Book Review: The Reptile Room, A Series of Unfortunate Events

The Reptile Room, A Series of Unfortunate Events: The truth behind distant relatives.
Lemony Snicket
Gothic Fiction
( 1 of 7 books)

Rating: 3/10
Warning: Easy book to read, nothing scary, nothing gory. Super boring.


     The Baudelaire Orphans are living a confusing and eventful childhood, as they have previously lost their parents due to a tragic house fire. In book one of this series the children stay with their great Uncle, Count O'laf. That doesn't work out to well, for the children. So they are placed in a new home. With Uncle Monty. As soon as the children set eyes on Uncle Monty they knew they were in a good, safe home! Uncle Monty has a sense like their father had, he has a calming voice and a gentle touch.

     Uncle Monty decides he wants to go on a trip. He also wants to take the children with him. They have decided on a destination, Peru. Uncle Monty says that in Peru you are safe from every fear you have and that you can escape the troubles of your everyday life. But one day his assistant called him and told him that he would not be able to attend the trip with him and the children, uncle Monty needed his assistant because he handled deadly creatures that are too hard to handle for just one man, but don't fret he has found a replacement to take his space. Stefan arrives at Monty's house and looks awfully familiar to the children, he has a creepy sense about him, a sense the children do not like! The children go out of their way to try to warn Monty that his new assistant isn't good news, but they can't seem to get the message across, Stefan is doing everything in his power to try to never let the kids and Monty be alone. They finally somehow tell Uncle Monty that they have a bad feeling about Stefan.

     The children wake up one gloomy day and get some news that is disheartening, and have no idea how they will ever survive it! Stefan tries to comfort them, and offers to take them to his lovely home but the children refuse and are once again sent to a new home. Will they ever escape the tauntings of Count O'laf or will he stick with them forever.

     I would recommend this book to elementary aged kids. It's really easy to get into and fast to finish. I wouldn't read past elementary age because it's quite boring.

 

Book Review: Holes

Holes: The untold story of a boys ancestors.
Louis Sachar
Adventure Novel
( 1 of 7 books)

Rating: 7/10
Warning: No warnings. I really enjoyed this book and I think most people would.

     Stanley Yelnats is a young teenager just living his life, until one day his life is turned upside down. As he was waling alongside the highway he heard some sirens from a distance but didn't think they were getting closer. All of the sudden these nice pair of shoes flies from over a bridge and hits him on the head. The next thing he knows he is sitting in court being accused of stealing a super nice pair of basketball shoes from a charity. Stanley swears it wasn't him but they prove him to be guilty. He is given two options Jail, or Camp Green Lake. Obviously he picked Camp Green Lake.

     As Stanley was riding the bus to Camp Green Lake he was at least expecting to see a Lake when he arrived but as the bus pulled up all he saw was nothing. He was confused as to why it would be name Camp Green Lake but there is no lake. He gets off the bus and is immediately given his orange jumpsuit, a shovel, and some black boots, and is told to start digging holes. Everyone in the Camp is sick and tired of digging holes so they aren't very thrilled to see Stanley. As dinner rolls around they start to be a little more friendly and Stanley makes some friends. Stanley has been at Camp Green Lake for quite some time and there has been a couple new comers. The campers have to be extra cautious when it comes to a yellow spotted lizard. These lizards are very dangerous and highly deadly. Throughout the book it explains a lot about Stanley's relatives and how somewhere in the desert is buried treasure. Stanley is really good friends with a Camper named, "Zero." They are sick of Mr. Sir one of the head directors and sick of digging holes. So Stanley steals Mr. Sirs truck and starts to drive away, he crashes into a hole and jumps out of the truck and runs for it. Zero had ran away a couple of days ago and Stanley wanted to go see if he could find him.

     He finds Zero and they start climbing this big mountain, after long, hot, and painful hours they reach the top and find in their eyes what looks like paradise, compared to camp. They hang there for a night or two and decide they are going back to camp to dig one last hole. As they return back they try to start digging without getting caught. As they are digging they come across a peculiar sound, what might sound hollow.

     I would recommend this book to late elementary and up. This book is really easy to get into, and a book that you will have a hard time putting down. I would recommend this to anyone who likes a little mystery behind their ancestors and who like things in the, "Old West."

Book Review: The Wide Window, A series of Unfortunate Events

The Wide Window, A series of Unfortunate Events: The crazy lives of three orphan kids.

Lemony Snicket
Gothic Fiction
( 1 of 7 books)

Rating: 4/10
Warning: This book is good if you are in elementary school, but if not it is pretty boring.

     Violet, Klaus and Sunny are siblings who recently lost their parents in a house fire. They are now orphans and not really sure where they are going in life. They have spent some time with their great Uncle, Count O'laf. He isn't the most loving uncle but he has shown some interest in taking care of these orphans. After living with him for a while they realized that he doesn't care about them and that they don't want a guardian who is going to treat them like that. So they contact Mr. Poe a close family friend and also a banker and see if there is any other family to stay with. They find their great Aunt Josephine. She lives in an old creepy house over looking a lake and curdled cave. The three kids are trying their hardest to stay away from Count O'laf but for some odd reason he keeps trying to get into their lives.

