This is the final week to send in book reviews in order to be eligible for the drawing for movie theater tickets. If you want to be included in the drawing, please send your reviews by Sunday evening for posting on Monday morning. The drawing will be held on Monday, August 24. Remember, each branch of the library has a drawing, so four people will win tickets!
The blog will remain online after summer reading ends and reviews will continue to be posted as they are received, so you may still send reviews but there will be no prize drawing. Thank-you to all who participated this summer!
For news of teen events at the library, please visit the teen blog on the library web site. Also, if you have ideas for programs at the library, let us know what you would like to do.
August 19, 2009
August 17, 2009
Romania, by Terri Willis
Reviewed by Jack W
In this non-fiction guide to the basic political, military and economic history of Romania, you will get an idea about how hard it has been for the citizens of Romania throughout the centuries. First, they had to deal with the Ottoman Turks, who sought to conquer their country and make Islam the national religion. During World War 2, Nazis and fascists rounded up Jews and other minorities and shipped them to Romanian concentration camps. After World War 2, it became a communist satellite, and a military dicatator named Nicolae Ceausescu took control. Finally, now that he has been overthrown, peace and stability are beginning to return to Romania, although it is still poor and behind on science because of Ceausescu. This book is definitely worh reading if you want to learn about Romania.
Click here to find this book in the library catalog.
Reviewed by Jack W
In this non-fiction guide to the basic political, military and economic history of Romania, you will get an idea about how hard it has been for the citizens of Romania throughout the centuries. First, they had to deal with the Ottoman Turks, who sought to conquer their country and make Islam the national religion. During World War 2, Nazis and fascists rounded up Jews and other minorities and shipped them to Romanian concentration camps. After World War 2, it became a communist satellite, and a military dicatator named Nicolae Ceausescu took control. Finally, now that he has been overthrown, peace and stability are beginning to return to Romania, although it is still poor and behind on science because of Ceausescu. This book is definitely worh reading if you want to learn about Romania.
Click here to find this book in the library catalog.
August 11, 2009
The Sands of Mars, by Arthur C. Clarke
Reviewed by Jack W.
In this book, which is my favorite Arthur C. Clarke book so far (I read 2001: A Space Odyssey before), a rather pompous and spoiled author travels to Mars to find out about things that, in the past, he could only write about. When he gets there, however, he is amazed by the rough frontier of Mars and the settlers who have created a landscape where they can live, mainly using biospheres. But something is slightly wrong on Mars, and the settlers seem suspiciously cagey. When he stumbles upon a strange research station in the middle of the Martian wilderness, he knows something is going on. Determined to find out what, he puts all his skills to the test, but as he lives and works with the people of the settlement, he comes to admire their ingenuity, hard work and resourcefulness. He finds himself coming out of his bitter, lazy shell and starting to become a real member of the community. Will he retun to earth after all?
Click here to find this book in the library catalog.
Reviewed by Jack W.
In this book, which is my favorite Arthur C. Clarke book so far (I read 2001: A Space Odyssey before), a rather pompous and spoiled author travels to Mars to find out about things that, in the past, he could only write about. When he gets there, however, he is amazed by the rough frontier of Mars and the settlers who have created a landscape where they can live, mainly using biospheres. But something is slightly wrong on Mars, and the settlers seem suspiciously cagey. When he stumbles upon a strange research station in the middle of the Martian wilderness, he knows something is going on. Determined to find out what, he puts all his skills to the test, but as he lives and works with the people of the settlement, he comes to admire their ingenuity, hard work and resourcefulness. He finds himself coming out of his bitter, lazy shell and starting to become a real member of the community. Will he retun to earth after all?
Click here to find this book in the library catalog.
The 39 Clues: Beyond the Grave, by Jude Watson
Reviewed by Jack W.
