Monday, April 5, 2010

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