Alex Rider Secret Weapon gets 4 Stars {ya lit, action/adventure}

I know books, but I am not a music expert.  However, with the spy and adventure theme of this book I couldn't get the theme music for James Bond and Mission Impossible movies out of my head. If I had to create a Playlist of sorts for this book, it'd definitely include those songs. 

It's not all action and adventure. There is some humor. ;) "Of course it'll work!  I mean, I hope it'll work. But it is a prototype, you know..."

"You should be careful whom you choose to trust." 

Alex Rider, aka the teenage James Bond.  He's a teenage spy for MI6.  Therefore, he gets really cool gadgets, he's super smart, a linguist, martial arts master, and he just seems like a good 14 year old.  This book has seven short stories, which make for a super fast read that'll have you keep turning the pages. You'll finish before you know it, and if you are anything like me you'll love that reality is briefly suspended and that things work out for Alex.  I'm such a sucker for the happy ending.  To be honest, I didn't know the Alex Rider books were for more than just middle and high school boys.  I'm actually a big fan of Alex Rider now, and don't worry, you don't have to have been an AR fan and have read the other books to enjoy this one.  Horowitz does a great job including any necessary background information.  

Basically, this Alex Rider book is fantastic.  At times there are a few gaps in the action, but otherwise I felt the writing was great.  The story moves quickly and there is enough development, but this is definitely a plot driven story.  Definitely a great book to hand to a kid in 5th grade and up; middle school libraries should most definitely have this book on the shelf. 

Alex Rider Secret Weapon by Anthony Horowitz
Rating: 4/5 stars
Best For: 12 and up, action/adventure fans will love this fast read. 
# of Pages:  336
Clean Read: Yes. There is action and violence, but it isn't gruesome. I think an 11 year old could enjoy this.   
Worth a Check Out: Yes. It is such a fun quick read. It's worth a read when you are looking for a page turner that will help you escape reality. 
Buy It or Not: Maybe.  If you are an Alex Rider fan then you definitely should. 
Read Aloud:  Actually, it could be a fun read for 6th-8th grade classroom. 



I received a copy of this book from Penguin Random House, but all thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Lost in NYC: A Subway Adventure gets 3.5 Stars {Graphic Novel}

Graphic Novels are fast reads and a great choice for reluctant readers, aka kids who don't like to read b/c of their speed but also b/c of their format.  The loads of pictures also helps reluctant readers not shy away from them.  Just a reminder, it doesn't matter what you read, as long as you are reading.    

This graphic novel, Lost in NYC: A Subway Adventure by Nadja Spiegelman and Sergio Garcia Sanchez  has a lot of really great things going for it.  That's why it gets 3.5 out of 5 Stars in my book review.  

I really love the end papers in this book.  The detail of the map in the front (shown above- I'm such a map nerd), and then a fun comic portrayal in the back of the adventure the kids went on makes for some extra fun.  I've been impressed with Toon Graphics for going the extra mile with their end pages.  I remember We Dig Worms and The Real Poop on Pigeons, other books by the same publisher, as having awesome end pages too.  I appreciate when books and publishers really think about all of the details; I think it enhances the reading experience.   

Another thing I really love about this book are the pictures.  I think the pictures are really fantastic; they are perfectly suited for 3rd-7th grade readers. For example, I love the angle on this Empire State building picture; it is just neat. 

Another thing I think Spiegelman and Sanchez do throughout the story is provide/sneak in information about the subway and the Empire State building in a fun, and subtly way.  
  

After Pablo and Alicia's adventures on the subway there is the most awesome section of the book; at least a nerd like me with a traffic engineering husband finds it to be fascinating.  I learned some of the coolest information in the back of this graphic novel where there is a section about the history of the subway in NYC and how it all began.  

That section alone was so cool; I learned so much from it.  I learned why there are lettered and numbered trains... b/c at the beginning there were two separate companies.  I learned why there isn't a O or a 0 train... b/c they look too alike.  I learned that they thought having a P-train would bring about laughs and maybe some un-welcomed behavior.  I learned they are still building tunnels and how deep, wide, and slow the building process is.  I learned a lot, and I loved it all. 

