Book Review #100 - So Much to Tell You by John Marsden

Scarred, literally, by her past, Marina has withdrawn into silence. Then, at her new boarding school, she is set the task of writing a diary by her English teacher, and finds a way of expressing her thoughts and feelings and of exploring the traumatic events that have caused her distress. Through Marina's diary we gain an insight into life on her dormitory, and her difficult relationship with her father, who injured her in an angry moment. Eventually, Marina makes tentative friendships and, in a moving denouement, is reconciled with her father.

My Rating: 3/5

This is the second time I have read this book. The first time was when I was forced to read it for school, which is where I got my copy from.

This is a very character driven novel. Marina is the only fully developed character but this doesn't matter because she is so strongly portrayed.

The secondary characters were Marina's dormmates, I felt like there wasn't enough to distinguish them from one another.

Overall this is a very short, but memorable read. There is a sequel called Take my Word for It.

Book Review #99 - Faking 19 by Alyson Noel

On the surface, 17-year-old Alex has it made; she is beautiful and smart. Plus, she's best friends with M., the absolute most popular girl in school. Feeling bored with their fancy Orange County suburban town, Alex and M. decide to check out L.A.'s glitzy nightlife scene.

Pretending to be 19, Alex and M. meet Trevor and Connor, two rich older guys. At first, Alex can't believe her luck--she gets to hang out at hip Hollywood houseparties and downtown L.A. clubs. These weekend trips into the city become the perfect distraction for Alex, who is secretly struggling with her failing senior year grades, her absentee father, and her clueless mom.

But, after the initial fun wears off for Alex, she is forced to reevaluate her friendship with M., who is hiding some secrets beneath her perfect Burberry-clad exterior...

My Rating: 3/5

I decided to get this book from my library because of the author. I have liked what I have read so far of her Immortal series, and decided to read one of her other books.


I didn't like the protagonist Alex or her friend M to begin with as I saw them as too superficial and shallow but as the book progressed I slowly warmed up to them.


Prior to reading this I didn't think I would like it because it looked like a typical chick-lit type book and I am hesitant to read those, yet after reading I wouldn't say I loved this book but it was way better than I was expecting it to be.


I read this book in December 2011 and I don't really remember too much about it which is never a good sign for a book.


The plot, although predictable and rushed at times had interesting subject matter.It was a very quick read as it is reletively short.

Book Review #98 - Markus and the Girls by Klaus Hagerup

The return of Markus, who's fallen in love again. Today Markus is in love with Ellen Christine; yesterday it was Therese, but that was after Elisabeth; in short, he's been in love with all the girls in his class in just two months of his first year at junior high. His best friend, Sigmund, is always there to help in his humorous pursuits of each girl, but sometimes he gets in the way. Markus's father isn't any help at all; he has only ever been in love with Markus's mother, who died when Markus was very young. With affection and charm, Klaus Hagerup depicts the daily ups and downs, joys and fears of a completely unusual, completely normal teenager and his first steps into the unpredictable world of love. This is the second book in the warm, humorous series about thirteen-year-old Markus.

My Rating: 3/5

This book has been translated to English from Norwegian by Tara Chase.  


This is not the first Markus book, but it is the first one I have read. I had no trouble understanding anything without having read the others.

I really liked the characters in this book especially the protagonist Markus, his friend Sigmund and Markus's father.

The only thing I didn't like about this book was that I felt like something was missing, like something was lost in translating it.

Book Review #97 - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Charlie Bucket #1) by Roald Dahl

For the first time in a decade, Willy Wonka, the reclusive and eccentric chocolate maker, is opening his doors to the public--well, five members of the public to be exact. The lucky five who find a Golden Ticket in their Wonka chocolate bars will receive a private tour of the factory, given by Mr. Wonka himself. For young Charlie Bucket, this a dream come true. And, when he finds a dollar bill in the street, he can't help but buy two Wonka's Whipple-Scrumptious Fudgemallow Delights--even though his impoverished family could certainly use the extra dollar for food. But as Charlie unwraps the second chocolate bar, he sees the glimmer of gold just under the wrapper! The very next day, Charlie, along with his unworthy fellow winners Mike Teavee, Veruca Salt, Violet Beauregarde, and Augustus Gloop, steps through the factory gates to discover whether or not the rumors surrounding the Chocolate Factory and its mysterious owner are true. What they find is that the gossip can't compare to the extraordinary truth, and for Charlie, life will never be the same again. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, another unforgettable masterpiece from the legendary Roald Dahl, never fails to delight, thrill, and utterly captivate.

