Showing posts with label rick riordan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rick riordan. Show all posts

No Passengers Beyond This Point Review

No Passengers Beyond This Point
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No Passengers Beyond This Point ReviewI don't think there is any author out there that writes kids characters as well as Gennifer Choldenko. With the Tompkins kids, she has created a family of siblings that are portrayed so realistically that when all the crazy things start happening to them, the reader is just sucked right along for what turns out to be a very crazy ride.
India is 14 and totally self obsessed, much like any young teenage girl. Look a little deeper and you will see her insecurity and overwhelming desire to be loved and appreciated. Finn is 12 and the worrier of the family. He wants to make everything right for everybody. Perhaps my favorite character is Mouse, the six year old genius. She's only in kindergarten but does fifth grade math and asks questions about everything. Her brain travels a hundred miles per hour and the author does a fantastic job with her dialogue. Named Mouse because she squeaks so much, she is a character of marvelous depth and charm.
All of these characters are dealing with some harsh realities. Their mom has just told them that the bank is foreclosing on their house and they have to move to Colorado to stay with an uncle that none of them have ever met. For India it means leaving her friends, for Finn it means leaving his basketball dreams, and for Mouse, it means leaving their mother who has to stay behind and finish out the school year.
This has all the makings of a realistic story about an increasingly common circumstance, but when the plane the kids are traveling on makes an early landing, the story shifts dramatically into the fantasy realm. It's quite a shock, but the author handles it seamlessly and before you know it you are traveling down the highway in a pink taxi with feathers. I can't really speak to much more of the plot without giving too much away, except to say that the kids go on an adventure that will test their mettle and help them come to some realizations about their own strengths and how much they love each other. The story turns into something that is highly original, very clever, and completely well imagined.
As an adult reader, I really loved this story. It will be a challenging read for any kid age 10 and up. Some elements can initially be confusing, but any reader who enjoys solving puzzles, or just figuring things out will get a big kick out of this one. The author doesn't just lay the story out for you, you have to do a bit of thinking and pay close attention to detail. Those that do will be rewarded with not only a grand story of adventure, but also a tale of some unexpected depth. There is quite a bit of humor, and also some deep felt emotions. This is an enthusiastic recommend, especially for middle schoolers on up.No Passengers Beyond This Point Overview

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Chronicles of the Red King: The Secret Kingdom Review

Chronicles of the Red King: The Secret Kingdom
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Chronicles of the Red King: The Secret Kingdom ReviewThis is a rating from my 9 year old son that has completed the Harry Potter Series and the Lightening Thief Series....
He picked this one up and the library and was done in 3 days! He absolutely loved it!
"It was very adventurous and cool." Now he wants to read the other books by this author...since book #2 isn't out, he is planning on starting her other series. Great for my little reader at home!Chronicles of the Red King: The Secret Kingdom Overview

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A Tale of Two Castles Review

A Tale of Two Castles
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A Tale of Two Castles ReviewI've had a good stretch lately, where I've been reading at a ferocious pace. But I suddenly came to a grinding halt a few days ago. Nothing I was reading was inspiring me to keep turning pages. At times like that, a trick that often perks me up is to read a young adult book and I lose myself in pure story. That's what I did, and it worked like a charm.
Actually, I didn't lose myself in A Tale of Two Castles right away. It took a while because at the start of the novel Gail Carson Levine is working mightily on the world building. The story opens with a goodbye. Twelve-year-old Elodie is saying goodbye to her parents, her home, and everything she's ever known. She's leaving her island and the farm and sailing off to the city of Two Castles which features--you guessed it--two castles. It is time for her to become apprenticed. "Mother and father's instructions were to apprentice myself to a weaver, but I would not. Mansioner. I mouthed the word into the wind, the word that held my future. Mansioner."
Oh, I'm sorry; you don't know what a mansioner is? I didn't either. In the fairy-tale world that Carson Levine has created that's the word for actor. A ship is a "cog." You might wear a "kirtle" and exclaim, "Lambs and calves!" And you might run into a dragon or an ogre--but not if you can help it. In fact, Elodie's father gave her this parting advice, "Stay clear of the crafty dragons and the shape-shifting ogres. Don't befriend them!" Of course, a dragon and an ogre are indeed two of the very first beings she meets in Two Castles, but not before all her money is stolen by a cat and she's insulted by a human. Scared, hungry, and alone, Elodie is in fairly dire straights. Her dream of becoming a mansioner appears to be ending before it has even started. So, when the dragon Meenore offers her a position as ITs (for Mastress Meenore alone knows ITs gender) assistant, what choice does Elodie have but follow IT to ITs lair?
So begins a relations ship based on "deduction, induction, and common sense," in which each learns from the other. Mastress Meenore has many trades including food service, heating, finder of lost objects, and unraveler of mysteries. So it is that the ogre, Count Jonty Um, comes to Meenore seeking help finding a lost dog. But it turns out that that is merely the beginning of his troubles. The ogre is in danger, and so Elodie becomes Meenore's eyes and ears in his castle as they work to unravel the larger mystery.
Carson Levine's story is as magical as it is well-written. Her characters are colorful and endearing. I am a fortunate 42-year-old woman, that I can still be a child. Books like this are time portals for me. I was delighted with this story from start to finish and was sad to see it end. Happily, the end of this novel is the start of a new adventure, one that I shall look forward to reading.A Tale of Two Castles Overview

