The Bookworm Blog

Review--"A Mango Shaped Space"

2015-07-05T15:10:00.000-07:00

Hey, peeples!! Hope you guys had a good Fourth of July weekend! Today I will be reviewing "A Mango-Shaped Space" by Wendy Mass. I found it because I am a HUGE fan of Wendy's work.

Page Count: 276

Publication Date: October 2005

Cover Type: Paperback

Plot:

Mia Winchell appears to be a typical kid, but she's keeping a big secret—sounds, numbers, and words have color for her. No one knows, and Mia wants to keep it that way. But when trouble at school finally forces Mia to reveal her secret, she must learn to accept herself and embrace her ability, called synesthesia, a mingling of the senses. (Summary from Goodreads.com)

Pros:

I knew a few things about Synesthesia from Pseudonymous Bosch's "Secret Series" but I learned much from "A Mango Shaped Space". I found the facts interesting, but it wasn't the kind of book that only exists to stuff knowledge into your brain.

The title is such a good one, it has a lot of meaning and (in my opinion) is pretty clever.

I liked the descriptions of Mia's Synesthesia, they gave me a very clear picture of what it would be like to have the condition.

Cons:

I didn't like Adam's character, he seemed a little two dimensional. I would have liked a little more information about him.

The book was a little less light-hearted then Wendy's other books. It came as a kind of shock (not the good kind). With the kind of things Mia was going through, I would have liked a little more positive of a protagonist.

Conclusion:

I really would have liked a more light-hearted book, than what was produced, but it was still an amazing read!

"Marvelous Middle Grade Monday" is a weekly

event hosted by the fantabulous Shannon

Messenger. To see other reviews and more from

her blog, click here.

Review--"Jack and Louisa: Act 1"

2015-06-28T14:41:00.001-07:00

Hello. Do you remember me? We last talked, like, a whole five weeks ago. I have taken an unannounced-way-too-long hiatus for the past month, but now I'm back! *Trumpets and other fun sounding things make noise* YAY! Here is a review of "Jack and Louisa: Act 1" by Andrew Keenan-Bolger and Kate Wetherhead which I found because I am a HUGE fan of Andrew (sorry, I didn't know who Kate was until after I read the book).

Page Count: 240

Publication Date: February 2015

Cover Type: Hardcover

Plot:

Twelve-year old Jack Goodrich was a Broadway star, with two shows under his belt and a third in rehearsals. But when his voice changes suddenly, Jack and his parents leave the spotlight and move from New York City to Shaker Heights, Ohio. While Jack hopes to leave his Broadway past behind, his new neighbor refuses to let him off the hook.

Louisa is a self proclaimed "musical theater nerd" and can hardly believe when an actor moves to town. What’s more, the local theater has announced auditions for her favorite show, “Into the Woods.” As the audition date looms nearer, the two are faced with difficult choices. Should Jack risk humiliation and return to the stage? Will Louisa have confidence to go it alone? And can their friendship survive all those complicated octave leaps? (Summary from Goodreads.com)

Pros:

This book is SO AMAZEBALLS!!! I am a gigantic Broadway fan, so I started fangirling when Louisa started playing Into the Woods in her car. I also learned a few things about Broadway business while reading, and got a little bit of "life of a B-way star" from Jack.

I normally don't like multiple person POV books because it's usually hard to keep track of the different plots throughout the book and sometimes moments are repeated in another person's perspective. But in Act 1, the next chapter begins in the place where the last one stopped, which answers all questions about what the other character thought without repeating facts too much.

I loved Jack's flashbacks to his life in New York. They were excellently written and felt fresh, with great description when it comes to Jack's voice changing.

Cons:

I wish that it was LONGER.

Favorite Quote:

"It's natural to doubt yourself in an audition environment," she'd said. "You enter a waiting room and see people who are like you, but maybe a little bit taller, maybe a little prettier, a little younger. But none of them are you. And if you're the one who's supposed to get the part, why sabotage yourself by changing something at the last minute? Trust the work you've done, and your talent--and most of all, your uniqueness--will shine though."

--Avery, Louisa's Favorite Camp Curtain Up Camp Acting Instructor

Conclusion:

(I got the picture idea from Cindy @ Cindy Reads a Lot)

This is (in my opinion) a FANTASTIC book, especially since this is the debut novel for both authors, but it may not be as interesting for people not into musicals.

"Marvelous Middle Grade Monday" is a weekly

event hosted by the fantabulous Shannon

Messenger. To see other reviews and more from

her blog, click here

Review--"The Lost Planet"

2015-05-31T17:19:00.000-07:00

Hello, Book Lovers! Hope you guys are enjoying your summers (the more books read, the better)! Today I will be reviewing "The Lost Planet" by Rachel Searles, the first book in the Chase Garrety series. I found this book in the Middle Shelf Magazine, and LOVED the cover.

Plot:
This is what the boy is told:

• He woke up on planet Trucon, inside a fence he shouldn't have been able to pass.
• He has an annirad blaster wound to the back of his head.
• He has no memory.
• He is now under the protection of a mysterious benefactor.
• His name is Chase Garrety.

This is what Chase Garrety knows:

• He has a message: "Guide the star."
• Time is running out. (Summary from Goodreads.com)

Pros:
Wow... That cover is just... wow. It caught my eye because the faces are so similar to the faces on the covers of the Keeper of the Lost Cities books. It is so AMAZING. It is definitely on my list of favorite book covers of all time.

I love everything about Chase's character. He embodies lots of the things I want in guy protagonists. He feels a responsibility for the people around him, and has a huge hero-complex, very much like Jason Grace from Heroes of Olympus. There aren't many characters like that in more recent books, most are more like Percy Jackson. Don't get me wrong, I like Percy's character too, it's just that Chase's feels more fresh (fresher? Maybe?)

