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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

Dead is the New Black by Marlene Perez

"Welcome to Nightshade, California—a small town full of secrets. It’s home to the pyschic Giordano sisters, who have a way of getting mixed up in mysteries. During their investigations, they run across everything from pom-pom-shaking vampires to shape-shifting boyfriends to a clue-spewing jukebox. With their psychic powers and some sisterly support, they can crack any case!

Teenage girls are being mysteriously attacked all over town, including at Nightshade High School, where Daisy Giordano is a junior. When Daisy discovers that a vampire may be the culprit, she can’t help but suspect head cheerleader Samantha Devereaux, who returned from summer break with a new “look.” Samantha appears a little . . . well, dead, and all the most popular kids at school are copying her style.
Is looking dead just another fashion trend for Samantha, or is there something more sinister going on? To find out, Daisy joins the cheerleading squad."

I picked this book up as just a quick read, but was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. I like the comedic quality to it. I knew I was reading a young adult book, and it is a very small book but the author did a good job at telling a story, introducing the characters, and ending it in a satisfying way. I easily connected with the main character, Daisy, and completely understood the emotions she was going through. It is the first book in a series, and even thought the book ended on a was that made the book a stand alone, it  also left opportunities for more books. If I come across the others books in the series I may get them, but I probably will not go out and purchase them as a set from a book store or Amazon. If you are looking for a book that you can read in just a few days, that has a little comedic mystery, as well as some supernatural characters, than I recommend this book for you. 

I give this book a three out of five stars.

Fated by S.G. Browne

"Over the past few thousand years, Fabio has come to hate his job. As Fate, he's in charge of assigning the fortunes and misfortunes that befall most of the human race-the 83% who keep screwing things up.

Frustrated with his endless parade of drug addicts and career politicians, Fate has to watch Destiny guide her people to Nobel Peace Prizes and Super Bowl MVPs. To make matters worse, he has a five- hundred-year-old feud with Death, and his best friends are Sloth and Gluttony. And worst of all? He's fallen in love with a human.

Getting involved with a human breaks Rule #1, and about ten others, setting off some cosmic-sized repercussions that could strip him of his immortality-or lead to a fate worse than death."

I was excited to read this book. I thought it was going to be funny and have a lovey dovey ending. I was, of course, wrong. While it did have humor in it, it was at the expense of religious doctrines. (Now I know some people reading this may not be religious and find it humorous, but I am and did not.) But overlooking this, it was an alright, book. What really ruined it for me was the ending. I was hoping for a more stereotypical ending, but did not receive one. So props to S.G. Browne on writing a “creative” ending, but I was so out there for me that it really ruined the story for me. But if you are looking for a humorous book with a surprise ending than you may like it. 

I on the other hand am giving this book a two out of five stars.

The Named by Marianne Curley

"Ethan is a member of the Named, sworn to fight the Order of Chaos, an evil group determined to permanently change the course of history. But he is also a normal high school student trying desperately to keep up with his homework and fit in. When he is assigned to mentor Isabel, a cute classmate and future member of the Named, the line between his two lives begins to blur. So begins an epic quest as Ethan, Isabel, and others travel through time to battle dark forces and protect the future."

The author did a good job mixing, what I feel is different genre's together to tell this story. It gives you a little bit of everything. With saying this I had a hard time deciding on giving this book a four or a five star. After some deliberation I decided on a four star, but that just goes to tell you have good this book is!!

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

"Standing on the fringes of life offers a unique perspective…but there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor.

Since its publication, Stephen Chbosky’s haunting debut novel has received critical acclaim, provoked discussion and debate, grown into a cult phenomenon with over three million copies in print, spent over one year at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list, and inspired a major motion picture starring Logan Lerman and Emma Watson.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a story about what it’s like to travel that strange course through the uncharted territory of high school. The world of first dates, family dramas, and new friends. Of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Of those wild and poignant roller-coaster days known as growing up."

 Before I read this nook I watched the movie first. I thought it was great! So great that I went out and bought the movie the next day, it was also so great that i spent $15 to buy a new copy of the book. Even when I was buying it I thought the price was to steep, but I liked the movie so much that I bought it anyways. So when      I started to read the book i was suprised by the format it was written in. It is made up of letters, and that was not what I was expecting, but as you read on you realize that this was the only way that this story could have been written. I was suprised also how good the writers of the movie stayed close to how the book was written. As we know script writters like to change the story when they make a movie, but with this one they didn't do a half bad job at it. 
My only real complaint about the book was that I wish it was longer. But it is selfish to say that because the story ran its course, I just didn't want to leave the characters yet. I felt like this is book that should be a required reading in High School. There are some parts that maybe a student shouldn't read, but there are other parts that I think could help them with the changes and the choices that they are going to have to make. 

I give this book a five out of five stars!!

