A Cacophony of Words

Crazy Time in Library Land!

2010-09-18T14:57:00.003-05:00

This have been really crazy around here with the ending of the Summer Reading Program and jumping into the school year. I have still been doing tons of reading but not too much on the reviewing side of it. My latest updates will be short and sweet, just what you like. :) And if you want more info, just come on in to the library and I'll be happy to tell you more.

So, I just finished Book Five of the Septimus Heap Series

Syren by Angie Sage
The continuance of the Septimus Heap series. Great, awesome, can't wait to see what finally happens when the next one comes out!

This awesome series has gotten me back in the mood for Harry Potter - well let's face it - when am I not in the mood of H.P., so I'm reading the entire series over again. Only gotten through 1-4, but loving it as much as ever.

Other than that, I read the finishing book of the Hunger Games Trilogy

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
The finishing book in the Hunger Games trilogy. Let's just say as smitten as I was, I wasn't a huge fan of this book. I felt like so much more could have been done. Overall I was disappointed. :(

After that I read
Into the Gauntlet: 39 Clues Book 10 by Margaret Peterson Haddix
This is the final book of the 39 Clues series. I loved loved loved it! I won't spoil any of it for you, but read this series right away!

That's it for now! See you next time.

Septimus Heap - by Angie Sage

2010-07-09T12:57:00.002-05:00

Book One: Magyk

This book begins the series of Septimus Heap, the 7th son of a 7th son who died as an infant. This is an extremely strange beginning to the story, but the truth is soon learned about the son that Silas and Sarah thought had died, the baby girl Jenna that they adopted, and the challenges that they will have to face in the world. I liked this book and am excited to see where the series is going to go.

Book Two: Flyte

This book concludes the events of the first book and launches into the kidnapping of Jenna by Simon. Septimus (the not dead seventh son of Sarah and Silas Heap) witnesses the event but no one believes him, so he sets off on his own picking up Niko, his old friend Boy 409, Stanley the ex-message rat, and others on the journey to keep Jenna safe from Simon and Dom Daniel.

39 Clues Book 7: The Viper's Nest - by Peter Lerangis

2010-03-31T10:28:00.002-05:00

The continuing saga of Amy and Dan Cahill as they continue to search for the 39 Clues. I am still loving this series, but am going to have to re-read them as I am losing info after finishing one and waiting for the next to be published. I don't want to give too much away but this book involves relief about a trusted friend, trekking to South Africa and finally finding out which branch of the Cahills Amy and Dan belong to!! I am eagerly awaiting book 8: The Emperor's Code

Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List - by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

2010-03-31T10:17:00.002-05:00

Although they have been friends and neighbors all their lives, straight Naomi and gay Ely find their relationship severely strained during their freshman year at New York University.
I swear I hated this book from the minute I picked it up. I was expected something like Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist and it wasn't. In absolute fairness, by the end of the book I liked it but it took some time to get there. Both Naomi and Ely are extremely self-centered characters. Ely is obsessed with sex and Naomi is obsessed with Ely. Naomi has delusions of a life with Ely and Ely constantly teases and leads her on. When Ely makes out with Naomi's boyfriend, all bets are off, and their battle turns into a building wide fight with all of their neighbors taking sides.

There is an underlying plot line involving Naomi's dad having an affair with one of Ely's moms (He has two - they're gay) which seems to have no real effect on Naomi and Ely's relationship but is mentioned heavily because of the effect on the parents - Naomi's dad has left, but Ely's moms have reconciled.

There is also a level of unrealistic parenting as there was in Nick and Norah. Naomi and Ely go out, wherever they want, stay out til morning with no calls to anyone, and parents barely seem to care. Naomi's mom is a wreck. Not that this excuses the parenting but it at least explains why. Ely's moms just seem to have no idea where he is and don't appear to care. He has boys who are strangers sleeping in his room and they just brush it off. This seems very hip and urban but unrealistic to me. This certainly wasn't how my parents were!