"The Lost Planet" has the same feel as a Star Wars book, specifically the Last of the Jedi series. (Yes, there are Star Wars books, and no, they're not just for crazy fanboys and girls living in their parent's basements. Star Wars books are awesome.) I guess this pro only helps Star Wars fans, but there you go.

Cons:
What is with the dragon on the cover? Is that one of the aliens? I don't get it. (Or maybe it's just me having a blonde moment...)

Conclusion:
5 stars. No doubt about it. 5. Stars.

"Marvelous Middle Grade Monday" is a weekly

event hosted by the fantabulous Shannon

Messenger. To see other reviews and more from

her blog, click here.

"Waiting On" Wednesday--Fires of Invention

2015-05-27T17:37:00.001-07:00

A little late in the game today (I just remembered it was "Waiting On" Wednesday like, just now...), but here you go!

"Fires of Invention" by J. Scott Savage

Release Date: September 29th

Series: The Mysteries of Cove

Series Number: 1

Trenton Colman is a creative thirteen-year-old boy with a knack for all things mechanical. But his talents are viewed with suspicion in Cove, a steam-powered city built inside a mountain. In Cove, creativity is a crime and “invention” is a curse word.

Kallista Babbage is a repair technician and daughter of the notorious Leo Babbage, whose father died in an explosion—an event the leaders of Cove point to as an example of the danger of creativity.

Working together, Trenton and Kallista learn that Leo Babbage was developing a secret project before he perished. Following clues he left behind, they begin to assemble a strange machine that is unlikely anything they’ve ever seen before. They soon discover that what they are building may threaten every truth their city is founded on—and quite possibly their very lives.

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine (click here to go to her blog), and spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Runaway Gold, Different Magic and Funny Reactions

2015-05-24T17:34:00.000-07:00

Hey, bookworms! Today I will be reviewing "Museum of Thieves" by Lian Tanner. I found the third book at my library, and was curious enough to try it out.

Plot:

Welcome to the tyrannical city of Jewel, where impatience is a sin and boldness is a crime.

Goldie Roth has lived in Jewel all her life. Like every child in the city, she wears a silver guardchain and is forced to obey the dreaded Blessed Guardians. She has never done anything by herself and won’t be allowed out on the streets unchained until Separation Day.

When Separation Day is canceled, Goldie, who has always been both impatient and bold, runs away, risking not only her own life but also the lives of those she has left behind. In the chaos that follows, she is lured to the mysterious Museum of Dunt, where she meets the boy Toadspit and discovers terrible secrets. Only the cunning mind of a thief can understand the museum’s strange, shifting rooms. Fortunately, Goldie has a talent for thieving.

Which is just as well, because the leader of the Blessed Guardians has his own plans for the museum—plans that threaten the lives of everyone Goldie loves. And it will take a daring thief to stop him. . . .

Museum of Thieves is a thrilling tale of destiny and danger, and of a courageous girl who has never been allowed to grow up—until now. (Summary from Goodreads.com.)

Pros:

The museum is awesome. I love it when inanimate objects become sentient beings, like the Tardis. It's funny to see how the museum reacts to the event as going on inside it.

The adult Keepers are very involved in the story, and have their own backstories we can wonder about. I loved the banter between Herro Dan and Olga Ciavolga, I really want to read more about them.

The magic that is used in the book is different from most, it doesn't seem fantastical, but almost logical, like it could be real.

The reactions from parents when their kids get hurt are pretty funny. I mean, they put kids in bed for a month after they get a small cut (and my mom thinks I overreact).

Cons:

Restrictions in Jewel are a little vague, it would have been a little easier to understand if rules had been listed at some point. However, that might have been done to point out that the Guardians are the "make up rules on the spot because I don't like you" kind of people.

Conclusion:

5 out of 5 stars. Definitely an amazing book.

You guys have any books you would like me to review? Put them in the comments below!

"Marvelous Middle Grade Monday" is a weekly

event hosted by the fantabulous Shannon

Messenger. To see other reviews and more from

her blog, click here.

"Waiting On" Wednesday--Goodbye Stranger

2015-05-20T05:20:00.000-07:00

Hey guys! I know I haven't done a "Waiting On" Wednesday post in a while, but I'll try to do it more frequently :)

"Goodbye Stranger" by Rebecca Stead

Release Date: August 4th

Bridge is an accident survivor who's wondering why she's still alive. Emily has new curves and an almost-boyfriend who wants a certain kind of picture. Tabitha sees through everybody's games--or so she tells the world. The three girls are best friends with one rule: No fighting. Can it get them through seventh grade?
This year everything is different for Sherm Russo as he gets to know Bridge Barsamian. What does it mean to fall for a girl--as a friend?
On Valentine's Day, an unnamed high school girl struggles with a betrayal. How long can she hide in plain sight?

Strange Titles, No More Moe the Ferret, and Ranting About Dumbledore

2015-05-17T17:52:00.000-07:00

Hey, bookworms! I have been diving into books lately, and have come up with a few good titles to review. I heard of "The Ninja Librarians: The Accidental Keyhand" by Jen Swann Downey from reading Greg Pattridge's MMGM review (click here to read it!). Now, I admit, I was pretty skeptical at first (Ninja librarians? Seriously?) but, the book proved to be better than its title portrayed. The title even shows a little bit of the personality of the story.

Plot:

Just a little story about your average sword-swinging, karate-chopping, crime-fighting ninja librarians

Dorrie Barnes had no idea an overdue library book would change her life. When Dorrie and her brother Marcus chase her pet mongoose into the janitor's closet of their local library, they accidentally fall through a passage into Petrarch's Library -the headquarters of a secret society of ninja librarians who have an important mission: protect those whose words have gotten them into trouble. Anywhere in the world and at any time in history.

