Overreactions

I started this blog when I was 8 or 9 I think. I had NO idea how to do book reviews or any of that stuff. If you go back to my first couple, you could see that. I hated violence and all that, I HATED blood, I used to faint if I saw too much blood or the insides of something living. Thats when I did the Sisters Of The Sword book review, that was just over the edge. I'm 13 now and i'm better with that kind of stuff. When I reviewed that book I didn't even know the definition of constructive criticism. So I apologize to all those martial art obsesso's out there who happened to read this. I overreacted and shouldn't have gone crazy over a book. I was kind of offended back then that it was in the kids section, "luring little kids over with its pretty cover then filling their heads with "horrors". Quoted from my 8 year old mind. but I have learned to control my thoughts and If I have an opinion about something that Is different from another persons opinion that might be considered offensive. I will not write it out as a comment or post. I mean really CQ, its just A BOOK.

THE ANYBODIES

The Anybodies
N.E. Bode
****4 Star

Once there was a wonderfully imaginative girl named Fern who was switched at birth and raised by a tragically dull couple, the Drudgers. Fern learns of the mix-up one evening when the Bone (er, her real father) and his "son" show up at her front door. The families decide to unswap the kids for the summer, and Fern sets off on a wild adventure involving thousands of books, giant peaches, lickable wallpaper, and a magical organization called the Anybodies.

This is a great book, It's a big comedy, thats all. It is really creative, I read it a long time ago but still love the fantasy of it all. It's definitely got some random things in it. It has great pictures and you can imagine their faces when there aren't. I would recommend this book for all ages, "I now proclaim thee a classic~."


-OLIVIA

Radiance

Radiance
Alyson Noel
*****5 Star

Riley Bloom left her sister Ever in the world of the living and crossed the bridge into the afterlife, a place called Here were the time is always Now. Riley and her dog Buttercup have been reunited with her parents  and are just settling into a nice relaxing death when she's summoned before the council. They let her in on a secret, the afterlife isn't just an eternity of leisure, Riley has to work. She's been assigned a job Soul Catcher, and a teacher Bodhi, a curious boy she can't quite figure out.
Riley, Bodhi, and Buttercup return to earth for her first assignment, a Radiant Boy who's been haunting a castle in England for centuries. Many Soul Catchers have tried to get him to cross the bridge and failed.
But all that was before he met Riley...

I really liked this book, it had a significant lesson hidden in its pages, my favorite character was Bodhi, he was funny, trying to act like a nerd and all. I can't tell you why or what seems off about him to Riley but I can tell you this is a MUST Read. Its one of those nice short book you can curl up with at any time you want and read in one sitting. I recommend this for all ages, its sad but happy at the same time so get up off your computer and go buy this 178 page book, you'll be glad you did.

Characters I like

Character Wannabe

I think it would be pretty cool to be one of those people who dye their hair and protest for human and animal rights. People involved in Amnesty International. Or a striving artist who believes in self expression. That is why I really admire the main characters from two books I just recently read, they are exactly how I want to be,
in a sense "role models".

Need
Carrie Jones
*****5 Star

 Zara White suspects a freaky guy is semi-stalking her. She memorizes phobias and chants them when she's nervous. And, okay, she hasn't exactly been herself since her stepfather died. But moving to a shivery Main town to stay with her grandmother is supposed to be the perfect fix-so her mom says.
Except this new plan of getting away to help Zara stay sane? Yeah, not working.
Turns out the semi-stalker is not a figment of Zara's imagination. He's still following her, leaving behind an eerie trail of gold dust. There's something not right — not human — in this sleepy Maine town, and all signs are pointing to Zara. "(Summary from book cover).

I really liked this book, but what I'm really going to be talking about is Zara, one of my favorite characters out of all the books I have read.  Zara is kind of "in the back".  She isn't shy but she doesn't put herself out there. That sounds like shy though, but it's not, very hard to describe. Its kind of like she doesn't care enough to try and get noticed or melt into the shadows, she's just there. She loves to run, used to be very athletic.  She would take morning jogs with her dad. She would tend to wear hand-me-down clothes thrift shop stuff, usually with hippie logos, kind of a "love not war" theme (I have always wanted to dress like that).
She is a dedicated member of Amnesty International, and can list every phobia known to man. I really admire her in many other ways, but if I told you it would give away the book.  I recommend "Need" for ages 12 and up.


All American Girl
Meg Cabot
*****5 Star

TOP TEN REASONS
Samantha Madison
IS IN DEEP TROUBLE

10. Her big sister is the most popular girl in school
9. Her little sister is a certified genius
8. She's in love with her big sisters boyfriend
7. She got caught selling celebrity portraits in school
6. And now she's being forced to take art classes
5. She's just saved the president of the United States from an assassination attempt
4. So the whole world thinks she's a hero.
3. Even though Sam knows she is far, far from being a hero
2. And now she's been appointed teen ambassador to the UN

AND THE NUMBER-ONE REASON Sam's LIFE IS OVER?

1.The president's son just might be in love with her
(Summary from book cover).

