The Fifth Wave by Rick Yancey*****

The Fifth Wave is about Cassie. She one of the few unlucky survivors of the other waves. The reason for this: the aliens. They look like us, they talk like us, they even bleed like us. But the question is... who are they? Cassie finds a soldier, obviously handiwork of the aliens, and she kills him to put him out of his misery. When she sees one of the aliens, Cassie decides it's do or die. She is shot and wakes up in a warm bed in an undamaged house. When a handsome boy in untattered clothes comes into the picture, Cassie knows her time is up. But the "boy" takes care of her, nursing her back to health, giving her enough to eat, even offering to locate her brother with her. Then it becomes  clear, his alibi doesn't fit his life before, and he kills with more skill than Cassie has ever seen. Something is not right. Now we switch to Ben, the boy Cassie likes. He thinks because he is rescued from a sick camp and put into the "alien" fighting force that he blessed. But what he doesn't know is that he will have to undergo rigorous training and help kill some of his squad own members. And when he is deployed, he is told to kill the glowing green guys in his eye ware. He doesn't hesitate. This is the Fifth Wave.

This book was amazing. To tell the truth, I was reluctant to read this book, but when I did, I just couldn't put it down. I think that a really good point (Inferred!) that Rick Yancey made was that we just make everything to be easier than it really is. Like when Cassie said the aliens that we all imagine are all green, big headed, dressed in silver jumpsuits, stupid, and so much more. We need to almost always push ourselves instead of thinking that everything will come easily to us. This book is a great read, but is a long one as well. Suited for anyone old enough to handle the alien invasion.

The Edumacation of Jay Baker by Jay Clark*****

The Edumacation of Jay Baker is about Jay, a high-school boy with problems galore. His parents split, his used-to-be best friend calls him "gay," and his life is in ruins. When one of the newer girls, Caroline, at his school tells him that he's cute (in detention of course), he knows that she is his dream girl. Caroline's father is a tennis freak, making Jay practice with C-line, as Jay calls her. On top of all of this, Jay learns that his mother is having an affair. Jay knows that to survive this year he must be the best that he can be.

This book showed a very interesting side to the world of teens, mostly because it was really close to a teenager's real life. It doesn't cover up the way kids go through school and even through life. I think that most kids would agree with me on this, just because they have probably gone through something like this. I liked how realistic this was, especially on the sensitive issue of bullying. This is a book for anyone.

The Cydonian Pyramid by Pete Hautman****

The Cydonian Pyramid is the second book in the Klaatu Diskos series. Tucker is back and is wandering around... the North Pole? He has jumped through the maggot and ended up in the North Pole. He has no idea why he is there until a sub emerges. He is taken on board and is questioned by the doctor. He tells his story in the girl's point of veiw, the girl who saves his life. Tucker tells the story of their exciting past, and maybe even their near future.

This book added a lot more drama to the storyline. I felt that it added on to the first book, with the extra details that couldn't be added before. Overall, it was a great book. I definitely reccomend this for anyone who needs a bit of adventure.

The Obsidian Blade by Pete Hautman****

Time travel. It is the focus of many science fiction books, but Pete Hautman's The Obsidian Blade interweaves religious faith, romance, and time travel into one thought-provoking story. The focus of the story is Tucker, a teenager whose father mysteriously disappears one day when he is repairing the roof. His dad, a reverend at the local church, returns shortly after his disappearancet with a mysterious girl. Eventually both Tucker's mom and dad go missing, and Tucker realizes that there are disks that allow him to time travel.  He enters into alternate realities trying to figure out what has happened to his parents.

This book was good, but seemed cliched at times, and I'm not sure how I feel about the religious undertones. Another complaint I have is that it doesn't really resolve anything at the end, setting up for the second book in the series. I'll be reading that tomorrow, so I will let you know how the story progresses.