13 Reasons Why - by Jay Asher

2010-03-31T10:13:00.002-05:00

When high school student Clay Jenkins receives a box in the mail containing thirteen cassette tapes recorded by his classmate Hannah, who committed suicide, he spends a bewildering and heartbreaking night crisscrossing their town, listening to Hannah's voice recounting the events leading up to her death.

This book was creepy. And sad. Very sad. I hurt for Hannah and her pain at all these people who had a part in her death. And yet, there is a little edge of revenge in her tapes now that she is gone. Going through the tapes with Clay is painful because he never realized how much of an impact he had on Hannah and never knew how his impact tied in with the impact of others. At the end, I felt hopeful. I'm not sure for what, as I knew Hannah wasn't going to come back from the dead, but perhaps for Clay and his future of moving on.

Ender's Game - by Orson Scott Card

2010-03-31T10:08:00.002-05:00

This book ventures into the life of 6 year old prodigy of Andrew "Ender" Wiggin, who throughout the course of the story becomes one of the youngest army commanders ever and leads the battle against the alien "Buggers".

This is the first book in a series, and draws you into the sad, and lonely life of little Ender who longs for a family, and a community to belong to. I have never really been a huge fan of sci-fi in books, but the writing style of Card really pulled me in. I liked the book so much, I had to get the next one in the series, Speaker For the Dead.

Luna - by Julie Anne Peters

2010-03-31T10:02:00.002-05:00

This book opened my eyes to the struggles that transgendered people face. From the first few pages you could feel "Luna's" pain at having to be someone that she is not. The story is told from Luna/Liam's sister - Regan's point of view explaining how her brother has always felt that he was meant to be a girl. This books is wonderfully written and very empathetic to Luna's situation. I would recommend this book to anyone who doesn't understand what a transgendered person feels.

New Posts Coming Soon

2010-03-30T14:19:00.002-05:00

I have been doing a ton of reading and will be posting updates very soon!!!

The Black Circle (39 Clues Book 5) by Gordon Korman

2009-10-07T13:11:00.002-05:00

my excitement could not be contained for the publication of the fifth book in the series, The Black Circle. In this volume, Amy and Dan continue their quest for the 39 clues by traipsing all over the world as usual. The difference this time, is that alliances have been made and the lines of who can be trusted are getting harder and harder to read.

I LOVE this series. It's action, adventure. It makes me laugh out loud (and I LOVE any book that can do that) and it has an online game that you can play to find your own 39 clues, which you can use to win money - if you're under a certain age - which I am not. :)

Wintersmith by Terry Pratchett

2009-10-07T12:49:00.003-05:00

Despite a stern warning from Miss Treason, the eccentric witch from whom 13-year-old Tiffany Aching is learning her craft, the girl has gone and danced with the wrong men. Having inserted herself into a dance in which summer and winter achieve their seasonal balance, Tiffany has attracted the attentions of the Wintersmith. To express his love, he makes Tiffany-shaped snowflakes, ice roses, and Tiffany icebergs. While Granny Weatherwax, Miss Perspicacia Tick, and sundry veteran witches work with Tiffany stop the Wintersmith, the Nac Mac Feeglas set off to fetch a Hero to assist Tiffany, along the way adopting a cantankerous blue cheese named Horace.
I liked this book the best of the three in her series. Tiffany is a bright, fun girl, and the nac mac feegles kept making me laugh over and over.

Hat Full of Sky by Terry Pratchett

2009-10-07T12:42:00.002-05:00

The second book in the Tiffany Aching three, finds her 2 years older, with a sort-of boyfriend, and on her way to learn about being a witch. She travels far up to the mountain to a place where witches are revered and finds herself with Miss Level, a witch with one mind and two bodies. As an aspiring witch, Tiffany is using powers that she doesn't understand and inadvertently attracts the attention of a "hiver" set on possessing her. It's up the Granny Weatherwax, Miss Level, and the Nac Mac Feegals, to save her before its too late.

I liked this book better than the first and Tiffany's adventures are more exciting than the first book. As she grows, her relationship with Roland also progresses to a more interesting state.

