Pumpkin Scissors: Volume 1 by Ryotaro Iwanaga

This story focuses on a young and still idealistic noblewoman who leads the Pumpkin Scissors group on their missions and a scarred veteran who joins them in order to try and do some good in a far different capacity than his wartime job as a berserker-like Anti-Tank Trooper.
The first line of this book is "There is no war, but peace has not yet graced the land... This story is about the stage in between..." I found that a fascinating idea, as few books and even fewer comics deal with this messy situation.
It manages to be very serious and even grim, but not get bogged down into depressing, angsty melodrama. The unpleasant situation the country is in is something the characters don't waste more than a comment or two complaining about, instead they are doing what they can to help without expecting much in return except that people will be better off because of it.

The art is a definite strong point as well, it's heavy and varied yet graceful and smooth line art with solidly drawn, substantial characters give it a weight and depth that I find rare in shōnen series. It's almost more seinen in that aspect. The amount of screen tone is very balanced, not too heavy and crowded as in many mangas with an action element, and so are the speedlines and crosshatching. The character designs stand out without resorting to ridiculous and unrealistic additions tacked onto a bland base. The panel layout makes for a nearly effortless, smooth read, with excellent visual pacing to show you where to stop and pay more attention or glide through fast-paced fight sequences. It's very easy to just keep turning pages.

A few spots in the translation seemed a touch rough grammatically and sounded a little off, although I had trouble figuring out exactly why in some cases. I think this is not uncommon for translated stories, as the arrangement and structure of each language is different and they don't always easily match up.

I admit that at the end of this book I still didn't know why the group calls themselves "Pumpkin Scissors" which bothered me a bit. Perhaps I missed it or it isn't explained until a later volume. There were also a few spots where I had to turn back a couple pages and re-read to make sure I didn't miss something because of an overly fast transition from place to place.

All in all, I highly enjoyed this and will keep an eye out for more. I may also have to try the anime, I know FUNimation streams at least some of it online at their website. However a look at screencaps from the show seems to indicate very typical, normalized, CGI artwork without the same weight of the comic, which is a touch off-putting. It doesn't have the same distinctiveness and looks the same as a hundred other series.

5 Stars
 
Emme

Chi's Sweet Home: Volume 2 by Kanata Konami

This is a simple tale without complicated plot twists resulting in long, tricky explanations. It is about a little kitten and her family. It follows her day-to-day dramas, including the ones around a large, pushy black cat from around the neighborhood.

The art is too cute and perfect for expressing the dramatics of feline emotions. There were times (like during Chi's tantrum about having her food eaten by another cat or her excitement over the "muilk") that I was laughing out loud simply over the perfectness of the artwork. There were several panels that if someone printed them up poster-sized I would have an really hard time not buying. Definitely a book filled with "awww" moments and a few that will tug the heartstrings of cat-lovers. Those familiar with manga may be surprised to notice that it is in color rather than the more common black-and-white.
I haven't a single complaint about this book other than it makes me want more!

5 Stars
Emme

Fix by Leslie Margolis

Cameron's life was changed by her nose job. She went from being teased and tormented to being a popular girl with a cute boyfriend at her new school. She is happy at last. But when her little sister Allie is scheduled by their parents for the same surgery, Cameron starts to look at herself again with criticism. Why settle for "pretty" when when "gorgeous" is an option with just a little more body work?

This was an interesting tale of two sisters and their ideas of modifying themselves. It also had some interesting and thought-provoking info about people's perception of plastic surgery. It is wrapped up in a cute, teen chick-lit-sounding cover description and story beginning which I imagine drags in readers who might not pick up a more serious seeming book about the same subject.

It was very well written considering it was the author's first book and that some of the characters are rather shallow people. This isn't the same as the author not creating proper 3-D characters, instead it is a case of the author skillfully showing that some people are just interested in things we consider shallow in our society, yet encourage young people to obsess over.

An enjoyable read, and one I would recommend to many people who like a quick read mixed with some hefty subject matter.

Emme
4 Stars

The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards

When Dr. David Henry's wife gave birth his son was perfect. His daughter had Down syndrome. He tells himself that the best thing for her is to send her with a nurse to a facility for the mentally ill and inform his wife that their daughter died in birth. Caroline, the nurse, can't bear to do it and she disappears, taking the infant with her. Each family attempts to go on with their lives, but they are secretly bound to each other.

