Bras & Broomsticks

Hello avid readers! Today for my review I picked Bras & Broomsticks by Sarah Mlynowski because I felt like reviewing a fun, summery read! I hope you enjoy!

Characters: Rachel Wienstien: self proclaimed math nerd/sister to tween witch/desperately wants to be A list
Miri Wienstien: tween witch/karate champ/is nervous about using magic to solve Rachel's problems
Tammy: Rachel's new BFF/uses scuba hand signals to communicate/is always very supportive of Rachel and very perceptive
Raf Kosravi: Rachel's "secret" crush/extremely A-list/one of the only people in the school's talent show who is genuinely nice
STBSM, STBSMM, STBSGM: Standing for Soon to be step-monster, step minimonster, and step grandmonster/Rachel's new step family who is marrying her divorced father/who dislikes Miri and Rachel (feeling is completely mutual)

The Plot: Rachel Wienstien doesn't consider herself to be selfish. She just wants a few things in life. Her parents to get back together, to be A-list, to have an A-list boyfriend, to be prettier, to have her ex-BFF Jewel back and to be the most popular girl in school. Nothing too huge right? In all honesty it's probably a little far fetched. But when Rachel finds out that her sister Miri has magical powers, Rachel realizes that all of her dreams are suddenly possible. Date to the prom as a freshman? Yes. Knowledge downloaded instantly into her brain? Yes. The possibilities are endless. Only one problem. Miri won't use her magic to help Rachel, because their mom warned Miri that using too much magic only complicates lives. But Rachel will have none of that. Somehow, Rachel must figure out how to get Miri to use her magic for Rachel's gain and how to get some powers of her own!

What I liked: Bras & Broomsticks is one of the funniest novels I have ever read to date. It is so funny, that when I first read it, I was actually laughing out loud so often, my mom was laughing at me because I was laughing at a book. Nerdy right? Well I challenge anyone to read this book and not laugh out loud. Filled with hilarious acronyms, snide comments from Rachel, Miri, and the entire supporting cast, and endless amounts of magic mishap fun. When magic comes into play, the possibilities are endless: because magic doesn't exist, there's no limit to what can and cannot happen. Mlynowski didn't hold back as she delivered scenario after scenario that was funny, yet at the same time, dove deeper into Rachel and Miri's complicated, yet loving relationship. The relationship between the two sisters was well, magical. They behaved like normal siblings; they fought but at the end of the day they both loved each other and being around one another. It's nice to be able to read about a healthy sibling relationship, even if its a magical one.

What I didn't like: To be honest, Rachel can be a little draining in some parts. Because I have read the rest of the series, I can say with certainty that Rachel being this way was essential for her development as a character. But sometimes, I just wanted her to stop. But not that often. Her rants were too funny to hate completely.

Overall: This book is a 9 out of 10. A hilarious read and a great summer read to anyone who has some free time. It was a "spellbinding" read. Sorry just had to say it.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

Hey everyone! Well I am taking a break from my AP English III summer work to write on my blog, so this is a much needed break. For today's book, I give you a twist on a classic; Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith, based off of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.

Characters: Elizabeth Bennett: one of five daughters/an expert in the art of zombie killing/despises Mr. Darcy at the beginning of the story
Mr. Darcy: experienced zombie killer/rich friend of Mr. Charles Bingley/tries to ignore his true feelings for Elizabeth
Jane Bennett: Elizabeth's sister who is the closest to her in age and attitude/likes Mr. Bingley/is a skilled zombie hunter herself
Mr. Bennett, Mrs. Bennett, Mary Bennett, Lidia Bennett, and Catherine Bennett: the rest of the Bennett family/most of them have some skill with dealing with zombies
Caroline Bingley: sister of Charles Bingley/is extremely jealous of Elizabeth/likes Mr. Darcy

The Plot: Enter a parallel world based off Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, but with a whole new twist. The town of Meryton, where Pride and Prejudice is set, is infested with zombies that enjoy nothing more than eating the citizens of the town. In Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Elizabeth Bennett isn't only a smart, witty young woman; she is also one of the most experienced zombie hunters in all of Meryton. Along with her sisters, Elizabeth tries to live a normal life, while still vanquishing as many of the zombies as possible. Just like in Jane Austen's version, Elizabeth's normal life is interrupted with the meeting of Mr. Darcy at a ball. However, in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, the party does not end in a carriage ride home; it ends in a vicious, violent zombie attack on the townspeople. Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth each note the other's skill in defeating zombies after the attack, and from then on their paths continue to cross. As they become closer, Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth must confront the reality of each's station in society, and the more real threat: the continued zombie infestation.

