City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS SERIES BOOK 01

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
Margaret K. McElderry Books
Published in 2007
ISBN 9781416914280
485 Pages

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CHECKED OUT THE BOOK FROM MY PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Review/Rating:

4 out of 5



Clary Fray has always thought she was an ordinary girl who lives with her mother, however, she finds out that her family is far from ordinary. At the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she sees some people murdering a boy, but then, the boy's body disappears. With no evidence to show the police, she is left confused and thinking that what she saw was just her imagination. Then, after her mother gets kidnapped, she meets the murderers again --- but this time they tell her about the secret world of the Shadowhunters, warriors who are dedicated to hunting demons on earth. Why does she have this Sight? Why did demons kidnapped her mother? And, why is she strangely attracted to this world? Clary wants to know this, and so do the Shadowhunters...

Okay, another supernatural book, but this one that I don't really like that much. For the genre, this book has pretty much every kind known to me, so I just picked "Supernatural" and picked the subcategories that the book mentioned.

City of Bones is extremely slow-moving, which is good in the way of details of events, but bad if you want to read in a day. As I mentioned just now, the details in this book are well-written and there are a lot. The author of this books seems to value that the reader needs to know details of events, as well as what the characters look like. Most books I have read do not leave enough of an impression of how the characters look like.

Although the descriptions of the characters are more well-written than other books, the character's personalities are kind of stereotypical. Though, having stereotypes for characters are frequent in most books, not just this one. However, I found Clary's personality extremely annoying. She is very weak and spoiled, which kind of reminds me of most people who I know. :|

In my opinion, the plot is okay, but it could have been a little bit better. And, I have noticed people accusing this author of plagiarism, but what book doesn't do a little bit of plagiarizing? Most books I read have so similar plots with similar characters that I forget which book is which. >.> So, please, do not comment or rant about this on my blog. It's mine, not yours. :(

Anyways, the ending is kind of unexpected, but I read the other books in this series already. So, don't freak at the ending parts --- the author kind of switches it in the other books. ;)

Other Reviews/Author Site:

Cassandra Clare
Goodreads: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
Library Thing: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
After Twilight: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
Consumed by Books: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
Finding the Magic in Books: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
Book Love: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
A Trillian Books: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

The Coffin Club by Ellen Schreiber

VAMPIRE KISSES SERIES BOOK 05

The Coffin Club by Ellen Schreiber
Katherine Tegen Books (Imprint of Harper Collins Publishers)
Published in 2008
ISBN 9780061288845
177 Pages

PLACES TO BUY FROM:

Amazon (Hardcover)
Barnes & Noble (Hardcover)

CHECKED OUT THE BOOK FROM MY PUBLIC LIBRARY.
I OWN A SINGLE COPY.
BOUGHT THROUGH AMAZON.COM.

Review/Rating:

4 out of 5



Summer vacation has finally started, and the only thing missing is her nocturnal boyfriend, Alexander. It has been a while since Alexander has left Dullsville to return Valentine to Jagger, and she is starting to worry about what's taking him so long. For summer vacation, she goes back to where her Aunt Libby lives to find Alexander. Though, while trying to find him, she can't resist going to the place where goths roam, the Coffin Club. However, she gets lost in the club and finds a secret door, the true Coffin Club. At the true Coffin Club, she makes friends with some of the members and is drawn to another --- a biker named Phoenix. This time the danger of being changed into a vampire is great, and what's worse, the fate of the humans in the town starts to look bleak, when Jagger starts planning to use the Coffin Club to run the mortals out of town.

Another supernatural/vampire book. I read this book a long time ago, so I had to reread it, in order to make a review. ^^;

This book, for young adults, is actually quite good --- it's even better than Twilight's sparkling vampires in the sun. Even though it doesn't have the creativeness of changing vampires into something else besides the stereotype vampires, it has enough description, lovely-doveyness, and plot that will not leave you disappointed. :) <--- I know I have said this for the past couple of books for this series, but it is still true even in this fifth book of this series.

Like the previous books, the plot becomes more exciting and develops the characters and events that will lead to what will happen with Alexander and Raven. It's kind of like Twilight --- since the main girl character (the mortal) is trying to get the vampire guy to change her into vampire, but he doesn't want to. However, that's the ONLY thing similar to the series Twilight. The Vampire Kisses is original with the main lead character having spunk and courage, which most vampire books won't give to their main girl characters.

