Thursday, October 29, 2009

Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness


4/5
Imagine a world in which you can hear every man's thoughts. That is the reality for Todd and all the men in the town of Prentiss. One day Todd stumbles across a startling secret. But how do you hide a secret when everyone can read your thoughts? Todd soon discovers that to protect himself he has to flee the only home he has known. But fleeing may not be enough because an army is hunting him down. A great adventure/sci-fi tale. Grades 9 - 12

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Antsy Does Time by Neal Shusterman


5/5
Antsy decides to help a dying friend(Gunner) by giving him a month of his life. Before he knows it the whole school is donating time to Gunner. Time becomes a commodity that kids can use to purchase other things. You can prove your love to your girlfriend if you give her a week of your life. Soon Antsy is the overseer of years of time. Gunner seems a bit cheered by the response of his fellow classmates but difficulties at home keep him somber. As Antsy gets to know Gunner he soon realizes that there are deeper issues brewing in Gunner's life and Antsy begins to suspect that Gunner may be faking his illness. Find out what Antsy discovers about life, love and family in this great read. Grades 7 - 10.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Airman by Eoin Colfer



3.5/5
Connor has always wanted to fly. In the end of the nineteenth century there is no precedent for individual flight. Connor will not be deterred and he becomes apprentice to a brilliant scientist in the king's court. Together they scheme to design a flying machine. One day as Connor's teacher is meeting with the king they are ambushed and killed by a rival. Connor witnesses the event and is thrown in prison by the rival of the king. Connor's mind begins to be consumed with revenge and flying. Will he escape his prison? Could his interest in flying be able to give him the ultimate freedom? Find out by reading the book. If you have read it then tell me what you think by posting a comment. Grades 6-10.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins



3.5/5
The sequel to Hunger Games starts slow but finishes strong. Katniss is back at home and trying to make sense of her victor lifestyle. Her defiance of the capitol during the games has sparked uprising in the districts. The government is trying to control the districts through her and her tour as victor. In a desperate attempt to reign in the districts the capitol celebrates the 75th hunger games by pitting previous victors against each other. Good action as usual but the romance seems cheesy and a bit forced. The questions that remain will leave most "hungry" for the final book.