Doctor Who: The Shakespeare Notebooks byJustin Richards

"Newly discovered entries and drawings in William Shakespeare’s journals reveal for the first time the astounding relationship between the great Bard and the Doctor.

Since his first adventure in 1963, the Doctor has enjoyed many encounters with William Shakespeare. Now, BBC Books has rediscovered notebooks, long thought lost, compiled by the Bard in which he divulges the influential role the Doctor played in his creative life. Here are the original notes for Hamlet, including a very different appearance by the ghost; early versions of great lines (“To reverse or not to reverse the polarity of the neutron flow”); the true story of how the faeries of A Midsummer Night’s Dream were first imagined; stage directions for plays adjusted to remove references to a mysterious blue box; and much, much more."

I am both a fan of Shakespeare and Doctor Who. So when I received this book for my birthday I was over the moon. Some of my favorite things put into one book! And did I laugh! If you are expecting a serious book than you will be sadly mistaken here. The author combined these two themes together in a great way. 

The book was a quick read, which sometimes is the best way to have these kinds of mash-up books. The only part of the book that I did not like was the "Academic Notes" it seemed to drag on, and I could not follow what Richards was trying to do. over all though I loved the book. 

So if you are a "hardcore/naturalist" Shakespeare lover, than steer clear of this book. But if you like to laugh, like Shakespeare and/or Doctor Who, than by all means pick this book up!

I gave this book a four out of five stars.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

"It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will become busier still.

Liesel Meminger is a foster girl living outside of Munich, who scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement. "

I have read quite allot of books that are about/based in the time of WWII/Nazi Germany. My mother was always adamant that I know what happened so that something like this may never happen again. So I know allot about that time period. So when I was told about this book, I was intrigued to read it. And to be honest, I was less than underwhelmed by it. It was talked up so much, and then they made a movie about it; I was ready for an amazing book. But I wasn't amazed. It was a good book, and aspects of the writing and story were interested, but  I did not see what the author was trying to tell us. I feel that if you are going to write a story about this heavy topic, you need to have a lesson that was or needs to be learned. I didn't learn anything. I was sad, and that was all.

What I did like about it is how Zusak used Death as the narrator. I felt that it made it more poignant. I also liked how it was set up. It had sections within sections, and made it an "easy read". What made it a long read was that there was a lot of time wasted on non important parts of the story and on the little things in life, and made the story drag on. 

If you like unique points of view, life struggles, difficulties to over come, and WWII than I would recommend this book to you. I give this book a generous three out of five stars. 

Cruel Beauty By Rosamund Hodge

"Betrothed to the evil ruler of her kingdom, Nyx has always known that her fate was to marry him, kill him, and free her people from his tyranny. But on her seventeenth birthday when she moves into his castle high on the kingdom's mountaintop, nothing is what she expected—particularly her charming and beguiling new husband. Nyx knows she must save her homeland at all costs, yet she can't resist the pull of her sworn enemy—who's gotten in her way by stealing her heart."

I had not planned on reading this book, I am in a middle of finishing another book, but had forgot it at home and all I had was my Tablet with me so I started reading on my Kindle App. And I must say and I am so glad that I did. Now I must say that I am always a little partial to books that are based on fairy tales, especially when it is my favorite, (Beauty and the Beast! <3) With saying that though I am also more apt to be more critical on how the author stayed to the original story while making it their own. 
I must say that Hodge did an exceptional job at it. This was the same story that I know and love, but also something knew that I have not seen before. Hodge was able to successfully blend an age old french fairy tale with Greek mythology as if they where always meant to be blended! I honestly have not complaints about the book other than I had two sleepless nights because I couldn't but it down! 
Great if you are looking for adventure, sacrifices, unwanted love, curses, and much more.
I am giving it a five out of five stars! 

Ironhand's Daughter by David Gemmell

"The armies of the Outlanders crushed the highlanders at the battle of Colden Moor–killing their finest warriors and breaking their freeborn spirit. The highlanders are now a conquered people, ruled by the brutal Baron Gottasson.

