I recently read The Lions of Little Rock and I really liked it. I thought that the book was very intellegent, fun, and peaceful. I will definently rec...moreI recently read The Lions of Little Rock and I really liked it. I thought that the book was very intellegent, fun, and peaceful. I will definently reccomend this book to a friend becuase I feel like we can all learn from it. (less)
From Bad to Cursed is the sequel to the first book in the Bad Girls Don't Die series, Bad Girls Don't Die. Alexis' younger siste...moreReviewed by BF, age 12
From Bad to Cursed is the sequel to the first book in the Bad Girls Don't Die series, Bad Girls Don't Die. Alexis' younger sister, Kasey. has returned home from a mental hospital after being possessed by a pugnacious and grudge-holding ghost who wreaked havoc on Alexis' town. Now, she tries to give Kasey a second chance and is ecstatic when she joins the Sunshine Club, where she is able to socialize with other girls who do not hold her unfortunate past against her. It is later on, though, that Alexis realizes that the girls in the club have pledged an oath to a benevolent ghost named Aralt. Trying to make sure that history doesn't repeat itself and that Kasey is not harmed by Aralt in ant way, Alexis and her best friend Megan join the Sunshine Club. The thing is, once they have joined, they cannot remember why they would want to hurt Aralt in the first place and slowly start to slip into his grasp.
The story started up well, but certain parts were dragged out longer then they should have been. The important scenes towards the end were too fast-paced, and the lesser scenes went at a slower-pace and even seemed to take up an entire chapter. I felt like the author should have made the first book a stand-alone book rather than a series, because to me, From Bad to Cursed was too confusing and the characters seemed to lose their touch. The same feeling of suspense from the first book wasn't there, and some scenes felt like they were repeats of others earlier on in the book. I would not recommend this book to someone.(less)
In the near future, humanity is on the verge of extinction. The youngest citizens, age fifteen, will be the only human beings left until they finally...more In the near future, humanity is on the verge of extinction. The youngest citizens, age fifteen, will be the only human beings left until they finally die. A deadly virus reared its ugly head years earlier, resulting in the mankind loosing its ability to reproduce. Unless something is done, the Earth could become a barren wasteland. Humanity's only hope is cloning. However, due to several grotesque outcomes, cloning human beings is forbidden. The world is just a clock, ticking and ticking, counting every last second each individual has before he or she dies. The youngest generation is aware of their impending doom. It worries them, yet they make the most of their lives. Mia is an artsy young woman who enjoys volunteering with the elderly. Her favorite person is a mysterious old woman who suffers from Alzheimer's. Xian is a computer genius who can build virtually any type of robot. Her best friend and "pet" is a cute robotic kitten. Jesse, the son of a brilliant scientist, is a fan of cloning. He spends most of his time learning how to properly clone animals and create new species. On a hunt for spare mechanical parts, Xian stumbles upon a tunnel system covered in cryptic markings. Of course, she wants her two friends to help her explore it. Eventually, they join her. Xian, Mia, and Jesse travel through the tunnels and discover an old laboratory, and unravel the mystery of a young girl who went missing several years ago. The future could depend on their journey. However, like most attempts at preserving humanity, it may have been in vain. Either way, they could at least say they were not waiting to die. The Never Weres is a brilliant tale about a world nearing the end. Personally, when I first saw it in the library, I thought it was going to be another graphic novel where the reader shoves his or her opinion down the reader's throat. In other words, I thought it was going to be a giant metaphor for "use my idea to save the world or die." I was wrong. The book was a genuine, thrilling adventure. I have not read such a compelling graphic novel since American Born Chinese. The story is engaging. I love how Ms. Smyth portrays each individual character. Several times I felt like sympathizing with even the most stubborn of characters. After all, It is the end of the world. Knowing that it is only a matter of time before humanity dies would make anyone stressed. My only complaint about the story is that I wish it gave more information about the mysterious virus plaguing earth. Also, certain parts of the plot were too convenient. Those parts took away from the book's charm. The art, however, is too simplistic. It is cute, but I would have appreciated the story more if the characters did not look so abstract. Also, I felt like there was too much going on in the panels. Sometimes, Ms. Smyth used too many ways to show a character's emotion. If a character is proud, she should look it without the aid of millions of grinning faces around her. In a day and age where everything feels like it came out of a Shounen Jump magazine, it is nice to read a different type of story. The Never Weres is a great read for fans of sci-fi and dystopia novels. Despite how serious the events of the book are, it might suit kids in middle school rather than those in high school. It is not a waste of time, and is worth a glance.(less)
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