Even Angels Fall (book review)

Even Angels Fall, by Sherry Mauro, is the thrilling story of sixteen-year-old Sabrina Devour. Sabrina is no normal teenage girl; she has the ability to see the dead and help them cross over. Upon returning to claim his family's estate after many years away, handsome Hunter Ravenwood begins to show interest in Sabrina. Sabrina is happy as their relationship blossoms, but she becomes unnerved by Hunter's enormous mansion, Rambling Rose. She feels as if something is in there, watching her. It's almost like the house is alive. Rumors claim that Rambling Rose sits on a Sheol, a gateway to Hell, and Sabrina can't help but believe it. She soon realizes that, like many families, the Ravenwoods have their own dark secrets. And as she tries to help the ghost of a mysterious woman whose past is tied in with that of Sabrina's own family, she discovers just how dangerous those secrets may be.

Even Angels Fall was exciting, engaging, and all-around fun to read. I found it nearly impossible to put down. Sabrina was witty and likable, if a bit dreamy, and the book had all the hooks of a good Gothic romance. I would certainly recommend it to anyone who is a fan of the genre.

*NOTE: As of 11/01/2009 the author offers a FREE PDF version to anyone who is interested in reading this book or others in the series. Just contact her with your email addy at her blog: http://sherryhallmauro.blogspot.com/

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.

Random Reading Challenge

I am joining the Random Reading Challenge, hosted by Caribou's Mom. I'm joining at Level Three, which means I have to read twelve books. It runs from August 1st, 2009 to July 31, 2010. This is a great one for me because I always have trouble picking what books to read!

A Mango-Shaped Space (book review)

A Mango-Shaped Space, by Wendy Mass, is the story of a girl with a rare condition struggling to fit in. Thirteen-year-old Mia appears to be the most normal child in her family--after all, her brother keeps a chart of all the hamburgers he's ever eaten, and her sister dies her hair as often as she changes clothes. But Mia knows that she is anything but normal. Letters, numbers and sounds have colors for her. D is a pinkish purple, for example, and slamming the door causes her to see brown rings floating in the air. Difficulty at school forces her to reveal her secret, and now she feels like a freak. It will only be when Mia loses something incredibly special that she realizes just how much her colors mean to her.

This was an incredibly moving book. It was sad, humorous, and heartwarming all at different times. It was a great book for people of all ages. The heroine is someone whom people can relate to as she struggles with school problems, crushes, and the loss of a loved one.

Warriors (book review)

Warning: This review may contain spoilers.

This is a book review of the first mini-series in the Warriors saga by Erin Hunter. The series starts when the main character, then a house cat named Rusty, journeys into the forest behind his house for the first time. There he meets a forest cat named Graypaw, who tells him about life in ThunderClan, a group of feral cats living in the woods. Soon Rusty is faced with the biggest decision of his life...should he join ThunderClan and leave behind his soft life or stay with his "Twolegs" (the cats' word for humans)? When he decides to head into the forest, his life is changed forever. But clan life is not easy. There are three other clans in the forest--WindClan, ShadowClan, and RiverClan, and they often fight one another. Now known as Firepaw, he must handle his new duties as a warrior apprentice, a mysterious prophecy from StarClan (the "heaven" of the cat world, where good warriors go after their death), and the gnawing suspicion that ThunderClan is housing a murderous traitor...

In the next book, Bluestar, ThunderClan's leader, sends Fireheart and Graystripe (now full warriors with their own warrior names) well beyond the boundaries of the forest to retrieve WindClan, who has been driven out by ShadowClan's murderous leader, Brokenstar. The journey will be long and hard, and it will test the skills of both cats to the end. Fireheart must also deal with the evidence that one of the most trusted cats in ThunderClan is a traitor, and the fact that Graystripe is having an illegal romance with a she-cat from RiverClan, a romance which puts both cats in incredible danger.

In the third book, Fireheart decides he must uncover the truth. Is ThunderClan deputy Tigerclaw a murderer or not? While digging for clues, he discovers another fact, something quite unexpected...many years ago, two ThunderClan kits vanished without a trace. But two cats in RiverClan also have ThunderClan blood. Could these be the two missing kits? And if so, who is their mother?

By the time that the next book starts, murderous Tigerclaw has been exiled from ThunderClan...but Fireheart can't shake the feeling that he's lurking in the forest somewhere, waiting to strike. Meanwhile, Bluestar has not dealt well with Tigerclaw's treachery. She has become a shell of her former self, and Fireheart, now the new deputy, feels as if he is the one running the clan. And as ThunderClan struggles to deal with the aftermath of a raging forest fire that took three cats' lives, Fireheart begins to wonder if he can really handle the pressure of his new job.

The fifth is the most chilling book yet. Cinderpelt, ThunderClan's medicine cat, tells Fireheart of a warning she was given by StarClan of a dangerous new enemy, and a dream in which she heard the words, "Pack, pack," and "kill, kill". A mysterious force is sweeping through the forest, leaving death and destruction in its wake. Fireheart is not sure what it is, but he has a feeling that Tigerstar, now leader of ShadowClan, has something to do with it. But what can he do about it when ThunderClan's leader has begun to lose her mind and has decided to wage war on StarClan itself?

In the final book of the mini-series, Fireheart, or Firestar now, has become leader of ThunderClan after Bluestar gave her life to save the Clan from the mysterious threat lurking in the last book. But Fireheart must deal with an even bigger problem as Tigerstar brings another threat into the forest, and every cat must prepare themselves for the final battle, where the clans will fight side by side, heroes will be made, and one brave cat's destiny will be fulfilled.


These were some truly excellent books. I would recommend them to fans of animal fantasy or cat books. Although they are violent, they are recommended for 8-12 year olds, and are quite appropriate for children. Erin Hunter brought the cats to life and personified them in a unique way. It is sometimes easy to forget that they are cats at all!

Wildwood Dancing (book review)

Wildwood Dancing, by Juliet Marillier, is a fantasy story based on the fairy tale of the twelve dancing princesses. The story is told from the point of view of one of five sisters. Her name is Jenica, or Jena for short. A little, enchanted frog named Gogu, who can speak to Jena, is her constant companion. They live in a castle called Piscul Dracului, deep in the Transylvanian forests, and each Full Moon the five sisters open an enchanted portal and are whisked away to the Other Kingdom, an enchanted world filled with faeries, elves, and other fantasy creatures. However, Jena's world is quickly turned upside down as her father is sent away to a warmer climate to improve his ill-health, and their tyrannical cousin Cezar takes his place as head of the household. To make things worse, Night People, aka vampires, have arrived in the Other Kingdom, and Jena's older sister Tatiana has fallen in love with one of them. But is the mysterious, mournful Sorrow really a vampire? Or is he, as Tatiana claims, one of their slaves? Jena is deeply afraid for her sister. But as it becomes more and more clear that Tatiana may be willing to give up her humanity to live with Sorrow forever, and that despotic Cezar will never give up his grip on Pascul Dracului, and on the five sisters, Jena begins to realize that she must make a choice--or risk giving up everything that is dear to her.

This book was wonderful! I absolutely loved it! It combined true love, enchantment, fantastical journeys, wicked villains, and the strong bonds of sisterhood into a perfect plot. This book was nearly impossible to put down. An amazing read!

Ghostly Encounters (book review)

Ghostly Encounters, by Frances Kermeen, is a book about the haunted inns and hotels of America. Starting with what has been called the most haunted house in America, the Myrtles Plantation, the author brings us on a journey across the U.S., from California to Maine. Read about ghostly bears, stallions, and cats. Encounter evil dolls, floating candles, and lovers reunited after death. These stories are fascinating and will keep you up all night! There was a nice range of stories in this book. Some were scary, some were bittersweet, and some were funny. At the end of each story, Ms. Kermeen also provides detailed information about the hotel, including contact info, dining info, and the best rooms to check into if you want to have a ghostly encounter.

Saving Zoe (book review)

Saving Zoe, by Alyson Noel, is a moving story of sisterhood, secrets, and coming of age. Fifteen-year-old Echo is still struggling with the brutal murder of her older sister, Zoe. She misses her dearly, but also feels that she will never live up to her memory. Then, Zoe's former boyfriend Marc gives Echo Zoe's diary. At first she doesn't want it, convinced that she knows her sister like no one else does. But when her own life starts to take some unexpected turns, Echo begins reading. In the pages of her sister's diary, Echo finds a Zoe that nobody knew, not even her parents. But she also learns that one of her friends is in trouble from one of the same people who hurt Zoe. Can Echo save her friend, herself...and her sister?