     The kids come home one day from the market and find that Aunt Josephine is no where to be found. They search the house for some time and then later find a note signed by Aunt Josephine. The kids read the letter but can't make much sense of it. Klaus being the smart one thinks to look closer into the letter and see if there could possibly be anything hidden inside the letter. As they are examining it Klaus figures it out. They get the impression to go look in "Curdled Cave." So the three children set off in a little sail boat in search of there guardian. They make it to Curdled Cave and her these petrified screams they keep rowing and look into the distant realizing that they have found their Aunt Josephine. They get her into the sail boat and start rowing back to shore, to their surprise here comes a man in a motor boat he looks and sounds a lot like Count O'laf. He offers to take the kids back to the shore and of course Aunt Josephine agrees because she is not in her right mind. Are the kids with O'laf again or is this just a friendly citizen trying to help out the community.

Lemony Snicket is a great writer. His books always leave you with a question and wanting more. He is good at going into detail, I think he does that because he wants you to feel like you could put yourself in as one of the characters and feel like you are in the book. He also does a really good job at keeping you interested, although I didn't enjoy the book as much as I thought I would he kept the story going and it never felt like it kept dragging, he didn't spend too much time on one subject.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a book that leaves you questions. I would also recommend it to a younger age, like elementary school. It is a pretty easy read and easy to get into, if you enjoy a little mystery in your books.

Book Review: The Secret Journal Of Brett Colton

Coming to know the brother she never met: The Secret Journal Of Brett Colotn.

The Secret Journal Of Brett Colton

Kay Lynn Mangum
Non-Fiction
( 1 of 7 books)

Warning: Really sad, tear jerker

Rating: 10/10

Kathy Colton is just an average girl trying to do what is right. All Kathy ever remembers of her childhood is her whole family talking about her older brother Brett. When Brett was 18 he was diagnosed with cancer. He trudged along his hardest but he soon passes away. Kathy doesn't want to seem rude, but she can't handle the talk about Brett any longer.

On Kathy's 16th birthday she receives a special gift from her parents. It was a journal, but it wasn't just any journal. It was a journal that had already been written in. It was a journal addressed to her. She came to realize it was from Brett. Everyday he would write in his journal and talk to Kathy about everything he was experiencing.

Although Kathy never officially met Brett she got to know him through the journal and realized why her family always talked about him. Brett was always a legend in their family.

Kay Lynn Magnum has a way to really get to your heart. To really make you realize what is out there in the world today. She shows the power of family unity and how one person can make so much of a difference in the world. She really knows how to make you think as you read this book and be open minded and positive about life.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is willing to shed a tear or two.

My friend recommended this book to me and I am so glad that she did because it was such an amazing book!

Book Review: The Hour Glass Door

The time traveling romance: The Hour Glass Door.

The Hour Glass Door

Lisa Mangum

Sci-Fi
( 1 of 7 books)

Warning: No warning, really easy to read.

Rating:7/10

Abby Edmunds is just a regular teenage girl try to make the best out of her senior year. With the best boyfriend ever and two great best friends she is doing a pretty good job, until this new, mysterious, and handsome guy starts attending Abby's high school.

Dante has really caught Abby's attention and she is wanting to know more about him. As she gets to know she later finds out that he is hiding a big secret, that could potentially ruin not only his life but Abby's as well. Is Abby willing to risk it all just to be with him? Or will she live the way she always has and never experience a sense of rush. Will Abby give up her old way of living to a new and improved way that includes dangerous acts that could ruin everything?

Lisa Mangum goes into great detail in this book. I like when authors give good details. I don't like when they leave you hanging and you have all these questions. She made things make so much more sense because she has such a talent for the little details. When she describes a character I can automatically picture somebody in my head because she has given every little detail possible about that character.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is really into Romance, and mysterious twists throughout the whole book.

My sister recommened this book to me and I had heard about it a couple times before.

Book Review: The Hunger Games

May the odds be ever in your favor: The Hunger Games.

The Hunger Games
Suzanne Collins
Sci-Fi

Warnings: Some violence.

Rating: 9/10

Katniss Everdeen is a young teenage girl who is faced with many challenges and obstacles in her life. When she was just a young girl her dad died and Katniss felt like she was the one who needed to provide food for her family. Ever since Katniss can remember she is always in the woods with her best friend Gayle as they hunt for everyday survival. When it comes to katniss's mother and her little sister she will risk anything.

As the days go by each member in the capitol count the days until two lucky people from each district will be chosen to participate in the annual "Hunger Games." As they all file into the town square, they all tremble inside with fear that they might be chosen. One by one the names are called out, finally it's district 12's turn. One boy and one girl. Primrose Everdeen. Katniss is faced with a life threatening decision. She steps in as tribute to take the place of her little sister. Can she take on the challenge of the Hunger Games, or will she have to leave her family behind?

Suzanne Collins has such a creative way to her writing. She makes me feel like I am literally doing all the same things the actors are doing. She makes me feel like I am one of the characters. She has such a good way of drawing you into a book and then you never want to come out. You want to keep reading and you don't want to stop.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is into a good thrilling read and is fine with never wanting to put the book down.

I had a friend recommend this book to me, I was a little unsure about reading it. I had heard great comments about the book but wasn't sure if I wanted to read it. Now that I have read the book I highly recommend reading it!