Less than a year until the world ends!

Not really. Unless you believe in all that the-world-is-going-to-end-in-2012 stuff. Personally, I just think the Mayans got tired of making their calendar and decided to stop. But that's just me. Either way, the world better not end in 2012, because that would mean never finding out how the Gone series by Michael Grant ends, which would be AWFUL! Seriously, think of all the things we wouldn't get to experience if the world ended in 2012.......scary.

Anyways, I hope you all had a great Christmas/whatever-holiday-you-celebrate! I got a NOOK Tablet, which is AWESOME! If any of you are looking into getting a NOOK, get the tablet!!!! You won't regret it!!!!

Only a few more days until New Year's Day..... where did the time go??? Next year I promise that I will do a lot more posting and reviewing on this blog. PROMISE!!!!! ;) I already have a stack of books just waiting to be read in 2012.

If I don't post again until after Sunday, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!! :D

Hugs,
Aceba

Only a week left!!!

Hello everyone! There is only one week left until Christmas, and I am extremely excited!!!! Of course, if you don't celebrate Christmas, I would like to wish you a happy Whatever-Holiday-You-Celebrate!

Anyways, what did you all ask for for Christmas? I asked for a Nook Tablet, because they are just way too cool! Has it snowed yet where you guys live? We don't have any snow here, but it's really cold. It doesn't really feel like Christmas time, but I guess that's okay.

Look at this awesome picture I found on the internet the other day:

Isn't that great? I especially like the last one. :0)

I know that this has kind of been a really random post, but I'm tired and don't know what else to talk about.

Hugs,

Aceba

Book Review: TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

Author: Harper Lee
Number of Pages: 323
Publisher: Harper Perennial Modern Classics
Release Date: 1960

The unforgettable novel of a childhood in a sleepy Southern town and the crisis of conscience that rocked it, To Kill A Mockingbird became both an instant bestseller and a critical success when it was first published in 1960. It went on to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1961 and was later made into an Academy Award-winning film, also a classic.

Compassionate, dramatic, and deeply moving, To Kill A Mockingbird takes readers to the roots of human behavior - to innocence and experience, kindness and cruelty, love and hatred, humor and pathos. Now with over 18 million copies in print and translated into forty languages, this regional story by a young Alabama woman claims universal appeal. Harper Lee always considered her book to be a simple love story. Today it is regarded as a masterpiece of American literature.
                                                                                                        - Goodreads.com

I read this book with my English class at school and I have to say, I was impressed. The first part of this book sort of dragged on a bit, but as soon as the trial section kicked in I was turning page after page, eager to see what the verdict would be. My favorite part of this novel was the ending- the little twist with Boo Radley really pulled it all together, in my opinion. I now see why this book is an American classic- it was really good!

My Rating: :0) :0) :0) :0) 4 out of 4 smileys. I'm giving this a 4 out of 4 because the ending was sort of slow and not that interesting, in my opinion, anyways. However, the rest of the book was excellent and I really enjoyed it!

Would I recommend it to a friend?: Absolutely. Don't be hesitant to pick up this novel and start reading- once you get into it, it is really good!

Hugs,
Aceba

Book Review: THE TRANSALL SAGA

Author: Gary Paulsen
Number of Pages: 256
Publisher: Laurel Leaf
Release Date: May 11, 1998

Mark's solo camping trip in the desert turns into a terrifying and thrilling odyssey when a mysterious beam of light transports him to another time on what appears to be another planet. As Mark searches for a pathway back to his own time on Earth, he must make a new life in a new world. His encounters with primitive tribes bring the joy of human bonds, but violence and war as well--and, finally, a contest in which he discovers his own startling powers.
                                                                        - Goodreads.com

I was really surprised by this novel. When I read the description of it I thought it might be a little too cheesy and not that realistic. But I actually found it to be a pretty enjoyable read. The epilogue was really good, too- I thought it tied it all off very well. The only thing I didn't like about this book was that it started off really slow and took a little bit to get into. Other than that, this was a really good book!

My Rating: :0) :0) :0) :0) 4 out of 5 smileys.

Would I recommend it to a friend?: Yes, but only if they don't mind reading science fiction/fantasy novels. It's a great book but it's a little out there, and I know some people don't enjoy that type of stuff.

Hugs,
Aceba

Book Review: IT'S NOT LIKE I PLANNED IT THIS WAY

Author: Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Number of Pages: 816
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Release Date: October 5, 2010

The ups and downs of high school life continue in the second and third bind-ups in the Alice series. In It’s Not Like I Planned It This Way, Alice’s sophomore year is chock full of change, from a new living arrangement, to a possible new relationship, to the newfound freedom that comes with driving. And in Please Don’t Be True, the adventure of growing up continues in Alice’s junior year, when she and her friends deal with issues like a pregnancy scare and a heartbreaking good-bye. But no matter what changes, Alice is as relatable as ever.
                                                                 - Goodreads.com

I really liked this book. I liked how it was really realistic- Alice goes through what a lot of girls go through their sophomore year of high school. There were a few things that I didn't like about it, though. First, Alice and her friends are totally boy-crazy. Since I'm not like this, I'm finding it harder and harder to relate to Alice, since, as you know, I am more of a nerd. Also, I thought that the ending was sort of abrupt. Since the book is so long, you would think there would be plenty of time to build up an ending- well, that didn't really happen. Overall, it was a good read.

My Rating: :0) :0) :0) :0) 4 out of 4 smileys.

Would I recommend it to a friend?: Yes, one that has read I Like Him, He Likes Her.

Yours,
Aceba

Book Review: PRETTY LITTLE LIARS (1-4)

Author: Sara Shepard
Pages:
Pretty Little Liars  ~ 286 pages
Flawless ~ 330 pages
Perfect ~ 298 pages
Unbelievable ~ 352 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Dates:
Pretty Little Liars ~ October 1, 2006
Flawless ~ March 15, 2007
Perfect ~ September 1, 2007
Unbelievable ~ June 1, 2008

"Three years ago, Alison disappeared after a slumber party, not to be seen since. Her friends at the elite Pennsylvania school mourned her, but they also breathed secret sighs of relief. Each of them guarded a secret that only Alison had known. Now they have other dirty little secrets, secrets that could sink them in their gossip-hungry world. When each of them begins receiving anonymous emails and text messages, panic sets in. Are they being betrayed by some one in their circle? Worse yet: Is Alison back? A strong launch for a suspenseful series."
                                                        - Excerpt from Goodreads.com
These books are awesome! I have to say, I wasn't sure about reading them at first. I'm usually not one for the Gossip Girl-esque books filled with drama and stuff, but this one has me hooked! It's not so much the drama that I find interesting, but the whole murder plot back story thing with Alison. I love how everything is weaved together, and how there are so many teeny tiny details that have to fit perfectly into place. I give Sara Shepard a lot of credit!
I love the idea of a stalker sending anonymous messages. Not that I would want it happening to me, but I think it's a unique concept that is different from a lot of other books. However, if this series did not have the mystery of Alison's murder included in it, I probably wouldn't read them. The writing is good, but again, I'm just not one to fall in love with the drama.

