WAITING 2 READ- April 2011

Okay, so in this month's edition of WAITING 2 READ I gush about The Throne of Fire, book two in the best-selling Kane Chronicles by one of my favorite authors, Rick Riordan, author of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series among others. This book looks really good, I already read chapter one [they have it posted on the Kane Chronicles website] so after reading that I pre-ordered it from Amazon. So I guess you're all tired of hearing me say how great this book is going to be, I'll just start telling you about the actual book:

Ever since the gods of Ancient Egypt were unleashed in the modern world, Carter Kane and his sister Sadie have been in trouble. As descendants of the House of Life, the Kanes have some powers at their command, but the devious gods haven't given them much time to master their skills at Brooklyn House, which has become a training ground for young magicians. And now their most threatening enemy yet - the chaos snake Apophis - is rising. If they don't prevent him from breaking free in a few days' time, the world will come to an end. In other words, it's a typical week for the Kane family.
To have any chance of battling the Forces of Chaos, the Kanes must revive the sun god Ra. But that would be a feat more powerful than any magician has ever accomplished. First they have to search the world for the three sections of the Book of Ra, then they have to learn how to chant its spells. Oh, and did we mention that no one knows where Ra is exactly?
Narrated in two different wisecracking voices, featuring a large cast of new and unforgettable characters, and with adventures spanning the globe, this second installment in the Kane Chronicles is nothing short of a thrill ride.

Okay so you're probably really exited and can't wait for this to come out. So how long do we have to wait for it? It comes out May 3rd; so just over a month. But it will be worth the wait [I hope]!

Beyonders: A World Without Heroes

From Brandon Mull, author of the best-selling Fablehaven series comes Beyonders: A World Without Heroes. Jason Walker has often wished his life could be less predictable—until a routine day at the zoo ends with Jason suddenly transporting from the hippo tank into a strange, imperiled world. Lyrian holds dangers and challenges unlike anyplace Jason has ever known. The people all live in fear of their malicious wizard emperor, Maldor. The brave resistors who once 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.

I really liked this book; for a number of reasons. One of the biggest [reasons why] is the way Brandon Mull does lots of twists and turns in the plot. Just when you think you have the story all figured out; everything changes. Some people say they don't like that kind of book, with lots of cliff hangers and unpredictable endings. I disagree; I don't like to much unpredictable events because then you come to expect the unexpected. Brandon Mull's writing style has gotten a whole lot better since the Fablehaven books. In this one he really paints the picture and helps you get the a image of the story. This book does suffer a bit from a lack of editing, I thought he could of cut thirty pages or maybe more. But all in all a great adventure with fun twists, good word choice and colorful characters.

5/5

In my Mailbox (2)

Okay so I'm back from D.C.! This week I don't have too many books to report but here are the ones I do with a summary. Here it goes [from bottom of the stack to the top]:

Red Riding Hood by Sarah Blakley-Cartwright: Because the movie version of this comes to my home town soon [I know right, a movie that came out Mach 18, doesn't come to my town till now; I guess that shows you what a "rinky-dink" town I live in] I had to read the book since I really want to see th movie. Here's a summary:

The blacksmith would marry her. The woodcutter would run away with her. The werewolf would turn her into one of its own.

Valerie's sister was beautiful, kind, and sweet. Now she is dead. Henry, the handsome son of the blacksmith, tries to console Valerie, but her wild heart beats fast for another: the outcast woodcutter, Peter, who offers Valerie another life far from home.

After her sister's violent death, Valerie's world begins to spiral out of control. For generations, the Wolf has been kept at bay with a monthly sacrifice. But now no one is safe. When an expert Wolf hunter arrives, the villagers learn that the creature lives among them - it could be anyone in town.

It soon becomes clear that Valerie is the only one who can hear the voice of the creature. The Wolf says she must surrender herself before the blood moon wanes...or everyone she loves will die.

The Candy Shop War by Brandon Mull: I can't seem to get enough of Brandon Mull, author of Fabelhaven so I had to get this. Hope it's as good as the Fablehaven books were. Here's a summary:

What if there were a place where you could get magical candy? Moon rocks that made you feel weightless. Jawbreakers that made you unbreakable. Or candy that gave animals temporary human intelligence and communication skills. (Imagine what your pet would say!) Four young friends, Nate, Summer, Trevor, and Pigeon, are befriended by Belinda White, the owner of a new candy shop on Main Street. However, the gray-haired, grandmotherly Mrs. White is not an ordinary candy maker. Her confections have magical side effects. Purposefully, she invites the kids on a special mission to retrieve a hidden talisman under Mt. Diablo Elementary School. However, Mrs. White is not the only magician in town in search of the ancient artifact rumored to be a fountain of youth. She is aware that Mr. Stott, the not-so-ordinary ice cream truck driver, has a few tricks of his own.

