The Lost Hero picks up after the final book in the Percy Jackson series, The Last Olympian, has concluded. This book is about the Greek Gods- with a whole new twist and a whole new set of characters. I was not sure if I would like this book because there were new characters, but Rick Riordan cleverly brings back the old characters and mixes them in with all the new ones in such a way that you find yourself glad you decided to read.
There are three main characters in this book- Jason, who wakes up on a bus, can’t remember who he is or even how he got there. Weirder still is that he’s sitting next to a pretty girl who appears to be his girlfriend, and he can’t remember who she is. The girl’s name is Piper and she can tell Jason is upset, and can’t stand to see him struggling to remember who he is. Even worse, her Dad, a famous actor, has been missing for three days, and she has been having horrible nightmares about him being in trouble. On the seat behind him is Leo, Jason’s supposed best friend and he can’t decide if Jason is joking or not about his memory loss. They are best friends after all- or are they? Yet Leo has bigger problems, because he is seeing ghosts.
The three friends are on a school field trip when chaos ensues and strange creatures attack them. Luckily, they are able to hold them off- that’s when two strange people arrive and insist on taking them to some place safe called Camp Half-blood. That’s when the three friends discover that one of their parents is really a Greek God- but which God is their Dad or Mom? Plus, camp half-blood is in disarray and these new heroes may be the only ones who can set it to rights.
This book is excellent. I think it is Riordan’s best book yet. I read it in less than two days and was very sad when it was over because the new book does not come out until fall of 2011, which means I’ve got to wait to see what happens next. Boo! At any rate, if you start with Percy Jackson and read your way up to this one, I very much doubt you will be disappointed. Rick Riordan is so great at mixing fact and fiction, and changing the characters of Greek Mythology to give them a clever, sometimes funny, modern day personas. These books are great and I think people of any age would enjoy them!
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief: By Rick Riordan
Of all of Rick Riordan’s books, this one is my least favorite- but having said that, this is still a good book. I picked this up because like so many books out on the shelves these days it had the typical, “If you like Harry Potter- you will love this series” disclaimer you see all over the place now. I did not expect to like it as much as I did, but the concept was just so cool that I just had to give it a try.
Percy Jackson is tweleve year old kid who has been kicked out of one school after another. He has been diagnosed with ADHD and struggles with school, with making friends, and most especially with strange things happening to him. Strange things like his Algebra teacher turning into a real life monster. When this happens, Percy has to defend himself- or die. It is shortly after this that Percy discovers his best friend is not really a human, he is not who he thinks he is, and he’s in big trouble. The only safe place for Percy is a place called Camp Half-blood, but in order to get there, he will have to defeat a Minotaur.
Suddenly, Percy is thrown into a new world where monsters really do exist, and the characters of Greek Mythology are not only real, they are angry with him because they think he has stolen Zeus’s master lightning Bolt. It is up to Percy and his new found friends to find the lightening blot and take it back to Zeus before a war begins- and he only has ten days to do it. Percy and his friends embark on an action-filled quest filled with strange creatures, danger and excitement as they travel to Mount Olympus to return the lightning bolt to its rightful owner.
Sounds good, right? It is. Percy is a great character- he is funny and charming and awkward all at the same time. Plus the friends he makes are really cool, and the talents these half-blood kids have are just incredible. So, why did I say this was my least favorite of all Rick Riordan’s books? It is because as the series goes on, the books get better and better. I just re-read this so I could remember what happens, and I have to say, Percy Jackson is not as well developed in this book as he is in the others. As the series goes on, the books get more and more incredible. So I guess my advice is, read this, and even if you think the book was just ok, keep reading the series. You will be so glad that you did! The monsters get bigger and bader, the stories get more complex and the adventures just keep coming.
Percy Jackson is tweleve year old kid who has been kicked out of one school after another. He has been diagnosed with ADHD and struggles with school, with making friends, and most especially with strange things happening to him. Strange things like his Algebra teacher turning into a real life monster. When this happens, Percy has to defend himself- or die. It is shortly after this that Percy discovers his best friend is not really a human, he is not who he thinks he is, and he’s in big trouble. The only safe place for Percy is a place called Camp Half-blood, but in order to get there, he will have to defeat a Minotaur.
Suddenly, Percy is thrown into a new world where monsters really do exist, and the characters of Greek Mythology are not only real, they are angry with him because they think he has stolen Zeus’s master lightning Bolt. It is up to Percy and his new found friends to find the lightening blot and take it back to Zeus before a war begins- and he only has ten days to do it. Percy and his friends embark on an action-filled quest filled with strange creatures, danger and excitement as they travel to Mount Olympus to return the lightning bolt to its rightful owner.
