Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Back of the Book: As a kid, Jacob formed a special bond with his grandfather over his bizarre tales and photos of levitating girls and invisible boys. Now at 16, he is reeling from the old man's unexpected death. Then Jacob is given a mysterious letter that propels him on a journey to the remote Welsh island where his grandfather grew up. There, he finds the children from the photographs⎯alive and well⎯despite the islanders’ assertion that all were killed decades ago. As Jacob begins to unravel more about his grandfather’s childhood, he suspects he is being trailed by a monster only he can see. A haunting and out-of-the-ordinary read, debut author Ransom Rigg’s first-person narration is convincing and absorbing, and every detail he draws our eye to is deftly woven into an unforgettable whole. Interspersed with photos throughout, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is a truly atmospheric novel with plot twists, turns, and surprises that will delight readers of any age.

Jacob’s grandfather weaves him story after story of the orphanage he lived in as a boy. He even has photographs to prove it. As a child, Jacob pours over the pictures of levitating girls and other peculiar shots, but as he grows, the stories become just that⎯stories. But after his grandfather dies under mysterious circumstances, Jacob takes it upon himself to solve the enigma of his grandfather’s childhood, and nothing about that task is easy. Each twist and turn adds a fresh layer to the genius plot of Ransom Riggs. This book is filled with surprises, suspense, and no-satisfaction until you close the back cover.

I decided to give this book a try only because it was on the New York Times Bestseller List. Not the best reason to read a book, but I was bored enough to give it a try. It turned out to be incredible. This may be Ransom Riggs’s first book, but it better not be his last. He certainly writes like no rookie. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children locks you in its suspense and does not let you out until the last page. I couldn’t turn the pages or figure out the plot fast enough. Be prepared to get paper cuts, because this novel will have your fingers fumbling to flip the page.

Goliath

Back of the Book:
Alek and Deryn are on the last leg of their round-the-world quest to end World War I, reclaim Alek’s throne as prince of Austria, and finally fall in love. The first two objectives are complicated by the fact that their ship, the Leviathan, continues to detour farther away from the heart of the war (and crown). And the love thing would be a lot easier if Alek knew Deryn was a girl. (She has to pose as a boy in order to serve in the British Air Service.) And if they weren’t technically enemies.


Goliath is the final book in the Leviathan Trilogy. In the newest installment, Alek and Deryn continue to sail across Europe in hopes to end the war. What they find instead is a real-life mad scientist hoping to recruit Alek. A mad scientist who possesses a weapon, the Goliath, that could possibly end the war. But could the weapon be as good as it sounds? And what about Deryn, whose feelings for Alek can't help but surface, despite the fact he thinks she is a boy?  This book offers more action, energy, and (finally!) romance than the other two books. Bestselling author Scott Westerfeld weaves an alternative World War I full of action and adventure in his trilogy, and the final chapter does not disappoint.


The minute I finished the second book in the series, Behemoth, I hunted down the third one, only to learn that it wouldn't be released until another month. Well, it's a month later, and man, I could not wait for this book to come. Even though it's 500+ pages, I finished this book in under four hours. I couldn't put it down. It's addicting. Scott Westerfeld is one of my favorite authors, mostly because of the Leviathan series. The plot moves quickly without rushing, and keeps the reader constantly engaged. Unlike most girl-disguised-as-a-guy books, Deryn doesn't spend the whole novel yakking about how someone might find out her secret. That issue only begins to bubble as she discovers her feelings for Alek, and how her secret comes between them. And let me just say, I absolutely adore Deryn and Alek together. This is easily one of my favorite books. For any Leviathan lovers, book lovers, or just anyone in general, this book is perfect for you.

Lily of the Nile

Back of the Book:

With her parents dead, the daughter of Cleopatra and Mark Antony is left at the mercy of her Roman captors. Heir to one empire and prisoner of another, Princess Selene must save her brothers and reclaim what is rightfully hers...

In the aftermath of Alexandria's tragic fall, Princess Selene is taken from Egypt, the only home she's ever known. Along with her two surviving brothers, she's put on display as a war trophy in Rome. Selene's captors mock her royalty and drag her through the streets in chains, but on the brink of death, the children are spared as a favor to the emperor's sister, who takes them to live as hostages in the so-called lamentable embassy of royal orphans...