This book was really good, some of the jokes cracked me up.
But what I liked the most about this book was the characters, especially the main character, Sam.
Sam is the kind of person who doesn't care what other people think.
A year or two ago, she dyed her entire wardrobe black as sign of mourning for the crudeness of our generation.
She is a dedicated artist and idolizes Gwen Stefani and other bands and singers of that genre. She is also left handed and has a huge dog, who's name sounds somewhat female. She is flunking German and is never without her combat boots. I really admire this character and can't wait to read the sequel,
she has her own spunk that is hard to find these days.  I recommend this book, "All American Girl" for ages 10 and up.

~Olivia

Polo

You probably know that the brand Polo, most likely found in Ralph Lauren, is not just a made up name. But for those of you who do not know, it is actually based on a real sport by the name of Polo. Until today, I didn't know this. I thought that the little man on a horse holding a stick was just a pose created for that line of clothing. But actually its a real thing.
Here is the definition I found on Wikipedia:
POLO~

Polo is a team sport played on horseback in which the objective is to score goals against an opposing team. Players score by driving a small white plastic or wooden ball into the opposing team's goal using a long-handled mallet. The traditional sport of polo is played at speed on a large grass field up to 300 yards in length, and each polo team consists of four riders and their mounts.

Anyway, for the first time I went to a Polo match with my Mom, Dad and part turkey dog. It was really interesting to watch, the riders made it look so easy, whacking the mallet and riding their horses at the same time.








I think it would be a really cool sport to learn.

                         -Olivia

Immortal

Immortal
Gillian Shields
**** 4 Stars

"Wyldcliffe Abbey School for young ladies is elite, expensive, and unwelcoming. When Evie Johnson is torn from her home near the sea to become the newest scholarship student, strict teachers, snobbish students, and the oppressive atmosphere of Wyldcliffe leave her drowning in loneliness.
Evie's only lifeline is Sebastian, a mysterious and attractive young man she meets by chance. As Evie's feelings for Sebastian blaze with each secret meeting, she begins to fear that he is hiding something about his past. And she is haunted by by glimpses of a strange, ghostly girl - a girl who is so eerily like Evie she could be a sister. Evie is slowly drawn into a tangled web of past and present she cannot control. As the extraordinary, elemental forces of Wyldcliffe rise up like the mighty sea, Evie is faced with an astounding truth about Sebastian, and her own incredible fate." (summary from book jacket.)

Immortal is a very good book, though the story line is typical there is something twisted and dark about this secret romance.  Like darkness is hiding in the shadows of every page turned, ready to leap out, out of the text and drape you in an opaque blackness. It is a great story to read by the sea because there are a lot of watery images from her memories of the ocean.  It is very descriptive and seemingly more vivid when by a big puddle of water yourself.
But the reasons I gave it a four star, were because some times you knew what was coming next. You don't want that in a book, you want a surprise at every turn.  It gave you the sense you had read the book before. Another thing, was some parts of the text were too cheesy. The main character would get too poetic, I mean if someone you care about is about to die, for example, you don't add cheesy similes in with your thoughts of panic and horror. She's only 16, I don't know any typical teens who are poetic in their thoughts, let alone their every day lives(i am sorry to those poetic teens out there this is very stereotypical) . Also the love scenes were way too cheesy, she fell in love with him too fast. And the way she thinks of him gives me headaches.
But other than that it was a pretty good book, even though it looks and sounds like I gave it a harsh rating, I found it very refreshing a guarantee you will too. Its like a modern version of Romeo and Juliet mashed with Pride and Prejudice than mixed together with some random elemental fantasy. So I recommend Immortal, no matter how cheesy.
                                                             -Olivia

The Significance Of 463

I think you should know by now i'm a big reader (having a book review blog and all that). That usually means one has a big collection, (at least in my case) . Because I have 463 books in my room.

I know it doesn't look like much, I took the picture weird because its like 6:00 in the morning right now (when I typed this) plus I used my laptop to take the picture. But it is in the hundreds, and it takes some serious hard core reading and access to the money bank to develop this collection in only 2-3 years. Still, these are the only ones my mom let me buy in the first place. I mean I can see why she would say no once in a while. Because I could guarantee, that if we sold all these books for the same price that I bought them at. With the total amount of money, we could probably buy a car (i'm not joking, 8 of these books equals a $100.98).

Say No To Life Size Celebrity Stand ups

Eclipse, Gives Me The Creeps

I have never favored Edward Cullen, he is good looking in a strange way. Except he isn't good enough (in my opinion) to play Edward from the book. Stephanie Myers set her bar high for actors in the movie making of Twilight. Some of you may not agree with me, except Robert Patterson is only the best of the worst.
But that is not my point right now. Anyway I never favored "Edward," and I think he knew that. Because he gets his revenge through life size stand-ups of himself and other cutouts of the Twilight crew. Example:
 I was in an iparty store, browsing around by myself, and I wandered into the back. I turned a corner to find Edward standing in front of me! But it was a life-size stand up, but I hadn't realized that yet and ran screaming into a shelf. Ever since, I have disliked Twilight stand ups. Until I got one in the mail, from my aunt and cousin. So now whenever I walk into my room, I jump because it looks like Jacob is standing right there.

