A Dance With Dragons

A Dance With Dragons by George R.R. Martin

In the aftermath of a colossal battle, the future of the Seven Kingdoms hangs in the balance — beset by newly emerging threats from every direction. In the east, Daenerys Targaryen, the last scion of House Targaryen, rules with her three dragons as queen of a city built on dust and death. But Daenerys has thousands of enemies, and many have set out to find her. As they gather, one young man embarks upon his own quest for the queen, with an entirely different goal in mind.

Fleeing from Westeros with a price on his head, Tyrion Lannister, too, is making his way to Daenerys. But his newest allies in this quest are not the rag-tag band they seem, and at their heart lies one who could undo Daenerys's claim to Westeros forever.

Meanwhile, to the north lies the mammoth Wall of ice and stone — a structure only as strong as those guarding it. There, Jon Snow, 998th Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, will face his greatest challenge. For he has powerful foes not only within the Watch but also beyond, in the land of the creatures of ice.

From all corners, bitter conflicts reignite, intimate betrayals are perpetrated, and a grand cast of outlaws and priests, soldiers and skinchangers, nobles and slaves, will face seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Some will fail, others will grow in the strength of darkness. But in a time of rising restlessness, the tides of destiny and politics will lead inevitably to the greatest dance of all.

                                                      Mary Joy- This book is an amazing read the entire way through and closes with a starting cliff hanger. It picks up where A Storm of Swards left off, but with the other half of the characters left out in A Feast for Crows. Typical of Martin's style, it is full of plot twists, schemes and no shortage of blood and death. It is an intense read that will leave readers waiting expectantly for the next installment of the series. 

Rating: 10 out of 10

A Feast for Crows

A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin

After centuries of bitter strife, the seven powers dividing the land have beaten one another into an uneasy truce. But it's not long before the survivors, outlaws, renegades, and carrion eaters of the Seven Kingdoms gather. Now, as the human crows assemble over a banquet of ashes, daring new plots and dangerous new alliances are formed while surprising faces—some familiar, others only just appearing—emerge from an ominous twilight of past struggles and chaos to take up the challenges of the terrible times ahead. Nobles and commoners, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and sages, are coming together to stake their fortunes...and their lives. For at a feast for crows, many are the guests—but only a few are the survivors. 

                               Mary Joy- This book definitely picks up the slack from the last one. It brings the stories of several of the main characters to starting closure, demonstrating Martin's ability to completely change a plot line and still engage even the most unwilling of readers. My only complaint about the book is that it focuses fully on only about half the main characters, leaving out the input of some of my favorite characters. However, this book is overall a very gripping story and is, in my opinion, the best book in the series.

Rating: 9 out of 10

2nd Chance

2nd Chance by James Patterson

2nd Chance reconvenes the Women's Murder Club, four friends (a detective, a reporter, an assistant district attorney, and a medical examiner) who used their networking skills, feminine intuition, and professional wiles to solve a baffling series of murders in 1st to Die. This time, the murders of two African Americans, a little girl and an old woman, bear all the signs of a serial killer for Lindsay Boxer, newly promoted to lieutenant of San Francisco's homicide squad. But there's an odd detail she finds even more disturbing: both victims were related to city cops. A symbol glimpsed at both murder scenes leads to a racist hate group, but the taunting killer strikes again and again, leaving deliberate clues and eluding the police ever more cleverly. In the meantime, each of the women has a personal stake at risk--and the killer knows who they are.

                                 Sheila Fennell- enjoyed reading this book. It was fast paced, the plot had a lot of good twists and turns. The reader was led in different directions to find the murderer. But at the end a small clue, which I have overlooked pointed out the killer. My favorite character was Lindsay Boxer, but I didn't really like her friend they were bad at finding the murderer. Lindsay takes a lot of chances that almost cost her life. But the end is definitely a surprise!

Rating: 8 out of 10

The Red Pyramid

The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan

Since their mother's death, Carter and Sadie have become near strangers. While Sadie has lived with her grandparents in London, her brother has traveled the world with their father, the brilliant Egyptologist, Dr. Julius Kane. 

One night, Dr. Kane brings the siblings together for a "research experiment" at the British Museum, where he hopes to set things right for his family. Instead, he unleashes the Egyptian god Set, who banishes him to oblivion and forces the children to flee for their lives. 

Soon, Sadie and Carter discover that the gods of Egypt are waking, and the worst of them —Set— has his sights on the Kanes. To stop him, the siblings embark on a dangerous journey across the globe - a quest that brings them ever closer to the truth about their family and their links to a secret order that has existed since the time of the pharaohs.

