The Best of Poe (book review)

The Best of Poe, by Edgar Allen Poe, is a collection of short stories and poems including The Raven, The Tell-Tale Heart, The Black Cat, The Pit and the Pendulum, and many more. Some of my favorites were The Gold Bug and A Tale of the Ragged Mountains. There were also a few a few I didn't like. I found The Black Cat disturbing! Hop-Frog Or The Eight Chained Ourang-Outangs was very weird! Overall, I enjoyed the book very much! It was a fun introduction to Poe.

I give this book 9 out of 10 stars!

Something Wicked This Way Comes (book review)

Something Wicked This Way Comes, by Ray Bradbury, is the story of two boys who discover an amazing carnival with a calliope that plays by itself, a tent full of freaks such as The Lava Sipper and the Skeleton, and a carousel that, depending on which direction you ride it, can make you younger or older. Jim, one of the boys, longs to ride the carousel and become older. His friend, Will, is wiser than that. However, one night Jim runs off with one of the carnival's keepers, Mr. Cooger, who has become young again by riding the carousel. Will reluctantly follows. But when Jim accidentally kills Mr. Cooger on the carousel, the boys get caught up in a whirlwind of nightmarish events having to do with the carnival, their families, and the constant battle between good and evil.

I loved Bradbury's fantastic writing! The book was full of vivid descriptions and wonderful writing. I can't wait to read even more of his books!

I give this book 10 out of 10 stars.

My List for "What's in a Name" challenge

Here's my list for the "What's in a name" challenge:

1. Black Beauty by Anne Sewell (a book with a color in its title)

2. Star in the Storm by Joan Hiatt Harlow (a book with a weather event in its title)

3. Molly Moon, Micky Minus, & the Mind Machine by Georgia Byng (a book with a first name in its title)

4. The Tulip Touch by Anne Fine (a book with a plant in its title)

5. The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale (a book with an animal in its title)

6.Two Girls of Gettysburg by Lisa Klein (a book with a place in its title)

The Kingdom Keepers (book review)

The Kingdom Keepers, by Ridley Pearson, is the story of five teenagers who find themselves transported to Disney World at night whenever they go to sleep. The five are the chosen people to battle an evil group of Disney villains who've come to life! Can Finn, Maybeck, Willa, Philby, and Charlene save Disney World... and the whole country as well? You can find out by reading this book!

This story's plot was full of twists and turns. The characters were very well developed. I wish there was a sequel...and I wish I could be a Kingdom Keeper!

I give this book 9 out of 10 stars.

The Shadow Thieves (book review)

The Shadow Thieves, by Ann Ursu, is the story of 13-year-old Charlotte, an ordinary girl who lives an ordinary life. But her life transforms to anything but ordinary when she notices the yellow-eyed, white-faced men in tuxedos following her everywhere, she finds a very smart kitten, and her cousin Zee arrives from England. He believes he is the cause of a mysterious disease afflicting his friends in England. When Charlotte's friends start getting sick as well, Charlotte and Zee set out to find a cure. They find themselves in the Greek Underworld, where the angry grandson of Poisedon, Philonecron, kidnaps Zee. Charlotte marches to Hades himself to protest. She learns that Philonecron wants Zee to enchant his army of evil shadows so he can take over the Underworld. Zee is forced to obey. Can Charlotte and Zee save the Underworld in time? Read this book and find out!

I loved this book and I can't wait for the sequel! It was fast-paced, spine-tingling, and funny!

I give this book 8.5 out of 10 stars.

The Sight (book review)

(This book was on both my RIP challenge list and my Four-Legged Friends challenge list.)

The Sight, by David Clement-Davies, is the story of a young wolf named Larka, and an ancient prophecy about her and her pack. But an evil wolf named Morgra hunts Larka down, because she knows that Larka has a power beyond her own. Both wolves have a gift called the Sight, but Larka is the key to unlocking a greater power, and perhaps controlling all wolves in the world. Now her pack is on the run, and Morgra follows their every step. Will Larka ever be safe?

The characters in this book were very well-developed, even though there were a lot of them! It was a page-turner and I finished it in two days. I can't wait to read his other book, Fire-Bringer.

I give this book 9.5 out of 10 stars.

The Halloween Tree (book review)

The Halloween Tree, by Ray Bradbury, is a book about eight boys who, with help from a sinister man, embark on a fantastical journey through time and space to save their friend. They meet witches, mummies, gargoyles, and more as they search for the lost boy. Each boy is dressed in a different costume, and the boys visit the places and times where that "costume" was important (ancient Egypt and mummies, for example). The book sort of tells about how Halloween came to be.

