Publisher: Harper Collins Age: Young Adult Species: human/ human-psychic Rating: 4/5 Interest: Body Finder/ Teen romanc...moreThe Body Finder by Kimberly Derting
Publisher: Harper Collins Age: Young Adult Species: human/ human-psychic Rating: 4/5 Interest: Body Finder/ Teen romance/ 200 in 2011
This book was amazingly sweet and heart-warming. Which come to think of it, is a really strange thing to say about a novel which features a serial killer and psychic teen. The Body Finder focuses more on Violet living a normal life in spite of her ability to locate serial killers and their victims. Honestly, there's more of Violet and Jay hanging out at school and her house than there's talk of corpses. If I had to put it into words... The Body Finder is like a cross between a Sarah Dessen love story and an episode of Ghost Whisperer. It sounds odd, but really it makes this awesomely funny, sweet and a touch creepy book that I loved.
A really odd part of this book is there are little chapters or "glimpses" written in the point of view of the murderer. It becomes really strange to see how he views luring and kidnapping girls, how normal, thrilling it is for him. The really scary thing was, he acted so normal, that if I couldn't see into his head, I might not have pegged him as the killer. (Maybe not entirely true, there's always this "you are not right" feeling I get when reading killers. I'm guessing this is a good skill I'll be able to use in the real world. Creeper-radar is always good right? )
Speaking of types of radar, Violet's body sensing powers were kind of cool. I mean I wouldn't want to have the power to sense dead bodies by any means. However, it was interesting to see what kind of echos the dead left on the world and the killers. Like the over powering taste of warm garlic, the sounds of bells tinkling like a cell phone, a buzzing sound like a swarm of bees, they're all different and unique.
My goodness, Jay and Violet were so awesome! I loved them. Violet was strong-willed and independent, but she could cry and be a little vulnerable at times. (Not in that prissy, feel-so-sorry-for-poor-little-me way.) Jay was a stand-up man, protecting Violet, being the sweetest boy and friend a girl could ever ask for. SPOILER: Oh my god! I loved their scorching hot make-out sessions! They need to do more of that in the next book! END SPOILER.
All in all this was an amazing book that I would recommend to all "paranormal teen" readers. It has just the right balance of cute, funny, loving scenes and spine tickling mystery. I can't wait to read the next book in the series, Desires of the Dead which will be releasing sometime this year. Pick up this book, it's freaking awesome!
Teaser Lines: "And then he kissed her. Gently. Softly. Not on the lips, as she'd imagined so many times before, but on her forehead. The gesture was sweet and a little possessive. Violet hoped, maybe, it was a start."
Series Order: 1. The Body Finder 2. Desires of the Dead (Releasing February 15th 2011 in the U.S.)
Publisher: Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers (1967) Age: Children 9+ Species: Human Rating: 4/5 Interest: The...moreThe Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley
Publisher: Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers (1967) Age: Children 9+ Species: Human Rating: 4/5 Interest: The Banned Reads Project/ 200 in 2011
I was actually surprised with how much I enjoyed this book. Since it's for very young readers, I wasn't expecting to like it or be able to relate to it. Not to mention the fact that the book was first published in 1967 about 24 years before I was even born.
I probably couldn't have been more wrong. The Egypt Game is actually pretty adult for the audience it's aimed for. There's murder, recreated Egyptian ceremonies and even attempted kidnapping. All of these subjects are dealt with in a "childish" manner but are told through an omnipotent and older narrator. It makes for an interesting contrast at times, but I think I would have enjoyed the book more if the kids were actually telling the stories themselves.
The only things I had a problem with were a description of "mummifying" a dead bird and the subject of child death. The bird scene wasn't especially graphic. It's simply the thought of children handling a dead, rotting bird and doing things to it which makes me squirm a little inside. A child's death in a book is not something I want to read about, but if I have to, I prefer it to have meaning. The child killed in The Egypt Game really had no purpose to me in the end which frustrated me.
Overall The Egypt Game was a fun, imaginative book that I feel a lot of kids would love. But I would suggest waiting until kids are the right age to let them read it though.
It's a pretty good book on writing, though I find a good portion of it is more about King's life than his writing habits. It is pretty funny and inter...moreIt's a pretty good book on writing, though I find a good portion of it is more about King's life than his writing habits. It is pretty funny and interesting, but would only recommend for those who need "fine tuning" in writing, not learning how to create a novel. (less)
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