But it is useful in a way, if you position it just right in a dark room, it will scare your victim right out of the living. Examples: grandmothers, mothers, aunts, cousins-grandpas are usually off limits for they may be faint of heart. I also suggest to keep them away from fathers, men usually do not shriek and run away like the above. They tend to defend themselves against "threats" like that, usually physically.

                                                                    -Olivia

Lament

Lament
Maggie Stiefvater
*****5 Star

Sixteen-year old Deirdre Monaghan is a prodigiously gifted musician. She's about to find out she's also a clover hand-one who can see faeries.
Unexpectedly, Deirdre finds herself infatuated with a mysterious boy names Luke who enters her ordinary life, seemingly out of thin air. But his interest in her might be something darker than summer romance. When a sinister faerie named Aodhan shows up with deadly orders from the Faerie Queen, it forces Dee fight into the midst of faerie. Caught in the crossfire with Deirdre is James, her wisecracking but loyal best friend.
Deirdre had been wishing her summer weren't so dull, but taking on a centuries-old Faerie Queen isn't exactly what she had in mind.

This book was chock full of imagination, romance and detail. My favorite character was Luke, the way the author described him made him sound like the most perfect person on earth. I also liked all the surprises along the way. Just when the story began to calm down and you thought the trouble was over. Something shocking would happen, I can't tell you what but some of them you just really didn't          expect.                                                                                                        I don't care that the cover is
                                                                                                                  in another language. The pic. is
                                                                                                                               much cooler.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                          
If you love romance, bloodshed and faeries, Lament has it all.

Eyes Like Stars
Lisa Mantchev
*****5 Stars

Welcome to the Theatre Illuminata, where the characters of every play ever written can be found behind the curtain. The actors are bound to the Theatre by The Book, an ancient and magical tome of scripts. Bertie is not one of the actors, but they are her family. And she is about to lose them all because The Book has been threatened, and along with it the Theatre. It's the only home Bertie has ever known, and she has to find a way to save. But first, there's that small problem of two handsome men, both vying for her attention. The course of true love never did run smooth.

This book was amazing, it was funny and descriptive. Every character had its own personality, none alike.
It almost makes me want to read Shakespeare to find out more about some of the characters in the book. I really enjoyed the treatment of Bertie's two love interests towards each other. My favorite character was Bertie, because she reminded me of myself, only she could do anything she wanted without getting in trouble. Example: Dying hair blue, blasting a cannon through the ceiling, taking a bath in a Jacuzzi hanging form the ceiling. She is very headstrong and is always doing something crazy.
I loved this book, it is a must read for those who need a good story and a definition of Hamlet.

Book Makeovers

A Book Makeover

Sometimes when I get bored with a book, maybe a picture book i've had lying around for years gathering dust, I give it a makeover. Its simple, just draw on your book, stick pictures in it, write an entry in it. It looks really creative too.  Here are some examples of a book I re-did:

                                                               I couldn't show all my pages.
                                                                This is a journal, you know.

                                                      This book was originally called Beezus
                                                     And Ramona-By: Beverly Cleary

Antique Book Shopping~ The Difference Between Today's, And Then

Antique Book Shopping ~ The Difference Between Today's, And Then

Sometimes I get my books from antique stores. Their covers are so interesting.  Most people who get antique books put them on display, maybe as a center piece.  But, when I get an old book, I like to read them.

People spent a lot more time on books back in the olden days, most of them were hand sewn. Back then books weren't just an art in regards to writing, they were admirable on the outside too. People back then cherished books, nowadays books are shoved in boxes all glossy and jammed into some dusty shelf for people to abuse, either it be a library or a bookstore. I mean I love to admire my old books as well.  But I enjoy reading them because they have more depth to them. The authors didn't care if it had to have a happy ending or not. They didn't care if maybe other people wouldn't like them, if maybe they would get bored. Also the most "important" question: will it sell, will it make them money. Because over the years, a kind of "rule book" has been made in the minds of authors. That you must obey their rules when you write. I am not saying books now are not good, I am just telling people to look at Louisa May Alcott stories, for example, or Jane Austen. I love those books, they were very deep and emotional. Authors probably don't realize this yet, but those books sold, those authors got famous, because they didn't care what other people thought, they just wrote. 

The Egypt Game

The Egypt Game
Zilpha Keatly Snyder
***** 5 Stars

The first time Melanie Ross meets April Hall, she's not sure they have anything in common. But she soon discovers that they both love anything to do with ancient Egypt. When they stumble upon a deserted storage yard behind A-Z Antiques and Curio Shop, Melanie and April decide it's the perfect spot for the Egypt Game.
Before long, there are six Egyptians instead of two. After school and on weekends they all meet to wear costumes, hold ceremonies, and work on their secret code.
Everyone thinks it's just a game, until strange things begin happening to the players. And they began to think the Egypt Game has gone too far.

This book is a mix of mystery, imaginary fantasy, and history. Usually, those topics don't go well together in a story, but this author made them work like it was the easiest pair to combine! This book was both educational and fun, and made me want to start my own game out in the yard, but no, that wears off after awhile when we learned about Egypt in school. Then since i learned about it every day, my brain couldn't cope anymore when I got home.
My favorite character was April Hall, she was such an interesting person in both style and character. She never cared what other people thought of her. I also loved this book because it took place in
San Francisco, CA, that is where I was born! So if you are up for some fake eyelashes, box monsters, and a bowling pin crowns, then read The Egypt Game.