I really enjoyed this book! It was reminiscent of Thirteen Reasons Why, and I would recommend it to fans of that novel. The plot moved so fast and the book was hard to put down. It kept me up way into the night. However, I should probably say here that this book is NOT for younger readers.

May Bird: Warrior Princess (book review)

May Bird: Warrior Princess, by Jodi Lynn Anderson, is the final installment in the May Bird trilogy. It has been three years since ten-year-old May Bird wandered into the land of the dead, a magical place called the Ever After. It was claimed that May and her cat, Somber Kitty, were the only ones who could save the Ever After from certain doom. But, when May found a chance to escape the Ever After and return home, she took it, leaving her friends behind. Now, at thirteen, May is ready to return to the afterlife. But she gets her wish in a most unexpected way...she dies. And the Ever After now is not what it once was. It has been turned into a vast wasteland ruled by the evil spirit Bo Cleevil. Can May find her friends and finally become the warrior princess she was always destined to be?

I think this was probably the best of all three books in the series, even though they were all great. The characters were interesting and dynamic, and the book was just the right mix of fantasy, horror, and humor.

Coraline Graphic Novel (book review)

Coraline, by Neil Gaiman and P. Craig Russell, is the graphic adaption of Gaiman's bestselling children's novel. It is based on the book, not the movie. In the story, Coraline is exploring her flat one day when she discovers a door that leads her on a journey to a magical world quite like her own, but better. Except for the fact that there is an other mother and an other father there, with buttons instead of eyes, and they want to sew buttons into her eyes and make her stay with them forever. Coraline will have to use everything she's got if she wants to outwit them and return to her own world.


I really enjoyed this book. The pictures were beautiful, and they really added new life to the story. However, I would recommend reading the original novel before reading this book.

This book was for the Once Upon A Time Challenge III.

The Other Side of the Island (book review)

The Other Side of the Island, by Allegra Goodman, is a haunting vision of the future. Global warming has resulted in an enormous flood, and the only places left are small, isolated islands called Colonies. A mysterious figure named Earth Mother and her Corporation control all of these colonies. Everyone obeys the laws of Earth Mother, and no one questions the life that has been set up for them. But Honor knows her parents are different. They own books, they don't worship Earth Mother, and they stay out past curfew. Honor doesn't know what happens to those who don't obey Earth Mother, but she's sure its not good. And one day, when she returns home and her parents are gone, she must take care of herself and her brother Quintillian all alone. She knows she can't do this for long--she's got to find out the secret of Earth Mother--and get her parents back.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a frightening vision of what life might be like years from now. I always wanted to read more; it was so interesting. Honor was a well-rounded, dynamic heroine whom I felt I could relate to.

The Secret Life of Bees (book review)

The Secret Life of Bees, by Sue Monk Kidd, is a heartwarming story about the importance of family. Set in South Carolina in 1964, the story revolves around 14-year-old heroine Lily's search for a mother. After a tragic accident killed her real mom when she was four, Lily has been taken care of by her cruel and unloving father, T. Ray, and his fiery-hearted black servant, Rosaleen. When Rosaleen insults three of their small town's biggest racists and lands herself in jail, Lily decides to set them both free. After she breaks Rosaleen out of jail, they run away to Tiburon, S.C., a town that holds the secret of Lily's mother. They are taken in by three black beekeeping sisters, and as Lily is introduced to their strange world of honey and bees, she realizes that she has discovered a family in a place that she would never have dreamed.

I really loved this book! It was funny at times and sad at others, but the whole book was incredibly interesting. I never wanted to put it down. I would recommend this book to anyone, really. It was written in beautiful prose that would grab anybody, even a reluctant reader.

Julie's Wolf Pack (book review)

I know I haven't written a book review for the last few books I've read, so I decided to write one for this book. It is the sequel to the bestselling book Julie of the Wolves. In the story, we follow a wolf pack in the Alaskan tundra through their daily life. The leader of the pack, Kapu, keeps the pack together, despite frequent challenges from an annoying wanna-be, Raw Bones. They face hardships and celebrate the birth of new pups. Although they lose many pups to the tundra, some grow and survive to become future hunters. The first big change comes when a newcomer, Ice Blink, joins the pack. Although none of the wolves know it, Ice Blink harbors the rabies virus. After her pack was destroyed by an epidemic, she moved on. Luckily, the virus is contained and none of the wolves (except for Ice Blink) die. But when Kapu suddenly disappears near the end of the book, his daughter Sweet Fur Amy must take the stage. Can she handle being the new alpha? And will Kapu return?

This was a great book for any wolf lover to read. It was written in beautiful but easy to read prose, and I thought it was interesting to look into the life of a wolf pack.

Lord of the Flies (book review)

Lord of the Flies, by William Golding, is the story of a group of schoolboys who are the only survivors of a plane crash. Stranded on a remote island, they decide that they must build a large fire so that they can be rescued. By day they frolic on golden beaches and swim in sparkling waters. But at night they dream of a hideous beast roaming the island. Soon, their fear brings out the worst in them and they begin to act like savage animals. More than one boy will be killed before they are rescued...

Okay, I apologize. I know this is really oversimplified, but I just didn't want to give anything away.

I really enjoyed this book. It was definitely creepy and not for the fainthearted, but it always had plenty of action and was never boring. I'd recommend it to almost anybody, but especially fans of the Island and Flight 29 Down series, because this book is reminiscent of those, but a bit more brutal.

Jane Eyre (book review)

Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte, is a classic story of love and sacrifice. Jane, the main character, narrates the story. It begins when she is ten years old, living at her cruel Aunt Reed's house. Being an orphan, Jane has nowhere else to go. Two of her cousins, Eliza and Georgiana, treat her coldly, and their brother, John, is an outright bully. Jane suffers along until her aunt decides to send her to Lowood Institute, a school for orphaned children. She makes various friends and spends a total of eight years at the school--six as a student and two as a teacher. But finally Jane realizes she is not content and posts an ad in the paper looking for a job. She finds one as a governess for a little French girl at stately Thornfield Hall. However, something mysterious is going on there...could it be haunted by a ghost or something even more gruesome? The secret is finally revealed when Jane is about to be married to the master of Thornfield Hall, Mr. Rochester, and it prevents the two from getting married. Brokenhearted and wanting to avoid temptation, Jane sets off on her own, wandering for several days until she comes to a house inhabited by the Rivers family. The head of the house, St. John Rivers, offers Jane a position as schoolmistress for some poor village girls. She accepts the job, but soon after she starts she finds that she has been left with a huge inheritance by her uncle. Splitting it with the Rivers, she moves in with them again. However, something deep within her finally calls her back to Thornfield, and, telling her newfound family she is going on a short trip, she heads back, only to find that it has burned down at that Mr. Rochester, blind and crippled from the fire, has moved somewhere else. She tracks him down and finds that he still loves her like she loves him, and, freed from the obstacle that stopped them before, they marry.


I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was going to be kind of dry and hard to read, but that wasn't the case at all. I don't think there was a single boring part of this book, but the least interesting part was Jane's time at Lowood. I guess I think that because not much happened there, at least not compared to other parts of the book. The characters were dynamic and complex, and I felt like they were real people who could step off the page if they wanted to. I think fans of classics would really love this book, but even if you're not really into classics, I still think you might want to give it a try.

Thank You, Carl!

For my birthday this year, Carl sent me some wonderful gifts: a book called Tales from Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan, a beautiful blank book from Paperblanks with a copy of one of my poems in the front, and two beautiful postcards by Anne-Julie Aubry (one of my favorite artists!). Wasn't that really nice of him?!! I've started writing in the journal, but I haven't read the book yet. It sounds very good, though, and I can't wait to get to it! Thank you so much, Carl!!! I will be sending you a Thank-you card soon!

All Shook Up (book review)

All Shook Up, by Glenn Altschuler, is a nonfiction book chronicling the story of rock n roll through the lives of famous rock n rollers, critics of the music, and teenage fans. It discusses rock n roll's connections with race, sexuality, and the generation gap. This book gives an in-depth look at the people who were responsible for the rise of rock n roll, which was anything but an ordinary style of music at the time.

If you want an in-depth but easy-to-read approach to rock n roll, this is the book for you! I never tired of the topics that the author brought up, and I learned a lot about the conflicts facing America during the time of big rock n roll stars such as Elvis Presley. This was truly a fascinating book!

Warriors: Sunrise (book review)

Warriors: Sunrise, by Erin Hunter, is the final installment in Warriors: Power of Three. In this book, the three young warrior cats Hollyleaf, Jayfeather, and Lionblaze will discover a shocking secret that they were never meant to know. Their very existence goes against every rule of the warrior code, and eventually the secret about their true identity will have to come out. But when it does, another cat's life will be lost and the clans will be thrown into chaos.