My Rating: 4/5

This is my favourite Roald Dahl book. Even though the intended audience is for children, it is still enjoyable for adults. 

I read this book for the first time when I was 5 or 6 years old and this is the first time I have read it since. I wouldn't say I liked it as much as back then, but I still enjoyed it. 

I haven't seen any of the movie adaptations of this movie yet, so it will be interesting to see how they compare to the book.

I love Roald Dahl's writing style as it is engaging whilst humerous at the same time.

Book Review #96 - Beautiful Malice by Rebecca James

Who is Katherine Patterson? It is a question she hopes no one can answer. To erase her past, Katherine has moved to a new city, enrolled in a new school, and even changed her name. She’s done the next best thing to disappearing altogether. Now, wary and alone, she seeks nothing more than anonymity. What she finds instead is the last thing she expected: a friend.



Even more unlikely, Katherine’s new friend is the most popular and magnetic girl in school. Extroverted, gorgeous, flirtatious, and unpredictable, she is everything that Katherine is not and doesn’t want to be: the center of attention. Yet Alice’s enthusiasm is infectious, her candor sometimes unsettling, and Katherine, in spite of her guarded caution, finds herself drawn into Alice’s private circle. 



But Alice has secrets, too—darker than anyone can begin to imagine. And when she lets her guard down at last, Katherine discovers the darkest of them all. For there will be no escaping the past for Katherine Patterson—only a descent into a trap far more sinister . . . and infinitely more seductive.

My Rating: 3/5

What I didn't like about this book was how it is told from the past, the present and the future. This can get quite confusing. 

I didn't like Katherine at all, she spent most of the book either crying or whinging. 

Alice, although pure evil was the most entertaining character to read about. I felt like she really carried the novel.

Book Review #95 - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon

Fifteen-year-old Christopher has a photographic memory. He understands maths. He understands science. What he can't understand are other human beings. When he finds his neighbour's dog lying dead on the lawn, he decides to track down the killer and write a murder mystery about it. But what other mysteries will he end up uncovering?

My Rating: 4/5

This is a very character driven novel. Luckily for me I liked Christopher from the very first page. 

I found this book to be weird to begin with, then when I got deeper into the book, I couldn't put it down. 

You would think having a protagonist who is autistic would be hard to pull off, but this book is written in such a way that it does work. 

Christopher is a very memorable character, and this is a very unforgettable book.

Book Review #94 - Avalon High by Meg Cabot

Avalon High, I was starting to think, might not be so bad after all.
Maybe it's not where Ellie wants to be, but if you have to start at a new school, Avalon High is typical enough: There's Lance, the jock. Jennifer, the cheerleader. And Will, senior class president, quarterback, and all-around good guy.
But not everyone at Avalon High is who they appear to be . . . not even, as Ellie is about to discover, herself. As a bizarre drama begins to unfold, Ellie has to wonder, what part does she play in all this? Do the coincidences she's piecing together really mean—as in King Arthur's court—that tragedy is fast approaching for her new friends?
Ellie doesn't know if she can do anything to stop the coming trouble. But somehow, she knows she has to try.

My Rating: 3/5


 

The only reason I read this book is because I had the opportunity to watch the movie, and I wanted to read the book before doing so.

I really did like this book, it was just a little too immature for me in small parts, and I didn't really connect with any of the characters. Other than that, it was an amazing book.

Also, I really don't recommend watching the movie as it completely changes the ending from the one in the book. 