Trapped in a Roman court of intrigue that reviles her heritage and suspects her faith, Selene can't hide the hieroglyphics that carve themselves into her flesh. Nor can she stop the emperor from using her for his own political ends. Faced with a new and ruthless Caesar who is obsessed with having a Cleopatra of his very own, Selene is determined to honor her mother's lost legacy. The magic of Egypt and Isis remain within her. Can she succeed where her mother failed? And what will it cost her in a political game where the only rule is win or die?

Selene is the new Queen of Egypt while living as a prisoner in Rome. After her parents died, the Romans invaded Egypt and captured Selene, her twin Helios, and their younger brother Philadelphus are taken to Rome. Dragged through the streets in chains, Roman emperor Octavian shows them off as spoils of his latest war. Selene desperately wants to go home, but she’ll have to polish her manipulation skills to work her way back to Egypt. Unfortunately, the strange hieroglyphics appearing on her arms aren’t helping.

With the help of her brothers, Selene struggles to figure out the magic at work. But growing up in a Roman house isn’t helping. The more Selene tries to bury Egypt and her mother, the more her true self shines through. Selene has magic. And she knows it. But will she embrace it, so far away from home and surrounded by Romans who believe she should change?

Stephanie Dray paints Selene beautifully. Egypt and Rome spring off the pages and come to life. Dray has obviously researched this novel down to the last article of clothing, and that is apparent through Lily of the Nile. But unlike some historical fiction, this book isn’t weighed down by details. Instead it springs into action, enticing the reader from the beginning. Selene is a smart, headstrong character. But she is human in so many ways. She fears and worries and frets along with the rest of us. She pours over her future and struggles with whether to embrace it.

Lily of the Nile is a fantastic book, one of my favorites. It is astonishing that this is Dray’s first novel. I expect great things from this author! I am already anticipating Lily of the Nile’s sequel, Song of the Nile.

Leviathan

Back Cover: 

     Alek was a prince without a throne. On the run from his own people, he has only a fighting machine and a small band of men.

     Deryn is a girl disguised as a guy in the British Air Service. She must fight for her cause—and her secret—at all costs.

     Alek and Deryn are thrown together aboard the mighty airship Leviathan. Though fighting side by side, their worlds are far apart. British fabricated beasts versus German steam-powered war machines. They are enemies with everything to lose, yet somehow destined to be together.

Leviathan tells the story of two unlikely friends thrown together in an alternative World War I.  Alek is a young prince who, upon hearing of his parents’ death, must abandon all duties to hide, knowing his is the only hope for his country. He has only a machine and his trusted men for survival.

     Deryn—disguised as a boy to sneak aboard a ship—uses her brains and skills to keep the ship running. When a doctor of fabricated beasts boards the Leviathan, Deryn is desperate to know the doctor’s secret. But can Deryn keep her own?

     One simple act of kindness on Alek’s part throws the two young enemies together. They form a rocky friendship, but too many secrets stand between them. Alek and Deryn both struggle to conceal their identities—Alek as a prince, Deryn as a girl. But the constant threat of the looming war hangs heavily over their heads. Can the two manage to survive while risking their lives?

The Leviathan is one of those books that captivate you from the start. The two stories are narrated perfectly and blend beautifully. Scott Westerfeld is a veteran author who knows who to tell a story. Alek and Deryn are perfect heroes, with thoughts and feelings and fears as real as my own. Unlike most girl-disguised-as-a-guy novels, that isn’t really the main issue. Deryn is a smart, strong character who doesn’t think “woe is me, someone might discover my secret!” all the time. The action is in-depth and real. And the whole time, I rooted for Alek and Deryn to fall in love, despite their differences and the fact that Alek thought Deryn was a boy. Leviathan has you constantly engaged, whether over the constant action, suspense, or promise of romance.

Exile

(Warning: this book is a sequel to Aurelia and may contain some spoilers on the first book.)

The murderous plot is over. The villain is exposed. In most cases, the words “Happily Ever After” are expected to come. But not for Aurelia.