What I liked: To be quite honest with you, there wasn't a whole lot I did enjoy about the book. It was more of a disappointment than a success. But I did think that the drawings that were in the book were fantastic. There is one of Elizabeth and Jane fighting through an army of zombies, while Mr. Darcy looks on in the background; for me, this really made the book more enjoyable and different from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Also, while it is kind of unfair, the part I enjoyed the most was the original dialogue from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.

What I didn't like: Now I am sure some of you are a little confused right now. What does "Jane Austen's original dialogue" mean? Well, when Seth Grahame-Smith "wrote" the book, he took the original text of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, and just slid in some dialogue and action sequences of zombies. Seriously? I fail to consider how this book even qualifies as writing, let alone became a New York Times Bestseller. The book was choppy and didn't flow well at all. It literally went from Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy having some meaningful dialogue to "Oh did you hear about Lady Catherine's trained ninjas?" Why? If you are going to write a story about Pride and Prejudice characters and zombies, why do you have to ruin the original, beautiful story with your zombie rubbish. Seth Grahame-Smith is again, not a writer, rather, a poor writer disguised as a New York Time Bestseller, who reverts to chopping up classics, instead of building off his own ideas and stories.

Overall: 2 out of 10. Horrible. You want to read something good? Read the original. If Jane Austen were alive, she would be bawling her eyes out because her novel of beauty, thoughtfulness, honesty, pride and prejudice has been reduced to washed up horror book designed to appeal to the minds of...well I can't even figure out who this would appeal to. Teenage boys? Yet somehow I doubt teenage boys would pick up a novel with Pride and Prejudice in the title in the first place.

The Hunger Games

Hello everyone! So today I am in a really good mood so I decided to review one of my favorite books of all time, The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins. I recommend this book to everyone no matter what your age. But anyways, here we go!

Characters: Katniss Everdeen: seventeen year old daughter of a healer and a coal mine worker/an excellent hunter/chosen to compete for District 12 in the 74th Hunger Games
Peeta Mellark: the other member from District 12/a boy who once gave Katniss bread when she was starving/Katniss's only friend in the Capitol once they arrive
Haymitch Abernathy: the only previous victor alive from District 12/Katniss and Peeta's mentor/constantly drunk because of the horrors he witnessed in the arena
Effie Trinket: in charge of handling the tributes from each district/Katniss and Peeta's connection to the Capitol/hates Haymitch (but the feeling is mutual)
Cinna: the stylist who helps Katniss in the Capitol/one of the only people at the Capitol who cares for her/his designs have helped Katinss be safe and make great first impressions

The Plot: In a furistic world in North America, the 13 Districts lived in peace with the Capitol. However, the peace was broken when a great war was fought between the Districts and the Capitol. The Districts desperately wanted to be free from Capitol control, but the Capitol wanted to ensure their supremacy over the Districts. In the process, District 13 was completely destroyed, and the Districts lost the war. After the war, the Capitol created the Hunger Games to remind the Districts of their crushing defeat. Every year, two "tributes" one boy and one girl, from each of the remaining Districts, is chosen to go to the Capitol and fights in the Hunger Games, a gladiator style fight to the death. The people of the Districts are forced to watch as their children die every year. Enter Katniss Everdeen, a girl who lives in District 12. An excellent fighter, hunter and more clever than most people her age, Katniss just wants to survive. After her father died, Katniss has just focused on surviving the hard times and keeping her family safe. When her sister, Prim, is chosen to represent the District at the Hunger Games Katniss volunteers herself to save her sister, and her focus becomes more important than ever as she enters the Hunger Games with friend Peeta. However, things are not always as they seem and as Katniss ventures deeper into the Capitol, she finds resistance to the Capitol's treacherous ways is in every direction.

What I liked: I hate to be so general but I loved everything about this book. From Suzanne Collins writing, which was amazing, fluid, and descriptive, to the great plot line that keeps you hooked with its twists, turns and complete suspense. This is pretty much as perfect as you can get when writing a novel. You know what I liked the most? How original this story is. While some of the books that I have reviewed have elements borrowed from other stories, or are a twisted version of another story entirely... the Hunger Games is truly its own. I have tried to think of another novel that is even similar to the Hunger Games in any respect, but I just can't do it. It's a lot like Harry Potter in that way. There was nothing like Harry Potter before Harry Potter, and there has been nothing like the Hunger Games before the Hunger Games. Suzanne Collins created it out of her own imagination, from the Districts, to the Games, to the Capitol, Suzanne Collins has created her own world and we are just visiting.