Sounds good, right? It is. Percy is a great character- he is funny and charming and awkward all at the same time. Plus the friends he makes are really cool, and the talents these half-blood kids have are just incredible. So, why did I say this was my least favorite of all Rick Riordan’s books? It is because as the series goes on, the books get better and better. I just re-read this so I could remember what happens, and I have to say, Percy Jackson is not as well developed in this book as he is in the others. As the series goes on, the books get more and more incredible. So I guess my advice is, read this, and even if you think the book was just ok, keep reading the series. You will be so glad that you did! The monsters get bigger and bader, the stories get more complex and the adventures just keep coming.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment- By James Patterson
Maximum Ride- the Angel experiment is a book for a slightly older audience than the books I usually tend to read. I would say it was geared towards people from ages 11-14. There is a little bit of puppy love and some bad language, so you parents out there, heads up. All in all, I do not think it was too bad as far as adult content.
As far as liking this book- it was really interesting. I can honestly say, I have never read another book quite like it. I guess the author James Patterson took one of his adult novels and turned to into a series for a younger audience. I have not read the book it was based on, but the series was recommended to me by a friend I made on paperbackswap.com. Paperbackswap.com is a place where you can post old books you no longer want, and then ship them to someone else who does. You then earn a credit and are only out the cost of shipping. I highly recommend this site to anyone who has books they do not want anymore, and would like new ones for little cost. I have met some really nice people on the site who share my love of books and have made excellent book recommendations.
I read every book in this series. I do not know if it was because I liked the story so much, or because these books were so out there. The main character is called Maximum Ride- a name she picked herself. She is 98% human, and 2% bird (I know, sounds odd) and she can fly. She was created by scientists who are pushing the bounds of science experiments and combining human DNA with that of other animals. She also has friends named Fang, Iggy, Nudge, the Gasman and Angel who also have wings and are members of her flock (even weirder, I know). Now, the flock has to be on the lookout for other half-human half-wolf mutants that sort-of lust after their bird-human blood.
In this story, Max and her friends are trying to track down their parents and determine whether they were abducted from them, or given away as babies to be experimented on by the scientists who turned them into bird mutants.
In all honesty, I can say that is one of the strangest book series I have ever read. Having said that- I did read the whole series. It was so far-fetched and so weird that I had this compulsion to finish all the books. They are all pretty much written from Max’s point of view, with a few of the other main characters occasionally offering their point of view. Max tells the story in a funny, but exciting way that makes you want to keep on reading.
But was this a really good book? I am honestly not sure because I neither liked nor disliked this book. It felt very outlandish to me and I’m a huge fan of science fiction. Some of the aspects were completely unbelievable- but I still felt it was worth reading, even though I had trouble believing it all. That may be because Max and the rest of her flock are such fun, likable characters. All in all, this series was pretty good for people who find government conspiracies and human experimentation interesting.
As far as liking this book- it was really interesting. I can honestly say, I have never read another book quite like it. I guess the author James Patterson took one of his adult novels and turned to into a series for a younger audience. I have not read the book it was based on, but the series was recommended to me by a friend I made on paperbackswap.com. Paperbackswap.com is a place where you can post old books you no longer want, and then ship them to someone else who does. You then earn a credit and are only out the cost of shipping. I highly recommend this site to anyone who has books they do not want anymore, and would like new ones for little cost. I have met some really nice people on the site who share my love of books and have made excellent book recommendations.
I read every book in this series. I do not know if it was because I liked the story so much, or because these books were so out there. The main character is called Maximum Ride- a name she picked herself. She is 98% human, and 2% bird (I know, sounds odd) and she can fly. She was created by scientists who are pushing the bounds of science experiments and combining human DNA with that of other animals. She also has friends named Fang, Iggy, Nudge, the Gasman and Angel who also have wings and are members of her flock (even weirder, I know). Now, the flock has to be on the lookout for other half-human half-wolf mutants that sort-of lust after their bird-human blood.
In this story, Max and her friends are trying to track down their parents and determine whether they were abducted from them, or given away as babies to be experimented on by the scientists who turned them into bird mutants.
In all honesty, I can say that is one of the strangest book series I have ever read. Having said that- I did read the whole series. It was so far-fetched and so weird that I had this compulsion to finish all the books. They are all pretty much written from Max’s point of view, with a few of the other main characters occasionally offering their point of view. Max tells the story in a funny, but exciting way that makes you want to keep on reading.