                         Smee Bucket- This is the first book of Riordan's "Kane Chronicles" series, which is about two siblings who are decedents of powerful Egyptian magicians. They learn how the Egyptian myths still play out in the modern world and must save the world from approaching chaos. This series is similar to the "Percy Jackson" series, but the gods and goddesses work in different ways. I didn't enjoy this book as much as the "Percy Jackson" series, partly from personal preference and partly because it was hard to get used to the way Egyptian magic works in the story. All in all, this is an enjoyable series that I recommend if you like mythology or adventure stories. 


Rating: 7 out of 10

Nation

Nation by Terry Pratchett 

Alone on a desert island — everything and everyone he knows and loves has been washed away in a storm — Mau is the last surviving member of his nation. He’s completely alone — or so he thinks until he finds the ghost girl. She has no toes, wears strange lacy trousers like the grandfather bird, and gives him a stick that can make fire.
Daphne, sole survivor of the wreck of the Sweet Judy, almost immediately regrets trying to shoot the native boy. Thank goodness the powder was wet and the gun only produced a spark. She’s certain her father, distant cousin of the Royal family, will come and rescue her but it seems, for now, that all she has for company is the boy and the foul-mouthed ship’s parrot, until other survivors arrive to take refuge on the island. Together, Mau and Daphne discover some remarkable things (including how to milk a pig, and why spitting in beer is a good thing), and start to forge a new nation.

                                 Smee Bucket- This book is historical fiction from an alternate universe (if that makes sense). It's partly about an island boy named Mau and partly about a wealthy European girl called Daphne. This book has humor, but also some very dark and depressing scenes. Mau explores his faith in the gods and humanity. Religious questioning is prevalent throughout the story, and the question "is there a god" is never answered (which is realistic when you think about it). I definitely recommend this book. The story is captivating and the conflicts will make you think. 

Rating: 8 out of 10

Zoo Station

Zoo Station by David Downing

By 1939, Anglo-American journalist John Russell has spent fifteen years in Berlin, where his German-born son lives. He writes human-interest pieces for British and American papers, avoiding the investigative journalism that could get him deported. But as war approaches, he faces the prospect of having to leave his son and his longtime girlfriend.

Then, an acquaintance from his communist days approaches him to do some work for the Soviets. Russell is reluctant but ultimately unable to resist. He becomes involved in other dangerous activities, helping a Jewish family and an idealistic American reporter. When the British and the Nazis notice his involvement with the Soviets, Russell is dragged into the world of warring intelligence services.

                            Desarae- If your into reading about drugs and all of that stuff, this would be perfect. It gets into depth with drugs, abuse, and sex. I do not recommend this book to anyone that feels uncomfortable when they read about drugs. Reading this book as a freshman set my book standards pretty high. It was a very good book!

Rating: 9 out of 10

Up All Night

Up All Night by Peter Abrahams, Libba Bray, David Levithan, Patricia McCormick, Sarah Weeks, Gene Luen Yang, & Ariel Pollak

A brush with the supernatural? A rock concert? A reunion? A poolside revelation? The need to know what's up? The confessions of a friend? The dream of escape? A sick pet? An English assignment? The rear-window view of a murder next door? The search for the mother you never met? What keeps you up all night?

                                 Smee Bucket-  This is a compilation of six short stories written by said authors. The stories vary in quality and subject matter, but that all center around a teen who is up all night for whatever reason. Some stories are excellent and fun to read, while others are only so-so. A few deal with sexuality, and a few have very strong language. The last story, to me, is very off-putting. While the first five are more or less realistic fiction, the sixth story is a comic strip about a monkey and his search for something. Unlike the other stories, which were moving one way or another (even the ones I didn't like), the sixth story read like a fable. I don't know why the authors ended this anthology with the monkey comic, but hey, maybe you'll like it. 

Rating: 5 out of 10

The Lost Hero

The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan 

Jason has a problem. He doesn’t remember anything before waking up in a bus full of kids on a field trip. Apparently he has a girlfriend named Piper and a best friend named Leo. They’re all students at a boarding school for “bad kids.” What did Jason do to end up here? And where is here, exactly?

Piper has a secret. Her father has been missing for three days, ever since she had that terrifying nightmare. Piper doesn’t understand her dream, or why her boyfriend suddenly doesn’t recognize her. When a freak storm hits, unleashing strange creatures and whisking her, Jason, and Leo away to someplace called Camp Half-Blood, she has a feeling she’s going to find out.