While she is no longer in immediate danger, the feeling of fear is still there. She is living in constant danger, on the run from her family with the only man she can trust, Robert. Nightmares and visions of what happened a few months ago still haunt her. Her family tried to kill her. She is no longer the crown princess. Everything she loved and cared for is gone, leaving a numb feeling. The only thing she has is Robert.

But soon a new issue arises. The land she travels is wild and unruly, much like Robert’s stallion, Horizon. Soon Aurelia gets a glimpse of life outside the palace, and it hits her hard and fast. You can be sure to expect plenty of action in this book.

And even though Aurelia may not be living at the palace, her duty rests of her heart, keeping her from unlocking her true feelings for Robert.

For Robert, the trip isn’t a picnic, either. Plagued with the memory of killing his cousin in order to protect Aurelia, he can’t shake the guilty feeling. Aurelia is numb to the world, and scaring him. He has to protect her, not only as his duty to her but as his duty to his heart.

Together they travel through uncharted territory, struggling to survive the natives and the threats of assassins. Assassins who will finish the job this time.

Exile is a fast-paced, thrilling novel that is just as demanding and addicting as the first. Aurelia and Robert spring off the page with life. Their emotions are so fresh and raw, truly electrifying to read. Literally. There were multiple times where I literally got chills. This book is a great read for anyone and everyone, from romance lovers to the greatest action adorers.

Honestly, I hadn’t planned on reading this book. After I finished Aurelia, I thought it was finished, just with a very bittersweet ending. I actually put the book on my shelf and forgot all about the possibility of a sequel.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago. I was in a bookstore (naturally), looking for a new book to read. My eyes scanned the bookshelves before they stumbled upon a beautiful cover. I was actually drawn to it because the girl on the cover looked familiar. Too familiar. I turned to the back, and of course, it was the sequel to Aurelia. Of course I got it, and devoured the novel in a few hours. I couldn’t put it down until I finished the last page. This book is addicting. It’s food for the soul. As much as I loved the first book, this one has to be my favorite.

In most stories, the author never talks about the aftermath. How does the hero feel after killing the villain? What about the penetrating numbness of remembering that last fight? In this novel, Anne Osterlund focuses on Aurelia’s emotional sense. She brings back the action and the romance, but what captures my attention the most is the heart and emotion. It’s very messy and blunt. It amazes me how real these characters and their feelings are.

I would recommend this book to anyone, though I would suggest reading the Aurelia first, another great novel. You don’t have to read it before Exile, but things might make more sense.

Just try reading this book. I dare you to try to put it down while reading. I doubt anyone could.

Chasing Lincoln's Killer

            April 14. The year is 1865. Thanks to President Lincoln, slaves are free, the civil war is over, and the country is once again whole. Who could blame the man for wanting to celebrate? Who would know that while the president convinced his wife to accompany him to a play, a killer lurked at the theater, waiting for the president of the United States to fall into his carefully plotted trap?

            The time is 10:00 p.m. The place is Ford’s Theater. The play is Our American Cousin, currently the most famous play in the nation. But soon it would be famous for a completely different reason. It would become famous for the play being preformed while the nation most beloved hero was killed.

            At exactly 10:15 p.m., a gunshot went off. No one heard. Thanks to knowledge of the play, the man who pulled the trigger knew that at 10:15, the crowd would be laughing too uproariously to hear anything. Even a gunshot.

            We all know what happens next. Lincoln’s murderer, renowned actor John Wilkes Booth, leapt from the balcony, catching his leg on the banner, but he managed to land on the stage and shout, “Sic semper tyrannis,” Latin for “Thus always to tyrants.” He dashed out the door and jumped on horseback in time to safely escape.

            But does anyone truly know what happened next? In Chasing Lincoln’s Killer, a distilled version of the bestseller Manhunt, author James L. Sawnson goes into riveting detail of the twelve-day manhunt following the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Not only is this book action-packed and exciting, but I think the best part is that it’s a true story. From every line to every detail of a uniform, the facts are straight and perfect. I usually don’t like nonfiction, but this book is absolutely perfect. After reading this book, one can not only truly say what happened at 10:15 on April 14, 1865. A reader can also relish in the adventure of the following twelve days the world seems to forget.