If you would like to buy this book go to  The Egypt Game.com 

                                                        -Olivia

Down The Rabbit Hole

Down The Rabbit Hole
Peter Abrahams
**** 4 Star

Ingrid is in the wrong place at the wrong time. Or at least her shoes are. And getting them back will mean getting tangled up in a murder investigation as complicated as the mysteries solved by her idol, Sherlock Holmes. With soccer practice, schoolwork, and the lead role in her town's production of Alice In Wonderland, Ingrid is swamped. But as things in Echo Falls keep getting curiouser and curiouser, Ingrid realizes she must solve the murder on her own-before it's too late.

This book was really good, with quirky romance, the idolizing of an old detective, and a twist on Alice In Wonderland. But in the book, when Ingrid finally finds out the truth about the murder, the ending is a little muddled. You know who the criminal is, but you don't know exactly how the whole crime came to be, what the murderer exactly did. Which is a big part in most mysteries, also about half way through the book, you already knew who the murderer was, it wasn't a shock. Sometimes, the characters would go on, and on, until the dialogue of each character, was more of a monologue. Other than that, the story had a great mystery and the author made you hate the bad characters, and love the good guys. So if your looking for a good mystery, I recommend this one.

If you would like to order this book go to Down The Rabbit Hole.com

                                                            -Olivia

The Night Children

The Night Children
Kit Reed
***** 5 Star

Inside the Castertown MegaMall, the biggest mall in the world, live the night children-runaways, abandoned kids, kids who got lost and were never found. They only come out at night, after all the shoppers are gone.
When Julie Devereaux visits the mall after the mysterious disappearance of her aunt, she becomes a pawn in the war between two gangs of night children: the Castertown Crazies, led by the stalwart Tick Stiles, and the Dingos, whose leader is the batty Burt Arno.
What the night children don't realize is that the megalomaniacal owner of the MegaMall, billionaire Amos Zozz, knows all about them. To him, they are vermin- "rats" living in his beautiful mall-that he plans to exterminate. And Julie, Tick, Burt and the rest of the night children must join forces if they want to survive.

This book was exceptional (every time I do a new review I have to come up with a new word to describe the book). I really liked how Kit Reed went through all the different perspectives of the situation, from Amos Zozz (the evil dude) to Julie Devereaux (the main character). Most authors cannot switch from perspective, to perspective without getting something mixed up, (minus Kit Reed i'm happy to say). Also, I love all the names! They are so weird and interesting at the same time, sometimes when I am bored in class or something I start thinking about what interesting names I give my kids when i'm older. The Night Children opened up a whole new selection for me.

If you would like to order this book go to The Night Children.com

                                                                  -Olivia

The Night Tourist

The Night Tourist
Katherine Marsh
***** 5 Stars

Ninth grader Jack Perdu spends most of his time alone, with his nose buried in a book. But one winter evening, a near-fatal accident changes Jack's life forever.
His father sends him to see a mysterious doctor in New York City-Where Jack hasn't been since his mother died there eight years ago. In Grand Central Terminal, he meets Euri, a girl who offers to show him the train station's hidden places-the ones only true urban explorers really know about. Eight flights below the station, however, Jack discovers more than just hidden tracks and mysterious staircases. He has stumbled upon New York's ghostly underworld. This, Jack believes, is his chance to see his mother again. But as secrets about Euri's past are revealed. So are the true reasons for Jack's visit to the underworld.

This book is excellent. I really like how Katherine Marsh tied in some of the Greek myths from ancient times. Each character was unique and different, and I enjoyed every page. Doing these kind of discovery books is difficult. When authors write these kinds of books, they need to make sure that the descriptions for the characters discovery aren't too short, or too long. They need to make sure as well that the characters reaction isn't too cheesy. It is a very difficult topic to get published and I respect that, it is one of the reasons I enjoy this genre so much.

If you would like to order this book go to The Night Tourist.com

                                                               -Olivia

The Music Of Dolphins

The Music Of Dolphins
By: Karen Hesse
***** 5 Stars

Mila was born in Cuba, but one day when she was four years old her mother escaped on a plane, taking Mila with her. But as the plane was flying over the ocean, it crashed and everyone on board drowned except for Mila, she was saved by dolphins.

For ten years, Mila lived in the ocean with her dolphin family. She has scars on her body, 5 feet long hair, and she can speak their language. She loves her dolphin life in the cold salty ocean and she never wants to leave, it is the only life she has ever known. It is the only life she ever wants.
But one day, Mila is discovered and "rescued", she is taken from the ocean and put in America, where she is taught how to be human all over again. She learns about language and music. How to use her hands, how to run and laugh and play. But she learns things she does not like, about rules and expectations, about locked doors and broken promises, disappointment, betrayal and hate.
The more Mila finds out what it means to be human, the more deeply she longs to go back.

