Ice by Sarah Beth Durst

Summary (from back of book): When Cassie was a little girl, her grandmother told her a fairy tale about her mother, who made a deal with the Polar Bear King and was swept away to the ends of the earth. Now that Cassie is older, she knows the story was a nice way of saying her mother had died. Cassie lives with her father at an Arctic research station, is determined to become a scientist, and has no time for make believe.

Then, on her eighteenth birthday, Cassie comes face-to-face with a polar bear who speaks to her. He tells her that her mother is alive, imprisoned at the ends of the earth. And he can bring her back—if Cassie will agree to be his bride.
That is the beginning of Cassie’s own real-life fairy tale, one that sends her on an unbelievable journey across the brutal Arctic, through the Canadian Boreal forest, and on the back of the North Wind to the land east of the sun and west of the moon. Before it is over, the world she knows will be swept away, and everything she hold dear will be taken from her—under she discovers the true meaning of love and family in the magical realm of Ice.

Review: The book is as cheesy as the summary makes it sound, and slightly worse. I picked up the book because I am a fan of urban like fantasy stories, ones that integrate fantasy into everyday life (also, I’m a sucker for anything with wild animals in it). I have such mixed feelings over this book. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t love it either. The main characters, Bear and Cassie mainly, annoyed the heck out of me. Bear was far too perfect for even a character in a book, and Cassie was so stubborn it made her stupid. The pregnancy wasn’t realistic and the idea that a soul determines whether a baby is stillborn or not bugged me. Mostly because I am in a child development class right now and I know the ins and out of pregnancy and birth at this point.

As for the plot? It seemed very rushed. One minute she hated Bear the next she loved him, and was risking her life to save him. It flowed very easily, I mean you were not stuck in one place very long so Durst doesn’t give you very much time to get bored with the book. I skimmed a lot of the book so the description and dialogue were not enough to keep my eyes glued to every word. I read and it just didn’t get me interested from the start, so I simply skimmed to get the book done.
All that being said it reminded me very much of a common folklore story that natives tell to explain a certain phenomena—not necessarily a bad thing. Overall it wasn’t horrific, but it wasn’t really all that great either. It kept me entertained and I didn’t want to gouge my eyes out.

Rating: 3/5

Reviews from the Pros:

“This beautifully drawn tale captured me in a realm of wonders!” –Tamora Pierce

“I loved this deeply romantic story!”—Juliet Marillier

"ICE is a beautiful and shivery tale of sacrifice and love. Highly recommended, and just in time for the winter season." -- Becca Fitzpatrick

"Durst flawlessly weaves together romance, adventure, and a modern sensibility to create a highly inventive and suspenseful story of a girl on the cusp of adulthood. Readers will take Cassie and Bear to their hearts." -- School Library Journal

"Durst skillfully integrates a contemporary girl into an updated version of the tale East of the Sun and West of the Moon, balancing the magical with the modern... [Cassie's] quest for self-worth, independence, maturity and love, is twisty, absorbing and satisfying." – Publisher’s Weekly

"Told in a descriptive style that perfectly captures the changing settings, Durst's novel is a page-turner that readers who enjoy adventure mixed with fairy-tale romance will find hard to put down." -- Booklist

On a side note, I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas! Hope Santa brings you all you wished for! I am hoping for some great new reads!
~She Who Reads A Lot

Catching Fire

Summary: Against all odds, Katniss has won the Hunger Games. She and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellmark are miraculously still alive, Katniss should be relieved, happy even. After all, she has returned to her family and her long time friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gales holes her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol---a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.

Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest s he’s afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her even more is that she’s not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol’s cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can’t prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying.

Prequel: The Hunger Games

Review: This book gave me nightmares. That is how good it was, and on top of that I still kept reading it despite that it gave me nightmares that left me terrified. Literally I had to take a break from reading it at one point because a nightmare was a little too real for my wimpy tastes. The reason I think that this book gave me nightmares was because last year I took a Genocide class and we studied in depth the Holocaust in WWII and all the techniques that the Germans used. So when all of a sudden {SPOILER} bombings, riots, shooting into random crowds, and nerve gassing {SPOILER END} popped up, I could easily picture it happening. This book is so life-like it is scary.

I don’t want to give anything away from this book because you have to go read it, but Katniss is such a believable character. Sometimes I want to smack her, but she is a breath of relief when considering literature. She is a survivor and you can see that in her doubts, fears, but she is also brave and will not back down. She is relatable and as always Peeta is a genuinely good human being.

Gah. I can’t even put it into words. Basically just go read it, like now. If you have not read the prequel, the Hunger Games, then shame on you! I will hit you over the head with a rock so could read them both now!

Reviews from the Pros:

#1 USA TODAY BESTSELLER
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
#1 WALL STREET JOURNAL BESTSELLER
#1 PUBLISHERS WEEKLY BESTSELLER
A NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW EDITORS' CHOICE
TIME MAGAZINE
TOP 10 FICTION BOOKS OF 2009
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY'S BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR:
CHILDREN'S FICTION
A BOOKLIST EDITORS' CHOICE, 2009
KIRKUS BEST YOUNG ADULT BOOKS OF 2009
#2 ON FALL 2009 CHILDREN'S INDIE NEXT LIST
BARNES & NOBLE BEST TEEN BOOKS OF 2009
AMAZON BEST BOOKS OF 2009:
TOP 100 EDITORS' PICK
TOP 10 BOOKS: TEENS

"Collins has done that rare thing. She has written a sequel that improves upon the first book."
--The New York Times, Gabrielle Zevin

"Again, Collins’ crystalline, unadorned prose provides an open window to perfect pacing and electrifying world-building, but what’s even more remarkable is that aside from being tremendously action-packed sf thrillers, these books are also brimming with potent themes of morality, obedience, sacrifice, redemption, love, law, and, above all, survival. Honestly, this book only needs to be good enough to satisfy its legions of fans. Fortunately, it’s great. And if you were dying to find out what happens after the last book, get ready for pure torture awaiting the next."
--Booklist, STARRED REVIEW

"...doesn’t disappoint when it segues into the pulse-pounding action readers have come to expect. Characters from the previous volume reappear to good effect: Katniss’s stylist, Cinna, proves he’s about more than fashion; Haymitch becomes more dimensional. But the star remains Katniss, whose bravery, honesty and wry cynicism carry the narrative...Collins has also created an exquisitely tense romantic triangle for her heroine...by book’s end (and it’s a cliffhanger), readers will be picking sides—Peeta or Gale?”
--Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW

"Stellar, imaginative writing."
--Los Angeles Times


"Beyond the expert world building, the acute social commentary and the large cast of fully realized characters, there’s action, intrigue, romance and some amount of hope in a story readers will find completely engrossing. Collins weaves in enough background for this novel to stand alone, but it will be a far richer experience for those who have read the first installment and come to love Katniss, Peeta, Haymitch and the rest of the desperate residents of this dystopia. A humdinger of a cliffhanger will leave readers clamoring for volume three."
--Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW


"...this sequel has enough action to please Hunger Games fans and leaves enough questions tantalizingly unanswered for readers to be desperate for the next installment."
--School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW

"Collins ratchets up the tension in the second book in the Hunger Games trilogy. With a host of well-drawn new secondary characters and more lives on the line, this will keep readers of all ages up long past their bedtimes."
--Romantic Times Book Reviews, ****1/2 STARS

"Collins has once again delivered a page-turning blend of plot and character with an inventive setting and provocative themes."
--The Horn Book Magazine

Read it. NOW.

Leviathan

Summary: It is the cusp of World War I, and all the European powers are arming up. The Austro-Hungarians and Germans have their clankers, steam-driven iron machines loaded with guns and ammunition. The British Darwinists employ fabricated animals as their weaponry. Their Leviathan is a whale airship, and the most masterful beat in the British Fleet.

Aleksander Ferdinand, prince of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, is on the run. His own people have turned on him. His title is worthless. All he has is a battle-torn Stormwalker and a loyal crew of men. Deryn Sharp is a commoner, a girl disguised as a boy in the British Air Service. She’s a brilliant airman. But her secret is in constant danger of being discovered.

With the Great War brewing, Alek’s and Deryn’s paths cross in the most unexpected way...taking them both aboard the Leviathan on a fantastical, around-the-world adventure. One that will change both their lives forever.

Review:

I finished this book ages ago, I just didn’t post a review because I’ve been intensely lazy. So this review will probably be lazy too. Leviathan (which I cannot pronounce for the life of me!) was a great book, if you detach it from Scott Westerfeld’s name. I expected the same compelling tone that starts off Uglies, and though Leviathan is compelling, it is so in a completely different way.

That being said, Westerfeld is still a brilliant author. He crafts the book so you cannot stop reading, literally. He puts you in with one character for two chapters and then by the end of the 2nd chapter you are dying to know what is going to happy to the person, but then it changes points of view. Then by the end of that person’s 2nd chapter you have to know what happens to them. You get the point, you can’t stop because he doesn’t allow you.

Long story short, when you forget about Westerfeld’s previous novels it is a great book. Just don’t pick the book up expecting to find another version of Uglies because you will be sorely disappointed. If you want a unique history (somewhat) based adventure story then I encourage you, strongly to pick up Leviathan. I know I will certainly be looking out for the sequels, by the end of the book I didn’t want it to end.

Rating: 4.7/5

Reviews from the Pros:

Meh. When I get non-lazy I will look it up. I am telling you Senioritis is all ready setting it!

Overall awesome book. Go read it!

Soul Eater

Summary: It's winter, and Wolf, Torak's beloved pack-brother, has been captured by an unknown foe. In a desperate bid to rescue him, Torak and Renn must brave the frozen wilderness of the Far North.

As they battle for survival amid howling blizzards and the ever-present menace of the great white bear, their friendship is tested to the breaking point, and Torak is forced to get closer to his enemies than ever before. ..(I didn't write the summary, btw)

Review:
When I first picked up this book I felt ridiculous. I’d received it for Christmas two years earlier and it had been at least three years since I had read the Ancient Chronicles of Darkness series. I remembered them being good, but obviously not enough to keep my 8-9th grade self interested for Soul Eater sat on my shelf unread for two years (a rare feat). However, I had nothing else to read and if I didn’t read before bed I wouldn’t sleep. So I picked it up.

In the beginning I was annoyed and could remember why I never got more than ten pages in. Wolf was gone, again. He always disappeared! The only reason I ever read the books was for the relationship between wolf and Torak. For the first half I found myself pushing through just to get it done, however it was around that halfway point that it got fascinatingly addicting. All I could think about was Torak and Renn and what would happen next during the day and regretting that’d I’d left the book home on my night stand. I couldn’t wait to pick it up again and see what would happen in the next chapter. I wondered if the Soul Eaters would get away with it, how was Torak ever going to get out of it? Would he ever find a place?

In books like Rogue’s home it’s the characters that make the story, in the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness although Torak, Renn, and especially Wolf (my favorite character) are indeed vital parts, it’s the world in general that Paver creates that keeps the reader enticed. To imagine the ancient world where demons, spirits, and animals are always feared and respected. It puts you in a different kind of fantasy world and that world with its twists and turns is what makes the book what it is.

Rating: 4/5 I thought the beginning was annoying but by the end of book I absolutely loved it.

Reviews (not from the pros this time but many readers):

'Elegantly written and imaginatively executed, Soul Eater, is darker and edgier than the first two books, stepping up the face of this excellent series and promising plenty more adventures to come.' Rowan Stanfield, CAROUSEL

'The detailed research into prehistory and the matchless storytelling combine to create an irresistable feast for readers and it's easy to see why these books are so addictive.' (Becky Stradwick, Borders THE BOOKSELLER )

[being compared to William Nicholson's Jango] 'exceptional storytelling... Both Paver and Nicholson create fully realised fictional worlds that are far removed from our own but utterly relevant and convincing. I eagerly await the next installments.' (Angela Lockton, The Golden Treasury THE BOOKSELLER )

'Paver is a master storyteller, whose clear, taut prose overlies complex research. There is magic, but it is natural magic, depending on perception or superstition... The thrill of this remarkable series is that it makes readers percieve the world differently.' (Amanda Craig THE TIMES )

'Paver has a flair and a directness that really packs a punch... readers get a real sense of what it would be like to be in Torak's shoes.' (LIVERPOOL ECHO )

'exhilarating... Torak's trusty companion, Wolf, is captured by the Soul Eaters. The brilliance of Paver's earlier books lay in her descriptions of life as a wolf, and in the tender relationship between boy and lupine. But if this is pushed off centre, it is almost made up for by Torak's nuanced friendship with the girl, Renn... Readers of eight and above will find the story gripping.' (Lorna Bradbury DAILY TELEGRAPH )

'This is a marvellous book. It really, really is. It's a living, breathing, world of a story, perfectly realised and never missing a beat.' (Jill Murphy THEBOOKBAG.CO.UK )