The Magician's Nephew by Kate DiCamillo: I always love anything Kate DiCamillo writes [my personal favorite is The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane] so I finally bought this. Hope it's as good as everyone says it is! Here's a summary:

When an elephant busts through the roof of the opera house, crushing the legs of Madam LaVaughn in a magic trick gone awry, the whole town is abuzz, especially young Peter. He was just told by a fortuneteller that an elephant would lead him to his sister. Years earlier it was his mother's dying wish that he protect her but his guardian, the military man Vilna Lutz, insists that she didn't survive. Now he must find a way to free the elephant, which requires the help of the incarcerated magician, poor Madam LaVaughn, and a kindly neighbor policeman.

Anyway there's what I've gotten in the last week or so. I hope they're good!

Thanks for Reading,

Benji

PT 2 DC!!!!!!

Hi all, As you might know from previous posts I will be in Washington D.C. from tomorrow [Sunday] till Friday. So you can't come to me for what to read for a while. But I do have a ton of book review blogs linked to here so CHECK THEM OUT!!!!

Talk to you soon[ish],

Benji

Fablehaven: Keys to the Demon Prison

In the fifth and final book in the epic Fablehaven series by Brandon Mull. After centuries of plotting, the Sphinx—leader of the Society of the Evening Star—is after the final artifacts needed to open the great demon prison, Zzyxx. If the legendary prison is opened, a tide of evil is certain to usurp control of the world.In an effort to intercept the final artifacts, Kendra, Seth and the Knights of the Dawn race to strange and exotic preserves across the globe. The stakes have never been higher. The risks have never been more deadly.In this explosive series finale, allegiances will be confirmed and secrets revealed as the forces of light and darkness collide in a desperate, climactic battle to control the keys to the demon prison.

This book was much longer then the other Fablehaven books and I had to fight a little in some parts not to loose interest but on a whole I found it very fun and exiting. Like I said in my review of the fourth book- it has gotten a whole lot more intense. The stakes are once again higher. It also is very unique because this is a mission that they probably won't succeed and if they don't succeed, they die. Which really shows who people really are when they are confronting a very dangerous situation. Brandon Mull [once] again has excellent word choice; the words are almost as good as the plot. All in all a winner of gigantic portions.

5/5

P.S. I leave early Sunday morning to go to Washington D.C. with my class so I won't be posting for a while.

In my Mailbox (1)

Okay so in my first ever "in my mailbox" I got seven books. Here is every thing I got with a summary from bottom of the stack to top:

Zombies vs Unicorns [Edited] by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier : I've been hearing tons of good things about book and am really exited. I think it's going to be epic! Here's a summary:

It's a question as old as time itself: which is better, the zombie or the unicorn? In this anthology, edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier (unicorn and zombie, respectively), strong arguments are made for both sides in the form of short stories. Half of the stories portray the strengths--for good and evil--of unicorns and half show the good (and really, really bad-ass) side of zombies. Contributors include many bestselling teen authors, including Cassandra Clare, Libba Bray, Maureen Johnson, Meg Cabot, Scott Westerfeld, and Margo Lanagan. This anthology will have everyone asking: Team Zombie or Team Unicorn?

Beyonders: A World Without Heroes by Brandon Mull: So this book I have been waiting FOREVER for it to come out and on Tuesday it finally did! I had pre-ordered it from Amazon and usually their pre-orders are delivered the day it comes out, but it that wasn't the case with this one. Here is the summary for it:

Jason Walker has often wished his life could be less predictable—until a routine day at the zoo ends with Jason suddenly transporting from the hippo tank into a strange, imperiled world. Lyrian holds dangers and challenges unlike anyplace Jason has ever known. The people all live in fear of their malicious wizard emperor, Maldor. The brave resistors who once 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.

Lucky Cap by Patrick Jennings: So this book hasn't came out yet, but since I'm good friends with the author [Patrick Jennings] so he gave me a copy to read and review [oh and p.s. it's signed!]. The book comes out April 26! Here is the summary:

The summer before Enzo enters the 6th grade, his dad takes a job with a company cooler than Nike, Timberland, and Marc Ecko. Even better, he gets to spend the summer traveling with his father and the CEO/designer/head of the company, a cross between Steve Jobs and Lance Armstrong. Working out all Summer, meeting new people, and growing up makes him come back a different kid - more confident and self-assured. But when all the other kids, especially the girls, start paying attention and treating him differently, he ascribes it all to his cool prototype lucky cap. Flirted with, more popular, invited onto the sports teams - it's all thanks to his Lucky Cap. And when it disappears, Enzo stops at nothing to get it back, so he won't lose his new-found status, only to sabotage himself.