As much as I love these books, I really don't think that the series should continue on past these four books. What, is it just going to drag on forever? I mean, I'm definitely going to read the rest of the series, but you don't necessarily have to. I think these four books are perfectly fine on their own.

My Rating:
Pretty Little Liars ~ :0) :0) :0) :0) :0) 5 out of 5 smileys.
Flawless ~ :0) :0) :0) :0) :0) 5 out of 5 smileys.
Perfect ~ :0) :0) :0) :0) :0) 5 out of 5 smileys.
Unbelievable ~ :0) :0) :0) :0) :0) 5 out of 5 smileys.
I give the series an overall 5 out of 5 smileys. These are some really awesome books!

Would I recommend it to a friend?: Yes, but only if they a.) are a girl b.) don't mind a bit of drama and c.) like mysteries. I don't think guys would find this book enjoyable to read AT ALL. I mean, I could be wrong, but I don't think they would like it. There's a lot of drama in it as I explained before, so they would have to be okay with that. Lastly, it's more of a mystery series than anything else, so if you don't like mystery, you might not like these books. But yes, I would absolutely recommend this series to a friend.

And just in case you guys are wondering...

NO, I do not watch the TV show.

Personally, I don't think that books should be made into TV shows, because ultimately it will end up running out the material because the books will end, and then it will turn into something that the books were totally not, and it just doesn't end well. Movies from books are completely okay, but TV shows just aren't. That's just how I feel about it though.

Yours,
Aceba

100 Books!!!!!!!

Hello everyone! If you live in the U.S., I hope you had an awesome (and yummy) Thanksgiving!!!! I just wanted to say that I have FINALLY reached my goal of reading 100 books in 2011! I've had no school for the past few days due to the Thanksgiving holiday, so I've been reading like a mad-woman. To see a complete list of the books I've read so far this year, go to the 2011 Booklist page. I'm planning to read at least two or three more books this year, so I'll still be adding on to the list.

What were your reading goals for 2011? Are you ahead, on track, or way behind? Let me know! I love hearing about other people's reading adventures. Also, what do you think you reading goal will be for 2012? I'm still deciding whether or not I want to increase my goal, keep it the way it is, or lessen it. I'll probably keep it the way it is.

I have a lot of reviews to finish writing and to post, so stay tuned!

Hugs,
Aceba

Book Review: I LIKE HIM, HE LIKES HER

Author: Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Number of Pages: 630
Publisher: Atheneum
Release Date: May 18, 2010

Alice is a freshman in high school. She has high hopes for the start of high school- one of those hopes is to keep her beloved boyfriend, Patrick. Unfortunately, Patrick has other plans. Soon he starts going out with a girl named Penny, leaving Alice alone- well, not totally alone, right? I mean, she still has her two best friends, Elizabeth and Pamela...or does she? Lately they have been avoiding her at school and whispering to each other whenever she walks by. All too soon Alice's hopes for freshman year are squashed. Well, maybe sophomore year will be better.

This was a great book! I could relate to a lot of what Alice is feeling and what she was going through. There was just enough drama in this book to make it seem realistic, which I appreciated. I found Alice herself to be a very funny narrator. The only thing I didn't like about this book was that it wasn't very unique- do you know how many books there are about girls having boyfriend issues? A lot. Nevertheless, I am definitely going to read the sequel, It's Not Like I Planned It This Way.

My Rating: :0) :0) :0) :0) 4 out of 5 smileys.

Would I recommend it to a friend?: Definitely.

Hugs,
Aceba

Book Review: THE CENTER OF THE WORLD

Author: Andreas Steinhofel
Number of Pages: 467
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: May, 2005

Phil is a seventeen-year-old boy who lives with Glass (his mom) and Dianne (his sister) in a huge house they call Visible. Phil has always been sort of an outsider among his peers- his mother has a reputation for having affairs and Phil himself is gay. When Phil meets Nicholas, a mysterious boy in his class, Phil knows that he can't just stand still anymore- he needs to move. This is a story of self-discovery, self-worth, and most importantly, love.

I absolutely loved this book! The writing was simply amazing! There was so much imagery and description in this book that I felt like I was actually there in Visible standing next to Phil. This story is unique and altogether fantastic. There are som many twists and turns and the ending is just wonderful. All of the characters are different, and Phil is just adorable!

Rating: :0) :0) :0) :0) :0) 5 out of 5 smileys. This book is a five-smiley book, hands down!!! I really wish there was a sequel, but I don't think there is.

Would I recommend it to a friend?: Absolutely!!!! If you haven't read this book, READ IT NOW!!! You won't regret it!!!

Yours,
Aceba

I MISSED IT!!!!!!

Oh my gosh I can't believe I missed it!!!
Today was 11/11/11!!!! And I didn't find out about this until like five minutes ago!! I wanted to do something really cool at 11:11 AM on 11/11/11, but now I can't! :(
Did any of you do anything cool for 11/11/11????
I'm going to now take the time to tell you all that I GOT A NEW BOOKCASE!!!! I am extremely happy about this because I have never had a floor-to-ceiling bookcase before, and now I have one in my bedroom! I spent all day today painting it white (I know, a boring color, but what can I say? My bedroom is bright enough as it is.) I'm letting it dry over night and then I will put all my books on it tomorrow. I can't wait!!! :0)
Only one more book to go until I reach my goal of 100 books read in 2011!!!! How are you guys doing on your reading goals???

Hugs,
Aceba

Series Review: THE MAZE RUNNER SERIES

 Author: James Dashner
Number of Pages:
The Maze Runner : 379
The Scorch Trials : 490
The Death Cure : 384
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

The Maze Runner is about boy teenager named Thomas, who wakes up in the middle of the Glade, a village that is surrounded by a huge stone maze. All of the people in the village, the Gladers, are guys as well- until one girl mysteriously appears. No one knows why they are in the Glade, how they got there, or what their life was like before they appeared there. Will the Gladers find their way out of the maze before the Grievers, the monsters that prowl the maze at night, get them? Will they make it out alive? To find out, you must read this amazing book!

I would write a short summary about the next two books in this trilogy, The Scorch Trials and The Death Cure, but I don't want to give anything away. Just trust me when I say that if you like The Maze Runner, you'll love the rest of the series!

This series was absolutely awesome! It's very sci-fi, sort of futuristic, and extremely action-packed and suspenseful. It is sort of graphic, but nothing too bad- and trust me, I can't deal with gory details, and I was fine reading this. It's got a little something for everyone- suspense, fighting scenes, sci-fi monsters, romance, drama, humor- what more could you want?