Meanwhile, Lionblaze and Hollyleaf must embark on a dangerous journey to find the strange loner Sol. Can he offer them advice in this time of darkness? But Sol has wicked plans in his mind, and he is willing to manipulate Thunderclan in order to carry them out.


I really enjoyed this book! I thought it was the best in the series, and it definitely had a shocking ending that I never would have expected. All fans of the Warriors series should read this book!

I am using this book for the Once Upon A Time Challenge III.

Fablehaven: Grip of the Shadow Plague (book review)

Fablehaven: Grip of the Shadow Plague, the third installment in the renowned Fablehaven series by Brandon Mull, is a fantasy story filled with danger, excitement, and adventure. Fablehaven is one of five magical preserves, the last places on Earth where magical creatures can gather in safety. Fourteen-year-old Kendra and twelve-year-old Seth are staying with their grandparents, the caretakers, for the summer. For a while it seems that all is well, until Seth discovers a magical plague that turns good creatures into creatures of darkness. The plague is spreading faster than anyone can imagine, and it is doubtful that the plague can be stopped. Will Fablehaven have to be abandoned for good?

Meanwhile, Kendra and her friends are journeying deep into the heart of another magical preserve located in Arizona in order to recover a mystical artifact. It is a dangerous place, filled with dragons, zombies, and ancient Native American spirits, and not everyone will make it out alive...


I loved this book! I thought it was by far the best in the series. They just keep getting better! There was a wide and varied cast of characters and the plot was full of twists and turns. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone out there looking for a unique twist on fantasy.

I am using this book for the Once Upon A Time Challenge III.

3 New Book Reviews

#1: The Ruby Key, by Holly Lisle, is the story of young villagers Genna and Dan, who must bargain with the frightening lord of the nightlings (like fairies) in order to save their people from the corrupt village chieftain. Soon, Genna and Dan find themselves, along with a nightling slave and a talking cat, on a dangerous quest to find the long-lost nightling prince and overthrow both the village leader and the nightling lord.

I loved this book! It was a totally unique new take on fantasy, and I never got tired of reading it. The characters were complex and interesting, and the societies of the villagers and the nightlings were fascinating. I'd recommend this to any fantasy fan!

This book was for the Once Upon A Time Challenge.

#2: Skim, by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki, is the story of a sixteen-year-old girl who is forced to deal with complicated and confusing issues like suicide and depression, as well as friendship problems and betrayal. It was very interesting to watch Skim's life evolve throughout the course of the book, and I never wanted to put it down! I'd recommend this to any graphic novel fan!

#3: Rainy, by Sis Deans, is about a ten-year-old girl learning to live with ADHD. Rainy is sad when her parents send her to summer camp. She won't see her parents, her sister, or her beloved dog Max for a whole month! But soon she makes friends who will tolerate her extreme energy, and decides that maybe camp is not so bad. But when tragedy strikes her family and Rainy can no longer control the thoughts bouncing around in her head, she undertakes a dangerous journey, one that may change her life forever.

I loved this book. It was engaging, interesting, and very emotional. It was funny at times and sad at others. I enjoyed it to the very end.

Read-a-thon post 10

Pages read: 49

Total pages read: 716

Time: 40 min.

Currently Reading: Fablehaven: Grip of the Shadow Plague by Brandon Mull

Books Finished: The Ruby Key, Skim, Rainy

Read-a-thon Post 9

Pages read: 103

Total pages read: 667

Time: 1 hr. 20 min.

Currently reading: Rainy

Books Finished: The Ruby Key, Skim

Read-a-thon Post 8

Pages read: 142

Total pages read: 564

Time: 50 min.

Currently Reading: Rainy by Sis Deans

Books Finished: The Ruby Key, Skim

Read-a-thon post 7

Pages read: 159

Total pages read: 422

Time: 2 hours

Currently Reading: Skim by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki

Books Finished: The Ruby Key

Read-a-thon post 6

Pages read: 38

Total Pages Read: 263

Time: 1 hr. 30 min.

Currently Reading: The Ruby Key

Books Finished: none

Read-a-thon post 5

Pages read: 30

Total pages read: 225

Time: 1 hr. 5 min.

Currently reading: The Ruby Key

Books finished: none

Read-a-thon post 4

Pages read: 60

Total pages read: 197

Time: 1 hr. 30 min.

Currently Reading: The Ruby Key

Books Finished: none

Read-a-thon post 3

pages read: 42

total pages read: 137

time: 1 hr. 30 min.

now reading: The Ruby Key

books finished: none

Read-a-thon post 2

pages read: 33

total pages read: 95

now reading: The Ruby Key by Holly Lisle

time: 1 hr. 40 min.

books finished: none :)

Read-a-thon post 1

Pages read: 62

Total pages read: 62

Time: 110 min.

Currently reading: The Ruby Key by Holly Lisle

Books finished: None

I started by reading Marked, but I didn't really enjoy it so I switched to this book!

Wrap-up to Read-a-thon list

Hi everybody! I'm now going to announce my final read-a-thon list. The numbers in bold will be the ones that you've chosen.

1. Wolf-Speaker by Tamora Pierce.

2. Wolf Trails by Nik Sawe.

3. The Captain's Dog: My Journey with the Lewis and Clark Tribe by Roland Smith.

4. Monkey Town: The Summer of the Scopes Trial by Ronald Kidd.

5. Faeries' Landing Volume 1 by You Hyun

6. Freaky Green Eyes by Joyce Carol Oates.

7. Zodiac P.I. Volume 2 by Natsumi Ando

8. The Mystery of the Biltmore House by Carole Marsh

9. Sea Princess Azuri Volume 1 by Erica Reiss

10. The Ruby Key by Holly Lisle

11. Moonlight by Rachel Hawthorne

12. Marked by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

13. Tokyo Mew Mew A La Mode Volume 1 by Mia Ikumi

14. The Pack by Tom Pow

15. Rainy by Sis Deans

16. The Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen

17. Fablehaven: Grip of the Shadow Plague by Brandon Mull

18. Pendragon: The Quillan Games by D.J. MacHale

19. The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling

20. Little (Grrl) Lost by Charles De Lint

Read-a-thon list

Hi everyone! As you probably know, it's only a week until the next read-a-thon. I'm going to do what I did last year to help me weed the list down. I'll post the first sentence from each book (and if it's a graphic novel, the first sentence on the back cover), and you choose the ones that you think sound most interesting. Even if you know what book the sentence comes from, judge only from the sentence!!! Ready?

1. The wolves of the Long Lake Pack, gorged on a careless mountain sheep, slept as they digested their meal.

2. The sunlight, for a brief moment, seemed to flare upon the meadow, casting an orange glow about the pale brown grasses.

3. John Colter gallops into camp, jumps off his horse, and shouts, "Seaman? Good Lord! Is that really you? We thought you were dead!"

4. In my house the early bird didn't get the worm.

5. Welcome to Faeries' Landing, a place where the real world and the Faerie realm collide.

6. Later, I would think of it as crossing over.

7. What's your sign?

8. Stacy Brown dealt the cards into the sloppy stacks in the back seat of the red station wagon.

9. Azuri is the mermaid princess and the only royal heir of the Orcans, a race of whale-mer-people that lives in a magical environment deep within the ocean.

10. The sun slid down towards the tops of the trees.

11. Moonlight washed over us, washed over Lucas and me.

12. Just when I thought my day couldn't get any worse I saw the dead guy standing next to my locker.

13. The cats are back, and a new Mew is about to emerge!

14. The engine screamed as the driver, both hands round the gear stick, forced the transport truck up into third.

15. The main building at Camp Megunticook was called Penobscot Lodge.

16. "I'm tired of remembering," Hannah said to her mother as she climbed into the car.

17. On a muggy August day, Seth hurried along a faint path, eyes scanning the lush foliage to his left.

18. I like to play games.

19. There was once a kindly old wizard who used his magic generously and wisely for the benefit of his neighbors.

20. SCRITCH, SCRITCH, SCRITCH.

That's all! Have fun choosing!

Zodiac P.I. Book #1 (book review)

Zodiac P.I. Book #1, by Natsumi Ando, is the story of thirteen-year-old Lili Hoshizawa, who's not just any other girl. She's a talented astrologer who uses her knowledge of the stars to solve crimes as the mysterious Spica P.I. When a fellow classmate is murdered, Lili suspects one of her own teachers is the culprit. Can she solve this challenging case or will she become the next victim? Then, Lili must go undercover as a piano student in order to investigate a haunted music school.