Dorrie would love nothing more than to join the society. But when a traitor surfaces, she and her friends are the prime suspects. Can they clear their names before the only passage back to the twenty-first century closes forever? (Summary from Goodreads.com)

Pros:

I was a little thrown off by the strange title, but this book was great! The personalities of Dorrie and Marcus are different from other protagonists, because they aren't completely incompetent in the new world they've discovered. They may ask some questions and mess up sometimes, but they're not fully "the underdogs" which is what often happens in fantasy books.

There is no "Dumbledore." YASSSS!!! A Dumbledore character is SUCH an annoying thing to find in fantasy books. Guys--THERE IS ONLY ONE DUMBLEDORE, and trying to remake him for your NOT HARRY POTTER series is bad, not only for the J.K. Rowling, but also for the readers, who have already read HP 500,000,000,000 or more times (I have!!! It's not a bad thing. . .right?) and are looking for something NEW. There is a leader of the Library, but she is not Dorrie's mentor. Anyway, that's my ranting for the day.

Cons:

There are two "mean girls" in the Library, but they are basically the same person, there is no difference between them, it would have made sense to just make them one person.

Then there's Moe the ferret. I don't like him at all. He just seems like the (for lack of a better word) character that authors create by saying, "How do they get there/have this problem/meet this person? Oh! I know! A (insert annoying or strange plot device here)!"

Conclusion:

In my mind, the pros deeply outweigh the cons, but the cons are still there, so I give this book 4 3/4 out of 5 stars.

Do you have any good books you want me to review? Put them in the comments below! Have a great week!! :)

"Marvelous Middle Grade Monday" is a weekly

event hosted by the fantabulous Shannon

Messenger. To see other reviews and her

blog, click here.

Complex Characters, Actual-Factual Spies, and Learning That Characters Have Finally Let Things Go

2015-05-03T13:39:00.002-07:00

Long time, no see, bookworms! It has been 18 days since my last post and 27 SINCE MY LAST REVIEW!!! I'm so sorry that I've stayed away this long, but I just got out of school for the summer, so expect to see a lot more of me lately.
Anyhoo, today I will be reviewing "Evil Spy School" by Stuart Gibbs. I reviewed the first two books of the series (click here for the first book, "Spy School" and click here for the second book, "Spy Camp"). I got the Exclusive Collector's Edition from Barnes and Noble, which includes Erica's and Ben's debriefing, evaluations of their (for lack of a better word,) usefulness on the mission, and a map of the Evil Spy School.

Plot:

   When Ben gets kicked out of the CIA's spy school, he enrolls with the enemy. This companion to Spy School and Spy Camp is rife with action, adventure, and espionage.

   During a spy school game of Capture the Flag, twelve-year-old Ben Ripley somehow accidentally shoots a live mortar into the principal's office and immediately gets himself expelled. Not long after going back to the boring old real world, Ben gets recruited by evil crime organization SPYDER.

   And he accepts.

   As a new student in SPYDER's evil spy school, which trains kids to become bad guys with classes like Counter Counterespionage and Laying Low 101, Ben does some secret spying of his own. He's acting as unofficial undercover agent, and it becomes quickly apparent that SPYDER is planning something very big and very evil.

   Ben can tell he's a key part of the plan, but he's not quite sure what the plan is. Can Ben figure out what SPYDER is up to and get word to the good guys without getting caught before it's too late?*

Pros:

I cannot express HOW HAPPY I WAS TO GET THIS BOOK. I loved that the characters are almost the same as when we left them, and the changes that were made were (mostly) good ones. For instance, during the book, Ben becomes a real, actual-factual spy. He still isn't fantastic at his job, but he can survive a mission without Erica helping too much.

If you have read my review of "Spy Camp" then you will know that I HATED Erica's shunning of Alexander. Well, I am pleased to say that she has stopped shunning him, which definitely was a relief, because I don't know I could have kept reading otherwise.

Ashley (a student at the "Evil Spy School") is such a complex character. She's happy and sweet, so it's hard to see her as a villain. I would like to say more, but can't without giving away most of the book.

Cons:

Maybe I just missed it in the first two books, but Alexander seems to have gotten even more stupid than before, even a little crazy. I am kind of sick of seeing him be. . . well. . . himself. He is just so incompetent! And even though Erica has stopped completely loathing him, she and Cyrus, her grandpa, still treat Alexander like an invalid (which he is, but they could have just left him out of the mission altogether).

There is NO CLIFFHANGER! All of the Stuart Gibbs books that I have read leave with a FANTASTIC CLIFFANGER!! That is one of my favorite things about his books, and I found it very disappointing that he didn't include one.

Conclusion:

I give this book 4 3/4 stars out of 5. I loved most of it, but the lack of a cliffhanger is something I can't forgive.

*Summary from Goodreads

"Marvelous Middle Grade Monday" is a weekly

event hosted by the fantabulous Shannon

Messenger. To see other reviews and see her

blog, click here.

Waiting On Wednesday--Thor's Serpents

2015-04-22T06:53:00.000-07:00

Hey, bookworms! Here's my Waiting on Wednesday for this week:

"Thor's Serpents" by K.L. Armstrong and M.A. Marr

Expected publication: May 19th

Series number: 3

Thirteen-year-olds Matt, Laurie, and Fen have beaten near-impossible odds to assemble their fellow descendants of the Norse Gods and complete epic quests. Their biggest challenge lies ahead: battling the fierce monsters working to bring about the apocalypse.

But when they learn that Matt must fight the Midgard Serpent alone and Fen and Laurie are pulled in other directions, the friends realize they can't take every step of this journey together. Matt, Laurie, and Fen will each have to fight their own battles to survive, to be true to themselves, and to one another - with nothing less than the fate of the world hanging in the balance.

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine (click here to go to her blog), and spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

"Waiting On" Wednesday--Neverseen

2015-04-15T08:59:00.001-07:00

Happy Waiting On Wednesday to ya! Here's my pick for this week:

"Neverseen" by Shannon Messenger

Release date: November 3rd

Series number: 4

I wrote a review of the third book, click here to read it!

