From Books to Movies Part 2

 Title: The Star Wars Trilogy
                                       
                                              Star Wars

                                              The Empire Strikes Back

                                              Return of the Jedi
                                    # of Pages: 471
                                    Author: George Lucas
                                    Previous Work: (Books Only)

                                    George Lucas: Interviews

                                    Author: Donald F. Glut
                                    Previous Work: (Fiction Only)

                                    Frankenstein Lives Again

                                    Frankenstein Meets Dracula

                                    Bones of Frankenstein

                                    Author: James Kahn
                                    Previous Work: 
                                        
                                    World Enough, and Time

                                    Time's Dark Laughter

                                     Poltergeist

                                     Summary: A long time ago in a galaxy far far away... Luke 
                                     Skywalker worked on his uncle's farm on a remote planet 
                                     called Tatooine, repairing secondhand machinery and stunt-
                                     flying his battered skyhopper... and he was bored beyond 
                                     belief. He dreamed of adventures out among the stars-
                                     adventures that would take him to distant, alien worlds. But 
                                     when Luke intercepted a cryptic message from a beautiful 
                                     captive, he got more than he bargained for- and that was how
                                     it all began...

                                     Rating: This is a 5.
                                     Awards: There are no awards for the books but the 
                                     movies received so many awards, I won't even bother trying
                                     to list them.

                                     Opinion: Full disclosure: I got the summary from the back
                                     of the book. I was really worried about giving too much away. 
                                     Okay, moving on. I really loved the books. The plot felt fuller 
                                     because the characters' feelings were revealed. And the large 
                                     vocabulary and detailed descriptions were definitely a plus 
                                     (not that the movies needed those)That being said, a lack of 
                                      continuity in the books drove me slowly insane. In the first 
                                      book Artoo was described as having thick clawed legs. Yet in
                                      the next two, he's described as looking exactly like the 
                                      movies. Also, Yoda's skin changes from blue to green. Little 
                                      issues like that bothered me, but they might not bother you.

                                       Better than the Movie?: It really depends on what you're 
                                       looking for. I personally had a hard time following the 
                                       action scenes in the book (especially fights between ships)
                                       without being able to see it. On the other hand, I really
                                       enjoyed the character development, vocabulary, and the 
                                       ability to stop it part way through. I think any true Star 
                                       Wars fan should read the book, just to see where it all 
                                       started.

                                        Movie Preview:



                               

Magnificent Monsters

 Title: The Foundling's Tale/ Monster Blood Tattoo Series

                                                  Foundling

                                                  Lamplighter

                                                  Factotum

                                      Author/Illustrator: D.M. Cornish
                                      Previous Work: None

                                      Summary: Rossamünd is an orphan boy with a girl's name and 
                                      some unusual quirks. He lives in the Half Continent where 
                                      everymen and untermen (humans and monsters) live locked in 
                                      constant battle. The monsters kill humans and the humans, in 
                                      turn, kill the monsters and make a tattoo from their blood called a 
                                     cruorpuxnis. As Rossamünd goes on a journey to start his new life,
                                      he begins to suspect not all monsters are evil. But to think such a
                                      thing is a great crime, and could put Rossamünd's very life in
                                      danger.

                                     Rating: A 4.5 because the series feels unfinished.
                                    Awards:
                                    (For Foundling)
  
                                    2007 Aurealis Award Winner

                                    (For Lamplighter)

                                    2009 Aurealis Award Nominee

                                    2009 Locus Awards Top 15

                                    2009 Andre Norton Award Finalist

                                    (For Factotum)
                                    2011 Locus Awards Top 15

                                    Opinion: These books were interesting because I didn't feel like I 
                                    was reading about a made up world or fake people. The author has 
                                    a way of transporting people there, as if he lives there and wants to 
                                    tell you about it. I understood the struggles of the people, and 
                                    while it was a fantastical world, it didn't seem so perfect it couldn't
                                    be real. He even included a glossary and gorgeous illustrations (as
                                    shown below) to increase the reality of the land. However, the 
                                    author did one thing that really annoyed me. You would get 
                                    attached to characters and then they would just disappear. 
                                    Rossamünd would get a letter from them once in a while and 
                                    wonder about them constantly. My favorite character, Threnody, 
                                    was a victim of this method. She appeared in the second book then
                                    disappeared except for one letter in the third book. The author
                                    ended the series making a character disappear; the finale was                   
                                    very unsatisfying. Other than that issue, the books were great.