This was a great book! It was quick and engaging, and I never wanted to put it down! Lili was a complex and interesting character. I'd recommend this book to anybody who enjoys reading manga or detective stories.

This book was for the Graphic Novel Challenge '09.

Two Book Reviews

First, I read Evolution, Me, & Other Freaks of Nature by Robin Brande. It is the story of how one girl tried to reconcile her belief in both religion and science.

Life sucks for Mena Reece. She's been kicked out of her church group and everyone in it hates her, including her parents. Her first day of high school is filled with dirty glares and hard shoves. She doesn't think life will ever get better until she meets her lab partner, Casey. He's pretty funny--and cute--for the smartest guy ever. When the unit on evolution begins, Mena's life gets even wilder as she struggles to deal with her belief in God and science.

I loved this book! It was filled with twists and turns, and I never got bored of reading it. I'd recommend it to anybody interested in realistic fiction or the controversy between evolutionists and creationists.

This book was for the Spring Reading Thing 09 Challenge.


The second review is of When My Name was Keoko, by Linda Sue Park. It is the story of one Korean family during World War II. During the war, the Japanese occupied Korea. The native Koreans lost everything: their possessions, their food, even their own names. Ten-year-old Sun-Hee and her older brother, Tae-yul, are furious when they are forced to take Japanese names. But what can they do? If they disobey the Japanese, their family will be severely punished. When they discover that their beloved uncle, who is a part of the Korean resistance, has been forced into hiding, their lives are torn apart even more. And when Tae-yul, knowing that the families of soldiers are given special benefits, decides to join the Japanese army as a kamikaze, Sun-hee doesn't know what to think. Will her beloved brother ever return?

I loved this book!!! It was very moving and very emotional--happy at times, sad at others. I think this will be a story that stays with me forever, and I can't say that about many books.

This book was for the Spring Reading Thing 09 Challenge and the World War II Challenge.

Teen Book Festival

On Saturday, I went to the Teen Book Festival, or TBF, with my friend Cece. There were many famous authors there, including Linda Sue Park and Michael Buckley. I had four books signed: Story of a Girl by Sara Zarr, Evolution, Me, & Other Freaks of Nature by Robin Brande, Dramacon Volume 1 by Svetlana Chmakova, and When My Name Was Keoko by Linda Sue Park. I had so much fun there!!!!!!

Story of a Girl (book review)

Story of a Girl, by Sara Zarr, is the tale of sixteen-year-old Deanna Lambert, who, three years ago, made a huge mistake that she's never been able to forget. Her father caught her in the back of Tommy Webber's Buick. Tommy was seventeen, her older brother Darren's supposed friend, and Deanna wasn't even sure she liked him. Even now, she is still struggling to overcome the role of "school slut" and get people to see her for who she really is. She is not who the rumors portray her as, but how can she get everyone else to realize that? So much drama is going on in her life right now, and Deanna soon finds that everything can change in one summer...

I loved this book! It was the second book I read by this author, and I enjoyed it just as much as (maybe even better than) Sweethearts! The language was beautiful, and it flowed very smoothly. The characters were very realistic; I felt like they could walk out of the book and tap me on the shoulder at any time.

This book is for the Spring Reading Thing Challenge '09.

Three Poems

Here are three poems I wrote yesterday:

The Forest Sleeps

In the heat of midday
when the chirping of cicadas
drones on and on
and the field, ripe with golden wheat
shimmers with heat waves
the forest sleeps.

But when the sun sinks slowly out of the sky
and the doleful call of the mourning dove rises and fades,
rises and fades
and the crickets play sweet music
for all to hear
and the deer frolic under the trees'
bent boughs,
and the willow
sways calmly in the gentle breeze
it is filled with life.

And in the early morning light
the crickets stop their song
and the deer recede back into
the thickets
and the chickadees chirp for joy
because a new day has begun.


Murder in the Palace

Gilded crimson
velvety cloak
flutters slowly to the ground.

Blood, red as the fabric itself,
pools on the floor.

The assassin, with his
knife
clenched between his teeth,
slips quietly out
the window
just as
the royal guards
come rushing into
the queen's chambers.


Starwalkers

There are three
who walk
the endless path of the stars
on icy nights when the cold
freezes off the toes
of the homeless man,
on sultry nights,
when couples
sit on their porches
and gaze out into the heavens,
and on rainy nights,
when the stray dog
shelters under a soggy cardboard box.

First, there is the girl,
young though she may seem,
her eyes show wisdom
beyond her years
and her feet are worn from treading paths
even the oldest man on Earth
has yet to touch.

Second, there is the cat,
wild though it may seem,
its breath is the wind,
wild, fierce, and free
and the ground upon which it walks
glows with silvery molten light.

Third, there is the elder,
old though he may seem,
his cane
is the trunk
of the tallest redwood tree
and his cloak
is the wing
of the prettiest
nightingale.

Together,
the girl, Time,
and the cat, Earth,
and the elder, Life
maintain the intricate balance
of the world as we know it.

When they finally
fade away
into the distance
and the earth
slows
and the life
withers
and the time
stops

Yay!!! Once Upon A Time 3!!!!

I am SOOOOOOOOOOO excited for the Once Upon A Time III Challenge!!!!!!!!! I chose Quest The First, which means you have to read five books that fall under the category of fantasy, myth, folklore, or fairy tales.





Here is my pool of books to choose from:

The Forest in the Hallway by Gordon Smith

Stoneheart by Charlie Fletcher

Seekers: The Quest Begins by Erin Hunter

Stardust by Neil Gaiman

Attica by Garry Kilworth

Gossamer by Lois Lowry

Here, There Be Dragons by James A. Owen

River Secrets by Shannon Hale

Iris, Messenger by Sarah Deming

Gifts by Ursula K. Le Guin

Little (Grrl) Lost by Charles De Lint

The Ruby Key by Holly Lisle

The Siren Song by Anne Ursu

Moonlight by Rachel Hawthorne

Into the Wild by Sarah Beth Durst

I can't wait to start! Thank you Carl for hosting this challenge!

Spring Reading Thing!!!!

I am so excited for the Spring Reading Thing!









Here is my list:

Looking for Alaska by John Green

Paper Towns by John Green

Story of a Girl by Sara Zarr

Monkey Town: The Summer of the Scopes Trial by Robert Kidd

The Captain's Dog: My Journey with the Lewis and Clark Tribe by Roland Smith

The Last Full Measure by Jeff Shaara

Evolution, Me, and Other Freaks of Nature by Robin Brande

Saving Zoe by Alyson Noel

When My Name Was Keoko by Linda Sue Park

Changed book

I switched from The Faerie Path to Story of a Girl because I just couldn't get into it. Maybe I'll check it out from the library again another time and try again.

The Plain Janes (book review)

The Plain Janes is a graphic novel by Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg. When Jane moves from exciting Metro City to the boring suburbs, she's convinced her life is over...that is, until she meets three other girls named Jane, whom she persuades to form an exclusive club called P.L.A.I.N. (People Loving Art In Neighborhoods). Together, the Janes, through a bunch of so-called "art attacks," try to bring the beauty of art to the people of their town. But some people don't appreciate P.L.A.I.N.'s attempts so much, and now the police are on their trail! Can the Janes keep pulling off their art attacks, or will they get busted once and for all?

I thought this book was very good. It was a nice, quick, and very unique read. In my opinion, it was an excellent break from heavier reading.

This book is for the Support Your Local Library Challenge and for the Graphic Novel Challenge 2009.

Beneath my Mother's Feet (book review)

Beneath My Mother's Feet, by Amjed Qamar, is a wonderful coming-of-age story which takes place in Pakistan. Nazia is a dutiful daughter, and does whatever her amma (mother) asks her to. She has never questioned the fact that she will soon be married off and have to tend to her husband's house. That is, until all the clothes for her dowry are stolen, her family is kicked out of their house, and her father abandons them all. Now Amma has arranged for them to work as house servants for three wealthy Pakistani families. Nazia has never wondered if there was another life for her, but now she begins to question all the rules she has grown up with. Perhaps there is another destiny out there for her. It is thoughts like these that eventually lead Nazia to rebel against the tame life planned for her and throw aside all the restrictions that have bound her for so long.

This book was wonderful! It introduced to me a world that is so different from the world that I know, a world where girls are married off at a very young age, with no say in the matter. I felt very bad for Nazia because of all the hardships she was going through, and sometimes I wondered if I would have been brave enough to do what she did if I were in her situation.

This book is for the Support Your Local Library Challenge.

