I am so excited to share this book! I have read over two hundred MG/YA books since reading The Hunger Games, a series that totally floored me. Out of those hundreds, Open Minds is the only one that glued my butt to my couch as The Hunger Games did. In fact, this review will be a […]
The Amber Spyglass (His Dark Materials, book three), by Philip Pullman, 2000
I did it. I read through the final book of this trilogy. If you haven’t read my first two reviews, you should probably start there. I was not that impressed with book two. The story moved on to several new characters and new settings while the old ones I came to love were set aside, […]
The Subtle Knife (His Dark Materials, book two), by Philip Pullman, 1997, Book Review
The Subtle Knife continues the story of Lyra, who is destined to change the universe as we know it. She has crossed over to another world and the main focus actually shifts from Lyra to a young boy named Will, who is from Earth. The story begins with Will, who is desperate to hide his […]
The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, book one), by Philip Pullman, 1995
I’ve heard a great deal of controversy over this book in recent years, particularly when the movie came out five years ago. It was time to tackle it and make my own judgments. What I found was a complex, evocative, skillfully crafted tale with breathtaking scenes, highly developed characters, and a plot that is out […]
Tears of a Tiger, by Sharon Draper, 1994, Book Review
“In Memorium Robbie Washington, captain of our basketball team, was killed after the November 7 game in a terrible automobile accident…” …and Andy was the one driving the car. Drunk. He didn’t mean for it to happen. He didn’t want anyone to get hurt, especially not his best friend. They were just having a bit […]
Crossed (Matched, book two), by Ally Condie, 2011, Book Review
This is a continuation of the story of Cassia and the two men she loves. She is leaving behind Xander, perfect Xander who is destined for greatness within the Society, Xander, to whom she is Matched, and looking for Ky, the Aberation who has been sent to die in the Outer Provinces, the man who […]
Matched, by Ally Condie, 2010, Book Review
Matched is the first in a trilogy of dystopian YA fiction by Ally Condie that I’ve heard so much about on the web I had to read it for myself. It’s good enough that I want to finish the trilogy, but at the same time, it doesn’t feel very original. Maybe I’m just burning out […]
Insurgent, by Veronica Roth, 2012, Book Review
Veronica Roth has created a page-turning second novel in Insurgent, which continues the dystopian YA series set in futuristic Chicago. There, society is split into factions based on predominant character traits: Dauntless, Amity, Erudite, Candor and Abnegation. These exaggerated strengths have always helped maintain balance and morality among the whole. Until Erudite sought to overpower […]
Eligere (Seranfyll, book two), by Christina Daley, 2012, Book Review – Bargain eBooks
Christina Daley’s second book in her Seranfyll series is well worth reading. I think I liked book one just a touch better, with its unexpected magic and the delightfully eccentric character of Domrey (read my review of Seranfyll), but this is a solid second installment. Domrey and his adoptive sisters and brother, Rain, Snow and […]
Orphan of Destiny (The Youngest Templar), by Michael P. Spradlin, 2010, Book Review
Of the three books in The Youngest Templar series, Orphan of Destiny was my favorite. At long last, Tristin reaches England. Pursued by Sir Hugh, he hides out for a time—in Sherwood Forest! Robard takes on his full role as Robin Hood (Robard Hode), the Thane of Sherwood, complete with a cast of thinly-veiled characters that […]