This was a gripping story, and difficult to put down once you start reading. However, I didn't find it as inspiring or wondrous as some reviewers apparently did. I was rather appalled by how weak most of these characters were. They seemed all to willing to simply throw their hands up and flush their life down the toilet. I was frustrated by this, and rather angered. I know I am more stubborn than most folks, but I still found it unbelievable that all these people just sat back, got a drink, and watched things fall apart. Then they had the nerve to whine about how hard everything was and how unfair, which mostly all worked out happily in the end. Shouldn't a family try to help one another through these incidents rather than sticking their heads in the sand and saying "It will go away. Just wait a little longer."? How often does that work?

My problem wasn't as much the decision to send away the little girl, I know that was common in the time period this was set in, but with the inability of these characters to do anything for each other rather than themselves. (Even Caroline has some selfish reasons for keeping the little girl, although hers bothered me the least.)

The writing is solid and the characters are varied. I did feel sometimes that the author was trying too hard to write something that could be called "literature" rather than mere "fiction." It felt a little forced and lofty sometimes, while the actual language and sentence structure weren't always strong enough to support all of what the author dumped on it.  Despite it's flaws, I enjoyed this book. I thought it did a good job of showing that things we consider completely unacceptable (giving away a child) isn't necessarily an act of evil.

Emme
3 Stars

Descendants of Darkness. Vol. 1, Yami no matsuei

For the employees of the Summons Department in the Ministry of Hades, dealing with death is an everyday job. When someone who is suppose to die doesn't, it is their job to find out what went wrong and sort it out. Asato Tsuzuki seems like a slacking, careless guy to his new partner, Asuka, but as they start investigating a few odd cases he discovers that there is more to him than meets the eye.


Although certainly entertaining, this manga has nothing that really stood out in the first book. Each chapter felt isolated, there was not even a hinted plot arc, which leaves me wondering what the rest of the series could consist of. Is it all just a "case of the week" approach? That is the feeling I get, and the characters simply aren't strong enough to hold my interest for more of this. I did think the translation was excellent, there was only spot that seemed drastically "off" in terms of grammar and word use.

The art is basic, standard imported manga. The character designs and style decisions are pretty much the same as a hundred other horror/mystery stories. There is no real sense of the author having her own flair, the whole story seemed formulaic. The panel layout is clear and simple, but rather uninteresting.

This is an entertaining read if you have a little time to waste, but don't go in expecting a masterpiece.

3 Stars
Emme

Kitty Goes to Washington

As the first known celebrity werewolf, Kitty's life has been a little nutty. It just gets worse when the US Senate decides to take the recent uncovering of the supernatural seriously and sets up a hearing where they want her to testify. Kitty has always made it a point to stay a radio host and not let her picture go public, but she will be appearing on national TV. When she shows up in D.C. the vampire mistress of the city makes Kitty stay with her. Kitty is initially uncomfortable with the arrangement, but a place protected by vampiric security turns out to be rather handy; as the rest of the time she is dodging crazy tabloid reporters and trying to avoid getting into trouble with the conservatives who want to start a modern witch-hunt aimed at the supernatural community.

I am not usually a fan of modern paranormal fiction, but I am very fond of this series. Kitty is a great character and actually develops throughout the series, which is rare in this genre. The witty, often sarcastic voice the author writes Kitty in makes for a fun read. I also enjoy many of the supporting characters, and those that reoccur experience the same character growth as the main character. I have read and re-read this a lot of times, and it still makes me laugh.

As a side note, I find it impossible to read Alette's character and not picture Olivia Williams as her. Alette's brisk, no-nonsense attitude paired with a serious, elegant air reminds me of Williams very much.

4 Stars

Emme

Serenity: Those Left Behind

In a harshly regulated future universe first pictured in the TV show Firefly, there are always a few rebels. One run-down little transport ship named Serenity has a crew comprised of mercenaries, thieves, fugitives and an elegant prostitute who is the only one who makes her living legally. This is the group readers follow on heists and general trouble-making. This comic helps to explain a few of the loose ends that come with a canceled TV show, while throwing a few more mysteries at its fans.