Ghostgirl (book review)

Ghostgirl, by Tonya Hurley, is the story of Charlotte Usher, who's invisible to virtually everyone at her high school. She's a nobody, someone who the popular girls, Petula Kensington and her crowd, look down upon. Charlotte wants more than anything to become like Petula and to catch the eye of her crush, Damen. But things never seem to go Charlotte's way, and just when she thinks she's getting somewhere she chokes on a gummy bear on the way to the next class...and dies.

But, as it turns out, she can't rest in peace until she completes an unfinished task. For now, she's stuck on Earth in some kind of strange school for ghosts. Charlotte can only guess what her "unfinished task" is. But for now she's completely fine following Damen around in secrecy. After all, no human can see her now...except for one, Petula's younger sister, Scarlet. And Scarlet just might be the key to scoring a kiss from Damen. Now that Charlotte's a ghost, she can possess humans and inhabit their bodies. All she has to do is convince Scarlet to agree...and get Damen to fall for her. But carrying out this plan just might destroy the delicate world that Charlotte's ghostly friends have built up around them.

This book was okay. I was really enjoying it at first, but towards the middle it seemed to be getting old. All it talked about was Damen, 24/7, which started to get annoying. However, it began to pick up towards the end again. I really loved the bittersweet ending. Overall it was a good book, but I wouldn't rush out to buy it or anything. WARNING: This book, even though it's a fast read, isn't for very young readers. It uses quite a bit of bad language.

This book was for the Support Your Local Library Challenge.

Long Shadows (book review)

Long Shadows, by Erin Hunter, is the newest installment in the Warriors: Power of Three saga. Power of Three is the most recent of three six-book series about warrior cats, the first two being Warriors and Warriors: The New Prophecy. There is also a Warriors Super Edition book, called Firestar's Quest, and two Warriors field guides.

Hollyleaf, Jaypaw, and Lionblaze are kin to the legendary clan leader Firestar (who first appeared as Firepaw in the original Warriors series) and are the subject of a prophecy about three of Firestar's relatives who hold the power of the stars in their paws. The three siblings belong to ThunderClan, one of four warrior cat clans, ShadowClan, ThunderClan, WindClan, and RiverClan. One cat from each clan, known as the medicine cat, has the ability to heal other cats with herbs as well as to speak to the cats' warrior ancestors, who are known as StarClan. Jaypaw is the apprentice of ThunderClan's current medicine cat, Leafpool. He has the ability to walk in the dreams of other cats, and although he was born blind, he knows things other cats don't know. When a horrible bout of sickness strikes ThunderClan, it seems as if this more than half of the clan may die. And StarClan has placed their fate in his paws. Can Jaypaw save the sick cats before time runs out?

Hollyleaf is the diplomat of the group. Her dream is to become leader of Thunderclan one day. To her, preserving the warrior code, which all clan cats live by, is more important than almost anything else. But when a mysterious loner begins convincing ShadowClan to abandon the warrior code, Hollyleaf may have to break it herself if she wants to convince them to return to clan life.

Lionblaze is dedicated to becoming the best warrior he can possibly be, but he's hiding a big secret from the rest of ThunderClan--he is visited in his dreams by the dark warrior Tigerstar, who once caused the forest to run red with the blood of innocent cats. Lionblaze is beginning to free himself from Tigerstar's control. However, he is still tormented by bloody visions and violent dreams. Will the darkness within him affect the cats around him?

When madness and murder reach the heart of ThunderClan itself, the three siblings uncover a shocking secret. This revelation forces Jaypaw, Lionblaze, and Hollyleaf to question everything they've ever believed, and it changes their whole world forever.

I LOVED this book! Once I started reading, it was almost impossible to put it down (although that's happened with every book in the series that I've read so far)! This book revealed darkness in the hearts of some cats, which I didn't notice before. It was very descriptive and easy to understand, and it ended in a cliffhanger that left me wanting more! I will DEFINITELY run out to buy the next book as soon as it comes out in early April. However, to new readers of Warriors I'd definitely recommend starting with the first series. The books are much easier to understand that way.

This book was for the 999 Challenge under the category of "Fantasy with Animals".

Evernight (book review)

In the suspenseful novel Evernight, Bianca finds herself attending the eerie Evernight Academy. She thinks her life is over...that is, until she meets Lucas. He's handsome, smart, and kind. But the school, and Bianca, are hiding a big secret from him. Except for a select few students, everyone at Evernight is a vampire. Evernight is one of the only places where they can relax and be themselves. Born to two vampires, Bianca is destined to become one herself someday. But it turns out Lucas is hiding a secret just as big, one that threatens to destroy the magical world of Evernight...and those in it...forever.

This was a great book. It wasn't as good as the Twilight saga, but then again it's hard to beat that series. At times it was a little confusing. For example, about halfway through the book, I learned that Evernight was a vampire school. Then, it was revealed that Bianca had known about the vampires all along. Overall, however, it was excellent. The characters were complex and realistic, and I felt like I actually knew them. I will definitely look for the next Evernight book, Stargazer.

This book was for the Young Adult Challenge 09.

Gothic Lolita (book review)

Gothic Lolita, by Dakota Lane, is the story of two girls in two separate countries with a supernatural connection. Miya lives in Japan. Chelsea lives in California. They're both half Japanese, dress like Gothic lolitas, and love reading a manga series called, "Shonen Rainbow Warrior". But they have more in common than that, as they will soon realize...

They got to know each other through their blogs, but three years ago tragedy struck Chelsea's family, and she stopped writing. Miya has experienced tragedy as well, but she keeps posting and checking Chelsea's blog in the hopes that one day Chelsea will write back. Soon, Chelsea realizes she can't avoid Miya any longer. She goes back online and tells Miya everything. And both girls' lives will drastically change because of it...

I loved this book! It was a bittersweet story of tragedy, love, and triumph with a bit of mystery and fantasy thrown in as well. It was a very quick read, and I'm definitely glad I bought it!

This book was for the Young Adult Challenge 09.

Warriors: Cats of the Clans (book review)

Warriors: Cats of the Clans, by Erin Hunter, is an overview of the lives of the cats from the Warriors series, which is also by this author. With beautiful illustrations and short but fact-filled descriptions of the cats' lives, the book presents well-known cats from each of the clans (ThunderClan, RiverClan, ShadowClan, and WindClan).

This is a must-read for fans of the series, and a good introduction for new readers as well. It was very quick, and very enjoyable. I loved it!

This book was for the Support Your Local Library Challenge.

Bliss (book review)

Bliss, by Lauren Myracle, is the story of fourteen-year-old Bliss, who's spent most of her life on a commune with her hippie parents. But that's behind her, and now she's going to school at stately Crestview Academy. She's excited at first, but soon she begins to hear a voice...a voice that speaks of ghastly things. Bliss soon learns that something terrible is lurking on campus, and that it thirsts for blood...possibly hers. Her fellow classmates seem oblivious to the horrors around them, but, as Bliss soon learns, they are hiding secrets as well. And Bliss will soon be caught in the center of a grisly conflict that will inevitably end in somebody's death.

I really enjoyed this book at the beginning, but near the end it just got too disturbing for my taste. I stuck with it, though. I know the author, Lauren Myracle, has written many other books, and I bet they're probably pretty good. She just went a bit too far for my tastes in this book.

This book was for the Support Your Local Library Challenge.

Don't Know Where, Don't Know When (book review)

Don't Know Where, Don't Know When, by Annette Laing, is the story of three children and their time-travel adventure. For Hannah Dias and her brother Alex, life couldn't get any worse. They've moved from their home in California to boring Snipesville, Georgia, where nothing ever happens. Nothing changes when they meet Brandon, a weird kid whom Alex befriends.

But before they know it, the three kids are catapulted into World War II England. The food is gross, the adults are strict, and overall it's not much fun...at first. Hannah longs to return home, but Alex is slowly warming to this new environment. Brandon, meanwhile, is swept backwards in time to 1915. Why is he here? He doesn't know for sure, but what Brandon DOES know is that it has something to do with a person named George Braithwaite. And none of the kids can return home until they solve the mystery and find this boy.

I enjoyed this story overall. It hit a little bit of a drag in the middle, but it soon picked up again. This book made me eager to read the next in this series, called The Snipesville Chronicles.

Werewolves (book review)

Werewolves, edited by Jane Yolen and Martin H. Greenberg, is a collection of stories about, well, werewolves. The stories in this book are incredibly varied. In "Bad Blood", by Debra Doyle and J.D. Macdonald, a group of young backpackers is terrorized by a bloodthirsty werewolf in the middle of the night. Who would suspect that the one to save them would be...another werewolf? This was one of my favorite stories.

In "The Werewolf's Gift", by Ru Emerson, an old werewolf, stuck as an animal for the rest of his life, is given the choice to turn back into a man, but throws it away in order to save a young child. This was a heartwarming story, and I enjoyed it as well.