There were many parts of Lost in NYC that I really enjoyed.  Though, the book did lose one and half stars b/c of I felt the story line was weak.  I just didn't feel there was much there, in the actual story, that really kept me turning the pages.  Since the story line is a major aspect of a book it has more weight in the scoring.  Though, I still think it is a great read, and a worthy collection addition, for the many other reasons listed previously.     

One aspect of the book that I felt was neither a positive or a negative.  The text layout was unorthodox for a graphic novel or comic book; it didn't follow the right to left top to bottom format.  Even though it didn't follow traditional formatting I was still easily able to recognize where I needed to read b/c the text followed visual lines of sort.  I thought this was different and worth a mention to you.     

Just so you get a tad bit of information about the story line I've included the book description that is found on Amazon. 

"The sights . . . the sounds . . . the SMELLS! New York's crowded subway system is known for many things, but being easy on a lost kid isn't one of them. When Pablo gets separated from his new schoolmates during his first field trip in New York City, he doesn't know how he'll be able to find them again. Luckily, he has a little knowledge, a new friend, and the surprisingly approachable city itself to guide his way. This story features maps, archival photos, and fascinating facts to help readers explore the subway without ever having to get caught like Pablo in the mob of Times Square. It brings all the bustle and beauty of NYC to young readers around the world.

This story is also available in Spanish as Perdidos en NYC: una aventura en el metro"


I love the NYC subway.  I love subways in general, even though I've only rode them in NYC, and London.  Have you rode a subway?  Where? 


Happy NYC Subway graphic novel reading! 


I received this book from Myrick Marketing in exchange for my honest review.  All thoughts, obviously, are mine. 

  

The Rose Society gets 4 Stars (Young Elites #2} {YA} {Series}

The Rose Society by Marie Lu is the second book in the Young Elites series.  This series is full of action and has a slight love/romance to it just like the Legend series. 

I give The Rose Society 4 out of 5 Stars.  It's a good book and an entertaining series, but I do not like it as much as Lu's last series.  The character development of Adelina, the main character, is well written; it really is quite impressive that Lu is able to have an anti-hero as the main character and some people actually like her.

I know some people actually like Adelina.  She's powerful and ambitious, but to me she is a little annoying.  I don't like how hung up on power and revenge she is to the point of treating, even her sister whom she loves, so poorly.  As a redeeming quality, Adelina is finally realizing that even though she may be getting the revenge and power she thinks she wants she is at least realizing that being alone with her accomplishments isn't all that great.  

I do like this book, but there is too much darkness in it for me. The story is dark and full of action and violence, but besides the action/violence it is a clean story.  

This Young Adult/Teen read is a great story for boys and girls alike in ninth grade or above.  However, younger students/readers that don't mind the action and darkness will be fine reading this series.  

This book lost a star in my book review b/c there were aspects in the story I didn't love. I didn't love how dark the story was, and I didn't love how cruel, and somewhat evil, Adelina, the main character, was.  The love story, well love stories, was okay.  I liked one of them, and the other one just made me mad.    

All in all, I am glad I read the book.  However, I have learned that I do have a darkness limit, and to be honest I'm not sure I can handle the third book.  Though, I'm sure I'll read it b/c I'm a sucker for a series.  

Amazon had the following book review to give you a little more detail into the storyline.  

"Once upon a time, a girl had a father, a prince, a society of friends. Then they betrayed her, so she destroyed them all." Lu's epic series takes a dark, gritty turn with her latest offering. Adelina, known as the White Wolf, has fled Kenettra with Violetta, her sister, in order to recruit other malfettos (superpowered humans) for revenge upon the Inquisition—the faction that killed her love Enzo and countless other malfettos. Turned out and betrayed by her former comrades, the Daggers, Adelina is determined to form her own army, especially once she stumbles upon the near-mythical malfetto named Magiano. As the leader of the Inquisition, Teren, continues to search for Adelina so he can destroy her, she turns toward a more somber facet of her energy. Her path explodes into a dizzying array of power, murder, and revenge, leaving Adelina to question her true nature. When a malfetto queen conspires to raise Enzo from the dead, Adelina must face, once and for all, her feelings and her desires for power. What sets this novel apart is Adelina's slow spiral into bleak, joyless corruption; Lu doesn't wrap up the narrative with a shiny bow. Teens will be fascinated to watch the main character descend into villainy and revel in it. VERDICT Fans of Sarah Maas's Throne of Glass (Bloomsbury, 2012) and Sabaa Tahir's An Ember in the Ashes (Penguin, 2015) will enjoy the author's latest."