The only thing I have to complain about is the fact that the author keeps on doing the "Alexander runs away to Raven's aunt's town, and Raven goes there to find him." That theme is getting a little overused in this series. Hopefully, it's the last time she uses it, but who knows.

Other than that my feelings have change only a little bit from when I read the first book in this series, but it is still pretty good. And, it's better than Twilight's cheesy sparkling-in-the-sun vampires. So, I'll stop wasting your time and just say, "Go read the series.

Other Reviews/Author Site:

Ellen Schreiber
Goodreads: The Coffin Club by Ellen Schreiber
Library Thing: The Coffin Club by Ellen Schreiber
Karin's Book Nook: The Coffin Club by Ellen Schreiber
Bookish: The Coffin Club by Ellen Schreiber

Fallen by Lauren Kate

FALLEN SERIES BOOK 01

Fallen by Lauren Kate
Delacorte Press
Published in 2009
ISBN 9780385738934
452 Pages

PLACES TO BUY FROM:

Amazon (Hardcover)
Barnes & Noble (Hardcover)

CHECKED OUT THE BOOK FROM MY PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Review/Rating:

2 out of 5



After an accidental death of a friend, Luce Price is forced to go to Sword & Cross, a boarding school where problem students go. There she meets the mysterious Daniel Grigori, and she is immediately drawn to him. In a world of no outside communication, Daniel is the only good thing about her being forced to go to Sword & Cross. However, she's confused as to why Daniel goes out of his way to avoid her. Though, that won't stop her from pursuing or thinking about him. Luce is dying to find out why, but, will she even live long to regret it?

Okay, a fallen angel book. I mostly read adult fiction books that have fallen angels in it, so this will be the second "angel" book that I have read that's young adult. Compared to Eternal, this book and series is definitely lacking in details and exciting events at the moment.

Fallen starts out with a prologue, which, in my opinion, isn't really needed. Why? Because later on in the book it talks about Luce's past lives, so the beginning is just something that will confuse you more. Also, it takes out some of the suspense as to why he doesn't want to kiss her later on. So, it starts out with something that's not needed, but with the book, it doesn't have enough details --- and it gave me a headache with all of the useless and lack of details.

Also, it reminded me so much of Twilight, and no that's not a compliment, that it wasn't funny. The way that Luce just obsesses over Daniel and doesn't really care or notice anything else was creepily like Twilight, so I kind of lost my patience with this book. One thing I really hope with this book is that it doesn't end up like Twilight, where it doesn't tell you why the girl is different from others.

Translation: I really didn't like this book. The only reason why I would read the sequel to this book is to see if more details are more thoroughly explained than it was in this book.

Other Reviews/Author Site:

Lauren Kate
Goodreads: Fallen (Fallen, #1) by Lauren Kate
Library Thing: Fallen by Lauren Kate
All Things Urban Fantasy: Review: Fallen by Lauren Kate
All Things Urban Fantasy: 2nd Opinion Review: Fallen by Lauren Kate
365 Days of Reading: Fallen by Lauren Kate

Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith

TANTALIZE SERIES BOOK 01

Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Candlewick Press

Published in 2007

ISBN 9780763627911

311 Pages

PLACES TO BUY FROM:

Amazon (Hardcover)
Barnes & Noble (Hardcover)

CHECKED OUT THE BOOK FROM MY PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Review/Rating:

5 out of 5



Quincie Morris was an ordinary girl, that is, as normal as you can get with a first love who's a werewolf. However, when someone murders the chief at a vampire-themed restaurant, which her family happens to own, things will change Quincie's life forever. Her uncle hires a new chief, but can she change him into the Dark Lord they need for opening night? However, there is more to this chief than what meets the eye, will Quincie notice the betrayal from someone close to her before it's too late? Or, will she be converted to the dark side and lose everything?

Another vampire and were-animal book. :) In case if you haven't noticed, I really love supernatural books. Oh, the review might contain some spoilers. Forgive me. :P

Tantalize is kind of different from other vampire and supernatural books I have read since most of them are like this: Girl meets vampire, girl falls in love with vampire, girl and vampire stay together forever against all odds.

With this book, you expect Quincie to pick one of the guys, but she doesn't really pick one in the end. Though, that's kind of disappointing for me. I was hoping she would pick to go with Kieren. Oh well, I guess that's why I like this book. The female character does her own thing and doesn't always pick the guy she wants in the end.