Prophecies speak of the coming of a new leader, a descendent of Ironhand, mightiest of the highland kings. A leader who will throw off the Outlander yoke. But only one highlander carries the blood of Ironhand: Sigarni, a wild and willful teenage girl who cares for nothing save her own concerns. Until a fateful encounter thrusts her onto a path of rebellion. Now, hunted by the baron’s soldiers and stalked by an evil sorcerer, Sigarni will be forced to fulfill her destiny . . . or perihs."

I picked this book up at a yard sale, forcing the "don't judge a book by its cover" moto. I just have a personal thing about books that look like they are quick published, and the author has like tons of books printed because they are not taking time in their story and just want to get something on the shelves. I know it really doesn't make sense but that it how I feel. But this book was actually really good. 

The characters were very interesting and I liked that the heroine really didn't care what anyone else thought. She went through many emotional changes throughout the book, and it made her into a better leader by the end. The only thing I didn't like was that there were to many characters that you had to remember, and they all had unique and obscure names. So at times I did not remember which character was which. 

But if you like adventure, battles, magic, Scotland, historical fiction, and strong female leads than pick up this book! I am giving it a four out of five stars!

Summer Time!

Wow! So far my summer has been super busy, barely had any time to sit and read. :( Hoping now I will have some time to catch up on the last few weeks and to cram some a lot of books in over the next month and a half. So sorry for the lull in reviews and more will be coming very soon!

The Keys to the Kingdom: Mister Monday by Garth Nix

"Arthur Penhaligon's school year is not off to a good start. On his first day, he suffers an asthma attack while running cross country and dreams that a mysterious figure hands him a key shaped like the minute hand of a clock. However, when he wakes up, he still has the key. That's when strange things begin to happen. Mister Monday dispatches terrifying, dog-faced Fetchers to retrieve it, a bizarre sleeping illness sweeps the city, and only Arthur can see the weird new house that appears in his neighborhood. The seventh grader knows it all has something to do with the key, one of seven elusive fragments of the Will to which he has become heir apparent, and a mysterious atlas. When he ventures inside the house, he meets more strange characters than he could have imagined, none of whom are what they seem. And, of course, he must battle Monday, who will do anything to get the key back. With the help of the key, Arthur must fight his way out."

I am finding it harder to decide what book I should read next, so I have asked my sister to start helping me with my decision making. (AKA just randomly choosing a book for me) This is the first one she chose, and I was impressed. I have been wanting to read this book ever since my friends bought it back when I was close to the age range the book was made for. Now I am wishing I did not put if off for so long.

I liked the premise of the book, and the story line did have potential, but I did not like Nix's writing style. More than once I was wanted more from him descriptively and in dialogue. He also introduced us to characters that would have seemed to play a bigger part in the story than they actually did. One minute they looked as if to become partners in crime than they next they are no where to be seen.

It took be much longer to finish this book than I wanted, and almost gave up on it a couple of times. But I did finish it! This could be a good middle grade book, and hope that if you did like this book, that the series got better as the books went on.
I give this book a one out of five stars.

 P.S. Please remember that these are just my opinions of these books as I am sure that there are others out there that have enjoyed them.

Sister Slam and the Poetic Motormouth Road Trip by Linda Oatman High

"Laura Crapper, a seventeen-year-old combat-boot-wearing poet with spiked red hair, renames herself Sister Slam and hits the road with her best friend, Twig. On the way to a slam poetry contest in New Jersey, they hit a pig, get pulled over by the cops, fight with one of the judges, lose the contest, get into two more fender benders, fight with each other, and finally land on the front page of a New York City newspaper for their amazing impromptu performance at the famous Tavern on the Green. The girls and their fresh style of poetry take the city by storm, but when Laura's father back in Pennsylvania has a heart attack, she must face her fears about home and the still-raw loss of her mother. This inspiring romp of a coming-of-age story, written entirely in Laura's in-your-face slam poetry style, proves you don't have to give up your home to live your dream."