The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett

2009-10-07T12:36:00.003-05:00

The first book of the three Tiffany Aching books, this one introduces her and her desire to be a witch. Her adventures begin when down at the river with her annoying little brother, she is attacked by Jenny Greenteeth, a river monster from legend. Fighting her, Tiffany gets her reputation as the witch with the frying pan. When her brother is stolen by the Fairy Queen, its up to Tiffany, her frying pan, and the Nac Mac Feegals, who are little blue men, to get him back.

I liked this book but I liked the two that followed it alot better!
Followed by: Hat Full of Sky, and Wintersmith

Sold by Patricia McCormick

2009-10-07T12:27:00.002-05:00

This is the story of 13-year-old Lakshmi, who is sold into prostitution by her step-father. She refused to give herself to the men who pay, and is beaten and starved until she gives in. Throughout all of this, she tries to remain herself, and find a way out.

This is another shocking book that told me how much I don't know about the world. Reading this, you could think that this was taking place many years ago, and since its across the world, you can distance yourself, until the "working girls" are watching an American soap opera on tv one day, and you discover that this is happening RIGHT NOW, in YOUR world. I was so mad to discover another horrific fact that I wasn't aware of. This issue is fresh on my mind now, and I want to find a way to help. After reading this, I watched the similar documentary Born Into Brothels.

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

2009-10-07T12:22:00.003-05:00

This was an enlightening book about Marjane's life growing up in Iran. They are in a time of war and the country is being taken over and changed. She loses a lot of her freedoms and as a woman, has to adopt wearing "the veil". I read this book thinking that things had always been this way in the Middle Eastern countries. I was surprised to find out differently. I feel like I should have been taught more about these things in school. This book really opened my eyes to how much I do not know about the world.

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

2009-09-16T15:43:00.002-05:00

This book is the story of Melinda, who after calling the police on a summer party, has become a social outcast. No one talks to her and Melinda doesn't speak much at all. But, Melinda wasn't just afraid of a wild party, there was a reason that she called the police.
I thought this was a great book. I could relate to Melinda's pain, but I wish that she had felt confident enough in ANY of her relationships to talk to someone about what happened to her. She doesn't go through stages of guilt, like others in her predicament, so I was a little confused as to why she didn't do something sooner. But, all in all this was a good book with a good look into a bad situation.

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

2009-08-21T14:58:00.006-05:00

The first book in this series introduces young Percy Jackson, a "half-blood", a child of a human and a god, because all of the greek myths you've heard are true. Percy, a child of Poseidon (one of the big three) has been attacked by monsters for as long as he can remember but he never knew why.

That being the basis of the series, this first book focuses on the "lightning thief" aka whoever stole Zeus' lightning bolt, for which Percy is being blamed. Now, its up to Percy, his satyr friend Grover, and daughter of Athena, Annabeth to save the day and clear Percy's name.

This book is a great start to a series that I have quickly become a fan of. The book has a few moments that have the reader knowing what's going on wayyyy before Percy, and have you saying "jeez Percy, we got it 20 pages ago!!". Other than that, it is a highly entertaining book that keeps you on the edge of your seat waiting to see what's going the happen. The action is consistant with enough in the right places and never too much lull. A fantastic adventure series without any serious flaws.

Forever Princess by Meg Cabot

2009-08-21T14:47:00.003-05:00

The last volume in the series The Princess Diaries brings the series to a successful close. It follows Mia through the rest of her senior year at Albert Einstein High School in New York. She has made it into every college she applied to but has been lying about it to everyone. She wrote a romance novel for her senior project and has been trying to get it published under a fake name with no luck so far, and best (or worst) of all, Michael is suddenly returned from Japan making Mia's life a little bid more difficult to say the least.

Mia is her same catastrophic mess in this final Princess Diaries novel, which is such a comfort. I was a bit worried that the very last part of the series would find us with some sleek, sophisticated princess that just wasn't our Mia. That is not the case. Cabot delivers us our well-loved girl, full of drama, and catastrophe and the series comes to a satisfying close with the resolution of issues, the publication of a book, the erradication of a jerk, prom, graduation, an election, and a big college decision. A solid end for a solid series.