Book Review #93 - Bloodthirsty by Flynn Meaney

Some vampires are good. Some are evil. Some are faking it to get girls. Awkward and allergic to the sun, sixteen-year-old Finbar Frame never gets the girl. But when he notices that all the female students at his school are obsessed with a vampire romance novel called Bloodthirsty, Finbar decides to boldly go where no sane guy has gone before--he becomes a vampire, minus the whole blood sucking part. With his brooding nature and weirdly pale skin, it's surprisingly easy for Finbar to pretend to be paranormal. But, when he meets the one girl who just might like him for who he really is, he discovers that his life as a pseudo-vampire is more complicated than he expected. This hilarious debut novel is for anyone who believes that sometimes even nice guys-without sharp teeth or sparkly skin--can get the girl.

My Rating: 4/5 

I read this book in one sitting. I was completely captivated by it from the very first page. 

This book was very funny at times and had likeable characters all-round.  

This book was a very unique approach to the whole teenage vampire genre.  

I am looking forward to reading any other Flynn Meaney books. 

Book Review #92 - Eclipse (Twilight #3) by Stephenie Meyer

Readers captivated by Twilight and New Moon will eagerly devour Eclipse, the much anticipated third book in Stephenie Meyer's riveting vampire love saga. As Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob —- knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation quickly approaching, Bella has one more decision to make: life or death. But which is which?

Again this book is a reread. What I liked most about this book is the ending. It had more action than the first two books in the series combined. 

This book is one of my favourites in this series.

I would have been happy if the Twilight series had ended with this book. 

This book tied all the loose ends from the previous two books. It also  shines light on alot of the secondary characters history.

Book Review #91 - The Tiny Wife by Andrew Kaufman

A magical short novel from the author of All My Friends are Superheroes.A robber holds up a Canadian bank but instead of stealing money he takes from each person the item of most sentimental value.As time passes the loss of these items have a dramatic effect on the victims: one discovers God under her sofa, another is attacked by her lion tattoo when it comes to life, and the wife of our narrator starts to shrink.It is a remarkable short novella, a modern fable that is weird, uplifting and romantic all at the same time.

My Rating: 3.5/5 

I received this book from Netgalley. 

This book was weird to begin with, then it leaves you wanting more. 

This book had alot of depth to it, some of which I don't think I completely understood. 

It still had alot of entertaining aspects, like the tattoo of the lion coming to life and the lion chasing the woman around. 

This book is soon going to be a film.

Book Review #90 - New Moon (Twilight #2) by Stephenie Meyer

Shoot, I muttered when the paper sliced my finger; I pulled it out to examine the damage. A single drop of blood oozed from the tiny cut.It all happened very quickly then.Edward threw himself at me, flinging me back across the table...I tumbled down to the floor by the piano, with my arms thrown out instinctively to catch my fall, into the jagged shards of glass. I felt the searing, stinging pain that ran from my wrist to the crease inside my elbow. Dazed and disoriented, I looked up from the bright red blood pulsing out of my arm-into the fevered eyes of the six suddenly ravenous vampires.Legions of readers entranced by Twilight are hungry for more and they won't be disappointed. In New Moon, Stephenie Meyer delivers another irresistible combination of romance and suspense with a supernatural twist. The "star-crossed" lovers theme continues as Bella and Edward find themselves facing new obstacles, including a devastating separation, the mysterious appearance of dangerous wolves roaming the forest in Forks, a terrifying threat of revenge from a female vampire and a deliciously sinister encounter with Italy's reigning royal family of vampires, the Volturi. Passionate, riveting, and full of surprising twists and turns, this vampire love saga is well on its way to literary immortality.

I liked this just slightly less than Twilight, simply because this book had all the angst. 

This book sees the proper introduction of Jacob, who I didn't like at first when I read it for the first time years ago, but with each time I reread this book he grows on me more and more.

I liked the introduction of the werewolves and the wolfpack. 

The Volturi's story probably could have been detailed more. 

Book Review #89 - How to Ditch Your Fairy by Justine Larbalestier

Welcome to New Avalon, where everyone has a personal fairy. Though invisible to the naked eye, a personal fairy, like a specialized good luck charm, is vital to success. And in the case of the students at New Avalon Sports High, it might just determine whether you make the team, pass a class, or find that perfect outfit. But for 14-year-old Charlie, having a Parking Fairy is worse than having nothing at all—especially when the school bully carts her around like his own personal parking pass. Enter: The Plan. At first, teaming up with arch-enemy Fiorenza (who has an All-The-Boys-Like-You Fairy) seems like a great idea. But when Charlie unexpectedly gets her heart’s desire, it isn’t at all what she thought it would be like, and she’ll have resort to extraordinary measures to ditch her fairy. The question is: will Charlie herself survive the fairy ditching experiment? From the author of the acclaimed Magic or Madness trilogy, this is a delightful story of fairies, friendships, and figuring out how to make your own magic. 