My Rating:

The Maze Runner ~ :0) :0) :0) :0) :0) 5 out of 5 smileys. This is by far my favorite book in the entire trilogy. I love the concept of the Glade and the Maze. The ending of this book is very fast-paced, but it isn' so confusing that you have no idea what happened. Once you read this book, you'll definitely want to read the rest of the series!!!

The Scorch Trials ~ :0) :0) :0) :0) :0) 5 out of 5 smileys. This was my second favorite book in this trilogy. It picks up right where the last book left off, which I appreciated dearly. The setting is totally different, which mixed things up a bit. The ending of this book is confusing, but once I read it again it completely made sense. I loved the idea of betrayal in this book- Thomas didn't know who to believe, and neither did I. I think it stuck out to me because people are forced to deal with betrayal in real life, and it's interesting to see that the author predicted that in the future, it would still be something we have to deal with.

The Death Cure ~ :0) :0) :0) :0) :0) 5 out of 5 smileys. I have to say that although this book was great, it was my least favorite out of the whole trilogy. What I did like about it was that you learn a lot of the secrets that have been kept from both the characters and you throughout the first two books. Again, betrayal plays out in this book as well, only not as much as it did in the second book. Also, I loved how they made a huge reference at the end of this book to the first book- I can't tell you what it was, because that would ruin the surprise. The ending of this book was very confusing, though. I still don't really know exactly what occurred. I think there could have been a longer epilogue or something. Still, it was a great book.

Overall, I give this series a 5 out of 5 smileys. This is one of my all time favorite series ever!

Would I recommend it to a friend?: Yes, in fact I have recommended it to many of my friends. My brother is actually reading it right now. He doesn't really read books often, but he loves it! IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THIS SERIES, READ IT NOW!!!!!

Luego,
Aceba

Snow in October, among many things...

Hello everyone! First, I would like to thank you all for all of the kind comments I have been recieving lately. I so appreciate everyone who reads this blog and takes time to comments on my posts. So, THANK YOU! :0)

Next on the agenda...

IT SNOWED IN OCTOBER!!!!!

A few days before Halloween we got about 1 to 2 inches of snow where I live. I couldn't believe it! I mean, I do really like winter, but on the other hand I really really really like autumn!!! I wish we could have had more fall. It feels like we are being forced into winter waaaaaayyyy too soon. Did any of you get snow?

Speaking of Halloween, I hope you all had fun dressing up in costumes and trick-or-treating and whatnot. I myself did not partake in trick-or-treating this year, but I did watch Paranormal Activity 1 and 2 with my friends. Let me tell you, those are the best scary movies EVER!!!!!! Even though they are rated R, there is only a little bit of foul language and hardly any violence at all. All of the scariness comes mainly from suspense. Honestly, I have no idea why they are even rated R.

Anyways, I am really sorry that I haven't been posting a lot lately. I know I promised that I would post more frequently, but I am just so busy that I haven't gotten around to it. This time I REALLY promise that I will post more often!

Hugs,
Aceba

Book Review: THE CATCHER IN THE RYE

Author: J.D. Salinger
Number of Pages: 277
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Release Date: 1951

Holden Caulfield is a sixteen year old boy who has been kicked out of several private boarding schools. This is the story of how he gets through an emotional time in his life, one that he goes through mostly alone.

I read this book with my English class last month. I have mixed feelings about this classic. Parts of this book made me want to rip my hair out, especially when all Holden did was ramble on and on about how depressed he was and how he hated watching movies and how he couldn't stand people who were 'phony' and blah blah blah.... I think you get the point. As the book went on I grew to like Holden more, though. However, I particularly liked the ending. It was actually on of the best endings to a book I've ever read. I never expected it.

My Rating: :0) :0) :0) 3 out of 5 smileys. Like I said, I have mixed feelings about this book. It was okay, but definitely not the best book I've ever read.

Would I recommend it to a friend?: Yes. Even though I did not absolutely LOVE it, I would still recommend it to people. I have to say, reading it as a group in my English class did help me understand it a lot more than I would have than if I just read it on my own. So I suggest either getting some friends to read it with you, or ask your English teacher if you can read it as a class.

Hugs,
Aceba

It's Monday...

Hey! Today I have the day off from school, so I am getting caught up on all of my posting. Sorry I haven't been posting a lot lately- I've been so super busy that I'm lucky I've had time to read. I think I mentioned this before, but my science teacher insists on giving us tons of homework every week. I don't know if she thinks science is the only class we have or that we are okay with devoting our lives to her class, but either way she is WRONG. When I grow up I don't want to go into the science field, so why do I have to spend all of this time on science??? Seriously. Something is wrong with American school system.

I just finished reading Pride and Prejudice last night. Boy, that book took me a long time to read. All of the wording is complex, the vocabulary isn't what I'm used to, and they call everyone by their last name, even when there are multiple people with the last name. For example, there are five Bennet sisters, and everyone calls them all Ms. Bennet, and you don't know which one they are referring to. It's so confusing. Besides that, it was very good. I will be posting a full review shortly.

Right now I am reading The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen, because after Pride and Prejudice I definitely need a quick and easy read.

Guess what???? The Death Cure by James Dashner comes out tomorrow!!! I am sooooo excited!!! It is the last book in the amazing trilogy that contained The Maze Runner and The Scorch Trials. I cannot wait to get my hands on that book!!!

By the way, how awesome does that cover look???? Pretty awesome, if you ask me!!!!

So, what have you all been reading lately??? Anything good??? Let me know if there are any books you want me to read or review.

I hope you guys are having a great start of the school year!

Yours,
Aceba

Book Review: SHE'S SO DEAD TO US

Author: Kieran Scott
Number of Pages: 288
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Release Date: May 25, 2010

Ally Ryan's dad made a big mistake years ago in Orchard Hill, causing many wealthy families to lose a lot of their money. When Ally moves back to Orchard Hill years later with her mom, nothing is the same. Everyone hates her for what her dad did- well, except for Jake, the hot guy that lives in her old house. Can Jake help Ally realize that you can still have a great life without a lot of money???

This book was very good. It switched back and forth between the perspectives of Ally and Ryan, and that brought a little more depth into the book. I liked seeing what both characters thought about the same dilemma. Also, this book was separated into months of the year, which I liked. The only complaint I have about this book is that the ending was very abrupt and seemed rushed. Nevertheless, I will definitely be reading the second book in this trilogy, He's So Not Worth It.

Rating: :0) :0) :0) :0) 4 out of 5 smileys.

Would I recommend it to a friend???: Yes!