Everything You Need to Survive the Apocalypse by Lucas Klauss***

Everything You Need to Survive the Apocalypse is about Phillip, who comes from an atheist family. When he trips and falls, hurting his ankle, he tries to hide from his cross-country coach. A girl finds him, and asks him to come to her church with her on Wednesdays. He has to hide this very important fact from his dad. He soon realizes that converting is very hard, and as he tries to learn the ways of Jesus Christ, everything becomes one big, jumbled up mess. Can Phillip learn the ways of God and live with the way he is?

This book explains a lot of the ways people convert others, or the struggles of someone converting religions. I think this is a good book for anyone converting, or anyone just looking for a soul-search. I think this book is definitely not for young teens--there are heavy references to drugs and other stuff in the book. If anyone is looking for a good book, this is it.

Unbreakable by Elizbeth Norris****

Have you ever wanted to visit other universes? In Unbreakable, Jannelle would do anything to get her boyfriend from another universe back. Even if it means breaking a ton of laws. Then Jannelle is told that Ben never made it back to his home universe because he is presumably involved in human-trafficking. She joins forces with Ben's best friend and an IA officer to bring down the trafficking ring and save Ben from the law.

This book was really good. It contained a lot of action, which I love. Anyone who loves series books will love these books. I didn't know that there was a first book in the series, so this is the second book in the series (sorry). I hope you love this series book--I know I did.

The Reluctant Assassin(WARP) by Eoin Colfer*****

Have you ever wanted to time travel? In The Reluctant Assassin Riley is the apprentice to Death himself, Albert Garrick. When Riley is about to prove his loyalty to Albert, the man he is about to kill wakes up. The man transports Riley forward in time with him. Riley tries to tell Chevie (a FBI trainee) that he is from 1898, but she just doesn't believe him. When Garrick goes through the teleporter, he merges with one of the scientists. Can Riley and Chevie survive Garrick, the streets of 1898 London, the gangs, and the thieves that patrol the streets--all at the same time?

This book was very weird. There were mutations after you go through the teleporter. I love how the author added the time travel because not many authors include this in their books. The stuff that comes out sometimes is really gross. If you love action and government-based novels, you will love this book. But again: not for the weak of stomach.

Z by Michael Thomas Ford****

Z is about Josh. It's after the zombie apocalypse and everybody is happy. Josh cannot stop playing the game that simulates the days when there were still "meatbags." When the best player in the world asks him to join their real squad, he can't resist. But what he doesn't know is that the games-master uses real zombies. While he is playing the game, his friend wants to know what he's doing. Josh can't tell him the truth. If he does, he could be killed, or worse: turned. He must race against the games-master to save his friends, and possibly the whole world.

This book was one of the better books I have read over the past couple of days. I love zombie books in the first place, but I think that the game was a great idea. Anybody looking for a great book to "turn" to should look here.

Overpowered by Mark H. Kruger*****

Overpowered is about Nica. She is a free spirit, always moving around the world with her mom. When her mom gets the option to move to Antarctica, Nica is super excited to move. Then her mom breaks the news that she's going back home. Nica is horrified that she has to move back home. But when she notices that there is a curfew in the town, she begins to get suspicious. Then she meets up with "Rebel Boy" after curfew, and it happens. The pulse. She has never felt anything like it. Jackson, AKA Rebel Boy, has to show her his amazing powers. Then her new friend, Oliver, can run at amazing speeds and jump almost thirty feet up. Nica must embark on her adventure with super-charged humans with amazing powers.

This book was one of my favorites, probably because of the fact that the author's a film-writer. This book had so much detail. I thought it was amazingly written. Anyone looking for a good read must read this book.

The Genius Wars by Catherine Jinks****

Cadel is back in The Genius Wars. He is living his normal life, or as normal as he can get. He still hangs out with Hamish, and is trying not to be like the boy Prosper has made him to be. When the police catch Prosper on camera, his adoptive father shows him the footage. Cadel realizes that Prosper's photo has been inserted in the video feed. When Sonja's wheelchair is hacked, Cadel must find out who is responsible for landing her in the hospital. Then a bus crashes into his house, putting his father in the hospital. Cadel embarks on his epic journey to find and destroy Prosper English.

