Entries Tagged 'A-C' ↓
March 10th, 2010 — 3.5-4 Treasure Chests, A-C, Book Review, Fantasy, Humorous
by Captain Lyaf Yarr
Title: The Chocolate Touch
Author: Patrick Skene Catling
Format: Paperback
# of pages: 96
Grade Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Summary: John Midas is addicted to chocolate. He refuses to eat anything else. In addition he is a very selfish boy. One day when he finds a coin with his initials on it, he takes it to a candy store, and he buys a box of chocolate. The next day he discovers that everything he touches with his teeth turns into chocolate. At first John is deliriously happy but could this chocolate touch go too far? Is there such a thing as too much chocolate?
Why I Started the Book:
I started this book because it was an in class assignment.
Likes:
- I like how this book is all about chocolate. I love chocolate!
- I like how it's also based off of the Greek myth about Midas' Golden touch. Explains the main character's name, doesn't it?
- I like how this book is written (and wish it was longer).
- I like the moral of the story: selfishness is not a good thing and to be thankful for what you have. I think that it's very important to know that.
Dislikes:
- I didn't like reading this book at school because I couldn't grab a chocolate to munch on with John at the same time. I found myself drooling after every chapter.
Buy: The Chocolate Touch
Book Rating: I give this book 3.5 Treasure Chests.
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March 4th, 2010 — 3.5-4 Treasure Chests, A-C, Action & Adventure, Book Review, Dystopia or Utopia Societies, Guest Review, Science Fiction, Suspense or Thriller
by Second Mate Embry, guest reviewer
Title: The Hunger Games
Author: Suzanne Collins
Format: Paperback
Page Count: 374
Grade Reading Level: 6 – 8 Grade.
Summary: Katniss Everdeen’s sister was picked for the Hunger Games. The Hunger Games were established a long time ago when one district of thirteen tried to rebel against the capital. After squashing the rebellion, every year one boy and girl is picked from each district to go and take part in the Hunger Games, which is a battle to the death. Katniss volunteers to take her sister’s place. Will she and the boy from her district survive? Will the other kids?
Why I Started This Book:
My teacher told me about it. She said it was a really good book. All my friends who have had the opportunity to read this book have loved the book. I also like Suzanne Collins as an author. It was a no brainer to pick this book up and read it.
Likes:
- I like how the Game Makers are in control of the game. They’re there to make sure that the audience is entertained. It reminds me a bit of the Roman Coliseum and the games of the gladiators.
- The weird creatures – mockingjays, tracker jackets (kind of like wasps) with hallucinating venom, and the wolf-human tribute hybrids.
- I like the setup of the story with the districts and the capital and the games. I really love how it’s supposed to be a futuristic society but that it seems so current too.
- Suzanne Collins always ends a chapter with something exciting, gross, or foreshadowing that makes you want to immediately start the next without a moment’s hesitation. She’s really good at keeping your interest in that way.
Dislikes:
- One of the themes that Suzanne Collins writes about is war and the cruelty it imposes on children. It bothered me at first that it was kids going into the Hunger Games but the story soon sweeps you away.
- I was disappointed how the book just kind of ended. I was expecting it to continue for a while more and do some more wrap up.
Last Minute Thoughts: I didn’t want to finish the book because I didn’t have book two to start right away, but I did finish it and now I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book, Catching Fire
!
Buy: The Hunger Games (Hardcover)
, Hunger Games (Audio book)
Book Rating: 4 Treasure Chests.
Originally posted 2009-11-03 03:20:44.
February 28th, 2010 — 4.5-5 Treasure Chests, A-C, Audio Book Review, Book Review, Coming of Age, Dystopia or Utopia Societies, Guest Review, Science Fiction, YA Genre
by First Mate Keira, guest reviewer
Title: Ender’s Game
Author: Orson Scott Card
Narrators: Stefan Rudnicki, Harlan Ellison
Format: Unabridged Audio Book
# CDs + Minutes: 9 CDs (11 hours, 11 minutes)
Grade Reading Level: 9th Grade
Summary: In a near-future society, the human race is in a war against the buggers, a hostile alien race, who nearly won twice in two wide scale confrontations against humankind. Fearing a third invasion, a system was put in place to discover and train child prodigies in the art of war. This system found Ender Wiggin, and set a course for him unlike any other kid that has gone before. Is Ender the general humankind desperately needs?
Meanwhile a second (side) plot revolves around Earth, Ender's siblings, and it's three separate governing bodies. The Hegemon, Strategos, and Polemarch, all struggle for supreme control and threaten humankind on the home front. Peter and Valentine are determined to make the world over in their image and work to achieve this through the "Nets" to influence how the masses think. Are two kids capable of achieving that sort of influence?
Why I Started This Book:
I can name approximately half a dozen boys over the last several years telling me I had to read this book. It was essential, a must read! I caved. Got it in audio format, because I’m grooving it right now and settled in for the long haul. I now have to apologize to the first five guys who said to read it and I ignored. Great book!
Likes:
- Orson’s style of writing. It’s obviously a style meant to be read aloud; in fact audio format is the best version to meet this book and is something the author mentioned at the end of CD #9.
- Orson’s writing is very evocative. You see pictures and feel emotions and think thoughts as if you were a part of the book itself.