Later,
Aceba

Book Review: THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE

Author: Jandy Nelson
Number of Pages: 272
Publisher: Dial
Release Date: March 9, 2010

Lennie Walker is seventeen when her older sister, Bailey, dies. Bailey was everything to Lennie, so when she is suddenly no longer there, Lennie falls apart. All of a sudden there are two guys in her life- Toby, Bailey's boyfriend before she passed away, is showing an interest in her, and Joe, the new guy in her town, is a musical genius and irresistible to all females in a 20 mile radius of him. How long can Lennie keep this double guy thing going? Will she prevail, or will her life come crashing down around her, just as it did when Bailey died?

The Sky is Everywhere is SUCH a good book!!!! It's very realistic, and I can see myself making some of the decisions that Lennie makes if I was in her position. My favorite character by far is Joe. I mean, who doesn't love a romantic, musical genius of a guy??? I feel really really really really really bad for him when- well, I guess you'll find out when you read it. Because you have to read it. Seriously. This book is that good.

Rating: :0) :0) :0) :0) :0) 5 out of 5 smileys. I have no complaints whatsoever about this novel!!!

Would I recommend it to a friend???: Of course!!!! But I don't think this would be particularly entertaining to males, so maybe I would recommend it only to girls.

Yours,
Aceba

Book Review: WELCOME TO THE ARK

Author: Stephanie S. Tolan
Number of Pages: 256
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: 1996

This book is about four very gifted kids named Miranda, Taryn, Doug and Elijah. They are all sent to a mental instituion for individual reasons- Miranda's parents think she's going crazy, Doug commited many crimes and then tried to kill himself, Elijah is found abandoned and is thought to have autism, and Taryn is said to have special powers. Two therapists at the institution select these fours individuals for a new experiment in which all six of them live in a cabin together as a 'family', separated from the outside world until they've all had a chance to heal. But shortly after this experiment begins the four kids discover that together they can do extraordinary things- they might even be able to end the world war of global violence.

Welcome to the Ark was a touching, suspenseful book. I loved how it switched points of view between the four main characters. It kept it interesting and moving forward. I also really liked how each character was so different, yet they all related to each other in some way. This book deals with many issues- discrimination, violence, mental health- and it deals with them in a very realistic way. The ending was very good- it tied everything together really well. The only thing I didn't like about it was that it was slow in some parts. Overall, it was a great book.

Rating: :0) :0) :0) :0) 4 out of 5 smileys

Would I recommend it to a friend?: Yes.

Hugs,
Aceba

Book Review: BEAUTY QUEENS

Author: Libba Bray
Number of Pages: 390
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Release Date: May 24, 2011


You always hear stories about planes crashing and people being stuck on a deserted island in the middle of nowhere. Well, have you ever heard of this happening to 50 beauty pageant queens? Yes, ladies and gentlemen, 50 teenage girls- one from every state in the USA- are stuck on an island by themselves, with no adults there to help them and no way to get in touch with anybody. How will they survive without food, without shelter- without makeup?!?!?! The only way to find out is to read this book!!!
As soon as I heard that Libba Bray had written this book I knew that I just had to read it. I finally checked it out of my town's public library. The plot of this book was totally original and funny. It had me laughing out loud so hard that my mom was like, "Are you ok?" Seriously. Also, even though some of the events in this book might seem random, when you finish reading it you realize that they are all connected and that it all makes sense. I had high expectations for this book, and they were pretty much met. The only thing I did not like about this book was the fact that in some parts it seemed to drag on a little bit. I think the book could have been a bit shorter- I mean, I absolutely love long books, but I don't think this one needed to be as long as it was. Overall, this was a great read.

Rating: :0) :0) :0) :0) 4 out of 5 smileys.

Would I recommend it to a friend?: Definitely!

Hugs,
Aceba

I'm Back!!!!

Hello everybody!!!! I'm really sorry that I haven't posted in a while- I have been so busy with school work that I haven't had much time for anything lately. Why must teachers give so much homework??? Seriously. I've been spending 10 plus hours every week on science homework alone. That much science isn't healthy for anyone. :)

Anyways, I promise that I will make a bigger effort to post more often this week. I have been reading- don't you worry about that! I have plenty of books that I have to review, so you should be seeing those soon. Thanks!

Happy September!
Aceba

Book Review: THE MIDNIGHTERS

Author: Scott Westerfeld
Number of Pages:
- The Secret Hour : 297 pages
- Touching Darkness : 439 pages
- Blue Noon : 505 pages
Publisher: Eos

When Jessica Day moves to Bixby, Oklahoma, her life becomes suddenly more complicated. One night she wakes up at midnight and the whole town is bathed in a strange blue light, and everything is still- everything, that is, except for Rex, Jonathan, Melissa, Dess, and the evil darklings. She learns that she is one out of five people in Bixby that was born at the stroke of midnight, therefore she is able to live in the 25th hour of the day, when everyone else is asleep. The darklings are after Jessica because she has a power that could, if used properly, save Bixby from impending doom. But will these five unique teenagers be too late?

I absolutely loved this trilogy!!! It was totally unlike anything I have ever read. The characters are all different and there personalities and morals really change and develope by the end of the third book. Dess was my favorite character- her sarcastic voice made me laugh and her love of numbers made me think about my own relationship with math. My least favorite character was Jonathan- he was just too selfish and he seemed like he didn't care about anyone other than Jessica. As I was reading I really felt like I was in the blue time with them.

I also loved the whole concept of having a secret extra hour in the day, an hour where only you and a few other people were able to roam the streets and do whatever you wanted. Overall, this was a fantastic series and I am so glad that I decided to read it!!!
Rating:
Individually, this is how I rate the books:
- The Secret Hour ~ :0) :0) :0) :0) :0) 5 out of 5 smileys
- Touching Darkness ~  :0) :0) :0) :0) :0) 5 out of 5 smileys
- Blue Noon ~ :0) :0) :0) :0) :0) 5 out of 5 smileys

As a whole trilogy, I rate this series 5 out of 5 smileys!!!!

Would I recommend it to a friend?: Definitely!!!!

Yours,
Aceba

Quote of the Week #13

Here is this week's quote:

"Do not read, as children do, to amuse yourself, or like the ambitious, for the purpose of instruction. No, read in order to live."
                                                     ~  Gustave Flaubert

Hope you like it!!!!!

Yours,
Aceba

School is here

It's that time of year again!!! Make sure you have plenty of pencils and pens, because you're gonna need 'em!

Ugh. So, normally I enjoy school- I'm not going to lie. I'm a huge nerd. But lately there has been one thing that's been holding my love of school at bay.

Homework.

Yeah, I kind of get the concept of homework. You know, reinforcing what we've learned and practicing some more. But I don't get the need for hours and hours of homework at a time. We have lives!!!!

How much homework do you guys get??? I hope it's less than I receive!

Anyways, I'm sorry that I haven't posted in a little bit. I've been busy with school and stuff, and I just haven't gotten the chance. I promise that I will post again sometime this week!

