Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Highway Rat

Highway Rat By: Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler

Highway Rat is stealing everyone's food.  He rides his horse around and takes whatever he wants.  The other animals are sad and hungry and don't know what to do.  One day duck has had enough and leads Highway Rat to a cave where she says her sister lives on piles of food.  Highway Rat enters the cave and duck takes off with his horse and shares all the stolen food with the other animals. When at last Highway Rat is able to get out of the empty cave, he is now just as poor as the others and must clean the floor of a bakery.

My boys like this book a lot.  They were interested in the story from the beginning and they loved the pictures. We spent a lot of time looking through it.  This book is also a rhyming book, so it is perfect for young readers.

I borrowed this from the public library
ISBN: 978-0-545-47758

The House of the Scorpion and The Lord of Opium

The House of the Scorpion and The Lord of Opium By: Nancy Farmer

Matt does not understand why he is to stay away from everyone, but Celia told him to stay hidden.  But when the chance arrives, Matt is desperate to talk to the other kids, so he smashes the window and gets out.  This is the event that leads to Matt finding out that he is a clone for El Patron. Others think he is a dirty disgusting animal, but El Patron wants him to learn things.  Matt is just trying to find a place for himself. But Matt can never fit in because he is not accepted as a person.  He must run away and figure out the way of the world himself.  When El Patron dies though, Matt becomes him. He is the new Lord of Opium.  This job comes with many duties that Matt thinks might need to change form the way El Patron did it. This presents a whole new problem for Matt as he still just wants to find himself.

I am sorry for those that maybe want to read the books separately, to me they definitely have to go together.  I am still undecided on whether I liked these books. I think that true science fiction fans would enjoy them more than I did.  The whole notion of clones, was a fascinating thing to me, but the way that Matt was treated was hard for me to read. And then there is the whole drug lord piece that I just don't connect with.  Some teens out there will really enjoy these.

I borrowed them from the public library
ISBN: 978-0-689-85223-7 and 978-1-4424-8254-8


Sunday, November 24, 2013

The Secret Zoo

The Secret Zoo By: Bryan Chick

Megan loves animals, but one day disappears into the unknown.  Her brother Noah is upset because after a few weeks hardly anyone cares that she is gone.  But when a bird brings a message that shows that Megan is still out there, Noah decides to find her.  His friends and him set off on a hunt through the Clarksville Zoo, to hunt her down. What they discover is a world that they never imagined, where animals are going between two different zoos and they don't really know which animals they can trust.

This was a great adventure book. Any reader who loves animals will find this book enjoyable.  Noah was a great character that really knew that his sister was out there and wanted her back.  The twists of the different animals that were helping or not helping and the mysterious zoo that existed behind the real one was quite interesting.

I borrowed this from the public library
ISBN: 978-0-06-198750-2

The Roar

The Roar By: Emma Clayton

Ellie was taken by Mal Gorman when she was young, this is something her twin Mika has never forgotten and refuses to believe that she is dead.  Ellie and Mika are mutants, and they have somethings specail about them.  Ellie is trying her best to escape and Mika is trying his best to find her.  Mika thinks if he can win the reality video game competition it just might help him find her.  The adventure that Mika sets out on is not the one that he is prepared for and he just hopes that eventually it will lead him to his sister.

This was a great science fiction adventure.  I know a few of my students who would love this book.  The bond between Ellie and Mika in their twinness shines through. I thought that both of them were great inspirational characters that knew in their heart that the other was there and would do anything to get back to each other.

I borrowed this from the public library
ISBN: 978-0-439-92593-8

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Crash

Crash Visions Book One By: Lisa McMann

Jules has a different family.  They own and run one of the popular restaurants in town that is at war with the other restaurants owner. The only problem is the Jules loves the son of the other family, and she is having visions of something terrible happening to them. As Jules deals with her hoarding, depressed father, helps run the restaurant, be a part of the family, and tries to figure out the scary visions she is having, she begins to drive herself crazy.  If only she could find a way to prove that something bad is going to happen, and be able to tell Sawyer how she really feels and the hurt that she has.