'This was a very gripping book and had me on tenterhooks 'til the end! It was so well written that you could really believe these were the thoughts and feelings of a wolf.' (Lucy Howlett, age 12 FIRST NEWS )

'Much anticipated third novel in the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness sries. Both feral and otherworldly... strange and thrilling with a huge following.' (THE BOOK MAGAZINE )

'A wonderfully imagined adventure... left me enlightened, moved and optimistic. (Gaye Hicyilmaz TES )

'a story with a relatively small cast of characters and a single narrative trajectory, yet Paver find interest and excitement everywhere. The excitement of the surface adventure draws extra power from Paver's creation of a way of life, myth and magic that is rooted in people's relationship with an unyielding environment... a triumph of the imagination.' (Clive Barnes BOOKS FOR KEEPS )

'Once I had picked up the book I could not put it down and I read till long past my bedtime and every morning. I was in Torak's world all day and in my bed I go over what I have read and guess what will happen next. It is so unpredicatable that I was almost always wrong! It was a thrilling read!' (Hugh (age 11) FAMILIES SOUTH WEST )

'consistently superb... meticulously realised...' (Amanda Craig THE TIMES )

'Soul Eater crackles with atmosphere.' (Julia Eccleshare THE GUARDIAN )

'The third book in the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series and it is one of the best... Soul Eater is an amazing book.' (Benjy Taylor (age 10) INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY )

Rogue's Home

Summary: The Boys Are Back!

Sir Michael Sevenson and his squire, Fisk, can't seem to keep out of hot water. After five long years, Fisk has been called home to Ruesport to investigate who framed his sister Anna's husband, Max, as a blackmailer. Anna figures that Fisk, with his criminal past, is uniquely qualified to find out who set Max up. Of course Michael feels he has to come along to help his friend; but now he wears the tattoos of the unredeemed and fears he might be more hindrance than help.

Review: As many of you probably know at this point Hilari Bell is one of my favorite authors. Once again she proves worthy of all the obsessing I do over her books! I had enjoyed Last Knight, it was fun and the characters were well-written and hilarious. I loved Rogue’s Home. It was just the book I needed in the beginning of my senior year! I was stressing so much over college Applications and senior project; it was beyond relief to emerge myself in Rogue's Home every night.

The characters are as lovable as ever. Fisk's character is much more fleshed out as we are given more information about his past and his quirky, intelligent, and somewhat cynical personality. Michael is as sweet as ever, but perhaps not as naïve as he was in the first book. The growth he has made as a character and as a young man has been believable and somewhat endearing to witness. Being unredeemed taught him a lesson about first impression and how sometimes appearances really do matter. It is hard to dismiss the growth in Fisk's character as well, all ready so clever and cynical he learns to soften and care for others, Michael primarily. The bond between the two is like true brotherhood (some may choose to see it in a bromance kind of way). [P.S. If anyone out there is a Merlin fan {The most amazing British TV Show to ever air!} Michael and Fisk remind me so much of Merlin and Arthur that all I could picture through the entire book was the two of them.]

The dialogue flows easy and the old-speak English doesn't seem odd or out of place at all. As with the first book, there are parts in the book that are laugh-out-loud funny. There were times when I was literally dead tired and I would just burst out laughing at what I had read. The plot kept me questioning the entire time. I went back and forth through suspects in my mind attempting to figure it out before Fisk and Michael did. No such luck! At one point I really did think Judith did it! (read the book to get the joke!)

Basically Rogue's Home was fun, exciting, enthralling, funny, suspenseful, and just plain enjoyable. You need to go read this series.

Rating: 5/5 it was not life-changing no, but its book like these that make reading worthwhile.

Review from the Pros:

"The sequel to THE LAST KNIGHT, ROGUE'S HOME is a medieval tale of mystery and action that will captivate readers and keep them guessing until the end of the book."- From Teensreadtoo.com

"[P]art buddy comedy, part Don Quixote, and part mystery novel, Bell outdoes herself with this intrepid pair. ...Count on the book's humor, suspense, and plot twists to keep readers coming back for future installments." (School Library Journal )

"...the appeal of the series lies in the two strong protagonists, Mike and Fisk, and the fundamental tension as well as growing bond between them."-ALA Booklist

"Bell writes with a buoyant, easygoing style, creating character and setting...with economy and giving her readers a lighthearted, but also warmhearted, tale. ...Good-humored and thoughtful, this has the appeal of a dashing mystery-adventure, but the deeper elements of friendship and family loyalty give it substance." (Horn Book Magazine )

"[G]reat: lost of humor, likable people, mystery and suspense aplenty." (Kirkus Reviews )

I strongly encourage you to pick up any book by Hilari Bell. They’re supposedly for middle schoolers and early high schoolers but I am a senior in high school and still equally enjoy her books that I read in 7th grade.

Bonus! Awesome Quote:

Mrs. Trimmer turned beady eyes on me. "Humph. I've heard of you. I suppose you've gotten clever and come home to batten on the leavings. Serve you right there aren't any. I hope you're prepared to work."
If Mrs. Trimmer had been wearing an apron, I might have taken that more kindly.
"I never work." I smiled blandly. "If you're clever you don't have to. Are you a hard worker, Mrs. Trimmer?"-Fisk, Rogue’s Home

Happy Reading!

~She Who Reads A lot

Princess Ben

Princess Ben Summary [Courtesy of powells.com]: Benevolence is not your typical princess and Princess Ben is certainly not your typical fairy tale. With her parents lost to unknown assassins, Princess Ben ends up under the thumb of the conniving Queen Sophia, who is intent on marrying her off to the first available “specimen of imbecilic manhood.” Starved and miserable, locked in the castles highest tower, Ben stumbles upon a mysterious enchanted room. So begins her secret education in the magical arts: mastering an obstinate flying broomstick, furtively emptying the castle pantries, setting her hair on fire . . . But Bens private adventures are soon overwhelmed by a mortal threat facing the castle and indeed the entire country. Can Princess Ben save her kingdom from annihilation and herself from permanent enslavement?