My Rating: 3.5/5 

The premise of this book is initially what drew me into reading it. It just sounded like a very interesting book to read. 

I liked how the world the author created was a mix between the USA and Australia. I also liked how Cricket was brought into the story as it is one of my favourite sports. 

The story, at times was a little immature but never lost the enjoyment factor. 

This book brings a new, unique perspective to the whole fairy/faerie genre.

All round this book was a great, enthralling read.

 

Book Review #88 - Twilight (Twilight #1) by Stephenie Meyer

Isabella Swan's move to Forks, a small, perpetually rainy town in Washington, could have been the most boring move she ever made. But once she meets the mysterious and alluring Edward Cullen, Isabella's life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. Up until now, Edward has managed to keep his vampire identity a secret in the small community he lives in, but now nobody is safe, especially Isabella, the person Edward holds most dear. The lovers find themselves balanced precariously on the point of a knife-between desire and danger.Deeply romantic and extraordinarily suspenseful, Twilight captures the struggle between defying our instincts and satisfying our desires. This is a love story with bite.

This was a reread for me. The first time I picked this book up was before the movie was released. 

I didn't enjoy the book as much as when I first read it, but it is still one of my favourite series. 

I know not alot of people like Bella, but she is one of my favourite characters. She is alot better in the books than in the movies. 

I hope the hype for this series goes away after the last movie has been released because the hype is ruining the series.

Book Review #87 - Before I Die by Jenny Downham

An intensely moving and uncompromisingly honest story told in the words of a 16-year-old girl who is dying of leukemia.

My Rating: 3.5/5

The main thing I didn't like about this book was the protagonist Tessa. I just never connected to her. 

The things she decided to do before she died were unrealistic. I know she is only 16 years old but I thought some of the things were strange. 

What I did like about the book was the writing style. I am looking forward to reading any future books that Jenny Downham writes.

Book Review #86 - The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen

Sixteen-year-old Macy Queen is looking forward to a long, boring summer. Her boyfriend is going away. She's stuck with a dull-as-dishwater job at the library. And she'll spend all of her free time studying for the SATs or grieving silently with her mother over her father's recent unexpected death. But everything changes when Macy is corralled into helping out at one of her mother's open house events, and she meets the chaotic Wish Catering crew. Before long, Macy joins the Wish team. She loves everything about, the work and the people. But the best thing about Wish is Wes—artistic, insightful, and understanding Wes—who gets Macy to look at life in a whole new way, and really start living it.

My Rating: 5/5

I finished reading this book about three months ago, I have just been really lazy with posting a review. 


I'm not usually a fan of chick-lit so I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved this book. Definitely my favourite Sarah Dessen book so far. 

All the characters were likeable and had so much depth to them. 

I really didn't like Macy's mother, but I can understand where she is coming from. 

Book Review #85 - The Summer I Lost It by Natalie Kath

 

Kat is just like other fourteen-year-old girls. Except this summer, she's spending four weeks at a Health Camp . . . otherwise known as fat camp. Can she lose the weight she needs to be able to do the things everyone else does? Or will she let her body control her?

My Rating: 3/5

I got this book from Netgalley. It was a very quick read, I finished it  in under 30 minutes. The book is also a very light read, there isn't much depth in anything.

The synopsis of this book is misleading. Kat doesn't go to Fat Camp, although she does lose weight.

This book would probably be inspiring to other people in Kat's position, it also gives you tips how to lose weight at the back of the book. 

Book Review #84 - Top 8 by Katie Finn

Madison MacDonald is seriously freaking out

Madison MacDonald

16

Putnam, CT

Status: Single?

About Me:

Everything in my life was working out. I had my three best friends, a brand-new boyfriend, and the lead in the school play. Aside from that history paper I hadn't started, things felt perfect.

