poorly placed. Maybe you're just plain sick of hearing Harry-Potter-this-and-Harry-Potter-that.

Well, bear with me here, because I am going to "Harry-Potter-this-and-Harry-Potter-that" for a little while, and possibly I will change your mindset about J.K. Rowling and her books.

Many people have tried to decipher why the Harry Potter novels are so popular. Let me offer you my opinion.

First off: J.K. Rowling's style of writing. She has a way of connecting us to the story that is truly a work of art. This is due, of course, to her writing style. Let me put it this way: if a lesser writer, one who did not have her gif

t of writing style, came up with the idea of Harry Potter first-- the exact same plot-- and wrote the novels, they would not have been as big a hit. JK can make her readers cry, laugh, shake with fear-- all because of her words. Her novels are unpredictable, they leave us fascinated, they make us create lists of Horcruxes, for goodness sakes!

Second: her characters. This is obvious; I don't particularly need to expand. Her characters are lovable, we can relate to them, they are funny, they are sincere. Her imagination came up with these characters that so many people talk about as if they were real (I admit I am one of them!). It is simply beautiful to regard her characters, because they can error without decreasing our love for them.

Third: I do not know if there were many novels out before Harry Potter that had to do with magic (perhaps we simply didn't notice them until after Harry Potter came out.) The point is that magic has always been something humans are intrigued by. Because she gave magic substance; because she created a world that we would love to live in; because she found the one thing humans have never been able to, but always wanted to do-- that is why we love her plot. Take Quidditch, for example. Ingenious! A sport played on flying broomsticks! Wouldn't you just love to play it? Exactly. JK Rowling knew what humans wanted, she knew what were in our deepest fantasies. She played on that, she created this magic world, and she changed lives.

Finally: the morals. What a sensational writer she must be to still leave readers with a moral, after all her fiction and fantasy! Friendship, love, power, courage, what truly matters. Using lovable characters and stunning situations, JK gives us things to think about, things that leave us wondering whether our choices or our abilities define who we are. ;) JK manages to entertain us, and at the same time, instruct us.

Wow. Now do you agree with me?

Now, hopefully you have not read all of this not k

nowing what Harry Potter is about. But because this is (sort of) a book review, I will explain a little bit about the plot of the Harry Potter novels. Harry Potter is a wizard. Let's just get that out into the open. He is the only wizard known to survive the killing curse, uttered by Lord Voldemort, one of the most powerful and dangerous wizards of all time. What's even more amazing is that, besides surviving the curse, he has reduced Lord Voldemort's powers. And so begins the adventures of Harry Potter at the Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry, into which he was accepted at age eleven. Harry Potter continues to defy Lord Voldemort through seven books, with the plots becoming more complex and intriguing with each novel. I will save the rest of the story for you!

As I said previously, there are seven novels: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. You probably know this, but Harry Potter has been created into movies, also. The sixth one just came out. Although I am in heavy support of the movies (I really do like them), of course I'd take the books over them any day. It's really too bad that the movies don't follow the plot of the books as closely as I would have liked...

As for ratings, I'm going to rate the entire series as a whole (on a scale of one through ten). This may sound ludicrous, but I'm rating it a ten. Honestly. If you don't believe me, read the novels yourself and then you'll get exactly why I gave the series a perfect score. They are outstanding and extraordinary.

I think that it was a year or two ago that JK Rowling came out with another book, entitled The Tales of Beedle the Bard. I just read it yesterday,

as a matter of fact, and was very pleased with it! I do however recommend reading the Harry Potter novels first, of course.

From horcruxes to hallows, friends to foes, loathing to love, Harry Potter touched my life (in both a fangirly and a notable way!). I guess this isn't much of a book review, more of a mark of how obsessed I am with the series. But whatever it is, Harry Potter reveals what really matters in life.

Harry Potter truly is magical. Thank you, JK Rowling.

Starclimber

Once again Kenneth Oppel takes his reader on a wild ride in his latest and possibly last :( installment in the Matt Cruse, Airborn series.