From Left to Right- Europe the Branden Rose, Rossamünd, and Threnody

Summer Romance Reads Part 2

 Title: Catch a Falling Star
                                     # of Pages: 300
                                     Author: Kim Culbertson
                                     Previous Work: 

                                                     Songs for a Teenage Nomad

                                                     Instructions for a Broken Heart

                                                     The Liberation of Max McTrue 

                                    Summary: Carter "Hobbit" Moon likes it in her town of Little,
                                    California. She doesn't mind Hollywood coming to film, but she
                                    isn't starstruck. When she gets an offer to be paid to pretend to
                                    be movie star Adam Jake's girlfriend, she agrees to the job. Her
                                    family needs the money. But what will happen when the lines
                                    between real and fake are blurred and Carter starts to fall for
                                    Adam?

                                   Rating: This is a 4.
                                   Awards: None.

                                   Opinion: This book was a lot better than I thought it would be.
                                   It was kind of predictable, but I still liked it. My favorite touch
                                   was the blog post at the end of each chapter. All in all a good
                                   summery romance.

Repousser

 Title: Belle Epoque
                                      # of Pages: 336
                                     Author: Elizabeth Ross
                                     Previous Work: None.

                                     Summary: Maude Pichon feels trapped in her life in
                                     Brittany. She runs away to Paris, only to find she can't make
                                     enough money to live. The Durandeau Agency provides
                                     interesting opportunities for plain or ugly women- of which
                                     Maude is.  They can be paid to be a companion to a socialite,
                                     called a foil, making them seem more attractive. Maude
                                     becomes a companion to Isabelle Dubern, but Isabelle doesn't
                                     realize Maude is being paid to be her friend. The longer the
                                     deception goes on, the more Maude has to lose.

                                     Rating: 2.
                                     Awards: 

                                     Junior Library Guild Selection

                                    2014 William C. Morris Award Finalist

                                    Opinion: This book was just okay. The premise was
                                    interesting.The historical timing was nice (who knew people
                                    thought the Eiffel tower was an eyesore?). The characters
                                    and ending, however, were predictable and forgettable. This
                                    can pass a rainy day, but you won't remember much about it
                                    afterwards.

Shakespeare Shake-Up Part 2

 Title: Still Star-Crossed
                                     # of Pages: 352
                                     Author: Melinda Taub
                                     Previous Work: None.

                                     Summary: Still Star-Crossed picks up where Romeo and
                                     Juliet leaves off. The Montagues and Capulets have sworn to
                                     uphold peace, but riots still ring out in the streets. Prince
                                     Escalus decides to marry Benvolio (Romeo's best friend) to
                                     Rosaline (Juliet's cousin) to try to keep the peace. The two set
                                     off on a quest to avoid marrying each other and along the way
                                     realize the murders seem almost... planned. Can they finally
                                     bring about peace in fair Verona?
                                     Rating: 5
                                     Awards: Kirkus Starred Review

                                     Opinion: This book is not told in poetry, although the
                                     characters' dialogue was told in a Shakespearean style (thee,
                                     thou, anon, etc.). This is a great book for those who enjoy
                                     Shakespearean plots, but not the flowery poetry. As for my
                                     personal opinion? This book was amazing. The characters were
                                     multi-layered, and you felt like you were solving the murders
                                     with the protagonists. Once I picked up this book up, I couldn't
                                     put it down.

Shakespeare Shake-Up Part 1

 Title: William Shakespeare's Star Wars® - Verily, a New
                                     Hope
                                     # of Pages: 174
                                     Author: Ian Doescher
                                     Previous Work: None, but there will be sequels.

                                     Summary: I believe the book trailer for this work best
                                     describes the book, showing both the prose and a glimpse of
                                     what Star Wars® is about.
                                       Rating: I give this a 4.5.
                                     Awards: None

                                     Opinion: This book is only for those that like Star Wars® 
                                     and love Shakespeare. It is told entirely in prose as shown in
                                     the trailer. I like the insight into the characters that the
                                     movies can't necessarily show. R2-D2, especially, talks to the
                                     audience about his plans. He, of course, still talks in blips and
                                     bloops around other characters. The one bad thing is that if
                                     you don't play close attention, the action scenes are
                                     confusing.

