Saturday, April 28, 2012

Shipbreaker by Paolo Bacigalup


  • Reading level: Ages 14 and up
  • Hardcover: 336 pagesPublisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; 1 edition (May 1, 2010)
  • Language: EnglishISBN-10: 0316056219ISBN-13: 978-0316056212Product   
  • Dimensions: 5.9 x 1.2 x 8.5 inches

I'm sorry to say that this book was not my favorites. Mostly because I could not get into it. Usually when I read books I start out the first few chapters and then if I like it I'll keep reading or I'll just put it down. But this book, I wanted to read it and started it about five months ago and didn't like it at all. Then last month while I was at my school library I saw it again and decided to give it another chance because I knew all the hype and excitement over this book has to be over something and I check it out. 
The next day I started reading it and read it for about a week on and off, but could not wrap my head around the setting and the events that happened. This novel is a dystopian and usually I do like dystopian, but some how this one was out of my radar of likability. So I stopped and didn't pick it up again. 
I know I wanted to read this book for this month, but I couldn't and I'd like to say that I don't read books because people say it's awesome and I should read it and I force myself to read it. No, because that would just be hurting myself over and over again. If I read every book that most people like and I hate I'll probably be long gone by now. So as a disclaimer, than a review I will not complete a book that I do not like. No matter how awesome people may say it is. Now I must return this book because it's way past its due date. 

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Goodreads account!!

Having a goodreads account is extremely helpful is you're an avid reader. It helps you maintain the status your in a book. Goodread also has recommendations by the books you have already read. There are also groups you can join and there are discussions that are just amazingly fun. I've been a member since September and this website has really kept me on top of my game. If you'd like to see what I'm currently reading check out my goodreads account: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/6400415-tammy

Monday, April 23, 2012

Book Fair Books!

Recently I bought some books at my school's book fair. There were amazing prices and I can't wait to read them. The book fair was buy one get one free, so bogo is definatly the best time for me to buy books. Amazing!
I bought two books: Matched by Ally Condie and The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan.
I've got these two amazing books for about ten dollars and I can't even express how thrilled I am. Ususally when I buy books they're way more expensive than this and it was amazing to find the two books I've been searching for.

I also bought two book marks, also buy one get one free for fifty cents. I really like both of these and think they are super cute!! I'm one of those people that loose book marks easily and try to make new ones, but they never seem to be right.

Anyways, plan to see the reviews of both of these soon!!:):)



Friday, April 20, 2012

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater


  • Reading level: Ages 13 and up
  • Hardcover: 400 pages
  • Publisher: Scholastic Press; 1 edition (August 1, 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0545123267
  • ISBN-13: 978-0545123266
  • Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 6.5 x 1.3 inches

Summary

To break it down to the simplest form there is a girl named Grace and she has this "wolf" she interacts with since she was a kid. All her life she sees this wolf, but only in the winter. This particular wolf has yellow eyes and when she meets a boy with yellow eyes she finds herself meeting her "wolf" in person. 
Haha I know that that summary really sucks but, that is what it really is about. Maggie Stiefvater is probably one of my favorite authors because she sets this mood of coziness and the relationship between Grace and Sam is just amazingly sweet. 


Shiver has been compared to the werewolf version of Twilight and I can see that to an extent because there is paranormal creatures and there is romance, but that's it. Shiver's characters are extremely different from Twilight and the story has nothing that compares with each other. In Shiver, Sam the "wolf" is trying to not become a wolf every time the weather gets cold, while in Twilight Bella's convinced that she must become a vampire to live her life the way it should be. Also there is no love triangle in Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, so I thank her for not accepting this popular trend? of a love triangle will sell to any young adult reader. 


Something that I thought was neat, but I'm not sure that it is in all of the book's editions, but my blue book was printed in blue ink, which was pretty cool detail that I like. Also I think that the cover is beautiful in every way possible. 


So Grace is not one of my favorite characters, but she's bearable, unlike Isabel. Isabel was throughout the novel an iffy character for me. I always felt like she would back stab Grace or do something drastic, but she kept to her place as a side character and will be a bigger stronger character in the second installment. Though, Isabel is the incredibly popular girl in Grace's school, she has some problems that does come with popularity and especially when her brother dies. Isabel is not one of my favorites, but she is defiantly needed in the novel, or else everything else would fall apart. 