The Bad Beginning

            You will notice that this book is not entitled The Littlest Elf.

            There is a very good reason for that. First of all, nothing in this book even closely resembles an elf, or anything elf-like. Secondly, The Littlest Elf is a happy story filled with singing and dancing helpers of Santa who happen to be vertically-challenged, while The Bad Beginning is a terrible novel filled with terrible people who do terrible things to three smart and resourceful children.

            You will also notice that this book begins with a warning, which you’d better heed if you value anything in this life we are given. This book should not be called The Bad Beginning. The words “the” “bad” and “beginning” placed in that order infer that there is only a bad beginning. But no. There is a bad beginning, a bad middle, and a bad end.

It all began on a bad morning on Briny Beach, where three children receive word that their parents had died in a terrible fire, and their mansion melted into a pile of rubble. Newly orphaned Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire are shipped off to their relative at the request of their deceased parents, only to find a series of unfortunate events waiting to attack the orphans. Their sly and sneaky guardian, Count Olaf, plots to get his grubby, dirt-under-the-nails hands on the famous Baudelaire fortune Violet is to inherit when she is of age. The children are forced to perform ridiculous chores for their guardian and his terrifying theater troop, receive abuse at the hands of the villainous count, and try to remain optimistic while their life slowly dwindles down the drain.           

 But when things can’t get possibly any worse, they do. The children know Count Olaf is plotting something, but they can’t find out what it is. They must rely on their inventing, reading, and biting skills to uncover their vile guardian’s plot to seize their stack of cash in the bank. But heed my warning: the dreadful, addicting lives of the Baudelaire orphans will compel you to read for days without stop until you have completed every miserable volume.

(Readers looking for happy books...don't look here.)

Flipped

Back of the Book:

Bryce: My mom didn’t understand why it was so awful that “that cute little girl” had held my hand. She thought I should be friends with her. “You like soccer. Why don’t you go out there and kick the ball around?” Because I didn’t want to be kicked around, that’s why. And although I couldn’t say it like that at the time, I still had enough sense at age seven and a half to know that Julianna Baker was dangerous.

            Julianna: What did a kiss feel like anyway? Somehow I knew it wouldn’t be like the one I got from Mom or Dad at bedtime. The same species, maybe, but a radically different beast. Like a wolf and a whippet. Only science would put them on the same tree. Looking back, I like to think it was at least partly scientific curiosity that made me chase after that kiss, but it was probably more those blue eyes.

Bryce Loski’s impossible dream is for the girl next door to simply leave him alone. From the day he moved in, she’s been a thorn in his side. And he cannot shake her, no matter how hard he tries. He’s done every play in the book to try and shake her off his trail, but nothing seems to work. From pitching out her chicken’s eggs every day for a year (wouldn’t want to get salmonella) to dating the popular girl Juli hates, he frantically tries to escape her. But what happens when he realizes that maybe, just maybe, he likes her too?

The second Juli Baker saw Bryce Loski, she flipped. Ever since then, she’s desperate for his attention. But no matter how hard she tries, Bryce just can’t seem to notice. He shoots down every one of her attempts to reach out to him. But as the years pass, her eyes slowly begin to open until she realizes what a jerk he is. Bryce finally seems to take an interest in her, but could she only have flipped for those big blue eyes, not the person within?

Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen is a must-read for teens. This book is packed with laugh-out-loud humor, and the reader will sympathize with Juli’s desperate crush on Bryce, and his desperate need to escape her. Told from the perspective of both next-door-neighbors, the truth of life and love are conveyed through each chapter. The novel Flipped is the perfect fast, funny, romantic, comedic summer read.

The Lightning Thief

        Back of the Book:
        Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school...again. And that's the least of his troubles. Lately, mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy's Greek mythology textbook and into his life. And worse, he's angered a few of them. Zeus's master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect.
        Now Percy and his friends have just ten days to find and return Zeus's stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the true thief: he must come to terms with the father who abandoned him; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend; and unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves.
        With cover art from the major motion picture, this first installment of Rick Riordan's best-selling series is a non-stop thrill-ride and a classic of mythic proportions.

