Powerless--Reveiewed by Alexandra Lopez

Powerless

Author: Matthew Cody

Daniel just your average kid moves into a town, where its said to the 'safest'. The people are nice and so are his classmates. However he did notice a few acting a bit weird, but thought nothing of it. Then notices something off and starts to follow them home. The group notices and pills him to the side and reveal their secret. Their pals, the best of friends, except when one of his friends says could he stay with him for the night. They tell him another secret of theirs they forgot to mention. At thirteen you become powerless and lose your memories of ever having them. Being the good friend he is, he stays with him. Daniel is pulled into the towns big mystery and soon his friends rely heavily on him to solve the mystery of the thing that keeps stealing memories and powers. Can Daniel help his friends? Or will he die because of it?

I loved the book, mainly for the concept of these kids able to have superpowers. The book grabbed my attention when I read it was about super power heroes. How cool would it be to fly or have super strength? I loved each character and their little quirks it made them feel real. However I didn't like the story, it was good, just I didn't like how he focused on the fact that your special without superpowers. Your special regardless, a person can do things, others can't. This book is childish it is meant for preteens, because Daniels friends have super powers but fear of losing them when they turn thirteen.  I wouldn't dismiss this from my opinion alone, it's a great book to read, it's just wasn't my cup of tea.

New Books!

Come by the library and check out one of the new books. You may have been waiting for the exciting next installments in these series!


Finale by Becca Fitzpatrick -- the end of the Hush, Hush Saga -- book #4

UnWholly by Neal Shusterman -- Book 2 in the Unwind Trilogy

Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor -- Sequel to Daughter of Smoke and Bone

Reached by Ally Condie -- #3 and conclusion to the Matched Trilogy


Ms C.

Stravaganza City Of Masks--Reviewed by Alexandra Lopez

Stravaganza City Of Masks

Author: Mary Hoffman

Reviewed: Alexandra Lopez

   Lucien is seriously ill with cancer, only able to stay in bed and uses a notebook to pass the time. He discovers this notebook has magical properties. Every time he sleeps he always dreams of this world. He soon realizes it isn't just a dream, when he sleeps the notebook transport him to this other world. He is soon caught up in the danger that surrounds the city. He will have to protect the city he has come to love. But will he able to before he dies?

   I recommended those that love mystery, romance, science, history or drama to read this book. I could not put it down, I enjoyed the concept for the other world he entered. It seemed like he went back in time because the other world seemed similar to Italy, but it's not. It's one heck of ride, check it.

New Ellen Hopkins - pass on this one!

stars   Collateral by Ellen Hopkins   As many other authors are doing, Ellen Hopkins wrote Collateral for adults though her usual target audience is teens. I gave it 3.0 out of 5 stars because of the way it is written: free verse leaves too many important details from the story for my need as a reader.   This novel, about a college girl who falls in love with a Marine posted to active duty, seemed incomplete without the many details that develop a narrative into a full story that will ring true. As is typical of an EH book, the whole tone is actually quite depressing and the reader can feel another bad ending coming a mile away. A pet peeve of mine is that she alternates points of view and goes back and forth in time. Interspersed between those kinks in the flow are poems written by Ashley and Cole. I didn't really develop any great feeling for the characters and the events that happen to some in the book seemed overdone to prove the point that the deployment of a soldier causes "collateral" damage on everyone connected to him or her. Although I understand that was the theme and point of the story, the negative was relentless. This is definitely NOT a book I would recommend to any man or woman whose loved one was going off to war or joining the military. The ending seemed to come out of nowhere and I was just left disappointed in how the author handled a very important topic. I've read all the previous YA the author has written, and I know teens gobble it up, but this foray into general adult fiction seemed incomplete and was not fulfilling for me. I had way too many questions at the end.   Ms C.

Runemarks by Joanne Harris--reviewed by Alexandra Lopez

Runemarks

Author: Joanne Harris

Revieiwed: Alexandra Lopez

The main character, Maddy Smith, who is an outcast in a small rural town, Malbry is unhappy. The mark makes her an outcast, the people and even her family wants nothing to do with her. Malbry does all it can to ignore the mythical creatures that try to stir up trouble, because it’s unholy. Maddy believes they shouldn't forget the old ways, especially when they’re the ones causing trouble.  A good friend, One-Eye, believes the same and asks her to come along on a journey with him. Of course Maddy Smith joins her friend. The journey is long and dangerous, will she survive be able to survive it?

Reading Runemark has been very magical. I give this lovely book, four out of five stars. The book revolves around Norse mythology, so a lot of characters or creatures come from those stories.  The characters were fully developed even the minor characters Maddy met along her journey. I also enjoyed that the book, that around every corner was something new that Maddy discovered. I believe those that enjoy fantasy or mythology enthusiast and like to read in depth tales, this is a book for you. Come check it out, read and enjoy.