But was this a really good book? I am honestly not sure because I neither liked nor disliked this book. It felt very outlandish to me and I’m a huge fan of science fiction. Some of the aspects were completely unbelievable- but I still felt it was worth reading, even though I had trouble believing it all. That may be because Max and the rest of her flock are such fun, likable characters. All in all, this series was pretty good for people who find government conspiracies and human experimentation interesting.
Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos: By R.L. LaFevers
Doesn’t this book have the coolest title? I bought it because of the title. Oh sure, I read the dust jacket too and it sounded great, but I had pretty much decided I was going to buy just because of the title. With a name like Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos, how could this book not be epic?
Well, I was only partially wrong in my assessment. This book has a very S-L-O-W beginning. I was interested enough to keep reading, but I remember expecting so much of it, and being very disappointed at first- but only at first because this book finishes with a bang! It is not often that I start a book, think it is not that great, keep reading and end up liking it. After reading this book, I have decided to give all books with a slow beginning a chance to redeem itself. Honestly, I could not have been more impressed.
Theodosia Throckmorton has a gift. She is able to see the curses and black magic that surround ancient artifacts. This is fortunate because her Father is the curator at the Museum of Legends and Antiquities of London, and he has no idea of the dangers he is in. Theodosia, or Theo, uses century’s old magic to remove the curses tied to these artifacts and protect her Father and the other employees at the museum, all of whom are unaware that these dangers even exist. The threat to the museum increases when Theo’s Mother returns to the Museum from an archeological dig with the heart of Egypt- an amulet that was found in an ancient tomb. The curse on this amulet is so strong and so evil that it threatens to destroy the British Empire from within by causing a terrible war. It is up to Theo to use all of her training to stop this horrible event from ever happening.
The middle and ending of this book are so fantastic, I really enjoyed them. In fact, I stayed up until nearly two in the morning in order to finish this book. Honestly, if you had told me that when I had started reading I would have been doubtful. I think the strength of R. L. LaFevers book lies in the action that takes place in her novel. When this book finally picks up, its momentum and plot zoom forward at such a pace that the reader simply cannot put it down. So all you people out there who think this sounds interesting, make sure you give this book a chance. It is well worth the time you will invest in it!
Well, I was only partially wrong in my assessment. This book has a very S-L-O-W beginning. I was interested enough to keep reading, but I remember expecting so much of it, and being very disappointed at first- but only at first because this book finishes with a bang! It is not often that I start a book, think it is not that great, keep reading and end up liking it. After reading this book, I have decided to give all books with a slow beginning a chance to redeem itself. Honestly, I could not have been more impressed.
Theodosia Throckmorton has a gift. She is able to see the curses and black magic that surround ancient artifacts. This is fortunate because her Father is the curator at the Museum of Legends and Antiquities of London, and he has no idea of the dangers he is in. Theodosia, or Theo, uses century’s old magic to remove the curses tied to these artifacts and protect her Father and the other employees at the museum, all of whom are unaware that these dangers even exist. The threat to the museum increases when Theo’s Mother returns to the Museum from an archeological dig with the heart of Egypt- an amulet that was found in an ancient tomb. The curse on this amulet is so strong and so evil that it threatens to destroy the British Empire from within by causing a terrible war. It is up to Theo to use all of her training to stop this horrible event from ever happening.
The middle and ending of this book are so fantastic, I really enjoyed them. In fact, I stayed up until nearly two in the morning in order to finish this book. Honestly, if you had told me that when I had started reading I would have been doubtful. I think the strength of R. L. LaFevers book lies in the action that takes place in her novel. When this book finally picks up, its momentum and plot zoom forward at such a pace that the reader simply cannot put it down. So all you people out there who think this sounds interesting, make sure you give this book a chance. It is well worth the time you will invest in it!
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
My Top Must Read Book Series
When I was considering this blog, I thought about dividing the books into categories for boys and girls, but then I realized I would be doing any boys and girls out there reading this blog a disservice. In one of my writing classes, I learned that boys very often will not read stories where a girl is the main character. On the other hand, a girl will read a story where a boy is the main character. Why is this?
I am here to tell you guys- you are missing out on some excellent books because of this. To me, it does not matter if the main character is male or female. What matters is if the book is exciting, if I enjoy it, if it makes me want to keep on reading and if the writing is good. Really, I could list a million other things, but that would be dull so I will just say this; boys out there reading this blog, give a book on this list a shot and see if you like it. You just never know unless you try. Why miss out on something great because of something so silly? A good book is a good book. Period.
