Born of Illusion

Born of Illusion By: Teri Brown

Anna Van Housen is a talented magician.  She is the opening act for her mother's show as a medium. She has always been told that she is the daughter of magician Harry Houdini, but she has never met him.  Anna helps her mother in every way, and at times feels like her mother does not love her, and uses her.  She knows not to steal to much of her mother's spotlight either. They hold illegal seances in their home for money, and one night things change. Anna has always known things are different for her, as she is able to feel and sense things about others. She meets Cole, who has moved in downstairs, and things that night go differently at the seance, as the spirit that her mother is pretending to summon actually comes into Anna.  Anna knows something is up, and her visions, and powers are getting stronger, she knows that her mother and her are in danger, she just has to figure out from whom.

I enjoyed this book from beginning to end.  It was full of magic, and I felt family drama.  Anna really feels unloved, and just wants to know if her father is really who her mother says he is. She feels used by her mother, and wants to make a name for herself. I was definitely surprised to find out all Anna could do, and who was out to get her.  Great read, with a cover that I thought was super cool.  I am also excited that a second book is coming out this year Born of Deception, in October.


I borrowed this from the public library.
ISBN: 978-0-06-218754-3

Across a Star-swept Sea

Across a Star-swept Sea By: Diana Peterfreund

Persis Blake has a lot to loose.  She lives in Albion, and is working hard to rescue people from Galatea.  After the war destroyed the planet, there are two sides, one will make people loose their minds, while another is trying to save them.  Persis is The Wild Poppy, and she runs rescue operations to bring people from Galatea to Albion in secret.  Her own mother is suffering from the Reduction, and Persis is afraid she will one day suffer too.  To throw people off her trail, she works hard at being a silly socialite.  But one day Justen shows up, he is a noble from Galatea, seeking refuge from Galatea. He knows he is the cause of a lot of human suffering and just wants to make it right. Persis and Justen are forced to pretend to be in love, neither of them truly knowing what the other is capable of.

I loved this story just as much as the first book For Darkness Shows the Stars.  They are not directly connected to each other but are about the same time in the life of Earth.  I really enjoyed the character Persis, because even though it was hard for her to do what she did, she was able to pull it off.  She also showed that she needed others, but didn't want to burden them.  It really was just a great story of fighting evil, and trusting others.

I borrowed this from the public library.
ISBN: 978-006-200616-5

Doll Bones

Doll Bones By: Holly Black

Zach has had his two best friends for as long as he can remember. Alice, Poppy, and him love to play in their imaginary world with dolls and action figures as the characters.  Now that they are twelve, Zach is starting to feel weird about the game.  He knows that if his father or the boys at school knew what they were doing he would be teased.  One day his father throws away all of Zach's characters and he is upset, and decides to not tell his friends the truth but to lie and tell them he doesn't want to play.  But when Poppy and Alice come to him with a problem, he is back in the game. The Queen, a bone china doll, that they are not allowed to play with, is talking to Poppy. She is asking to be taken home. Zach, Poppy, and Alice are in for an adventure that will bring them closer together, as they work out growing up.

I thought that this book was interesting. It dealt with the things that happen when you grow up, you have to find out who you are, and work things out with the people that you are close to.  I liked how Zach wanted so badly to keep his friends, but had to figure out how to do that.  It was also a creepy book, as the bone china doll, was leading them on a quest, and was made from a dead girl's bones.  Great read for fifth or sixth graders.

I purchased this book from Scholastic Book Orders
ISBN: 978-0-545-68435-4

One Cool Friend

One Cool Friend By: Toni Buzzeo Illustrated By: David Small

Elliot is a fancy young man, he dresses very proper in a tux.  He does not like to be around a lot of people but accepts his father's invitation to the aquarium.  As he wanders the halls he sees penguins.  He really likes them and takes one home, he hides this penguin in his house until one day his father finds him.  This is a great book.  It has really great illustrations and a fun plot.  I can't wait to share this with my class.

I borrowed this from the public library
ISBN: 978-0-8037-3413-5

Max's Castle

Max's Castle By: Kate Banks Illustrated By: Boris Kulikov

Max finds a box of old toys that his older brothers do not want anymore. In it he finds a set of blocks. Max builds a fantastic castle that takes him to amazing places, even his brothers come back and want to join in the fun. With really great illustrations, and a wonderful adventurous plot this is a great book for all ages.

I borrowed this from the public library
ISBN: 978-0-374-39919-1

These Broken Stars

These Broken Stars By: Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

Lilac is an important person and everyone knows it, and stays far away from her in fear of her father.  Tarver is just a soldier, who without knowing any better, talks to her.  They are aboard the Icarus, but when it is pulled out of hyperspace they are on their own as they make their way together to an escape pod and plummet to the surface of an unknown planet.  As they try to find out what to do, they see the Icarus fall from  the sky, they attempt to make their way to the ship, hopeful that they will be rescued. They face many obstacles, but what they find is so unknown to them they have to figure it out together. In the end they are surprised at their will to fight, and find each other.

I loved this book.  I was engrossed in the story from the first chapter. I loved how the book is from both characters perspectives and how unique the storyline is, in that what happens is not what I expected at all.  Both characters have things that they are running from in their life, and they do find that they cannot assume what others are thinking and who they are. Great science fiction love story for sure.

I borrowed this from the public library
ISBN: 978-142317102-7

I Am The Messenger

I Am The Messenger By: Markus Zusak

Ed is just a 19 year old cab driver, with nothing special about him or his life. One day that all changes, after a bank robbery attempt where he makes a move, and playing cards show up in his mailbox with names of people.  These people all need him, and he has to figure out how to help them. Ed goes about doing this, while trying to stay connected with his friends, especially Audrey, who he loves but she doesn't want him.  In the end Ed helps many, but really just needs to be helped himself.

I don't know that I loved this book, but I couldn't stop reading it any way.  I felt sorry for Ed, he seemed like a lost teen.  His mom doesn't like him, he is in love with a girl that doesn't want to love him back, and he lives alone with an ugly dog.  Something about this book made me keep reading, and in the end I was more confused then ever. Honestly I don't know what to say about it other than interesting.

I borrowed this from the public library
ISBN: 978-0-375-83667-1