BOOK JUNKIE: YA Challenge

Showing posts with label YA Challenge. Show all posts

Monday, May 4, 2009

rating: 4 of 5 stars
Are there ever just coincidences in the world?? THis book explores that question as eleven year old Calder is pulled into an adventure involving a stolen Vermeer, a really hip schoolteacher and a grouchy old woman.

It was confusing sometimes, but fun most of the time. There are codes and clues hidden throughout the book and illustrations. I spent a blissful rainy afternoon reading the book and solving the riddles and codes.

The ending didn't do a very good job of explaining WHY some of the coincidences happenned, but I am not super picky, so it didn't bother me all that much.

I plan on passing this to my ten year old next and see what she thinks.

View all my reviews.

Friday, March 20, 2009

Fablehaven

Fablehaven (Book 1)" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170267540m/44652.jpg" border=0> Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

My review

rating: 2 of 5 stars
If any of you have been regulars to my blog you might have noticed that this book has been on and off of my currently reading list about 5 times.

I know, no one has noticed, but it has!

Anyway, I REALLY wanted to enjoy this. My kids loved it and it is an LDS author. But I just didn't get into it. Maybe it is just that fantasy is not my fave genre. I actually hope that it sit because it killed me to just give it 2 stars. Sorry Brandon!!

It is well written, but I just was not engaged by the characters. The kids kept breaking the rules.

Maybe that was the problem. I have 4 teenagers and am not entertained by kids breaking rules because they think the rule makers are doing it just to be random and mean.

Hmm... I may have hit on the problem!!

If you like fantasy I give you the hearty recommendation of Ella and Harrison, who both begged me to read Fablehaven.

If you are at your wits end with your own kids, maybe wait and read it when your grand kids are acting up!!ha ha

View all my reviews.

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Lord of the Flies

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

My review

***SPOILER ALERT***

rating: 2 of 5 stars
I read this in one evening, so maybe I didn't give it enough of a chance but... it was so confusing. I felt like I had started in the middle and then bits and peices were left out.

I was especially confused when Simon was killed. And then my big question; How did they get on the island??

A plane crash? There was no plane. THey talked about a plane and a fire. Why were they all on the plane to start with. WHere were they and where were they going?

If someone has answers, PLEASE enlighten me.

I just didn't get it. ANd I think it is a classic. And I have no idea why it was on my bookshelf or where it came from.

View all my reviews.