This book was good, but half of me wishes that she would have left all the boys behind and just been a strong bold woman on her own. However I always...moreThis book was good, but half of me wishes that she would have left all the boys behind and just been a strong bold woman on her own. However I always kind of wish that.(less)
I loved the journal entry style of this book, it's such an engaging format. Also I really enjoyed the setting a stylized version of Mongolia, very coo...moreI loved the journal entry style of this book, it's such an engaging format. Also I really enjoyed the setting a stylized version of Mongolia, very cool.(less)
This is a very nice YA series. I like them now and I would have loved them when I was 13. It's hard not to notice a bias towards sewing in her books,...moreThis is a very nice YA series. I like them now and I would have loved them when I was 13. It's hard not to notice a bias towards sewing in her books, but I think it's charming. Yet another Utah author that I like.(less)
I found this book in a search for more living Utah authors that I might like. Not quite my favorite thing I've ever read, but good enough for me to tr...moreI found this book in a search for more living Utah authors that I might like. Not quite my favorite thing I've ever read, but good enough for me to track down one more book by Harrison. The writing was good for the book, I just don't think sisterhood is a fascinating enough base for plot. (less)
This is a serious minded YA book from a Utah author. The town in California where the story is set seems very real, I could almost feel the fog. Even...moreThis is a serious minded YA book from a Utah author. The town in California where the story is set seems very real, I could almost feel the fog. Even though the book is pretty dark, deals with the effects on a girl's life of an early bad decision, at the end there is finally some hope.(less)
This is another in my attempt get my hands on something from all Utah authors. Charlotte's Rose is the story of a 13 year old handcart pioneer from Wa...moreThis is another in my attempt get my hands on something from all Utah authors. Charlotte's Rose is the story of a 13 year old handcart pioneer from Wales. It's historical fiction with the main events of the storyline being real. I really liked the storyline, it was deep, moving, and compelling. I was disappointed with the main character I thought she was a little shallow, more a picture of a teenager then an actual teenager. Still good, I will probably read something else she has written.(less)
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. This is the second book by Ann Cannon that I have read and it is by far my favorite. The story is a modern da...moreI was pleasantly surprised by this book. This is the second book by Ann Cannon that I have read and it is by far my favorite. The story is a modern day teenage retelling of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" without any fairies. The story follows four different teenagers over two weeks of time; it is fun, witty, and endearing. "Charlotte's Rose" the other Cannon book I have read was disappointing in the characters which I thought never felt like real people, in "The Loser's Guide..." the characters were all believable and charming in very different ways. I'm glad I own this book.(less)
This was an ok book and the second I have read from this author, the first book I read was "Mirra Mirror" and in that book I felt like the author miss...moreThis was an ok book and the second I have read from this author, the first book I read was "Mirra Mirror" and in that book I felt like the author missed the point, but I thought it was the storyline. This book had a different storyline and the author still missed the point. I guess she and I just do not line up in what we look for in a story. Decent read, glad I read it for educational purposes.(less)
Fantastic! It's hard to imagine a book I would like more. I love that is is a graphic novel because it has tons of funny pictures that really do add t...moreFantastic! It's hard to imagine a book I would like more. I love that is is a graphic novel because it has tons of funny pictures that really do add to the story. I have always hated the Rapunzel story since it is so ludicrous and this is a much needed update. I am already a big fan of Shannon Hale and I think adding Dean Hale makes things funnier, which is always a plus. I think everyone should read this 1 because it is great and 2 because it is short, on account of the pictures.(less)
This is another mid-grade boy centered mystery-esque fantasy novel joining the genre of Fablehaven and Harry Potter. I'm not saying that this is as go...moreThis is another mid-grade boy centered mystery-esque fantasy novel joining the genre of Fablehaven and Harry Potter. I'm not saying that this is as good as the Harry Potter series (Fablehaven probably is, however) it's just that it's like that, take an ordinary kid in regular life and than they become part of a hidden magic sub-world that they have to save. I like this genre of novels because they usually have very intricate and exciting plots without getting bogged down in teenager melodrama or "adult content." This book is actually very good, The main boy and his dad are very real and likable, the other characters are not very deep yet, but I hope that will develop as the series goes on. This novel is very much a first, so much that the main character is on the outside of the sub-world for the bulk of the writing so the audience is not quite fully immersed in the story, but I still couldn't put it down.(less)
This is a great re-telling of the 12 dancing princesses with true love, mystery, knitting, and a really good bad guy. I already like Jessica Day Georg...moreThis is a great re-telling of the 12 dancing princesses with true love, mystery, knitting, and a really good bad guy. I already like Jessica Day George and my favorite novel of hers has been "Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow," but I think this book is my new favorite. Ordinarily I have a hard time with 12 dancing princess stories because it is hard to keep track of that many characters that are very similar by nature, all pretty girls, princesses, etc., but this story does a very good job of giving every girl at least some definable traits. The other problem with this story in general is that how do you get all 12 girls of a marriageable age at the same time, George doesn't even pretend that they are the same age or a weird collection of twins, the youngest girl really is six years old and that makes this story different in a charming way that also adds to the heartbreaking nature of their curse. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I also was able to go to a book signing when I got it so I was able to hear George talk about her book. She said she wrote her bad guy to be like David Bowie from "Labyrinth" so it was fun to read the book knowing what she was thinking of, also she had a "black wool chain" like the hero does in the book and that was the original title of the book.(less)
I was so right, this was even better than his first book The Journal of Curious Letters. I find I really appreciate the mid grade fantasy books based...moreI was so right, this was even better than his first book The Journal of Curious Letters. I find I really appreciate the mid grade fantasy books based mostly in reality where the kids figure out mysteries and bravely fight in adult battles that span over a series of books. I discovered this with Harry Potter J.K. Rowling and it wasn't a single phenomenon, I like the Fablehaven series Brandon Mull and now the 13th reality series James Dashner is following in that same vein. This is all super exciting because I can only re-read Harry Potter so many times. Dashner definitely has his own spin on things and these books are more science-y. Also I like that he makes peoples parents big supports in their lives.
