Child of the Wolves (book review)

Child of the Wolves, by Elizabeth Hall, tells the story of the young husky pup, Granite. Rebellious from the start, Granite flees his home after a mysterious man attempts to "kidnap" him (he is in fact being sold to a dog-sledder, but he doesn't know this). Lost and alone in the forest, Granite nearly starves to death until he wanders into the territory of a wolf pack. The pack welcomes him, to some degree, but Granite can tell that if not for the female leader's kindness for him, they would shun him. He struggles to please the pack, but despite his eagerness to learn the ways of the wolf, the other wolves either bully or ignore him. It will take a disaster and the near-death of all the wolves for them to realize exactly how valuable Granite is to their pack.

This book was okay. The end was heartwarming, and overall the story was cute, but the plot was a little simplistic. It seemed that whenever Granite got into a bit of trouble, something magically occurred to get him out of it. For example, in one instance, an angry grizzly bear mother was about to maul him, when she suddenly veered off to chase something else. There is no explanation of this. Sure, it's a children's book, but it's marketed to older children, ages 10 and up. Surely they can handle a bit of suspense! I would, overall, recommend this for young animal lovers ages 7-10. I think they would really enjoy it. And I did like the fact that it was very scientifically accurate, providing young readers with information on the feeding habits, behavior, and lifestyle of wolves.

This book is for the What's in a Name Two Challenge.

Wolf Tower (book review)

Warning: This review may contain spoilers.

Wolf Tower, by Tanith Lee, is the story of sixteen-year-old Claidi, who, all her life, has served the spoiled royalty of the House, a sparkling oasis in the midst of the barren Waste (or so she has been taught). She never expects that her life could change until a handsome stranger, Nemian, arrives from the Waste. Claidi risks everything to rescue him, leaveing behind the only life she has known and accompanying him to his city ruled over by the mysterious Wolf Tower. Together they journey across barren deserts, through toxic jungles, across vast rivers, and all the while Claidi begins to think she could come to love Nemian..until they reach the Wolf Tower, and an unexpected betrayal leaves her trapped and confused. Will her real Prince Charming come and rescue her? Or will she be stuck here forever?

This was a great book. Claidi was a likeable heroine, and I enjoyed reading about her journeys across the "Waste". The plot had a twist at the end that I would never have suspected!

This book is for the What's in a Name Challenge 2.

Breaking Dawn (book review)

*The following review contains SPOILERS.*

Breaking Dawn, the final book in the famous Twilight saga by Stephenie Meyer, chronicles the story of Bella, and of her werewolf friend, Jacob. Bella and her husband Edward, a vampire, sail away to a remote island to spend their honeymoon, but their time there is cut short when it is revealed that Bella is pregnant. Neither Edward nor anyone in his family has seen anything like the creature growing in Bella's stomach--half-human, half-vampire. Its heart beats, but it thirsts for blood.

Jacob is alarmed and disgusted by Bella's unborn child--and so is his pack. The alpha wolf, Sam, plans a surprise attack on Edward's family, bent on destroying the baby--as well as Bella. Jacob, along with two loyal companions, rushes to warn the vampires, thwarting the werewolves' ambush and forcing him to break his bond with the pack--for good. But it becomes clearer and clearer that if the baby survives, Bella will die. This forces Edward to make the ultimate decision--a decision that will change the lives of everyone, vampire and werewolf alike, forever, and a decision that will awaken the wrath of the Volturi, the most powerful vampire family in the world.

I thought this was a great end to the series. I know some people thought it was disappointing, but I enjoyed it right down to the very last word. I'm very sad that this series is over, and I'm sure I'll be rereading these books in the future!

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

This book is for the What's In A Name 2 Challenge.

Gods and Generals (book review)

Gods and Generals, by Jeff Shaara, is a prequel of sorts to The Killer Angels. Although it is a fiction book, the historical information is factual. It delves into the lives of famous Civil War leaders such as Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, Winfield Scott Hancock, and Joshua Chamberlain. Although there are many Civil War books that describe these characters in detail, none are like Gods and Generals...within the pages of this book, these men come alive.

In this book, Jeff Shaara studies the lives of the men in a time range beginning in 1858 and ending in June of 1863. The Killer Angels, his father's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, picks up right where Gods and Generals left off (though they were written in reverse). The battles in these pages--Williamsburg, Second Manassas, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville--seem vividly real. The reader is present, breathing in the smoke and hearing the sounds of dying men on the battlefield. This was overall a great book, and it made me eager to reread The Killer Angels .

I give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars.

This book was for the What's In A Name 2 Challenge.

Nod's Limbs (book review)

Nod's Limbs, by Charles Ogden is one of several books about two mischievous twins named Edgar and Ellen. They wear old, ratty footie pajamas and live in a gothic tower on the edge of the forest. And they're always pranking the innocent citizens of their town. When the will of Augustus Nod, founder of the town, is discovered behind a painting, it gives the townspeople six difficult riddles to solve. Whoever solves the riddles will discover the location of Nod's golden limbs (his golden statue's limbs, that is, not his REAL limbs). Suddenly the normally peaceful townspeople have gone mad with gold fever! Edgar and Ellen are determined to have the limbs for themselves, but in their quest to get rich, they end up unearthing something MUCH more important.

I enjoyed this book fairly well. It was cute, and it provided plenty of laughs. Although at times I felt as if it was just a little bit too outlandish, over all it was pretty good. It was a very quick read, which is nice sometimes. I give this book 3 out of 5 stars, as you'll see if you check my "Books I've Read In 2009" list.

This book is for my What's In A Name Challenge as well as for the 999 Challenge, in my "Books Borrowed from Gray" category.

Getting Ready for What's In A Name 2

Yep, there's going to be a What's In A Name II! To learn more about it, click here. I hope you'll join me! Anyway, here's my list of possibilities:

Buildings:

The House of Dies Drear by Virginia Hamilton

The Mystery of the Biltmore House by Carole Marsh

The Ravenmaster's Secret: Escape from the Tower of London by Elvira Woodruff

Time of Day:

Good Night, Maman by Norma Fox Mazer

The Night of Wishes by Michael Ende

Body Part:

Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause

Medical Condition:

The Plague by Philip Wooderson

Relatives:

The Children of Hurin by JRR Tolkein

Profession:

Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card

The Empress's Tomb by Kirsten Miller

Witch's Business by Diana Wynne Jones

The Printer's Devil by Paul Bajoria

The Purple Emperor by Herbie Brennan

The World of King Arthur and his Court by Kevin Crossley-Holland