I love Firefly. I tend to curse in accented Mandarin, spontaneously re-enact or recite scenes with friends and family, and sometimes drawl Broad Browncoat so badly that I have been asked if I come from down south because it is the closest real dialect to the slang featured in the show. I mention these facts because it means I am a very biased reviewer when I say that this is an excellent comic.

I have been very disappointed by most comics that are based on a TV show. The mediums are very different and the "feel" of the show is almost always lost. Not so in this case, this still feels like the 'Verse fans know and (obsessively) love. There are some things lost; readers will find a lack of striking scenery, gritty "wild west" styling seems to mostly be abandoned in favor of a harder sci-fi story and the comic layout feels rushed and crammed, even a touch claustrophobic. The art is some of the highest quality I have seen in American comics, from the expressive, yet technically solid line art to the well-balanced colorization. Characters are instantly recognizable and the dialogue is spot-on.

This is definitely a book no Browncoat should pass up.

5 Stars

Emme

Beloved

Sethe escaped slavery, but it left heavy scars on her body and mind. All the evils that she thought she had put from her mind come back with the arrival of a man from her past and the sudden appearance of a young woman named Beloved. Sethe struggles to figure out what to do with herself and those around her, without succumbing to the madness she has experienced before.

This book felt very fragmented and scattered, perhaps this is an attempt to show Sethe's confused state of mind, but it makes it hard for the reader to follow what is going on. The characters felt inconsistent and I was often confused by what the relationships were between them. The writing is solid, if occasionally sliding t'wards purple prose.

I admire what the author was trying to do, and she wrote something that is very powerful at points, but the scattered feeling of the overall book detracts from her message.

Emme

3 Stars

The Secret Life of Bees

Lily Owens' mother died when she was four and she has been raised by a violent father and their hired help; mostly Rosaleen, a strong-willed black woman who is determined not to let the racists in their town stop her from doing what she has a right to. This attitude leads her to fight back against the town's 3 deepest racists, and she ends up badly beaten and in jail. Lily decides she's had enough, springs Rosaleen, and they set off to a town whose name is written on one of the few belongings Lily has of her mother's. They are taken in by three beekeeping sisters and Lily learns not just about beekeeping, but about what it means to have a family.

I devoured this book in a couple hours. Once I started I just couldn't put it down, the characters had such a hold on me. They seemed so real and fleshed-out, like people who actually might exist. The writing was graceful and unobtrusive, a smooth flow of words that conveyed information clearly without being wordy.

Emme

 

5 Stars

Wizard's Daughter by Catherine Coulter

Since he was young, Nicholas Vail has had strange dreams about a girl he has never met. His family says she is their debt, put upon the family after the life of a sailor was saved by a strange wizard, and that one of them will meet her and have to pay the debt. At a party in London he sees her, even though she is a woman and not a little girl anymore. When they fall in love both are left wondering what the debt is and how he will have to pay it. A mysterious book that her brother found may hold the key to their fate.

This book was highly mediocre. The writing was dull and slow, making it hard to stay focused on the story for a long period of time. The characters were not very fleshed out and there was a feeling that the author assumed you had read basically the same sort of tale often enough that there was no need to explain or describe anything. I was also bothered by the "magic solves any problems (including plot holes)" attitude; I like some method and structure to my magic.

It was a mildly interesting read, and probably a good choice for a day when you aren't in the mood for a serious book.

3 Stars

Emme

The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice

Lestat is now a famous rock star, but his life started back before the French Revolution. This vampire has lived a wild, rampant life and vampiric death no matter the age. He has never been content with staying in one place and has travelled around the world, collecting riches and connections as he went.

This sequel to Interview With the Vampire far outshines the original. The decade between them gave Rice the ability to actually write something that didn't sound like hyped-up melodrama written by a teenager who has never read classic vampire fiction. She also gained the skills to create an interesting character, who is not clearly "good" or "bad" and is frequently full of contradictions. Lestat is greedy but charming, immature yet knowledgeable, thick as a brick while being clever, but somehow it all rings true.

The writing is still wobbly and simple at times. Rice seems very fond of overusing "exotic" words to try and make her vampires exciting. (A technique which takes away from them instead.)

4 Stars

Emme

April Shadows by V.C. Andrews

April wishes she was more like her sister: tough, tall and athletic. Instead April is shy, short and overweight despite her attempts to be otherwise. Brenda doesn't seem very affected by their father's cruelty towards the family, but it hurts April and seems to be breaking their mother's heart. April doesn't know what to do, or if there is anything she can do to try and help keep their family from shattering.

