The Shapeshifter Series:
These books are about a boy called Dax Jones who can turn into an animal. He gets found by a man called Owen Hind who works for the Government and Dax is taken from his horrible life with his step-mother, to the beauty of Cornwall and the COLA club (Children Of Limitless Ability). As Dax gets further into his life with his new freinds, he faces much danger and many trials. Dax, his best freind Gideon (a telekanetic), and his friends Mia (a healer) and Lisa (a pshychic, a dowser and she gets messages from the dead!) are thrown into a world of adventure as the government comes down hard. There is always the threat of the government hiding the children away somewhere "safe". If you LOVE adventure books; this is really a series of books you should think about reading!
Monday 31 January 2011
Friday 28 January 2011
Saturday 22 January 2011
Friday 21 January 2011
Book Review
Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy
Meet Skulduggery Pleasant. Sure, he may lose his head now and again (in fact, he won his current skull in a poker match), but he is much more than he appears to be—which is good, considering that he is, basically, a skeleton. Skulduggery may be long dead, but he is also a mage who dodged the grave so that he could save the world from an ancient evil. But to defeat it, he'll need the help of a new partner: a not so innocent twelve-year-old girl named Stephanie. That's right, they're the heroes.
Stephanie and Skulduggery are quickly caught up in a battle to stop evil forces from acquiring her recently deceased uncle's most prized possession—the Sceptre of the Ancients. The Ancients were the good guys, an extinct race of uber-magicians from the early days of the earth, and the scepter is their most dangerous weapon, one capable of killing anyone and destroying anything. Back in the day, they used it to banish the bad guys, the evil Faceless Ones. Unfortunately, in the way of bad guys everywhere, the Faceless Ones are staging a comeback and no one besides our two heroes believes in the Faceless Ones, or even that the Sceptre is real.
So Stephanie and Skulduggery set off to find the Sceptre, fend off the minions of the bad guys, beat down vampires and the undead, prove the existence of the Ancients and the Faceless Ones, all while trading snappy, snippy banter worthy of the best screwball comedies.
The kids in my book group LOVE this series of books and couldn't get enough of them. Skulduggery Pleasant is packed full of adventure, horror and comedy and takes your mind on a rollercoater of a ride! You will love all the characters especially Skullduggery and Stephanie. These books really will appeal to everyone one as they include magic, fantasy, horror, crime, mystery and humour. The books are so good that Warner Bros have the rights to the film, and they are in the process of turning the books into a script.
5 out of 5 stars!
Book Review
The Medusa Project by Sophie McKenzie
Just finished the Medusa project: the set-up. I thought it was an enjoyable story that would appeal to young teens. The characters are likable and kids the same age will relate to them easy. Nico is the main character in the book and narrator of the story. We follow Nico on his journey as he discovers his power and learns how to harness and use it. Overall I found the story line to be predictable and although it was entertaining I wasn't gripped by the obvious plot and thought is was a forgettable read. Some people might think I am being harsh in my critic and they may be right as I am older the the books target audience. However, I read allot of junior fiction and comparing to other books for teens I feel this story played it safe the whole way through in every way. This was the first book in the Medusa series but I wont be rushing out to get the next title.
I give this book 2 1/2 stars.
Book Review
Hunger Games- Catching Fire
Catching fire is the second book in the Hunger Games Series. After surviving the games Katniss and Peeta return home to a whole new way of life. Unknown to them though their antics in the arena have started a wave of rebellions across the districts, and although they are no longer being hunted to death for sport they are in even more danger then ever before.
After finishing the first book of the series I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book! Suzanne Collins done a great job of portraying the confusion and emotion of returning home after such a life altering ordeal and it was interesting to see how there lives changed but still not being any better for it. This story was just as packed full of tension, heart stopping and nail biting moments as the first book. What I loved about this book was it went into the history of the districts more and you started to get more details about each individual district and the people within them. I really enjoy the way Suzanne Collins portrays the wealthy people of the Capitol and shows up their self indulgent shallow world, I think there are some definite parallels to modern society!
This story is a MUST read with so many twists and turn you will be left exhausted! Definitely a book that will appeal to both adults and teenagers.
I give it 5 out of 5 stars!
Catching fire is the second book in the Hunger Games Series. After surviving the games Katniss and Peeta return home to a whole new way of life. Unknown to them though their antics in the arena have started a wave of rebellions across the districts, and although they are no longer being hunted to death for sport they are in even more danger then ever before.
After finishing the first book of the series I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book! Suzanne Collins done a great job of portraying the confusion and emotion of returning home after such a life altering ordeal and it was interesting to see how there lives changed but still not being any better for it. This story was just as packed full of tension, heart stopping and nail biting moments as the first book. What I loved about this book was it went into the history of the districts more and you started to get more details about each individual district and the people within them. I really enjoy the way Suzanne Collins portrays the wealthy people of the Capitol and shows up their self indulgent shallow world, I think there are some definite parallels to modern society!
This story is a MUST read with so many twists and turn you will be left exhausted! Definitely a book that will appeal to both adults and teenagers.
I give it 5 out of 5 stars!
Wednesday 19 January 2011
Book Review
The Hunger Games - Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins.
After waiting impatiently for the last month for my copy of The Mockingjay to finally arrive at the library (Yes I could have brought it from the book store, but that would be going against all principles of supporting my local library!) I finally got it and found myself doing a little crazy dance and letting out an ecstatic cheer. That was on Friday, and for the next few days I was consumed by my book, neglecting everyone and everything while I was immersed in the world of Panem. I can't say a bad word about this book and although it wasn't the ending I expected this wasn't a bad thing, actually it was quite refreshing that the book didn't have a predictable end and that it kept the plot twists going right into the last chapters never allowing you to guess what was going to happen next.
In this book you are introduced to the lost district, 13. Here the true rebellion and war against the Capitol begins. What I loved about the way Suzanne Collins has written her books is there is nothing cliche or stereotypical about her villains and heroes. Here is district 13 you are left questioning if these people are truly the goods guys, or if there are any good guys in world at all? Also, that dislike and hate you hold against the people of the Capitol melts slightly into pity as you start to see how naive and affected by the Capitol they are. Again like the last two books this story didn't disappoint and kept your heart racing and your mind guessing.
Having finished the series now I'm a little sad, but hey they say you should always leave your audience wanting more, and I defiantly want more of these books!
5 OUT OF 5 STARS!
Saturday 8 January 2011
Top 10 of 2010
So it is the new year which means... lots of new books! But before I get ahead of myself how about we take the opportunity to look back at last years best best fiction for 11- 16 years.
What was your favourite book of the last year? Perhaps you tried a new Author and know can't get enough of their books? Who do you think was the freshest and most brilliant emerging writer of the past year?
In our reading group for January we looked at what our favourite books of 2010 were. Here are a few of the titles that we agreed upon that ranked high in our favour...
What was your favourite book of the last year? Perhaps you tried a new Author and know can't get enough of their books? Who do you think was the freshest and most brilliant emerging writer of the past year?
In our reading group for January we looked at what our favourite books of 2010 were. Here are a few of the titles that we agreed upon that ranked high in our favour...
- Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
- Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy
- Twilight: Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer
- H.I.V.E by Mark Walden
- Cherub: The Recruit by Robert Muchamore
- Shapeshifters: Finding the Fox by Ali Sparkes
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