Brothers Zeke and Randy Mansfield don't get along at all. Zeke is the older brother and is stronger and plays sports. Randy is the younger brother and spends most of his time making up words and being himself. However, they share one interest: chess. They both have made it to the regional competition and have the chance of facing each other. Randy can beat Zeke nine times out of ten, unless Zeke actually tries. Which one, if either, will make it to the next level?
This was a fast, simple read. The concept of the novel and the emotions weren't deep and the character's feelings were not expressed very well. The author had a chance to elaborate when talking about the boys' home situation; he never quite explains everything with it. The entire book could have been expanded and more detail could have been added. It jumped from one event to the next without much transition and made for a choppy read. On the other hand, the chess games were explained in somewhat easy to understand terms. All the names he used were explained.
Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: , PA USA
Monday, May 25, 2009
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Wings of Wrath by C. S. Friedman
Wings of Wrath by C.S. Friedman is an exciting story, with several different events occurring and intertwining at the same time. Kamala is the first woman to become a Magister, an order that can draw upon humans' souls to use magic. She has just killed another member of the order, and is hunted for it. To save herself, Kamala flees to the Northern Protectorates, where she meets Rhys, who, with his Lyr blood, is immune to the Wrath, a sorcerous boundary that warps magic used by anyone and causes terror in all who approach it. It was formed to keep Souleaters, creatures who feast on the souls of humans, away from civilization. After saving Rhys from a traitorous tribe of the Northern Protectorates, the Alkali, they together search for a disturbance in the Wrath which Rhys had been sent to find. They find one of the stones that forms the Wrath had been broken, and a witch was inside, having been sacrificed to create it. This causes Rhys to doubt his people's beliefs, as they believe that the Gods had created the Wrath to help them, not to torture their people. Rhys is unsure of what to do when he returns to his leaders, as telling them the truth could ruin their morale, as their beliefs will be shattered. Meanwhile, another story takes place south, in the High Kingdom, where Salvator Aurelius take the throne from his father. He renounces his vows as a Penitent monk, and takes his role as ruler of the Kingdom. He is faced with trouble when reports of attacks from the Northern Protectorates come in, as his mother is half Lyr, and is Rhys' mother as well. The third thread of the story is centered around the Witch-Queen of Sankara, Siderea, whose use of magic has brought her to the end of her life. Her soulfire, which is used to make her magic, has almost expired. She is saved when she is shown a group of Souleaters hiding in the mountains near her home. She is paired to one, and it renews her soulfire, while she sets it free from its prison. Siderea is concerned with allying her home country with the High Kingdom to ensure peace. Meanwhile, in the High Kingdom, Salvator finds out from Rhys that the Alkali had betrayed the other Protectorates, and they are the ones that attacked the High Kingdom in an attempt to start a war between the Protectorates and the High Kingdom. However, Salvator allies himself with Rhys' tribe and the other tribes, and they begin a campaign against the Alkali while Rhys and Kamala sneak through to the main city of the Alkali on a secret mission.. Will the fighting be enough to distract the Alkali and allow Rhys and Kamala to succeed, or will Salvator and the others fail and doom the entire Northern Protectorates? Read Wings of Wrath to find out.
While I have never read the first book in the trilogy, Feast of Souls, Wings of Wrath is a very confusing book, with a plot that has good ideas, but is hard to understand. The author refers to places and events from the first book too much for someone who hasn't read it to understand. The different threads of the story based on different characters, along with the constant flashes to the past, make it very difficult to follow as well. Even if I had read Feast of Souls, I feel that Wings of Wrath would still be a confusing and difficult read. However, if you can read through the confusing points of the book, the plot is good, and can keep you interested if you understand it. While I would not recommend this book to someone who has difficulty concentrating while reading, I do think that anyone who has read Feast of Souls and enjoyed it should definitely consider reading Wings of Wrath.
ViolenceSexual Themes
Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Chambersburg, PA US
While I have never read the first book in the trilogy, Feast of Souls, Wings of Wrath is a very confusing book, with a plot that has good ideas, but is hard to understand. The author refers to places and events from the first book too much for someone who hasn't read it to understand. The different threads of the story based on different characters, along with the constant flashes to the past, make it very difficult to follow as well. Even if I had read Feast of Souls, I feel that Wings of Wrath would still be a confusing and difficult read. However, if you can read through the confusing points of the book, the plot is good, and can keep you interested if you understand it. While I would not recommend this book to someone who has difficulty concentrating while reading, I do think that anyone who has read Feast of Souls and enjoyed it should definitely consider reading Wings of Wrath.
ViolenceSexual Themes
Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Chambersburg, PA US
Everwing by M.J. Grothoff
EverWing is the story of a man named Gavee. Gavee is just like any other person, except for one tiny detail: he has wings. He is a part of a race of people known as the Masura. He finds out that what he sees as right and wrong aren't the same from the group of people he lives with (his clan). He must decide whether he will follow his heart or go with what his clan wants. EverWing follows his so-called gripping adventure.
