The Ask and The Answer - Reviewed by Maggie Devero

Chaos Walking Series; Book #2

The Ask and The Answer by Patrick Ness

Reviewed by Maggie Devero

What is one supposed to do when their safe Haven....doesn't end up being that safe after all?

In this continuation of Chaos Walking trilogy, Todd and Viola have made it to their destination; a city called Haven in which they are supposed to find safety from the impending army of Prentisstown, and welcome the next set of settlers from the Old World into their new life. But even before they manage a step into this place, it's already not what it's supposed to be: Mayor Prentiss has beat them there and removed the old leader from his position, declaring himself the Mayor of NEW Prentisstown, and even better yet the PRESIDENT of the entire New World. Todd and Viola are separated, and must face their own struggles separately. Viola learns the trade of being a healer, and also how Mistress Coyle the head healer, is plotting against Mayor Prentiss as her old position of leader of revolutionary group the Answer. Todd is forced to work for Mayor Prentiss alongside the Spackle, original inhabitants of the New World and slaves of the settlers, doing hard labor and realizing just how much they hate their masters. He eventually works his way to right-hand-man of Mayor Prentiss, just as Viola joins ranks with the Answer to take him down. The two believe they have joined opposite sides, and must act accordingly. But once reunited, everything changes, and takes another turn for the worse....

Aaaaaand I'm back with the review for the second amazing book in this trilogy.  As expected, this book was just as amazingly written as the first; none of that second book let down I have experienced a lot in the past. As before, the writing style just absorbs you into the New World, right into Haven/New Prentisstown and all the changes they're having to adapt to, due to horrible Mayor Prentiss. The POV of the story goes back and forth between Todd and Viola, accentuating the separation of the two and the different sides they've taken. I also really like the way Ness plays these two together; in need of one another, but hasn't brought it completely into the romantic spectrum yet. God forbid he's almost making me want a romance between the two, hinting at it like he does, but not making the whole story rely on the fact that they are romantically involved with each other. Love it. I also adore how completely different the setting is from the first book to this one. The first in the swamps, and then to an actual civilization in this book. The contrast between the two and how they affect the story is striking. I cannot explain how much I'm loving this series...I've already worked my way into the final book before even posting this review! If you've read the first book, and loved it continue on, my friend. A great adventure awaits you. Five stars without a doubt.

Above reviewed by: Portia Rockers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Above is about a sixteen year old named Blythe who lives a normal every day life, she goes to school and hangs out with friends. Until one day she is abducted by the schools librarian Dobbs, who is a survivalist. Dobbs believes that the End is coming and makes a shelter in an abandon missile silo. Blythe must now learn to deal with being locked under ground trying to find away to escape and dealing with insanity. But is Dobbs right about The End? Is her family still looking for her after all this time? And how will she escape with a child?

 

I liked this book a lot! The plot was of the story was really good. In the beginning it was one shock after another. There was a few spots in the book where was a bit dry and boring, but it picked right back up again. I felt really sorry for Blythe and it made me think what I would do if I were in her situation. I found Dobbs interesting as well, though he was creepy I think he loved Blythe. If you like this book you might also like The Lovely Bones, I thought there were some similar aspects in both the books. I recommend this book for some one who likes apocalyptic type books along with kidnapping and mystery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Life of Pi - Reviewed by Maggie Devero

Life of Pi - by Yann Martel

Reviewed by Maggie Devero

Piscine Molitor Patel, known better as simply Pi, expects nothing but a grand adventure when his family ups and leaves their home in India, and more importantly their zoo, to begin again in America. Little does he expect after a sudden turn of events, to end up on a small lifeboat, with none other than Richard Parker, a three year old adult tiger. Even though he, the son of a zookeeper, knew better than anyone what sort of harm such a beast could bring upon him, he made the choice to stay in the lifeboat. Would you do the same? Pi spends a long amount of time in this boat with his feline companion, lacking pure water and nutrition, before washing up on an island. The island leaves Pi feeling paranoid though, so he and Richard Parker once again take to the Pacific Ocean. When they end up landing again some time later on a Mexican beach, Richard Parker disappears and Pi gets taken to a hospital. He tells the story exactly as it is, but isn't believed until he tells it again, this time changing the animals for actual people. Because really, who would believe the adventure of a boy and a tiger?