How are you with Dark stories?

Happy Dark Fantasy and Action YA Reading!  

What are you reading?

The Young Elites gets 4 Stars {YA Fantasy} {Series}

I recently finished The Young Elites by Marie Lu; she also wrote the Legend series that I reviewed here.  I really like the Legend  series, and think it is a fantastic dystopian trilogy.  I liked The Young Elites, but I still think Legend,  a completely different type of story, is better.  

I give The Young Elites 4 out of 5 Stars. This YA (Young Adult) book aka teen read is in the fantasy genre b/c there is magic involved.  However, it isn't high fantasy, like Lord of the Rings or The Three Kings kind of fantasy books.  This book has magic, or more so the power of the Gods given to a select number of individuals that were infected with a disease.  I personally found it to be an interesting concept.   

I personally think this book is best for boys and girls alike in the 9th grade and up.  This book is a clean read, with no swearing or bad language that I can recall and only a handful of instances involved kissing, but it is a dark story and there is definitely violence with quite a bit of fighting and even killing.  Adelina, the main character, is quite conflicted but also quite dark.  She thrives and flourishes off the fear of others.  I think the darkness of the book and the complexity of the storyline makes it more well suited for the older audience.

Overall, the story was really good, but the ending was fantastic.  The ending was very well written, however, the middle of the story dragged slightly, was choppy, and overall I was a little unsure what was going on.  Even the major battle with Teren, a major point in the story, was confusing.  I realize battles are difficult to write b/c there is usually so much going on; both the Hunger Games, Mockingjay especially was hard for this reason, and Divergent series all had battle scenes that were confusing for the exact same reasons.

I do think Lu did a great job keeping the story unpredictable with an interesting storyline; I also think her character development was well done.  Though, Adelina was a complex and confused girl.  Her complexity of emotions, dark but also wanting to be honest and pure, was confusing.  Adelina was well written, but at times her character confusion was confusing to me as the reader.  I realize that Adelina is a teenage girl with a lot of confusion on love and who she is, but I feel that confusion could've been written in a way to not confuse the reader to the same extent of Adelina's confusion.  Overall I did grow to mostly understand Adelina; I may not have agreed with her choices, but I did want her to succeed and figure herself, emotions, and powers out.  

I did state it before, but I want to say again that the ending of The Young Elites was fantastic.  The ending of Young Elites may be the best ending I've read in awhile.  It definitely sets the story up for the sequel, Rose Society, and leaves the reader wanting to read more.  However, it isn't a cliff hanger which I hate when authors do that b/c I think it portrays poor writing and laziness. 

Amazon had the following book review from School Library Journal: 

"A rollicking series opener from the author of the "Legend" series (Putnam). Imagine surviving a plague of fever, only to be marked as an abomination by your countrymen. Most survivors of the sickness that vanquished thousands in this alternative medieval world possess a strange and unique marking, whether it be a facial coloring, oddly tinged hair, or, in Adelina's case, a missing eye. Called malfettos, some are endowed with magical gifts that enable them to control wind, fire, earth, and even humans. All Adelina has ever wanted is to feel accepted and loved, but she's ignored by her father, and her sister doesn't have the power to save her. When the teen escapes an unwanted proposal, she unwittingly becomes a member of the Dagger Society, an Elite group of malfettos bent on using their supernatural abilities to escape the Inquisition's genocide and place their leader, Enzo, on the throne of Kenettra. Adelina struggles with an increasing distrust of Enzo, her fellow Elites, and herself, all while learning how to control her powers of illusion and disillusion. Lu seamlessly melds an unforgettable and intoxicating historical fantasy narrative with a strong female protagonist that grapples with an issue experienced by all young adults—acceptance of one's self. Well written, fast paced without being confusing, and enjoyable enough for teens, reluctant readers, and even adults. Brimming with engaging battles—physical and emotional—and meticulous backdrops, Lu's new series will be a surefire hit with old and new fans alike."

