Review - The Fault In The Star by John Green

Title: The Fault In Our Stars
Series: N/A
Author: John Green
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher:  Dutton
Received: Purchased
Release Date: January 2012
Pages: 313
Rating:


What is it About?

Two young lover learning to live although they have cancer.

My Thoughts:

I found it amazing how much I could relate to the situations that Hazel and Gus went through.
I especially remember the beginning of the book where they were in Cancer support group.  John Green describes exactly how it feels to be in a support group like that.   Now I don’t have cancer mine is a mental illness but I have felt and thought about all the things Hazel and Gus had.

Now I read a lot of people cried or teared up while reading some of this book.  I didn’t but I still found much of the book endearing and truthful.  The connection between the main characters was at times funny, loving and scary.  I say scary because they both take chances with loving each other, just as anyone else would be taking.

Even though some of the characters have Cancer or an illness the book isn’t dark.  It is actually very joyful and book that could be read over again.


Website:

Official John Green Website
http://johngreenbooks.com/

The Betrayal of Maggie Blair by Elizabeth Laird

 







Title: The Betrayal of Maggie Blair       
Series: N/A
Author: Elizabeth Laird
Genre: YA Fiction, Teen, Historical Fiction
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Received: Net Galley
Release Date: April 2011   
Pages: 360
Rating:



What is it About?
Maggie Blair and her grandmother are sentenced as witches and are to be hung.  Maggie escapes with the help of her grandmother’s friends and goes through more trails and tribulations internally and externally.

My Thoughts:

Maggie and her grandmother have been accused of practicing witchcraft in UK in probably the 1700’s.   Maggie escapes and lives with other family members along the way she battle internally with God and what comes natural to her.   As she joins her other family members they battle with government and religious laws themselves and only time will tell when the family will be caught practicing faith not in the kings way.

I was hoping for more fantasy with this book. I didn’t realize that it was going to be more of a historical dark fiction.   I thought it was fast paced even though there was not much action more drama and deception.    I guess the cover threw me off and I just thought it looked more magical.  

While there are some general things about witchcraft and Maggie battling with her natural ability to heal others like her grandmother there was no real fantasy.   Just a lot of hardship and learning the strengths of people.

An okay but not what I thought it was going to be.

Website:

Official Site of Elizabeth Laird

http://www.elizabethlaird.co.uk/

The Faerie Path by Frewin Jones

Title: The Faerie Path   
Series: The Faerie Path#1
Author:Frewin Jones
Genre: Teen, Fantasy
Publisher:  Eos     
Received: Through a swap site
Release Date:     February 2007
Pages:312
Rating:

 
What is it About?

Anita and her boyfriend Evan go on a romantic boat ride in England..then something strange happens ..an accident.   Evan disappears and Anita grows wings or so she thought.  Everything is not what it seems even in Anita’s or should I say Tania’s world.


My Thoughts:

From beginning to finish I enjoyed this book.  It is a bit girly not just because of it being about Faerie but the mention of parallel between Romeo and Juliet.   Evan/Elrich mentions many time that Juliet is the sun meaning Anita/Tania is his sun or so it appears at first.

So there is romance, faeries, and danger what more could a girl ask for.  Not much really.  I will be enjoying the next couple books from this series.

Website:

http://www.allanfrewinjones.com/

Cirque de Freak : Manga #1

Title: Cirque du Freak: The Manga, #1
Series: Cirque du Freak
Author(s): Darren Shan
Genre: Teen, Manga
Publisher: Yen Press
Received:  Borrowed from library
Release Date: June 16, 2009
Finished: March 2010
Pages: 192
Challenges: None
Rating:

 

My Thoughts: Darren Shan and his friend Steve are kids with no fear. Well, at least Steve is, and Darren tries hard to emulate Steve's toughness. Through a twist of fate, they are introduced to a traveling freak show and see things they never thought they would see in their wildest dreams. Suddenly they are thrown into a world of myth and fantasy that breaks even the toughest friendships.

One thing I love about this series is that the author wrote under the name Darren Shan (real name Darren O’Shaughnessy). Using his name as the main character drew me into the story more.  I have not read the books, but I saw the movie based on the first couple books, The Vampire's Assistant, and that was good.  Plus, I've read other book series transformed into manga, and this was the best I have read. The art was well done and the story was not made confusing by the manga-fication. In fact, there was nothing confusing ... well, except for not being used to reading from right to left and back to front.

About the Author: Darren Shan (or, as I mentioned above, Darren O’Shaughnessy) is Irish, but was born in England. He always wanted to be a writer, and has written stories since his teen years. He's written series such as Cirque de Freak and The Demonata, as well as two adult books published in the UK and due in US this year. Check out his website, http://www.darrenshan.com/index.html.