I enjoyed the story and loved the author's way of writing! I can't wait to read more of his books!

I give this book a 9 out of 10 stars.

In other book news:
We went to Borders and I got three new books last night! Thanks to Jean, Mom bought me The Historian. Mom and Dad also bought Air Raid- Pearl Harbor! The Story of December 7, 1941 for me, and I bought Vampirates: Demons of the Ocean, which I'm reading right now.

Midnighters: The Secret Hour (book review)

Midnighters: The Secret Hour, by Scott Westerfield, is the story of a group of teenagers who live in a town called Bixby, Oklahoma. In Bixby, there are 25 hours in a day instead of 24! However, only people born at midnight can move freely during this time. Everyone else is frozen in time! Only these teenagers know about the secret hour. They call themselves the midnighters. But when Jessica Day moves to Bixby, she realizes she has the powers as well. But something is wrong. Creatures of the secret hour that have always left the other midnighters alone openly attack Jessica. Can Jessica and the other midnighters find out what it is before the creatures get her?

This book was fast-paced and frightening. The characters were both well-developed and believable. I really enjoyed the unique premise of this book; it definitely made me wish I was a part of it! I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

I give this book 9.5 out of 10 stars.

MacBeth (book review)

MacBeth, by William Shakespeare, is the story of a Scottish nobleman named MacBeth and his fall from glory due his hunger for power. After a great victory in battle, MacBeth meets three witches who tell him he will become king of Scotland. After he learns this, MacBeth kills the current king of Scotland, Duncan, and blames it on Duncan's bodyguards. He becomes king because Duncan's sons flee after their father's death. MacBeth also kills a general named Banquo, because the witches said his sons would become kings. Eventually, the other thanes become suspicious of MacBeth and attack his castle. MacBeth is finally killed by an honorable man named MacDuff.

I enjoyed this book, but it took a while to get used to the language, as this was my first experience with Shakespeare. I'd like read more of his work soon. I would also love to see this performed live!

I give this 9 stars out of 10.

Vampire Plagues Book One: London, 1850 (book review)

Vampire Plagues: London, 1850, by Sebastian Rook, is the story of Jack, a twelve- year-old urchin living by the docks of London. When a ship comes in at twilight, Jack knows it's an opportunity for him. However, Jack has never seen a ship like this one before. Only a young boy Jack's age and a flock of enormous black bats are found on the ship. Jack befriends the boy, Benedict Cole, and gets him to tell his horrifying tale of a failed expedition to Mexico and the strange disease that has come to London with him. Now Jack, Ben, and Ben's sister Emily are the only ones who can save London from a horrifying plague and an evil bat god with his minions, the vampires.

This story was full of adventure and horror. From the jungles of Mexico to the streets of London, there is never a boring part in this book! I have got to read the next one!

I give this book 9.5 out of 10 stars!

The Hound of the Baskervilles (book review)

The Hound of the Baskervilles, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, is the story of the Baskerville family, who have been haunted by a monstrous hound since the 17th century. The story began with the death of Hugo Baskerville, whose throat was torn out by a huge dog. Centuries later, the spectral hound was thought to be merely a myth. But then Sir Charles Baskerville is found dead on the moor with a hound's footprints nearby, and you can't help but wonder--is the legend true? Sherlock Holmes and his assistant Dr. Watson are on the case...

This book was suspenseful and spine-tingling. It was certainly a page turner, and the adventure seemed never-ending.

I give this book 8.5 out of 10 stars.

The House With a Clock in Its Walls (book review)

The House With a Clock in Its Walls, by John Bellairs, is the story of ten-year-old Lewis, who leaves his home to live with his eccentric Uncle Jonathan. Lewis is amazed when he is told that both his uncle and his next door neighbor are witches! Lewis wants to learn magic, but his uncle forbids him to use magic books. When Lewis disobeys his uncle and brings evil Selenna Izard back from the dead, he has no idea of the trouble he has caused...

This book was a fast read, and also full of suspense and spookiness. I would not like to read this book in the middle of the night!!

I give this book 8 out of 10 stars.

Ptolemy's Gate (book review)

Ptolemy's Gate, third in the Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud, is the story of seventeen-year-old Kitty Jones, who has had an encounter with a demon that she won't forget. The demon's name is Bartimaeus, and earlier he had shown her the pain of having to suffer at human hands. Kitty wonders if there will ever be peace between demons and humans. She summons Bartimaeus and soon gets caught up in a whirlwind of events involving her old rival, a young magician named Nathaniel. She soon finds herself helping Nathaniel, while along the way learning more about the past of Bartimaeus, and discovering a shocking secret.