Are you a Lu fan?  

Happy Action Packed Fantasy Reading! 






*******SPOILER ALERT*******






I will say that I did not see Enzo's death coming at all.  It completely surprised me, and actually made me a little sad for him.  

I also did not anticipate Raphael kicking her out of the Daggers.  He seemed far more compassionate to me at the beginning that his bluntness and action at the end surprised me.  I understand why he did it, but it still made me sad.  I personally think the reason for kicking her out, b/c she's more powerful than she knows and her powers and abilities are overwhelming and terrifying to others.  i feel he would rather have, or should have her stay in the group to keep her on their side rather than fighting against her.  

Have you read this book?  What did you think?  


Click here for the review of Book 2 of the Young Elites Series: The Rose Society 

Champion (#3 in Legend Series) gets 4.5 Stars {Dystopian}

Champion by Marie Lu is the third book in the Legend series, a fast paced, quick read dystopian novel with action, adventure, and romance. 

Legend, Prodigy, and Champion all get 4.5 out of 5 stars in my book reviews.  With all of them scoring so high in my book reviews you can rest assure that these books are great reads for boys, girls, middle school, high school, and adults.  All of these books are strong on their own; they each are great stories that together make a great series.  

Near the beginning of the book, on page 62, Day said his "Mom used to say that having three boys was kind of like having a pet tornado that talked back." This made me laugh; I can only imagine this to be true.  How many Moms with 3 boys have felt like this?

{Warning: Mild Spoilers Below}

Usually, I feel the ending of a series is poorly written, rushed, or cheesy.  However, the ending of Champion was great.  Lu did a great job ending the book b/c it all seemed realistic and plausible.  I like the maturity June showed by letting Day go, but yet the reader still has the hope for the possibility of the two down the road b/c June is letting Day take the steps.  I like that Aden and June dated a while and truly gave it a shot since you as a reader saw that build-up during the last two books.  The entire ending is happy enough, but not cheesy.  All in all, the ending is great!  

The reason Champion lost half a star is b/c of the rushed battle.  The entire series, especially this book, leads up to the battle with the colonies.  When the battle actually began I feel Lu wasn't quite sure how to write it.  It all seemed rushed, a bit chaotic, and then all of a sudden the battle was over.  June was in the midst of the battle fighting people and then all of a sudden there was nothing; I almost felt like Lu forgot the battle was going on b/c she wanted the story and characters to develop and build.  Basically, I felt the writing of the culminating battle was anti-climatic and not the author's best writing.  it was a bit disappointing to say the least. 


All in all, Champion is a great final book in the Legend series.  Have you read the series yet? 

Amazon had the following book review from School Library Journal: 

"Factions will fight, traitors will be tried and convicted, and secrets revealed before star-crossed lovers Day and June's powerful story ends in the final book in the trilogy. Day and his brother, Eden, are in San Francisco for medical treatment after Eden was subjected to virus experiments by the Colonies. June is in Denver acting as one of the Princeps-Elect. After months apart without any communication, June asks Day to return with Eden so that the Republic can use the virus Eden is carrying to find a cure for the plague that has invaded the Colonies. The Colonies believe that the Republic has a cure, and issue an ultimatum that unless the Republic reveals it, the Colonies will attack. Then they renege on their promise to hold off and attack without warning. The Republic's Elector desperately needs allies but no one wants to help. Day is also trying not to let June know that he's dying. The Colonies' Chancellor knows that the people will follow Day, and if Day can get the citizens to accept the Colonies' rule, the Chancellor promises to save them and Day's loved ones. Can they find a cure for the virus in time? Can Day and his old Patriot friends defeat the Chancellor and his soldiers? June and Day's future together is equally uncertain. They love each other but their painful pasts and June's involvement in Day's family's deaths will always be between them. Lu's unexpected ending adds an extra poignancy to their complicated relationship. Fans who loved Legend (2011) and Prodigy (2013, both Putnam) won't want to miss this one."  