So this week I went on a little binge of really quick reads. This book was only written in the form of slam poetry, and I really enjoyed it. I am always impressed when an author can write a complete story using have the amount of words others would and have them rhyme at the same time. So I give props to Linda High for that!

The story was cute, two friends going on a road trip to follow their dreams and almost making it. But I find myself always wanting more. With this book being poetry, I know that is hard to do, so I cannot critic it all that much for that. 

Another good quick read with a little sass, attitude, love, and teens. I gave this book three stars. 

                           

Find it here:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1582349487?ie=UTF8&isInIframe=1&n=283155&redirect=true&ref_=dp_proddesc_0&s=books&showDetailProductDesc=1#iframe-wrapper

Green Angel by Alice Hoffman

"Left on her own when her family dies in a terrible disaster, fifteen-year-old Green is haunted by loss and by the past. Struggling to survive physically and emotionally in a place where nothing seems to grow and ashes are everywhere, Green retreats into the ruined realm of her garden. But in destroying her feelings, she also begins to destroy herself, erasing the girl she'd once been as she inks darkness into her skin. It is only through a series of mysterious encounters that Green can relearn the lessons of love and begin to heal enough to tell her story."

For being such a short book, the author was able to pack it full of emotion. I felt that it was more of a short story rather than a novel though. I was able to complete this book in one day, and if I had the time most likely could have done it in one sitting. With saying this I did enjoy it. 

When I was looking up the book on Amazon, I did find out that there are two more books that go along with this one. While I would not pay the full price for them, I will defiantly pick them up to see what else happens to Green along her journey of recovery. 

The only criticism that I have for the book, would be that I would want to know more about what happen that caused the "terrible disaster". It is mentioned briefly, but I felt like I was still in the dark about what happened and why it happened. 

It was a nice quick read, some mystery, and a little bit of magic. I gave the book a three out of five stars. 

                 

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

"Christopher Boone, the autistic 15-year-old narrator of this revelatory novel, relaxes by groaning and doing math problems in his head, eats red-but not yellow or brown-foods and screams when he is touched. Strange as he may seem, other people are far more of a conundrum to him, for he lacks the intuitive "theory of mind" by which most of us sense what's going on in other people's heads. When his neighbor's poodle is killed and Christopher is falsely accused of the crime, he decides that he will take a page from Sherlock Holmes (one of his favorite characters) and track down the killer. As the mystery leads him to the secrets of his parents' broken marriage and then into an odyssey to find his place in the world, he must fall back on deductive logic to navigate the emotional complexities of a social world that remains a closed book to him. In the hands of first-time novelist Haddon, Christopher is a fascinating case study and, above all, a sympathetic boy: not closed off, as the stereotype would have it, but too open-overwhelmed by sensations, bereft of the filters through which normal people screen their surroundings. Christopher can only make sense of the chaos of stimuli by imposing arbitrary patterns ("4 yellow cars in a row made it a Black Day, which is a day when I don't speak to anyone and sit on my own reading books and don't eat my lunch and Take No Risks"). His literal-minded observations make for a kind of poetic sensibility and a poignant evocation of character. Though Christopher insists, "This will not be a funny book. I cannot tell jokes because I do not understand them," the novel brims with touching, ironic humor. The result is an eye-opening work in a unique and compelling literary voice. "

I was told about his book years ago, and came across it at a local thrift store and picked it up. And it has been sitting on my bookshelf ever since then. It wasn't until some of my students had to read it in their English class that I decided to also read it. I am so glad that I did. 
Going into the book I knew that the author had written it from a stand point of a boy who had autism.

 I am familiar with autism, so I was prepared for the some times odd handling of the writing. Being that I went to school for teaching and had many classes on students with special needs I was very impressed at how the author was able to portray what it is like to be someone with autism.

The story was also enjoyable and was a quick read for me. If you are looking for a book that has mystery that needs to be solved, told in an interesting point of view, and get a great view of what it is like to be someone with autism, pick this up! I think that everyone should read this book at some point. I give this a five out of five!

A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L'Engle

"It was a dark and stormy night; Meg Murry, her small brother Charles Wallace, and her mother had come down to the kitchen for a midnight snack when they were upset by the arrival of a most disturbing stranger.