            Percy Jackson knows he’s not normal. Not only does he have ADHD, but he’s also a dyslexic with a bad rep of getting kicked out of every school since Pre-K. He doesn’t feel like he’s good for anything, but everything changes one night when he discovers who his father is: a god. More specifically, Poseidon, god of the sea.

            Oh, the gods are real alright. And they’re angry at him. They think he is the lightening thief, the boy who stole Zeus’s legendary lightening bolt. Soon he finds himself leading a dangerous quest with his friends Grover and Annabeth (satyr and daughter of Athena) to recover the bolt and save his mother, who is the prisoner of Hades. If he succeeds, he will finally mean something to the gods and his father. But if he fails…his mother spends eternity with the lord of the underworld, he will be hunted down by every divine being, and the world will be at a war with itself as Zeus and Poseidon destroy everything fighting over his innocence.

            Fans across the world have been raving over this fantastic series by author Rick Riordan. The Lightning Thief is a perfectly paced, action-packed, mind-blowing series for anyone and everyone. High adventure, excitement, and suspense entice you in Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Each chapter is an action-packed suspenseful glimpse of Greek mythology in the modern world. Just one sentence of the book reveals its true identity as a perfect passage into the life of a very special teenage boy.

To Catch a Pirate

            Ever since her ship was attacked a year ago, Annalise Townsend has been on the hunt. To catch a pirate. Her pirate, to be precise. The pirate who stole a kiss from her when the bloodthirsty villains were attacking her ship and seizing her father’s treasure. Now, after a year of fencing, a forged marque, and constant determination to catch the loathsome James Sterling, Anna is ready to take back her father’s stolen treasure. But now Anna’s is danger of something much worse: Sterling stealing her heart.

This is a fluff book. It has a basic plot—which is predicable at some parts—with basic characters and a basic ending. It isn’t life changing, or even close to Shakespeare, but it is a good book. The writing makes it good.

            The nerd that I am, I researched this book for weeks. I read review after review, trying to find out if this book was worth reading. Finally, I just bought the thing and read it, cover to cover, in a few hours.

            The writing was beautiful. Each sentence is golden. Most writers can’t jam-pack beautiful sentences on every page, but this one sounds natural and flows perfectly. As I said before, it isn’t that complex of a plot, or characters, but it is worth reading. It’s my fluff book, the book I read a few chapters out of when I’m bored or skim through the ending when I’m in the mood for a happy ending. If you’re looking for a complicated, action-packed adventure novel, this is not for you. But it is worth reading, worth keeping, if even as a fluff book. The writing is worth reading. Personally, I think every woman should read this, just for the charmingly cocky James Sterling.

Cloaked

Johnny is a modern cobbler in South Beach. But his dreams of princesses and adventure are permanently put on hold thanks to his duties to his family shoe business and his poor mother. When a gorgeous European princess offers to foot the bill for an adventure in Key West, Johnny doesn’t hesitate to agree. But there’s a catch—he’s looking for the princess’s very own frog prince…her brother.

            Johnny agrees to go, but the last thing he expects is real magic at work. Alex Finn’s latest novel cobbles together many different fairy tales, from the Elves and the Shoemaker and the Frog Prince to lesser known the Salad. It’s fast pace and action scenes keep it a quick read. Cloaked engages the reader from beginning to end. This is a delightful happily-ever-after fairly tale that will have you rooting for the average hero the whole way.

Back of the Book:

I'm not your average hero. I actually wasn't your average anything. Just a poor guy working an after-school job at a South Beach shoe repair shop to help his mom make ends meet. But a little magic changed it all.

     It all started with a curse. And a frognapping. And one hot-looking princess, who asked me to lead a rescue mission.

     There wasn't a fairy godmother or any of that. And even though I fell in love along the way, what happened to me is unlike any fairy tale I've ever heard. Before I knew it, I was spying with a flock of enchanted swans, talking (yes, talking!) to a fox named Todd, and nearly trampled by giants in the Everglades.

     Don't believe me? I didn't believe it either. But you'll see. Because I knew it all was true, the second I got cloaked.