This was a great teen read.  I loved Jules and felt so connected and terrible for her.  Living with a father that hoards and is depressed is very hard for her and her family, and they work really well together to avoid him and take care of each other. With the classic Romeo and Juliet theme, this book makes you wish for the best for Jules and Sawyer.  I cannot wait to see what happens in the next book

I borrowed this from a friend
ISBN: 978-1-4424-0391-8

Monday, November 11, 2013

A Beautiful Dark and A Fractured Light

A Beautiful Dark By: Jocelyn Davies

Something is up, and Skye knows it, but she just cannot put her finger on it. Her friends have once again thrown her a party for her birthday that she did not ask for.  But this night is strange, and ends with an explosion after Skye meets Asher.  Asher and Devin do not get along at all, but both of them seem very intesrested in Skye. She does not understand their attention until more things begin to happen.  They tell her that she is the child that both sides of the angel world are wanting. She is the one in the middle of a battle and they are there to help her use her powers. But as these new things are happening to Skye, other parts of her life are falling apart and she does not know which side of the fight to join. All she knows is that she is torn between both Asher and Devin.

A Fractured Light 

After waking up from almost being dead, Skye is more confused than ever.  She at least is clear on what side of the coin she wants to fall on.  But as Asher helps her to continue to grow stronger, Skye knows that she has more than what is known. She begins to have visions and gains another new ability.  But her powers are very unstable and she will have to rely on the one person she does not trust.  Skye also learns more about her past, and is shocked about what she finds out. 


These are great teen reads.  So hard to describe in words without tell the whole story.  I defiantly enjoyed them and read them very fast.  The next book, A Radiant Sky, comes out soon and I cannot wait.  Skye is a character that I cannot wait to see what happens to her.

I borrowed these from the public library
ISBN: 978-0-06-199065-6 and 978-0-06-199068-7

Hero

Hero By: Alethea Kontis

Saturday Woodcutter continues to struggle with being the only person in her family that has no magical talent.  But she is determined to learn the skill of using swords.  Her plans go astray when her brother Trix uses a sleeping potion on her whole family, to run to where is mother has died.  Saturday attempts to chase after him, but is taken to the top of a mountain, captured by the witch who thinks that she is her brother, Jack.  She finds Peregrine there, who has been held captive for a very long time.  He is dressed as a girl because the witch believes he is her daughter.  Together they must find a plan and way to escape.

A great book, that continues the story in Enchanted. Saturday still proves to be a strong female character, who really is looking for a place to belong. I like that she finds Peregrine, who has no idea how long he has been gone and is still hoping to get back to his betrothed. Again, this book is able to mix many different fairy tales into one greatly unique story. 

I borrowed this from the public library
ISBN: 978-0-544-05677-0

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Hard Luck

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Hard Luck By: Jeff Kinney

Greg just can't get a break in this, the 8th book in the series.  He is completely mortified that Rowley has a girlfriend and is no longer spending time with him.  He tries to help find a missing diamond ring with a Magic 8 Ball, but instead finds his Mother's hidden stash of parenting books.  Then he gets a Body Blankie and wears it to school. 

Even though I am an adult, this book made me laugh as hard as I did reading the last seven.  I love the humor and the characters!

I purchased this from Scholastic
ISBN: 978-1-4197-1176-3

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

The Dream Thieves

The Dream Thieves Book II of The Raven Cycle By: Maggie Stiefvater

Blue and the boys are still on the hunt for Glendower.  But no matter what they try, they are not having any luck.  Blue is trying to figure out what to do about Adam and Gansey, and avoid kissing them both.  Ronan on the other hand is having some terrible dreams.  In his world though, the dreams are nightmares and he takes things from them.  In the midst of all of these things The Grey Man has come to town, and is after someone.  The magic is making things difficult for everyone, as it keeps changing the rules.

Another great installment in this series by Stiefvater.  The story is very complex and makes you have to pay attention to what is happening so that you do not miss anything.  I still love the character Blue, who is trying to help but knows that she will in the end probably kill one or all of the boys. It was interesting to get to know Ronan more in this book.  If you haven't read The Raven Boys you need to read that one first.

I purchased this from Amazon.com
ISBN: 978-0-545-42494-3