This book covers the race to reach beyond our Earth's atmosphere. Outer space. There is a new vessel- The Starclimber- that is designed to take people out into space. Kate de Vries has been given an invitation to come aboard, but Matt Cruse has to compete with other men trying for the same position. He has to go through intense training, and every day the men are competing for a spot aboard the ship. Matt is desperate to go, but there are so many other men. The chances of being chosen are very slim.

If he does end up making it on the ship, the types of adventures waiting in space are unknown. Space has not yet been explored before and what is waiting up there is still yet to be discovered.

There is also another conflict. After being able to see each other continually in Paris, Matt and Kate are back home, and having difficulty getting together often with Kate's parents around all the time. As well, Kate's parents won't stop bugging her, telling her it is high-time she went off and got married, but they would never let Kate marry someone like Matt, who is from a completely different social class...

Oh my gosh! This book was amazing! Also what was really cool about this book was how many surprises there were! I am not usually very easy to surprise when it comes to books, but in this book, I was surprised multiple times! It was crazy! Also, the book was just so captivating! I read it all in one sitting, and when I finished I was jumping up and down with joy because of how good the book was. Then I was really sad when I realized this might just be the last book. I really hope this is not the last book, but if it is, it was a phenomenal end to a phenomenal series.

The Last Olympian

Just about one week ago, I read the fifth and **sniffles** final Percy Jackson book. Oh my goodness. I LOVED it! It most definitely did not disappoint! I was on the edge of my seat the entire time! I couldn't believe how much action there was in this book, and yet, somehow, Rick Riordan was still able to make me laugh out loud while reading, earning me some strange looks from my family members in the same room. ;) I adored it! I stayed up late in bed reading, all hidden under the covers- it was sooo much fun. I was unable to stop smiling- very hugely I might add- especially when I was reading the last couple chapters, and I think anyone who doesn't is made out of steel or something. Either that, or the fact that they disapprove of what happens... although I can't even imagine disapproving of it.

Anyway, the book revolves mostly around the "great prophecy" and Percy's sixteenth birthday, which is about a week from the beginning of the book. The book kicks off fast, and it never slows down. The main questions the story puts into your head throughout the book are- Is Percy the person in the prophecy? If so, what is the choice he has to make? And, will the choice either destroy or save Olympus?

Located here is most of the first chapter of the book: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Last-Olympian/Rick-Riordan/e/9781423101475#EXC. To read the excerpt you have to press the link that says Read an Excerpt under the picture of the book.

So, I thought it was amazing, and I hope Rick Riordan decides to do another Camp Half-Blood book, because it seems like he might since in the Acknowledgements or something it says something about the "end of the first Camp Half-Blood series", also with the, umm... thing at the end, with Rachel... read the book and you should understand what I am talking about. :D **fingers crossed** Although we all know no one is gonna be able to beat Percy's amazing-ness.
Anyway, it was a spectacular book, and it is an AMAZING series, I HIGHLY recommend reading them and/or it.

Keeping the Moon

Keeping the Moon was a fabulous book. Once again Sarah Dessen out does herself! I have to say that this is one of my all time favorite books. It has romance, friendship, self worth... everything that makes a great book. I would rate this a 9 out of 10 on a scale from 1-10. Even if I make it sound horrific, I would recommend reading it anyway. It's a quick read and you will not regret it!

Keeping the Moon follows the feel good story of Colie, a fifteen-year-old girl who is sent to stay in Colby, North Carolina with her eccentric Aunt Mira. Colie has never fit in much. At first it was because she was considered fat. Then she and her mom lost the weight and it was because she had a reputation she didn't deserve. When she arrived in Colby she had already convinced herself not to expect much. Why would this be anything different from home? She was also not looking forward to staying with her crazy Aunt Mira. In the first few days of her trip Colie lands herself a job at the Last Chance Bar and Grill. Here she meets Isabel and Morgan, two best friends who are about to teach her the meaning of true friendship. In North Carolina Colie finds the strength to appreciate and accept herself, two new friends, and a guy named Norman. What else could she ask for?