Review: all right Princess Ben...what to say...this book was completely up and down for me. There were parts where I was thoroughly enjoying myself and others where I was bored. The beginning (as mentioned before) was intriguing and captivating but the second chapter throws you into something different and into a boring explanation of her country. It starts exciting then gets boring. Much of the first part of the book (the book is divided into four parts that Ben taglines wittily) was boring to me. All she did was whine and eat and behave like a childish little brat whose pride got the best of their rationality. The second part, where she finally finds magic, was fun and interesting. She could actually do something besides whine! Then the third part was decent, nothing amazing, but certainly not too boring. The final part was…all right, again a mix of good and bad. It was good up until the ending, which was rushed and had a distinct air (I believe) of duex de machina.(A term used in Greek theatre that meant that a solution to the problem came just miraclously [or about that definiton])

The characters in Princess Ben were fairly fleshed out. Ben was a typical teenage girl, who just happened to be the crown princess. She won’t tolerate being told what to do (especially when she doesn’t want to do it in the first place), she eats away her problems and grief, and she has spouts of irrationality that stubbornness blocks everything else out. Queen Sophia is a powerful ruler and strict care-taker but ultimately, knows what she’s doing. Florian...was very Prince Charming like, a bit too much for my taste. He and Ben hated each other for the whole third and fourth part of the book and then at the end of the fourth part, he suddenly loves her.

The ending really did it for me. It all seems to happily ever after. Suddenly out of nowhere the problem is resolved in a moment’s notice. The conflict that has been happening the entire book. Out of nowhere life was practically perfect for Princess Ben and her kingdom. It didn’t seem real and seemed completely rushed to me.

The concept is amazing, by the way, just I don’t think Catherine Murdock did a good job executing it. It could’ve been great, instead it sort of just looks like a big mess.

Rating: 2.5/5 it wasn’t terrible for sure...but the book was too much of a rollercoaster and the ending was too rushed. Concept gets five stars though, and Ben is a solid 4 (her narrative voice could use a little work). Overall the book was slightly enjoyable.

Reviews from the pros:

“Murdock's first venture into fantasy offers a fairy tale with several twists and surprises, and readers will be drawn into the world and moods that she creates.” –school Library Journal

“The wild adventure, intricately imagined setting, memorable characters, and romance will charm readers, especially fans of Gail Carson Levine’s Fairest (2006).”-Booklist, starred review


~She Who Reads A Lot

The Hunger Games

Summary: In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keep the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen year old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister’s place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she become a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

Review: Okay so by my own little policy, I try not to read two books at once because it gets confusing. However, this time I made an exception... I started Princess Ben but the Hunger Games was taunting me. I’d bought it months ago simply on the basis that I’d heard it was amazing. It’d been sitting up on my bookshelf for what seemed like months—and Princess Ben was confusing me---so I caved and took it down. I started it Thursday and was done by Sunday night. I took it out to my cottage and literally it came down to my father pulling it out of my hands as the boat got going telling me if I didn't put the damn book away it would be waterlogged. Every time I put it down my fingers itched to get back into the story, constantly wondering what was going to happen. Basically all I’d heard about the book was beyond true.

Panem reminded me of a twisted Rome—after Caesar takes over. The Hunger Games are much like gladiator fights, only much more cruel. Let me tell you Panem is not a pleasant place to be. The Capitol literally takes young children from their parents and for 23 of those children (ranging from 12 to 18) it’s a death sentence for out of the 24 tributes taken only one will return alive. The Hunger Games are a way of reminding the districts that the Capitol could kill them all at a minutes notice. It’s a terrible frightening world to even think about.

Unless you live in the Capitol life in Panem basically, to put it bluntly, sucks. People of the districts scavenge for food to even live. Katniss Everdeen, from district 12, only survives by breaking the law and hunting in the woods. She lives for her sister, so when Prim's (her sister) name is pulled out of the bowl to compete in the Hunger Games Katniss doesn’t even think when she volunteers herself in her place.

It's hard for me to say what makes this book so amazing, because its so many things! It could be the characters. Katniss is a well-written heroine with a temper and awesome aim who you will be rooting for the entire time. Peeta is a lovable sweet boy who you can’t help but love. It could be the writing. It's funny and witty, but at the same time has this sense of urgency to it. It makes the world seem so real. (By the way this book just screams movie! So I hope that’s in the works...)
Basically it was fantastic. You need to go read it, like, now.

Rating: 5/5 Simply a fantastic addictive book.

Reviews from the Pros:

"What happens if we choose entertainment over humanity? In Collins's world, we'll be obsessed with grooming, we'll talk funny, and all our sentences will end with the same rise as questions. When Katniss is sent to stylists to be made more telegenic before she competes, she stands naked in front of them, strangely unembarrassed. "They're so unlike people that I'm no more self-conscious than if a trio of oddly colored birds were pecking around my feet," she thinks. In order not to hate these creatures who are sending her to her death, she imagines them as pets. It isn't just the contestants who risk the loss of their humanity. It is all who watch."
--Publishers Weekly, Megan Whalen Turner, STARRED REVIEW


"...brilliantly plotted and perfectly paced...a futuristic novel every bit as good and as allegorically rich as Scott Westerfeld's 'Uglies' books."
--The New York Times, John Green


“...enthralling, imaginative and creepy...”
--Los Angeles Times


"Collins's characters are completely realistic and sympathetic as they form alliances and friendships in the face of overwhelming odds; the plot is tense, dramatic, and engrossing. This book will definitely resonate with the generation raised on reality shows like "Survivor" and "American Gladiator."
--School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW


"[A] plot-driven blend of suspense, science fiction, and romance."
--USA Today,

"The plot is front and center here—the twists and turns are addictive, particularly when the romantic subplot ups the ante—yet the Capitol’s oppression and exploitation of the districts always simmers just below the surface, waiting to be more fully explored in future volumes. Collins has written a compulsively readable blend of science fiction, survival story, unlikely romance, and social commentary."
--Horn Book, STARRED REVIEW


"Populated by three dimensional characters, this is a superb tale of physical adventure, political suspense, and romance."
--Booklist, STARRED REVIEW


"Themes of government control, "big brother," and personal independence are explored amidst a thrilling adventure that will appeal to science fiction, survival, and adventure readers. The suspense of this powerful novel will keep the reader glued to the page long after bedtime."
--VOYA, Deborah L. Dubois


"Impressive world-building, breathtaking action and clear philosophical concerns make this volume, the beginning of a planned trilogy, as good as The Giver and more exciting."
--Kirkus

Nobody's Prize (Finally!)

Summary [From Book]: Destined to become a beauty, raised to be a queen, young Helen of Sparta refuses to be left behind when her older brothers enlist in the quest for the Golden Fleece—why should boys get to have all the fun? Accompanied by her friend, the ex-slave Milo, and disguised as a boy herself, Helen sets out to join the crew of heroes abroad the fabled ship the Argo.

