*** 5 Stars
This is the second time I have read this book and I cannot say enough how absolutely fantastic it is. It's unique format, irresistable characters and constant humor make it one of the best books I've ever read.
The Year of Secret Assignments refers to the writings of three best friends, AND the documents that make up the pages of this book. Moriarty writes all her books(which are all fantastic by the way) in entriely letters, diary entries, notes, etc. This one in particular follows Emily, Cassie and Lydia, three 10th grade students(in Australia), who are forced to write letters to students at a neighboring school. Emily writes to Charlie and Lydia to Seb, however Cassie's new "friend" may not exist at all. This correspondence leads to friendship and mystery, as the girls try to figure out the true identity of Cassie's "penfriend" at Brookfield High as well as coping with school, friends, dating and life.
This book is hilarious, unique and full of real life and love. It is adorable and memorable and clearly great, seeing as I read it twice.
**I'd also recommend The Murder of Bindy Mackenzie and Feeling Sorry for Celia (both by Moriarty)
Friday, June 22, 2012
Numbers by Rachel Ward
*** 5 Stars
OhMyGod.
I just finished this morning and I am a little lost. This is one of those books that made me physicaly sad to be done with. I closed the book and just looked around and wondered why everyone else was just going on with their lives like something tragic HADN'T happened to me. But, anyways...
This book is about a 15 year old girl named Jem, who grew up with a lot of problems in her life and a "gift" she has always kept secret. When she looks into someone's eyes she knows the exact day they will die. For this reason Jem has separated herself from human contact in hopes to never get too attatched to anyone. But then she meets Spider, another kid with no future and they slowly become close. Then Jem forsees a tragic event and suddenly she and Spider are the prime suspects and on the run. They travel across the English countryside, hiding and trying to get by. But, as the time passes together, Jem is faced constantly with the reality of Spider's number, drawing ever closer.
I wasn't impressed with this book in the beginning, I must say. The characters and the setting were just so messed up. Everything in Jem's life is creepy and sad and dangerous. But then I started to get so attatched to the characters and their struggles and soon enough I was hooked. The plot is so thick in this book that I could NOT put it down. And the ending was like a punch in the stomach. I am not afraid to say that I cried, which I rarely do in books by the way. But it was just. so. sad. Man, just read it. Please.
OhMyGod.
I just finished this morning and I am a little lost. This is one of those books that made me physicaly sad to be done with. I closed the book and just looked around and wondered why everyone else was just going on with their lives like something tragic HADN'T happened to me. But, anyways...
This book is about a 15 year old girl named Jem, who grew up with a lot of problems in her life and a "gift" she has always kept secret. When she looks into someone's eyes she knows the exact day they will die. For this reason Jem has separated herself from human contact in hopes to never get too attatched to anyone. But then she meets Spider, another kid with no future and they slowly become close. Then Jem forsees a tragic event and suddenly she and Spider are the prime suspects and on the run. They travel across the English countryside, hiding and trying to get by. But, as the time passes together, Jem is faced constantly with the reality of Spider's number, drawing ever closer.
I wasn't impressed with this book in the beginning, I must say. The characters and the setting were just so messed up. Everything in Jem's life is creepy and sad and dangerous. But then I started to get so attatched to the characters and their struggles and soon enough I was hooked. The plot is so thick in this book that I could NOT put it down. And the ending was like a punch in the stomach. I am not afraid to say that I cried, which I rarely do in books by the way. But it was just. so. sad. Man, just read it. Please.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Starters by Lissa Price
*** 5 Stars
This book is set in a future world where everyone left after a chaotic war is either very young(Starters) or very old(Enders). It is full of suspense, thrills and unexpected twists.
It centers on a "Starter", Callie who lives a life of running and hiding from "unfriendlies". She,her brother and their friend don't have food or a home since their parents(along with everyone elses') died in the Spore Wars. Callie decides to rent her body out to an "Ender", through a Body Bank, in order to get money for her brother. This should mean that an old person gets to live in a young, energized body for a couple of days and then Callie would return to her mind and so would they. But something malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of a rich Ender who has a dangerous plan to expose the truth about the system. But it's very dangerous and mysterious. And Callie still has to decide whether or not she believes in the cause.