I really tried to get into this book. Unfortunately, this book turned out to be far less gripping than the back cover promised. The author spends way too much time describing what Gavee planned to do rather than describing him doing it. For instance, Gavee was about to fight a dragon and he dropped his sword in the tall grass nearby. He spent four pages trying to find his sword and reflecting on memories. He spent a half page surprising and killing the dragon. It just seemed like a horrible balance. The storyline really captivated me at the beginning, but the thrill soon wore off. It does not come through on any front and I would definitely not recommend it.
Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Westerville, OH United States
Dragon Wishes by Stacy Nyikos
After the death of their parents, Alex and Isa move to Northern California with their Auntie Ling and Uncle Norbert. Isa has stopped talking and Alex's art skills have been limited to drawing only dead trees. Alex is unhappy with her new school but soon makes a new friend, who also loves art. To afford art classes, they begin painting faces at school soccer games until Alex tries to leave early one day.
Dragon Wishes is a wonderful story about a girl dealing with the death of her parents. Nyikos captures true sorrow, love, friendship, and the concept of home. Auntie Lings story is inspiring. It completes the book, and defines real magic. Many people will be able to relate to Alex and Isa's problems. You laugh, cry, and read until the story is finished. On a scale of one to ten, I would give it about a nine.
Reviewer Age:11
Reviewer City, State and Country: Fortuna, CA USA
Stepping Up by Mark Fink
This book is about a 14-year-old boy who goes to a summer basketball camp. Ernie Dolan talks with a lisp and is the average guy. He struggles with the fact that his best friend, Mike Rivers, is better than he is in more than one thing. Sports, girls, and all the things in between seem to come to Mike like breathing, and that bugs Ernie. At the beginning of the plot, Ernie feels like a geek and feels out of place next to his sporty BFF. But, by the end of camp, he feels like a man who has reached his full potential.
Mike Rivers has been Ernie's best friend since they were little. But once Camp NothinButNet comes along, Mike accepts a better group's call to join them. However, that group of friends find themselves in a sticky situation. Will Mike go back to Ernie and his other roommates, or will he continue to hang out with that popular group?
Rick Craig is the man behind Mike's new group, and because of Rick's popularity, he is Ernie's least favorite part of camp from the first time they set eyes on each other. Rick is the jock because of his skills, and he frequently lets that go to his head. After an accident, Rick gets benched from all movement and that puts his life into a better perspective. The team makes it to the camp championship, and the boys gain new friendships in the most unlikely people.
The setting of this book is the shore of Lake Michigan at NothinButNet Basketball Camp. The technique that Mr. Fink uses in his descriptions of events is effective in creating the mood, as well as allowing you to finish painting the picture the way you want. The perspective of the book allows you to get more of an insight to what the average person would see and say in a particular position. In addition, the author makes you feel like you are every bit as involved in the plot since it's written from Ernie's point of view. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys realistic fiction, sports-especially basketball, and high-quality adventure stories.
Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Knoxville, TN USA
Fall of Light by Nina Kiriki Hoffman
Fall of Light by Nina Kiriki Hoffman is a story about magic, love, and movies.
Opal LaZelle is a make-up artist with magical abilities, which she uses to better transform the actors and actresses into their characters. She was hired to turn Corvus Weather into a dark monster for a horror movie and strange things begin to happen. Corvus begins to turn into the monster that stars in the movie and is taken over by another more supernatural force. Opal has to figure out how to save Corvus before the other creature absorbs Corvus and those around him and bends them to his will. She will have to look into her past for support for her power alone is not enough to confront this much more powerful and possibly evil force.
In this unique story, the author used details when describing certain parts of her story, so I could imagine those parts very well but then other parts were harder to picture. The characters were developed fairly well, especially Opal, and the author is able to show the conflict and how Opal feels about it well. She is definitely a believable character, because she often has second thoughts about things and isn't always sure of herself or other people. Since I found Opal to be more realistic, I liked her character better. The story was a little confusing at the beginning and the idea was a little strange, but as it played out it made sense and the book was well-written and captivating. The ending tied up some parts nicely, but left a lot of threads hanging and I'm not sure exactly how everything worked out. I wish there was a little more of an ending to the story, but I thought the book was definitely interesting and different from most other fantasy books I've read. I think it would be a good book for people who enjoy lots of magic, some twists, and a strong character.
Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Needham, Ma. USA
Opal LaZelle is a make-up artist with magical abilities, which she uses to better transform the actors and actresses into their characters. She was hired to turn Corvus Weather into a dark monster for a horror movie and strange things begin to happen. Corvus begins to turn into the monster that stars in the movie and is taken over by another more supernatural force. Opal has to figure out how to save Corvus before the other creature absorbs Corvus and those around him and bends them to his will. She will have to look into her past for support for her power alone is not enough to confront this much more powerful and possibly evil force.
