Messenger by Lois Lowry

Title: Messenger

Author: Lois Lowry

Stars: 3 1/2

Description: Six years earlier, Matty had come to Village as a scrappy and devious little boy. Back then, he like to call himself "the Fiercest of the Fierce," but since that time, Matty had grown almost into a man under the care of Seer, a blind man whose special sight had earned him the name. Now Matty hopes that he will soon be give his true name, and he hopes it will be Messenger. But strange changes are taking place in Village. Once a Utopian community that prided itself on its welcome to newcomers, Village will soon be closed to all outsiders. As one of the only people able to safely travel through the dangerous Forest, Matty must deliver the message of Village's closing and try to convince Seer's daughter, Kira, to return with him before it's too late. But Forest has grown hostile to Matty too, and he might risk everything to fight his way through it, armed only with an emerging power he cannot yet explain or understand.

I have read The Giver and Gathering Blue and now this one, Messenger. The last book in the series. Now, everything does make sense in the last book, why the author cut Jonas and Gabe completely out of the first book, and I like it that Kira and Matt come back.

But this book, I think didn't end very well. I mean it kind of did, but not the way I would have liked to end. I still think that if the author had written a little bit more in The Giver, that book would gave made a great book by itself.

Natalie

Into The Wild by Erin Hunter

Title: Into The Wild

Author: Erin Hunter

Stars: 4 1/2

Description: For generations, four Clans of wild cats have shared the Forest according to the laws laid down by their warrior ancestors. But the ThunderClan cats are in grave danger, and the sinister ShadowClan grows stronger every day. Noble warriors are dying-and come deaths are more mysterious then others. In the midst of this turmoil appears an ordinary house cat named Rusty...who may turn out to be the bravest warrior of them all.

My best friend and my brother's friend have been reading these books and they really love them! So I decided to give them a try! They are pretty good, not as good as some of the other books out there, but I think that people will like them.

I found it hard to understand parts of the book because of all the names you have to remember. The names of the cats are strange, and you mix cats up. But other then that, I think I will start reading the rest of the series!

It is hard to tell, because there are like 5 series of Warriors, all different names. So if you don't know what series is first, just email me at nankitz@gmail.com and I can email you order!

Natalie

The Haunting of Castle Malloy

Title: The Haunting of Castle Malloy

Rated: E for Everyone (mild violence)

Stars: 5

Description: Touted as the most romantic event to grace the ruined halls of Ireland's Castle Malloy, the Simmons-Mallory wedding was supposed to be a fairytale beginning, but now the groom is missing! Did a banshee crash the wedding or is this a case of cold feet? Can you, as Nancy Drew, unravel the knot of scattered clues and scary superstitions? You'll to catch more than a bridal bouquet to make this is a happily ever after!

This is the newest Nancy Drew game and hasn't been out very long. This game I think it really, really fun because until the end of the game, you think someone is really a ghost and not a real person... I think that once people play this game, this will be their new favorite!

Natalie

The Phantom Of Venice

Title: The Phantom of Venice

Rated: E for Everyone (mild violence)

Stars: 5

Description: The stake have never been higher as Nancy Drew joins an international undercover investigation to track down a phantom thief in Venice. The Italian police have few leads and you might be the only one who can stop the thefts of historic artifacts. Can you spy on suspects and collect clues before the crime syndicates catches up to you?

This Nancy Drew game is one of the new games and is really fun! This is different from the other Nancy Drew games because it is newer and your job is to spy on people. Well, you are an undercover detective that is!

Natalie

The Sign of The Twisted Candles by Carolyn Keene

Title: The Sign of The Twisted Candles

Author: Carolyn Keene

Stars: 5

Description: When Nancy learns that a wealthy old man is being held prisoner in his own mansion she uncovers a family feud and hidden treasure.

So far in this series, this book is my favorite and most intriguing. I think there is a lot more violence in this book then there is in the other books. The violence is because there is a feud in this book between families' and they are fighting for inheritance.

