Sunday, January 23, 2011

"Wringer"by Jerry Spinelli

WringerMost people don't have anything against pigeons, but this town does. Every year at Family Fest, on the last day, there is a pigeon shooting competition. If there is a wounded pigeon a wringer takes care of it. In this town all ten year old boys want to be wringers. Except for Palmer LaRue. He doesn't get why people want to hurt pigeons. What did pigeons ever do to them? When an unexpected visitor ends up at Palmer's window, he realizes that he has to make a decision, and a big one. One path will make him an outcast forever, and the other will leave him with a horrible secret for the rest of his life. Despite the freaky cover and sketchy name it wasn't very scary at all. The plot had slight rises, but nothing crazy, more like real life. Jerry Spinelli did a great job of showing the emotions throughout the book. I give it a 4 out of 5.

Friday, January 21, 2011

"Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins

Catching Fire (The Second Book of the Hunger Games)Five words, could not put it down! The rebellion spark has started and the inferno can't be stopped. Ever since Katniss refused to follow the rules of the Capitol nothing has been the same. Now Katniss has gone back to the games in the Quarter Quell. She has to go up against former victors of the games and keep Peeta alive. She has found that a huge force field surrounds the arena thanks to the help of Beetee and Wiress, tributes from district 3. She has also found out the trick of surviving, but can she do it?
     The plot was unstoppable and I was in love with the book. There were tons of surprises, and even if I tried I couldn't improve it. It gave the next book a great start. It was even better than the first book. I give it a 5 out of 5.

Monday, January 17, 2011

"The Magician" by Michael Scott

The Magician (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel)The second book of this series and even better than the first. Sophie and Josh Newman, a.k.a, twins of legend, are in Paris with Nicholas Flamel, Scathach, Saint-Germain, and the Maiden of Orleans. They are being hunted by Valkries, Dr. John Dee, Machiavelli, Dagon, and who knows what! Sophie's powers have been awakened and she now knows the magic of air and fire. Josh on the other hand is jealous of his sister and is considering going over to the evil side. Perenelle Flamel is stuck in Alcatraz prison and guarded by a sphinx. It's fast paced and rarely dull. Michael Scott has yet again put out another masterpiece. I say this book is a 5 out of 5.

"The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games: Book 1     Katniss Evergreen is a 16 year old girl living in the poorest district of Panem, the ruins of North America. The annual Hunger games are thought of as a death sentence, but when Katniss volunteers to take the place of her younger sister, she must be cunning, lovable, and most of all tough and strong. Winning means a life of luxury, losing means certain death. Suzanne Collins sweeps you into a world as diverse as it can get and as horrible and beautiful as possible. I look forward to reading the other two in the series and hope to see more of Suzanne Collins. This book is a 5 out of 5.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Catherine, Called Birdy by Karen Cushman

Catherine, Called Birdy (rpkg) (Trophy Newbery)Catherine is the daughter of a knight, but unlike a knight in shining armor, Catherine's dad is a beast that wants to marry her off to a pig. Not a real pig of course, although he is quite close to one. Catherine is and adventurous girl with a spirit of adventure. She hates the idea of embroidering, hemming, or anything ladylike really.  Her best friend is a goat boy and her idea of fun is setting the privy on fire. Suitors, she hates em, birds and chaos, she loves em. Karen Cushmans historical ficton is a work of art. I give this book a 5 out of 5.

Friday, December 31, 2010

I'd Tell You that I love You but then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter


I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You (Gallagher Girls)At The Galleger Academy for Exeptional Young Women, Cammie is a normal highschool girl. At least as normal as a spy in training can be. Cammie, her friends Bex, Liz, and Macey are doing whatever they can to make the grade, pass the class, and stay unseen. With a new CoveOps teacher everything is twice as hard. The plot of the book was mediocre. It stayes at one level. The unexpected ending made me wish for more. There was a lot of humor throughout the book though so I give it a 3.

The Alchemyst( The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel) by Michael Scott


The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas FlamelThe Alchemyst, the first book in the sereies "The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel" was reccomended to me by a least three people before I actually read it. I should have taken the first persons advice. Michael Scott's novel is a New York Times bestseller, and has gotten much praise. The first chapter was an immediate takeoff into the magical and immortal world of the Elders and the dark Elders, who plan to destroy the world and take it back to how it was. Humans as slaves, food,or worse. I'm full of praise although one part confused me throughout the book. Without giving too much away ( minor spoiler) the twins ages feel like they should be reversed. Josh should be older and Sophie should be younger. Even if it is just by around 28 seconds. I give this book a 4 and a half.