Review - The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale

Title: Goose Girl
Series:: Books of Bayern
Author(s):: Shannon Hale
Genre:: Teen, Young Adult, Audio Book
Publisher: Full Cast Audio
Release Date: October 1st 2005
Finished: June 2009
Pages: NA
Challenges: None
Rating:









My Thoughts: This is the first book in the Books of Bayern. Even though it is a retelling of a fairy tale by the same name, The Goose Girl, it is creatively woven with other ideas the author gathered to make it her own novel.
The story is about young princess Ani, who was raised to be queen of Kildenree. As a young girl she had a close relationship with her aunt, who taught her special things, like how nature speaks to people and how Ani can speak back. But Ani is betrayed. She soon finds herself on a trip to Bayern, where she learns she might one day be queen as she was promised, but young Ani has been propelled into a world where she is not wanted and has to learn to survive before she even gets to the new kingdom.
I especailly enjoyed the magical aspects of this book, such as people learning animal speak, or wind speak, or even people speak. It was so imaginitive and fun to listen to (I find myself spoiled by audio books that have a full cast like this one). Also, the relationships between people are well thought out. For example, the distance between Ani and her mother, the current queen of Kildenree.
About the Author: Shannon Hale is the author of a few books in Young Adult, Teen and Adult. Find out more about her at her website HERE.

Review - Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

Title: Breaking Dawn

Series:: Twilight Series

Author(s):: Stephenie Meyer

Genre:: Teen Book, Series

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Release Date: August 2nd 2008

Finished: June 2009

Pages: 754 pages

Challenges: None

Rating:

My Thoughts: First let me say, I can't believe how much this book is hated. I was completely unspoiled before I read this, but I had heard people hated and wanted to return the book. I absolutly loved it. There were so many things I didn't see coming. I don't like spoiling anything so I will try to make this spoilerless.

The story takes place as Edward and Bella are getting ready to marry. They go on there honeymoon and comeback to Forks with something extra. Something that is going to kill Bella.
I love the new character, Renessme. I kinda hope Meyer writes a book about her someday. I can't pinpoint what I really loved about this book, but the more I think about it, the more I think the writing was good and the mystery within the story better. I wish there was more of the series to read.

About the Author: Stephenie Meyer is the author of 4 Teen Books and 1 Sci Fi book (all of which we have reviewed here). Visit her at http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/index.html

Review - Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

Title: Eclipse
Series:: Twilight Series
Author(s):: Stephenie Meyer
Genre:: Fantasy, Young Adult
Summary: Bella is in trouble again and needs protection from rabid newborn vampires.
Finished: 05/08/09
Pages: 629
Challenges: Vampire Challenge
Rating:










My Thoughts: Bella and Edward love each other, Jacob loves Bella, and Bella loves Jacob in a different way. A whole nice love triangle. This time around mortal enemies Edward, the vampire, and Jacob, the werewolf team up to protect Bella from an army of vampires.

My favorite scene took place in the winter, when Bella had to hide out in the woods. Jacob was the only one who could keep Bella warm, since vampires aren't known to be very warm. Edward and Jacob talk while Bella is sleeping -- I like any time Jacob and Edward talked because Edward can read Jacobs mind. I also didn't mind Jacob as much in this book. He grew on me, unlike in New Moon, the last book.

A lot of people complain about this book, saying Edward is overprotective of Bella. I really didn't mind those scenes as much. The relationship seemed fine to me.

I enjoyed this one. It has me prepared for the next book, Breaking Dawn. There is lots of Jacob, and I don't mind so much.

About the Author: Stephanie Meyer is the author of 5 books. Four being the Twilight series. Her first book, Twilight, has been made into a movie. The second, New Moon, is due in theaters this summer.

Review - New Moon by Stephenie Meyer

Title: New Moon

Series:: Twilight Series

Author(s):: Stephenie Meyer

Genre:: Teen Romance

Summary: Bella deals with missing Edward by becoming closer to Jacob, who has a secret.

Finished: 04/27/09

Pages: 576

Challenges: Vampire Challenge

Rating:

My Thoughts: Continuing the story of Bella, Edward and Jacob, Edward leaves Bella after an accident, feeling it's better for her. Bella struggles with missing Edward, and becomes best friends with Jacob, who has a mystical secret.
I heard this was one of the least favorites for most Twilight readers, and it was for me as well. It was basically a way to get Jacob involved more and make the love triangle stronger. I don't know why, but I don't like Jacob. I felt that way as soon as he was introduced in Twilight. The fact that he also has a family secret and that he is competing with Edward annoys me. I also started this book and then put it down when Edward Left Bella, and didn't come back to it until after I saw the Twilight movie (and got some prodding from my cousin). So I never got the full Twilight series effect where I felt I had to read all the books at once. I am going to continue reading because I want to see where it goes, but this one was only okay.

