Author: Cecily Von Ziegesar
Year: 2002
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Novel
Series: Gossip Girl
Plot Summary: Serena van der Woodsen used to be the queen of Constance Billard School until she left for a year of boarding school. She comes back to find that her former best friend, Blair Waldorf, has gotten used to having the spotlight. Nasty rumors start spreading about Serena's time away and she soon finds herself an outcast and looking for new friends. Much teen drama ensues.
Red Flags: Um, a lot. Of every kind. It seems like you'd at least have to be voting age to read this book. But to be more specific, there is plentiful strong language, teenage drinking, drug use and and sex a'plenty. There's also some bulemia on the side.
My Rating: D
Um, this book is a pile of crap. (Sorry, Mom) No, seriously, I can't believe teenage girls are reading this. I can see college girls enjoying it for the ridiculousness of it, but for really reading it and wanting to get into that world? That's kind of unbelievable.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Little House on the Prairie
Author: Laura Ingalls Wilder
Year: 1935
Reading Level: Intermediate
Genre: Western,
Series: Little House
Plot Summary: Laura Ingalls and her family move from their house in the big woods to find a new life on the plains. After the long trip to the West, her family builds a new house and tries to establish themselves in the land. Over the course of the book, the Ingalls family builds a new home, acquires a cow, fights a prairie fire and interacts with the local Indian tribes.
Red Flags: This book will make you feel incredibly lazy and unskilled because you can't make a door, dig a well, hunt for food or be really self sufficient at all.
My Rating: A
I'm pretty sure my mom read all of the Little House books to us when we were little, but all I can remember really is the bear in Farmer Boy. Anyway, this was fun to read, and it was interesting to read it knowing the author had lived it. Her writing isn't really awesome in the technical sense but it works for the story. And I always like Garth Williams illustrations.
Year: 1935
Reading Level: Intermediate
Genre: Western,
Series: Little House
Plot Summary: Laura Ingalls and her family move from their house in the big woods to find a new life on the plains. After the long trip to the West, her family builds a new house and tries to establish themselves in the land. Over the course of the book, the Ingalls family builds a new home, acquires a cow, fights a prairie fire and interacts with the local Indian tribes.
Red Flags: This book will make you feel incredibly lazy and unskilled because you can't make a door, dig a well, hunt for food or be really self sufficient at all.
My Rating: A
I'm pretty sure my mom read all of the Little House books to us when we were little, but all I can remember really is the bear in Farmer Boy. Anyway, this was fun to read, and it was interesting to read it knowing the author had lived it. Her writing isn't really awesome in the technical sense but it works for the story. And I always like Garth Williams illustrations.
Jinx
Author: Meg Cabot
Year: 2007
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Novel/Fantasy
Plot Summary: Hoping to escape her perpetual bad luck, Jean Honeychurch (aka Jinx) moves from a small town in Iowa to live with her wealthy aunt and uncle in New York City. There she finds that her formerly friendly cousin, Tory, has turned into a surly teenager with a lot of attitude and a belief that she's a witch. When Jinx seems to be getting everything Tory wants, Tory does her best to make Jinx's life miserable, including bringing her past back to haunt her.
Red Flags: Some strong language, teenage partying, witchcraft
My Rating: B-
I expected this book to just be the standard teen drama novel, and then was really surprised when the witchcraft angle came in. It was kind of weird how it was presented, like witchcraft is a beautiful thing and all about being in harmony with nature. Not that I don't like nature or being harmony with it, but it was just kind of strange. The writing was all right, nothing spectacular, and the characters were all pretty standard. Also, Jinx was unbelievably dense when it came to her boy situation.
Year: 2007
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Novel/Fantasy
Plot Summary: Hoping to escape her perpetual bad luck, Jean Honeychurch (aka Jinx) moves from a small town in Iowa to live with her wealthy aunt and uncle in New York City. There she finds that her formerly friendly cousin, Tory, has turned into a surly teenager with a lot of attitude and a belief that she's a witch. When Jinx seems to be getting everything Tory wants, Tory does her best to make Jinx's life miserable, including bringing her past back to haunt her.
Red Flags: Some strong language, teenage partying, witchcraft
My Rating: B-
I expected this book to just be the standard teen drama novel, and then was really surprised when the witchcraft angle came in. It was kind of weird how it was presented, like witchcraft is a beautiful thing and all about being in harmony with nature. Not that I don't like nature or being harmony with it, but it was just kind of strange. The writing was all right, nothing spectacular, and the characters were all pretty standard. Also, Jinx was unbelievably dense when it came to her boy situation.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Coraline
Author: Neil Gaiman
Year: 2002
Reading Level: Intermediate
Genre: Real world fantasy
Plot Summary: Coraline loves exploring and she has plenty of time to explore her family's new flat, which is part of a larger house. In the course of her exploring she opens a door that leads to nothing...or so it seems. Soon she discovers an other world on the other side with other versions of her parents and neighbors. Her other parents adore her to a creepy extent and though they let her leave the first time, leaving the second time isn't so easy.