Hugs,
Aceba

Word of the Day!!!!

The man down the street updated his sign again. This time the word is:

TOPLOFTY

meaning: haughty or pretentious

Yours,

Aceba



Book Review: MATCHED

Author: Ally Condie
Number of Pages: 384
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Release Date: November 30, 2010

Seventeen year old Cassia lives in the future, where the Society controls everyone and everything- even who you marry. Around your seventeenth birthday you are Matched with your perfect other half- someone you most likely have never even heard of before. When Cassia is Matched, she sees her best childhood friend on the screen, Xander Carrow- that is, after the screen goes black and Ky Markham's face appears. The Officials tell her that it is just a malfunction- Xander is her true Match. But love knows no rules, and she finds herself falling deeply in love with mysterious Ky. Will she follow the laws of the Society and choose perfect Xander, or will she follow her heart and pick Ky????

This book was AWESOME!!!!! It's sort of reminded me of The Hunger Games because it has the whole futuristic-romance thing going on. I've always been strangely fascinated by the prospect of being forced to marry someone- What would it feel like? What if you hated the person?- not that I would want to be forced to marry someone. This book got me thinking about the future, and how Ally Condie's whole idea of the Society isn't that unlikely. Anything could happen.

Anyways, this was a great book. I can't wait to read the sequel!!!!!!!!

Rating: :0) :0) :0) :0) :0) 5 out of 5 smileys

Would I recommend it to a friend???: Definitely.

Quote of the Week #12

Here is this week's quote:

"It's been my experience that you can nearly always enjoy things if you make up your mind firmly that you will."
                                                                                     ~ L.M. Montgomery

Hope you like it!

Yours,
Aceba

Book Review: PEELED

Author: Joan Bauer
Number of Pages: 256
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Release Date: May 1, 2008

Hildy Biddle's life goal is to become a well-known journalist just like her deceased father. So when a house in her small hometown is claimed to be haunted, she knows that this is the story that could make it or break it for her. When the safety of the town is threatened by this mysterious "ghost", Hildy and the other teenagers working on the high school paper leap into action. All they want it for people to know that truth- how hard can that be? Well, throughout the course of this book, they learn that although getting the truth out can be incredibly hard, it is absolutely worth fighting for.

I really liked this book. It kept my attention for the most part, although there were spots that seemed to drag on a little. There was a perfect balance of mystery, romance, humor, and suspense that made me want to read it all the way through without stopping (which I practically did). It was a little short, but that's okay. Overall, this was an awesome book!
Rating: :0) :0) :0) :0) :0) 5 out of 5 smileys

Would I recommend it to a friend?: Absolutely!

Hugs,
Aceba

Book Review: ALICE, I THINK

Author: Susan Juby
Number of Pages: 320
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: May1, 2004

15 year old Alice has been homeschooled ever since first grade- until now. To please her new counselor Bob, Alice agrees to actually go to school for high school. This novel is written from Alice's point of view as her diary, and in it she writes about all her wacky adventures with her unusual friends and family.

When I first started reading this book I thought that I would like it a lot, but as I read further on I actually began to like it less and less. This book is extremely random, and although it was sometimes very funny, it didn't keep my attention at all. I found myself wanting to just read it all at once to get it over with. To me Alice's personality was totally random, and I really couldn't relate to any of the characters at all. As you can probably tell, I really didn't care for this book at all.

Rating: :0) :0) 2 out of 5 smileys

Would I recommend it to a friend?: Probably not.

Hugs,
Aceba

Book Review: JUST LISTEN

Author: Sarah Dessen
Number of Pages: 384
Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Release Date: April 6, 2006

From the outside, Annabel seems like she has everything she could ever want- a perfect family, a perfect body for modelling, a perfect life. On the inside, however, she is slowly falling apart. The ugly truth she's been holding back about the night she and Sophie became enemies is eating her from the inside out. She's all alone- or is she? Annabel gets to know Owen, a guy with a reputation for being angry and physical, and she realizes that you can't judge a book by its cover. Can Owen help Annabel come to terms with the truth, or will she end up being swallowed whole by reality?

Sarah Dessen is an amazing writer. She turns average girly romances into novels that I actually want to read. Each character is unique, and problems that the main character faces are ones that girls everywhere are dealing with as we speak. There were some slow parts, but nothing that made me want to fall asleep. Some parts were light and funny, while others were more serious and made me want to cry. Overall, this was a fantastic book. This is the third Sarah Dessen novel I have read, and I will absolutely be reading more of them in the future!!!!
Rating: :0) :0) :0) :0) :0) 5 out of 5 smileys.

Would I recommend it to a friend?: Yes!

Hugs,
Aceba

Book Review: THE JULIET CLUB

Author: Suzanne Harper
Number of Pages: 402
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: June 1, 2008

Kate Sanderson has had only one boyfriend, and she is determined never to have another one. In her opinion, love is silly and you will always end up with a broken heart, so why bother? So when she wins an essay contest and is given the chance to go to Verona, Italy for the summer to take part in a Shakespeare seminar, her friends are extremely excited- perhaps she will finally fall in love! Kate, however, is doubtful.Will Kate find love in Italy, or will she return to America unchanged?

The Juliet Club was very enjoyable to read. It had me laughing and hoping desperately that Kate would just relax and let herself be happy. After I finished reading this book I just couldn't stop thinking about it. The author did an excellent job of describing Verona, Italy- it felt like I was actually there watching this story unfold. I loved the clever twist at the end. Overall, this was an awesome read.

Rating: :0) :0) :0) :0) 4 out of 5 smileys

Would I recommend it to a friend?: If they like romance novels, than yes. Otherwise, they probably wouldn't like this book.

Yours,
Aceba

Quote of the Week #11

Hey! Here is this week's quote:

"I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book."
                                                                  ~ Groucho Marx

Hope you like it!

Hugs,
Aceba

Book Review: CLOAKED

Author: Alex Flinn
Number of Pages: 341
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: February 8, 2011

Johnny works in the shop his family has own for generations as a shoe-repairer. He has to work double shifts every day to keep most of the bills sort of payed. His life is at a standstill, and all he wants is some adventure. So when a Princess stays at the hotel where his shop is and asks him to complete a mission to save her brother- who has been turned into a frog by an evil witch- he jumps on the opportunity for a change in scenery. In this mash up of many fairy tales, Johnny embarks on an unusual quest that will keep readers on their toes.

I have seen many of Flinn's books- Cloaked, Beastly, and A Kiss in Time just to name a few- and I loved the idea of twisting classic fairy tales with the modern world as we know it today. When I checked out this book at my town library I originally thought that it was about Red Riding Hood, because she wears a cloak. However, the fairy tales that this novel references to aren't that common (at least, not for where I live), so I was confused quite a lot. There is an explanation in the back of the book that describes all of the fairy tales mentioned, but of course I didn't read this until after because it was in the very back.