In the end, Shiver was a great book for me, but not the best. It's the kind of book that I'd like to reread if it was snowing outside and I had a hot cup of tea next to me, while a bath and body works candle is burning. Shiver is the kind of book that I would not recommend because one) a lot of people already  know about this book and would have read it by now and two) it's not that great of a story that I'd want to follow a whole three books through, but my mistake I already bought the whole series. Maggie Stiefvater is still one of my favorite authors and I'd like to read her other series about homicidal faeries. :)  

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Divergent by Veronica Roth Review


  • Reading level: Ages 14 and up
  • Hardcover: 496 pages
  • Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books (May 3, 2011)
  • Language: English


Summary 
So to break it down to you. Beatrice lives in a dystopian Chicago and she is sixteen. At age sixteen you decide your life, whatever you want to do you you choose on this one day and you will do that for the rest of your life. These jobs are called factions: Erudite, Amity, Dauntless, Abnegation, and Candor. When Beatrice takes her aptitude test to help her decide what she wants to be in comes out inconclusive. The aptitude assistant explains to her that her choices in the simulation has made her Divergent, meaning she doesn't belong to any one faction. This creates a multitude of confusion, frustration, and caution Beatrice has to deal with. Not that she knows any better than the people around her, Beatrice will be in for a long and difficult ride on Choosing Day: the day when she chooses her life. 

Over all I am obsessed with this book. Divergent is just everything I thought it would be and a lot more. I was recommended this book by a friend. I have seen this book on bookstore shelves and it has caught my eye a few times, but it never stood out to me. Just the other day my friend bought this book as a birthday present she spent on and came back in a few days raving about how spectacular it is. I read this book in I'd say a little less than two days. I was a sitting couch for most of the weekend and nonstop reading for hours non ending. 

I really enjoy the main character Beatrice because she is just plain ol' awesome. She's one of those classic characters that I won't get bored with and she has nothing that is spectacularly different from everyone else. Though the story does takes place where the majority of the people are not open-minded. Also another character I really enjoyed is Four he's quite the mysterious guy in the corner, but through out the novel he progresses immensely and I'm just thrilled with his wit and over all character. 

A plus for me is that this novel, unlike so many out there does not have a love triangle. I don't think I have to dive in to each much more, but it was a relaxing calming affect knowing that there won't be "teams" for these two characters that have feelings for the main character. 

The main character Beatrice really drives and forces the events in the order they come and the novel is mainly driven by her and it was a different style of writing that I really love. Veronica Roth has an easy flow to her writing and the dialogue is just incredible. Leave it up to a debut author to blow all the experienced authors out with the wind. 

In conclusion, Veronica Roth's Divergent will be on my top list of favorite books for I'm hoping two at least two weeks because the second book Insurgent will becoming out on May 1st which I am so excited to hopefully buy and review that Friday. 

Friday, April 13, 2012

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare Review


  • Reading level: Ages 14 and up
  • Hardcover: 496 pages
  • Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books; First Edition edition (August 31, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1416975861
  • ISBN-13: 978-1416975861
  • Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.6 inches

Summary 

Tessa is a sixteen year old girl who's parents are dead. She lives with her aunt in New York during the turn of the century, but when her aunt dies suddenly she goes over the pond to London where she is suppose to meet her brother. She finds her way through London terribly by being kidnapped by the Dark Sisters, witches. She lives with them for sometime and she is more of a test experiment. See, Tessa can transform into anyone at anytime, she just has to have an object that has meaning to that person. The only information she gets of why the Dark Sisters are doing this is because the Magister wants to marry her, wants to make her his. Will, a haughty shadowhunter rescues Tessa from the Dark Sisters and explaining that the world of the living is not just what appears it to be.


Through out the book I was sucked into this world I've never explores before and it made me slightly overwhelmed by the mass of information I was reading. An execellent read none the less, as it is a New York Times Best Seller and the author Cassandra Clare has a series that takes place in the future of this series currently coming out. I was quite pleased with the main character Tessa, she isn't your popular damsel in distress which can get terribly annoying after the third page, she is a hero in sorts. Tessa is the girl you don't want to be in a fight with because you know you will never win. There is this fire about Tessa where most female main characters don't have, and I muchly appreciate it. 

