Saturday, February 28, 2009

Warriors 1: Into the Wild

Into the Wild marks the beginning of Erin Hunter's amazing series. The kitty pet rusty is changed forever when Graystripe, an apprentice wildcat, attacks from the forest. When rusty is pulled in his life is changed forever. The great novel brings the newly born character to light. By the end of the book this unlikely hero finds out his amazing proficy from his medicine cat. I would always read this book first out the 2 series he has created.
As a final statement I would just say that that this is the beginning of a masterpiece.

Rating:4.5/5
"a suspenseful animal adventure that will leave readers eyeing Puss a bit nervously"

-Kirkus Reviews

Ages 10+ because of the more violent chapters

Friday, February 27, 2009

Monthly Winner!!!

I am sorry - this post should have been on Monday, but I got so caught up in reading good books that I completely forgot - Remember that these winners are for posts before 11:59 PM on Sunday.

Today's winner is...














Little Brother, by Cory Doctrow...
Go to fullsize image

This fantastically written book was a good read - I would have given it the PRINTZ award - FAR BETTER than Jellicoe Road, especially if you understood the politics involved.

i also found out some more fabulous news! THIS BOOK HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR THE NEBULA AWARD!!!

I warmly anticipate Doctrow's next novel (if it exists)

Congratulations!!!

My next award will be on Wednesday, March 25!
see you then!

The finalists for the SECOND ANNUAL CHILDREN'S CHOICE BOOK AWARDS

The second annual children's choice book award finalists have been announced. Remember to vote at www.BookWeekOnline.com from March 16 through May 3.

I put in bold what I think is the best books - no pressure for you to vote for that book though.

The favorite book finalists were determined by close to 15,000 children and teens.

Teen Choice Book Award
Airhead by Meg Cabot (Point/Scholastic)
Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer (Little, Brown and Company) - I wouldn't vote for this one
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (Scholastic Press)
Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen (Viking/Penguin Young Readers Group)
Paper Towns by John Green (Dutton/Penguin Young Readers Group)

Author of the Year

Jeff Kinney, Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules
Stephenie Meyer, Breaking Dawn - I wouldn't vote for this one
Christopher Paolini, Brisingr
James Patterson, Maximum Ride: The Final Warning
Rick Riordan, Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Battle of the Labyrinth

P.S. The MONTHLY BLOG WINNER will be announced later today!

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Cybils announced!

Fantasy & Science Fiction: Middle Grade
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Fantasy & Science Fiction: Young Adult
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Middle-Grade Fiction
The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd

Young Adult Fiction
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart

Non-Fiction: Middle Grade/Young Adult
The Year We Disappeared: A Father-Daughter Memoir by Cylin Busby and John Busby

Graphic Novels: Elementary/Middle Grade
Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale, illustrated by Nathan Hale

Graphic Novels: Young Adult
Emiko Superstar by Mariko Tamaki, illustrated by Steve Rolston

Poetry
Honeybee by Naomi Shihab Nye

Congratulations! I wanted to add that I loved The London Eye Mystery and The Hunger Games.

Saving Francesca and Looking for Alibrandi

Hello,

I just finished reading Saving Francesca and Looking for Alibrandi, two novels by Melina Marchetta, who also authored Jellicoe Road, the Printz Literature Award for Teens winner this year.

In Saving Francesca, Melina Marchetta weaves a tale of a girl who has a mother in acute depresssion. Francesca, the protagonist, wants to help her mother, but doesn't know how. She looks it up online, but all that she finds is some information about how the "root cause must be addressed." Francesca goes through teh job of finding her mother's root cause, while facing problems at school and at home.

In Looking for Alibrandi, Marchetta writes about a girl who doesn't know her father. Then, her father moves in with her grandmother, who doesn't even know that he is Josephine's father. Josephine Alibrandi is the protagonist by the way. The book, a great first by Marchetta, was amazingly good, and follows the storyline very well. Book readers can only hope that Josephine gets through the ride of her life without some kind of nervous breakdown - that is, untli you read the book! This book also came out as a film - in case any of you are interested.

Looking for Alibrandi:

4.2/5
Good

Ages 13 +

Saving Francesca:

4.0/5
Good

Ages 13 +