- Battle School is fantastic. I loved it when Ender finally goes up in rank and starts commanding. The mock battles are some of my absolute favorite moments.
- The surprising twist at Command School. It was an ending I did not expect it. I liked it even more when Orson took the story further and explained the aftermath. That too did not go how I pictured it might. Frankly, I was expecting that Ender was going to have to watch out for Peter.
Dislikes:
- Very little. I was going to say the graphic nature of some of the fights or the violence but as Orson pointed out in his ramble at the end of the CD #9 the language is in fact very plain. All graphic nature is rendered through the reader.
Last Minute Thoughts: It’s definitely a book for boys as it deals on many fronts issues boys face more often than girls such as bullying and warfare. Ender also goes through a crisis of identity of self. He does not want to be a killer (or hurt others) but is forced to become one. I think the following quote explains this very well:
Unlike his brother, Ender does not take pride in destroying others and commits this action because he is often pushed into situations which demand physical defense. This portrayal and situation in the novel justifies Ender's actions. (Nick M. on Amazon.com)
I am glad I came to this book now instead of earlier in my life. I don’t think I would have appreciated it then. I do now. It’s terrific! I’m giving the audio book to my dad and telling him to listen to it. He’s on CD #2 and loves it so far.
Buy: Ender's Game (Unabridged Audio Book)
, Ender's Game (Paperback)
, The Ender Quartet Box Set (Ender's Game, Speaker for the Dead, Xenocide, Children of the Mind)
Find books by Orson Scott Card on ebay.
Book Rating: 5 Treasure Chests.
Keira runs a book review blog for readers by readers on romance novels entitled Love Romance Passion. She’s been reading romance since she was in her teens and began blogging about romance so she could share her passion for her favorite genre. She loves reading paranormal, Regency, historical America, and highlander most of all and completely adores blind and wounded heroes.
Originally posted 2009-10-30 03:09:28.
February 16th, 2010 — 3.5-4 Treasure Chests, A-C, Audio Book Review, Book Review, Coming of Age, School Situations, YA Genre
by Captain Yarr
Title: All American Girl
Author: Meg Cabot
Narrator: Ariadne Meyers
Format: Unabridged Compact Discs
CDs + Minutes: 6 CDs (7 hours and 10 minutes)
Grade Reading Level: Ages 12+
Summary: Sam is a not so ordinary girl who wears all black and has a talent for drawing. She is in love with her sisters’ boyfriend Jack, who is an artist also. Her parents sign her up for art classes that she doesn’t want to take, and one class she decides to skip. While she’s waiting for class to be over she sees the president of the United States and an assassin trying to kill him. One quick thoughtless decision and she’s a hero for saving the president. At a celebratory dinner at the White House she reconnects with the presidents’ son, David from her art class. Does stay true to Jack or will her heart fall for a new love?
Why I Started This Book:
One day I went to the library and I guess it caught my eye from a lineup of audio books. I’m a big fan of audio books as you know.
Likes:
- I liked David. He was both mysterious and sweet with a wide teasing streak.
- I enjoyed the chapter where Sam and her family were at the White House for dinner. Sam’s a picky eater and ended up putting about half of her dinner into her napkin to avoid eating it.
Dislikes:
- While I was listening to this book Meg Cabot would write “I mean” this and “I mean” that. When read aloud it was way too much. Eventually I got sick of hearing the words and would groan every time I heard them.
- I didn’t like how Sam dyed all of her clothes black. If I had to do that I’d die of hideous fashion shame.
Last minute thoughts: I didn’t really understand why this book was called “All American Girl,” after all how many American girls save the president and find love with his son?
Buy: All American Girl (Audio Cassette)
, All-American Girl (paperback)
Book Rating: I give this book 3.5 Treasure Chests.
Originally posted 2009-10-15 03:47:40.
February 11th, 2010 — 3.5-4 Treasure Chests, A-C, Action & Adventure, Fantasy, Guest Review, YA Genre
By Second Mate Embry, guest reviewer
Title: Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods
Author: Suzanne Collins
Page Count: 358
Format: Hard Cover
Grade Reading Level: 6-8
Summary: Gregor gets a letter from Vikus to come to the Underland immediately to try to find the cure for the “Curse of the Warmbloods” which affected all warm-blooded creatures. He and eight others set out on a quest through a jungle full of plants with a hungry appetite where hopefully they will find the one and only cure to the terrible plague.
Why I Started This Book:
I read this book because I had already read and liked the first two in the series. When you like a series you keep going right? It practically goes without saying that I thought the third book would be just as good.
Likes:
- I liked how Frill and Hazard can talk to animals. This was very useful because his gift saves them from scorpions.
- I liked the setting of this book in the jungle. It was different and weird, but also fun.
Dislikes:
- I didn’t like the whole quest thing. I’m getting tired of it being the main plot for the driving the story. I enjoyed it the first two times, but now it reads old hat.
- SPOILER!!!! The worst thing about this book is that Frill and Hamnet die! It wasn’t fair at all! They basically died for nothing because they had the cure already!
Buy: Gregor And The Curse Of The Warmbloods (paperback)
Book Rating: I give this book 3.5 Treasure Chests. It was pretty good but, some parts didn’t reach my expectations.
Originally posted 2009-10-05 03:39:02.
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