Red Flags: The story would scare some kids
Movie version: Coraline
My Rating: A-
This was such a spooky book! Ominous messages from mice, button eyes, shadowy things...spooky! This is probably my favorite Gaiman book that I've read. I really like the story and Coraline, though I wish we got into her head a little more. She says she's scared, but I don't always believe her. Also, I liked the cat.
Year: 2002
Reading Level: Intermediate
Genre: Real world fantasy
Plot Summary: Coraline loves exploring and she has plenty of time to explore her family's new flat, which is part of a larger house. In the course of her exploring she opens a door that leads to nothing...or so it seems. Soon she discovers an other world on the other side with other versions of her parents and neighbors. Her other parents adore her to a creepy extent and though they let her leave the first time, leaving the second time isn't so easy.
Red Flags: The story would scare some kids
Movie version: Coraline
My Rating: A-
This was such a spooky book! Ominous messages from mice, button eyes, shadowy things...spooky! This is probably my favorite Gaiman book that I've read. I really like the story and Coraline, though I wish we got into her head a little more. She says she's scared, but I don't always believe her. Also, I liked the cat.
Crispin: the Cross of Lead
Author: Avi
Year: 2002
Age Level: Intermediate
Genre: Historical
Series: Crispin
Plot Summary: After his mother's death, 13-year-old Crispin happens to overhear a mysterious nighttime conversation that leads to his being framed for theft. Escaping into the woods, Crispin begins a desperate journey to find safety. Along the way he meets a deep-thinking entertainer and together they work to outrun Crispin's pursuers and discover the secrets of Crispin's past.
Red Flags: Religious discussion and themes
Award/s: Newbery medal winner
My Rating: A
This was the first Avi book I've ever read and I am definitely going to have to pick up the next book soon. The writing is very good and Crispin is such a cute little character. It also has a nice level of historical detail--enough to fully set the stage, but not so much that it reads like an encyclopedia article.
Year: 2002
Age Level: Intermediate
Genre: Historical
Series: Crispin
Plot Summary: After his mother's death, 13-year-old Crispin happens to overhear a mysterious nighttime conversation that leads to his being framed for theft. Escaping into the woods, Crispin begins a desperate journey to find safety. Along the way he meets a deep-thinking entertainer and together they work to outrun Crispin's pursuers and discover the secrets of Crispin's past.
Red Flags: Religious discussion and themes
Award/s: Newbery medal winner
My Rating: A
This was the first Avi book I've ever read and I am definitely going to have to pick up the next book soon. The writing is very good and Crispin is such a cute little character. It also has a nice level of historical detail--enough to fully set the stage, but not so much that it reads like an encyclopedia article.
An Abundance of Katherines
Author: John Green
Year: 2006
Age Level: Young Adult
Genre: Novel
Plot Summary: Colin Singleton is a "washed-up child prodigy" who has just been dumped by a Katherine for the nineteenth time. In an effort to distract him, Colin's best friend, Hassan, instigates a roadtrip adventure. It's not long before the two find themselves in Gutshot, Tennessee, looking for the grave of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand and making friends with the locals. Colin and Hassan take up residence in a pink mansion and experience all the drama and teenage antics Gutshot have to offer, while Colin tries to explain his dumping-by-Katherines history with mathematics.
Red Flags: Language, some sexual content, some math talk
My Rating: B+
I'm lukewarm about a lot of this book. The story and setting is fun enough, and some of the characters are interesting. I guess I just don't relate to it much because this was nothing like my teenage experience, and the book seems like it's supposed to reflect the average teenager. Anyway. I did really like Colin by the end of it though, and the whole resolution of the story was pretty satisfying, if predictable.
Year: 2006
Age Level: Young Adult
Genre: Novel
Plot Summary: Colin Singleton is a "washed-up child prodigy" who has just been dumped by a Katherine for the nineteenth time. In an effort to distract him, Colin's best friend, Hassan, instigates a roadtrip adventure. It's not long before the two find themselves in Gutshot, Tennessee, looking for the grave of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand and making friends with the locals. Colin and Hassan take up residence in a pink mansion and experience all the drama and teenage antics Gutshot have to offer, while Colin tries to explain his dumping-by-Katherines history with mathematics.