Dear America: A Light in the Storm by Karen Hesse: So I am not the biggest fan of Dear America but it looked good so I'll give it a chance. Here is the Summary:

In 1861, Amelia Martin's father is stripped of his post as a ship's captain when he is caught harboring the leader of a slave rebellion. Now he is an assistant lighthouse keeper on Fenwick Island, off the coast of Delaware -- a state wedged between the North and the South, just as Amelia is wedged between her warring parents. Amelia's mother blames her abolitionist husband for their living conditions, which she claims are taking a toll on her health. Amelia observes her mother's hate and her father's admiration for Abraham Lincoln.

But slavery is the deeper issue separating the two sides. As the Civil War rages on, Amelia slowly learns that she cannot stop the fighting, but by keeping watch in the lighthouse each day, lighting the lamps, cleaning the glass, and rescuing victims of Atlantic storms, she can still make a difference.

The 39 Clues: Storm Warning by Linda Sue Park: Okay so this one I just had to bye because the 11th [this is the 9th] comes out in April so I wanted to be caught up by the time that one came out. Here is a summary:

Throughout the hunt for the 39 Clues, Amy and Dan have encountered some of the darkest aspects of history . . . and had to deal with the role their family played. But are they ready for the truth? In this thrilling ninth installment, Amy and Dan hit the high seas as they follow the trail of some infamous ancestors to track down a long lost treasure. However, the real prize isn’t hidden in a chest. It's the discovery of the Madrigals' most dangerous secret and, even more shockingly, the true identity of the mysterious man in black.

The 39 Clues: The Black Book of Buried Secrets [Introduction by Rick Riordan]: Okay so this is the companion book to the 39 Clues, so when I saw it in the Scholastic Book Orders, I decided to buy it. Here is the summary:

For the past five hundred years, the Cahills have silently dominated the world. Their desperate hunt for the 39 Clues lies behind some of history’s biggest enigmas – the curse of the Hope diamond, the race to summit Mt. Everest, the wild life and death of Harry Houdini. And now – finally – the secrets are out. With an introduction by Rick Riordan, The 39 Clues: The Black Book of Buried Secrets reveals the shocking truth about history’s most notorious family.

In full, lush color, The 39 Clues: The Black Book of Buried Secrets lays bare each hidden fact, concealed strategy, top agent, lost founder, secret base and hushed-up scandal of the Clue hunt. This complete guide to the Cahills contains information on all five branches, including the notoriously elusive Madrigals. The must-know information includes:
- Full files on the enigmatic Man in Black.
- The true purpose of the Madrigal branch.
- The complete story of the fire that split the original Cahill family.
- The truth about the night Hope and Arthur Cahill died.
- Open access to the secrets of the Lucian, Ekaterina, Tomas and Janus branches.

It’s never too late to join the hunt – especially with The 39 Clues: The Black Book of Buried Secrets to provide complete access to the Cahill’s most deeply-buried secrets.

Benjamin Franklinstien Lives! by Matthew McElligott and Lary Tuxbury: Okay this book doesn't look like anything special but I was wrong with Zombiekins, so I hope I'm wrong again. But anyway our founding fathers and Frankenstein- two of my favorite things. Here's a summary:

Victor Godwin’s orderly life is upended when he discovers that Benjamin Franklin never actually died– he was put into suspended animation and hidden away for more than 200 years in Victor’s basement! After an accident reawakens Ben, Victor must not only help him adjust to the modern world but also help him overcome a slight flaw–when Ben runs low on energy, he turns into a rampaging monster desperately hungry for electricity! All this while trying to take first place in the school science fair. With one of history’s preeminent scientists helping out, what could go wrong?

Thanks for Reading,

Benji

Help the People of Japan

Okay so this doesn't really have any thing to do with books. The earthquake in Japan has been one of the worst of ALL TIME and I'm here to say how bad I feel for the people of Japan and all of the people whose lives were ruined or over due to this disaster. I wanted to help so I decided to make this post with a link to donate now! All of the money goes directly to help the people effected by the 'quake.

To donate visit:http://american.redcross.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ntld_main&s_src=RSG000000000&s_subsrc=RCO_BigRedButton and select: Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami