School of Fear: Class is not Dismissed!

In the sequel to "School of Fear" by Gitty Daneshvari the foursome---Theo, Garrison, Lulu, Madeline, and a new addition to the group; Hyhy--- return to Summerstone [AKA "School of Fear"] for a new summer of phobia curing. But when the four [and Hyhy, though everyone hates her] they find out that Ms. Wellington is being stoled from. But when they find out who really is the thief it turns out there is something else even bigger then the robbery that may end Summerstone forever.

This book is a fun book perfect for a rainy day, with colorful characters, a enjoyable plot, and a funny writing style that will get you hooked on the story. I really loved this book because the characters all acted stupid [in a funny way] and obsessed at the right time but really heartfelt in the perfect places. I think there is big things for Daneshvari, as ling as she plays the right cards, doesn't reuse the same plots and keeps the stories funny. The one thing I disliked about this book is the not connecting plot, it sort of is choppy but still enjoyable.

This foursome still has it, "wimpy kid" better watch his back.

4/5

WAITING 2 READ- FEBRUARY 2011

Okay so this month I am waiting for "Beyonders: A world Without Heroes" by Brandon Mull, author of "Fablehaven", here is a summary:
Jason Walker has often wished his life could be a bit less predictable--until a routine day at the zoo ends with Jason suddenly transporting from the hippo tank to a place unlike anything he's ever seen. In the past, the people of Lyrian welcmoed visitors from the Beyond, but attitudes have changed since the wizard emperor Maldor rose to power. The brave resistors who opposed the emperor have been bought off or broken, leaving a realm where fear and suspicion prevail.

In his search for a way home, Jason meets Rachel, who was also mysteriously drawn to Lyrian from our world. With the help of a few scattered rebels, Jason and Rachel become entangled in a quest to piece together the word of power that can destroy the emperor, and learn that their best hope to find a way home will be to save this world without heroes.

The book is scheduled for release March 15, just in time for my trip to Washington D.C. so I definitely will be bringing this one on the trip. I really can't wait. Mull is a great writer.

Here is what Rick Riordan said about the book:

"Brandon Mull is a wizard with words. With Beyonders, he has conjured one of the most original fantasies I've read in years--an irresistible mix of adventure, humor, and magic."

-- Rick Riordan, author of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series

Fablehaven

After a recommendation from a friend and reading "The Candy Shop War" I finally decided to tackle "Fablehaven", Brandon Mull's debut. The novel tells the story of Seth and his older sister Kendra who are dumped at their grandfather's estate while there parents are taking a two week cruise. Little do the two know that the estate is really Fablehaven, a refuge for magical creatures. But when Seth and Kendra make a deadly mistake the two's grandfather is taken hostage by some of the darker beings at Fablehaven. The two must find their father, save Fablehaven from a evil organization, and possibly save the world.
I waited a long time before picking up this book, mainly because I thought I wouldn't like it, man was I wrong. The story was very intriguing, I thought it was going to be the basic fantasy that seems to be all we read these days, instead I found a wondeful novel that made me use my imagination a lot. I think Brandon Mull is the next Rick Riordan. I really liked the world Mull created, that everything is enchanting but there is a definite dark side that is very scary and dangerous. There are a few flaws like the depth of Kendra, everyone else seems to be pretty developed but she just walks around saying "You shouldn't brake the rules!" but other then that a great novel that will make readers run out and buy the sequel[s].

4.5/5

Matched

I've been hearing a lot about this book, every time I check the "New York Times Best-Seller List" it's near the top, and I've been reading lots of positive reviews, so finally I decided to read it. "Matched" is Ally Condie's debut, In the story everything is controlled by "The Society" who decide Who You Love, Where you Work, When you Die, and basically everything else in your life. Cassia has always trusted their choices, and when her best friend is her match she is confident he is the one. But when she sees a face before the screen flashes blank, she suddenly is doubting 'The Society" and their choices. She develops a relationship with this new boy, Ky, but she still has feelings for he Match Xander. She starts to doubt everything about the society, and what they stand for.

This book was a great read, I started six hours ago and just finished it a few minutes ago. Many people say it is just a imitation of "The Hunger Games" I however thought that it was very unique, though you could make connections to " Hunger Games" it was still really good। Even though her writing style wasn't original, it was very simple and matter-of-fact which made me want to keep reading. This book is supposed it be the first in a trilogy that will be the "Next Big Read" and I think it has that potential, if Condie keeps making them interesting, fun, and enjoyable. Though the book had a few flaws the good qualities deeply outnumbered the bad. All in all, a book that readers will eagerly devour and longing for the second.
5/5

The Supernaturalist

From Eoin Colfer, author of the best-selling "Artemis Fowl" series comes "The Supernaturalist" the story of Cosmo Hill, who at infantcy was abandoned in "Satellite City", the city of tomorrow. But for those who don't have parents, or at least not any in the DNA tester it's a scary and dangerous place. Cosmo is forced to live at Clarissa Frayne Institute for Parentally Challenged Boys, a ghastly orphanage where the orphans are forced to test many products, like guinea pigs. Cosmo knows he needs to escape and when he sees his chance, he takes it. With nowhere to go, Cosmo is taken under the wing of "The Supernaturalists" a group of children who can see ghostly creatures, and are the only people that can stop these creatures from wreaking terror on the civilians.

This novel is a bit mixed up, he mentions stuff like video games and Health shows on TV but it repeatedly says he had never been out of the orphanage. So Mr. Colfer, please do some fact checking. I thought I was going to enjoy this book, I didn't. The writing style did not hook me in. The plot was hard to follow, and all the characters were weak and had no depth. A confusing, boring way to waste time.

2/5

The Red Pyramid

In Rick Riordan's first novel in his new series "The Kane Chronicles", even since his mother's death, Carter Kane has been traveling the world with his father, a Egyptologist Dr. Julius Kane. While his younger sister Sadie Kane lives with her mother's parents in London. Both of them have what the other longs for; Sadie wishes for time with her dad. While Carter wants what Sadie has, a normal life. But when their father is kidnapped by a wicked god the two must unite, if they ever want to see their father, and possibly the world. Both of them find out that they are the blood of pharaohs, and they're also powerful magicians that will decide the fate of the world. They go on a long and frightening adventure.

Rick Riordan has done it again. He's combined the modern world with ancient myths, which has sort of become Rick Riordan's very own genre. The novel has a very strong plot, with loads of adventure. It also has a ton of good humor and I found it the funniest Riordan novel yet. I think he has a real good writing style, he's one of my favorite authors and always will give you a book above your expectations. My only concern is if Riordan keeps on using this plot, one day we will all get bored of it. I swear. But so far so good. It was a great novel. I strongly recommended it to all my readers. The way Carter and Sadie change as narrators is a very good touch.

5/5

Birth of a Killer

In the prequel series to Darren Shan's bestselling [and one of my favorite] series "The Saga of Darren Shan" comes the story of Lartern Crepsley, before he was the mentor of Darren Shan and the highly ranked vampire general, Lartern Crepsley was a boy. After murdering his cousin's killer, Lartern must run, it is in a abandoned crypt [who knew something scary would happen there?] where Latern meets Seba Nile, a vampire. Seba takes Lartern under his wing, offering Latern to be his mentor. That takes Lartern on a long and scary journey to Vampire Mountain where Latern must prove himself worthy or suffer the consequences...

Darren Shan has done it again, he has crafted a smart, witty and adventurous novel. Shan has a writing style that is easy to read but still interesting writing. This novel is perfect for those boys who said 'no way!' to Twilight but still like vampires without the romance, I totally loved this book, it is one of my favorite books and is impossible to not like unless you are a evil wombat of utter terror!!! I hope I'm not boring you saying how great this book is but I love it! I can't wait for the sequel which comes out in April, in fact I've read this book so many times since it was released last October it's not even funny, [actually I find it more then laughable]. Loved it. Darren Shan is the best horror author around!

5/5

My Brother Sam is Dead

In the "Newbery Award Winner" and the "National Book Award" nominee by authors James Collier and Christopher Collier. This book tells the story of Tim Meeker, a 12 year old boy during the American Revolution. Tim's elder brother Sam, who Tim has always looked up to and longed to prove to that he was not just the younger brother. When Tim's father and Sam clash get in a argument over the revolution Sam runs away with the family's gun to join the Continental Army, Tim is caught up in the middle, father wants Tim to be a loyalist, or at least neutral like him. While Sam tries to gets Tim infatuated with the ideas of liberty and freedom. But even when a war is in his homeland the money still has to be made and that causes Tim to have to step up and make the transition from a child to a adult.

This novel gives you a 360, it doesn't say that the rebels were right or Great Britain, it simply depicts what happened, how it effected people, and all the options that could have been, it lets you decide for yourself if this war was necessary [I won't tell you my views that's not what this blog is for] and for me [at least] it makes you think much more then if it was like books like "Johnny Tremain" or "Dear America" which only tells one side of the story. I deeply enjoyed this novel because of the way Collier brothers depict the places, the people, and the emotions in the book. It will leave a lasting impression on you and what the war really was.

3.5/5

School of Fear

In author Gitty Daneshvari debut for children; Four students who have big phobias of small things, but when each child's phobia gets too outrageous their parents can't stand it anymore. So each student is shipped of to "The School of Fear" taught by the strange, scary, and possibly insane Ms. Wellington where four very different kids find themselves in a house with one insane old lady, no phones, and no contact with the outside word what-so ever. So when these four very different students have to bust out, they must unite to escape the creepy "School of Fear" and the even scarier horrors it holds.

This book is more funny then watching a cat trying to open a pickle jar, more adventurous then Indiana Jones chasing James Bond inside a exploding volcano while Lord Valdamort holds Percy Jackson captive, and more mysterious then Sherlock Holmes tracking down Bigfoot.

This book is great, you will love it. Though I am just warning you it will give you phobia of phobias.

4.5/5

Interview W/ Author Patrick Jennings

I am close friends

with author Patrick Jennings, writer of the books Guinea Dog, Faith and the Electric Dog among others.

I sat down and interviewed this wonderful author who's newest book "Lucky Cap" which will be released this April.

Q: Where did you get the inspiration for "Lucky Cap"?

A: Originally, from Buster Keaton, the silent era comedian and film director. He wore a flat cap and somehow always avoided injury, despite buildings falling down around him or his being stuck in railroad tracks with a train bearing down on him. He inspired a story about a boy whose cap kept him out of trouble. But I got the idea twelve years ago. It's gone through lots of changes since then.

Q: How do you come up with character's names?

A: I keep a list of kid names, which I add to when I do school visits and workshops. Chase and Lance came from that list. Kai was named for a young boy I knew. I allowed twin girls I met to name two of the Sisterhood (Enzo's four sisters). Enzo was a name I always liked. I like boy names that end in O, like Laszlo in WOLVING TIME. Evan Stevens was clearly a joke.

Q: Who is your main writing inspiration?

A: Authors and kids. The books I read and the young people I meet.

Q: What can readers look forward to in "Lucky Cap"?

A: A tragedy. (Boy loses favorite cap!) A mystery. (Who took it?) A comedy. (Boy ruins life trying to find it.

Q:What is your favorite book [written by you]?

A: I don't like to say. I'm afraid if the others find out they might hurt me.

What author do you get your writing style from?

A: Probably the writers I most steal from....er, emulate...are Roald Dahl, William Steig, and Mark Twain. Oh, and Benji Kenworthy.

Q:Why did you want to become a children's author?

A: I love books. I love kids. Seemed the thing to do.

Q: How many revisions do you usually have to make before the book gets printed?

A: I'd say twenty. Some less, some more. It takes me that many passes to get it right.

What is your favorite book?

A: Webster's Third International Dictionary. It sags in the middle, and the ending is predictable. (Hint: it starts with a Z.) But it's filled with excitement, intrigue, humor, mystery, treachery, mayonnaise, caramel, wienerschnitzel, and lots of other words.

Q: Besides "Lucky Cap" can you tell us about what else you're working on or is currently in th works of being published?

A: I'm working on a series of choose-your-own-path books called DIG YOUR OWN GRAVE. Each book tells the life cycle of an animal from birth to adulthood. The reader is the animal, and must make tough life-or-death calls. I'm also working on a book about aliens stealing Earth's dogs, and another about a kid whose fingers are coming off one at a time, then his toes, then his....well, you get the picture. Also my first picture book, BAT & RAT, will be published by Abrams in 2012. It will be illustrated by the great Matthew Cordell. It's about a bat and a....well, guess.

Q: I found out that your book is dedicated to Pato's Cave a group of young authors [which includes me]; how have they effected your writing career?

A: Immensely. Spending hours each week with the authors has taught me a lot about what kids want from books and what they definitely don't want. Plus they've been excellent research subjects for characters.

Q: What do you love the most about my blog?

A: I like your tag line: "Anyone who says they only have one life to live must not know how to read a book." I also like that you have "Anything by Patrick Jennings" under your Favorite Books.

Okay so thanks for reading that totally awesome interview I had with and even better author, visit his website at http://patrickjennings.com/ or Patrick's writing group at http://patoscave.blogspot.com/. Check out my early review of his "Lucky Cap" to be released April 26 this year. My review will be posted a at least a month before the book is released so you can decide before it hits stores!