What I didn't like: Nothing. Absolutely nothing. In my mind, this book was sheer perfection. Nothing could make this book better unless it was longer so that I could read more.

Overall: 10 out of 10. Amazing. I am waiting on the edge of my seat until the next novels come out. I tip my hat to Suzanne Collins for creating such a mesmerizing read.

The Looking Glass Wars

Hey everyone! Today I am reviewing The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor. It has been awhile since I have read it, so I am looking forward to revisiting it! Enjoy.

Characters: Because The Looking Glass Wars is a spin-off of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, I am going to give the characters name in both The Looking Glass Wars and in Alice in Wonderland
Princess Alyss Heart: Alice Liddel/heiress to the throne of Wonderland/has one of the strongest Imaginations of any Wonderlander
Queen Redd: The Queen of Hearts/ Alyss's cruel aunt/ highly proficient in the art of Dark Imagination
Hatter Madigan: The Mad Hatter/the leader of the Millinery/searches for Alyss after they disappear through the looking glass
Bibwit Harte: tutor to the Queens of Wonderland/the wisest man in Wonderland/part of the resistance against Redd
Dodge Anders: Alyss's childhood friend/a lead member of the resistance/wants revenge on the Cat for killing his father

Plot: Alyss Heart had it all. Heir to Wonderland, the most powerful Imagination in ages, and two parents who loved her. That was until her Aunt Redd, disowned Princess of Wonderland, used her Dark Imagination to kill Alyss's mother and father. Terrified and on the run, Alyss flees with her bodyguard Hatter Madigan to the Pool of Tears which they dive into. No one has ever returned from the Pool of Tears and no one knows what awaits on the other side. Until now. Alyss arrives in 19th century England and is taken in by the Liddels, who care for her as if she is their own daughter. However, as Alyss grows up in this strange world, she starts to think Wonderland was really only a dream or fantasy. But that all changes when Hatter Madigan, who had been searching for Alyss for many years after they got separated in the Pool of Tears, whisks her away back to Wonderland in order to fight the now Queen Redd and to restore Alyss as the rightful heir to the crown.

What I liked: The concept of the story was absolutely amazing. I would have argued before this point that everything had already been done with Alice in Wonderland, but Beddor proved me wrong. He completely revamped a classic but still kept the same elements in the story. I loved how Beddor actually had Lewis Carroll in the story as the man who writes Alice in Wonderland but gets it all wrong. That was a hilarious and great comparison to the original story and author. I also loved how most of the characters were from Alice in Wonderland but just tweaked a little bit. For example, the Cat was not Chesire Cat from Alice in Wonderland, rather he was Redd's skilled assassin. These little changes made the book that much better.

What I didn't like: Besides the concept, pretty much everything else. I felt like the characters, while interesting in concept, were nothing more than boring, one-dimensional figures. Alyss was boring and had a lack of personality, Hatter Madigan was too serious the entire novel, and Dodge was so obsessed with revenge, it made it hard to read as he continually talked on and on about how he was going to kill The Cat. The only redeeming character was Redd, and even she was just a stereotypical villain. Also, the plot was very slow. Beddor spent entirely too much time in England and not enough in Wonderland. And once we arrived back in Wonderland, there were a lot of dull points. The novel could have been so much more interesting than it ended up being.

Overall: I harshly have to give this novel a 5 out of 10. A five because the concept was so great, and no higher because the rest of the novel did not live up to my expectations. Instead of having well developed characters and plot, The Looking Glass Wars ended up being full of caricatures with a plot that was barely able to keep the story going.

Fire

Hello everyone and happy Friday! Well for today's blog I am going to review the second novel Krisin Cashore has written. Called Fire, it is a prequel to Graceling. However, you should still read them in the order of Graceling, then Fire, for clarity sake.

