Saturday, November 20, 2010

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The Book Thief

Author: Markus Zusak

Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books

5 out of 5 stars

She is a thief. She sneaks up in the night and will creep up on you when you least expect it, and before you know it, something will be gone. But she is only here for one thing. One thing that might not be of very much importance to you, but definitely is to her. It is her need and desire, and she needs it to survive, to live, and to grow. She only robs words, knowledge, and fantasy worlds. She only steals… books.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Farworld: Water Keep by J. Scott Savage

Farworld: Water Keep

Author: J. Scott Savage
 
Publisher: Shadow Mountain Publishing

3½ out of 5 stars

It’s a place of his imagination. A place he dreams of to escape the harsh realities of life. A place of his own. If only it were real, if only he could go visit and spend time in this fantasy world. Well… he can, and he will, but not just yet. This magical world is Farworld, where magic is not something only fantasized in books, but real. Everyone can do magic, spells, and much more. Marcus can do magic too, even though he doesn’t live on Farworld… but Earth.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

The Year of Secret Assignments by Jaclyn Moriarty

The Year of Secret Assignments

Author: Jaclyn Moriarty
 
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books

3 out of 5 stars

What exactly is a secret assignment? Is it a super secret mission with espionage and spying all mixed in? Is it a school project that isn’t what it seems? Or how about both? Well, that’s actually what a secret assignment is, a super secret mission that usually takes place at school. However, these missions come in the form of scented pieces of notepaper inside envelopes sealed with red wax that are slipped into lockers. Kooky, eh?

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Fire Bringer by David Clement-Davies

Fire Bringer

Author: David Clement-Davies

Publisher: Dutton Books

4 out of 5 stars

He was a fawn just like any other. He loved to play, run in the woods, and be his innocent little self. He wasn’t that different from his friends. I mean, all he could do was talk to all the animals, not just deer, which was unheard of. He also had a mark of an oak leaf on his forehead, which set him apart from everyone else. This mark caused grief to those he loved, was the cause of many deaths, and made him the legendary deer… Rannoch. And legendary he was!

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Foundling by D. M. Cornish

Foundling

Author: D. M. Cornish
 
Publisher: Speak

3½ out of 5 stars

He never imagined himself where he is now. Who would’ve thought? He always pictured himself as a vinegaroon on some ram, sailing the vinegar seas… ahhh what a life that would have been. But even though Rossamünd didn’t get that job, at least he’s employed. You see, Rossamünd Bookchild is a lamplighter, a soldier who lights the lamps along the roads to protect travelers from monsters. Rossamünd wasn’t always like this though. In fact, he hasn’t even started his first day as a lamplighter, not yet anyway…