Book Review: JUST DON'T FALL

Author: Josh Sundquist
Number of Pages: 336
Publisher: Penguin Books
Release Date: December 17, 2009

Just Don't Fall is the true story of Josh Sundquist, who at age nine was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma, a cancer strain that eventually led to the amputation of his left leg. Who would have thought that this boy from Virginia would someday grow up to be an award-winning Paralympic skier and motivational speaker? Written from his own perspective, Sundquist recounts his life in a way that will make you laugh and cry at the same time.

I have watched Josh Sundquist's videos on Youtube for quite some time now, and I have always wanted to read his book. However, it was only recently that I have finally gotten around to reading it. How I wish I had read it sooner! I have not read many autobiographies or memoirs, but after completing this book I certainly will. Josh Sundquist writes with an excellent voice. I loved the way he changed his writing style as the book progressed, because it started when he was young and ended more towards the present. His writing keeps you engaged throughout the entire story.

Usually I can handle sad books, because I know that they are fictional. However, this was a different case, because these things actually happened to someone. It was heartbreaking, to say the least. But it was also inspiring. If Josh could endure all of these awful things, especially at such a young age, and still achieve amazing things with his life then there is no reason why everyone else can't do the same thing.

Overall, I loved this book. If you have never heard of Josh Sundquist, I encourage you to look him up on Youtube and watch some of his videos. You won't be disappointed!

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

Would I recommend it to a friend?: Absolutely!

Yours,
NutFreeNerd

Book Review: THE RISE OF NINE

Author: Pittacus Lore
Number of Pages: 360
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: August 21, 2012

The members of the Garde who are still living are still running and fighting for their lives. In America Numbers Four and Nine are on the run together, trying to make it to the west coast in order to find their friends. Six is off to Spain, where she hopes to rally together some more Loriens. Three are dead and the ones who remain alive could die at any moment. Who will be next?

With this being the third novel in the I Am Number Four series, I had high hopes for it. I am happy to say that those high expectations were more than met. These books never cease to impress me, with their constant action and plot twists that keep me on the very edge of my seat. I love this series.

With the addition of more members of the guard into play, this book really came to life. The author does such a good job incorporating not only their Legacies (their powers) but most importantly their personalities. The endings of these novels are always especially suspenseful and action-packed. I love reading them, because you never know what is going to happen- and most often you can never predict what will happen, either.

My favorite character is probably Six. She has that tough-girl personality that many female main characters possess, yet she doesn't come off as stereotypical in any way. None of the characters do, because they have so much depth to them. The author does a great job at not only keeping everything fast paced, but at knowing when to slow down a bit and focus on the characters.

Overall, this book was excellent. I can't wait for the next addition to the series to come out!

My Ratings: :0) :0) :0) :0) :0) 5 out of 5 smileys.

Would I recommend it to a friend?: Absolutely! But read the rest of the series first.

Yours,
NutFreeNerd

Book Review: THE GIVER

Author: Lois Lowry
Number of Pages: 179
Publisher: Ember
Release Date: April 26, 1993

Jonas lives in world in which everything is under control. No one has to make important life decisions because they are all made for them. No one has to decide who to marry, what career to pursue, whether or not they should tell their friend an uncomfortable truth- everything is decided for them. So when Jonas is chosen at the Ceremony of Twelve that he will be the new keeper of memories for the Community, he literally has no choice- or does he? In this dystopian future that isn't so far away, Jonas has to decide whether living cautiously or living fully is the right path to take.

It seemed as though everyone had read this book except for me, so I finally decided to pick it up and dive in head-first. This book isn't long at all, so it didn't take long to read. I have to say, for a short book it was very, very good. The Community that Jonas lives in really makes you question how we live today. Is not having to making any life-changing choices the better route for human civilization to take? Is it better to know pain or live entirely without any memory or knowledge of it at all? These are the types of questions you will be constantly asking in your head as you read this novel.

The only thing I didn't like about this book was the ending. It seemed very rushed to me. I won't go into detail about it (Spoilers!) but if you read the book you'll probably understand what I mean. When I flipped to the last page of the book I actually didn't believe that it had ended at first. I thought that there had to be more to it, but it really was the end. But other than that, I really enjoyed this book.

Overall, this was a very good book. I will be reading the rest of this series in the future, hopefully soon.

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

Would I recommend it to a friend?: Yes.

