Book Review: Scrap by Emory Sharplin

Title: Scrap
Author: Emory Sharplin
Pages: 350
Publisher: Green Leaf Book Group
Genre: Fantasy Fiction, adventure, action
Source: NetGalley
Publication Date: 5/17/2013
Rating: 3.5/5

In this new magical book, Emory Sharplin writes a story of a young girl who finds the truth of her past, and what is to be of her future.

Tucker Scrap never thought she was anything but an orphan breaking the laws of the evil king. But when a mysterious girl comes to take Tucker away, things are far from ordinary. This young heroine must quickly put together the pieces of her unknown past if she has any hope of claiming her birthright and defeating the king.

The ruler of the kingdom – King Ibis - has been terrorizing his people for centuries with his magical powers. Hunting for one girl who can make or break his world, the king stops at no costs to find this special, unknown girl. Tucker is now realizing the key role she plays in the fate of the kingdom. Only she can decide what will be the fate of her beloved kingdom. But will she make the right choice?

My favorite character in this book is Tucker Scrap. Being pushed into a completely different scene is hard, but this character takes it in stride, neatly accepting the new life that is hers. Tucker slowly realizes that her past was not what it seemed, and that it was a key part of a long chain of events. Along with her new friends, Tucker must fight for what she believes is right to save friends, family and herself.

When I first looked at the plot summary of “Scrap” my hopes weren’t very high. But, it was after I was completely immersed in Tucker’s world did I realize that this book is one that teenagers of all ages will love to read. When realizing that Tucker was quite young - 13 years of age - I immediately felt that she was too much of a child to be dealing with all of this action, romance and adventure. But as the story progressed, I realized that it only made this book more unique. Having a young girl’s input was refreshing after reading countless novels in which all of the main characters are boys or girls in their late teens.

While this was a good book, I felt that at times the story went too fast. In some parts, there wasn’t enough time to digest what was happening before the story continued. This was truly a hindrance, making me have to go back and read over the text to interpret it more carefully to get all of the details. Another big flaw this book had was its ending. It was one nobody could have ever seen coming, but it was too abrupt; a real cliffhanger. While I hopefully have a sequel to look forward to, I can’t help but regret that there wasn’t a bigger explanation before the book ended.

In the end, Sharplin has written a book that readers will thoroughly enjoy. Read “Scrap” and join Tucker and her friends on an adventure to find the truth of the past. I recommend this book to pre-teens and teenagers. Other books like this is the Hex Hall Series by Rachel Hawkins and The Heir Chronicles by Cinda Williams Chima.

Book Review: Warrior Heir by Cinda Williams Chima

Title: The Warrior Heir
Author: Cinda Williams Chima
Pages: 426
Publisher: Hyperion
Genre: Action, romance, fantasy fiction
Rating: 4/5

In this, the first book of Cinda Williams Chima’s series, ‘The Heir Chronicles’, Jack Swift is forced into a decision that he never thought he would have to make. Enemies are approaching, and Jack is thrust into a life that he knows nothing about.

After spending his whole life in Trinity, Jack never thought he was anything out of the ordinary. Yet, all the truths he has recently been told, point to that being the only option. And if that isn’t enough, it turns out he is a warrior, a magical fighter. The most shocking part is that he is the only one in the whole world, and is being hunted for it.

The enemies are coming, and it is all Jack can do to hone his powers; they will be the key to his survival. With his wizard teacher Leander Hastings, a mysterious man of many secrets, and the threat of a battle approaching, Jack’s survival is on the line, but he must do everything he can to save the ones he loves – even if it means dying.

My favorite character in this book is Jack Swift. His whole life has been one big lie, and he knows things will never be the same again. As he is pushed into this new situation, he fights literally and figuratively knowing that if he gives up, it’s all over. Jack feels ready for the upcoming events, but things are not as they seem. Together with his friends and family, Jack must find a solution to the problems that threaten to destroy everything he knows before it is too late.

“The Warrior Heir” seemed to be all about fighting and violence, but it wasn’t, much to my surprise. I had been expecting blood and gore splattered on every page, but Chima entertains her readers with a deeper, more interesting story. Her protagonist Jack is sketched in a story where he must strive hard and fight long to attain his goal. Though the story does seem a tad bit fantastical, Chima draws in Jack’s characteristics - good and bad, and graces her readers with a story that’s mixed in with witty banter, hilarious lines, and a furiously exciting plot to entice readers.

