Clockwork Angel

Clockwork Angel By: Cassandra Clare

Tessa is on her way to London to meet her brother. But when she arrives two strange women pick her up and tell her that her brother is waiting for her.  Then after being imprisoned with the Dark Sisters, and forced to perform a skill that she had no idea she had, she wants out.  The Dark Sisters tell her that she is set to marry the Magister, and Tessa decides to escape.  But she is unable to do so and is locked to her bed.  Little did she know that a rescue was on its way, in the form of the Sahdowhunters.  Tessa is rescued and taken back to their home where is told that she is not human but probably a warlock, she is still searching for her brother, and is confused about the people around her. Especially the two gentlemen Will and Jem.  She is forced to change into people and help the Shadowhunters out but at what cost to herself and her brother? And can she get her feelings straight and accept what she really is?

I enjoyed this book.  It had a different plot and was full of different twists and turns. I like how there were many unexpected things that happened that I was not aware were coming.  The relationship between Tessa and Will is one that I think will play out more in the rest of the books (there is one published Clockwork Prince and one due out in 2013 Clockwork Princess)  I also enjoyed that the book was set in 1878 but had robots that were being created with the abilities of demons.  Very great read for high school and young adult fans!!

I borrowed this from the public library
ISBN: 978-1-4169-7586-1

Heist Society

Heist Society  By: Ally Carter

Kat is trying to stay away from her family, as she decided that she would rather get an education. But someone has set her up, her friend Hale, and is trying to bring her back into the family business. Kat really does not want back in, but is forced when she realizes that her father is being blamed for a heist that he did not commit, by a very bad man with connections.  Kat is then forced to make one of the biggest heists in history, with the support of her family.  Hopefully she is able to do it to free her dad, and is also able to prove to Hale that she really does want him in her life.

I really really liked this book. I was hooked from the beginning.  It was a perfect book about art thieves from their perspective.  I loved the point of view of the book, and loved that the whole family was involved in stealing things.  This book would be great for any high school reader and older.  Great Read!!  And after looking around, apparently the rights to create this as a movie are held by Disney, so maybe soon there will be a movie to watch too!

I borrowed this from the public library.
ISBN: 978-0142311639-4

For Darkness Shows the Stars

For Darkness Shows the Stars By: Diana Peterfreund

Elliot had a very close friend growing up named Kai.  They were the best of friends, even though Elliot was a Luddite and Kai was a COR who was a servant at her families home.  They grew up together and their friendship became more, but when Kai decides to leave to find a better life for himself Elliot chooses to stay at her families home so that she can be the lady of the house and try to help keep the COR people (or the Reduced) safe from her father.  Elliot is heartbroken, but strives on and decides to break the laws and try to change the wheat that is growing in her field.  But when a mysterious Cloud Feet ask to rent her grandfathers land, which will help Elliot's family who is running low on money, things get a little tricky.  Kai has returned, but is no longer the boy Elliot remembers.  He doesn't want anything to do with her and seems to blame her for who she is.  Can Elliot manage to continue to protect the people she cares for and show Kai she is not the horrible person he thinks?

This was a fantastic story.  I will admit I was confused in the beginning because of the strange words and the way the people lived. But as I went through it is really a timeless story of people who think they are better than another and in turn enslave those people.  While some do not agree, they try their hardest to make the lives of the people that they are in charge of better.  It also is a wonderful story of love and forgiveness. Just Beautiful!!

I borrowed this from the public library.
ISBN: 978-0-06-200614-1

How Rocket Learned To Read

How Rocket Learned To Read By: Tad Hills

Rocket is a dog who loves his favorite quite nap time under a tree.  One day a little yellow bird thinks that Rocket has come to it's school.  Rocket tries to find another place to nap and the bird begins to read aloud.  Well, Rocket is unable to ignore the wonderful book and decides to join the little birds class. They spend the entire spring and summer learning to read together and when the little yellow bird goes away for the winter, Rocket keeps up with his lessons.  He is so excited when the bird returns and they begin to read again!!

I love the story of this book. It is so sweet and beautiful.  It has the most wonderful pictures too!!  I read it to my fifth graders and they asked if we could read  it again because they really liked it.  I talked with them about how we learn to read when we read it and we discussed how hard reading can be.

I purchased this from Scholastic.
ISBN: 978-0-375-85899-4

If You're a Monster and You Know It

If You're a Monster and You Know It By: Rebecca Emberley & Ed Emberley

Well you should know the tune of this book by the title. But if you are a monster you can snort and growl, smack your claws, stomp  your paws, and give a roar!! 

This book was perfect for my boys. They loved it!!  They made us read it over and over and act it out. It is filled with awesome illustrations that literally jump out of the black background!!

I purchased this book from Scholastic
ISBN: 978-0-545-21829-0

Bailey

Bailey By: Harry Bliss

Bailey is a dog who is headed off to school!!  He has to get ready and go through the steps of smoothing his fur, and picking out which collar to wear.  But Bailey always misses the bus and the kids have to have the bus driver stop for him. Bailey has a very different take on life and so he offers a lot of different ideas to his class. His class loves him though and some want to do things just like him. Bailey can't wait to go to school again tomorrow!

I love this book! I read it to my students on the first day of school and we talked about how different Bailey was then we are when we get ready for school. The kids I have this year are in fifth grade and they still thought it was a fun book to hear. We also talked about personification with this book and we wrote stories about animals that go to school.  Great read!!

I purchased this from Scholastic.
ISBN: 978-0-545-23344-6

Hex Hall

Hex Hall By: Rachel Hawkins

Sophie Mercer knows she is a witch.  But at 15 she has been sent to Hex Hall because on prom night she casts a spell that goes wrong.  At Hex Hall all sorts of special teens are there and the fun of high school is made even more crazy.  Sophie is roommates with a vampire that nobody really trusts and she has a crush on a certain warlock that gets her nothing but heartache. But when girls begin to show up looking as though they have been drained of blood, and Sophie's roommate is made out to be the attacker things start to speed up.  Not only that but Sophie finds out the truth about her dad and great grandmother along the way.

This was a great teen read. Full of suspense and teen drama. Perfect for the high school reader and with lots of twists. The reading style was full of fun and was very entertaining. I wish the public library had the rest of the series because I cant wait to read them.

I borrowed this from the public library.
ISBN: 978-142312139-8