Always,
NutFreeNerd

Book Review: A STUDY IN SCARLET

 Author: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Number of Pages: 108
Publisher: Penguin Classics
Release Date: January 1, 1887

"A Study in Scarlet" is the first published story of one of the most famous literary detectives of all time, Sherlock Holmes. Here Dr. Watson, who has just returned from a war in Afghanistan, meets Sherlock Holmes for the first time when they become flat-mates at the famous 221 B Baker Street. In "A Study in Scarlet" Sherlock Holmes investigates a murder at Lauriston Gardens as Dr. Watson tags along with Holmes while narratively detailing his amazing deductive abilities."
                                                 - Goodreads.com

Very recently I took an interest in reading the Sherlock Holmes stories for one particular reason: I watched both seasons of Sherlock from BBC and fell in love with it. For those of you who don't know, Sherlock is a British television show that puts a modern twist on the original Sherlock Holmes stories. Since the episodes are based off of the books, I decided that I should probably read them. I wasn't expecting that the stories themselves would be fantastic, but that's exactly what I got. Honestly, these stories are SO GOOD!

One of the things that strikes me as unique about these stories is the Holmes and Watson duo. Holmes is such an unlikable character- he's arrogant, a bit rude, and very wacky- that I just can't help but love him. I know that sounds odd, but it's true. I love how oblivious he is to the outside world, and how he doesn't even know that the earth orbits the sun. Then you have sweet, loyal Watson, who is just as likable but in a different way. The way Sherlock Holmes always has to be busy working on a case is good for Watson, because it helps him recuperate from the war. The make the best flat-mates ever!

The other thing I love about these stories is how intricate and complex the mysteries are. Have you ever read a mystery novel and at the end when they tell you how it all worked out you feel like it was too simple? I doubt that will ever happen with these stories. There are so many little details and so much background to the criminals that by the end of the story you feel as though you have known them forever.

Everything is perfectly paced and the writing is flowy and beautiful.Honestly, these stories are amazing! I'll definitely be reading more of them.

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

Would I recommend it to a friend?: YES!

Yours,
NutFreeNerd

Book Review: DEAD END

Author: Jason Myers
Number of Pages: 384
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: June 14, 2011

"All Dru and his girlfriend Gina want to do is get out of their small town of Marshall, Nebraska. With the promise of scholarships and college soon in their future, they are determined to rise above their troubled pasts and make fresh starts. But everything begins to crumble when Gina is raped by the son of the town's richest and most powerful man. The aftermath of this tragedy sends Dru and Gina into a downward spiral of secrets, corruption, and a fight for their lives. All they have left is each other--but sometimes, even that's not enough...."
                                                 - Goodreads.com

This book left me with extremely mixed feelings. The writing style is so easy to comprehend that I whipped through it in about half the time it usually takes me to read a book this size. The writing was almost too simple, like it was written for a middleschooler instead of a teenager in high school. But let's get back to the story- that's what I really wanted to talk about here.

Now, the plot of the story was fairly decent. Although I thought that the ending was a little far-fetched, the basic storyline was good- I'll give Jason Myers that much. HOWEVER, you could hardly even see the plot line because of all of the unnecessary swearing going on. I mean, it wasn't just when characters were speaking. Even the narration had an abundance of swears in it! If you're going to write with an easy writing style, at least refrain from the vulgar language.

Also, I couldn't stand how Dru and Gina called each other "baby" all of the time. Seriously. After everything they said to each other they felt the need to tack on that annoying pet name. A conversation between them was like:

"Hey, baby."
"How you doing, baby?"
"Want some pizza, baby?
"Sure, baby."
"Alright, here's a slice, baby."

Now, that conversation is clearly made up by yours truly, but isn't that annoying? Especially after over three hundred pages.

Overall, this book was merely okay. It had the potential to be a great book, but the excessive swearing and the annoying habits of Dru and Gina got in the way of me being able to fully like this novel.

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

Would I recommend it to a friend?: Not really, no.

Yours,
NutFreeNerd

Book Review: UNWIND

Author: Neal Shusterman
Number of Pages: 335
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Release Date: November 6, 2007

"The Second Civil War was fought over reproductive rights. The chilling resolution: Life is inviolable from the moment of conception until age thirteen. Between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, however, parents can have their child "unwound," whereby all of the child's organs are transplanted into different donors, so life doesn't technically end. Connor is too difficult for his parents to control. Risa, a ward of the state is not enough to be kept alive. And Lev is a tithe, a child conceived and raised to be unwound. Together, they may have a chance to escape and to survive."
                                                   - Goodreads.com

This book was recommended to me by a fellow book-lover, so I knew that it would be pretty good even before I started reading it. And I have to say that it was quite a good book, however it left me with some mixed feelings.