Read ‘The Warrior Heir’ by Cinda Williams Chima, a book that no one will ever be able to put down. Join Jack, his friends, family, and enemies on a journey that requires grit, determination and strength to accomplish the impossible. With a stunning conclusion, this book is one that readers will always remember. Other books in this series include ‘The Wizard Heir’, ‘The Dragon Heir’ and ‘The Enchanter Heir’, coming out in October, 2013. Other series written by Cinda Williams Chima include the Seven Realms Series which consists of ‘The Demon King’, ‘The Exiled Queen’, ‘The Gray Wolf Throne’, and ‘The Crimson Crown’.

Book Review: Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins

Title: Spell Bound
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Page: 327
Publisher: Disney Book Group
Genre: Adventure, action, romance
Rating: 4.5/5

In this amazing final book of Rachel Hawkins’s Hex Hall Series, Sophie Mercer is forced to make decisions that will decide not only her fate, but the world’s as well.

Sophie never thought that she would be the most important person in the magical war. But there she was. Being the only demon fighting for the protection of other magical creatures, was never her intentions. It’s too late to say no, though. And now, the fate of the world depends on what she does.

As the evil Casnoff sisters continue their plan to create an army that will forever change the world, Sophie realizes that everything she had been told about her enemies was false. Now, coming to terms with the cold brutal truth, it seems that all her facts were lies, and Sophie must repair the damage that has been done. Filled with romance, adventure, and a heart-breaking end, Spell Bound will leave readers astounded.

My favorite character in this book is Sophie Mercer, the protagonist of this story. With her stubborn refusal to give up, and her continuously trying to solve her problems, she’s a character that many will enjoy reading about. Together, Sophie, Archer, Jenna and Cal will have to fight their enemies, and give it all they have if there is to be any hope for them to win the war.

Rachel Hawkins writes an amazing ending to the Hex Hall Series in Spell Bound. With the stakes higher than they’ve ever been before, everything is on the line and nothing is certain. But, throughout all of this, Hawkins still manages to show the hope the characters hold close to their hearts, and the readers are still given a taste of the wit and sarcasm that have entertained them throughout this series.

Finding out that this was the last book to the Hex Hall series, I was happy and sad. Happy because the solution to this enjoyable adventure was sure to be a stunning one, and sad because it would be the end to a great series that I had thoroughly enjoyed reading. And I was right. This book has twists and turns that nobody can see coming, and an adventure that nobody can resist. But with the completion of Spell Bound, the Hex Hall Series is finished, and Rachel Hawkins’s series is over. Hawkins has done a truly outstanding job with the finale to this magical series, one that I am sure readers will treasure.

Read the other books in the Hex Hall Series, including the first book Hex Hall, and its sequel Demonglass. The first book of a new series, School Spirits, will be released in May, 2013. I recommend this book – and series – to anybody who loves a good adventure, along with a compelling romance. To get a sneak peak at what life is like after the battle, read A Very Hexy Valentine’s Day, a Hex Hall Extra.

Book Review: Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins

Title: Demonglass
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Pages: 359
Publisher: Disney Book Group
Genre: Adventure, Romance
Rating: 9/10

If you’ve read ‘Hex Hall’ by Rachel Hawkins, you might remember Sophie Mercer. Sophie has had a hectic first year at Hecate Hall, otherwise known as Hex Hall. Being the odd girl out is nothing, seeing as she has had experience being one her whole life. But having a murderer going around who’s sucking people’s blood is a bit strange even for Sophie, one of only 2 demons in the world. She’s not even human – she’s a monster. But the worst part is that she might just destroy everybody and everything with her powers. Maybe even the whole world.

Now, during the summer, Sophie is traveling with her father and friends, Jenna and Cal to a new home, where she will learn the importance of her powers, and the truth about being a demon. Things are strange at her new home. There are two other teenagers living in the same building as Sophie and her friends, and the strange part is that they’re both demons. But that’s surprising, seeing that Sophie and her father are supposed to be the only two in the world. The worst part is that a mysterious group of people are hunting Sophie down, and won’t stop until she’s dead.

My favorite character in this book is Sophie Mercer. Making the right decision isn’t as easy as people say it is. Faced with dilemmas at every stage of her adventure, Sophie knows that staying out of danger might not be a possibility anymore. And that’s why reading Rachel Hawkins’s stories about Sophie’s adventures is so enjoyable. With Sophie’s heroic and hilarious attitude, reading about her is one heck of a ride.