Characters: Fire: so called half monster/has the ability of complete mind control/works for King Nash as part of his spy ring
Archer: the best shooter in the Dells/in love with Fire/extremely careless and jealous
Prince Brigan: brother to King Nash/in charge of the King's army/the only one who respects Fire
King Nash: king of the Dells/trying to hold onto the throne/obsessed with Fire
Princess Clara and Prince Garan: twin brother and sister/the illegitimate children of King Nax/spymasters of the Dells

The Plot: Enter the world of the Dells, a land where monsters roam and humans work to keep them in check. These monsters are vicious animals. They possess a form of mind control that allows them to completely take over the mind of their prey. They also possess a terrible beauty that strikes fear and hate into all who set eyes on them. However, every once and a while there are human monsters. Half monster and half human. That is Fire. Named for her bright red hair. Fire can control the minds of all those around her. Only a select few know how to close their minds from such control. One of those is Prince Brigan. Fire meets Brigan at the house of his mother Queen Roen. Originally he hates her, due to the fact that Fire's monster father, Cansrel, killed his father King Nax. However, when Brigan sees Fire display her uncommon bravery and abilities, he enlists her help in defeating the enemies that surround the King's City. Along the way, Fire must confront her very real fears of ending up like her father and some of the darkest secrets in her heart.

What I liked: Another excellent novel from Kristin Cashore. I felt like Fire was a better story than Graceling. With more characters and a more in-depth plot, this book was much more exciting than Graceling. Also, Fire was a far more diverse character than Katsa. While Katsa was entertaining, Fire had so many layers, so many secrets. Katsa had one level; she was the misunderstood killer. Don't get me wrong, I loved Katsa. But Fire was the misunderstood monster, loving friend, brave soul... I could continue on but it would have too many spoilers. More importantly, I loved the dynamic of the four siblings who rule the King City. Nash, Brigan, Clara, and Garan represent a strong family force which I felt was severely lacking in Graceling. These siblings were intriguing, funny, and intelligent, making for a much better supporting cast than in Graceling.

What I didn't like: It's not something I didn't like it's more of a concern. I worry that Cashore is going to get stuck writing the same kind of novels. Fantasy, a girl with extraordinary abilities but is misunderstood, pursued by a man she does not love, and helped by a man she does. Both try to protect a kingdom. Do you see what I'm getting at? I mean Fire and Graceling were both great. But I think I have a legitimate concern. Cashore is too great a writer to get stuck writing the same thing over and over again. I love a powerful female character as much as the next person but I am worried that Cashore's next novel will be just the same as the last ones. But I believe Cashore's next novel is about Bitterblue, so I think it should be able to alleviate my concerns.

Overall: I will give Fire a 9 out of 10. I won't give it higher because I am very worried that Cashore's novels will become the same old story over and over again. However, I can't ignore the talent Cashore has and her ability to weave a magnificent story. I hope her next novel will have all of her talent, and just be a little different.

Graceling

Hello avid readers! Well so I have decided that I will review all of the books in my own personal library, aka my room, so without further ado... the first item on my shelf, Graceling by Kristin Cashore, a personal favorite.

Characters: Lady Katsa: niece of King Randa of the Middluns/graced with the power of killing/part of a secret society that works against the seven kings of the land
Prince Greening Grandemalion aka Po: searching for Grandfather Tealiff/graced with a power of fighting/the only person who can hold his own against Katsa in a fight
Giddeon: part of Katsa's resistant group/in love with Katsa/very arrogant
Oll: King Randa's spy master/one of Katsa's closest friends/the leader of the resistance group along with Katsa
Prince Raffin: son of Randa/loves to experiment with medicine/recently dyed his hair bright blue

The Plot: Enter a world where people possess extraordinary abilities and are shunned by the ungraced. Identified by their two colored eyes, the graced have a wide range of abilities from dancing and gardening to fighting and in some cases killing. Marked with the grace of killing since she was a young girl, Lady Katsa is part of the court of King Randa of the Middluns and is used as his servant to bring torture and destruction to his unfaithful subjects. However, done with living under Randa's thumb, Katsa has formed a resistance group who fights to keep the Kings of the Seven Realms in check and protect the people who live there. When Katsa and two of her friends hear that Grandfather Tealiff, relative to the Queen of Monsea, has been kidnapped, they rush off to save him. Along the way, Katsa meets Po, a prince with a grace as odd as hers. The two of them rush into an adventure to find out the true reason for Grandfather Tealiff's kidnapping.

What I liked: This was one of the most original books I have read in a long time. It was fascinating, fun and interesting. The world was great to read about and the characters were full of life and personality. Take for example Katsa, she was one of the most powerful and strong female characters that I have read about in a long time. However, at the same time she still had fears. I liked that all the characters, not just Katsa, were mulitlayered and complex. Too often you read about one-dimensional characters like Bella Swan from Twilight, and you don't see characters who have many layers. It was refreshing to learn all about these characters and to see deeply into their personalities.