I've never been an adventure story type of person, but there was something about Life of Pi that I really enjoyed. Maybe it was the more philosophical feel of it focusing on the minute details of how animals, and even humans work. And though you would never expect it, theology and zoology make quite an interesting mix of topics in this novel. Both play equally important roles in Pi's life, making him, in my eyes, an extremely unique character. Also, the way the story is presented, as a man telling a story he was told by another, through first person narration as Pi, was something I hadn't seen before. This part could be confusing at points, especially when he would stop telling Pi's story, and add in his own personal experience of how he came to know the story and the man behind it. See? Confusing just trying to explain it. Even so, I enjoyed the read and would recommend the story to others, although not super highly. There is in fact a movie based on the book, though I have not seen it. I've heard multiple different reviews, but I think anyone who has read the book should see a movie to make a rightful opinion about it. Nor have I read other books written by him, but if you are interested, they sound more along the lines of scifi genres, but have different and cool topics all the same. The titles are: Self and We Ate the Children Last. I think in general Yann Martel has a lot of potential as an author. 

The Forest of Hands and Teeth reviewed by Molly Varney

By: Carrie Ryan *****

Mary's world is simple; she follows the Sisterhood's rules and knows that if she stays away from the fences the Guardians would protect her from the Unconsecrated. When Mary's mother is bitten she is forced to join the Sisterhood after being thrown out by her brother, Jed. While she's learning under one of the Sisters, she finds out that Travis, who she secretly loved, was in the Chapel. Soon she starts going into his room to pray for him and they fall in love, even though Travis was betrothed to Cass, Mary's best friend. As she learns more about the Sisterhood, Mary finds out all of the secrets they are hiding from the village. She finds herself wanting to leave and search the world for the ocean her mother always told her about. Soon enough, the fences were breached and Mary had to choose between her love or her life.

I gave this five stars because the book was a great read. It was full of action and excitement throughout the whole book. I'm really starting to like books about zombies and the end of the world and this one was probably my favorite. At first it was hard to know what time it was in because they sometimes talked different and they didn't have things like electricity and their clothes seemed old fashioned. I really liked the ending even though it was kind of sad.

Glow--reviewed by Nallely S.

Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan

***Stars
"If a sudden attack destroyed the only world you'd ever known, Would you be brave enough to save who was left? Would love be strong enough to survive the fight? Either way, there's no turning back." -Glow

What if the life you knew changed within seconds. Seconds that could determine your future....and decisions that impact everyone you know. Waverly's life changes in mere seconds when her home, The Empyrean, a ship on it's way to New Earth, is attacked by its sister ship, The New Horizon. Waverly knows it's her destiny to marry young and have children. Kieran, her boyfriend, proposes to her on the day their world collapses. But she can't help the strong feelings she has for Seth, a past-friend. Then one day while with Kieran everything changes. Every girl on The Empyrean is kidnapped and taken to the New Horizon. Forced to leave or let her loved ones die, Waverly boards the shuttle taking every girl to The New Horizon. Secrets will be unleashed. Friendships will be torn apart. New relationships will be formed...but will Waverly make the right choices?

This new series will have you asking for more! In a world where everything you know becomes everything you've ever wanted. Love and Survival..which one will conquer?

I gave Glow ***stars because I though it would've been better b/c this is usually the type of books or novels I read. I didn't like how it left things hanging..maybe they will be stated in the next installment but for now I kind-of dislike this book. I think the one thing I actually liked in Glow was how Waverly and some of the characters never gave up on their humanity. Most characters are cowards but in Glow it felt different. I dislike love-triangles like the one in this book. I don't know I felt like Glow could've been way better, hopefully the next one is.

-Nallely S.