Hawkins has written a fast-paced book in which readers are thrust into adventure and mystery. As I continued the book, putting it down was no longer an option. With her character in a difficult situation, the author entertains readers with witty and serious dialogue, to the point where rereading this book is a choice I’m sure I won’t regret. Throwing in a surprising turn of events, and a difficult decision or two, makes this book a must-read for teens of all ages.

When I read the excerpt for this book, I just knew I had to read it. Being a sequel to a book like Hex Hall (which I absolutely loved), I knew that it could not be a disappointment, and suffice it to say, I was right. This book is full of action, conflict, confusion and romance. The feelings of love Sophie has for Archer shine through, and help her figure out the solution to her problems. Along with her friends and family, will Sophie be able to differentiate between right and wrong in the messed up, magic-drunk world she is living in?

Rachel Hawkins leads the readers and Sophie through a dangerous, magical world, in which the truth is not what it seems, and true love always prevails. Read Demonglass and join Sophie Mercer on an epic ride of twists and turns to find out the truth about her life and the mystery it holds. I recommend the book Demonglass to all people who love adventure, mystery and romance. The third book in this series, Spell Bound, is also out, and a new upcoming book called School Spirits is releasing in May, 2013.

Book Review: Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Title: Hex Hall
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Pages: 323
Publisher: Disney Book Group
Genre: Fantasy, Fiction
Rating: 9/10

‘Even over all the noise, Felicia’s words echoed in the cavernous gym. “She’s … she’s a witch!” I sighed. “Not again.”’

This excerpt is from the book Hex Hall, when Sophie Mercer is yet again exposed as a witch. Sophie is an ordinary girl, you know, minus the whole witch thing. And it’s not like this is the first time that she was exposed, but this time her father, the head of the council of Prodigium (witches, faeries, and shape shifters), sentences her to Hex Hall, a reform school for Prodigium that just attracts way too much attention. But that’s not it. There’s a mysterious murderer who is going around attacking students, and sucking out all their blood. The problem is, is that the number one suspect is Sophie’s friend Jenna, the only vampire in the school. Will Sophie be able to stop the mysterious attacks and clear her friend’s name? Or will Jenna be banished from the school and exiled from the Prodigium community?

Sophie’s the new girl again, but this time, she’s with her own kind of people: the Prodigium. Here at Hex Hall there are hundreds of Prodigium, and not all of them are on the good side. From the 3 witches trying to complete their coven and who are up to some suspicious behavior, to Archer, a warlock who has practically all the girls swooning when he walks past them, and then the mysterious Holly, the first person killed in the long line of injuries. Will Sophie get to the bottom of this, or will all the students become victims to the strange monster(s)?

My favorite character in this book is Sophie. Sophie is a girl who is full of adventure, and not afraid to get in trouble. As the days in Hex Hall go by, Sophie finds that she is being drawn into the mystery, and might actually be close to solving it. From having a showdown with the most popular and mean girl in the school, Elodie, to finding about the dangerous and foolish truths to the injuries, Sophie is in for one heck of an adventure.

This book is interesting because of how the author Ms. Rachel Hawkins shows a girl’s life, and all the drama that is in it. It is also interesting because Ms. Hawkins adds an adventurous side of the story, making it go from adventure to mystery to romance, and then back again to adventure, making it even more complicated and makes it even harder to set the book down.

Will Sophie get to the bottom of the mystery? Will she finally catch the victim, or will he or she get away? Will Jenna be charged guilty? And will Sophie learn to control her powers? Read the book ‘Hex Hall’ by Rachel Hawkins to find out. I recommend this book to people who like adventure, mystery, and romance.

Rachel Hawkins is the author of the Hex Hall series, which consists of Hex Hall, Demonglass and Spell Bound. Upcoming books include School Spirits and Rebel Belle.

Book Review: Diary of a Wimpy Kid Cabin Fever

Title: Diary of a Wimpy Kid Cabin Fever
Author: Jeff Kinney
Publisher: Amulet
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Pages: 217
Rating: 9/10

This book was based on three storms that hit New England, where Jeff Kinney lives. He was trapped inside of his house for the first storm, which was a blizzard. The second storm was Hurricane Irene. He was out of town when it hit, so all the flights got cancelled. The third storm caused Jeff Kinney’s house to lose all of its power. Also, they did not have running water.

In this book, Greg and Rowley are accused of a serious crime. It all started when Greg and Rowley started their own Holiday Bazaar to compete with their school’s bazaar. They tried to make it the best they could. When they finished, they tried to advertise it with neon green poster board. They taped it onto the brick wall of the school, but immediately it started raining and the dye leaked. It stained the brick wall. Then, somebody almost caught them for staining the brick wall, but they ran away panicked. While Greg thinks about the Graffiti, a blizzard hits. Nobody can get out of their houses and people are locked in for a while. That means Greg has to stay with his family with little food and water. Can Greg prove that he is innocent of the “crime,” and can Greg survive the blizzard with his family?