"The White Wolf", by Leigh Ann Hussey, is the story of a young boy, Kagwai, who wants nothing more than to earn an animal totem and learn the ability to change shape...that is, until he spends a few nights away from his village. He meets his grandfather, who has become totally obsessed with the change and spends most of his time in the shape of a wolf, and learns that shapeshifting can have its downsides. But in the end, when the fate of his entire village hangs in the balance, will Kagwai decide to embrace his destiny and his animal totem? This story was okay, but I didn't think it was great.

In "Not all Wolves" by Harry Turtledove, a thirteen-year-old werewolf tired of persecution finds solitude in a Jewish ghetto, living with a man who has been persecuted just as many times as he has. This story was also okay, but not great.

"Wolfskin", by Mary K. Whittington, is a futuristic werewolf story about a young boy named Gwehr, who has finally been admitted to the Hall of Shapeshifting! In this building, one can put on the "skin" of a creature (kraken, dragon, vampire, etc.) and, for a time, be transported into a virtual world where one IS that creature. Gwehr has been waiting forever for this day, but unfortunately the only creature left is a werewolf. But, once he's tried it, Gwehr decides that he loves roaming as a wolf, and he secretly takes the skin home with him. He slips it back on in his room, not expecting himself to actually change...but he does. He enters the enchanted world of the werewolf, and decides that he will never turn back into a boy...but when the sun rises, the magic fades, and in the end Gwehr has no choice but to part with the skin. I really enjoyed this story.

"Night Calls", by Katharine Eliska Kimbriel, is the story of a young girl whose village is being plagued by bloodthirsty werewolves. She longs to go out and fight them with her father, but, unfortunately, she's expected to stay home with her mother while her older brothers fight. Soon, all the werewolves are killed except one. But she never expected that werewolf would be...her brother. I didn't like this story that much.

"Wolf from the Door", by Elizabeth Scarborough, is the humorous story of a young girl, Lucy Garou, conducting a study on wolves. The only problem is--in the term paper she's trying to complete, Life Cycle of the Wolf, she's completely personified all the wolves she studied. And, as her professor reminds her, this is a scientific class, not a creative writing one. Basically, he's given her an F, and she isn't too happy, no matter how much Professor Forrest thinks she might deserve it. Because Lucy Garou has a good reason for personifying the wolves--she's one of them! And it's not wise to draw the wrath of a werewolf...we're left wondering what unhappy fate Professor Forrest will meet. This was a very funny story that left me hanging.

In "Monster Mash", by Sherwood Smith, a girl named Cat is a drummer in a school rock band called The Nerds...when she isn't running free in the shape of a wolf. But one night, a big concert coincides with the full moon. Good thing it's Halloween, because Cat has a plan. She'll pretend to be dressed in a costume the whole time! Can she be clever and resourceful enough to pull this off, or will the night end in disaster? This story was okay.

"The Passing of the Pack", by Bruce Coville, was the story of a young boy who's always had a strange connection with wolves. They seem to be there watching him whenever he turns around. And one day, when he is prosecuted and thrown in jail along with his friend, Wandis, the wolves come to rescue him, and take him to his mysterious father, who just happens to be a werewolf! And his father wants to pass the responsibility of leader of the wolf pack on to him! Will he accept his destiny, or will he remain human forever? This was an excellent story.

In "Flesh and Blood", by Marguerite W. Davol, Sally's spending her whole summer in a boring European village called Krev. But things start to get exciting when she discovers a chest full of clothes...along with a mysterious furry belt that seems to fit her just right. But when she tries the clothes on, she experiences an intense bloodlust and a painful change from a human to something in between human and wolf. The problem is that she can't seem to get the clothes off! Is she doomed to life as a bloody monster forever? This story was okay.

In "Green Messiah", by Jane Yolen, the ultimate science experiment is attempted as a girl is transformed into a wolf in order to gain important data that she couldn't have otherwise. But, once experiencing the wonderful change, she decides to throw her responsibilities to the wind and run free as a wolf forever. I loved this story!

"The Wolf's Flock", by Susan Shwartz, is the story of a young werewolf who wants to rid himself of his curse forever. He embarks on an incredibly long journey, accompanied by a group of children who are heading for the same place that he is. He grows to feel at home among them, and when their lives are threatened, he must reveal his secret in order to save them. I liked this story.

In "Met by Moonlight", by Anne E. Crompton, teenager Len wanders off on his snowmobile and gets lost in the snow. He meets a strange girl, who asks him about his life, and in turn tells him about hers. Len has come to the conclusion that she's crazy, babbling on and on about wolves, hunting, and blood...until she saves him from an angry wolf...by transforming into one herself! I didn't really enjoy this story.

"A Winter's Night", by Esther M. Friesner, is the tale of a lone Gypsy, whose companions were killed by Nazis, hiding out alone in a cemetery. At least, he thinks he's alone...until he finds a mysterious boy with a big secret...I did not like this story at all. It was very confusing and hard to understand. However, I have read Esther Friesner's book, Nobody's Princess, and I enjoyed that a great deal.

The final story in this book was "One Chance" by Charles de Lint. It is the story of a girl, Susanna, and her friend Billy. They are both unpopular at school, and they hate their lives. But Billy thinks he knows a way to get away from all this...using a bronze wolf figurine, he summons a mysterious wolf that beckons them to follow it to a better world. Billy gladly agrees, but Susanna pulls away at the last second, knowing she's doing the right thing, but feeling great pain inside to see Billy frolicking away with the wolf to a magical world. She knows that she'll never see him again, that this was her one chance...and now it was gone. This was a bittersweet story, and a good end to the book.

I give this book 3.5 out of 5 stars.

This book was for the Support Your Local Library Challenge.

Saving the World and other Extreme Sports (book review)

Saving the World and other Extreme Sports, by James Patterson, is the third installment in the Maximum Ride series. Max and her friends, Fang, Iggy, the Gasman (or Gazzy), Nudge, and Angel, are six kids who have escaped from a horrible laboratory called the School. Bird DNA was grafted into their bodies when they were infants, so now they have wings and can fly. Max and the "flock" were happy to sit back and relax after their escape, but they soon found out that the School was in league with an organization called Itex, who planned to wipe out almost everyone on Earth and create a new, better "super-race". As it turned out, Max and her friends were the only ones who could stop them.

Now Max and her friends have been captured, and are back at the horrible School once again. And it turns out one of them just might be a traitor. But who? Have Max and her friends finally met their end?

I thought this book was really good. It was action-packed, and the plot was intricately developed. There were a ton of cliffhangers, and it kept me guessing at every turn.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

This book is for the Sci-Fi Experience.

A Bottle in the Gaza Sea (book review)

In A Bottle in the Gaza Sea, by Valerie Zenatti, 17-year-old Tal Levine, who lives in Israel, decides to ask her brother to throw a bottle into the Gaza Sea, with a message inside of it. She expects a Palestinian girl about her age to discover it. What she doesn't expect is Gazaman, a witty twenty-year-old boy who mocks Tal at first, but gradually begins to befriend her. They begin exchanging emails, learning not only about each other but also a great deal about themselves.

This was a very moving book. I was sad when it was over. I learned a lot about the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians while reading it, too. As it says on the jacket of the book, this was "a modern-day Romeo-and-Juliet tale for the third millennium."

I give this book 3.5 out of 5 stars.

This book was for the Support Your Local Library Challenge.

The Dog with Golden Eyes (book review)

The Dog With Golden Eyes, by Frances Wilbur, is the story of Cassie, a girl who has always wanted a dog. But her mother is too busy to take care of a dog, and besides, who would pay for it? Feed it? Care for it? With Cassie away at school and her mother away at work, there would be no one left to watch the dog. But one day, when Cassie is sitting in her backyard, a beautiful snow-white dog wanders into her yard. Cassie immediately decides that she will be the one to take care of him. even if she has to get a job (or two) to pay for all the food he eats.

But soon Cassie learns that Toklata, as she has named him, is not a dog at all--he's a runaway Arctic wolf! Can Cassie afford to take care of a wolf? And can she protect Toklata from animal control and the hunters who want to kill him?

This was a quick read, but it was very good. I think children who are interested in animals would love reading this book. It was filled with facts about wolves and their behavior.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

This book was for the Support Your Local Library Challenge.

Sweethearts (book review)

Sweethearts, by Sara Zarr, is the story of two childhood friends, Jennifer Harris and Cameron Quick. When they were younger, Jennifer and Cameron were both outcasts, and all they had was each other. Then one day, Cameron disappeared without a word, and Jennifer was led to believe that he was dead. She had no choice but to move on.