Red Flags: Language, some sexual content, some math talk
My Rating: B+
I'm lukewarm about a lot of this book. The story and setting is fun enough, and some of the characters are interesting. I guess I just don't relate to it much because this was nothing like my teenage experience, and the book seems like it's supposed to reflect the average teenager. Anyway. I did really like Colin by the end of it though, and the whole resolution of the story was pretty satisfying, if predictable.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Goose Chase
Author: Patrice Kindl
Year: 2002
Age Level: Intermediate
Genre: Fairy tale
Plot Summary: Alexandria Aurora Fortunato, once simply a Goose Girl, has been enchanted and put in a tower while a young, simple Prince and a older, ruthless King vie for her hand in marriage. Her twelve white geese come to her rescue just in time, and although Alexandria escapes the tower, she still has to deal with hungry ogresses, a cruel Baroness and a hapless traveling companion. All she wants is to live in the country again with her geese, but Alexandria seems to be destined for a life grander than that of a Goose Girl.
My rating: A.
I read this book several years ago and loved it. I was hoping it would hold up on a second reading, and it did. It has everything a good fairy tale ought to have: enchantments, royalty, good characters and a satisfying conclusion.
Year: 2002
Age Level: Intermediate
Genre: Fairy tale
Plot Summary: Alexandria Aurora Fortunato, once simply a Goose Girl, has been enchanted and put in a tower while a young, simple Prince and a older, ruthless King vie for her hand in marriage. Her twelve white geese come to her rescue just in time, and although Alexandria escapes the tower, she still has to deal with hungry ogresses, a cruel Baroness and a hapless traveling companion. All she wants is to live in the country again with her geese, but Alexandria seems to be destined for a life grander than that of a Goose Girl.
My rating: A.
I read this book several years ago and loved it. I was hoping it would hold up on a second reading, and it did. It has everything a good fairy tale ought to have: enchantments, royalty, good characters and a satisfying conclusion.
The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Author: Brian Selznick
Year: 2007
Age Level: Intermediate
Genre: Mystery, illustrated
Plot Summary: Hugo Cabret is a young boy living in the hidden areas of the train station in Paris, France, 1931. He winds and repairs all the clocks in the station, keeping out of sight and stealing the necessities of life. His real project, however, is a mysterious "mechanical man" who, when fixed, will write what Hugo hopes is a message from his dead father. In his quest to repair the automaton, Hugo gets involved in a larger mystery that involves drawings, necklaces and dreams.
The inclusion of 284 pages of illustrations make this an exceptionally entertaining book, one that Brian Selznick describes as "not exactly a novel, not quite a picture book, not really a graphic novel, or a flip book or a movie, but a combination of all these things."
Award/s: 2008 Caldecott Medal,
Memorable quotes: "I like to imagine the world is one big machine. You know, machines never have any extra parts. They have the exact number and type of parts they need. So I figure if the entire world is a big machine, I have to be here for some reason. And that means you have to be here for some reason, too." --page 378
My rating: A. I hemmed and hawed about this one, mainly because the resolution and mystery were so entirely not what I expected. I did love the atmosphere of the book though, the illustrations are really, really lovely and the characters are quite charming. Hence the A.
Year: 2007
Age Level: Intermediate
Genre: Mystery, illustrated
Plot Summary: Hugo Cabret is a young boy living in the hidden areas of the train station in Paris, France, 1931. He winds and repairs all the clocks in the station, keeping out of sight and stealing the necessities of life. His real project, however, is a mysterious "mechanical man" who, when fixed, will write what Hugo hopes is a message from his dead father. In his quest to repair the automaton, Hugo gets involved in a larger mystery that involves drawings, necklaces and dreams.
The inclusion of 284 pages of illustrations make this an exceptionally entertaining book, one that Brian Selznick describes as "not exactly a novel, not quite a picture book, not really a graphic novel, or a flip book or a movie, but a combination of all these things."
Award/s: 2008 Caldecott Medal,
Memorable quotes: "I like to imagine the world is one big machine. You know, machines never have any extra parts. They have the exact number and type of parts they need. So I figure if the entire world is a big machine, I have to be here for some reason. And that means you have to be here for some reason, too." --page 378
My rating: A. I hemmed and hawed about this one, mainly because the resolution and mystery were so entirely not what I expected. I did love the atmosphere of the book though, the illustrations are really, really lovely and the characters are quite charming. Hence the A.
Because of Winn-Dixie
Author: Kate DiCamillo
Year: 2000
Age Level: Intermediate
Genre: Novel
Plot Summary: India Opal Buloni is ten years old when she moves with her preacher father to Naomi, Florida. Struggling to find friends and interact with her father, she chances to meet a large, smelly dog in the grocery store. The two form an instant bond, and she adopts the dog after naming him Winn-Dixie. Together with Winn-Dixie, India Opal Buloni finds true friends, comes to terms with her mother's absence and finally reconnects with her father.
Award/s: Newbery winner
Movie version/s: Because of Winn-Dixie
My rating: A
I liked this book more than I expected to. I liked that the kids acted like kids, but it still had a serious edge and genuine emotions. It was a little bit cozy but still realistic. DiCamillo has a really nice writing style.