This goes for any adults out there who dismiss children’s books because they feel the content is too juvenile for them. There are some excellent books out there you are missing out on because you think you are too old to read them. Reading children’s books is a great way to connect with the kids in your life. I cannot tell you how often my cousins, nieces, and nephews ask me about books or tell me about books they have read. A shared enthusiasm can really bring you closer to them and give you something to talk about.
I had a tough time narrowing down my list of choices. There are so many great books out there, and I wanted to pick books that are engaging, entertaining and worth loosing yourself in. Plus, there are several series out there that held my attention for the first book or two, then I lost interest. The list I compiled consists of book series I absolutly had to read to the end. Here’s what I came up with in no particular order.
1. Harry Potter Series (JK Rowling): As I have mentioned before, I love this series. Harry Potter holds a special place in my heart and I highly recommend these books to anyone of any age who loves to read.
2. The Sisters Grimm Series (Michael Buckley): Boys, this is a great book series about Fairy Tale Detectives. I know, I know, it’s not macho to like fairy tales. But, these are exciting, the bad guys are dangerous and gruesome and the books are just great so please check them out.
3. The Percy Jackson Series (Rick Riordan): Wow! I haven’t done a review of these yet, but they are crazy good books. Mythology, heroes, and a chosen one. How could I not love these?
4. Charlie Bone Series (Jenny Nimmo): These are great because they are so magical. Adults out there, these would be great to read to your kids at night. I tore through the whole series in three weeks. Excellent!
5. Kane Chronicles Series (Rick Riordan): This book series surprised the heck out of me. I did not think Rick Riordan could make two successful series, but he did. I really enjoyed the first book in this series.
6. Inkheart Trilogy (Cornelia Funke): I could not put these down. They were excellent and I’ve never read anything like them.
7. The Bartimaeus Trilogy (Jonathan Stroud): These are dark and intricate stories about magic and strange creatures. These are good books.
8. Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series (Jeff Kinney): These are easy for kids just starting out to read and they are just plain funny. These are another great series parents can read with their kids.
Well, those are my top series choices. I would have picked 10, but I didn't have a top 10, just a top 8. I do plan on reading some other series soon that I may or may not add to this list. The Guardians of Ga’ Hoole and The Spiderwick Chronicles are among a few I have in mind, so I’ll let you know if they make it on the list or not. In the mean time, please check out something new and remember to read something different because you just might like it =)
I am here to tell you guys- you are missing out on some excellent books because of this. To me, it does not matter if the main character is male or female. What matters is if the book is exciting, if I enjoy it, if it makes me want to keep on reading and if the writing is good. Really, I could list a million other things, but that would be dull so I will just say this; boys out there reading this blog, give a book on this list a shot and see if you like it. You just never know unless you try. Why miss out on something great because of something so silly? A good book is a good book. Period.
This goes for any adults out there who dismiss children’s books because they feel the content is too juvenile for them. There are some excellent books out there you are missing out on because you think you are too old to read them. Reading children’s books is a great way to connect with the kids in your life. I cannot tell you how often my cousins, nieces, and nephews ask me about books or tell me about books they have read. A shared enthusiasm can really bring you closer to them and give you something to talk about.
I had a tough time narrowing down my list of choices. There are so many great books out there, and I wanted to pick books that are engaging, entertaining and worth loosing yourself in. Plus, there are several series out there that held my attention for the first book or two, then I lost interest. The list I compiled consists of book series I absolutly had to read to the end. Here’s what I came up with in no particular order.
1. Harry Potter Series (JK Rowling): As I have mentioned before, I love this series. Harry Potter holds a special place in my heart and I highly recommend these books to anyone of any age who loves to read.
2. The Sisters Grimm Series (Michael Buckley): Boys, this is a great book series about Fairy Tale Detectives. I know, I know, it’s not macho to like fairy tales. But, these are exciting, the bad guys are dangerous and gruesome and the books are just great so please check them out.
3. The Percy Jackson Series (Rick Riordan): Wow! I haven’t done a review of these yet, but they are crazy good books. Mythology, heroes, and a chosen one. How could I not love these?
4. Charlie Bone Series (Jenny Nimmo): These are great because they are so magical. Adults out there, these would be great to read to your kids at night. I tore through the whole series in three weeks. Excellent!
5. Kane Chronicles Series (Rick Riordan): This book series surprised the heck out of me. I did not think Rick Riordan could make two successful series, but he did. I really enjoyed the first book in this series.
6. Inkheart Trilogy (Cornelia Funke): I could not put these down. They were excellent and I’ve never read anything like them.
7. The Bartimaeus Trilogy (Jonathan Stroud): These are dark and intricate stories about magic and strange creatures. These are good books.
8. Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series (Jeff Kinney): These are easy for kids just starting out to read and they are just plain funny. These are another great series parents can read with their kids.