Now, in high school, Jennifer--now known as Jenna Vaughn--is popular, dating, and completely happy--that is, until Cameron returns. His decision to come back causes Jenna to think about a part of her life she always tried to ignore--something that happened, long ago, on her ninth birthday. Something horrible that only she, Cameron, and his father were a part of. The return of her once-best friend means something much, much more to Jenna--and it forces her to bring back a part of the past that was better left forgotten.

I loved this book. It was quick, suspenseful, and bittersweet. It kept me reading down to the very last page. It's a good thing I have another book by Sara Zarr to read!

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

This book was for the Support Your Local Library Challenge.

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.

New Challenge

I am joining the Support Your Local Library Challenge. It sounds so fun! All you have to do is read at least 12 books from your local library! I just picked up my first three to read!

Quick Update

I am going to read a different book than Scholastic Book of World Records 2009 for the Dewey Decimal Challenge, because it was just too boring to read straight through.

Manga Challenge Wrap-up Post

I had so much fun doing the Manga Challenge! I read a lot of great books. Thank you, Rhinoa, and I hope you host it again next year!

I read six manga books for this challenge:

Tokyo Mew Mew books 1 and 2
Fruits Basket 2
Dream Saga 3
Vampire Kisses 1
Avalon High 1

Again, I enjoyed this so much! My favorite read was the first Tokyo Mew Mew book, and my least favorite was Dream Saga 3.

Tokyo Mew Mew Books 1 and 2 (book review)

Tokyo Mew Mew, by Mia Ikumi and Reiko Yoshida, is a manga series about five young female superheroes. In the first book, we are introduced to the main character, Ichigo. While she is on a date with the guy of her dreams, she (and four other girls) are involved in a freak accident that merges their DNA with the DNA of five endangered species. These five girls have become the Mew Mews, and their job is to fight evil aliens that are trying to take over the world by infecting Earth's animals with deadly parasites, turning them into rampaging monsters called kirema animas.

Ichigo has been fused with the genes of an iriomote cat. Now, she can turn into an alien-fighting superhero with cat ears and a cat tail whenever she wants! But it's Ichigo's job to find the other four Mew Mews. One is a super-rich snob, named Mint, who wants nothing to do with Ichigo. She has fused with an ultramarine lorakeet. The other is a lonely girl who will take her anger out on Mint and Ichigo when in her Mew Mew form (she merged with a finless porpoise). Could these three ever join together as a team?

In book two, the other characters' identities are revealed. One is Pudding, an acrobatic, friendly girl who loves to make money and whose genes were fused with a golden lion tamarin's. The other is a beautiful model, Zakuro, who is fused with a gray wolf. The problem is, Zakuro wants nothing to do with the rest of the Mew Mews. Can the four girls convince their final partner to join them in time to save the world?

I really enjoyed these books. They went very fast, and they were exciting and engaging. I think I liked the first one better than the second, however. I give the first book 4 out of 5 stars, and the second 3.5 out of 5 stars.

These books were both for the Manga Challenge and for the Sci-Fi Experience.

Dream Saga #3 (book review)

Dream Saga #3, by Megumi Tachikawa, is the story of fifth-grader Yuuki, and five of her friends, who are destined to save the dream world (known as Takamagahara) from destruction. Yuuki and four of the others have "magic stones", which allow them to remember their time in Takamagahara even while they are in our world. The fifth boy, Takaomi, although he does not have a magic stone and therefore doesn't remember his time in the dream world (and in the same way his dream-self doesn't remember the time spent in the normal world), has been told of the events that are transpiring, and knows the secrets of the magic stones.

In this book, Yuuki and her friends are at the palace of Shinoukyu, trying to convince intrepid Miss Kaya (who happens to be their teacher in the real world) to join their quest. She has something that they need, and would be a useful addition to the group. But when Kaya is kidnapped by giant, angry insects, Takaomi finds himself bribed by her wicked father into going to rescue her alone. Because Kaya's father happens to have a sixth magic stone, and according to him, Takaomi can have it if he rescues Kaya. Takaomi, who longs to fit in, accepts. But can he save Kaya all alone? And even if he can, will her father pay up?

I enjoyed the plot of this book. It was suspenseful, interesting, and unique. But the drawings were confusing, and they often blended into one another. Sometimes I had to read a section over once or twice to understand what was going on. That is why I only give this book 2.5 out of 5 stars.

This book is for the Manga Challenge.

Fruits Basket Book Two (book review)

Fruits Basket Book Two, by Natsuki Takaya, is the story of orphan Tohru Honda, and the enigmatic Sohma family. Three of the Sohmas-- Shigure, Kyo, and Yuki--have taken Tohru in, and they have let her know their terrible secret. Several of the members of the family are possessed with the vengeful spirits of the animals of the Zodiac, and whenever one of those people is weak or is hugged by a member of the opposite sex, they transform. Tohru has promised to keep their power a secret, but will she be able to when her best friends come over to spend the night? Especially when one of them is a psychic?

I enjoyed this book a great deal, but not as much as the first one. It was a bit more confusing, but other than that it was a wonderful story!

I give this book 3.5 out of 5 stars.

This book is for the Manga 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.

The United States Constitution (book review)

The United States Constitution, by Jonathan Hennessey and Aaron McConnell, is the story of our US Constitution, from the Preamble right down to the twenty-seventh amendment. With fantastic illustrations and wonderful prose, this book gives the reader an in-depth look at the powers and responsibilities of the government. In great detail it describes the three branches of federal government, and their duties. The power of the state government is outlined as well. This is a wonderful guide to the Constitution and the United States government, and anybody can read it. It is quick, easy to understand, and packed full of useful information!

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

This book is for the Graphic Novel Challenge '09.

Young Adult Challenge 2009

I am joining the Young Adult Challenge 2009! I know this one will be fun! Here is a list of possibilities:

Leonardo's Shadow by Christopher Grey

Hunted by N.M. Browne

Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins

Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Mariller

Ten Things I Hate About Me by Randa Abdel-Fattah

The Diamond of Darkhold by Jeanne DuPrau

Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

Gothic Lolita by Dakota Lane

Tanglewreck by Jeanette Winterson

Part of Me by Kimberly Willis Holt

Science Fair by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson

The Loud Silence of Francine Green by Karen Cushman

Avalon High Coronation: The Merlin Prophecy (book review)

Avalon High Coronation: The Merlin Prophecy, by Meg Cabot, is the story of high school student Ellie and her boyfriend Will. Will just happens to be the reincarnation of King Arthur. Ellie herself might in fact be the reincarnation of the famous Lady of the Lake from Arthurian legend. And one of her teachers, Mr. Morton (or Merlin), is a long-lost member of the Order of the Bear, a group of scientists and historians dedicated to finding King Arthur's reincarnation. But now that they finally have, a new problem has come up...Will doesn't believe that he is King Arthur reincarnated. And in order for him to save the world from a horrible fate, he has to accept his destiny once and for all. What can Ellie do to convince him that the power in his hands is real?

I greatly enjoyed this book and would like to read the original novel someday soon. I would recommend this book to fans of Arthurian legend and fantasy manga.

I give this book 3.5 out of 5 stars.

This book is for the Manga Challenge.

Drugs Explained (book review)

Drugs Explained, by Pierre Mezinski, is a nonfiction book written especially for preteens and teens about the harmful effects of drugs. Mezinski has written a very kid-friendly yet informative book on the dangers of drugs, both ones we see every day like tobacco and alcohol, and illegal drugs such as marijuana, heroin, and ecstacy. I thought it was a very useful, interesting book--easy to read, engaging, and filled with facts. It also had a little fictional story in it, called Emily's journal, about a girl and her encounters with peer pressure and drugs. I can imagine how many kids could relate to Emily, and this makes the book even more inviting.

I give this book a 3.5 out of 5 stars.

This book is for the Dewey Decimal Challenge. (362.29)

Vampire Kisses: Blood Relatives (book review)

Vampire Kisses: Blood Relatives, is a manga story written by Ellen Schreiber and illustrated by Rem. It is the story of goth-girl Raven and her vampire boyfriend, Alexander. Just when seems as if their relationship is finally going smoothly, Alexander's cousin, Claude, and his gang of half-vampires shows up. And now they're trying to blackmail Raven into betraying Alexander. Will she become a traitor to her boyfriend, or will her friend Becky end up as a snack for Claude and his friends?

I realize this is a short review, but it was a very short book. I enjoyed it, and I would like to read the original novel, Vampire Kisses. I also hope to continue reading the Manga series.

I give this book 3.5 out of 5 stars.

(This book is for the Manga Challenge.)

