Entries Tagged 'P-R' ↓
August 8th, 2010 — 2.5-3 Treasure Chests, Book Review, Family Life, Graphic Novel, P-R, School Situations
by Captain Lyaf Yarr
Title: Dork Diaries 2: Tales from a Not-So-Popular Party Girl
Author: Rachel Renee Russell
Format: Hardback
Page Count: 279
Grade Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Summary: Nikki Maxwell is still the same dork. In this sequel, she has to deal with her two best friends Cloe and Zoey, her secret crush Brandon, and Mackenzie, Nikki’s locker neighbor; the most popular girl in school. Oh, and Mackenzie hates Nikki’s guts! A scheme of McKenzie’s pulls Nikki and four others in charge of the ENTIRE school dance. So not good. In addition, Nikki accepted an offer to be a giant smelly rat and help out Mackenzie’s aunt at her sister’s ballet party. To make everything better her friends tell her that they’ve decided to go with her idea and dress up as trash bags for the dance, but when Brandon finally asked Nikki to go with him so she decides to dress up as Juliet! Now she can’t wait to go to the dance and hang out just with Brandon… but what about the Halloween party and her friends?!? How can one dork handle all of this in just one night???
Why I started this book:
I read this book because I read the first book and I was eager to know what happened next!
Likes:
- I liked reading this book as a diary. I felt so sneaky! This format is what drew me into the first book also. There should be more diary styled comic books!
- I enjoyed the illustrations in the book. They we’re fun and it gave you a better idea of things that Nikki was talking about.
- I thought Cloe and Zoey were the best friends ever! They always stood up for Nikki and were very understanding.
Dislikes:
- This book was way too predict Buy: Dork Diaries 2: Tales from a Not-So-Popular Party Girl
able! A little dumbed down in places too. For instance, when Nikki was wondering what Brandon wanted to tell her, I was thinking “Gee, I wonder! (Sarcastically.) Could he, and for that matter she, be any more oblivious?”
- This book was an easy read. Maybe too easy. I need something a little more challenging now I think, so while I liked the book I wouldn't say I Liked the book.
- Why did Mackenzie tell Nikki that the dance rocked? Aren’t they supposed to hate each other? It just doesn’t make sense.
Rating: 2.5 Treasure chests!
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July 25th, 2010 — 3.5-4 Treasure Chests, Action & Adventure, Book Review, Fantasy, P-R
by First Mate Keira
Title: The Red Pyramid (Kane Chronicles, Book 1)
Author: Rick Riordan
Format: Kindle ebook
Page Count: 528 pages (Hardcover version)
Grade Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Summary: When Carter and Sadie’s father, Dr. Julius Kane, accidentally destroys the Rosetta Stone and sets five Egyptian gods loose their whole life changes as secrets begin to unravel. They almost immediately come into magical powers and have to run from forces of evil. Together they have to learn how to cope, rescue their father, and save the world all with just the help from their uncle, Sadie’s cat, and a few other misfits.
Why I started this book:
I have read the Percy Jackson series by Riordan and was interested in seeing what he did next.
Likes:
- Riordan combined both worlds – Kane Chronicles and Percy Jackson with a few vague references that tickled me pink. One mention was by Uncle Amos referred to the gods on the other side of Manhattan (he was looking at the Empire State Building when he said it.) The second was by Thoth and referred to Hermes.
- The multicultural aspect: the interracial parents and the siblings looking different from each other with Carter being dark like their father and Sadie being light like their mother. Riordan’s definition of fairness and equality was highlighted by several Kindle users both in its original location and when he echoed it later in the novel.
- The Egyptian god setup was as carefully explained by Riordan as the Greek gods in Percy Jackson. He goes over the two different sets, how they combine, and explained inconsistencies using a well thought out bit of imagination. They are Set, Osiris, Isis, Horus, and Nephthys to name the big five.
- I liked the form of long distance travel – how Egyptian and Egyptian style monuments were turned into places of power and portals.
- Anubis is hot!
Dislikes:
- Carter was not as strong a hero as I am used to for a protagonist. It was odd for me to read again and again proof that his younger sister was stronger.
- Sadie is far, far, far too young for Anubis. Twelve and boy crazy? I guess if he’s Justin Bieber.
- Sadie and Carter’s grandparents. Ugh.
Buy: The Red Pyramid (The Kane Chronicles, Book 1)
The Red Pyramid (Kindle Version)
Rating: 4 Treasure Chests
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June 25th, 2010 — 3.5-4 Treasure Chests, Action & Adventure, Fantasy, Guest Review, P-R
by Cook Cutlery, guest reviewer
Title: Eragon
Author: Christopher Paolini
Format: Papberback
Page Count: 497
Reading Grade Level: 7th-9th Grade
Summary: A normal farm boy was hunting in the forest and when he saw a huge flash of blue light. An invesitagtion led to a big sapphire stone which he brought home. But it wasn't a big sapphire gem at all. It was actually a dragon egg. When it hatched for him, Eragon became the last of the Dragon Riders. Many thought the Dragon Riders had been killed off and thought the eggs were gone and that the Age of the Dragons would never rise again. But word of a new Dragon Rider spread fast and soon the existence of Eragon and his dragon, Sapphira, had reached Galbatorix and the Elves, Varden, and the Dwarves. Now Eragon is in a race to stay alive and keep his dragon safe. He has only two choices to succeed and one is unacceptable. He won't serve Galbatorix so he must find the Varden.