I liked the progression of this story very much so that I didn't stop reading for a day. The pace Clare gives the reader gives room to stop and think about the events that just happen and still want to read more. I also love the detail and sketch like pictures the author drew in my mind because it is in the Victorian England, most of the normal things we take for granted are clearly thrown back into our faces.

One of my favorite parts of the story is Tessa's power. I just kept thinking, this is so amazing. Tessa is naive in believing what she does can help anyone and is willing to do it with out a second thought. Though it hurts her transforming into these people that she might not even like, Tessa has a good heart that shines through.

As will does in the cover of the novel, I tip my hat off to you, Cassandra Clare for this wonderful piece of writing that got me interested in this type of paranormal romance genre other than Twilight. A favorite quote on the back of the book says, "Magic is dangerous-but love is more dangerous still". Gah, how it gives me the chills. Cassandra Clare's, Clockwork Angel is definitaly recommended to any Twilight or paranormal romance lovers, even people who usually don't like these kinds of books, I promise you won't regret it.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Block Dude

So I think that we have all been there. Well, as long as you had/have a TI calculator you've seen or played the everlasting Block Dude. I personally don't have a TI 84 to play Block Dude, but many friends of  mine have played it during math class or in their free time. I had this one friend that was addicted to it and started making a project on it for her computer's class. Not that it's a bad thing, but it's a revolutionary thing in my opinion. To have video games going on through class, some teachers have noticed and some just plain ol' don't care.

For some people that don't know what Block Dude is, it's a game you can play on the TI 84 calculator, which is a graphing calculator most middle and high schoolers use. This "program" is you are playing "dude" a guy who is trying to escape by moving blocks around to get to the door on the other side of whatever. You use the arrow keys to move up, left, and right, then you press the bottom key to pick up and put down blocks to the places that is most ideal for your journey to the door.

I have decided to download the app on my ipod touch to try it out, since everyone I know is always playing it and being very selfish "block dudes". I've only passed the first two levels and I'm already bored. It got me thinking then, so if you just keep doing this where is the fun? Realization dawned on me that the addiction some might say is sneaking behind teacher's back and pretending like they are calculating tough, can't be solved mentally equations and such, not the true game it's self.

Then there are some people I know that play whenever and for just the fun of it. I know I'm not one to judge because no one is one to judge, but playing Block Dude is not my idea of fun. There is an excitement though of playing video games on a calculator that makes it interesting to students. Just my thoughts on Block Dude and feel free to leave comments if you'd like.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green Review


    The Fault in Our Stars

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Publication date: 1/10/2012
Pages: 336
Age range: 14 - 17 Years
Product dimensions: 5.84 (w) x 8.54 (h) x 1.14 (d)

Summary

Hazel Grace has cancer in her lungs, so it's very hard for her to breathe. She walks around with an oxygen tank that pumps gasps of what you would expect to be oxygen. Hazel has to go to a cancer group in The Literal Heart of Jesus at a church because the church is shaped like a cross and they meet in the basement where the two lines meet. The main character Hazel meets charming and incredibly handsome Augustus Waters who had cancer at the cancer group. They meet and talk with Hazel's friend that has eye cancer. Most of the time cancer support group will be a terror and act of boredom for them, but since Hazel meets Augustus he starts to change Hazel's opinions about dying and cancer. Augustus is a high schooler who has an amputated leg which caused major distress on his basketball team. He acts as if he knows it all and what he doesn't know is what will happen to him by meeting Hazel. They bond over the same book that Hazel recommends An Imperial Affliction by Peter van Houten. As a cancer perk Hazel and Augustus set off to find out the answers where the book leaves off in Switzerland. 