This was a mildly entertaining novel and a page-turner, but very forgettable. The writing was not bad, just blah and uninspiring. The characters and scenarios all felt stiff and overused, they became uninteresting after a while. This is probably a good book for some distracted reading when you don't want to have something too fascinating.

3 Stars

Emme

Sips of Blood by Mary Ann Mitchell

Every family has it's issues, and the Sades just a bit more so because they are vampires. Grandma Marie works as a dominatrix, sneaking sips of her client's blood; Liliana works in a morgue and drinks the blood of people already killed by other means; and Louis Sade himself still tries to live like a classic vampire in a mansion, hunting on the streets and seducing his victims.

Not a particularly interesting book, and although the characters have promise, they never quite achieve a high enough level of life (or un-life) and personality to hold the reader's interest. The author also couldn't seem to decide if she was writing a story about classically evil vampires or the now-popular nice vamps, meaning it feels scattered and the reader is left scratching their head, trying to figure out what the author is trying to accomplish. The writing is dull and is hard to follow due to convoluted sentence structure.

1 Star

Emme

MeruPuri: Vol. 1 by Matsuri Hino

Airi is a diligent high school student who is addicted to romance shows and books. All she really wants in life is to marry the perfect guy and have a beautiful house when she grows up. But her life is turned upside-down when she loses a mirror passed down through her family. By the time she locates it, a little boy from a magical kingdom has appeared and claims the mirror is a portal between her land and his. Not sure that she believes him, she takes him home and that is when things get weird!

Although low on plot and high on melodrama, this sweet Shōjo manga was fun to read. The art is solid, for the most part, and some of the costumes look awfully tempting. If I thought I could persuade my little brother to cosplay as Aram (the magical kid) I would totally make his little outfit. The character design is well done, making folks who are related look alike, but not so alike that it is hard to tell who they are.

Fans of Shōjo, and particularly of Hino's newer series, Vampire Knight, will want to give this short series a try.

3 Stars

Emme

Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul by Various Authors

This book is one of my favorites. It is a collection of 101 stories about changes, choices and growing up that are written by kids from the ages of 9-13. The stories in the book are divided into eleven different categories. A touching story that I liked, called "The Last Runner," is in the "Overcoming Obstacles" category. It's about a crippled man who ran in a marathon. The amazing thing is that he kept running even after all the other runners finished ahead of him. I was inspired by his persistence, because he kept running even though it was hard for him.

5 Stars

Elizabeth

Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter does not know his true identity, has not a clue how his parents died, and does not know what lies in his future. All he knows is that he is stuck with his awful aunt and uncle, and their fat son Dudley. This book is so good that it’s hard to put it down.

5 Stars

When Harry started his second year at Hogwarts, with his future as a wizard fully realized, what he didn’t realize is how much trouble a supposedly mythical Chamber of Secrets could cause. With his best friends Ron and Hermione at his side, and the dastardly Malfoy biasing the entire school against him, Harry has only two questions: Who opened the Chamber of Secret 50 years ago, and who opened it this year…?

5 Stars

Harry Potter is back at Hogwarts for his third year. He's in danger once again. The criminal, Sirius Black, has escaped from the wizard prison called Azkaban. Rumors have been told that Sirius Black is trying to find Harry and kill him. Except this is not what happens at the end of the book. You will rush through these pages to find out what happens at the surprise ending!

5 Stars

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson isn’t your average 12-year-old boy. He is half-god. In this book, Percy goes on a big quest to find Zeus’ lightning bolt, and realizes that it’s not hard to be tricked by a god. This book is filled with so much action it’s hard not to love it.

5 Stars

Elizabeth

Percy Jackson is an ordinary teenage boy - or so he thinks - until his life is changed by a series of events in which Percy ends up killing one of Hades', the God of the underworld, Furies with a bronze word that sprouts out of a pen. Will he survive the ultimate challenge and save mankind from a war between his father Poseidon, and Zeus? Find out read the book.