If you liked Hunger Games or Divergent you will like this Legend series.  I personally think the Legend series is the strongest in writing, in regards to all three books being strong novels with good storylines that hold their own, of the three trilogy series mentioned.  

Which series is your favorite? 

Happy dystopian action/adventure reading!

Prodigy gets 4.5 Stars

My husband has been hooked on this series ever since we listened to Legend on our road trip to Utah.  He requested Prodigy and zipped through the book staying up late at night to finish it.  It had been only a matter of a few days before he handed it over to me and promptly requested Champion, the 3rd book in the series, from the library.  I know it's a great series when my husband will read it.  I'm not saying my hubs doesn't like to read, he does, but with work and family it isn't incredibly high on his to-do list.  
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Prodigy by Marie Lu has been different from other dystopians, but there are still a lot of similarities.  Apparently, underground living/cities is our future according to Hunger Games, Divergent, and Legend series.  All of these books have underground cities at one point of another.    

Prodigy is well written and has a great storyline that draws all kinds of readers of all different ages.  As a bonus, the series has been quite clean.  There is a action and violence, but no sex (kissing a bit) or language (though they do say goddy).  

I give Prodigy 4.5 out of 5 stars in my book review.  

I liked the story, found it to be unpredictable (I mean a few of my predictions were on, but not many), loved that it was a clean read, and I thought it was written quite well.  However, I didn't love the romance part of the story and felt it was quite slow at the beginning; therefore, it lost a half a star in my book.  .

Prodigy is a great book, but I still wish the romance side of all of it in the series would be redone.  The romance seems awkward, and the angst both Day and June expressed was a bit ridiculous.    

Amazon had the following description to help you understand the storyline a bit more.  

"June and Day arrive in Vegas just as the unthinkable happens: the Elector Primo dies, and his son Anden takes his place. With the Republic edging closer to chaos, the two join a group of Patriot rebels eager to help Day rescue his brother and offer passage to the Colonies. They have only one request—June and Day must assassinate the new Elector.

It’s their chance to change the nation, to give voice to a people silenced for too long. 

But as June realizes this Elector is nothing like his father, she’s haunted by the choice ahead. What if Anden is a new beginning? What if revolution must be more than loss and vengeance, anger and blood—what if the Patriots are wrong?

In this highly-anticipated sequel to the New York Times bestseller Legend, Lu delivers a breathtaking thriller with high stakes and cinematic action. " 

This great series is quick and enjoyable to read; anyone and everyone 12 and up will enjoy it. 

Have you read Prodigy and/or the Legend Series?  What did you think?


Happy Action, Adventure, Dystopian YA/Teen/Adult novel reading!



.

Legend gets 4.5 Stars

I have another dystopian, post-apocalyptic, book for you.  If you haven't OD, overdosed that is, on dystopian books you should give this trilogy a read.  It is full of adventure, action, and an enjoyable storyline for boys and girls alike.  It is also quite clean in the language and sex department but there is some violence for you parents wondering about the books content. 

Legend by Marie Lu is the first in this engaging dystopian series, Prodigy and Champion are the 2nd and 3rd books,  My husband and I listened to the audiobook on our recent roadtrip and the reader was great as well. This is a great audiobook for an older family to roadtrip with.  You all will enjoy and be engrossed in the story.    

I give this book 4.5 out of 5 Stars in my book review.  Overall, I thought the storyline was good, and it wasn't completely predictable.  I also think Lu did a great job setting you up for the next book, but she didn't leave you hanging, which I find to be annoying actually.  There was also a romantic aspect to the book that was cheesy at times, but somewhat interesting.  