Why I started this book:
I started Eragon
because it was lying around. I bought it a few years back and hadn't gotten around to it before now. Plus, I had seen the movie and like it. So I thought why not?
Likes:
- What I liked about this book was that it had a lot of action. Once you settled in to read, the world sucked you in from one thrilling chase to the next harrowing adventure. It was really hard to put the book down when you got to a really good part.
- I really liked Sapphira a lot because she had a lot of wisdom when she spoke to him even though she was younger than him in physical years she was still wiser and older in her mind.
Dislikes:
- I didn’t like that the author had a ton of made up words in the story even though it had a dictionary in the back of the book saying what they meant. It was very tedious looking back to see what they meant all the time.
- I didn’t like the fact that Brom died. I thought he was a very good character and served as a really good mentor.
Differences between the book and the movie:
- In the movie we don't know why Sapphira got her name. Eragon bestows it on her after he went to talk to Brom and got the history of the name from him.
- In the movie it doesn’t tell how Eragon came to Palancar Valley. But when his mother was pregnant with him she was very poor and went to her brother Garrow (Eragon’s Uncle) asking if he would help her until the baby was born and then take care of it after it was born. Once she gave birth to Eragon a while later she left him with Garrow and never returned.
Buy: Eragon (Inheritance, Book 1)
Rating: I give this book 4 out of 5 treasure chests.
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May 12th, 2010 — 3.5-4 Treasure Chests, Guest Review, P-R
by Cook Cutlery, guest reviewer
Title: Maximum Ride: Schools out Forever (Book 2)
Author: James Patterson
Format: Paperback
Pages: 412
Grade Reading Level: 7th - 12th Grade
Summary: Maximum Ride and her 3 brothers and 2 sisters were taken as babies and were experimented on and are far from normal humans. They were all turned into avian-hybrids which mean that they have wings and are able to fly. The kids have been on the run ever since they escaped the School (the place where they were experimented on.) Sooner or later Erasers (people who turn into wolves) will find them and attack them forcing them to stay on the move. When a kind woman offers them sanctuary at a new school the kids agree to attend... all seems to be well but conspiracies abound everywhere.
The Characters:
- Maximum is the older of her sisters.
- Her younger sisters are Nudge and Angel. Nudge is the middle sister and Angel is the youngest sisters.
- Fang is the oldest brother, followed by Iggy.
- Iggy is blind because the white coats (scientists) tried to give him better night vision but messed up so he lost his vision permanently.
- Then Gasman (Gazzy) is the youngest of the 3 brothers. None of them are really related to each other except Angel and Gazzy, and they are actually brother and sister.
Likes:
- It had a ton of action in it. Max was trying to keep everyone safe. There was a lot of busting out of places. For instance, when the kids get into a fight with the Erasers, Fang gets badly injured. Then when they land on the beach to see what had happened Max couldn’t believe how hurt he really was.
- All of the kids personalities. They're very vivid and entertaining.
- I really like that all the kids care about each other even though they're not really family. They have such a strong bond with one another.
Dislikes:
- The head-hopping bugs me. I don't like how the book jumps from talking about one person to another without much transition.
- Some parts of the book got very confusing because you couldn’t tell who did what or said what and required a second or third reading to understand what happened.
Buy: School's Out - Forever (Maximum Ride, Book 2)
Rating: 4 Treasure Chests
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April 17th, 2010 — 3.5-4 Treasure Chests, Action & Adventure, Book Review, Coming of Age, Fantasy, P-R, School Situations, YA Genre
by Captain Lyaf Yarr
Title: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Author: J.K. Rowling
Format: Hard Back
# of pages: 652
Grade Reading Level:5.9; 4-8 grade
Summary: The toughest year for Harry so far begins by being hex and humiliated by his long time rival Draco Malfoy. Of three things Harry Potter is most certain. First, Draco Malfoy was a Death Eater. Second, Draco Malfoy was up to something bad. And third, that he was in love with him. No, wait that would be Ginny Weasley! Now if only everyone would believe him. Not even Dumbledore, who was training Harry seemed to believe him. So what should he do? Spy of course and mix brilliant potions under the new Potions instructor's tutelage!
Why I Started the Book:
I'm almost done rereading all the Harry Potter books! Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows here I come!
Likes:
- I loved when Dobby and Kreacher were fighting over Harry and I wished that it was in the movie.
- I liked the Defense Against the Dark Arts classes and also wished they showed some classes in the movie. It was Snape's dream job and when he gets it, it's not even showed in the movie!
- Dumbledore taught Harry more about Lord Voldemort through memories which was important, but I wished they took place all in one night and not scattered throughout the book. That way the follow up lessons could be on dueling!
- I liked how Harry tricked Ron with the Felix Felicis potion. It shows just how much attitude can change things vs. what magic can do.
- The Half-Blood Prince's potion book. It makes me curious why he didn't later have a book published on potions.
Dislikes:
- Dumbledore dying. He's one of the most important characters in the story! However Harry can't defeat Lord Voldemort by holding onto Dumbledore robes. I'm sad to see him go but I understand why.
- Harry knew that Draco Malfoy was a Death Eater all along, but nobody believed him. Not even Dumbledore or Hermione!
- Dumbledore didn't technically teach Harry how to defeat Lord Voldemort. He gave clues but he didn't do as much as I thought he should have done.
Buy: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Paperback)
, Harry Potter Paperback Box Set (Books 1-7)
, Harry Potter 1- 7 Audio Book Collection
Book Rating: I give this book 4 treasure chests!
Originally posted 2009-12-17 03:34:18.
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