Entries Tagged '2.5-3 Treasure Chests' ↓
August 28th, 2010 — 2.5-3 Treasure Chests, A-C, Action & Adventure, Book Review, Fantasy, Humorous
by First Mate Keira
Title: The Atlantis Complex (Artemis Fowl Book 7)
Author: Eoin Colfer
Format: Hardback
Page Count: 357
Grade Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Summary: A criminal mastermind is plotting escape from the underwater fairy prison in Atlantis. Everything is in place and ready to go when a series of lucky incidences go his way. First that Mud Boy, Artemis Fowl, appears to be suffering from a guilty conscience triggering a fairy psychosis called the Atlantis Complex. The boy sends his bodyguard away, lures several high ranked members of LEPrecon out into the middle of nowhere, and provides the perfect distraction for the mastermind’s plans. Nothing can get in his way now… cue sinister laughing.
Why I started this book:
I picked up Atlantis Complex because I have read the previous six Artemis Fowl books. It wasn’t available in audio from the library yet or I would have selected that format.
Likes:
- Atlantis is a secondary city for the fairies. It’s not as big as Haven, but it’s just as important. I wish there had been more time spent in and around Atlantis instead of just focused on the prison and the mastermind’s escape route.
- The giant squid was pretty epic. I like how it was a thinking creature and used tools, primitive though they were. (“I’m a nut!”)
- The reprogrammed amorphobots. Foaly’s peaceful scientific advances intent on looking for life on Mars becoming nearly unbeatable weapons was pretty cool and clever.
Dislikes:
- Orion Fowl was a waste of space both inside Artemis’ head and also on page. I expected more than bad poetry frankly as Artemis’ arch enemy.
- Foaly was completely useless. He was good for the phone he carried, that’s it. The rest of the time he was patently unhelpful always saying the goo-bots he built weren’t programmed to do what they were doing. Of course they weren’t! That’s why everything was going to hell in a hand-basket.
- Artemis should have been fully healed from the Atlantis Complex before the end of the book. I don’t like that it’s been left open for a plot device in the next book.
Buy: The Atlantis Complex (Artemis Fowl, Book 7)
Rating: 3 Treasure Chests
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August 12th, 2010 — 2.5-3 Treasure Chests, Action & Adventure, Book Review, Friends, M-O, Paranormal, Romance, School Situations
by First Mate Keira
Title: Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy Series, Book 1)
Author: Richelle Mead
Format: Paperback
Page Count: 332
Grade Reading Level: Grade 9+
Summary: After two years on the run, Rose Hathaway and Vasilisa (Lissa) Dragomir are captured by a group of Guardians and sent back to St. Vladimir’s Academy. Lissa is a Moroi, or a good vampire, and the last of her royal line, making her a princess. Rose is a mix of human and vampire, known as a dhampir. Dhampirs grow up to be Guardians, who are the protectors of Moroi. From the beginning dhampirs are taught “They come first” and that they need Moroi to reproduce. Best friends, Rose and Lissa share a bond, something that they learn more about back at school. There was a reason they left St. Vladimir’s in the first place… and now that they’re back again they have to navigate the social hierarchy, catch up on two years worth of classes, fall in love with two inappropriate boys, and solve the mystery that sent them fleeing in the first place.
Why I started this book:
I kept seeing the book series in stores, around the blogosphere, and in the library. It was recommended to me as a good series for Twilight fans. I finally picked it up when I heard it might be made into a movie sometime in the future.
Likes:
- The friendship between Lissa and Rose. They seem to really care for each other and want what’s best. They get into fights, they keep secrets from one another, but they’re very tight and supportive too. They don’t compete with each other.
- Mead captures the spirit of a teenage girl and infuses it into her heroine, Rose. She becomes a perfect pot of contradiction with heavy sarcasm, flirting, insecurity, and confidence.
- I like that the half-vampires and good vampires are alive and that the blood drinking is limited to Moroi and Strigoi (undead/bad vampires).
- Mead creates a solid story based on real folklore, like the Balklan myth of Dhampirs, and imagination. I really like the integration and world-building. It’s pretty complex.
Dislikes:
- The underage romance between Dimitri and Rose. She’s a year shy of being legally an adult and it might not make much of a difference to some people, but it rubs me the wrong way and sends a bad message.
- All the dead animals being planted on and in Lissa’s things by some weirdo. No wonder Lissa and Rose ran before – wouldn’t you to get away from this sort of creepy stalker displays? Yuck.