Just Listen

Annabel Greene seems to have the perfect life. At least that is what she portrays in her modeling shoots. In her shoots she has it all: friends, a cute boyfriend, a happy life... what else is there? In Annabel's reality there is more than just what lies on the surface. Her friendship with Sophie ended bitterly, her sister's eating disorder is tearing the family apart, and Annabel seems to have gotten pushed aside. What's a girl to do? Being isolated at home and at school Annabel retreats into silence. That is until she meets Owen. Owen Armstrong is somebody Annabel could never have pictured being friends. He is music obsessed and determined to always tell the truth. With Owen's help Annabel learns to just listen to her heart and gains the courage to speak honestly. Is this enough to tell everyone what really happened the night she and Sophie stopped being friends? Read Just Listen to find out!

This book was an amazing read. Sarah Dessen is an outstanding author and all of her books are wonderful! If I were to rate this book on a scale from 1-10 I would have to rate it an 8. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a great book. So get out there and read!

The Neverending Story

How would you like a story that never ended? Bastian Balthazar Bux had a passion for books and would love a story that didn't end. In this story, you join Bastian as he reads The Neverending Story in the attic of his school. Fantastica, the world inside the book, is in danger! The Nothing is spreading and the Childlike Empress is sick. A young boy named Atreyu is called upon to go on a quest to save Fantastic. Soon the answer is found. Only a human child can save Fantastica by giving the Childlike Empress a new name. Bastian becomes a part of the story and must partake on a quest of his own. It is a dangerous path, one he may never return from. You can become part of the neverending story too, if you dare to read it.

Many of you have probably seen the movie or a play. The book is just as thrilling, even without the special effects. It really does pull you in. I enjoyed it immensly and wouldn't mind re-reading it. I really recommend this book. I would rate it a 9 out of 10. This book is perfect for anyone who likes adventure mixed with suspense, magic, and even some humor.

*Note: I got a little mad and bored at the middle part of the end, but trust me, it's worth it to finish the book.

Millions and Billions of Books

For everyone out there wondering, this isn't a book review, it's pre- and post-book excitement. There are so many books that have come out recently and many more soon to come out, and I wanted to whet everyone's appetite by talking about them a little bit.

One book that has come out recently is Handle with Care, the latest addition to Jodi Picoult's abundance of captivating books. I am on the waiting list for it at the library, and I am so excited! Jodi Picoult has long been an author that digs up the dirt on all those unspeakable topics, and her writing is incredible. I advise everyone to check this book out, and I will make sure to let everyone know how it is after I've finished it!

 

Did everyone hear the exciting news about Fablehaven 4? Fablehaven: Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary came out on March 25th! I am waiting to read it bcause I want to read the first three Fablehaven books again before I pick up the fourth, but I am really looking forward to it! Go Kendra and Seth!

And then we can't forget Starclimber! The third book in the Airborn series, Starclimber   came out early this year. I absolutely LOVED it! All Kenneth Oppel fans, rejoice at this amazing sequel to Skybreaker. 

There are so many books that will be coming out this year... Along for the Ride, for one. This is Sarah Dessen's newest book, and it will be coming out on June 16, 2009! As an avid Sarah Dessen fan, I am very enthusiastic for her new book. Here is a video on it:

Yet another book to look forward to: Being Nikki by Meg Cabot. Being Nikki is the sequel to her cute and sweet Airhead, and it will be released in 16 days! (May 5, 2009!)

Eeek!

Last of all, of course there is Catching Fire, the eagerly awaited sequel to the intense and moving book by Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games. There is no set date for the release of this book, but we know it will come out sometime this year in September. I know I can speak for many others when I say we are all very, very excited for this book!

Anyhoo, I just wanted to let you all in on the book news! :) Please let me know if you have information any recently released or soon-to-be-released books! 