About the Author: Stephenie Meyer is a mother of 3 and author of 4 books: the Twilight series and a book starting another series, The Host. Visit her Offical Site at http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/

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Shannon's Review - Paper Towns by John Green

Paper Towns

Summary: (from the inside jacket)Quentin Jacobsen has spent a lifetime loving the magnificently adventurous Margo Roth Spiegelman from afar so when she cracks open a window and climbs back into his life - dressed like a ninja and summoning him for a ingenious campaign of revenge - he follows.
After their all-nighter ends and a new day breaks. Q arrives at school to discover that Margo, always an enigma, has now become a mystery. But Q soon learns that there are clues - and they're for him. Urged down a disconnected path, the closer he gets, the less Q sees the girl he thought he knew.

My Thoughts: Paper Towns mostly takes place in Orlando, Florida. The setting is described in a way any teenager would talk about growing up in their home town: They find it boring and look forward to making there own fun or trouble. Q, or Quentin, is a bit obsessed with fellow classmate and neighbor Margo Roth Speigelman. A girl who Q and friends are finding to be more of a mystery by the day.
The story is about realizing you never really know a person, you just think you do. The plot's similar to another of John Green's books, Looking For Alaska, but done in a different light - as more of a quest, where Alaska was about a learning experience. To find the mystery that is Margo, Q goes on a scavenger hunt. Literally, and you can follow the clues along with Q to find Margo. I think the characters and setting feel pretty natural and will sit well with teens.
This is a book not just for teens, though. It will be enjoyable for adults as well. There are some strong language and sexuality explicit scenes, but not as bad a as Looking for Alaska. It is a book with a lot of humor, mystery and intrigue. I highly recommend it.

About the Author: John Green is the author of three books, Looking for Alaska, An Abundance of Katherines, and Paper Towns. He lives in Indiana with his wife and Bubbles, the Nerdfighting puppy (aka Willy). He's currently on a tour with his brother, Hank Green, traveling across the U.S. If you would like to see if they will be in your area, go here.

Shannon's Review - A Great And Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

A Great and Terrible Beauty

Summary: Sixteen-year-old Gemma Doyle learns she has supernatural powers that include visions of the future and traveling to other dimensions. But it's not as simple as that. In a vision, she saw her mother die,and after it came to pass, she told no one, thinking she was crazy. So she keeps her visions to herself. But she also begins to butt heads with the girls at her boarding school. And after she gains their respect, and shares her secret, the thrilling ride begins.

My Thoughts: My review is on the audio version of this book. It is amazing what one person can do to there voice to make it sound like so many different people--reader Josephine Bailey does an excellent job. The story keeps a thrilling pace, and the characters dive into dark places and find different aspects of themselves. Like Gemma, who realizes she has special powers. Even though she's told not to use those powers, she realizes that having power has it's benefits, especially in an age when women are repressed. At the same time, there are dark forces trying to capture her to steal that power for themselves, so she has to use the power subtlely. I found the characters interesting and different, and I can't wait to listen to the rest of the series.

About the Author: Libba Bray has written two other books that accompany A Great and Terrible Beauty. The second book is Rebel Angels, followed by The Sweet Far Thing. To read more, go to Libba Bray's Official Website.

Review: The Good Neighbors by Holly Black

The Good Neighbors by Holly Black





Summary:Rue Silver's mother is missing and her father is being blamed for another murder and possibly murdering her mother. Rue is beginning to realize she is not like everyone else. She sees things that others don't see and that maybe her mother was not as crazy as she use to think she was. Faerie blood is running through Rue's veins and things are about to get stranger.




My Thoughts: Of course I don't know if I have to say it but if you haven't been here before, I have a love of faeries. Reading about them is becoming more of a obsession. This graphic novel brings the faerie mythology to the modern world. Giving it a thrilling mixture of adventure. The art is very good. There are many things to see with the art, such as, hidden faeries or other mythological creatures in certain panels. It is fun to look for them. Combined the writing and the art work together work well. The only reason I don't give this five stars is because I think this is a great start of a story and has potential. I am very interested to see how it goes and how more of the mythology of faeries are used throughout.

About the Author: Holly Black is best known for her series of children book The Spiderwick Chronicles. She also written a teen series of faerie books starting with Tithe. If you would like to learn more about Holly Black and more of the books she wrote you can go to her website Official Website of Holly Black.

I have a signed copy of this book that I am giving away see details here.