In the fourth book of the 39 clues series, Amy and Dan have been betrayed by their uncle once again, and all of their relatives seem intent on putting them out of the race to find the 39 clues, permanently. After a close call with a rather insane Russian spy, they manage to escape but have no idea where to go next. Using their uncle's card, they book a place at his hotel, and end up being captured by his uncle, the infamous Bae Oh, who wants to know where his nephew is. Also, they discover several nasty things about their family while they are there. Whey they escape, they follow a lead that their grandmother planted before she died, and begin to figure out where the next clue is. But can they trust anyone, even their grandmother?
Click here to find this book in the library catalog.
Reviewed by Jack W.
In the fourth book of the 39 clues series, Amy and Dan have been betrayed by their uncle once again, and all of their relatives seem intent on putting them out of the race to find the 39 clues, permanently. After a close call with a rather insane Russian spy, they manage to escape but have no idea where to go next. Using their uncle's card, they book a place at his hotel, and end up being captured by his uncle, the infamous Bae Oh, who wants to know where his nephew is. Also, they discover several nasty things about their family while they are there. Whey they escape, they follow a lead that their grandmother planted before she died, and begin to figure out where the next clue is. But can they trust anyone, even their grandmother?
Click here to find this book in the library catalog.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, by J.K. Rowling
Reviewed by Jack W.
In the fifth book of the Harry Potter series, all is not well at Hogwarts. A power-hungry, paranoid minister of magic has placed Delores Umbridge in the school to be a spy for him. Harry is ridiculed in the newspapers as an attention seeking liar. All of this is happening because the wizard government refuses to believe that Voldemort, the greatest dark wizard ever known, has returned from the dead. And that's just what Voldemort wants. While he sows discord and the ministry refuses to believe he has retuned, he is searching for a weapon, something that he didn't have last time, that will allow him to return to full power. Meanwhile, things go from bad to worse at the school, as the minister gives Umbridge more and more power, which you can bet she abuses. Teachers are fired, Hagrid is attacked, Dumbledore is on the run and Sirius Black, Harry's godfather, is in the clutches of Lord Voldemort. Harry, unsure about what to do but worried for his godfather, decides to travel to the ministry of magic and save him. But is that what Voldemort wanted him to do all along?
Click here to find this book in the library catalog.
Reviewed by Jack W.
In the fifth book of the Harry Potter series, all is not well at Hogwarts. A power-hungry, paranoid minister of magic has placed Delores Umbridge in the school to be a spy for him. Harry is ridiculed in the newspapers as an attention seeking liar. All of this is happening because the wizard government refuses to believe that Voldemort, the greatest dark wizard ever known, has returned from the dead. And that's just what Voldemort wants. While he sows discord and the ministry refuses to believe he has retuned, he is searching for a weapon, something that he didn't have last time, that will allow him to return to full power. Meanwhile, things go from bad to worse at the school, as the minister gives Umbridge more and more power, which you can bet she abuses. Teachers are fired, Hagrid is attacked, Dumbledore is on the run and Sirius Black, Harry's godfather, is in the clutches of Lord Voldemort. Harry, unsure about what to do but worried for his godfather, decides to travel to the ministry of magic and save him. But is that what Voldemort wanted him to do all along?
Click here to find this book in the library catalog.
August 10, 2009
Dennis the Menace: Volume 1, by Hank Ketcham
Reviewed by Betelgeuse
This has been my fourth time reading this, yet I do not grow tired of Dennis the Menace. His spunky, brave, and rarely obedient charisma intermingles with his cute, innocent side, making a character that everybody loves. Even those hard-hearted ones will soften like butter on a summer day when they see his impish grin. I mean, who doesn't love comics? This book focuses on Dennis throughout the months, and each comic (which is one panel per page) has to do with a different topic. They vary from Dennis painting his father's expensive leather shoes black with paint, to him giving a girl his mother's engagement ring. These will have you bursting with laughter, inside andout. Hats off to Mr. Ketcham, who died in 2001 at nine-one years old.
Click here to find this book in the library catalog.