The Fantastic Journey That is July

2009-07-15T09:45:00.000-05:00

Ok folks, I am still reading a ton of stuff as usual. My current reads are as follows:

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
Everybody knows this story, but just to give the recap, this is the 6th installment in the 7 book series. It covers Harry's sixth year at Hogwarts school, blossoming new romances, the struggle of growing up, and the ever increasing pressure of being the "Chosen One" and what that will mean in the ultimate fight between himself and Voldemort.

I'm re-reading to prepare for the movie premiere, and I will be starting to read HP7 again, just cause I can't resist. Yay HP!!

Runaways Volume 1 by Brian Vaughan
This is the first volume about a series of teenagers who discover that their parents are actually a team of super-villians. They take the side of right and in standing against their parents discover that they may not be so normal themselves.

Sickened by Julie Gregory
This is the story of a little girl whose mother has a disease called Munchasens by Proxy, which essential is when a parent makes their kid sick. This tragic story is Julie's about growing up with her mother and being a "sickly" child made to believe that she is extremely ill for all her life. Sad, sad story.

Gregor the Overlander Series by Suzanne Collins
I have read all five books in this series and have loved them all. The basic jist of the storyline is that Gregor, a 11 year old boy (12 in the last 2 books) discovers a world underneath New York called the Underland. He further finds that he seems to be involved in all kinds of prophecies that call him "The Warrior" and call for his direct help to save all the inhabitants of the Underland again and again.

Paper Towns by John Green
Paper Towns is the story of Q and Margo. Childhood friends who have grown apart, the two spend one night of adventure and revenge during their senior year of high school which directly after, Margo disappears. Q starts to find clues and begins a quest to find Margo.

Monster by Walter Dean Myers
The story of 16 year old Steve Harmon's trial, who is accused of being the lookout in robbery and murder. The book progresses through his trial from beginning to end with snippets of what life is life for Steve in jail, and the real story that Steve tells.

Beyond the Grave (39 Clues, Book 4) by Jude Watson
The next installment of the 39 Clues series continues to follow Amy and Dan as they strive to keep unraveling the clues to solve the mystery.

Kim's Reads for May

2009-05-07T14:46:00.000-05:00

Hey All!

I am reading a ton of stuff as usual. The current reads for me are as follows:

Th1rteen R3asons Why by Jay Asher
After Hannah commits suicide she sends 13 tapes to the 13 people who played a part in her suicide.
I did this book on Audio, and listened in the car. This book hit me so hard, the one night I was listening I was almost at the end of the book, and I had to keep driving just to find out the ending.

The 39 Clues: Books 1,2,3 by various authors
This is an awesome new adventure series that ties in the books, online play and trading cards. If you are between certain ages you can win actual prizes and money by solving the clues online. I am, of course, too old, but its still fun to play!

Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott
This book tells the story of a girl who was kidnapped and what happens to her afterwards as she grows up in the custody of her kidnapper.

Princess Mia by Meg Cabot
The final installment in the princess diaries series. Mia's a senior, her dad is running for prime minister, no one will publish her book, and she's been telling everyone that she didn't get into college anywhere - when she got in EVERYWHERE.

Death's Daughter by Amber Benson
I haven't gotten too far into this one yet other than to know that it is about a girl named Calliope Reaper-Jones who just happens to be death's daughter. I picked it up because it was written by Amber Benson, who played Tara in 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer'. Jason has the other book she wrote and once we're both done, we'll switch books and then I'll tell you about that one too!

Gothic Lolita by Dakota Lane
This is an alternating story between Miyu and Chelsea, two girls a world apart that became penpal friends through their shared love of Gothic Lolita fashion. Both have had hard lives and will need each other if they're going to make it through. - I'm about halfway through with this one. The story is what is keeping me going, but the writing style is a tad confusing at times.