I thought this book was superb. I always like the humor Jeff Kinney writes in his books. They always crack me up. For example when Rowley said “Peas be with you” instead of “Peace be with you.” Also I like the way Jeff Kinney describes how Greg struggles with the problem he faces, like the poster board problem. I rated this book very high for many reasons, but the best reason was that Jeff Kinney used his resources and schema to write this book. It amazed me that from just one small idea you can create a whole book. The small idea which he expanded on was the three storms that hit. My last reason why I liked this book was because he included many important details and helped the reader understand the book.

I think this book is appropriate for ages seven through thirteen, because there is no violence and no blood, it is fun to read. I don’t think that adults would like to read it because it is childish for them and they probably wouldn’t get the jokes unless they really thought about it. Also, I would recommend this book for people who like realistic fiction and humor, because you will find yourself laughing at every page you read. I hope Jeff Kinney doesn’t stop writing this series! I liked this book very much and I hope you like it as much as I do!

　

　

Book Review: Hero by Mike Lupica

Title: Hero
Author: Mike Lupica
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 289
Rating: 9/10

What would you think a hero would look like? I would think that a super hero would be tall and have bulky muscles. Well, the hero of this book defies this image. He is a puny student, who never thought he had it in him. He was bullied all the time by gorillas, who would more likely fit the role of a hero.

Well it all started at a middle school, where Zach, a small boy, comes home to find his dad dead in a plane crash. He had worked for the president, but never specifically told Zach what he did. He had said it was top secret. Zach hadn’t believed it for one second. He thought that his dad's death was accidental. 

While everybody thought that his dad’s crash was accidental because there was no more fuel in the plane, Zach went to investigate. He stayed up during the night a long time just to find what had happened to his dad. One day he went to the place where his dad's plane had crashed. He saw an old man who told him about his dad. When his dad came home, for fun, he told Zach about these characters called the Bads. The Bads fought this hero. After Zach got attacked by some people he knew that the fantasy story that his dad told him about was real. His dad was the hero, and now they are after Zach. Can Zach prevent the Bads from destroying him?

The key characters of this book are Zach, Mr. Herbert, The Bads, and Kate. The most interesting character in this book is probably Zach. He is the main character and the super hero of this book. I think that Zach was a very good character in this book because he gave it suspense and flavor. One reason why I think that is because he gets beat up all the time, and he gets picked on. It is interesting to see how he evolves into a full fledged super hero. 

I think what gave Zach motivation on fighting the Bads and researching about his father, was his father's death. Zach is just an ordinary boy, but he has super powers, so besides that, I think he is just a regular boy. Also another main character in this book is Kate. Honestly I think creating Kate as a character was a complete waste of time. I know that the Hero has to have girlfriend, but seriously I think that he should have created a more developed character rather than what he had created in this book. Zach was a more interesting character than Kate. Mr. Herbert is another character in this book. The way you would probably describe him as is a stalker. For example, in the field where Zach’s father died he appears out of nowhere and starts talking about Zach’s life as if they were best friends.

The theme of this book is bravery. Bravery is the theme of this book because first of all, when the Bads try to hurt Kate (his friend) Zach does whatever it takes to keep the Bads from touching her. He hits them as many times as he can even if he does break a few bones. This is why I think Zach is brave. I think what this book says about the society is that it you should believe in yourself, which can also be noted as another theme. I think the only character who believed in this story was Zach.

I think that the people who would like reading this book would be people who liked watching Marvel movies like Superman or the Avengers. This is because in Hero there is actually a hero, who has super powers similar to Superman. Also people who like action will like this book because even at least half of this book there is Zach battling giants. I think that people who won’t like this book are people who read realistic fiction. This is because fantasy is imaginative for people who usually do not read anything related to made up stuff. Also, people who love non-fiction will despise and hate this book. The reason why I say this is because non-fiction is facts and fantasy is facts that are not true. They are like sworn enemies.

If you want to learn more about this book, you can go to Mike Lupica’s website, which is http://www.mikelupicabooks.com/hero_excerpt.html. Also if you want to know more about this author you can see facts about him on his spectacular website, http://www.mikelupicabooks.com/mikelupica.html. Some books that are similar to this book are listed here, http://www.rickriordan.com/home.aspx,    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_to_Train_Your_Dragon. 