Leo has a way with tools. When he sees his cabin at Camp Half-Blood, filled with power tools and machine parts, he feels right at home. But there’s weird stuff, too—like the curse everyone keeps talking about. Weirdest of all, his bunkmates insist that each of them—including Leo—is related to a god.

                                    Smee Bucket- This is the first book in the "Heroes of Olympus" series, which is the continuation of the Percy Jackson series. Despite this you don't need to read the "Percy Jackson" series before reading this one, (although I do recommend it) and this book isn't about him anyway. Riordan packs even more mythology and adventure into this series, making the books twice as long as those in the first series. This book introduces three new demigods, who Riordan fans will like as much as the originals. Anyone who likes adventure, mythology, and humor should read this book. You'll get hooked!

Rating: 9 out of 10

Beautiful Creatures

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margret Stohl 

In Ethan Wate's hometown there lies the darkest of secrets . . .

There is a girl. Slowly, she pulled the hood from her head . . . Green eyes, black hair. Lena Duchannes.

There is a curse. On the Sixteenth Moon, the Sixteenth Year, the Book will take what it's been promised. And no one can stop it.

In the end, there is a grave.

Lena and Ethan become bound together by a deep, powerful love. But Lena is cursed and on her sixteenth birthday, her fate will be decided.Ethan never even saw it coming.

                             Smee Bucket- this book could be compared to "Twilight" because it is a supernatural romance novel, but I never read "Twilight" so I won't do that. This book is exciting, sometimes dark, and sometimes funny. It is the first book of a series. I recommend ithis to girls who like supernatural romance, and even to girls who don't. After all, I hate kissy scenes, but I loved this book. 

Rating: 7 out of 10 

The Lightning Thief

The Lighting Thief by Rick Riordan 

Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can't seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. And lately, being away at boarding school is only getting worse-Percy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him. When Percy's mom finds out, she knows it's time that he knew the truth about where he came from, and that he go to the one place he'll be safe. She sends Percy to Camp Half Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island), where he learns that the father he never knew is Poseidon, God of the Sea. Soon a mystery unfolds and together with his friends -- one a satyr and the other the demigod daughter of Athena -- Percy sets out on a quest across the United States to reach the gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods.

                          Smee Bucket- This is the first book of my favorite series, which concerns Percy Jackson, a modern demigod who must train to be a hero and save the world. In this series Riordan combines Greek myths with humor and pop culture, creating a fast-paced, interesting, and funny story. This book is suitable for younger readers (10+), but later books and the continuing series (The Heroes of Olympus) have more adult situations, since the characters age. 

Rating: 9 out of 10

The Final Warning

The Final Warning by James Patterson

Maximum Ride is a perfectly normal teenager who just happens to be able to fly, the result of an out-of-control government experiment. 

Max and the other members of the Flock -- six kids who share her remarkable ability -- have been asked to aid a group of environmental scientists studying the causes of global warming. The expedition seems like a perfect combination of adventure, activism -- and escaping government forces who watch the Flock like a hawk.

But even in Antarctica, trapped in the harshest weather on our planet, Maximum Ride is an irresistible target in constant danger. For whoever controls her powers could also control the world. Maximum Ride is James Patterson's greatest character, a heroine who manages to be human and fearless at once.

                                           Smee Bucket- This is the 4th book in the Maximum Ride series, and if you ask me, the series should have ended with book 3. In fact, book 3 seemed like a conclusion. This book reads a lot as if Patterson was pressured into continuing the series by fans and by parents who didn't like hos portrayal of scientists in earlier books. Basically, Max and her flock must save the world from Global Warming, and along the way they learn that not all scientists are bad guys. I thought I was reading an action-novel. Whether or not you believe/support global warming, this book's content, plot, and mood is very different from the earlier books, which is annoying. 

Rating: 2 out of 10

Gone

Gone by Michael Grant 

In the blink of an eye, everyone disappears. Gone. Except for the young.

There are teens, but not one single adult. Just as suddenly, there are no phones, no internet, no television. No way to get help. And no way to figure out what's happened.

Hunger threatens. Bullies rule. A sinister creature lurks. Animals are mutating. And the teens themselves are changing, developing new talents—unimaginable, dangerous, deadly powers—that grow stronger by the day. It's a terrifying new world. Sides are being chosen, a fight is shaping up. Townies against rich kids. Bullies against the weak. Powerful against powerless. And time is running out: On your birthday, you disappear just like everyone else...