"Wild nights are my glory," the unearthly stranger told them. "I just got caught in a downdraft and blown off course. Let me sit down for a moment, and then I'll be on my way. Speaking of ways, by the way, there is such a thing as a tesseract."

A tesseract (in case the reader doesn't know) is a wrinkle in time. To tell more would rob the reader of the enjoyment of Miss L'Engle's unusual book. A Wrinkle in Time, winner of the Newbery Medal in 1963, is the story of the adventures in space and time of Meg, Charles Wallace, and Calvin O'Keefe (athlete, student, and one of the most popular boys in high school). They are in search of Meg's father, a scientist who disappeared while engaged in secret work for the government on the tesseract problem."

I was recommended this book, by an acquaintance. I had heard of the book before and that it had been made into a movie a while ago. But it was the first time picking it up. I had always though that it was a children's book, and I think that it would be a good book for a middle schooler to start reading science fiction. But if you were to judge the book by the cover than I would not advise it. One of the reviews on the book said that it contained a "brooding horror", I did not find this in the book. While there was a mystery and a slight suspense it was no where near what I would call horror. 

While I did like the book, I was a little disappointed in the ending of the book. It felt rushed, and abrupt. I wanted there to me more conflict and more explanation of what had happened and why.

If you want a easy science fiction read this is a good book. I give the book a three out of five stars.

Grim edited by Christine Johnson

"Johnson’s anthology of retold fairy tales, most based on Grimm, should be wildly popular as the 17 authors include such well-known names as Ellen Hopkins, Julie Kagawa, Amanda Hocking, and Malinda Lo. Many authors bring the tone and focus back to the original Grimm tales, and graphic gore abounds. Sometimes the violence feels gratuitous, but often it’s completely appropriate. Rachel Hawkins’ opening story sets Bluebeard in a trailer park, with truly creepy foreshadowing from the heroine’s alcoholic mother. Jon Skovron’s “Raven Princess” has delightful contemporary touches, such as a same-sex giant couple rearing an infant, and a Shrek-like ending. Readers are bound to like some stories more than others, but the diversity of tone and treatment should please most fans of the genre. For many of the authors, the retold fairy tale is something new to their body of work. Hopefully, readers drawn by Ellen Hopkins’ novels on contemporary issues will discover the appeal and relevance of “tales as old as time,” such as Sarah Rees Brennan’s charming treatment of Beauty and the Beast."

If you may have noticed I love fairy tales, and the retelling of them. So as you may guess I really enjoyed this anthology. I have not read many books containing short stories, but after Grim I am going to be keeping my eye out for more of them. The authors that she chose to write did a great job retelling the Grimm fairy tales, so that you could still know which one you were reading. There was only one that was retold, that also happened to not be a fairy tale that the Grimm brothers wrote, Beauty and the beast. I did not mind this though, because it also happens to be my all time favorite fairy tale. 

Now to the stories themselves. While I enjoyed them all there were some that I liked more than others. Each had their own 'darkness' to them, but some did a better retelling them then others. While one story may be very similar to the original, even in the language they used to write it, others changed them so much that it was almost like reading a different story. I am not saying it was a bad thing, but I did need to look up which story they were trying to portray. There were even some stories that the author could easily take and turn it into a full novel if they wanted to , and I would defiantly go out and buy it.

So if you like reading a variety of different writing styles, and romances that are dark and a little twisted in some cases, then defiantly give this a read. I give this a four out of five stars. 

The Giver by Lois Lowry

"Jonas's world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear of pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the community. When Jonas turns 12 he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Now, it is time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back."


