Book: The Storyteller's Daughter by Cameron Dokey
Age-range: 8 and up (with mama's permission)
Rating: 9 out of 10
This is another book in the Once Upon a Time series. All of the books I've read in this series have been good, some better than others of course. This one was amazing! I literally read it during my son's nap, even though I was exhausted and wanted to take a nap of my own. I just couldn't put it down.
This is a story about Shahrazad, the teller of the Arabian Nights. I've read one other book about her, but I prefer this one. It was written so well. There's no sex, very little violence, and it's an amazing love story! There were times when I got chills reading certain passages. The writing was just so beautiful!
So the 9 out of 10 is because some of the stories within the story got a little dull. I just wanted to know what was going to happen to Shahrazad, I didn't care about the story she was telling. But that only happened once or twice, so don't let that deter you.
Read this book!
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Book Review #5
Book: The View From Saturday by E.L. Konigsburg
Age-range: 8 and up
Rating: 7 out of 10
This is a book my sister Heidi forced onto me. As I was leaving her house she tackled me and shoved the book into my arms, telling me she'd beat me up if I didn't take it with me. And if you know Heidi at all you know I am being 100% honest about what happened.
Anyway, the book. The first 2 chapters are boooring! Thus the docking of 3 points. The story really begins in Chapter 3. This is a story about 4 kids and a teacher. The kids are competing for some thing and the teacher is coaching them. The kids are all in 6th grade, 3 boys and 1 girl. It's the story of how they became the perfect team. They call themselves The Souls. Is this confusing? That's probably because it is.
Just read it. It makes more sense when you read it.
Age-range: 8 and up
Rating: 7 out of 10
This is a book my sister Heidi forced onto me. As I was leaving her house she tackled me and shoved the book into my arms, telling me she'd beat me up if I didn't take it with me. And if you know Heidi at all you know I am being 100% honest about what happened.
Anyway, the book. The first 2 chapters are boooring! Thus the docking of 3 points. The story really begins in Chapter 3. This is a story about 4 kids and a teacher. The kids are competing for some thing and the teacher is coaching them. The kids are all in 6th grade, 3 boys and 1 girl. It's the story of how they became the perfect team. They call themselves The Souls. Is this confusing? That's probably because it is.
Just read it. It makes more sense when you read it.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Book Review #4
Book: I am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I want to be your Class President by Josh Lieb
Age-range: 10 and up
Rating: 10 out of 10
This book was hilarious! I was afraid with all the hype it received it would ultimately disappoint. It absolutely did not. This is a story told from the point of view of a 12-year-old 7th grader named Oliver who is a self-described genius of unspeakable evil. It's engaging, compelling, imaginative, and quick.
Oliver is a genius who is fooling the world into thinking he's an idiot. To get his father's attention (though he says he doesn't care what Daddy thinks) he decides to run for 8th grade class president. Hilarity ensues. It's not just a funny story, however, it also has some heart in it. It really makes you think about how kids are treated and why.
I would suggest this book whole-heartedly if you're looking for something to make you laugh.
Age-range: 10 and up
Rating: 10 out of 10
This book was hilarious! I was afraid with all the hype it received it would ultimately disappoint. It absolutely did not. This is a story told from the point of view of a 12-year-old 7th grader named Oliver who is a self-described genius of unspeakable evil. It's engaging, compelling, imaginative, and quick.
Oliver is a genius who is fooling the world into thinking he's an idiot. To get his father's attention (though he says he doesn't care what Daddy thinks) he decides to run for 8th grade class president. Hilarity ensues. It's not just a funny story, however, it also has some heart in it. It really makes you think about how kids are treated and why.
I would suggest this book whole-heartedly if you're looking for something to make you laugh.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Book Review #3
Book: The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Age-range: 16 and up
Rating: 5 out of 10
Okay, this book was recommended to me by about half a dozen people whose taste I value, writing I adore, and opinions are well-founded. I read it and really really wanted to love it. I kept reading, even when I had gone past my page limit waiting for it to be interesting. It IS interesting, but it could have been just as powerful (if not moreso) as a short story.
This is a story about a man and his son trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic world. You never really learn what exactly happened to the earth, just that it happened. There were parts of this book that broke my heart and brought me to tears. That is this book described in one word: heartbreaking.
So why did I only give it 5 out of 10? Because it's repetitious and ultimately unsatisfying. Perhaps I wasn't in the right frame of mine to fully appreciate it, but this is my book review, not yours. If you've read this book please share your experience with it so that everyone can know that mine isn't the only opinion out there.
Age-range: 16 and up
Rating: 5 out of 10
Okay, this book was recommended to me by about half a dozen people whose taste I value, writing I adore, and opinions are well-founded. I read it and really really wanted to love it. I kept reading, even when I had gone past my page limit waiting for it to be interesting. It IS interesting, but it could have been just as powerful (if not moreso) as a short story.
This is a story about a man and his son trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic world. You never really learn what exactly happened to the earth, just that it happened. There were parts of this book that broke my heart and brought me to tears. That is this book described in one word: heartbreaking.
So why did I only give it 5 out of 10? Because it's repetitious and ultimately unsatisfying. Perhaps I wasn't in the right frame of mine to fully appreciate it, but this is my book review, not yours. If you've read this book please share your experience with it so that everyone can know that mine isn't the only opinion out there.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
So Many Books, So Little Time
I have over a dozen books that I received for Christmas gifts, birthday gifts, or forced onto me by my sister as I was leaving her house. :) I wish I had more time to read, but it's not something I can do while Dutch plays because he's a one-man wrecking crew and I have to stop reading to chase him down every few minutes. That doesn't really let the story flow the way it should.
I'm not really one for New Year's resolutions, but I am going to make the resolution to do two things after Dutch goes to sleep: exercise and read!
I'm not really one for New Year's resolutions, but I am going to make the resolution to do two things after Dutch goes to sleep: exercise and read!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Book Review #2
Book: Fairest of All by Serena Valentino
Age-range: 10 and up, possibly younger with Mama and Dad's permission
Rating: 8 out of 10
To begin, the cover of this book is the most amazing thing in the world. If nothing else, you should go to the bookstore and look at it. Make sure to look UNDER the jacket too. Amazingly spooky stuff.
This is a re-telling of the Disney version of Snow White from the Wicked Queen's point of view. When the book begins you adore and love the queen and can't understand how she becomes what she does. The process happens slowly, although there wasn't enough real motivation for her change, in my mind.
The imagery is beautiful and it's a nice, quick read. If you like Snow White you will probably be interested in this telling of the tale.
Age-range: 10 and up, possibly younger with Mama and Dad's permission
Rating: 8 out of 10
To begin, the cover of this book is the most amazing thing in the world. If nothing else, you should go to the bookstore and look at it. Make sure to look UNDER the jacket too. Amazingly spooky stuff.
This is a re-telling of the Disney version of Snow White from the Wicked Queen's point of view. When the book begins you adore and love the queen and can't understand how she becomes what she does. The process happens slowly, although there wasn't enough real motivation for her change, in my mind.
The imagery is beautiful and it's a nice, quick read. If you like Snow White you will probably be interested in this telling of the tale.
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