Reviewed by Betelgeuse
This has been my fourth time reading this, yet I do not grow tired of Dennis the Menace. His spunky, brave, and rarely obedient charisma intermingles with his cute, innocent side, making a character that everybody loves. Even those hard-hearted ones will soften like butter on a summer day when they see his impish grin. I mean, who doesn't love comics? This book focuses on Dennis throughout the months, and each comic (which is one panel per page) has to do with a different topic. They vary from Dennis painting his father's expensive leather shoes black with paint, to him giving a girl his mother's engagement ring. These will have you bursting with laughter, inside andout. Hats off to Mr. Ketcham, who died in 2001 at nine-one years old.
Click here to find this book in the library catalog.
August 7, 2009
The Lightning Thief, by Rick Riordan
Reviewed by Betelgeuse
This is a great book for anybody that can read fluently. My brother, who hated reading books bigger than eighty pages, went through this 377 page book in four days. It's cool to me because I can make references from background, because it's based on Greek myths. Percy Jackson, a young boy in New York, has his life completely changed after he kills his math teacher, who is really a monster. He eventually is informed that his biological father (whom he thought had been lost at sea) was the god of the sea, Poseidon, along with the knowledge of his best friend, Grover, being a satyr and his history teacher a centaur. He is launched into an unknown world that is disguised from humans, where he goes to a camp where others are like him, spawn of other Greek gods, such as Ares, Aphrodite, or Hermes. Ironically, he and a spawn of Athena (who is sworn enemy to Poseidon) have to put aside their differences to go on a quest with Grover, to find the most powerful weapon ever, Zeus's lightning bolt. Along with The Helm of Darkness, an invisibility hat that belongs to King of the Underworld, Hades. He has to slay monster after monster, including Medusa and the Minotaur, using the power to control water and his new sword, Riptide. If he doesn't find that lightning bolt in ten days, the suspect, Poseidon, and the king of the sky, Zeus, will start an apocalyptic battle against each other. This is a great fictional book.
Click here to find this book in the library catalog.
Reviewed by Betelgeuse
This is a great book for anybody that can read fluently. My brother, who hated reading books bigger than eighty pages, went through this 377 page book in four days. It's cool to me because I can make references from background, because it's based on Greek myths. Percy Jackson, a young boy in New York, has his life completely changed after he kills his math teacher, who is really a monster. He eventually is informed that his biological father (whom he thought had been lost at sea) was the god of the sea, Poseidon, along with the knowledge of his best friend, Grover, being a satyr and his history teacher a centaur. He is launched into an unknown world that is disguised from humans, where he goes to a camp where others are like him, spawn of other Greek gods, such as Ares, Aphrodite, or Hermes. Ironically, he and a spawn of Athena (who is sworn enemy to Poseidon) have to put aside their differences to go on a quest with Grover, to find the most powerful weapon ever, Zeus's lightning bolt. Along with The Helm of Darkness, an invisibility hat that belongs to King of the Underworld, Hades. He has to slay monster after monster, including Medusa and the Minotaur, using the power to control water and his new sword, Riptide. If he doesn't find that lightning bolt in ten days, the suspect, Poseidon, and the king of the sky, Zeus, will start an apocalyptic battle against each other. This is a great fictional book.
Click here to find this book in the library catalog.
Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer
Reviewed by Betelgeuse
While despising this series first, I have come to enjoy this book after watching the movie. Not many bad words, but it is sort of creepy for kids maybe under eleven. It is hard to believe that I have ignored the first book of the Twilight series for over four years. I think that this is a great book. Meyer sure adds a twist to this novel about vampires, making most of these immortal creatures "vegetarian" vampires, who feast on the blood of animals instead of humans. This fact brings one human, Isabella Marie Swan, who has recently moved from sunny Phoenix to the small town of Forks, really close to a "veggie vampire." The vampire, Edward Cullen, looks like your average seventeen year-old teenager, but he is actually a bit older than a century. He was immortalized by his foster parent, Carlisle Cullen in 1918, while he was dying of Spanish Influenza. Carlisle, who is about four hundred years old, has also bitten (which is how they become vampires), but not sucked the blood out of, Esme, Rosalie, Emmett, Jasper, and Alice Cullen. Some of them have powers; Jasper can control the emotions of surrounding people, Alice can see the future, and Edward can read minds. While they are foster-siblings, Rosalie and Emmett, and Jasper and Alice are couples. They have to constantly move, because they aren't getting older, and the kids have to repeat high school over and over. When Edward meets Bella in Forks, her blood smells very yummy, so he has to be really rude to her so she stays away. But it has the opposite effect to her, and she is very interested in him, and when she knows his secret, they are completely infatuated with each other. But trouble brews when three non-vegetarian vampires, James, Laurent, and Victoria find out about Bella's mortality, and James, who is a hunter of extreme expertise, is obsessed with murdering Isabella. You'll have to read the end to find out if Bella dies, along with a secretive secret about Alice. Like many people say, this sure is a good book to sink your teeth in.
