Review: The Fault in Our Stars

Hi Everyone!

I know I reviewed Matched really recently, but this is a PRESSING MATTER. All I have to say is read this book now! You should probably be at least 13 or 14, because it tackles issues like cancer. But I cannot stress this enough: this is NOT a "cancer" book meant to touch the hearts of all in a sad and melancholy way. This is a book about a normal girl who is witty, hilarious, and in touch with the reality of her situation. The girl's name is Hazel, and when she meets someone with a similar plight as her, the handsome Augustus Waters, everything changes for her. Hazel has to find a way to let people into her life without hurting them inevitably in the end. John Green is one of my favorite authors EVER, and this could be his best book yet. This isn't the sort of book I would usually read, but anyone can enjoy it. John Green gets in touch with real, human thoughts and feelings better than any author I have ever seen. Sure, this book is filled with tragedy and humor juxtaposed in a way that I have never seen before, but I also couldn't put it down. I HIGHLY recommend any book by John Green, especially this one. 

-Alice

P.S. I pre-ordered mine, and it's signed! The whole first printing of this book is PERSONALLY signed by John Green himself, so if you go to a book store soon, and find a copy with the yellow "Signed Copy," sticker on the cover, you'll get one like mine! See below for an actual picture of the inside page of my book :)

Review: A Voice in the Wind

Hi everyone! I haven't posted yet, because I have been incredibly busy, but I'm starting now! :)

So, I read this book called A Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers for school over the summer. It was incredible. No words can describe how much I loved this book. It follows the story of a girl named Hadassah. If you are religious, she is the daughter of the dead young man Jesus saw and brought back to life for the mourning mother in the Bible. She is a Christian in Jerusalem in Roman times; the time where discovered Christians are fed to the lions in the arenas. Romans attack and destroy Jerusalem, trying to rid the place of Jews. They end up killing her mother, father, brother and sister. Her story really begins when she is sold on the slave market and bought by the Valerians as a slave for the 14 year old girl named Julia.

Another character we follow is Marcus Valerian, the son of Decimus and Phoebe Valerian who bought Hadassah. Marcus is unhappy with life. He has more than enough money to support a family and himself for a lifetime. He is always pleasing himself with wine and women. He does not have a wife or children. However, life only sates Marcus' thirst, never quenches it. Then he meets Haddassah, and everything changes for him.

We also follow the life of Atretes. He is a leader of a German tribe in these same times. He leads vicious battles against Roman forces in his area. The worst crime a German could ever commit is show cowardice, or any kind of fear. It is considered disgraceful for any soldier to be killed on his back. Atretes is captured by the Roman men and forced to take part in the games. He is forced to become a gladiator and fight to the death in the arena against other gladiators. All he wants is freedom.

All these characters are connected through this incredible story with a girl named Julia; Marcus' sister, Haddassah's master, and, at one point, Atretes' girl. I won't say any more about her, because you need to read the book. Actually, it's bookS. There is a sequel, An Echo in the Darkness, and a book after that, As Sure as the Dawn. If you read the first book, I don't care what you think or are feeling: you MUST read the second book at least. :) I will write a review for the second book, but you need to read it first, because it will otherwise give away the first book.

Happy Reading!
Jo March

Review: Matched

Hello Everyone!

So I've been reading "Matched" by Ally Condie for a while, and I just finished it last weekend. When I first started to read it, it sucked me in right away. The beginning of the book is captivating, and brings you into the world of Cassia, a teenage girl growing up in a futuristic society that seems perfect...or is it? The government -and everyone- has secrets. Cassia is very accepting at first, and when seeing the world through her eyes, you almost accept it as normal when you read. But as she begins to find out more and more, and you begin to become horrified with the society, she slowly begins to break out of her conformist persona and into her rebellious personality. And, of course there's the matter of her choice between Xander, her (attractive) best friend whom she's been "matched" with by the authorities, or Ky, an (attractive) flash on the screen who might just be meant for her. This is for fans of the Hunger Games, and it's a very good read. But that doesn't mean I am without complaints. For one thing, the society wasn't shocking enough for me. After reading this you may point at me in dismay at how inhuman I am for NOT being shocked, but let's get this straight. They do some crazy things in that society, but I've seen it ALL before. If you're going to write a dystopian novel, you need the shock factor. There is a sequel, "Crossed," but I'm not sure if i'll read it. It's one of those war-torn sequels, where everything is going to fall apart, such as Mockingjay. If there was a book in between (a Catching Fire-esque situation) I would read it, but they jump into the battle to early. This has been a very conflicting review.

-Alice

Review: The Agency: Traitor in the Tunnel and Rivals in the City

Hi Everyone!!

So, I'm not really sure if I ever talked about the third book, The Traitor in the Tunnel, in the Agency series by Y.S. Lee. I read it over the summer, and was just flipping through it again. It was one of the best books I've ever read- not surprising, of course, being a part of the Agency series. In it, Mary Quinn (the main character) goes undercover as a maid in Buckingham Palace after the Agency is notified of a series of petty thefts. Meanwhile, at the same time, James Easton, her longstanding lover and friend, is working underground in the sewers for the Queen. As well, she thinks she has found her long lost father in the Tower of London.

Overall, this was an amazing book... Once again Y.S. Lee has providing an exceptionally riveting mystery!

I would highly recommend it!

~Anne Shirley


P.S. I was on Y.S. Lee's blog and I came across the news for the fourth and final Agency book... The working title is Rivals in the City.

I can't wait for it to come out! Here is Y.S. Lee's blog address for more information:

http://yslee.com/2011/06/the-agency-4/

(or rather the address that explains the 4th book... Her normal address is http://yslee.com)

Review: A Great and Terrible Beauty

Hey Everyone!!
I'm so sorry that I haven't posted in so long...
I've been really busy with the new school year!!
Anyway, I found this book called "A Great and Terrible Beauty." Jo March recommended it to me, as did my sister, who just read it.
They both said it was amazing, and I'm about to start reading it!
I'll keep you posted!

~Anne Shirley