This book was well-written and humorous, as well as suspenseful. The pages turned quickly! As for the conclusion, it caught me totally off guard!

I give this book 9.5 out of 10 stars.

Cracker: The Best Dog in Vietnam (book review)

I read Cracker! The Best Dog In Vietnam, by Cynthia Kadohata, for the four-legged friends challenge. This book was about a boy named Willie, a dog handler named Rick, and a German Shepard named Cracker. It took place during the Vietnam War. When Cracker was taken away from her owner, an 11-year-old boy named Willie, she didn't know what was going to happen. She was paired up with a man named Rick Hanski for military training. But Cracker wasn't so sure about Rick. If he wanted her to trust him, then he had to prove himself to her. By the time the two finally left for Vietnam, they had developed a close bond with one other. However, Cracker was separated from Rick during a battle. Rick was shot, and at the end of the battle, he was picked up by a helicopter and taken to a hospital and then back to America. Would he ever see Cracker again?

This book was very well-written and the characters were very believable people. It was a very sad book, however. Willie lost Cracker and after letting her go, she belonged to Rick and the military. Rick experienced the pain of losing someone close to him when his friend and his friend's dog were shot. His friend ultimately survived and went back to America, but his dog, Tristie, died.

I loved this book and I recommend it to dog lovers and anyone interested in historical fiction.

I give this book nine out of ten stars.

The Big Book of U.S. Presidents (book review)

The New Big Book of US Presidents was by Todd Davids and Marc Frey. There isn't much to say about this one. It was basically your typical gathering of short biographies about the presidents. I did enjoy this book, though. One thing I found interesting were the short snippets about other things that were occurring during each president's time in office.

I give this book 8 out of 10 stars.

And that wraps up another challenge! My completed list:

1. The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan
2. The Cat's Mind: Understanding Your Cat's Behavior by Dr. Bruce Fogle
3. Wolf Country: Eleven Years Tracking the Algonquin Wolves by John B. Theberge with Mary T. Theberge
4. Mysteries of History by Robert Steward, Ph.D.
5. The New Big Book of U.S. Presidents by Marc Frey and Todd Davis

The Golem's Eye (book review)

The Golem's Eye, by Jonathan Stroud, is the sequel to The Amulet of Samarkand. It is the story of a fourteen-year-old magician named Nathaniel, who is trying to tackle the break-ins that are troubling London's magician population. However, just when Nathaniel seems to be getting somewhere, a series of more violent and vicious break-ins starts. Nathaniel knows he won't be able to solve this problem alone, so he calls on the very being he hoped he would never, ever see again.

This book was very suspenseful and it seemed as if there were a surprise waiting on every page. I certainly didn't expect what happened during this one! I can't wait to read the final book in this trilogy!

I give this book 9 out of 10 stars.

Walking: A Dog's Point of View (writing assignment)

The squat beagle, hovering on the edge of obesity, lay in his bed in a tired heap. His eyes were rolled back into his head and the occasional snort slipped out of his mouth. Nothing could possibly wake him.

“We’re heading out on a WALK!”

Except for that.

Jumping out of bed, the dog padded over to his master, his tail wagging so hard that his behind was shaking like an old jalopy.

“DOWN, boy.”

Not the old down trick! Did he have to? The dog sat, hoping this would satisfy his master.

It failed to make his master glow with pride as the dog had hoped. His master pulled him down by his collar until he was lying below him. He was supposed to be ashamed, but he felt nothing but frustration.

“CHILL!”

Huh? The dog hadn’t caught that last part. Did he say chill? What else could he have said? Still, in case he was wrong, the dog lay on the floor.

“CHILL, BAKER! GOOD DOG! CHILL!”

Now that the dog could understand. He leapt up and shoved his head into his master’s leg.

“Calm DOWN, boy!”

This time the dog was too excited to pay any notice to the down word. The sun was shining, everyone was happy, and he had the world out there to explore!

Then, clouds rolled across the sky to cover up the sun. Darkness descended upon everything, and the world became a dangerous place. For out of the gloom came the most horrible monster anyone could imagine. The Choker.

The Choker was a black fabric winding its way around the dog’s muzzle. If the dog wanted to chase something, all his master had to do was pull the leash and… ouch! His face was pulled back and his throat tightened. The dog hated the Choker, and the Choker apparently hated him back.