This book and it's concept are extremely interesting and kept me wanting more every time a chapter ended. But seriously. Probably one of the most interesting concepts of all time. I mean, come on, renting your body out to an old person? How creepy is that?
This book is set in a future world where everyone left after a chaotic war is either very young(Starters) or very old(Enders). It is full of suspense, thrills and unexpected twists.
It centers on a "Starter", Callie who lives a life of running and hiding from "unfriendlies". She,her brother and their friend don't have food or a home since their parents(along with everyone elses') died in the Spore Wars. Callie decides to rent her body out to an "Ender", through a Body Bank, in order to get money for her brother. This should mean that an old person gets to live in a young, energized body for a couple of days and then Callie would return to her mind and so would they. But something malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of a rich Ender who has a dangerous plan to expose the truth about the system. But it's very dangerous and mysterious. And Callie still has to decide whether or not she believes in the cause.
This book and it's concept are extremely interesting and kept me wanting more every time a chapter ended. But seriously. Probably one of the most interesting concepts of all time. I mean, come on, renting your body out to an old person? How creepy is that?
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Daddy Long Legs by Jean Webster
*** 4.5 Stars
This book is unique, charming and wins you over instantly. If the age of this book makes you nervous(it was written in 1912), don't worry. It is easy to understand and still very relate able to today.
The book's heroine Jerusha "Judy" Abbott is a witty, clever orphan living in a horrible asylum. She is expressive and enjoyable, but stifled by her situation. Then, a mysterious benefactor decides to send her to college to become a writer, with the requirement that she must write him letters in order to hone her skills. She does, and what follows is a book of entirely "letters for Daddy Long Legs", full of Judy's whims and every excited thought. Judy will entrance you immediately.
This book is funny, romantic and a classic. I felt cultured just reading it. :)
This book is unique, charming and wins you over instantly. If the age of this book makes you nervous(it was written in 1912), don't worry. It is easy to understand and still very relate able to today.
The book's heroine Jerusha "Judy" Abbott is a witty, clever orphan living in a horrible asylum. She is expressive and enjoyable, but stifled by her situation. Then, a mysterious benefactor decides to send her to college to become a writer, with the requirement that she must write him letters in order to hone her skills. She does, and what follows is a book of entirely "letters for Daddy Long Legs", full of Judy's whims and every excited thought. Judy will entrance you immediately.
This book is funny, romantic and a classic. I felt cultured just reading it. :)
Friday, April 20, 2012
Prized by Caragh M. O'Brien
***5 Stars
I love this book. I love the book before it, and you know what? I already love the next one(and it's not even out yet;).
This is the sequel to Birthmarked, and if it is even possible, I may like it more. In this book Gaia makes it to a "safe haven", Sylum, where she knows her baby sister will be cared for, however, she finds out that this society isn't quite the oasis it appears to be. The town is made of almost entirely men, and it is run by the minority of women. If you try to leave, you die. The longer Gaia stays the more she wants to find out why Sylum has developed this way, and how it can be prevented. But in a society with this many rules, answers can be hard to find.
This book was unexpected, unpredictable and, as always, well written. O'Brien weaves an ever-interesting plot with realistic and intriguing characters that make you want more. I had to keep reading. I would recommend Birthmarked and Prized to almost anyone.
I love this book. I love the book before it, and you know what? I already love the next one(and it's not even out yet;).
This is the sequel to Birthmarked, and if it is even possible, I may like it more. In this book Gaia makes it to a "safe haven", Sylum, where she knows her baby sister will be cared for, however, she finds out that this society isn't quite the oasis it appears to be. The town is made of almost entirely men, and it is run by the minority of women. If you try to leave, you die. The longer Gaia stays the more she wants to find out why Sylum has developed this way, and how it can be prevented. But in a society with this many rules, answers can be hard to find.