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Storm Runners Book 2: The Surge Review

Storm Runners Book 2: The Surge
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Storm Runners Book 2: The Surge ReviewChase and his friends Nicole and Rashawn have reached shelter from the hurricane. But they aren't safe yet.
They're stuck in a barn - with an elephant about to give birth. The lights are powered by a generator which is nearly out of juice. There is no extra gas in the barn.
Chase and Nicole believe they can make it to the truck where Chase's Dad keeps his supplies. They set off in hopes of returning soon.
A leopard is on the loose. They soon discover the lions have escaped their cages. Treading carefully to avoid the animals and mother nature, they make their way towards the supplies.
Will they be able to gather the gas and return safely to the barn?
My Thoughts: Just like the first book in this trilogy - this book is addictive, fast-paced action and danger kept me turning the pages. A wonderful book about battling Mother Nature, quick thinking, and working together against all odds. The short chapters and the changing of perspectives make this impossible to put down!Storm Runners Book 2: The Surge Overview

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The Final Hour (The Homelanders) Review

The Final Hour (The Homelanders)
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The Final Hour (The Homelanders) ReviewCharlie West woke up one morning to find himself being tortured by terrorists with absolutely no memory of what happened during the last year of his life. And, to make it worse, he's wanted by the police for the murder of his best friend. Over the next couple of months, Charlie is faced with a ridiculous amount of misfortune on his quest to clear his name and expose his would-be murderers.
I'm actually starting to think Andrew Klavan is incapable of writing a boring scene. Practically every sentence is packed to bursting with suspense. From a dogfight through the streets of New York to dodging subway trains in a shootout with the Homelanders, Klavan never lets up on the thrills.
And now, it's finally over. The final hour has come and gone, answering every question; revealing every mystery. Every fan of the previous books will need to get their hands on this truly satisfying conclusion to the insanely epic series.The Final Hour (The Homelanders) Overview

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13 Gifts Review

13 Gifts
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13 Gifts Review
Wendy Mass seems to know that birthdays are really important to kids, especially their 13th birthday. This is her second book revolving around a deadline of turning 13, and it adds a layer of excitement and suspense.
There is also a mystical aspect to the book. There is a mysterious old woman who loves to give school students tasks to complete...and if they don't she usually threatens dire circumstances. The fantastical element makes the book more fun to read and opens limitless possibilities.
The plot is also a lot of fun. Tara (and her friends) have to find 13 different items, all of which seem random and unconnected. It turns out they lead to more excitement and adventure for the entire town!
While the fantasy and the birthday is fun, what really makes this book are the characters and the relationships. Tara has moved around her entire life, so she is always on the outside of groups and doesn't really know how to make friends and depend on others. Luckily, she is given a chance to make some real friends and learns what it is like. She is smart, kind, and it is so much fun to watch her grow.
All of her new friends are realistic and I think kids will be able to see themselves in someone. There is the sweet and nervous David, getting ready for his Bar Mitzvah, without his father by his side. He was my favorite character because he is so mature for his age and is the key for Tara and her journey.
It was another great book by Wendy Mass. She proves, once again, that she understand the middle grade audience. I am really glad I can give this to my husband's middle school classroom!
Find this one for the 11-14 year old in your life!13 Gifts Overview

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The Outcasts (Brotherband Chronicles) Review

The Outcasts (Brotherband Chronicles)
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The Outcasts (Brotherband Chronicles) ReviewNothing. I loved this book. The characters,the plot, I can't wait for more. It is great for anyone 12 and older. I'm twenty and I have always loved these sort of books. Adventure,friendship, using your brains for something other than video games.
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