                             When I first read this book, I was amazed! I read the book with a day and was completely obsessed! I love the way the book is laid out. It shows the point of views of many characters. There is a lot of plot twists and surprises the way throughout the book. The characters come alive with their detailed personalities and emotions. I highly recommend this book and the others in this series. 

Rating: 10 out of 10

A Storm of Swords

A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin

Of the five contenders for power, one is dead, another in disfavor, and still the wars rage as alliances are made and broken. Joffrey sits on the Iron Throne, the uneasy ruler of of the Seven Kingdoms. His most bitter rival, Lord Stannis, stands defeated and disgraced, victim of the sorceress who holds him in her thrall. Young Robb still rules the North from the fortress of Riverrun. Meanwhile, making her way across a blood-drenched continent is the exiled queen, Daenerys, mistress of the only three dragons still left in the world. And as opposing forces manoeuver for the final showdown, an army of barbaric wildlings arrives from the outermost limits of civilization, accompanied by a horde of mythical Others—a supernatural army of the living dead whose animated corpses are unstoppable. As the future of the land hangs in the balance, no one will rest until the Seven Kingdoms have exploded in a veritable storm of swords...

                                       Mary Joy- This novel suffers from some middle-chapter dryness. A relatively slow, plodding plot is punctuated with shockers like the Red Wedding, which, while good on their own, do little to rescue the story. While this book is certainly interesting, it's nowhere near the level of the first two. While I personally did not enjoy the book that much, I encourage readers to push through it, because the story definitely picks up in the novels that follow.


Rating: 6.5 out of 10

A Clash of Kings

A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin

Time is out of joint. The summer of peace and plenty, ten years long, is drawing to a close, and the harsh, chill winter approaches like an angry beast. Two great leaders—Lord Eddard Stark and Robert Baratheon;who held sway over an age of enforced peace are dead...victims of royal treachery. Now, from the ancient citadel of Dragonstone to the forbidding shores of Winterfell, chaos reigns, as pretenders to the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms prepare to stake their claims through tempest, turmoil, and war. 

As a prophecy of doom cuts across the sky;a comet the color of blood and flame;six factions struggle for control of a divided land. Eddard;s son Robb has declared himself King in the North. In the south, Joffrey, the heir apparent, rules in name only, victim of the scheming courtiers who teem over King's Landing. Robert's two brothers each seek their own dominion, while a disfavored house turns once more to conquest. And a continent away, an exiled queen, the Mother of Dragons, risks everything to lead her precious brood across a hard hot desert to win back the crown that is rightfully hers. 

                                           Mary Joy-This book has a lot to live up to after "A Game of Thrones", and it certainly does. The struggles its characters face in the first novel become more pronounced in this book, and the series' plot begins to thicken over again. "A Clash of Kings" is an impressive book, just as or at least very nearly as good as "A Game of Thrones".

 

 

Rating: 8 out of 10 

                               

The Color Purple

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

Taking place mostly in rural Georgia, the story focuses on the life of women of color in the southern United States in the 1930s, addressing numerous issues including their exceedingly low position in American social culture. The novel has been the frequent target of censors and appears on the American Library Association list of the 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2000-2009 at number seventeen because of the sometimes explicit content, particularly in terms of violence.

                                   Madi McDade- The book over all was a good description of the life after slavery ended in the deep south. The book portrayed the abuse and inequality felt by black people, but also repression of women by men. I gave the book a 7 because it is hard to read because the writer, writes as if she is the main character speaking. She uses improper, southern style English which is hard to understand. Finally it is a very graphic novel, hard to get through at times, but overall a good read, 

Rating: 7 out of 10

Animal Farm

Animal Farm by George Orwell

As ferociously fresh as it was more than a half century ago, this remarkable allegory of a downtrodden society of overworked, mistreated animals and their quest to create a paradise of progress, justice, and equality is one of the most scathing satires ever published. As readers witness the rise and bloody fall of the revolutionary animals, they begin to recognize the seeds of totalitarianism in the most idealistic organization and in the most charismatic leaders, the souls of the cruelest oppressors.

                                       iv-why?- After reading this novel in my English 12 class, I can honestly say that I won't be reading this book again... The story line was very predictable and the plot seemed over all a little dry, Yes this book compares to Russian history, but that doesn't really add to the value of the novel. Also, the ending wasn't a big shocker, more a disappointment. Since this book is a literary 'classic', I do recommend that everyone should read it once, but I wouldn't expect anyone to fall in love with this book. 