This book was unexpected, unpredictable and, as always, well written. O'Brien weaves an ever-interesting plot with realistic and intriguing characters that make you want more. I had to keep reading. I would recommend Birthmarked and Prized to almost anyone.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Keeping Corner by Kashmira Sheth
***3 Stars....
At first, I hated this book. I read it for English class as sort of a group book report and my friend picked it out. The problem is, it is so oddly written that when the story wasn't interesting, I could not get into it. The author is one of those who always uses really short, choppy sentences. She was also extremely descriptive, but about things I didn't care to know. This, of course, bothered me to no end.
Overall, the book is about a 12 year old Indian girl named Leela who was engaged at 3, married at 10 and is about to move into her "husband's" house. It takes place in a time of unrest in India between native people and the British colonists. Leela and her family, however, are in the elite Brahman caste, where she is spoiled and unaware of any problems. When her husband dies suddenly, Leela is expected to follow her society's strict guidelines of widowhood, keeping corner. But when she decides to have a tutor come teach her, Leela discovers more about the world than she though could even exist. And suddenly, she doesn't understand why her life is this way.
Like I said, I really hated this book at the beginning and this was partly because I really didn't like any of the characters. Leela was selfish and spoiled. Her parents condoned the behavior and her other family members were all rude or absent. Also, it wasn't funny, there was no action or romance, so with the boring plot, there was almost nothing of substance.
But then Leela started changing, and with it, so did much of her family. I started liking characters and liking her, even. By the end, I actually started to care about Leela and hoped for her triumph over her strict culture.
All, in all, I can say I had mixed feelings toward this book, but I was glad that I had to plow through to the end.
At first, I hated this book. I read it for English class as sort of a group book report and my friend picked it out. The problem is, it is so oddly written that when the story wasn't interesting, I could not get into it. The author is one of those who always uses really short, choppy sentences. She was also extremely descriptive, but about things I didn't care to know. This, of course, bothered me to no end.
Overall, the book is about a 12 year old Indian girl named Leela who was engaged at 3, married at 10 and is about to move into her "husband's" house. It takes place in a time of unrest in India between native people and the British colonists. Leela and her family, however, are in the elite Brahman caste, where she is spoiled and unaware of any problems. When her husband dies suddenly, Leela is expected to follow her society's strict guidelines of widowhood, keeping corner. But when she decides to have a tutor come teach her, Leela discovers more about the world than she though could even exist. And suddenly, she doesn't understand why her life is this way.
Like I said, I really hated this book at the beginning and this was partly because I really didn't like any of the characters. Leela was selfish and spoiled. Her parents condoned the behavior and her other family members were all rude or absent. Also, it wasn't funny, there was no action or romance, so with the boring plot, there was almost nothing of substance.
But then Leela started changing, and with it, so did much of her family. I started liking characters and liking her, even. By the end, I actually started to care about Leela and hoped for her triumph over her strict culture.
All, in all, I can say I had mixed feelings toward this book, but I was glad that I had to plow through to the end.
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
**5 Stars
There are no words for how wonderful, happy and unique this book is. I enjoyed every minute of reading it and finished in 2 days flat.
The book has two parts that it switches between: the emails of two coworkers and best friends, and the life of the man who reads them.
Jennifer and Beth work at the same company and have been best of friends for years. They know that their company has hired someone to read the employees' emails. They write anyways.
Lincoln is the man that has been hired. He is supposed to turn in Beth and Jennifer, but he doesn't. Instead, he continues to read. And at some point, he falls in love.
The setting of this book and its spectacular characters make it a perfect read.
It is so sweet, so real and so absolutely funny, I could probably read it 50 times and still enjoy it. It should be a movie. I'm just sayin'. :)
There are no words for how wonderful, happy and unique this book is. I enjoyed every minute of reading it and finished in 2 days flat.
The book has two parts that it switches between: the emails of two coworkers and best friends, and the life of the man who reads them.
Jennifer and Beth work at the same company and have been best of friends for years. They know that their company has hired someone to read the employees' emails. They write anyways.
Lincoln is the man that has been hired. He is supposed to turn in Beth and Jennifer, but he doesn't. Instead, he continues to read. And at some point, he falls in love.
The setting of this book and its spectacular characters make it a perfect read.
It is so sweet, so real and so absolutely funny, I could probably read it 50 times and still enjoy it. It should be a movie. I'm just sayin'. :)
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