Literature Young Adult Fiction » Family Life

Review: Mission (Un)Popular by Anna Humphrey

First Mate Keira — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 11:50:36 +0000

by First Mate Keira

Title: Mission (Un)Popular
Author: Anna Humphrey
Format: Digital ebook
Page Count: 416 pages
Grade Reading Level: Grades 6-9

Summary: Margot Button doesn’t worry about New Year Resolutions. She worries about School Year Resolutions. Unfortunately they all seem to be collapsing before 7^th grade even starts. Her best friend is sent to a private school, her mother won’t take her shopping for new school clothes, a DIY eyebrow and hair trim goes awry, and her social life is killed because she’s needed to babysit her triplet sisters after school every day. What’s a girl to do? Make friendly with the new girl in school whose fashion sense and coolness factor is sure to get them both in the popular group before too long. They just have to play their cards right.

Why I started this book:

I asked for an ARC from the publisher and got it.

Likes:

That the cool crush winds up looking like a plastic Ken Doll – pretty but with little substance.
How Margot and “Evil” Sarah are forced to come to a truce by Sarah’s older sister.
How Lord of the Flies fit into the story.
Em is well developed. I like how you know as the reader there is something just a little bit off about her.
Margot makes a mess of things but does the hardest part and fixes them. I’m glad everybody was willing to allow her to make amends.

Dislikes:

For a zero tolerance bullying policy, the principal at Manning Middle School is a bit of a wuss when it comes to enforcing it.
The spoon game. Gross and in the end dangerous. Luckily Margot does the right thing!
I want an epilogue where Margot meet’s the other girl. I want to know how that works out.

Last Minute Thoughts: For a fun drama filled middle school story about friends and crushes and growing up, read Mission (Un)Popular!

Buy: Mission (Un)Popular

Rating: 3.5 Treasure Chests

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Review: If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where’s My Prince? by Melissa Kantor

First Mate Keira — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 09:14:08 +0000

Reviewed by First Mate Keira

Title: If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince?
Author: Melissa Kantor
Format: Hardback
Page Count: 283 pages
Grade Reading Level: Grades 7-9

Summary: Lucy Norton is a modern day Cinderella. Forced to move from San Francisco to Long Island because of her dad’s remarriage, she’s struggling to find her balance in a life she doesn’t want. With her dad constantly out of state due to work, it’s a lot harder than it should be. Her stepmom asks like a totally different person when he’s not around. It’s clear the stepmom wants to be rid of her. Add in her two wicked little stepsisters and Lucy’s just wondering where the heck her prince is to complete the fairy tale.

Why I started this book:

Goodreads recommended it to me based on my TBR pile.

Likes:

I like how Lucy comes to the rescue for her twin stepsisters in the book. It was a smart move on the stepsisters part to call someone to get them out of trouble. Kids take note! Ever find yourself somewhere you don’t want to be make that phone call.
I like that Lucy shares a strong interest in common with each of the guy’s she likes and that like her back. Conner Pearson (most popular guy at school, but who’s too old for her) is on the basketball team and Lucy is crazy about basketball. While Lucy and Sam Wolff share a passion for art – creating it and discussing other artists.
I appreciated the fact that the friendships she makes with two girls while she’s popular stick with her when she’s no longer dating the popular boy.

Dislikes:

I was hoping for a stepmom would appeared horrible but really wasn’t. But she actually is and it’s kind of an unfair reputation. Not all stepmoms are wicked, just this one. She refused to furnish or let Lucy furnish her room until it benefited her to have it done when a friend would need to use it, honed in on all the daughter’s phone time with her dad instead of waiting for them to be done, punished or reprimanded her for small infractions while letting her own daughters get away with everything, it’s a huge double standard.
Oh and at one point at a party she forces Lucy to dress up like the help and take people’s coats and serve them food without bothering to introduce her as her husband’s daughter. Seriously? The father lets her get away with that and that’s just wrong!

Buy: If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince?

Rating: 3 Treasure Chests

If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince?, Melissa Kantor, New Book

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Review: Best Friends and Drama Queens (Allie Finkle’s Rules For Girls: Book 3) by Meg Cabot

Second Mate Embry — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 04:23:54 +0000

by Second Mate Embry, guest reviewer

Title: Best Friends and Drama Queens (Allie Finkle's Rules For Girls: Book 3)
Author: Meg Cabot
Format: Hardcover
Page Count: 240
Grade Reading Level: Ages 9-12

Summary: Allie gets excited when she learns that that they are getting a new student from Canada! Mostly because that means she won’t be the new girl anymore. But when she finally meets Cheyenne, she finds out how incredibly BOSSY she is! Allie thinks her life is over when Cheyenne’s rules make Allie fight with her best friends. What could she do to solve Cheyenne’s attitude? Will she get her best friends back? Will she lose them forever?

Why I Read This Book:

I read this book because it’s the third book in the series Allie Finkle’s Rules for Girls. I can’t wait for the fourth book!

Likes:

Cheyenne is the perfect 4th grade bully. She threatens people to make them do what she wants. She’s the perfect “villain” for this setting better than Rosemary from earlier in the series.
I like how Allie doesn’t give into Cheyenne. She stays strong and doesn’t let her get her cruel ways.

