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!

Blue Heron

BLUE HERON, by Avi, was a heart-warming book filled with magic, love, and family. I enjoyed the experience of reading it, and would rate it a 7.5 on a scale from 1 to 10. It portrayed real life problems, which I liked, and was very down-to-earth.

 

Maggie has always believed in magic. Especially now, on her vacation with her father, step-mother, and baby step-sister. Staying in a cozy, small town called Sawdy pond, where wildlife thrives enthrallingly, Maggie has no reason to doubt that magic exists.

 

When Maggie spots a magical bird out on the swamp of Sawdy Pond, she immediately feels attached to it, and she resolves to study it and learn as much about it as she can. Later, she finds out it is called a Blue Heron. And thus starts the long days of watching and waiting for the Heron to find her. Maggie is convinced that there is a way to make the bird trust her, and she is determined to do whatever she can to accomplish this feat. But this is harder than it seems. Maggie must find a way to help the bird, and the bird must learn to have faith in Maggie.

 

But Maggie's trip to Sawdy Pond turns out to be more than just relaxing, enchanting experiences of watching the Blue Heron. It just so happens that Maggie must find a way to help her father, too, who is sick with heart problems. Maggie must overcome the problems that Sawdy Pond face her with, while still finding a way to trust others, and, most importantly, have trust in magical miracles. 

If I could change one thing about this book, I would like to change the ending. As a reader, I would have liked to learn a little bit more about what happens to Maggie. Overall, this was a good read.