Please, please read this book if you haven't already! Karen Hesse is a genius, this book couldn't have been done better even if J.K. Rowling, or Stephanie Meyer re-wrote it.
The Music Of Dolphins was amazing, I have read it 6 times! You see, for me, re-reading a book is still awesome. Most people don't read books over again because they think "Oh, i've already read this book, why should I read it again?  whats the point?  I already know the ending". That Is true, but that is, (personally in my opinion) a lame excuse.
When you read a book over again, you read slower, your not in a rush to know the ending so you read more carefully, and you catch words and details you might have missed the first time. What usually happens for me is if there is a line in the book, or a joke I don't get, when I re-read the book I understand perfectly. So try reading some of your favorite books over again, Its actually very relaxing and you get more out of the book then you did the last time.

Anyway, back to The Music Of Dolphins. I really like how Karen Hesse makes the text really large in the beginning, and it gets smaller, and smaller as the weeks go by because she is maturing and becoming more knowledgeable and less naive. I also really like this book because her original name is Olivia, like me! (little reader-character connection). Even If your an adult I recommend this book for all ages.

To order this book, go to The Music Of Dolphins

                                                                         -Olivia

Kiki Strike Inside The Shadow City

Kiki Strike  Inside The Shadow City
By: Kirsten Miller
***** 5 Star

Life will never be the same for Ananka Fishbein after she ventures into an enormous sink hole near her New York City apartment. Ananka knows she has stumbled upon a big secret,  but she has no idea exactly how big. Not only does she discover the Shadow City beneath Manhattan's bustling streets, she meets the mysterious Kiki Strike, a black-clad, vespa-riding, cafe-au-lait-drinking girl who seems to appear and vanish like magic. Join these girls in a battle against man-eating rats, team up with delinquent Girl Scouts, and explore a underground labyrinth  in this novel about a darker side of New York City you have just begun to know about.

You are going to start seriously thinking I am a softie and don't give any books low ratings. But there are reasons. I am reviewing books from my favorite section like I told you in my profile. But once in awhile I'll review a not-so-good book.
Anyway, this novel was exceptional! I'll actually admit, that for awhile after I read the book, I was dressing all in black, but then my friends started to think I was beginning to dress on the darker side, so I stopped. Kiki Strike was my idol, I actually was hoping to ride a Vespa, (haven't gotten to it yet). Besides her hobbies and fashion sense, I also loved her confidence, how she just had that "No fear" attitude 24-7. This book is unique and it made even me wish there was a giant sink hole near my house too.
This book also got me started on other books with that discover-a-secret-city topic, like The Night Tourist, (see review on my blog). So read this book, and if you can, try an Au Lait and tell me how it tastes.
If you would like to order this book, go to Kiki Strike.com


                                                                         -Olivia

Eyes Of The Amaryllis

The Eyes Of The Amaryllis
Natalie Babbitt
***** 5 Star

 When the ship Amaryllis was swallowed in a hurricane, the captain, and all the crew were swallowed, too. For thirty years, the captain's widow, Geneva Reade, has waited, certain that her husband will send her a message from the bottom of the sea. But someone else is waiting, too, and watching her, someone called Steward, the man that made a bargain with the sea to spare his own life.
Into this haunted situation comes Jenny, the widows granddaughter.
The three of them, Geneva, Jenny, and Steward, are drawn into a kind of deadly game with one another and with the sea, a game that only the sea knows how to win.

This book was beautifully written, I couldn't stop turning the pages! This book was a haunting, gripping, and terribly romantic story. These are the kinds of books you don't see very often, (from my perspective).
My favorite character was every character! Each was done wonderfully! So please read this book.
You can buy this book a your local bookstore ~

                                                                             -Olivia

Tuck Everlasting

Tuck Everlasting
Natalie Babbitt
***** 5 Star

Winnie Foster, is a "snobby, selfish, only child,"living in a rich house filled with servants and other fancies, and she loves it all.

That is what everyone in town thinks she is like, but no one has ever seen her before, or met her in person. But Winnie Foster is just a normal ten-year-old girl, kept away from the outside world by her overprotective parents. In truth Winnie would give anything for a normal life, where she could have friends, and play till dark without worrying about getting her stockings dirty and missing piano lessons.
So one day, she decides to run away, and disappear from her families life, they would think she was kidnapped. But then she is kidnapped, after discovering a spring on her fathers property.
She is taken to the Tucks, a family who who after drinking from that very spring, now lives forever.
As Winnie spends her days at the Tucks, they tell her of their experiences watching life go by, and never growing older. But when a man discovers the Tucks secret, Winnie must help them escape before its too late. And she also must decide, whether or not to join the Tucks on their never ending journey.

This book was amazing. So much better than the movie, they always make the movies horrible compared to the books they are based on! This story is very full of emotion, and laughs, sometimes it is nice to read a non-deep book. Anyway, my favorite character was the Toad, yes the toad. He was always there just out of the characters sight, I though he was actually kind of cute, (sorry to those who are not fond of reptiles).
I like this book because it was full of funny scenes, and quirky romance. There may be some thematic elements in this book for future reference if you ever show interest in this book in the future. But this book is definitely a must read book! You can purchase this book at your local bookstore ~

                                                                 -Olivia

The Girl Who Could Fly

The Girl Who could fly
Victoria Forester
***** 5 Star

Piper McCloud can fly, just like that, jump off a roof, then a couple seconds later, up in the clouds.
And she loves to fly, it is a part of her, and she could never stop unless she could not do it at all.
But the people of Lowland County don't like Piper, because she flies.
But Piper cannot stop, even though her Mother, and Father desperately need her to. So when an opportunity arises to go to a top secret school for kids just like her, she cannot wait to begin!
School is amusing and fun at first, with tons of new friends.
But she starts to realize that something at this school is not right, and when she discovers the truth, she must get her friends and herself out of the school that was made to secure their downfall to extinction.