Enna Burning

As happy as Enna is for her best friend's Isi's happily ever after, she can't help feeling a pang of sorrow when she thinks about her ending. While her friend married her true love and became the ruler of Bayern, Enna was stuck caring for her older brother after their mother's death. Isi was blessed with the power to understand the language of the winds. Enna can't help wishing she had a power like that. She can't help feeling she does have a power like that.
     Her problems begin when her brother, Leifer, finds a dangerous vellum containing secrets too terrible for a human being to carry. Suddenly, Enna's adventure becomes a frightening reality. When the secret threatens to destroy Leifer, Enna must save her brother—and herself—while trying to find her happily ever after.



Enna Burning is the companion book to Goose Girl, an earlier novel also by famed author Shannon Hale. It takes place after Isi's extraordinary adventure and wedding to Prince Geric and covers Isi's best friend's story. Enna is a character who—like us all—is just trying to find herself and an adventure of her own. Loved characters in Goose Girl return, namely Razo and Finn. I was very excited to see them return, since I loved them so much in the earlier novel.
     Goose Girl was a wonderful book, but it was a bit slow on getting the story rolling. Enna Burning immediately introduces the plot and begins the story at a much faster and exciting pace. However, Shannon Hale's beautiful writing stays consistent throughout her novels. This book is an exciting read that will leave you begging for more.

The Two Princesses of Bamarre

Two princesses, polar opposites, remain trapped inside their palace by an overprotective father. Shy and reserved Princess Addie hides from the dragons and monsters plaguing the countryside while bold and daring Princess Meryl dreams of dramatic adventures saving her beloved kingdom. Fearful Addie never imagined that Meryl’s greatest adventure would be fighting the violent illness that claimed their mother.

            Now Addie must find her courage on a valiant journey to cure her sister. The dragons, spectators, and gryphons, once safely locked inside her storybooks, come to live in the most vivid way imaginable. Gail Carson Levine painted a beautiful world where fear and courage are tested by one remarkable heroine.

            Gail Carson Levine has done it again. She never fails to astonish me. A few friends recommended this book to me, and I devoured it, scanning each page as quickly as possible. Addie amazed me, as did her journey for a beloved sister. The action, adventure, and romance Levine always delivers come to live as one fearful girl embarks on a quest against the greatest monster we are all acquainted with—fear.

Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow

            The lass is hated from her birth. Born to a mother sick of daughters, the baby is shoved aside namelessly. The lass grows up neglected by a family desperate for the wealthy lifestyle they sent their eldest son to live. But when he returns, penniless and haunted, the ancient legends told to frighten children become more alive than ever.

            But when a visit from a polar bear transforms her life, an ordinary girl must try and uncover her brother’s secrets while attempting to set her beast free. Thrown into a world of mystery and wonder, the lass struggles to comprehend the endless labyrinth of a solitary beast, a mystical blessing, and an icy palace forged from mistakes. Jessica Day George weaves a fascinating tale of going east of the moon and west of the sun for true love.

I just finished this book a few moments ago, but I had to sit down and absorb my shock for a moment. I expected a ho-hum, mundane, run-of-the-mill fairy tale novel. Instead I was served a hefty platter of adventure, romance, and mystery. As usual, Jessica Day George adds life and adventure to an old fairy tale bare of personality.

The lass is nothing more than a woodcutter’s daughter, content with her lifestyle unlike her luxury-craving mother. But when a terrifying beast comes knocking on her door (literally) and takes her to his ice palace in exchange for a royal lifestyle for the lass’s family, the nameless daughter’s life becomes much more than average. She must learn to live far away from the only home she’s ever known. In a very Beauty-and-the-Beast-type manner she must learn to love an unlovable, enchanted creature.

This book made me realize why I love reading so much. The suspense kept me on the edge of my seat, constantly devouring every word to try and solve the mystery along with the lass. Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow bestows a nod upon fairy tales of the past and welcomes the adventure modern readers crave.

Nobody's Princess

      

            While the other ladies of Sparta are home sewing and waiting for their husbands to return from adventures, Helen takes her life into her own hands. The princess—disguised as a boy—escapes the palace walls to demand lessons from her older brothers’ trainer, Glanus. Her impulsiveness and bravery earn her a spot on the training field, much to her brothers’ dismay. But when turmoil strikes, Helen will need to don her sword, skill, and cunning to prove that she’s more than just a “pretty face.”