These series books are amazing. They continue to keep me interested, even during the school scenes. With the ability to involve hacking, Catherine Jinks opens up a huge window for herself and Cadel. She can make almost anything happen in her books. These books are great for middle-schoolers.

Book o' the month October 2013

Choosing the best book for the month of October was such a hard decision for me to make--there were so many good books. So I've chosen two. The books I have chosen are Touching Spirit Bear and Into That Forest. These books were so good. They were both realistic fiction, and I'm surprised that I liked them better than some of the sci fi or fantasy books that I read (because those are usually my favorite genres). I would say these are for anyone. I love how they both connect to nature. If more authors wrote like this, I would probably read two books a day.

Leave your feedback, and let me know if there are other great books out there. Thanks.

Mojo by Tim Tharp***

Mojo is about Dylan, a boy who works on the news team for his school. When he jumps into a dumpster after being chased by thugs, he finds a dead body,and now he knows he's in trouble. The dead boy is Hector Maldonado, a semi-popular boy in Dylan's school. Then one of the girls in the North side of the town goes missing, and Dylan jumps on the chance for an amazing story. He finds a blue running shoe, the girl's shoe, and the police immediately think Dylan is the person who took Ashton. But he still thinks that he can find her captor. When the police find Ashton tied to a pipe with a black eye, she gives the police the name of a boy who really didn't have anything to do with her capture. This case leads Dylan and his friends through so many twists and turns that the outcome could almost kill them.

This book was good, but not great. I feel that some kids who like mysteries will love the book, while some would hate it. It's up to you to make the decision to read this book. Take this case, if you dare.

Genius Squad by Catherine Jinks****

In Genius Squad Cadel returns, back and better and than ever. He tries to stop being the evil genius that he once was. But he just can't shake his evil ways of life. When he decides to join the squad, he notices they are looking for his supposed late father's program. Then the worst thing happens: the man that is bent on using Cadel for his advantage escapes from jail. In the middle of the night Cadel is taken along with Sonja to be transported to Prosper's base. Will Cadel use that huge brain of his to save himself and his friends?

This book was very well written for a series book. I loved how Cadel started out in a foster house again, just like the first book. This story has the same aspect as many action/adventure books in a series, but this book keeps the setting in modern times. It just adds some more things that keep you guessing throughout the book. I thought this book was a very, very good book.

The House of Hades by Rick Riordan*****

It finally happened. A teacher took my book from me in class today. Was I reading during an activity or lecture? No, I had already finished my book for the day. But it turns out that my math teacher is a big Percy Jackson fan, and he reallly wanted to read my book. The House of Hades is about Percy Jackson and his gang. He and Annabeth are plunging straight into the Underworld, while Leo and Jason are struggling to even control their own ship. When Annabeth and Percy land in the river of misery, they just want to give up and die. But they manage to find the strength to start their journey into the depths of Hell. Meanwhile, Leo is being robbed by little dwarves, but since they only haves eyes for shiny stuff, Leo is a prime target (he's an engineer). They must seal the Doors of Death and defeat Gaea once and for all.

This book is so good! I have read all the books in this series, all of the Percy Jackson series, and all of the Kane Chronicles. I love Rick Riordan's books. I have always enjoyed these series. Nobody was expecting him to bring Percy back in the second book of this series, but I'm glad he did. I hope everyone else loves these books as well.

Evil Genius by Catherine Jinks*****

Evil Genius is about Cadel, the kid with the IQ higher than his teachers. He was always interested in hacking, but he almost never gets access to a computer without huge supervision. When he graduates high school at the age of thirteen, causing trouble along the way, he goes to the college that his father has made just for him. There he gets a huge computer system and does what he wants whenever he wants, so life is easy for him. He soon learns that life won't be easy all the time--not everything is handed to him on a silver plate.