5 Stars

Rory

Vampire Hunter D by Hideyuki Kikuchi

The year is 12,900 AD. Vampires known as the Nobility have had control of Earth and kept humans as slaves and walking meals. But when humans revolted and started killing off their masters, they also had to learn to live without most tech in a hostile world populated by the Nobility's creations. Those who have the strength and skill to fight these monsters are called Hunters, and their services come at a hefty price.

On the outskirts of a little village, a beautiful orphan farm girl has been attacked by a vampire who wants to turn her and marry her. Doris was strong enough to get away once with only a bite, but if she wants to live and protect her kid brother she is going to need help. She hires a Hunter by the name of D, who specializes in killing vampires. But even the greatest Hunter on the Frontier is going to have a hard time fighting the powerful Noble that Doris has made an enemy.

This book, and indeed the whole series, is simply genre-defying. It contains strong elements of Sci-Fi, Western and Horror with occasional dashes of Fantasy, Romance and Mystery/Thriller. It also may be the best escapist novel I have read, as the complex universe it is set in is almost impossible to leave behind and the characters will stay in your head for months.

The writing is spookily similar to 18th century horror/thriller classics such as Dracula and/or Carmilla. It is a bit overwritten and stilted at times, but fits the characters and setting nonetheless. The characters feel solid and realistic; even D, who constantly runs the risk of becoming a Gary Stu, but never quite crosses that line.

Fans of old-style vampire stories (hint: no sparkling and plenty of blood), old sci-fi or lovers of creatively-mixed-genre stories should take advantage of the fact that the FLLS has this frequently hard to find book.

5 Stars

Emme

The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan

In this book, two siblings find themselves trapped in a word of magic and trickery. They find that they are related to the Egyptian Gods and are in a trap set by an evil God. Will they survive? Read the book to find out.

5 Stars

Rory

Paradise Kiss: Vol. 2 by Ai Yazawa

Yukari is now definitely going to be a fashion model for Paradise Kiss. She is excited and happy, which surprises her. However, when her parents find out they forbid her to see any of her new friends. She tries to explain that it is the first time she has ever really cared about something, but it doesn't sway the adults. In a fit of anger, she runs away from home and decides to quit school. But where will a pretty teenage girl who has lived in a book-learning world go and what will she do with herself?

This book is interesting and hard to put down. Yazawa is a master of stories that explore characters discovering themselves as separate from social and parental expectations. The art is lovely, and the character design and costumes really stand out from crowds of cutesy little girls and bishie guys that populate most manga.

5 Stars

Emme

Queste by Angie Sage

Queste by Angie Sage was really an excellent book. I laughed for most of it, even parts most people wouldn't have found funny. I really thought the plot was wonderful and the underlying themes were startling when you had forgotten about them, but really clever. I loved the characters, and as the fourth book in the Septimus Heap series you really seem to know the characters. Again the plot was great and I wouldn't just suggest this to a friend, I'd make them read it.

5 Stars

Rosie

The Tarot Cafe: Vol. 3 by Sang-Sun Park

CAUTION! SPOILERS FOR PREVIOUS BOOKS!

This lovely manhwa (Korean comics) features three short stories about the supernatural. The first features a king who realizes that he has feelings for his slave boy. The second is about a man who has had a Welsh water spirit living in his home, and the final tale tells of a potentially fatal love triangle between two shape- shifting dragons and a human girl with strange powers.

The artwork is excellent and graceful, the stories are attention-grabbing and the writing is solid. There are also awesome character designs. What more could you want from a comic?

5 Stars

Emme

Snakehead by Anthony Horowitz

Alex Rider is 14 and a spy working for the british secret service. He encounters gun-wielding thugs, traitors - including his uncle, and heart-wrenching details of his deceased loved ones. Will he survive this dangerous mission? Find out, read the book .

5 Stars

Rory

Oh My Stars by Lorna Landvik

Violet has three remarkable talents: she can draw, she has an eye for design and she can sew amazing clothes from scraps and leftovers. She would love to become a fashion designer, but in her small, Depression-Era town the closest she can get is working in a thread factory. When she is in an accident and loses her dominant hand, her life seems over. She can do none of the few things that made her life bearable, so she decides to become the second person to throw themselves off the Golden Gate Bridge. She gets on a bus, but her bad luck seems to follow and she is stranded in another little town, where she meets a pair of musicians who just might give her a reason to live.

