Literature Young Adult Fiction » Family Life http://www.literatureyoungadultfiction.com YA Readers Reviewing Books. Thu, 29 Jul 2010 09:18:25 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Review: Dread Locks by Neal Shusterman http://www.literatureyoungadultfiction.com/review-dread-locks-by-neal-shusterman/ http://www.literatureyoungadultfiction.com/review-dread-locks-by-neal-shusterman/#comments Sun, 30 May 2010 09:39:44 +0000 CaptainYarr http://www.literatureyoungadultfiction.com/?p=951

by Captain Lyaf Yarr

Title: Dread Locks
Author: Neal Shusterman
Format: Paperback
# of pages: 176
Grade Reading Level:

Summary: Parker Baer is spoiled. He has everything he's ever wanted and then some. But the only problem is that he thinks his life is dull and boring. He rethinks this observation after a girl named Tara moves in the house across from them alone. If that wasn't suspicious enough, she has hair that is almost lifelike, as if she has snakes for hair. She always wears sunglasses and claims she has a bad eye condition. Her house is full of beautiful “sculpted” statues… with fingerprints? She stares people down as if they're prey and she changes people with her eyes. All Tara wants is a friend and that friend is going to be Parker, whether he likes it or not. Once Tara (Medusa) takes Parker under her wing and changes him into her kind he becomes immortal. But he realizes that he doesn't want this! Can he escape and change what Tara has done? Will Tara get her friend? Will the people she's changed be turned back to normal?

Why I Started the Book:

I started this book because it was assigned as a school reading book.

Likes:

  • I enjoyed the reading this book. I was kept on the edge of my chair in suspense. I'm defiantly going to be reading the sequel and other books by Neal Shusterman!
  • On the back of this book it said it was a mix between the three little bears and Medusa. And I love how these different stories joined together.
  • This book was both predictable and unpredictable. It was predictable because I knew it was Medusa and she was going to do bad and turn everyone into statues but besides that I had no idea what else would happen. Since we were reading together as a class we weren't allowed to read ahead. It was terrible! The waiting was killing me!

Dislikes:

  • I wish the ending was different and that Parker's choice had been something else. I can't say what without giving the ending away.

Buy: Dread Locks #1 (Dark Fusion)

Book Rating: I give this Book 4.5 Stars!

Dread Locks by Neal Shusterman (2006) Dread Locks by Neal Shusterman (2006) Paypal 0 Bid US $.99 3d 21h 2m
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by Cook Cutlery, guest reviewer

Title: The Bad Beginning (Book 1) Series of Unfortunate Events
Author: Lemony Snicket
Illustrator: Brett Helquist
Format: Hardback
Page Count: 162
Grade Reading Level: Ages 10+

Summary: Violet, Kluas and Sunny Bauldilair were at the beach when Mr. Poe comes and tell them that their parents had died in a fire. At their house all they find are ashes. Arrangements are made so that the kids live with Mr. Poe at his house while he tries to find them a relative to live with on a permanent basis. Mr. Poe finds them a place to live with Count Olaf. At Count Olaf's many bad things happen to them... in a series of unfortunate events!

Like:

  • I love Violet. She is always trying to invent something. For instance, later in the story Violet invents a grappling hook out of old clothes and old wire. How does she think of things like that so quickly? I would be hard pressed that is for sure.
  • Justice Starauss is very kind to the kids. He lets them use the library and helps them buy food so they can cook for Count Olaf and the troupe of people living with him.
  • Klaus and Violet are always taking care of Sunny and making sure she doesn’t get into trouble. I have a hard time with one sister that's closer to my age! So while it might not be very accurate in normal circumstances, the Bauldilair kids are a whole other ball of wax.

Dislike:

  • Mr. Poe doesn’t believe them when they are trying to tell him that Count Olaf is a terrible man and gives them way too many chores to do. Mr. Poe should know what sort of kids they are from when they lived with him and it's really important for adults to take kids seriously when it comes to stuff like that.
  • When Count Olaf puts on a play that is called the Marvelous Marriage. In actuality it is not a play but a real marriage ceremony. He wants to get the Bauldilair fortune that they were left with and does it through trickery. Plus, can you imagine being married to the guy? Gross!

Buy: The Bad Beginning (Hardback), The Complete Wreck (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Books 1-13), The Trouble Begins: Books 1-3, The Situation Worsens: Books 4-6, The Dilemma Deepens: Books 7-9 , The Gloom Looms: Books 10-12

Rating: I give this book 3 out of 5 treasure chests.

Originally posted 2010-01-05 03:55:33.

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by Captain Lyaf Yarr

Title: Ida B
Author:Katherine Hannigan
Format: Paperback
# of pages: 246
Grade Reading Level: 5th grade, Ages 9-12

Summary: When Ida B Applewood's mother gets cancer she is forced to go to public school (she was homeschooled before.) She arrives with a bad attitude because she chooses not to enjoy it no matter what. With a grudge against her parents she discovers that her plan might not be easy and it's gonna take more then just a little work. Can Ida B avoid disaster? Will she get herself into more trouble then ever before? Will the life she used to have be lost forever?