This book was hilarious! It had humor at all the twists and turns. This book is for anyone looking for the best series (pretty much the best series ever). I recommend this for anyone in fourth or fifth grade because it is very appropriate, but I think older kids will enjoy it as well.

Darkwater by Catherine Fisher*

Darkwater is about Sarah, girl who has lived for over 100 years. Here family's pride has always gotten in the way. To save her father, she must repent. At only 16 years old, she made a deal with an evil being who has existed since the beginning of time. But there's a catch--she has to apologize to him for all of her family's prideful boasts (sometime in the next 100 years). When she starts her apologies, she meets a boy who almost makes her same mistake. He tries to make a deal with the evil being. Can she save Tom from making the same mistake she had made?

This book wasn't good, it wasn't good at all. The books that I've read over the past few days have horribly under-developed plots. At least this book was a super short read. The author needs to build upon Sarah's grandfather losing the house because that's what is interesting about this story. It was not a good read for me, but I hope it is for you.

The Comet's Curse by Dom Testa**

The Comet's Curse is about a group of kids living on Galahad, which is a huge spaceship. This is their home for the next five years. But when one of their shipmates finds a stowaway on the ship, everyone goes into panic mode. The person who built the ship finds out that one of his most trusted scientists is trying to destroy the ship. When the kids find this out, they, of course, try to stop him. This ends up to be a race against time to destroy or save the human race.

This book was okay. I wouldn't be rushing to the store or library to get the others in the series. I think it was a little under-developed compared to most other series books. I think this is for elementary school kids, just for the fact that it is totally appropriate and has a series to keep you interested for a while.

Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta**

Finnikin of the Rock is about Finnikin. He lives during the Middle Ages, and his kingdom has been destroyed. He is one of the few people who has escaped the walls of the kingdon when a new (imposter) ruler comes to power and closes the gates. Finnikin is traveling to find Evanjalin, the person who says she knows where his long lost friend is. He only wants to find his friend because his friend is the heir of the kingdom. When Finnikin is sent to jail by Evanjalin, he finds his father. They work together to escape the horrible working camp. They learn that Evanjalin was lying to them--the lost heir is dead. But when she reveals her huge secret, the whole world tilts on its axis.

This book was one of the worse fantasy books that I have read. I think that it just had to much bloodshed and death. This book was very rude overall, so no one under the age of 10 or 11 should read this. I hope you like this book more than me.

A Trick of the Light by Lois Metzger***

A Trick of the Light is about Mike. He is a good boy; he does everything he should. When his mom starts to sleep all the time, he starts to get fatter and fatter. He keeps getting annoyed by a girl who he has known till kindergarten starts to bother him about watching what he eats. The voice in his head tells him to listen to her. He starts to run for hours a day and rarely eats. He starts to become anorexic (or in other people's eyes he is). He is taken to a hospital where they make them eat 6 meals a day, but the voice in his head tells him not to lose his "perfect" body. Mike starts to gain control when his friends become friends again, and when he starts to eat like usual.

This book is an important message to most people. There are many people out there who just don't eat to lose weight, which is very bad for your body. Male anorexia is not as talked about as female anorexia. I'm glad Lois Metzger tacked this issue in a very interesting book.  This is a book for high-schoolers.

Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikealsen*****

Touching Spirit Bear is about Cole. All he has ever known is anger. But when he breaks into a hardware store and brags about it, a boy from school rats him out. Things get ugly. Cole starts to beat Peter up to exact his revenge. Peter tries to run away, but trips and falls, which makes Cole start to rub Peter's head against the sidewalk, sort of like a human sander. Cole is taken to juvie and is given a second chance by Circle Justice, a program that teaches you "love" and "caring." Peter thinks as soon as they come up with a punishment, he can escape. But when he is pummeled by the wind, beaten by a bear, and almost crushed by a tree, he knows that it is over. The Circle Justice group gives Cole another chance. By his own means, Cole must figure out how to control his temper and change his ways.