Book Review: The Whole Story of Half a Girl

Title: The Whole Story Of Half A Girl
Author: Veera Hiranandani
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Genre: realistic-fiction
Pages: 224
Rating: 9/10
Source : Netgalley

‘Then I get home. Mom’s face is all droopy-the way it looks when she’s upset. But she doesn’t say much. She just stirs and stirs something in a pot on the stove.’

This excerpt is from the book ‘The Whole Story Of Half A Girl’, and is thought by a girl named Sonia when she gets home from school. Sonia loves things the way they are, but things are changing- fast. And she’s faced with the problem of how to deal with all these problems - from making new friends, moving to another school, and her dad leaving - and still end on top.

Sonia’s living in a completely new world. With only one parent working, moving to from a private to a public school , and finding new friends there’s a lot that’s changing. Sonia’s fitting in, but worried that she might not be doing things the right way, and looking different with her half Jewish American and half Indian looks isn’t exactly the best way to fit in. Will Sonia find a way to figure out the turmoil that has become her life? And that no matter what happens, will her two halves always make her who she is?

My favorite character in this book is Sonia. Leaving her private school and going to what seems like a foreign new school - it’s a public school! - is hard enough without having to leave all of your old friends, and trying to find make new ones. And it doesn’t make it any easier when you have to decide from the cool popular “in” kids, and the other not popular students. And with her father who just lost his job, and feeling a little out of place, and then goes and just disappears, the problems just keep on mounting up, higher and higher.

I rated this book a 9 out of 10, because I felt that while this book was wonderful and it made me just feel like I was with Sonia, figuring out what she has to do to solve all of her school problems. I also enjoyed how that, when Sonia’s figuring out how to change her life, she has many conflicts with what she does, which to me, makes the story seem more interesting. The more conflicts, the merrier!

I also like how Mrs. Hirandandani wrote the book, having some small conflicts in the beginning, having them partially solved, and then laying a whole other bomb of surprising conflicts. It added some suspense to the story, making it quite enjoyable to read.

Will Sonia make it through the big move? Will she fit in and find the right friends? And all in all, will her family go back to normal, being the happy family they once were? Read the book, ‘The Whole Story Of Half A Girl’ by Veera Hiranandani.

Blogpost: Top Five Books for 2011

These are the top five books that I have read this year. All of these books are fantasy and will only interest you if you like either realistic fiction or fantasy.

1. Eragon
2. Eldest
3. Pillage
4. The Son of Neptune
5. The Throne of Fire

Upcoming Book: Diary of a Wimpy Kid Cabin Fever
Author: Jeff Kinney
Publisher: Amulet books
Release Date: November 15
As you all know, that Diary of a Wimpy Kid Cabin Fever is coming out. The other books in the series are: Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Diary of a Wimpy Kid Rodrick Rules, Diary of a Wimpy Kid The Last Straw, Diary of a Wimpy Kid Dog Days, Diary of a Wimpy Kid Do-It Yourself, Diary of a Wimpy Kid The Ugly Truth.

I think in Cabin Fever, that there is going to be a blizzard, and the kids are going to be trapped at school. Also, I think that Greg will try to escape school, because he doesn’t like it. Having school twenty four seven, is going to be really tough for Greg. I can predict that there is going to be a blizzard, because of the cover. On the cover there is snow.
I know that this book is going to be good, because the previous books have been good and it is a very famous book. The last book that Jeff Kinney wrote was very good. It was about how Greg reacts to the changes in life that is heading his way. Also I liked the Ugly Truth because it was very detailed and it had fantastic illustrations. I am sure that Cabin Fever will be better than any graphic novel written.

The author of Diary of a Wimpy Kid is Jeff Kinney. Jeff Kinney has his own website about Diary of a Wimpy Kid where you can see interviews, upcoming books, games, and much more. You can even hear the new Joshie song!! The thing about Jeff Kinney is that he has written a Do-It Yourself book, with different kinds of activities. There are two copies. The new improved copy has new color comics.

Jeff Kinney was born in Maryland and went to the University of Maryland. He knew he wanted to be a cartoonist. Before, he had a comic strip called “Idgoof.” In 2006 Jeff Kinney got a multi-book deal with Harry N. Abrams. He then published his first book in April 2007. Jeff Kinney currently has a full-time job at a Boston -based Internet publishing company. He created Poptropica. Now, Jeff Kinney lives with his wife and two sons in Massachusetts.
If you want to go to Jeff Kinney’s website, Click Here!

http://www.wimpykid.com/