As for the story itself, I thought it was lacking something. It seemed somewhat unorganized, though the twist at the end was very clever. It was an okay story, and I'll probably read another of Flinn's novels, but this won't be on my list of best-books-ever. Overall it was an okay read.

Rating: :0) :0) :0) 3 out of 5 smileys.

Would I recommend it to a friend?: Only if they enjoy reading fantasy. If they didn't, they probably wouldn't like this book very much.

Later,
Aceba

Book Review: WILD ROSES

Author: Deb Caletti
Number of Pages: 304
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Release Date: August 30, 2005

Cassie Morgan was just a normal seventeen year old girl- until her parents got divorced and her mother married the famous violinist and composer, Dino Cavalli. Fans of Dino believe that he is an innocent genius, but Cassie knows better; she has to live with him. At home Dino is a whirlwind of emotions- one second he's fine, the next he's fuming with rage. As his condition continues to get worse, Cassie has a hard time trying to keep herself together.

To make things even more complicated, Cassie has fallen in love with Dino's only student, Ian. Ian's a sweet, funny, responsible guy- but even he has his secrets. Will Cassie survive Dino? Will Cassie's relationship survive Dino?

I loved this book. It was simple, funny, and adorably adorable. I play the violin myself, so I understood a lot of the musical aspects of this novel. The relationship between Cassie and Ian was just perfect. I found myself hating Dino more and more as the book went on, and then suddenly I understood why he was the way he was (you'll get what I'm talking about after you read the book). Part of me still doesn't forgive him, though.

Anyways, this was only my second book by Deb Caletti (my first being The Fortunes of Indigo Skye) and I have to say that I L-O-V-E her writing style. The story seems to life-like when written by Deb. I know this sounds really corny, but I had a very hard times putting this book down. I would stop to go do some geometry (yes, I still have homework in the summer) but within half a minute I would be back reading again. I just couldn't get this book out of my head. This is a definite must-read!!!!

Rating: :0) :0) :0) :0) :0) 5 out of 5 smileys

Would I recommend it to a friend?: Of course.

Yours,
Aceba

So sad.

The other day I went to the movie theater with my friends to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 in IMAX 3D. Let me tell you, that movie is AMAZING!!!!!!! They did change a few  details from the books, but it worked to the movie's advantage, so it's all good. I was laughing and crying and feeling happy and sad all at once while watching it. To me, this is by far the best movie in the series!

Despite the pure awesomeness of the movie, I am very sad. After all these years of reading Harry Potter and watching the movies and waiting expectantly for the ending, it feels like the ending has come too soon. I started reading the series when I was in second grade, and it's been a huge part of my life ever since. To see this fantastic series of books and movies finally come to an end.... well, it sort of feels like losing a close friend. *tears* But I know that as fans of Harry Potter, we will continue to keep these characters alive in our own lives.

I encourage you to go out and see the movie- you won't regret it! And if you haven't read the series yet- WELL, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR???? Your public library most likely has all of them (really, what's a library without the Harry Potter series) so go there right now and check out as many of them as your library allows!!!!!!!!

Hugs,
Aceba

Book Review: HOW TO BUILD A HOUSE

Author: Dana Reinhardt
Number of Pages: 240
Release Date: May 27, 2008

Harper's home life is falling apart. Her mother died when Harper was only two years old. Her dad and step-mom are getting divorced. Tess, Harper's step-sister and best friend, no longer wishes to talk to her. So when Harper hears about a summer program for teens in which they build houses, she thinks it is the perfect opportunity to get away from her crazy life at home. She travels to Tennessee to with a bunch of other teenagers from all over the country to build a house for a family who's previous home was destroyed by a tornado. While working alongside Teddy, the son of the family the new house is for, she realizes that maybe love can exist.

Let me start off by saying all of the things that I liked about this novel. First, the general idea of the story was unique and one that I hadn't read about before. Next, I thought that the Harper-Teddy relationship was really cute. Also, it was cool how the author went back and forth between Harper's past and the present.

Now for the stuff that I didn't like about this book. To start, it was really short. I think that an increase in the length would really benefit the story. And there really wasn't a whole lot of detail about the building of the house itself; it was really more about the relationships that grew between all of the teenagers. Another thing: no matter what bad things the teenagers did while in this program (sneaking in a midnight swim, girls bunking in guys' room and vice versa, going out to a pub in the middle of the night when they were supposed to be sleeping) they never got in trouble. Now, I'm not saying that I wanted them to get in trouble, it just doesn't seem very realistic to me.

Overall, I was kind of disappointed with this book. I was really excited to read it, but it just didn't Wow! me.

Rating: :0) :0) :0) 3 out of 5 smileys.

Would I recommend it to a friend?: Probably. I mean, it wasn't a horrible book, just not one of my favorites.

Peace,
Aceba

Book Review: WHAT HAPPENED TO GOODBYE

Author: Sarah Dessen
Number of Pages: 402
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
Release Date: May 10, 2011

Mclean doesn't know who she is. She's remade herself so many times that the real Mclean is almost nonexistent. She's lived with her father ever since her mom ran off and married the new coach of her dad's favorite basketball team, splitting their family apart and leaving Mclean somewhere in the middle. So when Mclean and her dad move to Lakeview, Mclean tries to put on a new personality. However, Mclean finds herself being just that- herself. With the help of Dave, the genius, dorky, cute guy next door, Mclean learns to just be herself, and that a house does not make a home- love does.

Maybe it's because I'm a teenage girl or maybe it's because I can't resist an adorable, down-to-earth love story, or maybe it's a little bit of both, but I absolutely loved this book! This is the second novel by Sarah Dessen that I have read, and I will definitely be reading another one soon!!! I found myself really relating to Mclean. If my parents' marriage suddenly collapsed, I think that I would react in a similar way to Mclean. My favorite character in this book was not Mclean, however, but Dave. He's smart, he's funny, he's dorky, he's cute, and most of all he's always there for his friends. If more people were like Dave, I think the world would be a better place.

This book is a definite must-read!

Rating: :0) :0) :0) :0) :0) 5 out of 5 smileys

Would I recommend it to a friend?: Absolutely!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hugs,
Aceba





Book Review: REVOLUTION

Author: Jennifer Donnelly
Number of Pages: 472
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Release Date: October 12, 2010

Andi Alpers is a senior at the most prestigious high school in Brooklyn. She's depressed and has a broken heart do to the fact that her younger brother, Truman, died not that long ago. She's taking medicine to help her deal with her sadness, but most of the time it isn't enough. These days, music is one of the only things that gets her through life.

When the headmistress at Andi's school threatens to expel her, Andi's father (who is a famous scientist and who is also divorced from her mother) intervenes. Andi is sent to Paris during winter break to get away from home for a little while and to hopefully change her attitude.