First, let's start with the positives. I really liked the dystopian future that Neal Shusterman set up in this novel. The idea of unwinding is so utterly unique that you can't help but be pulled in. The thing is, I can sort of see something like this happening in the far away, but maybe not-so-far-away future. I mean, if you live in the USA then you have probably seen all of the presidential campaigns adds on TV. One the of the important topics being considered and debated about is abortion, and when life actually begins. Unwind dives into those sorts of topics and issues and really gets to the core of them. This novel really makes you think about your morals and what you as a person believe in. However, it does it in a way that isn't preachy, which I liked.

Even though I really liked this book, it just didn't WOW me. Something was missing from it.... I just couldn't get fully into the story. The character development was there as well as the constant suspense and action, but I kept feeling like something was missing.

Overall, this was a really good book. I'll definitely be reading the sequel soon!

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

Would I recommend it to a friend?: Absolutely!

Yours,
NutFreeNerd

Book Review: WHERE THINGS COME BACK

Author: John Corey Whaley
Number of Pages: 256
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers 
Release Date: May 3, 2011

It is the summer before Cullen Witter's senior year of high school when his life suddenly turns upside-down. One day Cullen's intelligent and utterly unique fifteen year old brother, Gabriel, disappears. At the same time, Cullen's small hometown of Lily, Arkansas begins to obsess about an extinct woodpecker that has apparently somehow reappeared. Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, a young missionary named Benton Sage spreads his faith to the people of a small town in Africa in an attempt to feel happy with his life. When these two stories come together it will be a moment that stirs your soul and that will linger in your mind for days afterward.

When I first picked up this book at my local Barnes and Noble, I expected it to be yet another average story about a teenager's life during that legendary summer before their senior year of high school. Well, Where Things Come Back completely blew that expectation out of the water. I am absolutely shocked that this is John Corey Whaley's first novel, because the story is written in such a way that hints at the author having a lot of experience.

My favorite thing about this book was the way the two stories really began to come together at the end. It's such a good feeling to be reading along and suddenly realize that everything makes sense, and that's exactly the feeling I experienced towards the end of this novel. Also, I really liked Gabriel, Cullen's younger brother. He's just one of those characters that you want to keep reading about. The way he viewed life and how he listened to off-beat music and always read The Catcher in the Rye (by J.D. Salinger) is just really refreshing to me. I wish more authors put that much detail, thought, and depth into their characters.

Overall, this was an awesome book. I hope John Corey Whaley writes another one soon!

My Rating: :0) :0) :0) :0) :0) 5 out of 5 smileys.
Would I recommend it to a friend?: YES.

Yours,
NutFreeNerd

Book Review: CITY OF GLASS

Author: Cassandra Clare
Number of Pages: 541
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Release Date: March 24, 2009

"To save her mother's life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters - never mind that entering the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight.

As Clary uncovers more about her family's past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadowhunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadowhunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he's willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her newfound powers to help save the Glass City - whatever the cost?

Love is a mortal sin and the secrets of the past prove deadly as Clary and Jace face down Valentine in the final installment of the New York Times bestselling trilogy The Mortal Instruments."
                                                                                                      - Goodreads.com

Whenever I finish one of these books I feel so satisfied, like I just ate a huge plate of pasta and now my stomach is completely full. Seriously, that's what it's like. Cassandra Clare really is a fantastic story teller, and the way she creates her plots and develops her characters is truly amazing. This is the third book in The Mortal Instruments series, and I have to say that I am thoroughly impressed. I honestly have nothing bad at all to say about this book, so I'm just going to ramble on about how purely awesome it was.

One thing I really liked about this book was the fact that it is very action-packed and the plot is always moving forward towards that big moment at the end. However, even though it has a lot of action it never seems choppy or like it's moving too quickly. Everything flows nicely and I never have to do a double-take and reread parts that are too confusing or that just don't make sense, because there are not parts like that. Cassandra Clare really is an excellent writer.

Another thing I adore about this book- well, the whole series, really- is the huge abundance of plot twists. I'll be happily reading along when all of a sudden: OH MY GOSH THAT DID NOT JUST HAPPEN. And then I spend several minutes reassuring myself that yes, it did  just happen. These books keep you on your toes like a ballet dancer, and that's saying something.