Crooked by Laura and Tom McNeal

"

Clara Wilson and Amos MacKenzie are finding their lives turned upside down: by each other, by fickle friendships, by failing families, and by the two meanest brothers in town. As the pressures of high school and home life collide, Clara and Amos struggle to maintain their identities amid the chaos. Honesty may be the answer...but it can be awfully hard to find."

I have not read many, what I call, "Teen" novels. By "Teen" I mean fiction books about life as an average teenager when something out of the norm happens, and I am not talking about meeting vampires and falling in love with the supernatural world. Just regular people that completely possible, although sometimes bad, things happen to them. This is one of those books, and I was impressed by it. I really could not put the book down. I mean I was reading it while waiting for the Super Bowl Commercials to come on. (Yes, that means I was reading it while the game was in play.) I connected with the characters, and wanted the best out come for them. Even though at some points I did not know what the outcome would be. Because in all honesty I cannot remember the last book that I read that the ending was not what I wanted it to be. 


I will always applaud authors who collaborate to write a novel. Especially husband and wife (ditto to him for letting his wife's name be first!! :} ) I have tried writing with others and it is not the easiest thing in the world, or the next easiest, or the next easiest after that! I would probably read this book again, but maybe in a few years or so.

So after all of that I am giving this book a 4 out of five stars.

Girl, Stolen by April Henry

"Sixteen–year-old Cheyenne Wilder is sleeping in the back of a car while her mom fills her prescription for antibiotics. Before Cheyenne realizes what’s happening, their car is being stolen. Griffin hadn’t meant to kidnap Cheyenne, but once his dad finds out that Cheyenne’s father is the president of a powerful corporation, everything changes—now there’s a reason to keep her. How will Cheyenne survive this nightmare? Because she’s not only sick with pneumonia—she’s also blind."

I liked this book quite a lot. It is more for later middle school/junior high book, but I still 

enjoyed the read. With it being for school aged readers it was a easy read. The topic was 

not an real easy one to write, so I amend the author for choosing it. When looking at one

 other books she seems to choose the same topic area. It would be a great way to show 

students that anything can happen and anyone can change. If the author wanted to change 

the audience she was writing to from student to adult, I believe that she could do so and the

 book would be just as good if not better. I would definitely recommend this book to others 

who like suspense, courageous characters, and difficult obstacles.

I gave this book a three out of five.

Being by Kevin Brooks

"

It was just supposed to be a routine exam. But when the doctors snake the fiber-optic tube down Robert Smith's throat, what they discover doesn't make medical sense. Plastic casings. Silver filaments. Moving metal parts. In his naked, anesthetized state on the operating table, Robert hears the surgeons' shocked comments: "What the hell is that?"
"It's me," Robert thinks, "and I've got to get out of here." Armed with a stolen automatic and the videotape of his strange organs, he manages to escape, and to embark on an orphan's violent odyssey to find out exactly who--exactly what--he is."

I had great hopes for this book. After reading the back I couldn't wait to find out what the 

mystery was. This book reminded me of a young version of the Jason Bourne series. It had 

the same sense of urgency to know what was going to happen next, who were the good 

guys and who were the bad, all tied in a mystery of who or what Robert Smith is. While the 

story line was interesting, the books lacked in other areas. The author was good at 

describing things but at points he gets so descriptive that I would lose what he was talking 

about and could not picture it at all. He also had the story moving fast, but it seemed like it 

took him a long time to get where he wanted the reader to go. While it was an interesting 

novel, it did not turn into a favorite. It would be a good book for adventure spy types that 

don't mind the perfect ending. 


I give this book a 2 out of 5 stars.

The Accomplice by Kathryn Heyman

"This is the story of one of the most shocking events of the seventeenth century: the wreck of a Dutch ship, the Batavia, off the west coast of Australia, and the extraordinary events that befell its stranded survivors. It is also the story of Judith Bastiaansz, sailing with her family to a new life, who is caught up in something well beyond her experience: first infatuation and then, perhaps, something far more dangerous. Combining a gripping narrative with vivid historical detail, this is a beautiful, terrifying, deeply moving novel of love and anarchy. "

 I bought this book a while ago, and at the time I was really into reading Historical Fictions. So after reading the back of the book I thought that this was going to be great. But again I judged the book by the cover, and was wrong. Firstly, it took forever for the story to start. I was pushing ,myself to read and become engaged in it for the first hundred pages or so. Now this a, what I call average, average size book. So I was close to half way through it before I really started to be interested in what was happening.  The second thing was that, in the beginning, she keeps jumping from the past to the present without any explanation. So you are left floundering to figure out at what time the story is taken place in. This just contributed to the hardship it was to get into the book. I wanted the main character to have a stronger presence, but did not get what I wanted. I felt she was a meek character, and although she did survive the hardships in the story, she did not become a stronger person or really grow. She stayed the same. I was disappointed in this book, and did have to force myself to read to the end.

I give this book a one out of five.