Helen soon faces all sorts of dangers and intrigue. She must use her wits to avoid her brothers’ detection, even as a devastatingly handsome boy catches her eye and brash, boisterous Hercules falls in love with her boy-self. In pursuit of the Fleece, Helen faces warrior women, deadly prophecies, and a terrifying, murderous princess. Not to mention the start of her period...

With her beauty blossoming, Helen’s journey takes her beyond the mythology of the Golden Fleece, across the seas of the ancient world to Athens, where her very future as Queen of Sparta is threatened.

Review: Ha I actually finished this book! It took forever (I’m not sure why, but it did). All right on to the review. First off, I would like to say how much I love Helen as a character. She is a strong, determined, outgoing girl who will not take no for an answer. She’s the kind of girl who would not allow a man to hold the door open for her. Helen refuses to sit by and let the boys have all the fun! She’s a greek version of the feminist.

Another reason I am so fond of this series is because I am a history-nerd, and greek mythology has always fascinated me. I thought the idea of the different Gods and the different stories on how they came to be. I knew the story behind Helen of Troy and for some reason had always pictured this gorgeous blonde Spartan girl who was just looks, no brains. It much more suits my liking to think of Helen of Troy as the Helen in Friesner’s novels. Anyways…on to the actual book.

The book was fast-paced (much like the first) and filled with moments of adventure and disaster at a moment’s notice. One character’s death threw me so much for a loop that I literally had to read the page over again to understand what had happened. It was compelling and fun, but I did put it down and was able to forget about it for a while. So it’s nothing completely unforgettable, but it’s a good adventure book. Friesner’s characters are entertaining and different. Basically a great adventure book for anyone looking for a fun fast-paced read with awesome characters, but nothing life changing.

Rating: 4/5 Lots of fun, kick-ass characters, awesome story, but not amazing.

Reviews from the Pros:

"Helen is the original ‘girl power’ heroine! She hungers for adventure like some people hunger for a new pair of cute shoes...if you are a fan of the romance, adventure, and intrigue in mythology, but would like to look a little deeper to humanize the characters from your favorite stories, this is the book for you!"–Justine Magazine

"Friesner is an accomplished writer who is able to interweave a contemporary feel for these ancient characters with piece of history and mythology. She can also be funny, as readers can virtually feel Helen rolling her eyes during the course of her narration."-voice of Youth Advocates

"The fresh take on a familiar woman...will intrigue both mythology fans and those readers who can’t get enough of tough girl heroines, regardless of setting or genre."-The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s books.

"Readers may be familiar with the legends and myths of Jason and the Golden Fleece, Medea, Hercules, and Helen of Troy, but Esther Friesner weaves these characters together in a teen novel that lifts them off those dusty pages and into a re-imagined tale of adventure and intrigue…It is a thrilling coming-of-age story that will undoubtedly please fans of Nobody’s Princess and garner new fans." –Historical Novels Review

Looking for Alaska

Summary: Miles Halter, or “Pudge”, (a boy obsessed with last words) wants to leave his boring minor life in Florida in search of the "Great Perhaps", and he decides that the great perhaps is in the private school Culver Creek in Alabama. He arrives at Culver Creek to meet Chip, or “the Colonel”, his genius roommate who enjoys drinking, smoking, hating the Weekday Warriors, playing video games, and pranking. The Colonel then introduces Miles to the amazing, mysterious (albeit strange), but beautiful Alaska Young. There is an immediate attraction between the two and Miles’s feelings towards her grow through the first half of the book. Miles quickly settles into Culver Creek life with the Colonel, Alaska, and Takumi as he partakes in a more outgoing lifestyle than his back in Florida. Then one night, when everything is finally looking up for Miles, his whole world is turned upside down. Alaska dies. She dies after he and the Colonel allow her to leave campus completely drunk (.24 BAC) and she goes straight and fast into a cop car. Miles can hardly live with the grief and guilt, so in an attempt to make sense of Alaska’s final hours, Miles and the Colonel decide to try to figure out what happened to Alaska. Was it suicide? Or truly an accident?

Review: Well I actually read this book for my summer reading homework. This was my choice book, the other one I had to read was 1984 by George Orwell. Anywho...I’ve been meaning to pick up a John Green novel forever (since I discovered him on youtube in the famous vlogbrothers), and I’m so happy I did. Green is a superior writer. He knows how to draw in readers without even trying to. His characters are fun, compelling, and real. The dialogue is laugh-out-loud funny at some points, but at others filled with depth and intellect. Everyone’s character growth is believable and watching as Miles grew was quite amazing. This book is just filled with real issues for many real teenagers. Looking for Alaska has such a real authentic voice and it is such an amazing debut novel for John Green. All Young Adults should read it.

Basically it was awesome, and when I went back to read Nobody’s Prize which I put on hiatus for summer reading...Nobody’s Prize looked and sounded extremely lacking. Everyone should read Looking for Alaska and make sure to savor Green’s unique
writing.

Rating: 5/5 there is a reason it won the Printz award.

Reviews from the Pros:

"Miles's narration is alive with sweet, self-deprecating humor...like Phineas in John Knowles's A Separate Peace, Green draws Alaska...lovingly, in self-loathing darkness as well as energetic light." –SLJ, starred review

"Miles is a witty narrator...he’s also an articulate spokesperson for the legions of teens searching for life meaning."-BCCB, starred review

"Compelling...What sets this novel apart is the brilliant, insightful, suffering but enduring voice of Miles Halter."-Chicago Tribune

Winner of the Michael L. Printz award
Los Angeles times book prize finalist
An ALA Best Book for Young Adults top 10
An ALA quick pick
A Booklist editors’ choice
A Kirkus best book of the year
An SLJ Best Book of the Year

Extras

Summary [From book]: It’s a few years after rebel Tally Youngblood took down the uglies/pretties/specials regime. Without those strict roles and rules, the world is in a complete cultural renaissance. “Tech-heads” flaunt their latest gadgets, “kickers” spread gossip and trends, and “surge monkeys” are hooked on extreme plastic surgery. And it’s all monitored on a bazillion different cameras. The world is like a gigantic game of American Idol. Whoever is getting the most buzz gets the most votes. Popularity rules.

As if being fifteen doesn’t suck enough, Aya Fuse’s rank of 451, 369 is so low, she’s a total nobody. An extra. Her only chance to escape extra-land is to find a big story to kick—something wild and unexpected.