Five star! I loved this book, it was a heart racing novel, full of action, suspense, and danger.
This book made you feel like you were right there as she experienced the joy of flying.
The Girl Who Could Fly, could not have been made any better! Sometimes seeing a "regular" girl do the impossible, makes the mental barrier between yourself, and your own dream a step closer.
My favorite character was Piper, she was a fun, loving character full of life and faith. She was my favorite because she was always full of hope, and kept everyone happy, this book would not have been the same without Piper, even if she was a little naive, and hardheaded.
This book is a major suggestion to those in need of a little inspiration.

                                                             -Olivia

When You Reach Me

When You Reach Me

Rebecca Stead
**** 4 Star


By sixth grade, Miranda and her best friend Sal, can navigate themselves through their entire New York neighborhood. They know the places that are safe and who is nice, and they know who to avoid. Like the crazy man on the corner, who yells at the sky and sleeps under a mailbox. But life begins to unravel when Sal gets punched on the street, for no reason.
After that, Sal shuts Miranda out of his life.
Then, the apartment key to Miranda's house is stolen, and she begins to get mysterious notes who's words have no meaning. As more of the notes keep coming, Miranda slowly realizes that whoever wrote these notes knows something that no one else on earth knows. As she tries to figure out the anonymous note leavers identity, she realizes someone very close to her is in danger, and that she is the only one who can stop the tragedy that is soon to happen. Until the last note makes her think she's to late.

This book was amazing! There was alot of depth, and some quirky romance in this random, yet emotional, award winning novel.
My favorite character was Colin, he is one of Miranda's best friends, he is quirky, goofy, and confident in himself. He is a very laid back person and handles any situation with ease.
The only reason I did not give it a five star, was because there was some dialogue in this book that made no sense. Some sentences just kept rambling, and rambling, going on and on about a conversation I did not even get! Also some of the conclusions for the end of the book, for example, why did Sal avoid Miranda, and shut her out of his life, when she did nothing wrong? that was a conclusion that made no sense. Besides that, When You Reach Me was a wonderful novel, and should definitely be on your list of Books To Read.


                                                                          -Olivia

Top 3 Water Based Novels That You Have Never Heard Of Before 



Water Shaper
Laura Williams McCaffrey
***** 5 Stars

Margot is a princess, but she is not beloved. Her mother died when she was very young. Passing on the unnatural longing for water and a strange book, which smells of the sea and contains strange images like nothing Margot had ever seen before in the landlocked kingdom that she lives in. One day she meets Orrin, a foreign king. Who rules a kingdom by the sea, seeing her chance, she escapes with Orrin, back to the kingdom by the sea. There she discovers the truth of the mysterious book which hides from those who seek it, and finds out who she truly is and what power she holds.

This book was amazing! All the action, betrayal, and depth to this book is outstanding! My favorite character was Margot, she fights for what she wants and can withstand anything. She starts off as a naive young woman who has no idea what the world beholds outside the walls of her fathers isolated kingdom. But as she discovers the truth, and believes in herself, when she realizes she can withstand anything, it teaches her that she is the only one who can control her own future. This is definitely not your average fairytale.
Some content in this book may not be appropriate for children, such as drinking.

                                                  



Water Steps
A. LaFaye
*****5 Star

Shape-shifting silkies, baby-stealing fairies, and spitting in water as a test for liars. Kyna's adoptive parents have an endless stream of stories to keep her amused. But no matter how hard they try, Kyna can't get over her fear of water. As a small child, a storm at sea claimed her family, and nearly took her own life. Now even seeing a glass of water makes her freeze up, while her mind goes awash with stormy waves and sees the image of her family slowly slipping away.
 When Kyna's parents rent a house on a "magical" lake, she begs to stay home. No such luck.
At the lake, Kyna resolves to hide in the woods, and stay as far away from the water as possible. As she explores the forests, she meets Tylo, a boy who is set on proving that there are silkies in the lake, where Kyna finds herself dangerously close to the water, and dangerously close to a truth she cant believe.

Water Steps was probably one of the reasons I became inspired to start photography, Kyna made it sound so wonderful (which it is). Every word was chosen exactly, and couldn't have been worded any better. My favorite character was Kyna, how she overcame her fear and accepted her parents for who they were. This book is filled with humor, emotion and everything else. This book puts a twist on a handful of your everyday celtic myths.





Seven Tears Into The Sea
Terri Farley
***** 5 Stars

At the age of ten, Gwen Cooke woke in the middle of the night and was drawn to the beach, where she encountered a strange boy with liquid dark eyes. He whispered into her ear a strange rhyme, then left, vanishing into the waves. After telling her family of her strange encounter, they shortly after move away from the ocean, to a landlocked town.