Although the beginning was a little trite, it quickly became an amazing book, one of the best I've read in a while. The writing is exceptionally smooth and beautiful, making for an almost effortless read. The characters felt real and solid, and their interactions genuine. The plot was quick-moving but not rushed. Violet is an inspirational heroine, while remaining far from perfect. The ending was a bit muddled, but the few slight flaws didn't detract significantly from the whole story.

5 Stars

Emme

The Good Dog by Avi

The Good Dog by Avi was an interesting but average book. The plot seemed well thought out, yet I thought it was frustrating that the dogs were misunderstood by the humans so often. Overall, it was a good story but the action itself took a while to get into. No romance was in the book and I enjoyed that aspect. The dogs were smart but at times overlooked things that could have happened. I probably would suggest this to a friend desperate for reading. Chop chop!

3 Stars

Rosie

Angel Sanctuary: Vol. 1 by Kaori Yuki

Setsuna is struggling with his life, his unreasonable temper and feelings for a girl who, although she is his blood sister, he rarely sees. He feels like he is a terrible person, but can't seem to change! It turns out that the problems may not all be his, as he is the reincarnation of an angel who defied God and was cast out. He is trapped in a battle of good and evil spanning lifetimes, but he can't tell which side he's suppose to be on.

The back of this book made it sound more like an examination of good and evil and the grey area most of us are in, however it is definitely a "battle of Good Vs. Evil" book. This is very typical of fantasy and an overly common plot. There really wasn't anything in the initial book that made it stand out. Even the art is very typical (might even go so far as to say unoriginal) for early 1990's manga. This style might be more eye-catching in today's market, as it is different then most newer manga.

2 Stars

Emme

Legend of Drizzt series by R. A. Salvatore

This book is about a dark elf society that lives underground. They have an army of 20,000 dark elf elites, and love to mindlessly slaughter every living being in their domain. Except for one. Drizzt is different. He hates kiling, and the elfves have found out. Will he survive?

5 Stars

Drizzt the dark elf has been found out, and has been sent out into exile in the evil underdark. Will he survive the terrors of the underdark, or will he succum to their evil wrath?

5 Stars

Drizzt is so terrified of the underdark, that he escapes to the surface. He is an expert fighter, but only kills out of neccessity. Will he survive or will the humans kill this different dark elf? Find out read the book.

5 Stars

Rory

Pet Shop of Horrors: Vol. 10 by Matsuri Akino

CAUTION! SPOILERS FOR PREVIOUS BOOKS!

This gripping, fast-moving conclusion to the popular horror/comedy series will make it impossible for readers to put the book down. One after another of the secrets that Count D has struggled to protect have been revealed to Officer Orcot, but whether what he finds out pushes him into full-blown hate or forgiveness is kept back until this dramatic (and action-packed) volume.

The artwork is stunning! Akino is at her best with these lush, complex scenes and the detail on each of the chapter pages will leaving you staring and wondering how such intricate work was done. The plot does a wonderful job wrapping up just enough to give the reader a slight sense of closure, while giving an opening for the imagination.

5 Stars

Emme

Fast Ships, Black Sails by Various Authors

Do you like pirate stories? If so, you should read this. Even if you don't care for traditional piratical tales this might be worth a try, as not all of these are typical novellas. You've might get space pirates, living creatures as ships, enchanted puppets as crew members, and magical powers, plus the traditional sea monsters, peg legs, scars, swords and pistols.

This collection was very entertaining and the general quality of writing was very high. Plots could have used a bit more work - many stories felt squashed or like I was only getting a fragment of a whole story. These short story collections are a great option as we get into the new school year, as each tale can be read quickly and then the book put aside until later when you have time for another adventure. They are also excellent for finding new authors to try.

4 Stars

Emme

The View From Saturday by E.L. Konigsburg

I thought The View From Saturday by E.L. Koningsburg was a very good book. I liked how the story changed from flashbacks, to present, and back to flashbacks. I also enjoyed the kind of abrupt way things were introduced. The book was interesting, but the way the children talked, with 'do not' instead of don't and 'I am' instead of I'm, seemed unreal. Without this, it would have been an excellent book. I liked the vagueness but knowing the construction of the plot. I would suggest this book to my friends.