This book was amazing. There are no other words to describe this book. It ties nature in to a "humane" setting. They dump Cole on an island, a totally abandoned island, which was funny because he thought he could escape. I love this book and it sets a good example (not the beating up kids or breaking into stores). I  think we could all learn something from this book. It is definitely appropriate for middle school kids, but high school students would love it too
.

Freewill by Chris Lynch*

Freewill is about Will, a messed-up sort of kid that death follows around. He has always wanted to be a pilot, but has to work in a wood shop. He is one of the best wood-workers, and all the projects go to the school. They also can be sold, but Will never gets to keep them. When teen suicide starts to kick up, Will knows it's him. His father had death following him around, so why doesn't Will? Will must figure out his life and learn how to live the way he does.

This book is really depressing. I had such a hard time going through this book. It had a weird way of saying "you" because it put the story in your point of view. I really don't have anything good to say about this book. I wouldn't recommend this for anyone.

Into That Forest by Louis Nowra*****

Into That Forest is about Hannah, a girl who lives in a whaling community. When her "friend" Becky visits, her parents decide to take a boat ride. When their boat capsizes, her parents drown. She and Becky are saved by a Tasmanian tiger, and they decide to follow the tiger into the forest to survive. Hannah easily adapts to the ways of the tiger and becomes more like them than human. When she and Becky are taken in by her friend's dad, he kills the daddy tiger by using the girls as "bait." This makes them go into a rage, lashing out and biting everyone they can get their teeth on. Hannah must make the best of her situation and learn the ways of the pack, both tiger and human.

This book has so many emotions. First, she is disbelieving that the boat crashed. Then she just wants to be part of the pack. Finally, her best friend does more than Hannah thought possible. Hannah just wishes that nobody had found her, and that her life could return to the way of the tiger. This book really is a book for everyone--eventually. There are some references to inappopriate behavior. But it is really one of the best books I've ever read. I know you will love it too.

Freaks Like Us by Susan Vaught*****

Freaks Like Us is about Jason, a boy in a messed up life. He is an "alphabet", a kid with a mental disorder. He knows this, and has his little group of alphabets. When his mute friend, Sunshine, disappears, Jason knows he has to find her. But when the FBI thinks that he killed/abducted Sunshine, he tries to hold his own search. When Jason finds her locket in one of their special spots, everybody thinks he took her. Can he find Sunshine? Can he prove he's innocent? And can he escape being an alphabet?

I think this story brings out the best or the worst in people. There are a lot of bullies that would beat up Jason and Drip (his other friend). It also shows how much Jason cares for Sunshine, and that he would do anything for her. I think this book should be read by anyone looking for a book full of emotion.

The Isle of Blood by Rick Yancey****

The Isle of Blood is the third book in the Monstrumologist series. Will is back with Dr. Warthrop, and they are looking for the "holy grail" (as described in the book) of all monsters. But when another apprentice shows up saying that he has applied to be Dr.Warthrop's apprentice, Will gets mad. Will immediately sniffs out a rat, and is worried for the doctor's safety. Will goes to rescue the doctor, but is wrapped up in an adventure of blood, gore, and all general monstumology.

This book is a huge read, it took me the whole day. This book has an adventure feel to it which I love. I loved the whole series, and I read them page to page. If you're ready to commit to a huge series, then you might want to try this series: warning, this book contains many graphics scenes. This book is not for kids under the age of 10. I think this book is a good read overall.

H.I.V.E Escape Velocity by Mark Walden***

H.I.V.E Escape Velocity is the third book in the H.I.V.E series (sorry I missed it before!). Otto is back again with Wing, Shelby, and Laura. When their headmaster, Dr. Nero, is kidnapped, the school goes into total lockdown. Otto has a plan to get out of the school to rescue Nero, but his room is gassed, making it impossible to think. They are being taken to the substitute headmistress, but Raven decides to show up and crash the party. She escapes with Otto and his friends to the Megalodon, which is a super high-tech submarine. They must rescue Nero and stop Number One's diabolical plan. And now, the adventure begins...

