Teen Reader

The Knife of Never Letting Go - I wanted to let go.

2010-03-15T15:48:00.000-07:00

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

Todd Hewitt lives on a very strange planet. For one, there are two moons, but more importantly- everything makes noise. You can hear everyone's (people and animals) thoughts. So when Todd Hewitt meets someone who doesn't give off any noise, imagine his surprise. This turns into a dangerous hide and seek game with an army. And like it says on the back of the book: how do you run from your enemies when they can hear your thoughts?

SPOILERS: beware.

This is the most miserable and pointless book I've ever read. I mean, sure, it's pretty exciting while you're reading it, and it does get pretty intense, but the last chapter completely demolishes the whole book and all hope you ever had for the main characters' survival. Very disappointing book, but also very intense. I would never have read this book if it wasn't on my school reading list. And it turns out that it would have been a good thing not to have read it.

The narrator of the book (Todd Hewitt) doesn't know how to read/write, so he misspells words. Like instead of preparation he would write preparayshun.

Summary: if you want to read a long book about a two kids running away from their enemies and then being so close to escaping but being caught, go right ahead. Sure, you may enjoy it up until the last chapter. The last chapter ruins everything.

P.S. Maybe some of you like books that aren't that typical happy ending kind of thing. Maybe you like books that destroy all hope and faith you have. I personally do not.

Buy The Knife of Never Letting Go: Chaos Walking: Book One (Hardcover)
Buy The Knife of Never Letting Go: Chaos Walking: Book One (Paperback)
Buy The Ask and the Answer: Chaos Walking: Book Two Maybe I'll read this one to see how it all ends.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer - an adventure

2010-03-13T18:32:00.000-08:00

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

Tom Sawyer lives in St Petersburg, a small village located on the Missisippi. Along with Huckleberry Finn, they go on multiple adventures of a lifetime, in the end to save the village from Injun Joe!

This is one of my favourite books ever! Sure, it was a little tough to get used to. Tom and especially Huck speak in a very rugged and slangful English, but once you get used to it, this book is quite captivating. The adventures are simple, but that's why they're so darn enjoyable! This book has a lot of philosophical truth to it, a great theme, and if you are willing to challenge yourself, you'll love it! Furthermore, this book is definitely a good one to have in your reading arsenal, after all, it is a classic.

Buy The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Jellicoe Road - slow speed limit

2010-03-11T16:03:00.000-08:00

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

Taylor lives in an Australian boarding school that engages in "territory wars" with neighbouring cadets. In search of her mother, she runs away and finds out about her mysterious fictional friends Narnie, Jude, Webb, and Tate.

I wouldn't really recommend this book, but since I read it, I found it kind of cute. At first it was so confusing and I had no idea what was going on! It starts off with something like 'My mother took 127 minutes to die' and you're thinking "what? you were waiting?!". At first the chapters are interlacing with two stories that seem totally unrelated, but by the end it all comes together and it's really sweet. That being said, you have to endure confusion, boredom, and generally a really slow book.

Also by Melina Marchetta: Saving Francesca. A book I have not read, but on the back of Jellicoe Road there was only praise for it, so perhaps it will be better...perhaps. Saving Francesca

Treasure Island is a Treasure

2010-03-09T18:54:00.000-08:00

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

Jim Hawkins finds a treasure map in the breastpocket of a dead pirate. Soon a ship and crew is gathered and they set sail to find the treasure. Trouble arises when the one-legged cook (Long John Silver) organizes a mutiny.

This is a really famous book, so I thought it was about time to read it. If you have not, you should jump on this one, because I believe this book is the base of all pirate fiction.

It was a tad difficult to get into this book, due to the language and mood (gloomy). After all, it was written in the 19th century. But nevertheless, if you challenge yourself with this book, you will enjoy the intense adventure.

Let me know what you guys think and how this book compares to other pirate fiction!

Buy Treasure Island: Treasure Island (Penguin Classics)