Natalie

The Ersatz Elevator by Lemony Snicket

Title: The Ersatz Elevator

Author: Lemony Snicket

Stars: 5

Description: Within the chapters of this story, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire encounter a darkened staircase, a red herring, some friends in a dire situation, three mysterious initials, a liar with an evil scheme, a secret passageway, and parsley soda.

I love this series and this book is as good as all the other books. The 13-book-series is a great, crazy, and funny series for 7 and up. Maybe younger. But these books, are great and I have recommend them to my friends (some of then have already read them) my brother, and my

mom.

Natalie

Holes by Louis Sachar

Title: Holes

Author: Louis Sachar

Stars: 5 (seriously, this is a really good book!)

Description: Stanley Yelant's family has a history of bad luck, so he isn't to surprised when a miscarriage of justice sends him to a boys' juvenile detention center, Camp Green Lake. There is no lake-it has been dry for over a hundred years-and it's hardly a camp: as punishment, the boys must each dig a hole a day, five feet deep, five feet across, in the hard earth of the dried-up lake bed. The warden claims that this pointless labor builds character, but that's a lie. Stanley must try to dig up the truth.

I love this book. That is mostly all I have to say. This book totally keeps you on edge until the last page. The author is really talented and I really think this is a great book. I recommend it to all my friends and family. This book has rattlesnakes, yellow-spotted lizards, and holes. I think this is my new favorite!

This is one Oh my Go*, but that was really the only bad word I saw in the book. The boys at the camp are mean and rude, Stanley is mentioned to be fat and overweight. And then in a story the sheriff is drunk. But beyond this stuff, this book is great!

Natalie

Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry

Title: Gathering Blue

Author: Lois Lowry

Stars: 3

Description: Kira, an orphan with a twisted leg, lives in a world where the weak are cast aside. She fears for her future until she is spared by the all-powerful Council of Guardians. Kira is a gifted weaver and is given a task that no other community member can carry out. While her talent keeps her alive and brings certain privileges, Kira soon realizes that she is surrounded by mysteries and secrets. No one must know of her plans to uncover the truth about her world-and to find out what exists beyond it.

I read The Giver (the first book is this series) a while ago and absolutely loved it. This book...not so much. This book is about a completely new world and not about the same characters. The book ended badly also and it also didn't have as much suspense as The Giver did.

But I am going to read the last book because my mom said everything is dealt out in the last book. The only this that bothered me was that in like two sentences they said they bowed to a worship object. Something real minor, but the violence (which there was very little of) didn't bother me at all.

But to tell you the truth, I think that if the author had kind of finished it up in the first book, The Giver would have made a really good book with now sequel. But some of you might like this book, and some of you might not. But this is my opinion.

Natalie

May Bird and the Ever After by Jodi Lynn Anderson

Title: May Bird and The Ever After

Author: Jodi Lynn Anderson

Stars: 4 1/2

Description: Most people aren't very comfortable in the woods, but the woods of Briery Swamp fit May Bird like a fuzzy mitten. There she is safe from school and the taunts and teases of kids who don't understand her. Hidden in the trees, May is a warrior princess, and her cat, Somber Kitty, is her brave guardian. Then May falls into the lake, When she crawls out, May finds herself in a world that most certainly does not feel like a fuzzy mitten. In fact, it is a place few living people have ever seen. Here towns glow blue beneath zipping stars and people-people?- walk through walls. Here the Book of the Dead holds the answers to everything in the universe. And here, if May is discovered, the horrifying evil Bo Cleevil with turn her into nothing. May Bird must get out. Fast.

When May Bird falls into Briery Swamp and is pulled under, by who knows what, and then when she comes back up, is in another world. A world of danger and May doesn't understand what is happening to her.

With the help of Pumpkin, a house ghost, and other friends she meets along the way, May will search for The Book of The Dead and hopefully, she will get out of The Ever After.

There is some violence, one of the bad guys sucks people into nothingness, nothing really gruesome though.

4 1/2 stars!

Natalie

Asking For Reviews of Books

If you want to read a book and you aren't sure if it is ok to read, ask me to read it for you and I will read part of it or all of it, depending if there is anything bad in the book, and then I will write a review with your name on it! Just ask!

Natalie