Well, those are my top series choices. I would have picked 10, but I didn't have a top 10, just a top 8. I do plan on reading some other series soon that I may or may not add to this list. The Guardians of Ga’ Hoole and The Spiderwick Chronicles are among a few I have in mind, so I’ll let you know if they make it on the list or not. In the mean time, please check out something new and remember to read something different because you just might like it =)
Midnight for Charlie Bone: By Jenny Nimmo
This is a book series I was hesitant to read because it had the “If you like Harry Potter, you’ll love these books!” recommendation I’ve come across many times before. The problem with this label is that it raises my expectations too much. I end up comparing the books to Harry Potter (my favorite children’s book series), and then they fall short of my expectations.
Yet, this book and all the other books in the Children of the Red King series did not fall short in any way. In fact, I liked them much more than I expected to. Not because of their similarities to Harry Potter, but because of how very different they were. In Midnight for Charlie Bone, the main character, Charlie thinks he is an ordinary boy, and he’s grateful for it. You see, Charlie comes from a family who has unusual gifts.
His Family is directly descended from the Red King. The Red king was “endowed” or gifted with many magical or unusual talents. He had eight children, all of whom were gifted with one of his many endowments and their descendants passed on these gifts to their children, their children’s children and so on down the line.
In Midnight for Charlie Bone, Charlie finds out he himself has an unusual gift. He can hear what’s happening inside photographs or paintings. Unfortunately, his horrible Aunt’s find out he has a gift, and insist he attend Bloor’s academy for gift and endowed children such as himself. At Bloor’s he realizes that there is a mystery involving an adopted child- a mystery he wants to uncover. He also discovers that there is a balance between good and evil under that roof- and that he is a part of something bigger than he ever could have imagined.
I think it is unfair to compare Jenny Nimmo’s novels to Harry Potter. There are similarities; magic is in both, and a great deal of time is spent with Charlie at Bloor’s Academy, just as a lot of time is spent at Hogwarts, and even Charlie Bone and Harry Potter look a bit the same, (at least in my mind). But Nimmo makes this book her own so well that as a reader I enjoyed the book too much to care if they were similar or not.
Jenny Nimmo is a really good writer with an excellent imagination. She makes this book her own by giving Charlie and all of her characters a distinct personality and showing the reader that even in the same family, there can be good and bad people. He characters are quirky, interesting and thoughtful. It’s my opinion that Nimmo created a wonderful world in this book series. A world I was very glad to visit. The endowments some of the characters have are so imaginative and unique. They use their talents for good, or for evil depending on which side they have chosen and the outcome is a fast paced, can’t-put-the-book-down read.
Yet, this book and all the other books in the Children of the Red King series did not fall short in any way. In fact, I liked them much more than I expected to. Not because of their similarities to Harry Potter, but because of how very different they were. In Midnight for Charlie Bone, the main character, Charlie thinks he is an ordinary boy, and he’s grateful for it. You see, Charlie comes from a family who has unusual gifts.
His Family is directly descended from the Red King. The Red king was “endowed” or gifted with many magical or unusual talents. He had eight children, all of whom were gifted with one of his many endowments and their descendants passed on these gifts to their children, their children’s children and so on down the line.
In Midnight for Charlie Bone, Charlie finds out he himself has an unusual gift. He can hear what’s happening inside photographs or paintings. Unfortunately, his horrible Aunt’s find out he has a gift, and insist he attend Bloor’s academy for gift and endowed children such as himself. At Bloor’s he realizes that there is a mystery involving an adopted child- a mystery he wants to uncover. He also discovers that there is a balance between good and evil under that roof- and that he is a part of something bigger than he ever could have imagined.
I think it is unfair to compare Jenny Nimmo’s novels to Harry Potter. There are similarities; magic is in both, and a great deal of time is spent with Charlie at Bloor’s Academy, just as a lot of time is spent at Hogwarts, and even Charlie Bone and Harry Potter look a bit the same, (at least in my mind). But Nimmo makes this book her own so well that as a reader I enjoyed the book too much to care if they were similar or not.
Jenny Nimmo is a really good writer with an excellent imagination. She makes this book her own by giving Charlie and all of her characters a distinct personality and showing the reader that even in the same family, there can be good and bad people. He characters are quirky, interesting and thoughtful. It’s my opinion that Nimmo created a wonderful world in this book series. A world I was very glad to visit. The endowments some of the characters have are so imaginative and unique. They use their talents for good, or for evil depending on which side they have chosen and the outcome is a fast paced, can’t-put-the-book-down read.
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