His master slipped the Choker onto the dog’s face, managing to maneuver past the dog’s twisting and turning head. After that, they set out.

So many scents! So many sights! The dog was immediately overwhelmed. He should chase that stray cat. No, the squirrel would be easier to catch. Sniff. Sniff. The unmistakable scent of dog wafted towards his nose. The dog’s head was spinning. Ignoring all the confusion, he went on.

Soon after he had left his house, the dog spotted a little rabbit in the hedges. A deep, threatening growl escaped his throat. His would-be prey, now aware of his presence, dashed away. The dog was determined to follow it, but before he could, pain shot through his head. Not the Choker again!

Then, the dog had an idea, perhaps the best of his lifetime. He twisted his head to nearly unreachable angles, rubbed it on the grass, and escaped the Choker’s grip. Yet as soon as he freed himself, his master’s foot was on his leash.

“DOWN,” he commanded.

The dog didn’t want to obey, but he had no choice. He sat placidly as his master reacquainted him with his old nemesis. Then, his master turned around and dragged the dog home.

As soon as he set foot inside the door, the dog felt sleep approaching and retired to his bed. He would have to tolerate life with the Choker, or life without walks.

Four-Legged Friends List

I'm so excited to join the new challenge! Here's my list:

White Fang by Jack London (wolf)
Guardians of Ga'Hoole: The Outcast by Kathryn Lasky (owls)
Guardians of Ga'Hoole: The First Collier by Kathryn Lasky (owls)
The Cat Who Went Bananas by Lilian Jackson Braun (cat)
Poppy and Rye by Avi (mice)
Cat House by Michael Peak (cats)
Cracker! The Best Dog in Vietnam by Cynthia Kadohata (dog)
A Dog Called Scholar by Ann H White (dog)
The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents by Terry Pratchett (cat and rats)
Watership Down by Richard Adams (rabbits)
The Sight by David Clement-Davies (wolves)
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIHM by Robert C. O'Brien (mice and rats)

The animal I'm reading in honor of is our family's beagle, Baker. We got Baker on October 28, 2006, as a birthday gift for my brother Gray. On that day, everyone was so excited. When Mom, Dad, and Gray headed off to Lollipop Farm, everyone at home was anxious to see what kind of dog we would get. They came home with a nervous and excited beagle who came with the name of Baker. What we didn't know was that Baker had thyroid problems, so we had no clue why he kept gaining weight. By January, he weighed a whopping 43 pounds, which is a lot for a beagle! Now, Baker takes a pill for his problem, is on a diet, and now weighs only 38 pounds. Everyone is so happy that Baker became a part of our family (except maybe Aldo, our cat)!

The Beasties (book review)

The Beasties, by William Sleator, is the story of fifteen-year-old Doug and his sister Collette, who discover an underground city of strange creatures who call themselves The Family. Collette and "The Family", known by most humans as the Beasties, take an instant liking to each other, but Doug isn't so sure about them. The Beasties have never killed anyone before, but they've left a trail of mutilated victims through the wilderness. But as time passes and strange things start happening, Doug has to make a choice: side with the Beasties, or face the fact that he'll never be safe again...

This was a great book! Full of unexpected twists and turns, the book never bores you. Each suspenseful page is better than the last! And I loved the rich, believable characters!

I give this book 10 out of 10 stars.

an update

I've decided to change my reading list a little bit. I read nearly 100 pages in The Beast of Noor, and I couldn't get into it. I'm going to substitute it with Midnighters: The Secret Hour by Scott Westerfield instead.

So here's my updated list:
*Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
*The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury
*MacBeth by William Shakespeare
*Scary! 2 edited by Peter Haining
*The Sight by David Clement Davies
*The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
*Vampire Plagues Book One: London, 1850 by Sebastian Rook
*The Best of Poe: The Tell-Tale Heart, The Raven, The Cask of Amontillado, and 30 Others
*The Bartimaeus Trilogy Book Two: The Golem's Eye by Jonathan Stroud
*The Bartimaeus Trilogy Book Three: Ptolemy's Gate by Jonathan Stroud
*The Beasties by William Sleator
*Midnighters: The Secret Hour by Scott Westerfeld
*The Kingdom Keepers by Ridley Pearson
*The Cronus Chronicles Book One: The Shadow Thieves by Anne Ursa
*The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien
*The House with a Clock in Its Walls by John Bellairs