Then Aya meets a clique of girls who pull crazy tricks, yet are deeply secretive of it. But the sly girls are hiding something bigger--an explosive discovery that may change the face of the brave new world forever. If Aya kicks this story, she’ll be propelled into the world of fame, celebrity…and extreme danger. A world she’s not prepared for.

Review: I have mixed feelings about Westerfeld fourth installment in the Uglies series. It did not bug me that it wasn’t about Tally Youngblood, in fact that made it more exciting. It was interesting to see the “mind-rain” through someone who experienced it. I had some problems with Aya’s personality, but that’s simply because of the way her character was. She was so obsessed with fame that she didn’t seem to care about anything else, and that bugged me. The idea of reputation economy is...interesting but also, in Tally’s words, so brain-missing!

I also got a kick out of Radical Honesty, mostly because I watch Lie To Me and it strikes me as familiar. Loker’s version of Radical Honesty didn’t work out, and in the end…Frizz’s didn’t either. Perhaps that is some world truth about honesty. The idea of this whole society, of kickers, tech-heads, and surge monkeys was really cool. The plot of Extras kept me hooked but at times I found myself bored with it.

Basically: It was good, not as good as the previous books though, I don’t think. Still think Westerfeld is a genius, but wasn’t the biggest fan of Extras.

Rating: 4/5 not amazing, but good.

Reviews from the pros:

Honestly...I couldn’t find any, I scoured the web and didn’t see anything. Unfortunately, I own the hardcover book of Extras so no reviews on there.

Now I’m off to finally read Nobody’s Prize!

~She Who Reads A Lot

The Last Knight

Summary: Need a Hero?

You've got one in Sir Michael Sevenson.

Although there hasn't been a knight errant in over two hundred years, this young noble has decided to revive the trade. He's found himself a reluctant partner in Fisk, a clever rogue who has been given the choice of serving as Michael's squire or going to jail for a very long time. Now Michael and Fisk are on a quest to right wrongs, protect the innocent, and make the world a happier place.
It's not going to be easy. On their first attempt at rescuing a damsel in distress, they break a lady out of a tower, only to discover she was there for good reason: awaiting trial for poisoning her husband. Now the would-be heroes must find Lady Ceciel and return her to justice or be condemned themselves. (summary taken from Harperteens.com)

Review: Hilari Bell is one of my favorite authors, probably my favorite author. She is the one author I can say I’ve read most of her books and enjoyed them enough to read a second time through or more. Thus when I found The Last Knight in my school library I was very enthusiastic to pick it up and read it.

I did enjoy this book. It wasn’t great, though. The book was enjoyable and interesting enough to keep me reading—but not interesting enough that I couldn’t put it down. It was a good, fun, light read. I loved the characters, as I always do in Bell’s books, Fisk made me laugh and Michael was so sweet and naïve. They were the perfect pair. The book was fun and there is nothing I can really critique on it. Well except for a few times when I was left a bit confused about the characters and plot innuendos (though it is only the first in the series...).

So an enjoyable read, not amazing.

Rating: 4.5/5 I do recommend it highly to anyone of all ages, I can’t give it a five out of five because it doesn’t jump out at me really.

Reviews from the Pros:

“This well-created fantasy is a great read.”-School Library Journal

“The humorous dialogue and the friendship that develops will make this magical medieval mystery a fun read.” –Kirkus Reviews

“A remarkable writer.”-Orson Scott Card

City of Glass

Summary: To save her mother’s life. Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters—never mind that entering the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight.
As Clary uncovers more about her family’s past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadowhunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadowhunters forever, there only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he’s willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her newfound powers to help save the Glass City—whatever the cost?

Review: I loved loved loved loved loved this book! Did I mention I loved it? This book was the perfect ending for the series, and though there were times I wanted to kill Clary I could quickly overlook it with the plot. The amazing plot that suddenly fills in all the questions that City of Bones and City of Glass leave for you. I suppose if you want to be nit-picky not all little comments are answered, but as Clary said really aren’t some secrets best left unknown? Either way Clare does a magnificent job with this book—with this series—I love reading them all. The way she writes…I feel as if I am looking through an artist’s eye when I read this book. The vivid descriptions just take you into Idris, a place I would very much like to see. Clare just keeps improving with each book she writes. Within this amazingly written book are unforgettable scenes and characters. I loved watching these characters grow, because they certainly did tremendously, and I think that Clare left them at a good spot in their lives, there life wasn’t perfect but they were happy, and that just makes the ending all the better. This is a book I would read over and over again. Basically it’s amazing. Go read it. Now. =P

Rating: 5/5 duh.

Reviews:

"The Mortal Instruments series is a story world that I love to live in. I hate to see the story end, but if it has to end, then City of Glass is the most perfect way for that to happen. Beautiful!”- Stephenie Meyer

"This book has terror, unexpected twists, sorrow—it is tragedy edged by lightning, driven by power and love. Clare keeps getting better!"-Tamora Pierce

"The time has come for the Clave to oppose Valentine, but he has no intentions of submitting, putting both the Shadowhunters and the Downworlders on edge. Clare's concluding volume of The Mortal Instruments trilogy is complex and striking. Not to be missed."-Spring 2009 Indie Next List

"Cassandra Clare works magic with this novel. The excitement begins on the first page and doesn't stop until the final sentence. She brings everything full circle for a completely satisfying ending—even though fans would be more than happy to read about these beloved characters forever."-Karin’s Book Nook

"City of Glass is beautifully written and interwoven with amazingly unforgettable characters and moments; everything is brought full circle and I have to say that I want to get back on the ride and do it all over again and again."-The Ravenous Reader

Specials

Summary {again from the back because I do like this summary}: Tally thought they were a rumor, but now she’s one of them. A Special. A super-amped fighting machine, engineered to keep the uglies down and the pretties stupid. But maybe being perfectly programmed with strength and focus isn’t better than anything she’d ever known. Tally still has memories of something else.
But it’s easy for her to tune that out—until she’s offered a chance to stamp out the rebels of the New Smoke permanently. It all comes down to one last choice: listen to that tiny, faint heart-beat, or carry you the mission she’s programmed to complete. Either way, Tally’s world will never be the same.

Review: This is my review before I go to Italy with a brain that has officially quit before APs.

Scott Westerfeld=100% Brilliant/Awesome

Uglies Series=<3

Specials=Made of awesomeness and kick-ass. Tally is a bit annoying at some points, but I’m assuming that a lot of her Special brain. Every scene just plays in my head when I read this book which means basically Westerfeld brings the book to life. It’s cool how people are cured and the noticeable difference in their looks like Tally says ‘Champagne without bubbles’

Zane and Tally factor=I didn’t really believe that Tally loved Zane, I don’t know but I couldn’t feel it. Westerfeld is great at bring out emotions and vivid images but I didn’t believe that Tally loved Zane. She was just holding on to the past, it seemed (maybe that’s on purpose?).