I loved this book. Really, that's all I can say. I have no complaints about it whatsoever.

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

Would I recommend it to a friend?: ABSOLUTELY. But read the beginning of the series first. Even if you think you don't like fantasy/paranormal/vampires/werewolves, this isn't your typical series of that genre. Seriously, you won't be disappointed!

Always,
NutFreeNerd

Book Review: OCTOBER SKY

Author: Homer H. Hickam Jr.
Number of Pages: 448
Publisher: Dell
Release Date: 1998

Originally published with the title Rocket Boys, this memoir by Homer H. Hickam Jr. recounts his experience as a son of a coal mine superintendent living in Coalwood, West Virginia. The year was 1957, and Homer was inspired by the flight of Sputnik, the Russian satellite, to start building his own mini rockets. He hoped someday that his hard work would get him and his friends all the way to Cape Canaveral, where scientists were working on a way to build rockets that would fly higher and higher.

I remember watching this movie in elementary school, and until recently I had no idea that it was based off of an actual book, never mind a memoir! I had never read a memoir before this, so I was very excited to dive into it.

I loved this book! Hickam's writing style is the perfect balance between description, action, and dialogue, and it makes reading it very enjoyable. I felt like I was there with Homer and his friends building rockets and watching the workers trudge their way to the mine. The story itself is so wonderful that it's hard to believe that it actually occurred in real life. It takes place in such an interesting time in American history, when everyone is both hopeful and a bit sad at the same time. Hickam really incorporates the culture and lifestyle of what it was like to live in a coal mining town in 1950's America, which gives the book a lot more depth and meaning.

Overall, I have nothing bad to say about this book. It was 448 pages of awesomeness! I'm definitely going to watch the movie again soon!

Later,
NutFreeNerd

Book Review: THE LOST HERO

Author: Rick Riordan
Number of Pages: 557
Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children
Release Date: October 12, 2010

Jason is utterly confused when he wakes up on a school bus headed to who-knows-where, next to a girl he is convinced he has never seen before in his life. He doesn't remember anything about his past, and he doesn't even know who he is. Even more perplexing is the fact that the girl-her name is Piper- and a boy named Leo claim that they are all best friends attending the Wilderness School, a boarding school for "troubled" or "bad" kids. Things get even wackier when the trio is attacked during a school field trip by strange creatures they have never seen before. Jason, Leo, and Piper end up getting sent to Camp Half-Blood, a place where the children of gods and goddesses can stay in safety- for the most part. This unique trio then embarks on a quest to make things okay again, if that is even possible.

After reading the Percy Jackson series (also by Rick Riordan) I had very high hopes for this book. I really liked how Riordan incorporated mythology into a contemporary story in a way that was both clever and easy to understand. I hoped that he would not lose that skill when writing this companion-like series, and I was not disappointed! This story has plenty of gods and goddesses woven through it, and not just the Greek ones- you get a taste of Roman ones as well. The gods and goddesses focused on in this novel are different from the ones highlighted in the Percy Jackson series, which I appreciated very much. It seems like this book goes more in depth into the cabins of the gods and goddesses that weren't mentioned a lot previously, which gives you a fuller vision of Camp Half-Blood.

This book was written from perspectives that changed between Piper, Jason, and Leo. This was very different from the way the Percy Jackson series was written (with it being told entirely from Percy's point of view) but I really do think that in this case it worked. I don't think that the story was hindered at all by this. In fact, I think it added a lot more depth to not only the book as a whole but the characters as well.

My favorite character was probably Leo. I felt bad for him sometimes, because he was constantly the odd one out where the trio was concerned, mainly due to the fact that Jason and Piper had a little thing going on. However, he was determined nonetheless, and he always made funny comments and cracked jokes to lighten the mood. To me, he seemed like the most realistic character personality-wise.

While I didn't love this novel quite as much as I loved the Percy Jackson series, it was still a great book! I can't wait to read the next one!

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

Would I recommend it to a friend?: Absolutely!