Click here to find this book in the library catalog.
Reviewed by Betelgeuse
While despising this series first, I have come to enjoy this book after watching the movie. Not many bad words, but it is sort of creepy for kids maybe under eleven. It is hard to believe that I have ignored the first book of the Twilight series for over four years. I think that this is a great book. Meyer sure adds a twist to this novel about vampires, making most of these immortal creatures "vegetarian" vampires, who feast on the blood of animals instead of humans. This fact brings one human, Isabella Marie Swan, who has recently moved from sunny Phoenix to the small town of Forks, really close to a "veggie vampire." The vampire, Edward Cullen, looks like your average seventeen year-old teenager, but he is actually a bit older than a century. He was immortalized by his foster parent, Carlisle Cullen in 1918, while he was dying of Spanish Influenza. Carlisle, who is about four hundred years old, has also bitten (which is how they become vampires), but not sucked the blood out of, Esme, Rosalie, Emmett, Jasper, and Alice Cullen. Some of them have powers; Jasper can control the emotions of surrounding people, Alice can see the future, and Edward can read minds. While they are foster-siblings, Rosalie and Emmett, and Jasper and Alice are couples. They have to constantly move, because they aren't getting older, and the kids have to repeat high school over and over. When Edward meets Bella in Forks, her blood smells very yummy, so he has to be really rude to her so she stays away. But it has the opposite effect to her, and she is very interested in him, and when she knows his secret, they are completely infatuated with each other. But trouble brews when three non-vegetarian vampires, James, Laurent, and Victoria find out about Bella's mortality, and James, who is a hunter of extreme expertise, is obsessed with murdering Isabella. You'll have to read the end to find out if Bella dies, along with a secretive secret about Alice. Like many people say, this sure is a good book to sink your teeth in.
Click here to find this book in the library catalog.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw, by Jeff Kinney
Reviewed by Jack W.
In this funny book which reads like an illustrated diary, a boy named Greg bumbles through life, messing up nearly everything and generating a lot of laughs (I think Charlie Brown worked on the same principal). In this book, which has adventure, action, romance and . . . soap carving?, Greg tries to learn to dance, works out a way to get even with his classmates on valentines day, and buries a time capsue. His life is a lot of fun, but when his dad meets a former juvenile delinquent who is now a perfect gentleman, thanks to military school, he tells Greg he is going to send him to Spag Union, which will make a man out of him. Trying to find a way to get out of this horrible fate, Greg joins the boy scouts and tries to convince his dad that he is already manly enough. Will it work?
Click here to find this book in the library catalog.
Reviewed by Jack W.
In this funny book which reads like an illustrated diary, a boy named Greg bumbles through life, messing up nearly everything and generating a lot of laughs (I think Charlie Brown worked on the same principal). In this book, which has adventure, action, romance and . . . soap carving?, Greg tries to learn to dance, works out a way to get even with his classmates on valentines day, and buries a time capsue. His life is a lot of fun, but when his dad meets a former juvenile delinquent who is now a perfect gentleman, thanks to military school, he tells Greg he is going to send him to Spag Union, which will make a man out of him. Trying to find a way to get out of this horrible fate, Greg joins the boy scouts and tries to convince his dad that he is already manly enough. Will it work?
Click here to find this book in the library catalog.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)