David and Tally=obviously meant to be. The relationship was so much better and real with them. The fact that she saw Zane as just some random and David not as an ugly but just as David proves that so easily. Tally just needs to see it a bit more, I think she still believes she loves Zane.

Rating of Book: 5/5 I liked it better than Pretties.

Reviews from the Pros:

“An exciting, well written, thought-provoking and engrossing futuristic trilogy.” –YOVA

Basically: read it! Well I’m off to Italy tomorrow for my spring break so hopefully I will be able to make some progress on my new book (City of Glass *squee!*)See ya in a week!
-She Who Reads A Lot

City of Ashes

Summary: [I’m really lazy right now. So here’s the summary from the book] Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what’s normal when you’re a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who’s becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn’t ready to let her go—especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary’s only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil—and also her father.

To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings—and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace. How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?

Summary: Ok, that’s a really crappy summary. It doesn’t even skim the surface of this book, but I’m too lazy to think of another one. All right, first I must make my claim that I am still in love with this series. However, I did not enjoy this book as much as I did its predecessor, City of Bones. In City of Ashes there are a few moments that Clare teeters dangerously on the line of fanfiction. One particular example of this is [SPOILER ALERT] when Simon becomes a vampire. I thought this was a ridiculous plot twist and a bit unnecessary, but I lived with it. When she revealed that he could stay in sunlight after drinking Jace’s blood [which by the way is a very obvious way of showing what Valentine did to his son, I think], then that plunged the event into fanfiction territory. Another example of this is Maia. As if we all couldn’t tell that something is going to happen between Maia and Simon. Great idea, (I mean hey I write a VampirexWerewolf story) but...very fanfiction-y.[SPOILER OVER] That being said, I did enjoy this book and I got very into it.

Like City of Bones, it is very fast paced and very in-character. It was amusing and witty—I was laughing out loud at many points in the book. There were plot twists that, again were a bit fanfictoin-y, but enjoyable in the least. I’m still fighting for Jace and Clary to not be related and I really don’t think they are. This book just strengthens the argument. Heh, and if you want to talk about a cliffhanger the ending of this book is most certainly one. I’m very eager, along with I'm sure all of the Mortal Instruments fans, to go pick up City of Glass to see what happens to our beloved Jace and Clary.

Rating: 4/5

Reviews from the Pros:

“Hold on tight for a smart, sexy thrill ride.”-Libba Bray

“A gorgeous fantasy that’s so good, it’s dangerous.”-Holly Black

Inkdeath

Inkdeath by Cornelia Funke
Summary: [This is taken from the side of the book—there is no way I can summarize this book] Ever since the extraordinary events of Inkspell when the enchanted book Inkheart drew Meggie and her father, Mo, into its chapters, life in the INkworld has been more tragic than magical.
The fire-eater Dustfinger is dead, having sacrificed his life for his apprentice Farid’s, and now, under the rule of the evil Adderhead, the fairy-tale land is in bloody chaos, its characters far be yond the control of Fenoglio, their author. Even Elinor, left behind in the real world, believes her family to be lost—lost between the covers of a book.
Facing the threat of eternal winter, Mo inks a dangerous deal with Death itself. There yet remains a faint hope of changing the cursed story—if only he can fill its pages fast enough.

My Review: I loved this book. Plain and simple, I loved it. Part of me can see why this book is classified as a children’s book and the other part of me cannot fathom it. It’s a children’s book because very simply this book is a fairy tale at its best. There are evil manipulative villains, noble hearted robbers, a fair maiden and her two princes, giants, fairies, and monsters. Although, if I were a child I would get nightmares from this book!

Anyways, as I said I love this book. I love it because it is a fairy tale it’s an amazing story and it keeps you turning the pages through the entire thing. I did like how it switched points of view because it was nice to see how all the characters took their points of views on things. That being said, I love how Funke weaves in the art of story making into an actual story. She seems to acknowledge how a story can sometimes take its own form and go on without an author’s consent. The Bluejay was one of my favorite characters and Mo’s dual personality is completely believable. Now here comes the but! The only thing I object to is that Meggie seems to fall out of the story. She has been denounced to staying at camp and waiting as her father does all the fighting. It’s a little disappointing in that aspect.
[SPOILER!] As for the Doria and Meggie thing? I am so happy! Farid was being a jerk-face to Meggie, so Meggie deserves Doria. I would also like to point out that in the back in the “An A-Z of the Inkworld” it says that Farid is “fond if Meggie” but Doria is “in love with Meggie”. So obviously she made the better choice. {Spoiler OVER!]

Overall, this book is absolutely fabulous. If you are really looking for a fantasy book that will just take you into its covers, it’s this one. You will be rooting for Mo and Dustfinger the entire time!

Rating: 5/5 I could read this series over and over again. I also love that at the beginning of each chapter there are quotes from famous books!

Reviews from Pros:

“...Funke's storytelling is as compelling as ever...” –Kirkus Review

Go pick up this book up it is a good story! Maybe not a world-changing read but a good fairy-tale/fantasy nonetheless. Now I’m off to read City of Ashes!
-She Who Reads A Lot

Speculating the Life

So you know what's weird? My whole high school career has been geared toward college. Take that AP course it will look good in college and you won't have to take it. Keep your grades high or you won't get into college. Take a language you hate for 5 years so you can get out of it in college and so it looks like you're dedicated. Join that club for community service, so you look well-rounded. Do a sport for an excessively long time, even though you're not that into it, so it helps make you well-rounded. These are things I've heard and lived by for the past 2-3 years of my high school career. Now March will be rolling around soon and I'm getting hordes of e-mails from colleges that I've never heard of. Ever. In places I've never heard of. Ever. Like, really Mercer University or Hoftsra University? I really never knew there were so many colleges. Also, I'll admit ok, it's nice to recieve this stuff even as Junior becuase I know what's out there. It shows that maybe all that work I'm doing now, all the stress, all the APs will actually pay off.

I've enjoyed looking at some of these colleges sites seeing what they offer and all that and it's a little bit exciting, along with scary. Anyways all this college stuff would be all fine and dandy if I knew what the hell I wanted to do with my life! Sadly, I don't. I have no idea what I want to major in or what I want to do with my life for a career. So as I look at these colleges and look at what they offer I don't know what to seriously look at because really I don't know what I want to do. So how will I know if that college will be right for me a year from now? That's the most stressful part of this.