This book is a big gap-filler because I accidentally read the other books before this one. I think this book, if read with the rest of the series, would be an amazing book. But I had to be dumb and made this book really boring for myself by not reading it before. This is an excellent series--I highly recommend it.

Paradise Lost by Steven Layne*****

Paradise Lost is about Jack, a boy has been to Hell and back in his first adventure. He is now living a normal life, but when his brother calls him about an arch-rival, everything changes. Jack's girlfriend, Jori, is being stalked, his brother starts behaving weirdly, and his grandmother is poisoned. He gets a video of his brother being beaten, and then Jack knows he must do something. He decides to bring his arch-rival, Mr. Eden, down to his level. Jack must save his brother, his girlfriend, and most importantly, the world.

This book is really funny. The grandmother watches the shopping channel, and has a ton of awesome gadgets from the orders that she places. This book is a gut-buster that will make you want to never put it down. There is a first book to this series, but I seemed to have missed it. It certainly didn't stop me from enjoying this book though.

Boy Nobody by Allen Zadoff****

Boy Nobody is about "Ben", a boy who has multiple identities, multiple kills, and multiple enemies. When he is assigned to kill the mayor of New York, the mayor's daughter causes complications at the highest degree. He needs to get close to the mayor, so he decides to get close to the mayor's daughter. But the relationship is more than he expected. The mayor decides to help Ben, and everything goes wrong. Ben finds it difficult to kill the mayor because he cannot hurt the mayor's daughter. Will he fulfill his assignment? Can he listen to his instructions? Will he be true to himself?

This book is an action-adventure novel, made for the rough-and-tough kids who love all the spy and agent stuff. I think this book shows that everyone has feelings, nobody is a rock. Nobody can have a void where their feelings are. It constantly mentions that "Ben" has no feelings (or he has a void of feelings), but he realizes near the end that he really does have feelings. I think that this is a book for high schoolers. It has some inappropriate scenes that make it questionable for a middle school audience.

The Curse of the Wendigo by Rick Yancey****

The Curse of the Wendigo is the second book in the Monstrumologist series. Will is adventuring in the wilderness with the doctor to find his friend, Jack Chanler. They soon realize what has happened to him during the time he spent lost in the Canadian wilderness: Jack has changed from a human to a monster. Jack manages to escape the hospital and goes on rampage. He starts killing people in the city to suffice his hunger. But the more people he kills, the more he starves.

This book shows the horrors of fantasy that would torment our minds if they were real. We are lucky there are not beings like this, now or ever. Read this book if you are looking for a great Halloween thrill. Or are you too scared?

The Progarm by Suzanne Young*****

The Program is about Sloane, a girl who lives during a suicide epidemic. She has to be an emotionless being so she is not selected to be in the Program, which erases your memory to "help" you. Sloane is always trying to protect herself and her boyfriend, James, who always says he will protect her from the Program. But when their friend commits suicide, their lives fall apart. First James is taken, then Sloane is taken. She fights her way through the system to remember her memories to save her world. Can she break the system?

This book gives a lot of reasons not to take your life. This just raises everyone's guard (everybody is more alert and in your business) and causes a lot of problems. I think I would rather not like to live in a world like this. It would be depressing; sort of like what the Program looks for. I would recommend this book for high-schoolers. You have to read this book to understand it.

The Last of the High Kings by Kate Thompson

The Last of the High Kings is about J.J and his family. His daughter, Jenny, cannot listen for the world. J.J is constantly trying to wrangle her in. When Jenny is up at an excavation pit, she starts to talk to a ghost and a p'uka (a shape-shifter). Everyone treats her like she's crazy, but J.J knows what she's talking about. He knows she means things from other worlds, like fairies. Will he be able to help Jenny, can he solve the endless riddle, and most of all, can he stop the two worlds from colliding?

This book wasn't very good. It was like it's prequel, The New Policeman (that's in another review). I thought that she definitely could have added more detail to these books. I think most people will find this book hard to get through. I would say this is for all ages.