Yours,
NutFreeNerd

Book Review: THE SECRET LIFE OF PRINCE CHARMING

Author: Deb Caletti
Number of Pages: 352
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: April 7, 2009

"Quinn is surrounded by women who have had their hearts broken. Between her mother, her aunt, and her grandmother, Quinn hears nothing but cautionary tales. She tries to be an optimist -- after all, she's the dependable one, the girl who never makes foolish choices. But when she is abruptly and unceremoniously dumped, Quinn starts to think maybe there really are no good men.
It doesn't help that she's gingerly handling a renewed relationship with her formerly absent father. He's a little bit of a lot of things: charming, selfish, eccentric, lazy...but he's her dad, and Quinn's just happy to have him around again. Until she realizes how horribly he's treated the many women in his life, how he's stolen more than just their hearts. Determined to, for once, take action in her life, Quinn joins forces with the half sister she's never met and the little sister she'll do anything to protect. Together, they set out to right her father's wrongs...and in doing so, begin to uncover what they're really looking for: the truth."
                                                                                              - Goodreads.com

I've read many books by Deb Caletti, and this one was pretty good. I like how all of the characters have a lot of depth to them, and how there's always more than one story going on while the main plot progresses. I think the idea of what Quinn's dad did is odd, but it is original and therefore really sparked my interest most of the way through. Some parts dragged on a bit and were less exciting than other parts, but overall it was quite good.

Another thing I really liked about this novel was how all of the female characters would give excerpts at random times about their past love experiences. It added a lot more "oomph" to the story, and towards the end you realized some connections between many of the women. Some of the stories of the older women were pretty funny, and actually had me laughing out loud. Deb Caletti's writing is so detailed and real that it makes you believe, if only for a moment, that Quinn's mother and grandmother and aunt are all real women, and that there experiences are ones that actually happened in the actual world. And then you look up from the book and remember that the stories are just words on a page, words that have the power to change the way you think. That's the way I look at it, anyways.

Overall, this book was great, but not as good as some of Deb Caletti's other books.

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

Would I recommend it to a friend?: Yes!

Yours,
NutFreeNerd

Book Review: SALT: A WORLD HISTORY

Author: Mark Kurlansky
Number of Pages: 484
Publisher: Penguin Books
Release Date: January 2002

In his book Salt: A World History, Mark Kurlansky tells the tale of the only rock humans eat as it goes through time. He recounts how salt fluctuates in value, means completely different things to different people and cultures, and how it ultimately changes history time and time again.

First of all, let me start out by saying how impressed I was that someone actually wrote an entire, substantially sized book about SALT. I mean, who has the time- or the motivation- to do that? Apparently Mark Kurlansky had both, because this was actually a pretty enjoyable book to read. I learned so much about salt from this novel (too much about salt? Maybe.) and it forced me to look at such a common, everyday item from a different perspective. Who knew that salt influenced history so drastically? It makes me wonder about the vast histories of other items that I use every day.

However, while I did enjoy this book, there are also some negative aspects to it. I mean, let's be frank: reading about a rock for upwards of four hundred pages can get sort of boring after a while. But I don't think that is necessarily the fault of Mark Kurlansky- I think that no matter who wrote about salt, the book would always be a bit boring. (Well.... except maybe if John Green wrote it. :))
Anyways, other than the fact that this book was boring in some parts and dragged on a bit, it was quite entertaining.

It is to my understanding that Mark Kurlansky has written other books pertaining to world history.... I'm still deciding if I want to read them or not, though. Overall, this was a great book!

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

Would I recommend it to a friend?: Yes, if they enjoyed reading non-fiction books or had some obsession or love of salt. Otherwise they probably wouldn't enjoy this book much.

Later,
NutFreeNerd

Book Review: THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER

Author: Stephen Chbosky
Number of Pages: 213
Publisher: Pocket Books
Release Date: January 1, 1999

This is the story of Charlie, a fifteen-year-old freshman in high school who is lost without a friend- that is, until he meets Patrick and Sam (step-siblings, both seniors) and they take him in as one of their group. This is the story of Charlie, who is still grieving over the death of his beloved aunt, who seemed to understand him in a way that no one else did. This is the story of Charlie, who goes through so much that at times he just doesn't know what to say. But most importantly, this is the story of Charlie, who seems to be both a wallflower and the star of the show at the same time.

I have wanted to read this book for the longest time, but I just haven't gotten around to it. When I heard this book was going to be a movie I was like "Okay, I have to read it before I go see the movie," because of course I'm going to go see the movie- Emma Watson is in it! And for all of you who don't know who Emma Watson is, I have two words for you: HERMIONE GRANGER.