4 Stars

Rosie

The Mother-Daughter Book Club by Heather Vogel Frederick

In this book, four girls that have NOTHING in common, join together in a mother-daughter book club. They become friends over the couse of "Litttle Women" and fight the mean girls. I liked this book a lot!

4 Stars

Lucy

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Santiago has had a reccurring dream about leaving his simple life as a shepherd and traveling to Egypt's pyramids, where he digs in a certain spot for treasure. A dream interpreter tells him to go and see what he finds, and what the treasure might be. It seems like a foolish dream, until the day he finds himself setting out on an adventure that will change his life and the way he thinks.

This story was amazing. The writing is simple and elegant, with a steady, slow-moving plot that will cause you to lose track of time as you are drawn into Santiago's adventures, wanderings and discoveries about himself. The story is very introverted and personal, fans of drama and action will need to look elsewhere. The characters, even the ones we barely know, feel so solid and realistic that it is hard to picture that they are mere figments of the author's imagination.

5 Stars

Emme

39 Clues: The Sword Thief by Peter Lerangis

The Sword Thief by Peter Lerangis is the really well-written third book in the 39 clues series. I liked it but because it was so short, had romance, and was pretty unbelievable, but I also thought it was kind of wimpy. The action sort of made up for it but, this book was lower quality than the others in the series. I would maybe recommend it to my friends, but only if they had read the others in the series. Chop chop!

3 Stars

Rosie

Kiki Strike: Inside the Shadow City by Kirsten Miller

This book is fabulously written and has the most phenomenal, intricate plot, full of twists and turns. I also liked this book because in each chapter it has a little bit of spy survival skills that could come in handy. I highly recommend this book. It is one of my favorites!

5 Stars

Lena

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo was a pretty good book. I liked the way the book was split up for each of the characters and then the climax. I really had no idea how it was going to turn out until the end. I was confused by some of the character's actions but I really liked it. I felt super sympathetic for Mig, I felt glad for the princess, sorry for the rat, and happy for Despereaux. I would recommend this book for smaller children.

4 Stars

Rosie

Up And Running by Mark Patinkin

This true story is about a six year old boy who is diagnosed with bacterial meningitis, one of the fastest infectious killers known. The book describes his three week battle to live, his parent's anxiety, and his recovery.

I enjoyed this book a lot because it was very intense and the author described everything in great detail. I think that this is a wonderful book, and you should read it.

4 Stars

Jaeyoon

Physik by Angie Sage

Phyisk by Angie Sage was a great book. I love how the author used time as recurring theme in this book, it was enjoyably complicated. I especially liked some of the conflicts between queen Etheldredda and different characters (Hugo!) though I was frustrated no one attacked her. The book was especially funny to me, though most of my friends said it wasn't that funny. I think I have an odd sense of humor, yes? I liked how the story resolved itself, though I thought Marcellus Pye was a bit of a brat. I would recommend this to anyone.

4 Stars

Rosie

Interview With the Vampire by Anne Rice

Louis is a 200 year old vampire. He has lived many lives, known many people and other vampires, struggled with balancing his remaining human thoughts and tendencies with the necessities of vampiric life and seen history being made. Now he is going to share his story with the world.

I have to admit to being disappointed with this book. It is not that the plot or characters are poorly crafted, indeed, they are quite interesting. However I had a strong dislike for the writing in this book. It was extremely melodramatic and Rice clearly had an absurd love of wordy, overused, cliche terms and descriptions. When there were not enough ridiculous, but well known, terms already in the English language, she seemingly spliced them together, resulting in some completely foolish words when used as descriptions for vampires. (When Louis called himself a "supermortal" I groaned aloud and hit myself in the forehead with this book. Luckily it's not very large, so no harm was done.)

Having read Lestat, which is not a masterpiece but not bad either, I guess you can tell what an advantage 10 years of practice gives. I recommend those interested in Anne Rice's works skip this one and just start with Lestat. You don't need the torture.

2 Stars

Emme

39 Clues: One False Note by Gordon Korman

One False Note, the second book in the 39 clues series, by Gordon Korman was a very well-written book. Again I thought the characters were cracking jokes too often to be believable, but besides that, the plot was pretty well-built. I especially liked the fact that you couldn't always see what was going to happen; there were many unexpected twists and turns. The ideas were really great and I would suggest this book to my friends and anyone else who had read the first book.