Sophie Foster is on the run—but at least she's not alone.

Her closest friends from the Lost Cities have gone with her to join the Black Swan. They still have doubts about the shadowy organization, but the only way to find answers is to start working with them. And as they settle into their new lives, they uncover secrets far bigger than anything they’d imagined.

But their enemies are far from done, and unleash a terrifying plague that threatens the safety of an entire species. Sophie and her friends fight with everything they have—with new allies joining them—but every choice has consequences. And trusting the wrong person could prove deadly.

In this game-changing fourth book in the Keeper of the Lost Cities series, Sophie must question everything to find a truth that will either save her world—or shatter it.

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine (click here to go to her blog), and spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

A New Kind of Plot, Mysterious Puzzles, and a Lifetime of School Left

2015-04-12T18:56:00.001-07:00

Ahhh, here I am again, after a week and a half of tons of school, lines, and choreography. I feel so proud of myself having gotten this far in school, but right now it seems like the three weeks I have left of it are a lifetime away. . . Anyway, enough with my moaning, you came for a review! Today I will be reviewing "The Mysterious Benedict Society" by Trenton Lee Stewart. I was told about this book by a friend, who was very happy when I started it. So, here we go. . .

Plot:

   "Are you a gifted child looking for special opportunities?"

   When this peculiar ad appears in the newspaper, dozens of children enroll to take a series of mysterious, mind-bending tests. (And you, dear reader, can test your wits right alongside them.) But in the end just four very special children will succeed. Their challenge: to go on a secret mission that only the most intelligent and resourceful children could complete. To accomplish it they will have to go undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, where the only rule is that there are no rules.

   As our heroes face physical and mental trials beyond their wildest imaginations, they have no choice but to turn to each other for support. But with their newfound friendship at stake, will they be able to pass the most important test of all?

   Welcome to the Mysterious Benedict Society.*

Pros:

   Wow. . .just. . . wow. This book is amazing. It reminded me of Lemony Snicket's stories--not quite SiFi, not quite fantasy, but definitely something new and unheard of. I loved that the story was so different, because it was like a breath of fresh air.
   I could not put it down. I'm not kidding, it was such an enthralling story. Each chapter ended in a cliffhanger, so there was never a good place to stop.
   The characters were very interesting and had lots of depth. We knew so much about them (or knew that there was so much we didn't know about them) that they seemed very real.
   The puzzle that we are given at the very end of the book was very clever. I liked that we actually got to solve something like they did in the book. I solved it, but not without the help of the ever-helpful internet.

Cons:

The details that had been given contradicted themselves--a lot. The characters talk like they're British, saying things like "chum," but a couple chapters later, Kate says ". . .George Washington? Like the president? The father of our country?" So I thought, Okay, so they live in earlier America. But then they talk about computers and cars. I was a little confused, and life would have been a little easier if we were given at least the century that the story took place in.

Conclusion:
Hmmm, hard. I give it 4 stars, but only because the details were so confusing.

*Summary from Amazon

"Waiting On" Wednesday--A Whole New World, A Twisted Tale

2015-04-01T10:00:00.000-07:00

Happy "Waiting On" Wednesday to you! Here's my selection this week:

"A Whole New World: a Twisted Tale" by Liz Braswell

Release date: September 1st

Series book number: 1

Welcome to a new YA series that reimagines classic Disney stories in surprising new ways. Each book asks the question: What if one key moment from a familiar Disney film was changed? This dark and daring version of Aladdin twists the original story with the question: What if Jafar was the first one to summon the Genie?

When Jafar steals the Genie’s lamp, he uses his first two wishes to become sultan and the most powerful sorcerer in the world. Agrabah lives in fear, waiting for his third and final wish.To stop the power-mad ruler, Aladdin and the deposed Princess Jasmine must unite the people of Agrabah in rebellion. But soon their fight for freedom threatens to tear the kingdom apart in a costly civil war.

What happens next? A Street Rat becomes a leader. A princess becomes a revolutionary. And readers will never look at the story of Aladdin in the same way again.

Fantastic Art, Favorite Characters, and More Fangirling

2015-03-29T17:48:00.000-07:00

Hello again, readers! Today I will be reviewing "Wonderstruck" by Brian Selznick. I found this book because of my passionate love of "The Invention of Hugo Cabret" and I definitely was not disappointed.

Plot:

Ben and Rose secretly wish their lives were different. Ben longs for the father he has never known. Rose dreams of a mysterious actress whose life she chronicles in a scrapbook. When Ben discovers a puzzling clue in his mother's room and Rose reads an enticing headline in the newspaper, both children set out alone on desperate quests to find what they are missing.

Set fifty years apart, these two independent stories--Ben's told in words, Rose's in pictures--weave back and forth with mesmerizing symmetry. How they unfold and ultimately intertwine will surprise you, challenge you, and leave you breathless with wonder. Rich, complex, affecting, and beautiful--with over 460 pages of original artwork--Wonderstruck is a stunning achievement from a uniquely gifted artist and visionary.*

Pros:

The artwork--Oh. My. Gosh. Wow. Incredible. Amazing. Fanstical. I have to show you guys this artwork--it's flawless.

ISN'T IT AMAZING???? I LOVE IT SO MUCH!!! "Okay, Stella, breathe. . ." Fine, but first I need to fangirl just a little bit more.

IT'S FANTABULOUS, LIKE, THERE SHOULD BE MORE BOOKS WITH ARTWORK LIKE THIS

. . .Okay, I'm good now. Anyway, the way the art was worked into the story was nothing short of masterful.

Also, the way the two storylines intertwined was amazing. I was a little put-off at first, because Rose's and Ben's narratives are not separated into different chapters, but they were weaved together so well that it made perfect sense.