Dislikes:

I didn’t like how Erica, Caroline, and Sophie give into Cheyenne so easily! I mean, I think if Allie can stand up for herself than they can. Or at least make it harder on her to peer pressure them.

Buy: Best Friends And Drama Queens (Allie Finkle's Rules For Girls #3)

Rating: 3.5 Treasure Chests!

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Review: Moving Day (Allie Finkle’s Rules for Girls: Book 1) by Meg Cabot

Second Mate Embry — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 03:19:45 +0000

by Second Mate Embry, guest reviewer

Title: Moving Day (Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls: Book 1)
Author: Meg Cabot
Format: Hard Cover
Page Count: 240
Reading Level: Ages 9-12

Summary: Allie Finkle is pretty happy with her life … even though her brothers are annoying and her best friend cries over everything. Things start going wrong when her parents announce that they are moving! What is she going to do now? To help herself survive though the move, she creates a book of rules that every girl should follow. Will her rules for girls help her? Or will her past happy life be gone forever?

Why I Read This Book:

I read this book because I found out that this book was part of a series (Allie Finkle’s Rules for Girls) and decided to try it because I've been looking for more series to follow.

Likes:

It was easy for me to relate to Meg Cabot's Allie Finkle because I had to move from a place that I had to live in for a L-O-N-G time and could relate with the main character on that point.
I liked Allie’s comparison between the two elementary schools.

Dislikes:

It seemed a little babyish and young for a 4^th grader to be scared of a disembodied zombie hand in her attic to me. If it were me I would totally think it was a Halloween prop.

Last Minute Thoughts: I liked this book! And I’m defiantly getting the next book in the series to see what happens next and if it gets better.

Buy: Moving Day (Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls)

Rating: 3.5 Treasure Chests!

Moving Day by Meg Cabot (2008, Hardcover)

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Review: 13 Treasures by Michelle Harrison

First Mate Keira — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:44:53 +0000

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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Review: Three Black Swans by Caroline B. Cooney

Second Mate Embry — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 23:15:06 +0000

by Second Mate Embry, guest reviewer

Title: Three Black Swans
Author: Caroline B. Cooney
Format: Hardcover
Page Count: 288 pages
Reading Grade Level: Grade 7-10

Summary: During her sophomore science class, Missy is given an assignment to create a scientific hoax. (Example = burying a leftover chicken bone from dinner and later finding it and saying it’s a dinosaur bone. Of course students would have to make it more scientific and realistic than that.) Missy colludes with her cousin Claire and together they pretend to be identical twins on the school’s morning TV broadcast. They look so much alike this hoax soon is taken as absolute fact and the video gets posted on Youtube. To their surprise there’s a third girl and these identical twins find out they’re identical triplets.

Why I started this book:

I saw this on the new YA release shelf at the library and picked it up. I’ve read Caroline B. Cooney before and liked her books a lot.

Likes:

It was a quick read and fun. I didn’t want to stop reading it to do anything… especially not to do homework.
Just when you think you know what is going to happen to Missy, Claire, and Genevieve, the unexpected happens.
Caroline B. Cooney really knows teens. She’s not a sophomore in high school, but she gets how high school is.

Dislikes:

There were too many characters. If you don’t pay close attention it can be hard to follow who’s who especially with all the POV changes.

Buy: Three Black Swans

Rating: 4.5 Treasure Chests.

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Review: The New Girl (Allie Finkle’s Rules for Girls: Book 2) by Meg Cabot

Second Mate Embry — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 23:07:52 +0000

by Second Mate Embry, guest reviewer

Title: The New Girl (Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls: Book 2)
Author: Meg Cabot
Format: Hardcover
Page Count: 222
Grade Reading Level: Ages 9-12

Summary: On top of all the moving problems, Allie has to start a new school. She thinks things are looking up until Rosemary; the school bully, threatens Allie by saying that she’s going to beat her up. Allie is terrified of her now and asks everyone for advice. But she isn’t sure who to believe! She is, in fact, the new girl. Will she trust someone’s advice that she shouldn’t? Was Rosemary serious? Or will Allie come to school one day with a black eye?

Why I Read This Book:

I read this book because I’m reading the series Allie Finkle’s Rules for Girls and I enjoyed the first one so I wanted to see if I’d enjoy the second one just as much.

Likes:

I like how the most unlikely person gave Allie the best advice! (Mr. Elkhart.) It just comes to show that anybody can be just as helpful as the next and that you should never underestimate someone.
Allie had good friends to help her feel better about Rosemary. Caroline, Erica and Sophie promise not to let Rosemary near Allie.

Dislikes:

I thought it was unnecessary that Allie got s-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o upset when she first found out Mewsette was a boy, not a girl like she wanted. I mean, something like that should not matter … right?

Buy: The New Girl (Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls)

Rating: 4 Treasure Chests!

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Review: Dork Diaries 2: Tales from a Not-So-Popular Party Girl by Rachel Renee Russell

CaptainYarr — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 14:53:08 +0000

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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Review: Ida B by Katherine Hannigan

CaptainYarr — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 14:34:42 +0000

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!

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Review: The Bad Beginning (Book 1) by Lemony Snicket

cookcutlery — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 13:52:20 +0000

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.

A Series of Unfortunate Events The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket Book 1

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