Patriots, Pirates, Heroes, and Spies (book review)

Patriots, Pirates, Heroes, and Spies, edited by Sandra Mackenzie Lloyd, is a collection of true stories about the city of Philadelphia. This book is filled with stories of runaway slaves, war heroes, fancy parties...and even a cow! My favorite two stories were about Lydia Darrugh, a spy for the Patriots during the American Revolution, and about Oney Judge, an escaped slave. There was also a story about how Girl Scout Cookies got their start which I found interesting.

I enjoyed this book fairly well, although it was a little bit below my level. It was interesting, and I learned quite a bit from it. I think younger kids interested in history would get a lot out of it.

I give this book 3 out of 5 stars.

Another Challenge

I am also joining the Dewey Decimal Challenge. I can't wait to start this one, too! It sounds so fun! You just have to read one book from each category:

000 - Generalities
100 - Philosophy and Psychology
200 - Religion
300 - Social Sciences
400 - Language
500 - Natural Sciences + Math
600 - Technology
700 - The Arts
800 - Literature and Rhetoric
900 - Geography and History

The World War II Challenge

I am excited to join the World War II Challenge as well! I don't have a definite list yet, but I know I'll be reading a lot of good books for this challenge. I'm committing to at least 7 books.

Joining the Manga Challenge

I'm excited to join the Manga Challenge, hosted by Rhinoa. Here is my list:

Fruits Basket #2 by Natsuki Takaya

Avalon High Coronation: The Merlin Prophecy by Meg Cabot

Tokyo Mew Mew #1 by Mia Ikumi and Reiko Yoshida

Tokyo Mew Mew #2 by Mia Ikumi and Reiko Yoshida

Dream Saga #3 by Megumi Tachikawa

Vampire Kisses: Blood Relatives by Ellen Schreiber and Rem

Another Excerpt from "Catseye"

“Come on! We don’t have much time!” hissed Zabora. Confused, the dogs turned in the direction Sakura had gone and followed her. They stopped to linger a moment, just in case it was a trick, but Zabora, Will, and Kylie stayed hidden with the Catseye’s magic. Once the guards were gone, Zabora hurriedly led them back behind the remaining two guards, far enough so that they weren’t noticed, but close enough so that they were still on the right path.

Finally, to Kylie’s astonishment, she set foot on solid ground. She was in a peaceful field, filled with tiny gold and purple flowers. “Welcome to the Gods’ Realm,” Zabora said proudly. “It is pretty, isn’t it?”

Kylie nodded and looked at Will, but he wasn’t there. He was picking the flowers and sniffing them. Kylie laughed. He looked so ridiculous. But he looked even more ridiculous when…he turned into a purple monkey!

“Aaah!” Kylie shouted, jumping back. Will looked at himself in astonishment. Behind them, Zabora was doubled over with laughter.

“What happened to him?” Kylie demanded.

“Those are shape-shifting flowers,” Zabora explained, still laughing. “When you sniff them, you change shape. It is impossible to know what you will turn into.”

“Well, how does he turn back?” Kylie asked firmly. She didn’t think it was very funny…okay, it was, but they didn’t have time for distractions.

Zabora shrugged. “I think he is stuck that way until they wear off.” Behind them, Will made a groaning sound.

“How long is it until they wear off?” Kylie asked, fearing the answer.

“I do not know, but he might find a more reasonable shape with which to approach Anubis and Bastet.”

Snorting, Will picked another flower with his monkey paws and sniffed it. It turned him into a rabbit. Zabora shook her head, so he sniffed another one. This time he appeared as a fox.

She nodded. “The foxes are his people, too. He will be satisfied.” By "him" Kylie assumed Zabora meant Anubis.

Will-fox trotted beside Kylie, who was careful not to sniff any flowers. Zabora was still laughing and floating lazily across the ground.

“Are there any other dangers we have to watch out for?” Kylie asked, irritated.
Zabora nodded. “There are many, but hopefully we will not run into any of them.”

That didn’t sound very reassuring, but Kylie didn’t say anything.

After they left the field, Zabora led them through a forest. It was thick and dark, and Kylie felt uncomfortable. Will-fox, however, was right at home. He chased after every noise, soon returning to the task at hand before running off again.

“I just remembered something else about the shape-shifting flowers,” Zabora said. “As more and more time passes, the person under the spell becomes more and more like what they’ve become. If it takes more than one hour for them to turn back, they’re stuck as an animal forever…and nothing can turn them back, not even the power of the gods.”

And so Will-fox was added to Kylie’s growing list of concerns.

Though the forest was very disconcerting, they soon passed out of it, and entered another field. This one wasn’t filled with flowers, instead tall stalks of wheat waved lazily in the breeze. “How big is the Gods’ Realm?” Kylie asked in exasperation.

“Very big,” Zabora said. “No one, not even the gods themselves, have reached every corner of it. But I know where they are, and we do not have far left to go, so do not worry.”

Tagged for Another Meme

Thank you, Valentina, for tagging me! And thank you, Eva, for coming up with such a fun meme!

The book that’s been on your shelves the longest:
The Children's Hour set of books, which my mother passed along to me when I was very small. They're a little tattered, because she owned them when she was a kid, but they're very special to me.

A book that reminds you of something specific in your life (a person, a place, a time, etc.):
Classic Poems to Read Aloud, which reminds me of my grandfather. It was the last thing he gave me before he died. This book is also extremely special.

A book you acquired in some interesting way (gift, serendipity in a used bookstore, prize, etc.):

Jean, who happens to be my "cousin", went to the National Book Festival and got to meet Neil Gaiman. Instead of getting a signed book for herself, she bought Coraline and had him sign it for me! Wasn't that sooooooo nice?

The most recent addition to your shelves:

Gothic Lolita by Dakota Lane. I've been wanting that book for quite some time now, and I was excited when I finally had enough money to buy it.

A book that’s been with you to the most places:
I can't really answer that one. I don't bring my favorite books on vacation, I just bring several that I want to read.

A bonus book that you want to talk about but doesn’t fit into the other questions:

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman. It is my all-time favorite book! It's about a girl, Lyra Belacqua, who lives in an alternate universe similar to ours, but here everyone is accompanied by a magical creature called a daemon, who is like your soul. When she hears about a wicked experiment station in the north, called Bolvangar, where mysterious and unpleasant things are happening to children and their daemons, Lyra goes on a quest to save them. I recently got the movie, and I can't wait to watch it again! It's also time for a re-read!

Now, as for tagging people:

Nymeth

Chris

Dad

Jean

Excerpt from "Catseye"

Several people have been asking me to post excerpts from my NaNo story, and even though I haven't completely finished my rough draft yet, here is the first excerpt:

Kylie felt queasy in her stomach. Something felt bad about that place, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. And the path to the west was a dead end. It seemed to Kylie that the abandoned city was much bigger than it had been before the Time Freeze. Like Naire had said, the true nature of the place was surfacing. The old city wasn’t nearly as safe as it used to be.
Naire gave Kylie an impudent look and started to make her way down the alley to the south. Kylie sighed and followed her. Gull, Anemone, and Will trotted behind them uneasily.
There was a putrid smell about the place, a mix of blood and old, rotting wood. Rats slithered in the shadows, and a slimy fungus grew on the walls. Kylie covered her nose so that she wouldn’t have to smell such filth. She wasn’t the kind of girl who was squeamish, but this place was enough to make anyone gag.
Naire suddenly stopped dead in her tracks. Her eyes were wide with fear. There was a new smell in the air, something Kylie and Will had never encountered before…but the animals had.


Tune back soon for another excerpt!!!

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.

Joining the Graphic Novels Challenge

I am excited to say I am joining YET ANOTHER challenge today, the Graphic Novel Challenge hosted by Laza. I don't have the exact list yet, but I know I will be doing the Minor level with 6 books. I can't wait to start!

Joining the Sci-Fi Experience

Last year's Sci-Fi Experience hosted by Carl was so much fun, and I can't wait to get started this year. For this one, I'm going to try to read AT LEAST three books. I'm not sure exactly which ones, yet.

Joining a New Challenge

I am joining the 999 Challenge. Basically, these are the rules--come up with nine categories and read nine books for each of them. You have until September 9. You can overlap books from other challenges. You can also overlap nine books within the challenge (in other words, you can choose nine books to use for more than one category). Here are my categories:

Re-reads:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7

8.

9.

Borrowed from Gray:

1. Nod's Limbs by Charles Ogden

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Borrowed from Mom:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Fantasy featuring animals:

1. Long Shadows by Erin Hunter

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Historical fiction:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Nonfiction:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Realistic fiction:
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Authors that are new to me:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Novellas:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.