4 Stars

Rosie

39 Clues: The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan

I thought that The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan was a good first book to the 39 Clues series. I liked the way that the two kids, Amy and Dan, don't know they are a part of the world's most influential family until Grace's funeral. This kind of inspires the thought that really anyone could be a part of something powerful and not know it. I really liked this book. I thought that along with it being well-written, the characters were well-described. However, I thought the way the characters were literally always joking was a little hard to believe. I would recommend this book to my friends.

4 Stars

Rosie

Keeping it Real by Justina Robson

Keeping it Real is a book set not too far in the future, a future in which a particle collider has ripped open a hole in the universe, allowing access to several other planes of existence inhabited by a variety of fantasy staples such as elves, demon, and faeries. Lila Black is a cyborg built by the US government as a prototype after a disastrous diplomatic mission to the realm of the elves nearly killed her. She has been assigned to guard an elven rock star from assassins that persist in attempting to kill him. Little does she know that the plot to kill her charge is in fact a part of a greater plan by the leader of the elves to return separation to the planes.

4 Stars

Connor

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

Young Edmond Dantes is doing quite well for himself; he is likely getting a position as captain on a ship and is shortly going to marry his beloved and beautiful Mercedes. His life takes an alarming turn on his wedding day when he is arrested on false charges and thrown in jail. After spending 14 years locked in and nearly forgotten, he manages to escape. He swears vengeance on all of those who ruined his life. To accomplish this he will need money, power and a title.

This book was a fascinating read and most of the characters were memorable and interesting. The characters were complex and realistically flawed. It is very character driven and the goal of the novel seems to be to examine the human mind and morality in general. The pacing is steady and the plot, even. My only real issue with this book is that the writing was very stiff, slow and detailed (more so then many other novels of the period) and holds the reader up rather badly. This style of writing would be fine for a novel with more plot points to mentally chew over in the back of the mind, but it doesn't work as well for this one.

4 Stars

Emme

The History of Love by Nicole Krauss

The title sums it up beautifully. It's one of those books where multiple people's lives are gracefully intertwined. Although confusing at times the beauty lay in how their lives were connected. I found it to be a comforting and thought provoking read.

The one issue I had with the book was that it's hard to follow in the beginning because you're not suppose to know how it all fits together. However, the author executed this style well and things fell into place at the end.

5 Stars

Mia

Hellsing: Vol. 9 by Kohta Hirano

CAUTION! SPOILERS FOR PREVIOUS BOOKS!

After Alucard and Anderson's epic battle comes to a bloody end, readers receive indisputable proof of the demise of a beloved character and the simultaneous introduction of a confusing new bad guy. The Hellsing Agency is going to step up to a new level of violence if they want anyone to come out this mess alive - or undead in a few character's cases.

This book has the typical lack of plot, but bored readers who skip chunks of the dark, crowded pages may be missing something. There is some interesting verbal sparring going on in this volume and even some signs that Alucard may actually have a personality. Shocking, I know!

If you have fought your way through the difficult going of previous volumes and found your interest flagging, this might be the book to revive some of your interest.

4 Stars

Emme

Innumeracy by John Allen Paulos

This is a fascinating book about the consequences of mathematical illiteracy. What's great about it is that you need only basic math skills to understand the concepts shown in the book. It's really eye-opening to see how a lack of numerical competency can cause so many issues in society. One would never realize how math comes to play in assessing relative risk, stock market scams, and determining if someone is guilty or if it's just a coincidence that they fit the description. The book is not one long rant about how America is failing at math, but an astonishing view of how math impacts our daily lives. I would definitely recommend this book.

4 Stars

Mia

The First Part Last by Angela Johnson

Bobby was a classic city boy. He spent his time playing basketball, hanging with his friends, and trying not to get caught graffitiing. All that changes when his girlfriend Nia tells him that she's pregnant. Bobby is determined to do the right thing for his kid and his girl, but how does a 16 year old, who can't even figure out what to do with himself, figure out how to make those kinds of choices?

This short book is a very compelling read. It alternates between what happens after the baby, named Feather, is born and while Nia is pregnant. It doesn't come off preachy or as a morality tale of why teen pregnancy is evil. Bobby's no nonsense, "just the facts" attitude is conveyed well, but so is the fact that he really cares for his daughter and her mother.

4 Stars
 
Emme