I just have to get this out first, this book is the best book I have read in a loooonnng time. I have never laughed or cried so much while reading this book and I just could not put it down. I think I fell in love with Augustus somewhere in all the mess of the book and it was terribly difficult when the story end. I will always refer to this book if someone says to me that fictional characters don't mean anything. Having said that, you might guess that this book has taken me far out of my comfort zone. I've never read a "sad" book or the "cancer" books in my life and this was a good place to start. I'm kind of mad at John Green now because no book will match up to the expectations from reading this novel. I've also learned quiet a lot about... a lot of things by reading this book. I knew that this book was very hyped up and it did meet my expectations and I will love to read another book written by the incredible genius that is John Green.

Monday, April 9, 2012

April Books!

So April is here and we are in to the book reviews once again. This month I'll review:

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part -Time Indian by
Sherman Alexie
The Fault in Our Stars by
John Green
Ship Breaker by
Paolo Bacigalupi
The Name of the Star by
Maureen Johnson
Clockwork Angel by
Cassandra Clare

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Happy Easter!!

Happy Easter to those who who celebrate Easter I hope that you have a great day and spend lots of fun time with your loved ones. I personally don't celebrate Easter, but when almost everyone around you does it's hard not to ignore it.

I have never done a blog post about a holiday before and I'll tell you the truth that I had no idea why I chose Easter. While you have your Easter egg hunts and fancy foods I'll go shopping for the best deals because the American way is to shop when you don't got.

I've created this sort of story of the day and would like to share it with my readers if you'd like. It's not religious at all and it's just about the thoughts I have lately.

Wear All My Chains Tonight
As you walk down the street you see cigarette buds, cups from the local fast food, and the trash bag of the drug store flying from a mile away. I've heard the same song they play at the outlet mall and the air is cleaner than the new channel said it will be. A bakery with the line paralleling the first Harry Potter movie gets all the attention of shoppers strolling by with the fresh smell of coffee being brewed constantly. Unlike the dogs that lie lazily in the spring's sun mothers cradle their babies to quiet their desperate cries to be noticed.

Taking my time to my destination I walk pass the location the first time and find myself at the directory with eyes dotting every way, like the crazy dog that Atticus killed in To Kill a Mockingbird. All was well until a flock of birds flew by and a dropping landed an inch away from my opened toed shoe. An older man with his lovely backs away from me and walked away from what they need to find a grandchild.

Oh what I'd give for the winds to spin and the trees to swim; they would all dance toward the opposite hemisphere if it was to get any better. Then all the kids would dance their way to the water fountains in their summer shorts and the parents worried of a cold stirring in the air and a bandage faced down on the concrete. Oh what I'd give.

But soon a boy no taller than an inch or two came his way over and asked me if he could help at all. He wore a formal uniform from the fanciest restaurant in town. Patrick, he told me was his name and escorted me to a bar stool.

"So what are you doing in this part of town?" he questioned while cleaning some drinks that were left from happy hour.

I cleared my throat and said," Chasing down the nearest Uncle Sam."

He looked at me queer for a minute and smiled like nothing was wrong," I suppose you expect me to show you around town?"

"I'd preferred if you'd tell me why you led me here."

"Is there anything I could get you then, sweetheart? Beside the closest Uncle Sam, I think he left a few months ago to vacation in Howie."

"No. Well, yes. Tell me, how do you work here? You don't look old enough to drink any of the things you make."

He raised his eye brows in question," Are you saying I look like a fifteen year old boy lost in the outlet mall and happened to fill in for an I don't know older "brother" so he won't get fired? Well, then in that case yes. YES!!"

"Good to know," I told him and he started to make a drink for a woman in her thirties who looked like she's heartbroken.

Patrick and I talked for a while and when he couldn't I talked to the woman. She wasn't that heartbroken she explained, but I couldn't here her beat in her voice. I did this for I don't know how long, till the restaurant closed, or when smoke started filling up in the kitchen and the firemen started evacuating. Patrick looked indifferent, so I assumed this was normal. Everything's normal if you think about it long enough.


Saturday, April 7, 2012

I'm back!!

Hey people of the interworld. I know I have been gone for quite sometime and this past month has been a roller coaster ride. At some point I was like ahhh never mind let me just delete this blog and when it was time for me to do it, I couldn't. I was attached to this blog believe it or not and I felt like I was deleting some part of me if I shut it down.

I will further say that, my weekly review will return on every Tuesday and the next review will be on The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.