Year: 2000
Age Level: Intermediate
Genre: Novel
Plot Summary: India Opal Buloni is ten years old when she moves with her preacher father to Naomi, Florida. Struggling to find friends and interact with her father, she chances to meet a large, smelly dog in the grocery store. The two form an instant bond, and she adopts the dog after naming him Winn-Dixie. Together with Winn-Dixie, India Opal Buloni finds true friends, comes to terms with her mother's absence and finally reconnects with her father.
Award/s: Newbery winner
Movie version/s: Because of Winn-Dixie
My rating: A
I liked this book more than I expected to. I liked that the kids acted like kids, but it still had a serious edge and genuine emotions. It was a little bit cozy but still realistic. DiCamillo has a really nice writing style.
The Spiderwick Chronicles Book 1: The Field Guide
Authors: Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black
Year: 2003
Age Level: Intermediate
Genre: Real world fantasy
Series: The Spiderwick Chronicles
Plot Summary: After his family moves to the run-down Spiderwick estate, it's not long before Jared Grace starts to notice unusual things around the house. Jared, his twin brother, Simon, and his older sister, Mallory, decide to find the source of scratching noises behind the wall ("Probably a squirrel."). In the process, Jared discovers much more than a lost squirrel and finds himself battling a sneaky, mischievous foe.
Red Flag: Since this is only the first of five books, the ending is somewhat open.
Movie version/s: The Spiderwick Chronicles
My rating: A-
This was a really fun book. I feel like I've just tipped my toe in the water, so to speak, and so I will definitely be picking up the next book. I also really liked the illustrations. Just judging by the covers, I expected it to be much more of a Series of Unfortunate Events knockoff, but it really wasn't similar at all.
Year: 2003
Age Level: Intermediate
Genre: Real world fantasy
Series: The Spiderwick Chronicles
Plot Summary: After his family moves to the run-down Spiderwick estate, it's not long before Jared Grace starts to notice unusual things around the house. Jared, his twin brother, Simon, and his older sister, Mallory, decide to find the source of scratching noises behind the wall ("Probably a squirrel."). In the process, Jared discovers much more than a lost squirrel and finds himself battling a sneaky, mischievous foe.
Red Flag: Since this is only the first of five books, the ending is somewhat open.
Movie version/s: The Spiderwick Chronicles
My rating: A-
This was a really fun book. I feel like I've just tipped my toe in the water, so to speak, and so I will definitely be picking up the next book. I also really liked the illustrations. Just judging by the covers, I expected it to be much more of a Series of Unfortunate Events knockoff, but it really wasn't similar at all.
The Dollmage
Author: Martine Leavitt
Year: 2002
Age Level: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy (Pure)
Plot Summary: The village of Seekvalley is led by the Dollmage, one woman with the power to guide and protect her people with her mystical abilities. Two girls, Annakey and Renoa, are born on the same day and both have the potential to be the Dollmage. Even though Renoa is favored to become the Dollmage, Annakey develops her skills as well, often in secret. When outsiders threaten the safety of Seekvalley, both girls form plans to save the village with their abilities, but in the end there can only be one Dollmage.
Red Flags: some minor gore, (discrete) rape scene
My rating: C
This was kind of strange book. The first-person narration made it really hard to imagine the world and setting of the story--it was kind of like watching a movie filmed entirely with close-ups. So I didn't really understand why dolls were the method of controlling and creating the society, and it just came off as random. It's hard to take it seriously when it's weird.
Year: 2002
Age Level: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy (Pure)
Plot Summary: The village of Seekvalley is led by the Dollmage, one woman with the power to guide and protect her people with her mystical abilities. Two girls, Annakey and Renoa, are born on the same day and both have the potential to be the Dollmage. Even though Renoa is favored to become the Dollmage, Annakey develops her skills as well, often in secret. When outsiders threaten the safety of Seekvalley, both girls form plans to save the village with their abilities, but in the end there can only be one Dollmage.
Red Flags: some minor gore, (discrete) rape scene
My rating: C
This was kind of strange book. The first-person narration made it really hard to imagine the world and setting of the story--it was kind of like watching a movie filmed entirely with close-ups. So I didn't really understand why dolls were the method of controlling and creating the society, and it just came off as random. It's hard to take it seriously when it's weird.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Books, books, books...
Welcome to my reading blog! The idea here is to post reviews of books as I read them during the next few months of 2008. A lot of these will be childrens and young adult because of a class I'm in, but I hope to squeeze in a few for my leisurely hours.
Anyhoo, boring first entry...but there will be at 71 more posts more by the end of the semester!
Anyhoo, boring first entry...but there will be at 71 more posts more by the end of the semester!
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