What I didn't like: This is difficult because there was so much that I loved about this book. OK here's something. I didn't like the ending. One thing you should know about me is that in order for me to love a book, I need it to have a happy ending and for me, Graceling didn't have an entirelly happy ending. SPOILERS AHEAD I wanted Katsa and Po to get married but they didn't because Katsa couldn't compromise herself to get married. I get it. The ability to live only for herself and for what she wanted made her a brilliant character in all other aspects but still. WHY NOT? But in my heart of hearts, I know that Katsa marrying Po would not have made her the won't-answer-to-anyone-heroine I loved.

Overall: Graceling is a 9.5 out of 10. Fabulous writing and a exciting plot will keep you hooked throughout the whole book. An excellent debut novel from Kristin Cashore and I look forward to more of her writing.

Only The Good Spy Young

It's here! It's finally here! And I finished it. In about two hours. Now I know what your thinking. There is no way that I could have properly digested the book while reading so fast. Well I beg to differ. I finished Only The Good Spy Young and here is my review. Enjoy!

Characters: Again, due to the fact that this is the fourth Gallagher Girl novel, I am going to list the characters who were new to the series. For a complete list, go to my previous Gallagher Girl reviews.
Agent Edward Townsend: MI6 special agent/the new Cov Ops teacher/a possible threat to the Gallagher Academy
Mr. and Mrs. Baxter: Bex's parents/elite MI6 agents/part of Cammie's security detail
Professor Patricia Buckingham: one of the greatest agents in MI6 history/ headmistress of the Gallagher Academy while Cammie's mom is away/one of the only people who knows the true history of the Circle of Cavan

The Plot: After Cammie survived her attempted kidnapping by international terrorists her life changed completely. Now, Cammie is in London staying with her best friend Rebecca Baxter over the winter break when her life is put in danger once again. At the Tower of London, there is a massive blackout and Cov Ops teacher Joe Solomon gives Cammie a message while the rest of her security team attempts to take Mr. Solomon into custody. Why? Because Mr. Solomon is a traitor and is the man who killed her father. Well, that's what the CIA and MI6 think but Cammie, Bex, Liz, and Macey can't believe it. They won't believe it. So, the four girls embark on a mission to clear Solomon's name with the help of Zack Goode,a Blackthorne student. The problem? A mysterious MI6 agent opposes them at every turn and in order to fully understand what is going on the girls must dive deeper in the past and discover the truth about Mr. Solomon, Blackthorne, the Circle of Cavan, Cammie's father and Zack Goode.

What I liked. All I can say was finally. Finally Cammie learned the truth about Zack. Finally Cammie was given some respect and told more about the situation. And finally Cammie was able to understand about her father's death. I loved this book. I feel like Don't Judge A Girl By Her Cover and Only The Good Spy Young were the absolute best they could be. Only The Good was significantly darker than the other Gallagher Girl books but it needed to be. Cammie is growing up and she is entering a world where she is the target and that is a very dark world indeed. SPOILERS AHEAD: In a way, Only The Good Spy Young is a little like Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince. At the end of HP6, Harry figures out that to defeat Voldemort he has to leave school and seek the answers he needs to survive. At the end of Only The Good Spy Young, Cammie has to leave the Gallagher Academy. And she is completely right. She will never discover the answers she seeks if she is content to wait by the sidelines. She is taking her destiny in her own hands and I loved it.

What I didn't like: Alright this is getting really picky but here we go anyway. MAJOR SPOILER ALERT: When Cammie goes on a "Cov Ops mission" and accidentally gets Mr. Solomon into a trap I was a little confused. Not in a clarity sense but because Cammie and Mr. Solomon are too smart to fall for something that obvious. Now I know that Cammie would never have been able to rescue Mr. Solomon if this scene hadn't happened but really? Agent Townsend said No outside of school Cov Ops assignments and yet they decided to have one. Cammie can speak fulluent Mandarin but she didn't see that one coming? And Mr. Solomon world class spy walked right into that trap? He was worried about Cammie so I give him a free pass but I felt Cammie being unsuspicious a little out of character.

Overall: Maybe the best Gallagher Girl novel so far. I absolutely loved it. It gets a 9 out of 10 because it was more than a summer read. Carter seriously shows how much secrets can affect the lives of people who base their whole worlds around them.