Now seventeen, Gwen is returning to her childhood home. Her nana asked her to come for the summer, But Gwen knows there are other reasons, its time to return to the thing she has not seen in seven years, the sea. Perhaps the sea is calling to her, maybe she still clings to the thought that the encounter with the strange boy, was real. Even though it was the very thing that made her family leave.  His words seem to haunt her mind, drawing her back to the place where they met. Perhaps it is time to face her destiny.

This book was moving, it is full of intense romance, the conquering of fears, and a teenage girls story of her struggle to stop running from the past, and to embrace the present and future.
This story is one of my favorites, the characters are done really well, and the story leaves an an imprint in you mind long after the last page has been turned.
My favorite character was Gwen, I always like the characters who evolve and strengthen the most in every story. I like Gwen because she was always proud, and bold, but she was fragile enough that if something too deep came along, she would break down. In the end she always knew what the right thing to do was, and was able to conquer her fears. This fiction book is one of its kind.

These three books were hard to find, you have to be a hard core book shopper to track down these stories. But it is worth it! To find rare books like these, I always go by the same rule, look in the most unlikely places. You might just find the best book! But to help, go to Amazon, that website is a treasure trove. Here are the links to order these books:  Water Shaper,  Water Steps, Seven Tears Into The Sea .

                  
                                                                    -Olive

Home To The Sea

Home To The Sea
By: Chester Aaron                
***** 5 Star!

Twelve-year-old Marian Conroy is a regular girl, she lives in a regular house, goes to a regular school, and has a normal best friend. Her life is same old regular. At least she thinks it is, but her life will never be the same. Strange changes begin to happen to her body, and there is nothing she can do to stop it.
Marian, who has never been in a body of water deeper than her knees, becomes wanted by every swimming coach in California, because she has the ability to make history in the Olympics for her swimming skill.

Why is the webbing between her fingers and toes, that was removed when she was baby, growing back?
What are the inhuman voices calling her to the sea? Marian is changing, and she is discovering secrets that she should have been told long ago, and with these secrets, she is discovering herself.

I loved this book! I have read it so many times. Chester Aaron took a story that has been stuck in the Fantasy section since its creation, and transformed it into a story that seems like something real! This book is a scientific version of The Little Mermaid in reverse, and better! (The teen version) This is a very deep book, and full of emotion.
Those are the kinds of books I am addicted to!
My friend calls them sad books, she likes reading "sad books", (sounds weird). But I agree with her, but I prefer the title, either: Emotional books, or: Novels. (I am actually writing one) So read this book!
This book may be to complex or inappropriate for children under the age of 12.

                                                                       -Olive

Isabel Of The Whales

Isabel Of The Whales
Hester Velmans
*****5 Star
Eleven-year-old Isabel is a "plain old" girl living in Province town, Massachusetts, who believes she is destined for something special. When her class goes whale watching (a trip she has been anticipating for a long time). Something amazing happens! Dozens of species of whales surround the boat, bumping the the deck and sending Isabel over the railing and into the ocean. Underwater, Isabel cannot comprehend when the whales speak to her. They tell her she is able to turn into a whale and back again. She is destined to live among the whales, though she desperately wants to go home.

As she starts to warm up to her pod, living with them is fun, at first. Isabel gets attached to her new family, especially one male in particular and she starts to think she would like it if she stayed with the whales. But she gets injured and she can go back to her own world now, from which she can not return. She must make a decision, and being caught between two worlds become more difficult than she could have ever imagined.

This book was definitely one of my favorite books, I can't really describe it, but there was something different about this story, that makes me wan't to read it over, and over again. But I can tell you that this book is full of romance, laughs and a story of adventure, emotion, and lots more. So watch out Little Mermaid, here comes Isabel!

                                                     -Olive

Olives Ocean

Olives Ocean Book Review
By: Kevin Henkes
***** 5 Star!!!

Olives Ocean, is the best book I have ever read In my life!!! It's probably going to become a family heirloom some day. I am a very big Fantasy reader, when ever my mom suggested a Realistic Fiction book, I would immediately turn it down, because I thought that all books that didn't have any magic in them were straight out boring. (I guess I was a big stereo type) But then one day I got Olives Ocean for a birthday present from one of my classmates. I decided to read it, to be polite and because I'm pretty sure there was no more books around the house that I had not read besides that one. Olives Ocean was the best book I had ever read!!!!!! It had wonderful details, and the story was very emotional, the author fit random things into the story that usually wouldn't work in those kinds of books. But he made them work in a way that I felt like the book wouldn't have been the same without it. This book was packed with laugh out loud's, and things that could make you cry like my "slightly" weird friend. This book couldn't have been done better, Martha was definitely my favorite character. She was very self conscious and got embarrassed easily, but as the book went on the events that occurred changed her. I thought that her way of trying to cover up her red hair was very funny, and interesting. This book was the first Realistic Fiction book that I ever read. And it gave me the best introductory I could ever get to a whole new kind of genre I had never took the time to explore. So if you have not read this book yet, for your own sake, DO!!! Go to allreaders.com for more details.