Before cracking open the cover of this book, I would prescribe putting on your coat (unless you live south of the Equator), purchasing a dictionary, and locating the word “ditz” to describe Helen of Troy. But Esther Friesner has changed my outlook on the Spartan princess. Besides her famed beauty, what does anyone know about her? How did she feel about Paris? What were her thoughts, feelings, and emotions? How did she spend her childhood? While Homer added adventure, romance, and drama to The Iliad, he forgot personality. Esther Friesner turns “the face the launched a thousand ships” into an extraordinary teen in her novel Nobody’s Princess, the story of Helen of Troy’s bravery, stubbornness, and beauty.

            In Nobody’s Princess, Friesner weaves the tale of a young princess desperate for an adventure of her own. Armed with striking good looks Aphrodite is proud of and sword skills every man in Sparta envy, Helen seizes her future without the assistance of others. This book is a window in the Bronze Age, a time of extraordinary and unlikely heroes like our very own Helen.

The Hunger Games

            From an old Greek myth springs a fantastic page-turner revolving around life and death. Suzanne Collins gave the old legend of King Aegeus of Athens choosing seven men and maidens to be sacrificed to the Minotaur a face-lift in this new, bestselling novel.

            Katniss, an illegal hunter living in a dreary district, fears the upcoming Hunger Games, an event she’s dreaded since birth. A male and female from each district surrounding the Capital must fight to the death in a gruesome arena while the rest of the citizens watch and pray their children might survive.

            Katniss must face her fear, a dangerous strategy plan, and uncharted feelings for a friend as she attempts to survive the ultimate challenge. The ultimate sacrifice. The Hunger Games.

I didn’t want to read this book. I didn’t want to go along with the crowd, who protested that this book was worthy enough to be a best-seller. The book seemed too different for my taste, considering I usually pull a thick fantasy volume off the shelf. After about three weeks of my best friend and my father nagging me to purchase it, I finally did.

They were right to nag me.

The Hunger Games can only be truly described in one word: impossible. Katniss is impossible. The Capital is impossible. The Hunger Games is impossible. Suzanne Collins (The Underland Chronicles) wove an incredible story. The intricacy and intimacy of the novel is mind-blowing. I cannot recommend a better page-turner.

My parents dragged me shopping while I read this. I spent the outing reading on a bench meant for trying on shoes. I couldn’t put it down. It’s that addicting.

Although I did love the book, I found the main character a bit hostile at times. The author intended to make her this way, but at times she agitated me. The story is science-fiction, but not as drastic as some novels can be. It takes place in the future, but the technology isn’t so far from ours and it is easy to understand.

This novel is incredible, and I would recommend it for anyone craving a good book. But beware: once opened, it will be impossible to put down.

Secrets of My Hollywood Life

            The glitz and glamor of Hollywood and descriptive writing by Jen Calonita will yank you out of reality and draw you into the life of Kaitlin Burke, average American teenager.

            Well, sort of.

            If by “average” you mean the hottest seventeen year old actress in Hollywood.

            But the real Kaitlin Burke—Star Wars lover and Sidekick Bedazzler—is masked behind the image created by her manager/Mom and publicist, Laney. Even though Kaitlin loves her job, the false tabloid stories surrounding her and a catty costar out for blood ignite a daring idea: escaping the pressures of Hollywood by creating an alter ego and attending the local high school her best friend Liz is enrolled at. Kaitlin’s acting skills come in handy convincing her Hollywood-consumed family that living a double life will be the perfect break for her.

            But when Kaitlin’s glamor is stripped away and her personal assistant can’t help her with French homework, how will she survive the school and keep her secret hidden from snobby cheerleaders, her new friends, and the cute Chad Michael Murray look-a-like who talked to her after class?

            Jen Calonita has taken an average, tattered plot of a star trying to live a normal life and transformed it into a dramatic story of a normal teen facing lies, jealous cheerleaders, and the highs and lows of Hollywood.

            This book had me (and will intrigue you too) at its first Hollywood Secret…