Then I returned from spring break to find my Friendverse profile hacked. Someone clearly out to ruin me had spilled the most damaging secrets - AND posted the worst photos of me ever taken - online.

Now my boyfriend and I are broken up, half the school hates me, and I'm in deep trouble.

Goals:

Get my boyfriend back, figure out who could have done this, and clear my name!

Also, pass history

My Review: 4/5

This book was way better than I expected it to be, and the protagonist was more likeable than I thought she would be. 

Although I knew who the hacker was midway through the book, there were still plot twists that I wasn't expecting. 

I liked the layout of the book, how it showed  Friendsverse profiles. 

Book Review #83 - Going Bovine by Libba Bray

All 16-year-old Cameron wants is to get through high school—and life in general—with a minimum of effort. It’s not a lot to ask. But that’s before he’s given some bad news: he’s sick and he’s going to die. Which totally sucks. Hope arrives in the winged form of Dulcie, a loopy punk angel/possible hallucination with a bad sugar habit. She tells Cam there is a cure—if he’s willing to go in search of it. With the help of a death-obsessed, video-gaming dwarf and a yard gnome, Cam sets off on the mother of all road trips through a twisted America into the heart of what matters most.

My Review: 3/5 

I liked this book but it was just too weird and random for my complete liking. 

I liked the premise and the uniqueness of the characters. 

As a Melbourne Storm fan, I liked how the protagonist's name is Cameron Smith. I didn't like Gonzo that much, he was too eccentric.   

This book took me a week to finish, and I was very happy when I finally did finish it.  

Links: 

For my review of A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray click here. 

For the Goodreads page for this book click here.  

Book Review #82 - Love is Hell by Various Authors

Sure, love is hell. But it,s totally worth it. 

In these supernatural stories by five of today's hottest writers—Melissa Marr (Wicked Lovely), Scott Westerfeld (Specials), Justine Larbalestier (Magic or Madness), Gabrielle Zevin (Elsewhere), and Laurie Faria Stolarz (Blue is for Nightmares)—love may be twisted and turned around, but it's more potent than ever on its quest to conquer all. 

From two students who let the power of attraction guide them to break the hard-and-fast rules of their world to the girl who falls hard for a good-looking ghost with a score to settle, the clever, quirky characters in this exciting collection will break your heart, then leave you believing in love more than ever. 

My Review: 3/5 

This book contains five short stories. Sleeping with the Spirit by Laurie Faria Stolarz, Stupid Perfect World by Scott Westerfeld, Thinner than Water by Justine Larbalester, Fan Fictions by Gabrielle Zevin and Love Struck by Melissa Marr. 

This was a library book and I have already returned it as I finished it quite a while ago, and so I have no reference to use for this review. I don't remember what Thinner than Water and Fan Fictions were even about although that I remember liking them.

Sleeping with the Spirit I thought was a bit strange, and could have been explored deeper. 

Stupid Perfect World was my favourite story in the book. I would love to see a novel based on this world. 

Love Struck was my second favourite story, it had the best characters and the storyline had alot of depth for such a short story.  

Book Review #81 - The Dead Tossed Waves (Forest of Hands and Teeth #2)

One night beyond the barrier. One boy she's known forever. One veiled mystery. One reckless moment.....and half of her generation is dead.

Gabry lives a quiet life, secure in her town next to the sea and behind the Barrier. She's content to let her friends dream of the Dark City up the coast while she watches from the top of the lighthouse. 

Home is all she's ever known and all she needs for happiness. But life after the Return is never safe and there are threats even the barrier can't hold back.

Gabry's mother thought she'd left her secrets behind in the Forest of Hands and Teeth but now, to save the one she loves, Gabry must face the Forest of her mother's past. 

My Rating: 5/5

I found this book to be incredibly slow-paced, yet very exciting at the same time. 


The writing style the author uses is unique and it builds the world and the characters in such a way that they seem very real. 


When I first found out that the protagonist was not the same as in The Forest of Hands and Teeth I was a little hesitant that I would like that aspect, but Gabry is introduced in such a way that you forget that she is even a new character.  


For my review of the first book The Forest of Hands and Teeth click here.