                                                            -Olive

Witch And Wizard Book Review

Witch And Wizard
By: James Patterson
***** five star

Ok, you might start to think that all I read is James Patterson, if that's all I review, but I can't help it! His books are so good! Anyway, Witch And Wizard was awesome!!! It was just as good as Harry Potter, but better! (In my opinion, sorry if I am insulting those Harry Potter fans out there) But Witch and Wizard just might be the next series that will make you go nuts. One of the reasons I didn't exactly finish the whole Harry Potter series was because I got scared. I started to think that the snake from the Chamber Of Secrets was under my bed, the dementors hid in my closet, and Voldemort in my toilet. Yes, Voldimort was in my toilet. Imagine, you get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom.... Then all of a sudden Voldimort's bald nearly noseless head suddenly pops out of your toilet and cackles at you. A very scary picture if you think about it. One of the things that I like about Witch and Wizard, is that there is nothing horrifyingly scary in it, except for the lost ones...

 Witch and Wizard was amazing, James Patterson really worked his tail of on this book (there is going to be a sequel). He put lots of dialogue in this story that made me laugh out loud, which I don't usually tend to do when I am reading a book. He left no confusions, and nothing that didn't add up, everything fit precisely. His characters were portrayed beautifully. One of the things that impressed me the most was timing, he would hit you with an event that you never saw coming, and in some way, he would manage to slip in the scene at exactly the right time, so that it would leave you shocked. His topic was a very common one, you know kids find out they have magical powers same old, same old. But he found some way to make it seem like the whole outline was completely new and not all used up like it should be. He did the same trick with his other series called Maximum Ride. In this book, my favorite character was Wisty, she was immediately reflected to me as an outgoing, feisty person who was never afraid to say her mind. The only thing in this book, that confused me was, with every chapter, he would switch from Wisty's perspective, to Whit's (he's the other main character). It started to mix me up after a while, because I would get so engrossed in one chapter, that when they suddenly switched over, it would mix me up until I realized we were switched to the other main characters perspective. It didn't help when they were completely in two different places at the same time. But it was worth it, and every other awesome part of the book made up for it. So if you liked Harry Potter, than you will LOVE Witch and Wizard. Check out witchandwizard.com for more details.

                                                                            -Olive

Sisters Of The Sword Book Review

Sisters of the Sword
By: Maya Snow
*** Three Star

Sisters of the sword is an ok book, but there is ALOT of violence. Trust me, I have read tons of books in my time, and about 50% of them have a "little" blood shedding. So when I say alot of violence, I mean ALOT of violence, lots of important characters perish in this book. Usually thats ok, when there are a couple of dramatic deaths in a story. But in this book it was different, the first couple of deaths were sad. But then I just started to get tired of it, of all of the endings (if that's even possible). I mean, how many deaths can you fit in a book! To me, this books details and occurrences were a dramatic FAIL. But the only reason I gave it three stars at all, was because from my perspective, it was a good topic and would have made a good impression in my mind, if the author had really thought about WHAT she had included in the book. So if you are the kind of person who sits in front of a TV and laughs hysterically at a violent TV show, then this book was made for you.

                                                             -Olive

Maximum Ride book review

Maximum Ride

By: James Patterson

* * * * * Five Star

I loved this book! I am officially obsessed! The description is amazing, I love that he doesn't just do a straight forward story, he adds little complications in the characters lives that grow more and more important as the story goes on until that small problem effects their whole lives completely. He also attaches little details that most authors don't take the time and care to do, those little details make the story whole. Some authors do attach details, but he has a way of keeping the the story going and making it flow together, every piece has a place on the puzzle of James Patterson's stories. I love Max! she is my favorite! He portrays her strong character, and how she does anything to protect her family very well, writing the story through Max's prospective was the best move James Patterson could have made in creating this series. He does a wonderful job of showing each characters personality and perspective about the world, through their decisions in life and and their actions, as well as their choice of words in the story. The whole book was wonderful, he puts every moment and picture crystal clear in the readers head. The story has wonderful structure and is beautifully written, every intense seen, every battle, every flight,  projects like a movie in your head, it keeps you reading till the last page. Maximum Ride was a delight to read. To find out more about this book go to Maximumride.com for more details on this series.

                                                                    -Olive

3 Years

The last three years of my life have been filled to the brim with words and pages , I have read roughly around 350 books, at least those are the ones that I actually was able to buy. I am a very lucky 12 year old, I have a great family, a great house, a very wonderful but creepy dog, I am very fortunate. But when I was younger every time I finished a new book I would think how adventurous the characters life was, and my own life then seemed so uninteresting compared to theirs. So I began to spend more time reading so I would never have to face the fact that the wonderful things that happened in the story's, would never happen to me in real life. When I read I actually feel like the character and I felt like I was seeing and feeling everything they experienced themselves. So I never stopped, I read all the time, when I finished a book, I would immediately pick up another. But it took me long enough to realize that I could have my own adventures, that I could have just as much fun as any character in a book, even it wasn't exactly the same. So I decided to start a blog on anything to do with books. Quoting from my mom, she told me that I could be in my golden years and have done nothing or, I could be in my golden years and have done everything I wanted and more.

- Olive