Bird By Bird

As many others, I have found that my love of reading has flourished into a want to write. I love putting my pen to the page and spinning a story from my imagination. However, as a young writer, my love of writing is not enough to get me published. I need skill, and for my skills to develop, I need guidance. 

It is not often that you find a book that is not only funny and inspirational, but also honest. By all means, Anne Lamott has created one! Beautifully written and amusing, Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life is a touching and honest book that gives good, raw advice to aspiring writers. 

From chapter to chapter, Lamott dishes out useful writing instruction and spices each with humorous anecdotes. She tells of how difficult it was to start writing, and each struggle she goes through to publish a new story. There are stories about her third grade lunchroom, her son, and her crazy friends. In Bird by Bird, there is a chapter entitled Broccoli and a chapter entitled Plot. Bird by Bird, although a slender book, is wonderfully broad in its content. 

I especially liked the honesty of this book. There are authors and books out there that may tell me that I will get published in an instant, but I'd rather hear the truth. Lamott describes how hard it is to get published, but why you should continue to write through the difficulty of it all. She explains that it is no easy feat to write an entire book, much less a book that will sell well. Her candor was both funny and truthful, an uncommon combination, and her writing style was fluid and well organized. 

I recommend this book for all young writers, and I would rate it a 9.9 on a 10-point scale. Although it is a nonfiction book, it is nonetheless captivating, and I stayed up terribly late to finish it! 

MAX

The 5th instalment in the Maximum Ride Series is here! Yet another adventure with Max and the Flock unfolds in this James Patterson page turner. Off the coast of Hawaii, millions of fish are dying, and the reason is unknown. Ships are also being destroyed by someone or something and it is up to the Flock to stop it.

Now, to be frank, when I heard this synopsis, I thought something along the lines of, "What?!?! That doesn't sound like something worthy of the title, Maximum Ride!" Patterson actually pulls it off, though. He mixes the right amount of adventure and mystery to create a good story. He also adds in a little bit of love, for those fans of Fax ('Fang and Max in love' for the newbies).

Anyway, the world is waiting to be saved and the Flock must step up to the challenge. There is an assassin watching their every move and plenty of bad guys trying to make their lives miserable. A certain Mr. Chu also has his own plans for the Flock. So this new book certainly puts the Flock's powers to the test, all of their powers, maybe even some new ones! I can't tell you any more without ruining it, so you'll have to read it yourself.

I would rate this book an 8.5 out of 10. I would recommend it to anyone of any age!

Shades

  About a month or two ago, my teacher recommended a book for me, entitled Shades. Honestly? I was a bit skeptical. But she told me to go ahead and savor the book... take my time. So I did. I read it very slowly, sometimes stopping in the middle to read another book. I savored it. Each passage, each breath of writing Ms. Poland created, was beautifully crafted. It wasn't so much that the plot shook me up-- it was the fascinating writing itself. 

  How the blood betrays, marching up the neck and across the cheeks and through the ears, announcing itself. Walter could feel the heat rising. Poised, they stood, Victor and he. Then Victor shuddered his way past, opened the door and was gone. The draught blew out the candle that stood on the table. The little grey tail of smoke hung suspended in the dark. -- Marguerite Poland, Shades

   

          How can you not love such writing? Perhaps it is not your favorite style, but her descriptions are so vivid, you cannot help but be entranced by them! I know I was. While reading the last half of the book, I was amazed at how much I loved it. In the beginning, you have to get used to her writing and her descriptions, but once you plow through and keep reading, you start to love her details. I would rate Shades an 8 out of 10.

   

Shades is about a young man, Walter, who travels to South Africa for a mission. He stays with the Farboroughs, a family of four. Walter feels an immediate attraction to Frances, the daughter, and their romance and emotion towards each other progresses throughout the book. Meanwhile, the book follows the lives of others, such as Crispin Farborough, the son; and Victor Farborogh, the heroic and brave cousin of Crispin and Frances. All those in the story struggle to find love and faith in difficult times of drought, famine, war, and loss of hope. 