In this unique story, the author used details when describing certain parts of her story, so I could imagine those parts very well but then other parts were harder to picture. The characters were developed fairly well, especially Opal, and the author is able to show the conflict and how Opal feels about it well. She is definitely a believable character, because she often has second thoughts about things and isn't always sure of herself or other people. Since I found Opal to be more realistic, I liked her character better. The story was a little confusing at the beginning and the idea was a little strange, but as it played out it made sense and the book was well-written and captivating. The ending tied up some parts nicely, but left a lot of threads hanging and I'm not sure exactly how everything worked out. I wish there was a little more of an ending to the story, but I thought the book was definitely interesting and different from most other fantasy books I've read. I think it would be a good book for people who enjoy lots of magic, some twists, and a strong character.
Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Needham, Ma. USA
Sayonara, Zetsubou-Senei by Koji Kumeta
The teacher Nozomu Itoshiki is extremely depressed. All that he wants to do is kill himself. He is loved by the students in his class, even though none of them are normal either. There is a stalker, a shut-in, and an extremely meticulous girl. They all try to stop him from harming himself. New students join his class and react to Nozomu's suicide attempts in different ways. What will his reaction be to the students getting in his way of death?
Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei is an average manga. I enjoyed reading the manga, and it did not take long to finish. The drawings were beneficial to the story, but they were not the best that I have seen. The storyline was unique at the beginning, but nothing new happened throughout the story. Rather than the plot following the teacher's plans to kill himself, it focused on different students and their lives. I think that readers who love manga should read this book, but other people should find a more interesting book to read.
Suicide is a big part of this book.
Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Carlisle, Pennsylvania United States of America
Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei is an average manga. I enjoyed reading the manga, and it did not take long to finish. The drawings were beneficial to the story, but they were not the best that I have seen. The storyline was unique at the beginning, but nothing new happened throughout the story. Rather than the plot following the teacher's plans to kill himself, it focused on different students and their lives. I think that readers who love manga should read this book, but other people should find a more interesting book to read.
Suicide is a big part of this book.
Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Carlisle, Pennsylvania United States of America
Sayonara, Zetsubou-Senei by Koji Kumeta
The teacher Nozomu Itoshiki is extremely depressed. All that he wants to do is kill himself. He is loved by the students in his class, even though none of them are normal either. There is a stalker, a shut-in, and an extremely meticulous girl. They all try to stop him from harming himself. New students join his class and react to Nozomu's suicide attempts in different ways. What will his reaction be to the students getting in his way of death?
Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei is an average manga. I enjoyed reading the manga, and it did not take long to finish. The drawings were beneficial to the story, but they were not the best that I have seen. The storyline was unique at the beginning, but nothing new happened throughout the story. Rather than the plot following the teacher's plans to kill himself, it focused on different students and their lives. I think that readers who love manga should read this book, but other people should find a more interesting book to read.
Suicide is a big part of this book.
Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Carlisle, Pennsylvania United States of America
Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei is an average manga. I enjoyed reading the manga, and it did not take long to finish. The drawings were beneficial to the story, but they were not the best that I have seen. The storyline was unique at the beginning, but nothing new happened throughout the story. Rather than the plot following the teacher's plans to kill himself, it focused on different students and their lives. I think that readers who love manga should read this book, but other people should find a more interesting book to read.
Suicide is a big part of this book.
Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Carlisle, Pennsylvania United States of America
2012: A Conspiracy Tale by Bryan Collier
This book is more of a future type of book. It foreshadows what will eventually happen in the future to come. The government will take over the world until nothing and no one is left to be bossed around. The main character is a business man with a corporate business, and he realizes that the government is taking over the world. In 2012, the world will end.
The book was an easy read and it was interesting. I enjoyed how the main character discovered the government plot to take over the world. The main character is a CEO of a corporation, and he doesn't know how to respond when the government throws everyone for a loop.
Reviewer Age:18
Reviewer City, State and Country: Newville, Pennsylvania U.S.A
The book was an easy read and it was interesting. I enjoyed how the main character discovered the government plot to take over the world. The main character is a CEO of a corporation, and he doesn't know how to respond when the government throws everyone for a loop.
Reviewer Age:18
Reviewer City, State and Country: Newville, Pennsylvania U.S.A
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Beautiful Americans by Lucy Silag
Four American teens go away to Paris for a semester for very different reasons. PJ is in Paris to avoid a scandal involving her parents. Dancer Olivia is there for a job while Alex and Zach are looking for the perfect boyfriends. For some, their situations at home prevent them for letting go completely. But all of the teens hope to reinvent their lives while in Paris.
Once I started reading this book, it was hard to put down. Sometimes it would get confusing having to keep up with so many characters. But they were all so different and their stories were interesting to read. Setting the story in Paris just added to the intrigue. This is the perfect summer beach read. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel later this year.
Reviewer Age:22
Reviewer City, State and Country: Philadelphia, PA United States
Once I started reading this book, it was hard to put down. Sometimes it would get confusing having to keep up with so many characters. But they were all so different and their stories were interesting to read. Setting the story in Paris just added to the intrigue. This is the perfect summer beach read. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel later this year.
Reviewer Age:22
Reviewer City, State and Country: Philadelphia, PA United States
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