I've heard a lot of mixed reviews about this book. Mostly the reviews I've read or heard are from people who either love this book or hate it. I would say I'm somewhere in the middle. This book reminded me a lot of The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, which is sort of funny because it mentions it in the story quite a bit. The main character, Charlie, is lonely and likes to think a lot and has a family that isn't very supportive. But I would say that The Perks of Being a Wallflower is more positive and hopeful in a way than The Catcher in the Rye, because Charlie eventually finds his niche and seems to have a sense of belonging, even if that feeling is small.

I have this thing for books that are set in the 90's, so this was quite enjoyable for me to read. I like how much more simple everything was a decade or so ago, when instead of texting people or looking them up on Facebook you would get their number and call them or actually talk to them face to face. I also liked this book because it was relatable, even to me, being the type of person who doesn't do drugs or hang out with those type of people or have a family who isn't supportive. I was still able to connect with it despite all these things, because I think that deep down inside we all feel like a wallflower sometimes. And that's something that makes this book so utterly relatable.

However, there were some things that I didn't like about the book. Parts of it felt exaggerated to me, like how Charlie would break down crying in public all the time over the littlest of things. I can't really imagine a fifteen year old boy doing that. Also, some parts were dragged on a lot, and were sort of slow. But other than that, this book was really good.

I can't wait to see the movie, because it will be interesting to see which parts they keep and which parts they leave out. This is one of those books that makes you think. It's also one of those books that lingers there in the back of your mind for days after you finish reading it. At least, that's what this book is for me.

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

Would I recommend it to a friend?: Yes.

Always,
NutFreeNerd

Book Review: THE RESTAURANT AT THE END OF THE UNIVERSE

Author: Douglas Adams
Number of Pages: 256
Publisher: Del Ray
Release Date: April 26, 2005

"Facing annihilation at the hands of the warlike Vogons is a curious time to have a craving for tea. It could only happen to the cosmically displaced Arthur Dent and his curious comrades in arms as they hurtle across space powered by pure improbability and desperately in search of a place to eat.
Among Arthur's motley shipmates are Ford Prefect, a longtime friend and expert contributor to the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy; Zaphod Beeblebrox, the three-armed, two-headed ex-president of the galaxy; Tricia McMillan, a fellow Earth refugee who's gone native (her name is Trillian now); and Marvin, the moody android who suffers nothing and no one very gladly. Their destination? The ultimate hot spot for an evening of apocalyptic entertainment and fine dining, where the food (literally) speaks for itself.
Will they make it? The answer: hard to say. But bear in mind that the Hitchhiker's Guide deleted the term "Future Perfect" from its pages, since it was discovered not to be!"
                                                                                                              - Goodreads.com

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, with is being a sequel and all. But I have to say that it was pretty good. The idea of a restaurant that is literally at the end of the universe is really cool- I mean, who comes up with ideas like that? That's one of the reasons why I like these books- Douglas Adams has really interesting and unique ideas that not only make you laugh, but also make you think a little.

This sequel was very funny and kept me turning the pages the entire way through. However, compared to the first one, I don't think it was as good. There was just something about The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy that I really liked. Still, 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 they would have to read the first book first, obviously. Otherwise they would be TOTALLY lost.

Yours,
NutFreeNerd

Book Review: HATE LIST

Author: Jennifer Brown
Number of Pages: 405
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Release Date: September 1, 2009

One morning Valerie Leftman's boyfriend, Nick Levil, opened fire in school and killed several students before eventually shooting himself. Not only is Valerie still grieving for Nick five months later, but she is also dealing with the complicated aftermath of the shooting. Valerie had jumped in front of another girl to stop the shooting, taking a bullet to her thigh in the process. But few thought of her as a hero, because Valerie had worked with Nick to build a Hate List. Valerie thought of it as a joke- she never really thought anything would come of it, and she certainly didn't want anyone to die. Nick however, had used the Hate List to choose his targets. When everyone suspects you of a crime you didn't commit, will you ever feel as though you are forgiven?

Before reading Hate List I had never read a book about a school shooting, so I wasn't entirely sure of what to expect. What I thought would be a lot of depressing rambling crunched into the form of a book turned out to be a fantastic novel that really made me think. It was very sad, but there was a lot of hope and happiness in it as well. This book really exceeded my initial expectations.

The fact that this book was written from the point of view of Valerie, the girlfriend of the shooter, made it a lot more interesting to read. Anyone in that position must be feeling emotions that are so contradictory- I don't know how they would handle it. Should you hate him? But he was your boyfriend.... But he killed several people.... But he was so nice to you.....? It must have posed a challenge for the author to write from this perspective, but I think that Jennifer Brown did an excellent job.