Inspiring and sharp, Shades tells a story of passion, turbulence, and the clash of cultures: a story I will continue to be awed by.

Elsewhere

Ever wonder what is after death? In this novel, Lizzie finds out the hard way. She is like any 15-year-old girl, until she is hit by a taxi on her way to pick out a prom dress. Lizzie finds herself aboard a ship, the S.S. Nile. She soon discovers that she is dead, along with everyone else on the boat. The boat is taking her away from Earth to a place called Elsewhere. There, you age backwards from the day you arrive, which Liz finds unsettling and horrible. When she does arrive she meets her grandmother, Betty, who died even before Lizzie was born. Lizzie misses her family terribly and now she has to try to adjust to the ways of life in this foreign place.

I can't tell you any more without ruining the book for you. You'll have to read it yourself! I would rate it a 8.7 on a scale from 1 to 10. It was definitely worth my while. I recommend it to anyone who likes a novel with a bit of mystery, some love, and a whole new way of looking at the world!

The Series of Unfortunate Events

In sixth grade, I was completely obsessed with one series, and one series only. These book were The Series of Unfortunate Events. I scribbled things in notebooks about the Baudelaire's adventures; I read each book with excitement. I was absolutely devoted to Lemony Snicket and his books. I even threw a party with my best friend when the last of the series came out. Recently, I looked at my bookshelf and said to myself, Oh, goodness, I haven't thought of or read those books in a while! And so, I couldn't resist pulling the first one off the shelf and leafing through its pages. Then, Lemony Snicket being Lemony Snicket, I was hooked. Sure, the books are written for kids more around the 4th grade level, but I couldn't help myself. They were quick and fun reads, and the villain in the story was one of those villains everyone loves to hate. I am currently reading the 9th one, entitled The Carnivorous Carnival. 

The whole series is based around three children named Sunny, Klaus, and Violet Baudelaire.When misfortune befalls the three siblings, they are sent to their relative's house-- a frightening, atrocious, and intimidating relative named Count Olaf. As luck would have it, Count Olaf is pure evil. He does everything in his power to steal the Baudelaire fortune, which was left to the children after something terrible happens to their parents. Each book has a different plot in which Count Olaf attempts to steal the fortune, and the poor Baudelaire's continue to have bad luck heaped upon them. Even though this series is written for younger readers, I still love it because it is different from the typical story, in which everything ends happily ever after. I would rate the entire series a 8.5 in a 10-point scale. Snicket's ability to tie things up at the end and connect everything is admirable, and makes for an interesting read.

So if one day you are looking for a quick and easy book to read, pick up The Bad Beginning, which is the first in the series. And remember to ignore Lemony Snicket's advice to put the book right back down.

Nineteen Minutes

I just finished an incredible book by Jodi Picoult. It is called Nineteen Minutes.

When you think about it, you can do so many things in 19 minutes. In 19 minutes, Peter Houghton caused a catastrophe that would be remembered for a long time. 17-year-old Peter Houghton from Sterling, New Hampshire had been bullied and harassed since the first day of kindergarten. His best friend, Josie Cormier, abandoned him when she was accepted into the 'popular' group. One final incident finally causes him to go over the edge and commit a horrific act of violence.

Now everyone is getting involved and everything is getting confused. Judge Alex Cormier (Josie's mother) is the judge on the case. Josie can't remember anything about what happened to her in the school, or can she? Josie goes looking for a father she never knew. Many relationships change over the course of the story. Finally, everyone learns the shocking truth.

This novel is thrilling and completely pulls you in. I would rate it a 9.8 out of 10. I really enjoyed this book. It is very descriptive and makes you want to keep reading (in fact, I had trouble stopping). It is full of mystery, twist endings, suspense, love, tears, and murderer.

Jodi Picoult is a wonderful writer. Some of her other works include: My Sister's Keeper, The Pact, Change of Heart, The Tenth Circle, and many others.