Rose is now on my list of favorite literary characters. She is strong and can fend for herself surprisingly well considering what she's gone through. She reminds me a lot of Lily James' Cinderella.**

One other thing, this is one of the most creative plot in a book that I have ever seen. It was--just--wow.

Cons:

The story took a while to start up. I was a little bored for the first few chapters, then it picked up.

Conclusion:

This is a great read!!! I give it 4 1/2 out of 5 stars.

*Summary from Amazon.com

**If you haven't already seen it, you need to see the new Cinderella--IT'S FABULOUS.

"Waiting On" Wednesday-- Evil Spy School

2015-03-25T03:00:00.000-07:00

Hello again, bookworms! Happy Wednesday to you all! Here's this week's selection for "Waiting On" Wednesday:

WARNING:

THE FOLLOWING SUMMARY

CONTAINS SPOILERS

PERTAINING TO THE "SPY

SCHOOL" SERIES

"Evil Spy School" by Stuart Gibbs

Release Date: April 23rd

Series Book Number: 3

When Ben gets kicked out of the CIA’s spy school, he enrolls with the enemy. This companion to Spy School and Spy Camp is rife with action, adventure, and espionage.

During a spy school game of Capture the Flag, twelve-year-old Ben Ripley somehow accidentally shoots a live mortar into the principal’s office—and immediately gets himself expelled. Not long after going back to the boring old real world, Ben gets recruited by evil crime organization SPYDER.

And he accepts.

As a new student in SPYDER’s evil spy school, which trains kids to become bad guys with classes like Counter Counterespionage and Laying Low 101, Ben does some secret spying of his own. He’s acting as unofficial undercover agent, and it becomes quickly apparent that SPYDER is planning something very big—and very evil.

Ben can tell he’s a key part of the plan, but he’s not quite sure what the plan is. Can Ben figure out what SPYDER is up to—and get word to the good guys without getting caught—before it’s too late?*

*Summary from Amazon.com

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine (click here to go to her blog), and spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

I Have No Good Title For This Review

2015-03-22T17:37:00.002-07:00

Hey, guys! Hope you all had a great week! Today I will be reviewing "The Runaway King" by Jennifer A. Nielsen, the second book in the Ascendance Trilogy.* SO, without further ado, here we go!!!

Plot:
   Just weeks after Jaron has taken the throne, an assassination attempt forces him into a deadly situation. Rumors of a coming war are winding their way between the castle walls, and Jaron feels the pressure quietly mounting within Carthya. Soon, it becomes clear that deserting the kingdom may be his only hope of saving it. But the further Jaron is forced to run from his identity, the more he wonders if it is possible to go too far. Will he ever be able to return home again? Or will he have to sacrifice his own life in order to save his kingdom?**

Pros:
   This book. . . just. . . wow. It was fabulous. The way the story was told made me EXTREMLEY mad, but at the same time I applauded him, but then I didn't, but then I did, and. . . you get it now.
   Everything was very unpredictable. I had absolutely no idea what would happen next, and I was surprised tons of times. The plot just twisted and turned at a breakneck pace, and I loved every second of it.
   Jaron has completely regained his kingliness. It was cool to see him do the "I am your king and you will stop waggling your tongue or it will be separated from the rest of your body."

Cons:
   We saw hardly anything of Tobias and Amiranda, which was a disappointment, especially when it came to Amiranda, because I had been excited to hear more from her.

Conclusion:
   This book was FANTASTICAL!!! I give it 4 3/4 out of 5 stars.

*To go the review I did of the first book, click here!
**Summary from Goodreads.com

"Waiting On" Wednesday-- The Stars of Summer

2015-03-18T07:46:00.000-07:00

Happy Wednesday to you all! Here's this week's pick:

"The Stars of Summer"

by Tara Dairman

Release Date: May 5th

Series Number: 2

It’s not easy being an undercover restaurant critic—especially when you’re only twelve years old!

After successfully completing her first restaurant review for the New York Standard newspaper, Gladys Gatsby is looking forward to a quiet summer of cooking and eating. But her plans quickly go awry when her friend Charissa Bentley delivers Gladys’s birthday gift: a free summer at Camp Bentley.

As Gladys feared, camp life is not easy; she struggles to pass her swim test, can’t keep the other campers happy while planning lunches, and cannot seem to get away from the annoying new “celebrity” camper. The worst part is she’s not able to find a moment to sneak away for her latest reviewing assignment: finding the best hot dog in New York City. But when Gladys learns that her hot dog assignment might actually be a dirty trick made up by a jealous fellow critic, she fears her reviewing career could be over forever.

This perfectly plotted sequel brings readers on a rollicking summertime adventure through New York City with all of the charm of All Four Stars—and even more foodie flavor!

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine (click here to go to her blog), and spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Surprise Endings, and My Plea for Characters to Just LET THINGS GO

2015-03-15T17:54:00.002-07:00

Hello again, bookworms! Today I will be reviewing "Spy Camp" by Stuart Gibbs, the second book in the Spy School series. So. . . here we go!

Plot:

School may be out for summer, but top-secret training continues for aspiring spy Ben Ripley; and so does the danger.

Ben Ripley is a middle-schooler whose school is not exactly average; he spent the last year training to be a top-level spy and dodging all sorts of associated danger. So now that summer's finally here, Ben's ready to have some fun and relax. Except that's not going to happen, because a spy-in-training's work is never done, and the threats from SPYDER, an enemy spy organization, are as unavoidable as the summer heat. Will Ben be able to keep his cover--and his cool?*

Pros:

You've gotta love Ben Ripley. In the time we were gone from Spy School, he has hardly changed at all. Yes, he is much better at some spy things, but for the most part he is the only normal one in a sea of amazing spies and. . . the one and only Alexander Hale (no comment as to whether his skills have improved since the last book. . .). It was funny to see that even though Ben has spent more time in the spy world then when last we saw him, he still stumbles over his own feet.