Why I Started the Book:

I started this book because my teacher had given it as a class assignment.

Likes:

  • I liked Ida B's crazy and far out imagination. I guess anything is possible in her book as long as you try hard and put your mind to it. It's a really good attitude to have, I think.
  • Mrs. W (Washington) was a great character. She seemed like the answer to all of Ida B's questions, and she was always right by her side.
  • I enjoyed how Katherine Hannigan wrote the parts about the trees. They were either talking or doing something. They we're just like regular people but in tree form.

Dislikes:

  • Ida B in general is sort of crazy. I mean talking to trees? “Nothing weird about that.” It's just at some parts of this book were a little too weird for me.
  • Ida seemed immature to me because even if she was joking around about something it would still sound immature and childish.
  • This book was an easy read for me. The font was big and the lines were double spaced. For a book that talks about saving trees they sure used a lot of paper.

Last Minute Thoughts: As I was reading I could see everything as if it was in theaters. Katherine Hannigan writes in a very visual way. I wonder if they will make his book into a movie?

Buy: Ida B: . . . and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World

Book Rating: I give this book 3 treasure chests!
tc3

Originally posted 2009-12-11 03:42:49.

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by Second Mate Embry, guest reviewer

Title: Wing Nut
Author: MJ Auch
Format: Paperback
Page Count: 256
Grade Reading Level: Grades 6-8

Summary: Grady Flood and his mom Lila have been moving around from place to place ever since his dad died. Lila gets a job looking after an old man named Charlie Fernwald. But Charlie doesn’t think he needs any help whatsoever. Grady can’t wait to move again because he thinks Charlie is weird. Then Charlie and Grady bond over fixing cars and purple martins. Does this mean Grady’s home and life is permanent once more or will life fall apart again?

Why I started reading this book:

It’s one of the books on my school reading list and it was also a choice for a reading assignment by my teacher and was on the list for Book Bash too. It was an all around win as far as book selection goes.

Likes:

  • I have never read anything else like this before and it was good in a different way. I really liked the topic.
  • I liked how the author kept the reader in suspense with how the father died. It was done really well – not too much and just right.
  • I really liked how Grady thought Charlie was crazy for liking the birds as much as he did – they were just birds – until he found out why they were special and then Grady thought it was cool.
  • It all ended well which made me very happy. I love nice happy endings without anything sad associated with them.

Dislikes:

  • I wouldn’t have read it if it hadn’t been on all the lists. It’s not something I would have chosen for myself. There were some parts that were boring and I had to slog my way through it until it picked up again.
  • I don’t think Grady should have helped the starlings because he knew how much the purple martins meant to Charlie. He thought he knew better, but he obviously didn’t and his actions resulted in the death of one of Charlie’s favorite birds.

Buy: Wing Nut

Rating: 3.5 Treasure Chests

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by Second Mate Embry, guest reviewer

Title: The Kid Who Ran for President
Author: Dan Gutman
Format: Paperback
# of pages: 155
Grade Reading Level: 5.4, 6-8 grade

Summary: Judson Moon and Lane Brainard decided that they've had enough of adult decisions. They believe that a kid should have a shot at being the president of the United States. They get their campaign rolling and soon Judson Moon is on the ballot for being the next president of the United States. Will he become president? Or will he fail?

Why I Started the Book:

I remembered a few years ago my teacher assigned this book for me to read and that I enjoyed it a lot. So when I came across it again I thought I would reread it.

Likes:

  • I love the concept of a kid running for president! I wish that kids had the right to vote and run for president. Go kids!
  • Eventually Judson gets sick of running for president and during a national debate between the runners he comes up with juvenile answers such as – Q: “How do you feel about school prayer?” A: “Every morning I pray school will be closed.” and Q: “Which president do you admire most and why?” A: "Grover Cleveland because, he became president despite the fact he was named after a character from sesame street.” It was very funny!

Dislike:

  • Throughout the book I thought that Judson should have listened to Lane more than he did. It would have been wiser.

Buy: The Kid Who Ran For President (Paperback)

Book Rating: I give this book 4.5 treasure chests!
tc45

Originally posted 2009-11-24 03:49:08.

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by Master Llama, guest reviewer

Title: If I Stay
Author: Gayle Forman
Format: Hardback
Page Count: 208 Pages
Grade Reading Level: Ages 14+; Grades 10-12

Summary: Mia’s a really good cello player. Her dad used to be in a band, but now he’s a professor. She’s very shy and quiet. She got into a car crash and gets into a coma. She lives outside of her body and the story takes place all in one day. She realizes she has the decision to stay or go on into the afterlife. Her parents are dead but her boyfriend is still alive and she thinks she can make it into Julliard.

Why I read this book:

I went on Amazon to find books to read and I found it there. It looked really interesting and the fact the main character liked music cinched it. The main character reminded me of my friend Cook Cutlery.

