A Spark in the Dark

Yet another set of books I won from ThisisTeen.

Title: 
                                         The Dark Unwinding

                                         A Spark Unseen

                                     Author: Sharon Cameron
                                     Previous Work: These were her first books.

                                     Summary: When sent to commit her uncle to a lunatic
                                     asylum, Katharine discovers a misunderstood inventor, living
                                     in a fantastical world his mother (Katharine's late
                                     Grandmother) had made for him. She must decide whether
                                     she will betray his trust- or risk the rest of her life protecting
                                     him.
                                     Rating: 4.5
                                     Awards: 
                                     (For The Dark Unwinding)
                                      ABC Best Books for Children   
                            
                                      ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults Selection
                                 
                                      Bank Street College of Education’s Best Children’s Books
                                 
                                      SCBWI Crystal Kite Award for the Mid-South Division
                                   
                                      Sue Alexander Most Promising New Work Award
                                      

                                Opinion: These books were great! I loved the historical aspect,
                                combined with just enough steam-punk to make it interesting.
                                My one quibble is that you sometimes can't tell what is going on.
                                However, since that is purposeful, I think this is a great series.
                                   

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.

In Your Own Little World

 Title: Bubble World
                                     # of Pages: 352
                                     Author: Carol Snow
                                     Previous Work: 
                                 
                                                      Switch

                                                      Snap

                                      Summary: Freesia's life is perfect. She has her friendlies and
                                      her enemies and de-vicious clothes. However, when a power
                                      outage lands her in a dark room with people who know her,
                                      that she doesn't know, her life changes forever.

                                      Rating: I give this book a 2.5.
                                      Awards: None

                                     Opinion: This book was very slow at first. It was just Freesia
                                     wanting new clothes and hanging out with her friends Ricky
                                     and Jelissa. However, as the book goes on, the author really
                                     starts delving more into characters. You just have to hold on
                                     for the first 50 pages.

Gallagher Girls

I've been reading Gallagher Girls for a long time, and the last book is finally coming out! It's an awesome series about girls who go to a school for spies. Here's the countdown until United We Spy!


 

1,000

This blog has now had over 1,000 page views over the course of the year it's been open. I'd like to again thank those who have been following my blog!

Anniversary

In celebration of my blog being up and running for a year, I will do a review on a book about new beginnings. Thank you to all my viewers who have stuck by me this past year. I really appreciate it. Just a reminder, you can suggest books for me to read and review at any time!

 Title: The Fire Horse Girl
                                      # of Pages: 336
                                      Author: Kay Honeyman
                                      Previous Work: This is her first novel.

                                      Summary: Thought to be cursed, Jade Moon faces a lifetime
                                      of  boredom in China. The only man who will marry her is
                                      the bricklayer- who only talks about bricks. Then Sterling
                                      Promise, an adopted cousin comes along and convinces
                                      Jade Moon's father to take them all to America. Excited, she 
                                      goes with them to Ellis Island- only to be betrayed.

                                      Rating: A 5! I wish I could keep this book... But I can't.
                                      Awards: 
   
                                                  Booklist Starred Review

                                                  Parent's Choice Gold Award

                                      Opinion: This book is so multi-layered! If I were to call it a
                                      romance I would be right- and wrong. The same goes for
                                      calling it a new twist on a classic story or a historical
                                      fiction. I guess  if I had to define this book as one thing,
                                      it would be becoming more than what people say you
                                      are or even what you should be. People treated Jade Moon
                                      differently because of when she was born and she became
                                      what they expected her to be.