In this volume, the main kids go on another adventure following clues while a plague of insanity starts taking over the realities. The threat was real and compelling, the villains developed layers, and schemes, and the heroes were flawed, human, and altruistic. All the things that you want in a book. This book had a great climax, but there were plenty of hints and starts left hanging, it will be exciting to see how the ends get wound into future books. I like the tight storytelling of young adult books and this is an excellent example of that, the only thing left is fitting all the pieces of the puzzle together and in this book we got a lot of pieces to weave into a larger story.(less)
I thought this book was about as good as it could be. I noticed in my other reviews of this series I have not said much. To give an overview this is a...moreI thought this book was about as good as it could be. I noticed in my other reviews of this series I have not said much. To give an overview this is a series about a sister and brother, Kendra and Seth, who find a hidden world of magical beings watched over in preserves like the one their grandparents are in charge of. There are all kinds of dark forces coming after the kids and they develop special qualities to help them fight the new challenges. Brandon Mull has a great way of mentioning clues and important information once and bringing everything together at the end. It is just enough that the reader might have guessed what is going to happen, but usually doesn't. This particular book in the series was really great, a lot of action even in the icky middles. Quite a few twists, some I expected, and some that were surprising. It was very much a penultimate book with an ending that was a climax, but a denouement that was a cliffhanger. (less)
I laughed, then I cried until the mascara ran into my eyes and stung, then I was happy. I especially liked the "summer is the season of Becky" bit. Th...moreI laughed, then I cried until the mascara ran into my eyes and stung, then I was happy. I especially liked the "summer is the season of Becky" bit. That is all I find I can say.(less)
Yay! Another great young adult fiction from Utah! I have to say that this book has had the most amazing marketing campaign ever. After reading it I fe...moreYay! Another great young adult fiction from Utah! I have to say that this book has had the most amazing marketing campaign ever. After reading it I felt like it deserved that much promotion, but then I feel that about a lot of other books as well. Does it deserve to be made into a movie starring Miley Cyrus? That, I don't know...(less)
I thought this was really decently written. After reading another series of culinary mysteries, this is my favorite for pacing, excitement, and a lika...moreI thought this was really decently written. After reading another series of culinary mysteries, this is my favorite for pacing, excitement, and a likable protagonist. There were a few recipes that look good, but I haven't tried any yet. I think this book is worth reading even without the recipes. It's the beginning of a series and I will read the next book, but I'm a little worried that she used up all of her good and believable connections in this book. I just have to wait to find out...(less)
I love Shannon Hale books and this is no exception. It's not quite my favorite as much as Goose Girl but still quite good. The characters are strong,...moreI love Shannon Hale books and this is no exception. It's not quite my favorite as much as Goose Girl but still quite good. The characters are strong, the villain is excellent, exciting story line. I did miss a good love story, but... oh well.(less)
I like everything by Jessica Day George and this book was no exception. I especially liked it as a sequel to a 12 Dancing Princesses story, because I...moreI like everything by Jessica Day George and this book was no exception. I especially liked it as a sequel to a 12 Dancing Princesses story, because I have always wondered, what would you actually do with 12 princesses? Are there 12 princes to be found for such girls, even after the first round of princes trying to save the girls got killed? These are questions I remember my 10 year self wondering about, so it was fun to find a book that had an answer. And this book is an inventive Cinderella story to boot, lots of fun. That said, I thought the bad guy was a little bit fiercer, scarier, and well developed in Princess of the Midnight Ball so that is the one place this book didn't quite hold my rapt attention.(less)
I thought this book was well done. Everything was written very sterile at first which was good and bad. Good because it was full immersion in the new...moreI thought this book was well done. Everything was written very sterile at first which was good and bad. Good because it was full immersion in the new world that lacked choices, bad because it was a dry read. However it did get better as the main character,Cassia, tried to do her own thing. I thought the whole predicted choices thing was very creepy and now I must read the next book to see if Cassia really does anything unexpected.(less)
Loading...