- Yet again, all the cool kids and everybody else seems to be drinking and/or smoking or have done it in the past. Doesn’t the word underage count for anything? Where are the teachers on all of this? Sheesh. There needs to be several room raids since lockers aren’t in use.
- There’s a lot of telling instead of showing in the novel, which can make it hard to read and occasionally a little lackluster, but the plotline and characters have me hooked.
Buy: Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy, Book 1)
Rating: 3 Treasure Chests
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August 10th, 2010 — 2.5-3 Treasure Chests, Book Review, Family Life, Fantasy, Friends, G-I, Mystery
by First Mate Keira
Title: 13 Treasures
Author: Michelle Harrison
Format: Hardback
Page Count: 355
Grade Reading Level: Grade 5–8
Summary: Tanya knows that at age 13 she can no longer get away with talking to faeries or about them in front of others as both adults and kids couldn’t see them. Only her. She’d been tormented by them for years and the bullying wasn’t going to ever stop as far as she could see. When she tried to write about them in a journal, they discovered it and punished her. That punishment woke her mother which lead to more punishment… she was being sent away to live with her grandmother. The grandmother she is certain hates her and never wants her to visit. Oh and her grandmother’s place is stuffed with faeries inside and outside the house… talk about jumping from frying pan into the fire.
Why I started this book:
It looked really cute on the library shelf. Cover is very nice.
Likes:
- Tanya’s and Fabian’s friendship. They work together to solve the mystery of the girl in the woods. The girl, Morwenna Bloom, had gone missing ages ago and but her disappearance was blamed on Fabian’s grandfather. The town thinks he killed her, but there’s no proof. Or is there?
- Oberon is a good dog. He had a lot of personality infused in his character with just a few lines.
Dislikes:
- Raven, Gredin, Feathercap, and Mizhog, the bullying faeries that pick on Tanya.
- Morwenna Bloom. I just knew she wasn’t the sweet missing girl she’s made out to be throughout the story.
- Another thing I didn't get was feeling bad for changelings and trying to help them.
- Florence’s relationship with her granddaughter. The motivations were explained in the conclusion of the story, but it seemed rather weak to me.
- The 13 treasures the story is titled after appear in the novel as a charm bracelet to go with a legend. It didn’t do anything… I kept expecting it to end up being the real treasures shrunk down, but it was just jewelry.
- The concept of guardian faeries was very contradicting in terms of world-building. In the end I didn’t quite understand how if one or several of the faeries were on Tanya’s side how they could condone tormenting and torturing her. It didn’t make much sense to me.
Buy: 13 Treasures
Rating: 2.5 Treasure Chests
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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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August 6th, 2010 — 2.5-3 Treasure Chests, Action & Adventure, D-F, Fantasy, Guest Review
by Second Mate Embry, guest reviewer
Title: Igraine the Brave
Author: Cornelia Funke
Format: Hardcover
Page Count: 212
Grade Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Summary: As a daughter of two magicians, Igraine is expected to follow in their footsteps, casting spells and concocting potions, right? Actually, all she wants to be is a knight and have adventures. She gets her chance when Osmund the Greedy tries to take over the castle, and her parents are turned into pigs! Luckily her brother is making a potion to turn them back, but he needs one more ingredient. Will Igraine become a knight, save her parents, and beat Osmund? Or will Osmund the Greedy rule over the castle with an iron fist forever?
Why I Read This Book:
I read this book because I have enjoyed other books by Cornelia Funke and thought that I would try it. Also, that back blurb caught my attention in the library and sounded interesting.
Likes:
- I like the idea of a 12 year-old knight. She’s fighting for us pre-teens!
- I liked the magic used by Igraine’s brother and parents; it seemed unstoppable.
- So we know Igraine wants to be a knight, right? Well she would be a knight with one fear: Spiders. I thought it was hilarious that out of all the fears she could possibly have, her ONLY fear was spiders.
Dislikes:
- I found myself skimming this book to get it finished. It didn't really hold my interest and more than anything I just wanted to finish it. Some parts of the book I enjoyed, but I like to be totally captivated during the whole book, not just good parts here and there. I’d be all excited about something that happened and curious to read on, but then instead of finding more rising action it was more of a plateau and that got very dull very quickly. I think Cornelia Funke could have made this book a lot more intense by keeping the rising action strong.
Buy: Igraine The Brave
Rating: 2.5 Treasure chests!
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