Rating: 6 out of 10

A Lesseon Before Dying

A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines

A Lesson Before Dying is set in a small Cajun community in the late 1940s. Jefferson, a young black man, is an unwitting party to a liquor store shoot out in which three men are killed; the only survivor, he is convicted of murder and sentenced to death. Grant Wiggins, who left his hometown for the university, has returned to the plantation school to teach. As he struggles with his decision whether to stay or escape to another state, his aunt and Jefferson's godmother persuade him to visit Jefferson in his cell and impart his learning and his pride to Jefferson before his death. In the end, the two men forge a bond as they both come to understand the simple heroism of resisting and defying the expected.


                       Ian Shroyer- It took me a while to get in to this novel, but before I knew it I was anxious to find out what happened next. The story was good, but I loved the theme the most, it had meaning and provoked though. It wasn't someone complaining rather someone giving a lesson. It is a MUST read. Don't listen to the people challenging it, they know nothing of expression and art.


Rating:10 out of 10


                          This book was one of the best books I have ever read. Not only was it a pleasant read, but it was also an amazing lesson that was taught. My teacher said "This book is about scraping away your outer layers and finding who you are" and it couldn't have directed my mind in a better way while reading this book. It truly is an amazing lesson and the characters can have such an impact on the reader that they will for sure shed a tear. HIGHLY recommended!

Rating: 10 out of 10

Lolita

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

Humbert Humbert - scholar, aesthete and romantic - has fallen completely and utterly in love with Lolita Haze, his landlady's gum-snapping, silky skinned twelve-year-old daughter. Reluctantly agreeing to marry Mrs Haze just to be close to Lolita, Humbert suffers greatly in the pursuit of romance; but when Lo herself starts looking for attention elsewhere, he will carry her off on a desperate cross-country misadventure, all in the name of Love. Hilarious, flamboyant, heart-breaking and full of ingenious word play, Lolita is an immaculate, unforgettable masterpiece of obsession, delusion and lust.


                                         Alyssa DeCarlucci- This book is written in a strange, but beautiful way. The entire premise of the book is weird and a bit inappropriate which is why it is a banned book. Although strange, I like how poetically written it is and it makes me want to continue reading. This book overall was good, but is more for older readers because it's content. It could be difficult to understand for younger readers as well.

Rating:7 out of 10

Broken China

Broken China by Lori Aurelia Williams

China Cup Cameron might miss school or fall asleep in class sometimes, but she's trying hard to be a good mother to Amina, her two-year-old daughter. When tragedy befalls the small family, China must quit school and work full-time to make ends meet. But the only place in town that's willing to hire a fourteen-year-old high-school dropout is Obsidian Queens, a strip club, and China is forced to make some difficult and potentially self-destructive decisions.



                        Sheila Fennell: The plot of the story is what really attracted me to it. To be honest I read the first three pages and couldn't put the book down. It starts off so good that you just want to keep reading! The book its self was so good, there were a lot of things I wasn't expecting to happen It made me open my eyes and be grateful for everything I have, unlike the protagonist who has been through so much at the age of 14. I could feel her emotions when she was at  her lowest point. So YES this book is great. If you are looking for a story about real-life things that you can relate to, then "Broken China" is the book for you!

Rating: 10 out of 10

Paper Towns

Paper Towns by John Green

Quentin Jacobsen has spent a lifetime loving the magnificently adventurous Margo Roth Spiegelman from afar. So when she cracks open a window and climbs into his life—dressed like a ninja and summoning him for an ingenious campaign of revenge—he follows. After their all-nighter ends, and a new day breaks, Q arrives at school to discover that Margo, always an enigma, has now become a mystery. But Q soon learns that there are clues—and they're for him. Urged down a disconnected path, the closer he gets, the less Q sees the girl he thought he knew...  


                              Erick Faulk: When I first started "Paper Towns", I was unsure if I'd like it, so I wasn't expecting much. Boy was I wrong! The book starts off with a crazy ride between neighbors Margo and Quentin, driving around and getting revenge on all their enemies. It was so funny that it seemed to be the funniest book I've ever read. Then, it completely turned into a mystery when Margo runs away and is missing the next day. I typically don't like mysteries, but this book was amazing! I won't ruin the ending, but I will say it ends as perfectly as a comedy/mystery/romance can.

Rating: 9 out of 10