I never read this book when I was in school. So now that I work in a school I thought it would be a good one to pick up. Also they just came out with the movie and the trailer looked awesome! I like the beginning of the book and it didn't feel rushed or dragged out. Lowry did a good job at giving all the information you needed to understand the world you were entering. I also liked her character development and you can relate to them in how they live their lives, even though they are different from how we live now.
As the story progressed, and you meet The Giver, the books feeling changed from one that was light and nice, to one that was somber and serious. You start to see what Lowry's message of the story is really about. I also found it interesting (even though the happy ending reader in me wanted more) how she ended the book. She almost leaves it up to you, to how it ends. If this book had been written a decade later it would be turned into a trilogy if not a series. 
I would not say that I enjoyed the book, but rather that I understood the message and agree that it is a book that everyone should read. It has a the feel of The Hunger Games, or should I say that The Hunger Games has the feel of The Giver. 
So If you like the distopian, controlled world, and fighting against the system then you will enjoy this book. It was an easy read, and I do suggest that everyone picks it up to read. 
I give this book a four out of five stars.

Sweetly by Jackson Pearce

"As a child, Gretchen's twin sister was taken by a witch in the woods. Ever since, Gretchen and her brother, Ansel, have felt the long branches of the witch's forest threatening to make them disappear, too.

Years later, when their stepmother casts Gretchen and Ansel out, they find themselves in sleepy Live Oak, South Carolina. They're invited to stay with Sophia Kelly, a beautiful candy maker who molds sugary magic: coveted treats that create confidence, bravery, and passion.

Life seems idyllic and Gretchen and Ansel gradually forget their haunted past-- until Gretchen meets handsome local outcast Samuel. He tells her the witch isn't gone-- it's lurking in the forest, preying on girls every year after Live Oak's infamous chocolate festival, and looking to make Gretchen it's next victim. Gretchen is determined to stop running and start fighting back. Yet the further she investigates the mystery of what the witch is and how it chooses its victims, the more she wonders who the real monster is.

Gretchen is certain of only one thing: a monster is coming, and it will never go away hungry."

I was so excited to get my hands on this book! I have read Pearce's other book Sister's Red and loved it, and when I saw this one at the local bookstore and I had the money to by it I was so pumped! Pearce has done it again, another retelling of the fairy tale, and does a great job at it. If you did not guess the story she chose to retell was Hansel and Gretel. While the original fairy tale is not one of my favorites, Sweetly has now become one of the books that I will not mind picking up again in the future. 

Again she writes about strong female leads, who have not choice but to save the day. With some help from the brooding town "rebel". She does a great job, not only having the characters fall in love, but also the reader falling in love with the characters. She also shows the love that is among siblings, and the ways that that love is tested. With saying that, it is not all mushy lovey, dovey and is open for many readers.

If you are looking for a read that has mystery, love, monsters, suspense, and action this is a great book for you. I give it a five out of five stars!

Thornyhold by Mary Stewart

"During Gilly Ramsey’s lonely childhood, the occasional brief visits of her mother’s cousin were a delight, seeming like visits of a fairy godmother. Years later, when Gilly inherits Thornyhold, her house, she discovers that her cousin, with her still room and herbalist practices—and her undoubted powers—had long been known to the locals as a witch. She is approached by neighbors, some innocent, some not so innocent, but all assuming that she, too, is a witch, and a possible addition to the local coven. Gilly finds there is some truth in this, for she discovers that she can call on a kind of power in difficult moments. This wonderful novel from bestselling author Mary Stewart is delicate in its perception of a young woman’s falling in love, delightful in its portrayal of the English countryside, and skilled in its creation of a world full of magic."

I was skeptical about this book when I first picked it up. I usually do not read older novels, but I liked the premise of this book and was ready to tackle it. It did start off sort of slowly, setting the scene for which make life for Gilly at Thornyhold so different than what she previously knew. As I reached half way through the book I still did not know which way the story was heading. Was it a mystery, a witch hunt, or something else. Mart Stewart did make me feel connected to the characters and I was able to sympathize with them. As for the romance of the book, it took awhile before you realize who was going to become an item. When you do finally figure it out, the book ends fairly quickly. And I do not mean in a good. Stewart took such a long time to lead up to this point and then ended it to short. There were many ways to end, but it felt rushed as though she had run out of time to write and just ended it. With saying this I did enjoy it, but wish I had more. 

I rate this book a three out of five stars.