My mom has been on me about choosing a major and deciding what I want to do all of my junior year so far. For the most part so far I've brushed her off. I was way too busy with school and swimming and the things going on in my life right now to worry about college in two years. Well...now it's 2009, one year till I graduate, I'm recieving college e-mails and things in the mail from them, and I still don't know what I'm going to do. So I'm a little worried, I know I shouldn't be ya know? Eventually I will figure it out; I will make a decision. Or I could go to college undecided a lot of people do that nowadays. However, I hate the idea of going to college undecided because it's a lot of money to go to college. Money I don't have, money my parents can barely afford. I don't want to waste any money if I'm still not going to know what I want to do in 4 years after all that work. *sigh* So do we see my problem? So I don't know. For now I'm focusing on getting through school and passing the SATs.

I can't believe it's all ready February only four more months of school. Four more months of my junior year. I can't believe it's passing so fast. Heh, okay. I feel better now that I let this all out. No one has to actually read this. It's just me working out my thoughts. Anyways, hopefully Inkdeath review will be up in like 2 weeks! (I'm only in the 200s out of 660). Heh so bye!
-She Who Reads A Lot

Freeing Keiko

Note: Okay so I had to read this book for AP English. She made us read a nonfiction book of our choice and we had to write a book review for it. So basically what I'm going to do is post the review I wrote for my English Assignment! Here it is: If you grew up in the 1990s you probably knew about the animal that would become the most famous whale in the world: Keiko. This lovable killer whale with his flopped over fin was treasured by children all over the world for his part in Free Willy. In Freeing Keiko the Journey of a Killer Whale from Free Willy to the Wild, Kenneth Brower shares the amazing journey of Keiko.

Brower demonstrates an extensive knowledge for all aspects of Keiko’s journey and leaves no room for questions. While he tells the tale of this brilliant whale, who loved “messing with the minds of his trainers”, Brower also recounts the tale of the battles fought to bring Keiko to freedom. Brower’s tone in this recounting can border on cynical and crude (he denounces the Free Willy movie as “nonsense”) but he finds the crucial balance between informative detail, humor, and irony that makes this book so compelling and powerful. The recounting of this unbelievable creature and the amazing people who worked with him is a life-changing read.

This is my little added part! Rating: 5/5 I really loved this book. It surprised me, I didn't expect it to be as interesting as it was!

Yeah anyways hopefully this can tide you over till I get through Inkdeath ^^;; heh. Happy reading!
~She Who Reads A Lot

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks

Summary: Frankie Landau-Banks is about to start her sophomore year at the prestigious Alabaster Academy. Something is different about her as she returns this year, though: her body suddenly decided to go through puberty. She’s a knock-out all of a sudden, over the summer. Along with this new figure comes a new attitude, especially when she captures the interest of the amazing Matthew Livingston. She has a sharp tongue and when she figures out that Matthew is apart of the male only loyal order of the Basset Hound, Frankie is a little more than miffed. She decides she doesn't like being ordered around. She decides she doesn't like being excluded. She decides to take matters into her own hands.

My Review: I wanted to like this book, really I did! I’ve heard just amazing things about it, but it was a serious struggle to finish it. I love the idea of girl power and I think that Frankie had some good ideas. However, I think that Frankie is a not a good role model for girls. She is as Alpha points out many times: a psychopath. I’m sorry for all you people who loved her and thought she was God, but all I could think when trying to read this book was “this girl has problems.” She has a serious craving to be the center of attention that is not flattering to the girl gender at all. She obviously has some sort of inferiority complex. That being said I have no doubt in my head that it’s people like Frankie Landau-Banks that make the biggest difference in this world. It’s girls like her who become top lawyers and political leaders, which scares me a bit.

I’m very torn in this book, especially reviewing it. Because part of me wants to be that childish girl and say I hated this book because I hated the character and I couldn’t get through it and give it a nasty review because of it. However, the somewhat serious critique in me recognizes a powerful piece of literature when she sees it. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks is thought-provoking and unforgettable at its best. Mostly unforgettable because of Frankie the rest of the cast, aside from Alpha, fade into the background [even Frankie’s boyfriend] as completely flat. It’s thought provoking because it really does make you wonder about this male-run society and perhaps the line between the modern gender equal world we want, and the one that really exists. Frankie is, in bad light, jealous, conniving, sneaky, power-hungry, and has some self-esteem issues. Some people might choose to phrase this as brilliant, ambitious, confident, quirky, and witty. So really, this is hard for me to do. Let me put it this way: I hated the book very much. If you like powerful women you really might like this.

Rating: 3/5 I couldn’t stand the main character. I didn’t really believe her feelings much at all and the lackluster second characters were a turnoff.

Reviews from the pros:

*yawn* I’m too lazy to look it up for this one. Now I can finally start Inkdeath that has been taunting me from my bookshelf since I got it for Christmas! Muwaha! Hah see you all when I finish this 660 page book! (lol sometime next year probably)!
Happy Reading!

~She Who Reads A Lot

Happy 2009!

I know this is a few days late. I’ve been rather lazy to tell you the truth and trying to push myself through The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, by the way hopefully that book review will be up in about a week. I’m trying to get through that as quick as possible because I’m eager to start my goals for 2009. For my whole life I’ve listened to adults rant and rave about having goals for yourself and writing them down. Well this year I decided to listen and do that. My goals so far are: Read 100 or more books this year. Obtain my driver’s license. Maintain a 90 or higher average in school. Oh. Also don’t explode from stress (I’m in danger of that at times). I may think of more but right now at the beginning of 2009 those are my goals. I really want to try to read 100 or more books, I will blog about them all and if I can figure out how I will try to put a list up somewhere of the books I’ve read. I’m really going to have to work for that one heh because currently I average about 2 books per month, that won’t cut it if I want to make 100 books. I’m not sure if this will happen, but I can make the goal can’t I? and just see what happens, I suppose. Hee, so those are my New Years Resolutions! Well aside from wanting to be a better person and maybe relaxing a little (again I stress, a lot. I’m aware of that; my mom makes fun of my anxiety issues at times). I hope everyone had a great New Years! I also hope that 2009 is better than last year even if last year was great and amazing. So yeah Happy New Year everyone and I hope you made New Years Resolutions you want to stick to! I'll be back posting book reviews soon, I promise! Till later.
~She Who Reads A Lot