Overall, this was a really great book!

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

Would I recommend it to a friend?: Definitely. Actually, the reason I read this was because a friend recommended it to me.

Yours,
NutFreeNerd

Book Review: SERAPHINA

Author: Rachel Hatman
Number of Pages: 467
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Release Date: July 10, 2012

"Four decades of peace have done little to ease the mistrust between humans and dragons in the kingdom of Goredd. Folding themselves into human shape, dragons attend court as ambassadors, and lend their rational, mathematical minds to universities as scholars and teachers. As the treaty's anniversary draws near, however, tensions are high.

Seraphina Dombegh has reason to fear both sides. An unusually gifted musician, she joins the court just as a member of the royal family is murdered—in suspiciously draconian fashion. Seraphina is drawn into the investigation, partnering with the captain of the Queen's Guard, the dangerously perceptive Prince Lucian Kiggs. While they begin to uncover hints of a sinister plot to destroy the peace, Seraphina struggles to protect her own secret, the secret behind her musical gift, one so terrible that its discovery could mean her very life."

This novel reminded me a lot of Graceling, Fire, and Bitterblue, all by Kristin Cashore. I think it was a mixture of the same writing style and the type of fantasy that it was- which is not at all a bad thing! This kind of castle-and-dragons-and-action-and-fighting fantasy really pulls you in and doesn't let you go. There are so many little details in the plot that all come full circle eventually-something that always make me smile.

Rachel Hartman's unique view on dragons was very interesting and different from other fantasy novels including dragons, such as Eragon by Christopher Paolini (where people ride dragons). Instead, Hartman's dragons can actually take on human form, and they live alongside humans (not that the humans particularly like it). This creative twist on an old subject was very refreshing because it didn't feel like I was reading a book I'd read before. AND THE TWIST AT THE END! You think you know who the culprit is, but NO! IT'S NOT WHO YOU THINK IT IS! I love when books have twists like that!

Overall, this was a really excellent book. I hope there will be a sequel!!!

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

Would I recommend it to a friend?: If they enjoyed reading fantasy novels, then absolutely!

Yours,
NutFreeNerd

Book Review: WHY WE BROKE UP

Author: Daniel Handler
Number of Pages: 354
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Release Date: December 27, 2011

Why We Broke Up is the story of Min Green and Ed Slaterton's relationship, as told in the form of a letter written by Min to Ed. She puts a box on Ed's doorstep containing souvenirs from their now over relationship, letting him know exactly why they broke up.

Maybe it's just because I don't really read a lot of books about break-ups, but I thought that this was a very cool concept. I mean, how many times have I wanted to write an angry letter to someone and then dump everything that we've ever shared on their doorstep? It's something that a lot of people can relate to. This book is also very neat because it has color pictures of the objects in the box. How many YA books these days have color pictures? Not many, that's for sure.

For all of it's coolness, however, the story was only average. It kept me interested and entertained (for the most part), but it didn't wow me. Nothing about it screamed, "Read me over and over again!" and it didn't stick in my mind once I was finished reading it. There wasn't really anything extraordinary about it.

Overall, this was a good book, but not one of my favorites.

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

Would I recommend it to a friend?: Yes.

Always,
NutFreeNerd

Book Review: THE KILL ORDER

Author: James Dashner
Number of Pages: 336
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Release Date: August 14, 2012

"The prequel to the New York Times bestselling Maze Runner series.
Before WICKED was formed, before the Glade was built, before Thomas entered the Maze, sun flares hit the earth and mankind fell to disease.
Mark and Trina were there when it happened, and they survived. But surviving the sun flares was easy compared to what came next. Now a disease of rage and lunacy races across the eastern United States, and there’s something suspicious about its origin. Worse yet, it’s mutating, and all evidence suggests that it will bring humanity to its knees.
Mark and Trina are convinced there’s a way to save those left living from descending into madness. And they’re determined to find it—if they can stay alive. Because in this new, devastated world, every life has a price. And to some, you’re worth more dead than alive."
                                                                                             - Goodreads.com

I'm really at a loss for words. I don't know how to convey my disappointment in not only this novel, the entire series as a whole. This series started out great- The Maze Runner is a fantastic book- but it just went downhill from there. When I first heard that James Dashner was writing a prequel to the series to clear up some confusion and answer some questions I was excited. I though it was a great idea. However, after actually reading the book, I am SO DISAPPOINTED.