When Andi finds an old diary from the French Revolution in an even older guitar case, things turn from bad to worse. As she reads Andi is thrust into a dark story of starvation, poverty, cruelty, and death. Will Andi's depression get worse, or will she be able to make her own revolution?

I really liked this book. I loved the way Donnelly described Andi's need for music in her life. The author weaved music and history almost seamlessly throughout the story. This story had everything- emotion, action, suspense, romance. The only thing I didn't care for was the fact that Andi was almost always negative, and after a while it gets sort of irritating. Other than that, this was a fantastic read!

Rating: :0) :0) :0) :0) 4 out of 5 smileys.

Would I recommend it to a friend?: Absolutely!!!! Especially one who either plays an instrument or who just loves music.

Hugs,
Aceba

Book Review: GOING BOVINE

Author: Libba Bray
Number of Pages: 480
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Release Date: September 22, 2009

Cameron is a sixteen year old guy who could really care less about life. All he wants is to survive high school without having to put too much effort in. His easy-going attitude changes, however, when his is diagnosed with the incurable Mad Cow Disease. It's only when he is told that he is going to die that he realizes something: he really wants to live.

One day in the hospital Cam is visited by Dulcie, a punk angel who tells him that has been chosen to go on a mission that will save the world. But here's the catch: if the mission is completed in the two weeks available, Cam will survive his illness. So, with hope in his heart and his newest friend Gonzo in tow, Cam embarks on a road trip that will- hopefully- save the world.

I have very mixed feelings about this book. On the positive side, it was very funny, the characters were interesting and unique, and there were life lessons weaved in throughout the book. On the negative side, the plot seemed totally random and spontaneous, it seemed very slow and boring in many parts, and the ending was totally confusing- I'm still trying to figure out what exactly happened during the last fifty pages or so. Overall, it was an okay read.

Rating: :0) :0) :0) 3 out of 5 smileys. I was really looking forward to reading this book because it was written by Libba Bray, but once I finished I was sort of disappointed.

Would I recommend it to a friend?: That depends. Personally, I would not recommend it to any of my friends, knowing the sort of books that they like to read. But just because I didn't like this book doesn't mean that you won't! If the description I wrote interests you, don't be afraid to pick this book up and give it a try.

Yours,
Aceba

Quote of the Week #10

Hi everyone! Here is the quote I've picked for this week:

"It is our choices, Harry, that show us what we truly are, far more than our abilities."
                                                               ~ J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

I hope you like it!

Later,
Aceba

It's good to be back...

Hi people! Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I went camping with my family for a week, and I didn't have access to a computer or anything. I have to say, though I do love camping, it's very good to be back!!!

I have a lot of posts to create and put up, but don't worry, I'll get there!!!

Hugs,
Aceba

Book Review: I AM NUMBER FOUR

Author: Pittacus Lore
Number of Pages: 440
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: August 3, 2010

At one point in time, Lorien was a lush, prosperous planet thriving with life. That was all before the Mogadorians attacked and invaded, wiping put all civilization just for their own benefit. Nine people from Lorien were able to escape with their keepers. They traveled to Earth, which is where they now live. Only problem is, the Mogadorians are hunting and killing them.

Numbers One, Two, and Three are dead. John is Number Four.

This book was extremely good!!! It was fast-paced and suspenseful the entire way through. John is a character that I think almost every teenager will be able to relate to, despite the fact that he is an alien. This book has everything in it; romance, suspense, action, fighting, fantasy/sci-fi details- everything! My friend told me that this book is amazing, and now that I have read it I totally have to agree!!! This is a definite must-read this summer!!!

Rating: :0) :0) :0) :0) :0) 5 out of 5 smileys. This book is awesome!!!

Would I recommend it to a friend???: Absolutely!!!! I think that both guys and girls would like this book.

Yours,
Aceba

Quote of the Week #9

Hi people!!! Here is this week's quote:

"I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library."
                                                           ~ Jorge Luis Borges

Enjoy!

Later,
Aceba

Book Review: FOREVER

Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Pages: 386
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Release Date: July 12, 2011

Forever is the final book in this trilogy by Maggie Stiefvater. The first book is Shiver and the second book is Linger.

**********SPOILER ALERT!!!!! IF YOU HAVE NOT FINISHED READING THIS SERIES, DO NOT READ THE REST OF THIS POST!!!!!!!!**************

Grace is still a wolf in the forest of Mercy Falls. Sam is stressed and depressed. Isabel's father is scheduling one massive hunt that will kill all of the wolves. Cole is trying to find the cure to the madness that is their lives. In this suspenseful, romantic conclusion to this amazing series, everyone has their life is on the line.

I loved this series!!!! The relationship that Sam and Grace have is one that every girl dreams of. Maggie's writing style is flawless- I love the fact that she is very descriptive, yet she doesn't lose the personalities of the characters. The biggest surprise for me was the way Cole changed throughout the series. He started out as a guy who was lost inside, someone who didn't seem to care if they lived or died. But by the end of this trilogy it appeared to me that he finally found himself.

The ending of this book wasn't what I was expecting, but it was good nonetheless. It left a lot of room for multiple endings for the characters, which was kind of nice. Overall, this was a fantastic book!!!!!!

My Rating: :0) :0) :0) :0) :0) 5 out of 5 smileys

Would I recommend it to a friend?: Of course!!! This was such a cute series. Normally I'm not a fan of werewolf-type books, but this was amazing! It's a definite must-read!

Hugs,

Aceba

Book Review: THE GEMMA DOYLE SERIES

Author: Libba Bray
Number of Pages:  A Great and Terrible Beauty has 403 pages, Rebel Angels has 548 pages, and The Sweet Far Thing has 819 pages
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

This trilogy is about a sixteen year old girl named Gemma Doyle, who is alive during the Victorian age. Gemma has spent years and years living in India with her family. One day, after an unpleasant fight with her mother, Gemma experiences a strange vision- one that shows her mother committing suicide. Shockingly, her vision comes true.

Gemma is soon sent to England, where she is to attend Spence Academy, an all girl boarding school with a reputation of turning rebellious girls into mature women. It is at Spence Academy that Gemma learns the reasons for her visions and dark secrets about her family's past. Throughout the series Gemma and her friends Felicity, Ann and Pippa are swept up in a tangle of magic, realms, and the dark past of a mysterious all-women society called the Order. It soon becomes Gemma's fate to save the realms from the all-powerful Circe- or at least die trying.

This series was fantastic!!!!!!! There was a perfect balance between historical fiction and fantasy. This series is filled with an abundance of twists and turns that will keep you turning the pages, even when you know you should be doing something else (like sleeping. Yeah, that was a big problem for me ;)). From the very beginning I felt like I could really relate to Gemma and her friends.