The romance is actually what lost a half of star from me.  I like a good romance, trust me, but in Legend the romance between June, the heroine, and Day, the hero, just seemed silly at times.  For example, I don't understand why June would really think about Day hugging and kissing her when she has far more important and pressing issues on her mind like the mystery of her brother's death or what Day said about the trial and the plague.  To be consumed with an infatuation at a time like that, from such a focused, determined, and strong female character seemed silly and out of place.

However, even with my take on the silly romance side of the book, which I realize some girls will absolutely love, this is a great read that if you haven't checked-out you should.  

Amazon had the following book description: 

"What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.


Full of nonstop action, suspense, and romance, this novel is sure to move readers as much as it thrills." 
  
If you have read, and like, the Divergent and Hunger Games series, and you are eager for more then go get this book.  It's a great read for middle school students, high school students, and adults alike.  

Reluctant readers will be excited to hear that they are going to, eventually, make a movie based on this book. 

Happy dystopian action filled book reading!

Summer Reading Book Lists for Kids Who Don't Like to Read in 8th and 9th Grade

The past few weeks I've been talking about reluctant readers aka kids that don't like to read.  

If you have a reluctant reader check out these 7 Ways to Turn a BOOK HATER into a BOOK READER!  

With those steps and the...
Book List for Reluctant Readers in Kindergarten and First Grade
Book List for Reluctant Readers in Second and Third Grade
Book List for Reluctant Readers in Fourth and Fifth Grade
Book List for Reluctant Readers in Sixth and Seventh Grade
and the book lists I'm giving you today and on future Fridays will help you find the perfect and best book, the right book, for any reluctant reader you may know.

There are a lot of kids who don't like to read.  I was one of them.  All of those reluctant readers are missing out on a ton of awesome and entertaining books, but more importantly those individuals are missing out on the benefits readers experience.   

Readers...

• Are Less Stressed
• Have a Larger Vocabulary
• Have Stronger Thinking Skills
• Have Better Focus and Concentration
• Have Better Speaking Skills
• Appreciate Other Places and Cultures
• Keep Brain Stimulated
• Have Better Memory 
• Improves Creativity
• Are Better Writers

There are many reasons to be or become a reader, and I know every one, no matter the age, can become a reader.  

Over the next several weeks I will be sharing with you book lists for reluctant readers aka people that don't like to read.  I have broken the lists down by age.  Today, you get...

Books for Reluctant Readers in

Eighth and Ninth Grade

Eighth

Boys:

The Maze Runner by James Dashner 

This cliff hanger series is also a movie which is great for reluctant readers. 

Eighth Grade Bites (The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod) by Heather Brewer

This easy read series about a middle school vampire is sure to suck you in as a reader. 

Long Shot: a Comeback Kids Novel by Mike Lupica 

This sports series is full of fun short quick reads for any sports fan.

                

Girls:

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares 

This fun easy to relate to series has movies based on them; 

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbit 

This short classic read has a movie based on it. 

A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks 

This love story has a good chick-flick movie.  Read the book and then watch the movie.   

                

Both:

Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling 

Pretty much the best series ever.  Oh and there are movies on each book; movies are good motivators for reluctant readers.  

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick 

This thick book has a lot of pictures which makes it a quick read.

Ninth

Boys:

Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz 

This Alex Rider series is full of action and adventure and great for boys. They'll want to re-read them over and over again. 

Maximum Ride: The Manga by James Patterson 

This is a book series, but it is also a manga series.  Graphic novels/mangas are great for reluctant readers. 

Girls:

I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You by Ally Carter 

This Gallagher Girl series about a boarding school for spies is all around fun. 

All American Girl by Meg Cabot

This book is the first in a fun series you'll want to stay up all night reading.

The DUFF by Kody Deplinger 

This realistic fiction is easy to relate to, and funny.  There is some language; there is talk of a movie. 

Both:

Paper Towns by John Green 

This soon to be movie has a bit of language, but quite a mystery to it.  This is the same author as The Fault in Our Stars. 

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

This book, with a sequel, has real pictures that help tell a unique and captivating story.  This novel also has a graphic novel for especially reluctant readers in case the crazy pictures in the novel isn't enough. 

There you go, awesome books for even the most reluctant reader. 

Happy Summer Reading for everyone!