Lightning Girl

Title: 1-800/ Vanished:

           When Lightning Strikes      OR   Vanished
                                                                  Volume 1
           Code Name Cassandra
                                                                  Vanished
           Safe House                                     Volume 2

           Sanctuary        

           Missing You                                                                                                  

                                        Author: Meg Cabot

      Previous Work: 
                                         
                                          All-American Girl Series

                                          Allie Finkle Series

                                          Avalon High Series

                                          Princess Diaries Series

                                          And many, many more!

                                          Summary: What would you do if you got struck by
                                          lightning and woke up the next day able to locate missing
                                          people just by seeing their picture? What if the FBI wanted
                                          to use you for your powers? And a totally cute guy broke
                                          you out of their facility? Welcome to Jessica Mastriani's life.
                                          How does she want to use her new abilities? Does she even
                                          have a choice?

                                          Rating: I'd give it a 4.5 because there was a little too much
                                          swearing for my taste.

                                          Awards: 
                                                 Basis for television show Missing

                                          Opinion: This book series is laugh out loud hilarious! The
                                          characters seem realistic, even if the effect the lightning had
                                          on Jess was not. I love the tension between Jess and Rob,
                                          the fact that the "bad guys" weren't who you'd think they'd
                                          be. The rivalry at the school was kind of like a warped
                                          Montague vs Capulet kind of situation. I loved this series
                                          sooo much- especially the ending. Yes that's right! A
                                          conclusion that actually makes sense. I'd recommend these
                                          books to almost anyone.

Peak Precision

 Title: Peak
                                     # of Pages: 246
                                     Author: Roland Smith
                                     Previous Work:
                                                            
                                                      Cryptid Hunters series

                                                      Elephant Run

                                                      I.Q. series
                                                      
                                                      Jack's Run

                                                      Storm Runners series

                                                      And many more books!
        
                                     Summary: Peak is a just normal 14 year old guy who lives in
                                     New York. Unless most boys don't get caught tagging
                                     skyscrapers. And if the "punishment" for most isn't climbing
                                     Mt. Everest. Maybe Peak isn't so ordinary, after all...

                                     Rating: This book is a 3 to me.
                                     Awards:
                                      
                                     2007 Booklist Editor's Choice

                                     2007 Miami Herald's Best Kids Books
                                      
                                     2008 New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age List
                 
                                     2008 ALA Selected Audiobooks for Young Adults

                                     2008 ALA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers

                                     2008/2009 Texas Lone Star Reading List

                                     2009 Nevada Young Reader's Award

                                     National Outdoor Book Award

                                     25 nominations

                                     Opinion: Peak is a very relatable character. He cares about
                                      his twin sisters. He also has his flaws. (Unlike Sun-jo who
                                      I thought was too perfect). I personally didn't like the
                                      Bhuddist influence in the story, but I realize it is a crucial
                                      part of the beliefs of Everest climbers, and needed to be in
                                      the story. Altogether it was an interesting read; different
                                      than what I'm used to reading.

For International Readers Part 1

Recently, I figured out how to find out exactly where the people who read my blog come from. To my surprise, I saw five views from Russia, four from the UK, and one each from Germany, South Korea, Turkey, and South Africa. Now I don't know if they read my blog by mistake, or if they're even kids around my age. But in honor of whomever they might be, I'll be reviewing two International books, with the country they were written in listed beside them. I will still put out the reader's choice book sometime next week.


 Title: Flyaway
                                      # of Pages: 260
                                      Author: Lucy Christopher
                                      Country: United Kingdom
                                      Previous Work:
                                                                Stolen
                                      Summary: (For this summary I think an excerpt from the
                                                         book will best explain it. Isla the main character
                                                         is speaking.)
                                                        One cold winter morning, Dad gets sick – and 
                                                        goes into hospital. It’s there I meet Harry, with 
                                                        his scruffy hair and firefly eyes. From his window
                                                        we watch a wild swan on the frozen lake outside. 
                                                        There’s something different about her, truly 
                                                        different. Almost magical. Perhaps, if we can help
                                                        her, everything else will begin to make sense.
                                      Rating: I give this book a 2, which is excellent. It was very in
                                      depth at the beginning, and towards the end it was very sweet,
                                      but slightly unbelievable. The rest of the book makes up for
                                      that, though.
                                      Awards:
                                                    Short list for the Costa Awards
                                      Opinion: Flyaway was a great book about believing in the
                                      impossible. Isla thinks if she can just save a swan, her father
                                      and Harry will be all right. As things change in her life, the
                                      swan helps her fly.