Let me start off by saying that by itself, The Kill Order actually wouldn't have been that bad. In other words, if it wasn't associated with the Maze Runner series and if it wasn't the prequel to that series, it would have been a very mediocre book. Okay, so the ending cut off so abruptly that it left my head spinning, and you never really find out who lives and who doesn't, but despite those things it would have been a very average novel. The thing that makes me so upset is that THIS ANSWERED HARDLY ANY QUESTIONS AT ALL ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MAZE RUNNER GANG BEFORE THEY LOST THEIR MEMORIES!!! The only time they even mentioned them was in the too short prologue and the even shorter epilogue, but that's it. It's hard to say if James Dashner even knows the answer to these questions, or if he was just making it up as he wrote the series and he actually has no clue at all.

I think it's obvious that I am very angry. The only reason I'm not giving this book a horrific rating is because it was a good book by itself, if you forget that it's supposed to answer questions and clarify things that happened in the series that it is a prequel to. Honestly, it makes me sad that this series ended up the way it did. The Maze Runner was an awesome book, and the series had so much potential. I really don't know what was running through James Dashner's mind when he wrote the rest of the series.

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

Would I recommend it to a friend?: Hmmm....I would recommend this to them if they had already read the series... might as well finish it up, right? But otherwise, no. Probably not.

Yours,
NutFreeNerd

Book Review: LOVE & LEFTOVERS

Author: Sarah Tregay
Number of Pages: 432
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Release Date: December 27, 2011

When Marcie's parents get divorced, her life changes drastically. She is forced to move to New Hampshire with her mother, leaving her father behind in Idaho. But that's not all she's leaving behind. Back in Idaho is a group of friends called the Leftovers- teenagers who don't quite fit in with any particular clique at school. Among these Leftovers is Marcie's boyfriend, Linus. So when a cute boy at her new school starts bringing her breakfast and treating her like more of a friend, Marcie isn't quite sure what to do. She should keep in mind that she has a boyfriend- but will she?

I absolutely loved this book. First, it was written in the form of poetry, which was different from most books. However, for this story it totally worked. It let a lot more emotion shine through the writing, instead of getting bogged down with the little details. Also, the whole idea of a group called the Leftovers is something that I think a lot of teenagers can relate to- well, it's something I can relate to, anyway. I felt like the feelings and emotions in this book were realistic for what Marcie was going through. Nothing about the plot felt forced or like it was choppy. All the events flowed with the ease of cause-and-effect. As you can probably tell, I adore Sarah Tregay's writing style!

Love and Leftover's had a really good ending in my opinion- it wasn't too fairy tale happy, yet it still left me feeling satisfied that everything was wrapped up. I guess the word for it would be bittersweet. Overall, this was a really great book!

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

Would I recommend it to a friend?: YES!

Always,
NutFreeNerd

Book Review: THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY

Author: Douglas Adams
Number of Pages: 216
Publisher: Del Ray
Release Date: 1979

"Seconds before the Earth is demolished to make way for a galactic freeway, Arthur Dent is plucked off the planet by his friend Ford Prefect, a researcher for the revised edition of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy who, for the last fifteen years, has been posing as an out-of-work actor.
Together this dynamic pair begin a journey through space aided by quotes from The Hitchhiker's Guide ("A towel is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have") and a galaxy-full of fellow travelers: Zaphod Beeblebrox--the two-headed, three-armed ex-hippie and totally out-to-lunch president of the galaxy; Trillian, Zaphod's girlfriend (formally Tricia McMillan), whom Arthur tried to pick up at a cocktail party once upon a time zone; Marvin, a paranoid, brilliant, and chronically depressed robot; Veet Voojagig, a former graduate student who is obsessed with the disappearance of all the ballpoint pens he bought over the years."
                                                                                                  - Goodreads.com

So after many people recommended this book to me, I finally checked it out of the library and read it. And I have to say, I wasn't disappointed. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a funny, silly, and utterly random book. It was very enjoyable to read, and I found myself laughing out loud at it's awesome humor.

My favorite character was probably Ford Prefect. I mean, how cool would it be to travel around in outer space, taking notes and doing research and experiencing things that only few people get to witness? Getting stuck on Earth for fifteen years really stinks, but other than that he really has the coolest job out there.

I really enjoyed this book, even though it was a bit different from the science fiction that I usually read. It was fun and silly but not so random that it didn't make sense.

For all of you who recommended it to me, thank you!

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

Would I recommend it to a friend?: Definitely.

Yours,
NutFreeNerd