Anyways, that's the main reason why I kind of like this book. Also, it has a lot of details and events that keep you interested in the book. Though, I would really like to know what happens to Kieren and Bradley after Quincie kind of dumps them both. :) This vampire book is not as good as Eternal, which is also by Cynthia Leitich Smith, but it is still a great read

Other Reviews/Author Site:

Cynthia Leitich Smith
Goodreads: Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Library Thing: Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Reading for Refuge: Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith
365 Days of Reading: Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Torn Thread by Anne Isaacs

 

Torn Thread by Anne Isaacs

Scholastic Press

Published in 2000

ISBN 0590603639

188 Pages

PLACES TO BUY FROM:

Amazon (Hardcover)
Barnes & Noble (Paperback)

CHECKED OUT THE BOOK FROM MY PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Review/Rating:

3 out of 5



During the Nazi invasion of the Polish town of Bedzin, Eva along with her father and sickly sister have been forced to leave their home and move into a tiny room inside the Jewish ghetto. When the Nazi decide to raid their town for people to be placed in work camps and other kinds of camps, Eva's life takes a turn for the worse. During one of these raids, her sickly sister is imprisoned in one of the work camps, and so, her father arranges for Eva to join her sister, Rachel. Now, without her father and other family beside her, Eva is forced to spin thread on machines to make blankets and uniforms for the Nazi army. She now is having to make choices that may buy some more time for both her and her sister. What dangers will happen to her as she is trying to live in a dangerous time when her life is constantly threaten by the Nazi? And, most importantly, will her sister and her make it out alive?

It's another junior book, but I really like history fiction, especially about World War II. The first time I read this book was around middle school, I think. ^^;

It's a very short book, but it is very interesting with details and events from a real girl's life. I would have liked a little bit more description about the characters, but since this is a junior book, I won't complain that much about it. Though, the only things I really find interesting is that the book is based on a true story, and also it takes place during the time period I like learning about.

Anyways, it's too short for my tastes, but it is very well written for elementary or junior high students. Any higher level than that and the book might be a little too short for you to enjoy. Unless, you really like short books, books about this time period, or books with history in them.

Other Reviews/Author Site:

Anne Isaacs
Goodreads: Torn Thread by Anne Isaacs
Library Thing: Torn Thread by Anne Isaacs
The Book Blog: Torn Thread by Anne Isaacs
Tark's Picks: Torn Thread by Anne Isaacs

Counting on Grace by Elizabeth Winthrop

 

Counting on Grace by Elizabeth Winthrop

Wendy Lamb Books

Published in 2006

ISBN 9780553487831

240 Pages

PLACES TO BUY FROM:

Amazon (Kindle)
Barnes & Noble (Ebook)

CHECKED OUT THE BOOK FROM MY PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Review/Rating:

5 out of 5



Despite the child labor laws in 1910, at twelve years old, Grace and her best friend, Arthur, are expected to quit school and go work in the mill with her family. With the high-risk job as a doffer, Grace has to learn how to do the work right, so that her family won’t lose any pennies for their household. Grace is noticing that Arthur willingly to do anything to get out of mill, and Grace tries to stop him. She tells him that help will be coming, not to give up hope. When Lewis Hine comes, they believe their prayers have been answered. Though, will Lewis Hine be able to keep the promises he made? Will their hopes be raised by this event, only to be destroyed later?

This book shows a certain creativeness since the author uses a picture that Lewis Hine took of a child working in a mill during the 1900's as inspiration, instead of making it up from thin air. She even adds Lewis Hine into the book, which makes it even more like the actual history. It kind of read like those Dear America or Royal Dairies books. And, like those books, it includes the actual history that the author find out about the photographer and the girl in the 1910 picture.

Counting on Grace is very well written and lets us know how horrible even America's history is --- like involving child labor and how lax the law was enforce during that time. It leaves you thinking and grateful for how Lewis Hine and the Child Labor Commission changed the laws, so that children wouldn't have to work that young and get those injuries like the characters in the book.

Even though it is only a junior level book, it there is enough history, emotion, and description to get you interested and thinking about how different things actually was. So, even though this might be way below your reading level, it is a great read for your children.

Books like this, where it involves actual history, are also my favorite. :)

Other Reviews/Author Site:

Elizabeth Winthrop
Goodreads: Counting on Grace by Elizabeth Winthrop
Library Thing: Counting on Grace by Elizabeth Winthrop
Read, Read, Read!: Counting on Grace by Elizabeth Winthrop
Meeyauw: Counting on Grace by Elizabeth Winthrop