Wither (Chemical Garden) Book 1-- reviewed by Alexandra Lopez

                                     Wither (Chemical Garden) Book 1

Author: Lauren DeStefano

Reviewed: Alexandra Lopez

  The cure for cancer is discovered and is distributed to everyone, the world is cured, life is perfect. At least that's what they believed, until their children started to die young. Scientists discovered that the 'cure', it gave the children a genetic virus that causes men to live longer than women, however both shared the same fate of a short life span. 

  Even though scientists and  doctors work endlessly to find the cure to this virus, the people have turned to a different solution. Many believe there is no cure and in hopes to keep the human race alive, they try to have many children.  Many young girls are kidnapped and sold to wealthy men, who already own several wives. 

  The story begins with a young girl named Rhine who was kidnapped and was forced to marry a man named Linden who claims to love her. Rhine does not feel the same way and wants to escape her prison to find her twin brother. However she needs to gain the trust of Linden and her father in law to appear as good wife to gain certain freedoms. Then she can escape from their clutches and return home.

  I enjoyed reading Wither, it left me wanting more. The story was well paced except when Rhine kept telling herself she would escape. She has many chances to run but never does. If she was so dead set on trying to get home to her brother, who was her only family, why put it off?

  I believe she was suffering from Stockholm Syndrome at the time. She stayed with them long enough to understand their way of life and she started to grown to care for her sister wives Rhine didn't want to leave them behind. The ending was a bit of surprise to me, though. The book was great overall, except about Rhine not having the guts to escape, but I can't really blame her.

   If you too fall for this book it is located in the O'Hara Library. Check out the book in the library, read and enjoy.

Review of Crewel by Jennifer Albin

3.0 out of 5 stars - Dystopian world of time weavers

This is the story of a girl who is basically kidnapped and taken to a fortress where she is to be trained as a "Spinster" -- one who weaves strands of time and life together to create and maintain the new civilization in a future version of Earth. These women are controlled by men who dictate where they work, how they live, and keep them imprisoned away from their previous lives, friends, and families

I read this book because I was scheduled to attend a YA workshop that featured the author as the guest speaker. I wanted to listen to what she had to say about her book (typical teen fare with the requisite love triangle that is soooooo old and actually ruined the story) before I wrote the review. Although the ending is a total cliffhanger, I don't feel very compelled to see what happens next nor do I care what happens to the characters. None of whom I identified with or liked. There are some interesting themes and topics covered that make the book one for more mature teens.

The author said that she was inspired to write the book because she fell into an obsession over the painting by Remedios Varo : Embroidering the Earth's Mantle. The picture is quite interesting and I can see how she imagined the world of Arras and the concept of weavers or "Spinsters" from that work of art.

The book reminded me of Lois Lowry's series that include THE GIVER and GATHERING BLUE. The author said she had not read either. It is the first in a trilogy.

DC

Zan-Gah -- reviewed by Alexandra Lopez

Zan-Gah

Author: Allan Richard Shickman

Reveiwed:Alexandra Lopez

Rated: ***

   Zan-Gah a young boy between boyhood and manhood. He proves himself over time that he has come of age to his people, however he never truly feels like a man. He blames himself for losing his twin, his other half, Dael. He takes a stand and ventures into the prehistoric wild he calls home, to find him, risking his life and maybe the saftey of his people to find his brother.

  The intro of Zan-Gah caught my attention. It jumped right into the story, and was very enjoyable for awhile. The story was good, but not as great as it should have been. I would say this book is more appropriate for children. The flaws would be the pacing, and character depth. Other than that Zan-Gah was one wild ride.

 The pacing was fine in the beginning gave just enough detail to understand where the book was headed. Maybe that's why I loved it, it just dived right into action.  However as the story continued it wasn't as good. The story felt cramped, it took three years for him to find his sibling, some scenes were either muddled or were not detailed enough.

  Another problem was that even though we knew of Zan-Gah, we didn't really know him. Yes he was a hero to his people, but what did he enjoy? Considering the time, which is the Stone Age it wasn't a bad problem. Survival was more important, Zan-Gah mentioned that quite often. However we would have liked a bit more about Zan-Gah other than his bravery.

  Overall I have mixed feelings about this. It had an entertaining story, and great action, without the gory detail. Still I rated 3 out 5 stars. I believe the author was writing for a different audience. Other than that it was enjoyable. If you have the time it's a good book to read.

Book Club

November Book Club -- 

Thinking about reading The Host by Stephenie Meyer. Your thoughts?

Ms C.

New Books -- Come in and check one out today!

The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan (#3 in the Heroes of Olympus series)

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead (Newbery Medal winner)

The Kill Order by James Dashner (the prequel to the Maze Runner series)

The Romeo and Juliet Code by Phoebe Stone

Caught by Margaret Peterson Haddix (#5 in The Missing series)

New series by John Grisham: Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer and the second, The Abduction

The Serpent's Shadow by Rick Riorddan (#3 in the Kane Chronicles series)

The Magiserium by Jeff Hirsch

Keep Holding On by Susane Colansanti

Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and her teen daughter, Samantha Van Leer

Changeling: Order of Darkness Book One by Philippa Gregory