The description was a lot better than the first book. I actually could picture the places around them without having to change them every thirty seconds.
As is common in Stuart Gibbs' books (or at least the ones I've read), the surprise ending always catches me off-guard. I will never get tired of saying this: I LOVED IT!!! I didn't expect it all, and that may be because I'm kind of gullible, but still. It was a serious fangirl moment for me.

Cons:

Erica is seriously mad at Alexander for, like, the entire book. It was tolerable for the first half, but as I approached the second half it got seriously annoying. "Okay, he royally messed up! He's a terrible father! GET OVER IT!"

Conclusion:

Hmmm.. . . the Erica/Alexander thing was really annoying, so. . . 4 out of 5 stars (But really close to 3 1/2 stars. . .).

*Summary from Goodreads.com

"Waiting On" Wednesday- The Return: Disney Lands

2015-03-11T13:55:00.001-07:00

Hey, guys! Today I will be trying out a weekly event called "'Waiting On' Wednesday," which was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine (click here to go to her blog!). So, basically what goes on is that every Wednesday I will post a book that's coming out soon that I am "Waiting On." Comment your thoughts, and make sure to check back next Wednesday!

The Return: Disney Lands

by Ridley Pearson

Release Date: March 31st

(If you can't see the picture, click the link here: http://www.stitchkingdom.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/disneylands.jpg)

With the defeat of the Overtakers behind them, the five teenagers

known as the Kingdom Keepers should be celebrating. By all accounts,

they saved Disneyland from certain destruction. Why then did their mentor

leave one last puzzle for them to decipher? The Keepers must solve a

puzzle of the past, or be crushed under an evil that makes the Overtakers

seem like gentle souls.

Food, Food and More FOOD

2015-03-01T15:15:00.001-08:00

Hey, guys! This time I will be reviewing "All Four Stars" by Tara Dairman. I recently read a glowing review of this book written by Jenni Enzor (click here for her fabulous article!) and was instantly drawn to it. So. . . here we go!

DISCLAIMER:

This review--and the book itself--could

cause you to become hungry (or in the most

extreme cases cause you to raid your fridge

for good food only to find nothing of interest).

Plot:

Gladys Gatsby has been cooking gourmet dishes since the age of seven, only her fast-food-loving parents have no idea! Now she’s eleven, and after a crème brûlée accident (just a small fire), Gladys is cut off from the kitchen (and her allowance). She’s devastated but soon finds just the right opportunity to pay her parents back when she’s mistakenly contacted to write a restaurant review for one of the largest newspapers in the world.

But in order to meet her deadline and keep her dream job, Gladys must cook her way into the heart of her sixth-grade archenemy and sneak into New York City—all while keeping her identity a secret! Easy as pie, right?*

Pros:

The colorful characters and setting are beautifully described. And I mean it when I say colorful--I saw imaginary colors everywhere in my imaginary Gladys world.

The reviews Gladys writes are so funny!! I loved her creative descriptions of the terrible food that was served at the restaurants of Dumpsford (for example: ". . .someone obviously forgot to add the instant potato flakes to the mashed potatoes, which led to an unfortunate mess of melted margarine, hot milk, and salt being ladled onto my plate by the absentminded server. . .")

I got a strong "Matilda" feel from this book. Although the Gatsbys were definitely nicer than Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood, their taste in food and their distaste in their daughter's interests were very similar. It was fun to point out the likenesses between but also a little annoying, which leads me into:

Cons:

Stereotypes run rampant in this book. Gladys's parents, teacher, school and even next-door neighbors are much (if not exactly) like textbook characters. The misunderstood main character, the teacher who is practically the only one who "gets" the main character, the popular girl who everyone knows is evil but likes her anyway. . . You get the idea.

Conclusion:

This is a fantastic book, so I give it 4 3/4 stars and an A+ (97%)

*Summary from Goodreads.com

UPDATE:

The next book in the series is coming out in May!!!!!! Here's the link to the Goodreads page about it so you can learn more: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22914236-the-stars-of-summer

Murder on the Moon (Dun, Dun DUH)

2015-02-15T13:46:00.000-08:00

Hey, guys! Today I will be reviewing "Space Case" by Stuart Gibbs, the first book in the Moon Base Alpha series. Since I absolutely LOVE his Spy School series,* I decided to read this book and didn't regret it for a second.

Plot:

It's a murder mystery on the moon in this humorous and suspenseful space adventure from the author of 'Belly Up' and 'Spy School'. Like his fellow lunarnauts -- otherwise known as Moonies -- living on Moon Base Alpha, twelve-year-old Dashiell Gibson is famous the world over for being one of the first humans to live on the moon. And he's bored out of his mind. Kids aren't allowed on the lunar surface, meaning they're trapped inside the tiny moon base with next to nothing to occupy their time; and the only other kid Dash's age spends all his time hooked into virtual reality games. Then Moon Base Alpha's top scientist turns up dead. Dash senses there's foul play afoot, but no one believes him. Everyone agrees Dr. Holtz went onto the lunar surface without his helmet properly affixed, simple as that. But then Dash learns Dr. Holtz was on the verge of an important new discovery, and it's a secret that could change everything for the Moonies; a secret someone just might kill to keep. . .**

Pros:

Dash is a real kid. He describes the world around him like he thinks it is--and doesn't leave anything out. Especially anything that would make the MBA look bad. (Thanks to him, I'm not eager to go into space anytime soon.) But he describes it so comically I couldn't help being amused at his misfortune.***

FEAR NOT, SQUEAMISH BOOK LOVERS! Even though this was murder mystery, there was nothing gross or disgusting about it (although the space food came pretty close).

Following the pattern that the other Stuart Gibbs (that I have read) have formed, there was a VERY surprising plot twist at the end. This one I hadn't even considered as a possibility (but if you think about it, I probably should have. . .) and it left me begging for more.

Since "Space Case" is based in the future, there were a lot of things that could happen in the 2040's, but none I had ever thought of. It was kind of cool to see someone else's opinion of what the future will be like.

Cons:

There was a lot of complaining from Dash. It was funny for the first couple of chapters, but after that it was just annoying.

Conclusion:

This book was great! I give it an A+ (98%) with 4 3/4 stars.

*Click here to go to my review of the first book in the series.
**Summary from Goodreads.com
***Does that make me a bad person?

Fake Royalty, Mean Characters, and My Crazy Fangirling

2015-02-08T17:16:00.002-08:00

Hello again, bookworms! Sorry I didn't write last Sunday, I had a callback (YAY) for an audition. Anyway, today I will be reviewing The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen. This book was recommended to me a while ago, and I finally got around to reading it Wednesday afternoon. I finished it that night (and it's extremely hard for something to keep me from my sleep). Anyway, here we go!

Plot:
    In a discontent kingdom, civil war is brewing. To unify the divided people, Conner, a nobleman of the court, devises a cunning plan to find an impersonator of the king’s long-lost son and install him as a puppet prince. Four orphans are recruited to compete for the role, including a defiant boy named Sage. Sage knows that Conner’s motives are more than questionable, yet his life balances on a sword’s point — he must be chosen to play the prince or he will certainly be killed. But Sage’s rivals have their own agendas as well.
   As Sage moves from a rundown orphanage to Conner’s sumptuous palace, layer upon layer of treachery and deceit unfold, until finally, a truth is revealed that, in the end, may very well prove more dangerous than all of the lies taken together.
   An extraordinary adventure filled with danger and action, lies and deadly truths that will have readers clinging to the edge of their seats.*

Pros:
   If The False Prince is anything, it is creative. In my opinion, only two or three characters were relatively good and that is normally a turn-off for me, but not this time. The amazing way Jennifer wrote the characters drew me in, because at first they were something, then they suddenly became something else.
   The goodness of one of the characters (I won't tell you who--spoilers!) was like a breath a fresh of air. I really felt for her.
   The twist at towards the end was a fangirling moment for me. Here's some of the things I said:

   "Wha--wha--I don't--I can't even--?!?!"

   Yeah. I loved it.

Cons:
   This book was a little violent for my taste. A few more arrows-piercing-hearts and swords-being-driven-through-people than I like. In other words, it is a definite guy book.
   The characters were SO MEAN!!!!! I was dying for someone to be nice but it didn't happen for a while.
   It seemed like, in a friend's words, "The author couldn't make up her mind." For the four boys especially. One I thought was going to be the mean one, then he was nice, then mean again. Another I thought I was going to relate to, then he turned out to be mean, then I just thought he was pathetic and hated his guts. It was kind of confusing.

Conclusion:
   This book was pretty good, I give it 3 3/4 stars and a B- (80%).

   In the book, Sage talked about rolling a coin on his fingers. I am trying to learn, and I want you to too! Here's a link to learn how: http://www.wikihow.com/Roll-a-Coin-on-Your-Knuckles

*Taken from the Jennifer A. Nielsen's website.

I Want To Be a Spy (And Other Signs of the Apocalypse)

2015-01-25T13:30:00.001-08:00

Hello again, reading fanatics! Today I will be reviewing "Spy School" by Stuart Gibbs. I read this book a long time ago. . .then went back and read it a couple more times. . .and then read the next book. . .a read that a couple more times. . .and now I'm dying for the next one. . .needless to say, I loved this book. So, let's get started!

Plot:

Can a normal kid become a secret agent?

Ben Ripley may only be in middle school, but he’s already pegged his dream job: C.I.A. or bust. So he’s thrilled when he’s recruited to the C.I.A.’s top secret Academy of Espionage. Only, it turns out, Ben hasn’t been brought in because the C.I.A. expects him to succeed. Instead, he’s been brought in as bait to catch a dangerous enemy agent. Now, Ben needs to step up his game before he ends up dead. Can he solve the crime, get the girl and save the day? Maybe not, but it’ll be fun to watch him try!*

Pros:

This book makes me want to be a spy. It's so cool to read about Ben learning how to do super awesome spy stuff, that it would be hard not to envy him just a little. But, knowing me, I would probably blow up something or cause the apocalypse. . . Yeah.

Anyway, this book is as action-packed as it gets. There are barely any dull moments, which is a must for this kind of story.

I also was extremely impressed with the plot twist at the end. It was something that never even occurred to me while reading, and I have no words to express how incredibly impressed of how it was done. It was executed perfectly.

Cons:

There is little description, so it was kind of irritating not to know more about the setting of the story.

Also, the author tends to ramble in the middle of a dialogue. Someone will say something, and then we'll be off in ramble world, where coming back down to earth could take a page-and-a-half or so.

There were lots of textbook characters. By that I mean that there were the same kind of characters as other books, for example: Zoe is a lot like Colin Creevey from Harry Potter, and Chip is your everyday knuckle-head bully, with his two henchmen: Ugly One and Ugly Two. You see what I mean.

Conclusion:

This book is awesome! I give it 4 1/4 stars and an A- (90%)

Have you read any of the books I have reviewed? Any suggestions for future reviews, or advice for things I could do differently? Let me know in the comments! Also, don't forget to give your feedback on the post! I would love to know what you think! :D

*Summary from Stuart Gibbs' website.

**The "Evil Spy School" page on Stuart Gibbs' website.

P.S.

I JUST FOUND OUT THAT THE NEXT BOOK IS COMING OUT ON APRIL 21ST!!! IT IS CALLED "Evil Spy School". TO LEARN MORE CLICK HERE.** SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW!!!!

My New Obsession

2015-01-18T12:17:00.001-08:00

Hey, guys! Today I will be reviewing Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer. I had heard about this book from several different places, but I hadn't taken the time to read it until this Wednesday. I seriously can't fathom why I didn't read this book sooner, I think I have found my new obsession. But I should probably get on to the reviewing now, shouldn't I? Anyway, here we go!

Plot:
   Twelve-year-old Artemis Fowl is a millionaire, a genius—and, above all, a criminal mastermind. But even Artemis doesn't know what he's taken on when he kidnaps a fairy, Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon Unit. These aren't the fairies of bedtime stories; these fairies are armed and dangerous. Artemis thinks he has them right where he wants them…but then they stop playing by the rules.*

Pros:
   This book starts off immediately. No introduction, we are just suddenly in a restaurant meeting with Artemis Fowl about a sprite. It was a new feeling, because most books give us time to meet the characters, but this book just throws you into the deep end. It was great, because we got to see Artemis be a criminal mastermind immediately, which was pretty cool.
   Another good thing about this book was that, because Artemis is the "bad guy", we focused more on him than the "good guys". It gave the villain a chance to be more human. I've always wanted to see more of the villain's perspective from books, and this book gave me exactly what I wanted.
   Also, even though we saw more of Artemis then Holly and the other LEPrecons, it was just enough that I didn't take Artemis's side completely, and I saw flaws in both sides. It kind of helped to see that that both were neither the "good guys" or the "bad guys".

Cons:
   Towards the end, the story slowed down a bit. I started to get a little tired of it, because the action had stopped all-of-a-sudden. It was kind of like seeing two trains heading towards each other at top speed, but then everything turns to slow motion. There're still gonna hit each other, but now it's gonna take longer.

Conclusion:
   This book is FABULOUS!!! I give it a 4 3/4 with an A+ (95%).

   They are going to make a movie about this book!!! It's in the early stages, but it's still going to happen! Should I post a dream cast sometime? Who would be in your dream cast? Comment to let me know!

*This is the summary from Amazon.com

Writing With a Cold = A Very Short Post

2015-01-11T15:01:00.003-08:00

Hey, guys! Hope you're all having a great new year! Sorry I haven't been writing lately, but I have had a really bad cold for the past week or so, which made it nearly impossible to write anything good last Sunday. So today I will try to write something good for you, but I can't make any promises. Anyway, today I will be reviewing Finally by Wendy Mass, the second book in the Willow Falls series!* So. . .here we go!

Plot:
   Get a cell phone.
   Stay home alone.
   Go to the mall with best friend and No Parents.
   Get a pet.
   Get contact lenses.
   Wear makeup.
   Get ears pierced.
   Attend a boy-girl party.
   Rory Swenson has been waiting her whole life to turn twelve. And she's got a list to prove it. Whenever Rory asks her parents for something, they always say, "When you're twelve. . ." Well, in exactly, 18 hours, 36 minutes, and 52 seconds it will finally happen. Rory's life will officially begin! **

Pros:
   This is a fabulous book. Wendy Mass describes Rory's emotions and experiences in such a way that when I read it I feel like I'm actually in the room with her. I actually fangirled over some of the things Rory fangirled over, like meeting a celebrity. . .a fictional one.*** Also, the story is so entertaining and fast-paced, it's extremely hard to put down. I have lost count of how many times I have re-read this book, and I get sucked into it every time.

Cons:
   The embarrassments NEVER end. It was kind of painful.

Conclusion:
   I will never say this enough--I LOVE this book. I give it an A+ with 5 out of 5 stars!!!

   So, what are your thoughts on my reviews so far? Anything I should add? Take away? Comment to let me know!

*To see my review of the first book in the series, click here!
**Not my summary, I just added some.
***I'm not crazy, I'm a fangirl. There's a difference. . .Yes, there is!. . .Okay, I'm not gonna argue with you.

The Bookworm Awards

2014-12-31T14:38:00.000-08:00

Hello, book lovers! I am writing this while obsessively listening to the Into the Woods soundtrack, like I have been since it came out on the 15th.* Anyway, since we're only a few hours from 2015 (or maybe not, depending on where you live)
I have decided to give out some virtual awards to the books I discovered/were published in 2014. (Some awards have two instead of one recipient because I could not decide which was better!) So, here we go!

BEST DESCRIPTION

"Bad Magic" by Pseudonymous Bosch

(To get to the review I wrote about it, click here)

and

"The Summer I Learned To Fly" by Dana Reinhardt

FAVORITE FEMALE PROTAGONIST

Maddie Hatter of "A Wonderlandiful World" by Shannon Hale

and

Amanda Lockhart of "The Insider" by Ridley Pearson

FAVORITE MALE PROTAGONIST

Jack Blank of "The Accidental Hero" by Matt Myklusch

and

Leo Valdez of "The Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan

(To get to the review I wrote about The Blood of Olympus, click here)

FAVORITE FEMALE SUPPORTING CHARACTER

Calypso of "The Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan

FAVORITE MALE SUPPORTING CHARACTER

Keefe Sencen of "Everblaze" by Shannon Messenger

(To get to the review I wrote about Everblaze, click here)

MOST FEELS

"The Insider" by Ridley Pearson,

and

"The Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan

BEST SETTING

Life is Sweet of "The Candymakers" by Wendy Mass

BEST ENDING

"The Summer I Learned To Fly" by Dana Reinhardt

and

"Bad Magic" by Pseudonymous Bosch

ONE I FANGIRLED OVER THE MOST

"The Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan

ONE I COULD NOT PUT DOWN

"The Candymakers" by Wendy Mass

(To go to the review I wrote about it, click here)

Hope you guys have enjoyed my reviews so far, see you next year!

P.S. What books are you excited to read next year? Comment below!

*I would TOTALLY recommend that movie, by the way. It's amazing.