Likes:

  • I loved that Mia was so involved in music. I am such a music geek so it really makes me happy to find characters in books who are the same. She’s an Orch Dork which is even better.
  • I really liked her relationship with Adam and how it was revealed in flashbacks throughout the story.
  • It sounds like a super gooey depressing book but it’s not. The flashbacks are key to changing the tone. They open up a lot of happy times and moments to process. It’s not all doom and gloom.

Dislikes:

  • I didn’t like that her little brother died too. I understood the parents dying, but not the little brother. That made me sad.

Buy: If I Stay (Hardback), If I Stay (Paperback)

Rating: 4.5 Treasure Chests

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by Captain Yarr

Title: Diary of a Wimpy Kid Dog Days
Author: Jeff Kinney
Page Count: 214
Format: Hardcover
Grade Reading Level: Ages 9-12

Summary: No matter what Greg does he can never enjoy his summer. Even if he is liking his summer, it won’t last long and/or will probably turn out badly. This summer he’s juggling between his family, friends, and his love life. Will he loose his best friend? Will he get Heather Hills to fall in love with him? As things are Greg isn’t sure which is worst: his summer or going back to school.

Why I Started the Book:

I liked all the previous books and put this title on hold at the library. My place on the hold list was fairly low and I got the book in time to devour it over the weekend.

Likes:

  • I like the chapter (or day) that Greg used his Ladybug (his cell phone that only calls 911 or his house) for the first time and almost gets his day arrested. It was funny!
  • I enjoyed Manny in this book because he never cared about what was going on; he just wants to have a good time.
  • The humor is as good as the rest of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. You will definitely chuckle to yourself as you read.

Dislikes:

  • I never found out how Greg and Rowley paid back Mr. Jefferson back for ordering all the fruit smoothies at the clubhouse. Even though it wasn’t as important as some other problems, I really wanted to know.
  • If I were to choose a title for this book, I wouldn’t name it Dog Days. There are only some parts in the story that involve a dog, and he’s not even the main problem in the story!

Last minute thoughts: I hope Jeff Kinney will add another book to the series because I enjoy reading them and don’t want to see the end of the books.

Buy: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days (Hardcover)

Book Rating: I give this book 3.5 treasure chests!
tc35

Originally posted 2009-11-11 03:13:50.

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by Captain Lyaf Yarr

Title: Sarah Plain and Tall
Author: Patricia MacLachlan
Format: Paperback
# of pages: 58 pages
Grade Reading Level: Ages 9-12

Summary: When Anna and Caleb's dad invites a mail ordered bride to come and stay with them for a month all they want is for her to stay. But will their fathers' and Sarah s' differences get in the way? Or well the month she's with them be a waste of time?

Why I Started the Book:

I started this book because I was going through my bookshelf and both my sister and my mom said they really enjoyed it so I thought that I would give it a try.

Likes:

  • I liked the character Sarah. She's a very independent woman for her time. She answers an ad for a mail order bride but sets her own rules. She'll come out for a trial period and then decide!
  • I liked how Sarah was honest from the beginning about herself and her expectations. She didn't act like she was coming for the love of their father, but just to help them out. She's not afraid to get down and dirty.

Dislikes:

  • This book was good but I wish it was longer and that more happened in it.
  • I wished that the kids made something happen, like if they didn't want Sarah to be their mother then they would try to make bad things happen to her. They didn't really do anything. They were good kids and just agreed to everything and were excited and happy. Not much conflict there.

Last minute thoughts: Sarah describes herself as “Plain and Tall” but really she's not plain at all. I also searched this book on Amazon and I found out that there is a movie to this book! So I will get the movie from the library and watch it!

Buy: Sarah, Plain and Tall

Book Rating: I give this book 3.5 treasure chests!

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by Second Mate Embry, guest reviewer

Title: Extra Credit
Author: Andrew Clements
Format: Hardback
# of pages: 183
Grade Reading Level: Ages 9-12

Summary: Abby Carson is going to be held back! Unless if she can raise her grades and get either a B or higher on all of her future quizzes and homework. She decides that she will do an extra credit project. The teacher assigns Abby to write to a pen pal in another country. She thinks her pen pal is a girl, but it is against tradition for a boy to write a letter to a girl where her pen pal lives. Sadeed, Abby's pen pal, must have his younger sister sign the letters. When Abby finds out that she's not writing to who she thinks she is what will happen? Will Abby get held back?

Why I Started the Book:

I started this book because the cover caught my eye. Also the title grabbed my curiosity. What is this book about and how does it relate to extra credit?

Likes:

  • I like how this book shows both points of view of Sadeed and Abby. That's pretty cool.
  • This book was different (in a good way) for me. I've never come across this plot before. I enjoyed it a lot.
  • I love Sadeed's ideas of mini mountain!

Dislikes:

  • The names of the men in Sadeed's village confused me whenever they were mentioned. It was a little hard to follow at first and I had to double back and figure out who was who.

Last minute thoughts: This book really surprised me. It kept me entertained and I enjoyed reading it

Buy: Extra Credit

Book Rating: I give this book 4.5 treasure chests!

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