Also, I really liked how this series was divided up. Instead of creating a long series with a bunch of shorter books, Libba Bray made it so there were only three, really long books. This is good because you don't have to spend a lot of money buying six books to finish the series. Of course, some series (such as Harry Potter) need to be long because there are just so many details that need to be covered. But I felt that this series was divided up correctly.

My Rating:
~ A Great and Terrible Beauty: :0) :0) :0) :0) :0) 5 out of 5 smileys
~ Rebel Angels: :0) :0) :0) :0) :0) 5 out of 5 smileys
~ The Sweet Far Thing: :0) :0) :0) :0) :0) 5 out of 5 smileys

Rating Overall: :0) :0) :0) :0) :0) 5 out of 5 smileys!!! This series was truly remarkable. These are the first books written by Libba Bray that  I have read, and I will definitely be picking up another one soon!!!!

Would I recommend it to a friend?: Absolutely!!!!! Although I do have to say, I think this is definitely a series that guys probably wouldn't enjoy reading. I could be wrong, but it seems to be more geared towards girls.

Word of the Day!!!!!

He updated his sign today!!!! The new word is:

PROFFER

Which is a proposal or an offer.

Yours,

Aceba

Book Review: A CURSE DARK AS GOLD

Author: Elizabeth C. Bunce
Pages: 396
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books

Charlotte Miller is left to run her family's wool mill when her father dies. Sure, she has her younger sister to help her out and the town of Shearing backing her up, but it's still a lot on her shoulders. Making enough money to pay off her father's debts, dealing with her grief- not to mention the bad luck that seems to always be present at the mill. Stirwaters, the mill the Miller family has owned for generations, is said to be cursed. And on top of all that, she has to try to understand her feelings towards the friendly, irresistible banker named Randall Woodstone.

Then, one day the mysterious Jack Spinner shows up. He offers Charlotte and her younger sister Rosy an amazing deal: he will turn a whole room of straw into golden thread as long as Charlotte gives him her mom's ring. The two sisters agree, and with that one decision their lives will never be the same. Think you know that old fairy tale "Rumplestiltskin"? Think again.

This book started out extremely slowly. The pace didn't really pick up until about a third of the way in. There was nothing in this book that made me go WOW! If you know the story of 'Rumplestiltskin', you basically know the gist of the book. I guessed what was going to happen and sure enough, it did. It was a cute book, but not really my thing.

My Rating: :0) :0) :0) 3 out of 5 smileys.

Would I recommend it to a friend?: Maybe. It depends what age they are. I would say 12 and below is a good age level, and they have to like fantasy.

Hugs,
Aceba

Quote of the Week #8

Here is this week's quote:

"Art is the lie that enables us to realize the truth."
                                                          ~ Pablo Picasso

Enjoy!!!!
Yours,
Aceba

Book Review: THE TOMORROW SERIES

I have recently read the entire 'Tomorrow' series by John Marsden. This series consists of seven books:

1. Tomorrow, When the War Began
2. The Dead of Night
3. A Killing Frost
4. Darkness, Be My Friend
5. Burning For Revenge
6. The Night is for Hunting
7. The Other Side of Dawn

This series is about a group of Australian teenagers written from the point of view of a girl named Ellie, who is among the group. One summer they decide to go camping out in the bush for a few days without any parents. They ask their parents for permission and they say that they can go. So while all of their families are at the Showground for a fair/carnival of some sorts, the teens pack their bags into the Landrover and drive into the bush headed for a basin called Hell, where an old Hermit was said to have lived in a cabin that he built.

But while they are away the unthinkable happens. When they go back to their houses from their innocent camping trip, they find that their houses are abandoned. Their families are nowhere to be found. Many of Ellie's dogs are dead, and it appears that no one has fed them for a few days.

It turns out that they are in the middle of a war zone. Their country has been invaded and their families are being held at the Showground. During the course of this series the teenagers have to fight their way through a terrible war, experiencing loss, love, hatred, betrayal, exhaustion, misery, shock, and surprisingly, happiness. As they fight for their families and friends they become closer as a group (and sometimes farther apart). Will they win the war??? Will they ever be able to see their friends and families again??? Will they even survive??? The only way to find out is to read this suspenseful, action-packed series.

I have to say, this series really surprised me. When I first realized that there were seven books in the series, I was like, Great, now I have to sit through reading all of them just to find out if they survive. But after the first book, I found that I had started to care and feel for the characters, and I just had to find out what happened to them. John Marsden does a great job at narrating the book from a teenage girl's point of view, and you really get to know each and every character. This series did drag on during some parts, but for the most part it was very suspenseful and kept my interest almost the entire way through.

There were a few things that I didn't like about it, though. First, the teenagers plan tons of crazy things they could do to sabotage the people invading their country. This is totally unrealistic, because when you think about it, how can a small group of teenagers bomb an entire bridge over a highway by themselves? How can they go what seems to be days and days without food and water, and without stopping to take a rest? Some of it was just a bit too unrealistic for me. I'm not saying that they didn't suffer, because they definitely did. I'm just saying that in real life I doubt they could have pulled half of that stuff off without a scratch on them. But, I guess why they call it fiction.

If you have a weak stomach when it comes to things gory and gruesome, then this series may not be for you. The teens do acquire many injuries and Ellie writes about them with a good amount of detail. I'm not so good with that kind of stuff and I was fine, but I'm just giving you a heads up.

Also, it seemed as though the series was kind of split in half. When I finished reading the third book, I was like, Oh, that's kind of a crappy ending to the series. I didn't realize that it went on for four more books. If you really wanted to, you could probably just stop reading the series at book three and feel satisfied. I didn't, but some of you probably could.

My Rating: :0) :0) :0) :0) I'm going to give this entire series a 4 out of 5 smileys. Here is how it breaks down book by book:

• Tomorrow, When the War Began : :0) :0) :0) :0) :0) I give this one a 5 out of 5 smileys. It was a great start to the series!
• The Dead of Night : :0) :0) :0) :0) 4 out of 5 smileys.
• A Killing Frost : :0) :0) :0) :0) 4 out of 5 smileys.
• Darkness, Be My Friend : :0) :0) :0) 3 out of 5 smileys. I was kind of disappointed with this one. It seemed like it was just dragging on too much.
• Burning For Revenge : :0) :0) :0) 3 out of 5 smileys. Same with the one before it. To me, it was very slow.
• The Night is for Hunting : :0) :0) :0) :0) 4 out of 5 smileys. This one was a big improvement compared to the fourth and fifth books in this series.
• The Other Side of Dawn : :0) :0) :0) :0) 4 out of 5 smileys. This was an okay end to the series.

Would I recommend it to a friend? : Yes, if he/she was not afraid to read a very long series. This would be a great read for both boys and girls, because it has a lot of action but it also has some romance.

Yours,
Aceba