Ivy and Bean Break the Fossil Record

From Goodreads:    World record fever grips the second grade, and soon Ivy and Bean are trying to set their own record by becoming the youngest people to have ever discovered a dinosaur. But how hard is it to find one?















My Thoughts:

-    These seem to be getting better with each book. I enjoyed this one more than the previous two.

-    I liked how Bean and Ivy's class got into world records. I remember a phase like that in elementary school. We looked through the world records book and oohed and aahed, and we were sometimes grossed out.

-    I also love that Ivy and Bean went digging for dinosaur bones. What kid hasn't done that?

-    I related a lot more to this book. It spoke my younger self, and Gnome really liked it too. 

-    Ivy and Bean are Gnome's age, and it is fun reading about girls the same age as her.

Previous Books

 

Erak's Ransom

Goodreads Synopsis:    What does it mean to earn the Silver Oakleaf? So few men have done so. For Will, a mere boy, that symbol of honor has long felt out of reach. Now, in the wake of Araluen's uneasy truce with the raiding Skandians comes word that the Skandian leader has been captured by a dangerous desert tribe. The Rangers are sent to free him. But the desert is like nothing these warriors have seen before. Strangers in a strange land, they are brutalized by sandstorms, beaten by the unrelenting heat, tricked by one tribe that plays by its own rules, and surprisingly befriended by another. Like a desert mirage, nothing is as it seems. Yet one thing is constant: the bravery of the Rangers.In this red-hot adventure, winner of the Australian Book of the Year Award for Older Children, John Flanagan raises the stakes on the series that has already sold millions of copies worldwide.

My Thoughts:

-    I love that series takes me to very different lands, weather, and culture. I loved seeing the Rangers work in a desert setting. It is very out of their element.

-    I loved how Will gained so much confidence in himself throughout the journey. I understood his worries and concern, but he was well prepared to become a full fledged Ranger.

-    I also loved seeing Evanlayn become a shrewd negotiator. I love that she steps up to her responsibilities and is eager to do whatever it takes. 

-    The different tribes and people in the Arridi desert were fun to read about.

-    Even though this book is out of order chronologically, I'm glad the author snuck it in!

Previous Ranger's Apprentice Books

  
  

The Wednesday Wars

Goodreads Synopsis:    In this Newbery Honor-winning novel, Gary D. Schmidt offers an unforgettable antihero. The Wednesday Wars is a wonderfully witty and compelling story about a teenage boy’s mishaps and adventures over the course of the 1967–68 school year in Long Island, New York. 

Meet Holling Hoodhood, a seventh-grader at Camillo Junior High, who must spend Wednesday afternoons with his teacher, Mrs. Baker, while the rest of the class has religious instruction. Mrs. Baker doesn’t like Holling—he’s sure of it. Why else would she make him read the plays of William Shakespeare outside class? But everyone has bigger things to worry about, like Vietnam. His father wants Holling and his sister to be on their best behavior: the success of his business depends on it. But how can Holling stay out of trouble when he has so much to contend with? A bully demanding cream puffs; angry rats; and a baseball hero signing autographs the very same night Holling has to appear in a play in yellow tights! As fate sneaks up on him again and again, Holling finds Motivation—the Big M—in the most unexpected places and musters up the courage to embrace his destiny, in spite of himself.

My Thoughts:

-    The first time I picked this up, I got about halfway and put it down. I just wasn't in the mood for it. I'm glad I picked it up again.

-    I really enjoyed Holling's story. It was full of warmth and humor. Holling was such an endearing character, and I loved his young innocence. It was fun to see the world through his eyes.

-    Mrs. Baker was an interesting character. I liked her a lot. She had a very sly way of teaching.

-    Great characters and a great story! 

Star Wars: Death Star

From Goodreads:    

“THAT’S NO MOON.”
–Obi-Wan Kenobi

The Death Star’s name says it all, with bone-chilling accuracy. It is a virtual world unto itself–equipped with uncanny power for a singularly brutal purpose: to obliterate entire planets in the blink of an eye. Its annihilation of the planet Alderaan, at the merciless command of Grand Moff Tarkin, lives in infamy. And its own ultimate destruction, at the hands of Luke Skywalker, is the stuff of legend. But what is the whole story, and who are the players, behind the creation of this world-killing satellite of doom?

The near extermination of the Jedi order cleared the way for Palpatine–power-hungry Senator and Sith Lord–to seize control of the Republic, declare himself Emperor, and usher in a fearsome, totalitarian regime. But even with the dreaded Darth Vader enforcing Palpatine’s sinister will, the threat of rebellion still looms. And the Emperor knows that only abject fear–and the ability to punish dissent with devastating consequences–can ensure his unchallenged control of the galaxy. Enter ambitious and ruthless government official Wilhuff Tarkin, architect of the Emperor’s terrifying dream come true. 

From inception to completion, construction of the unprecedented Death Star is awash in the intrigues, hidden agendas, unexpected revelations, and daring gambits of those involved on every level. The brightest minds and boldest egos, the most ambitious and corrupt, the desperate and the devious, all have a stake in the Death Star–and its potential to control the fate of the galaxy.

Soldiers and slaves, loyalists and Rebels, spies and avengers, the innocent and the evil–all their paths and fates will cross and intertwine as the Death Star moves from its maiden voyage to its final showdown. And a shadowy chapter of Star Wars history is stunningly illuminated in a thrilling, unforgettable adventure.

My Thoughts:

-    I've always wanted to read a Star Wars book, but I never knew where to start, and I was a bit intimidated. Well, I finally picked one and read it! 

-    The beginning was very dry and very slow. I wasn't sure if I was going to finish the book, but I kept going, and slowly it became more and more interesting. 

-    There are a lot of characters, and it takes a long time to learn the characters and for them to start interacting with each other. Most of the book, I wondered why these characters were important, and why I should care about them. Now that I've finished the book, I'm still wondering why I should care about them. 

-    Darth Vader and Tarkin were the most interesting people to read about. I already knew who they were, and I why they were important. Plus, they are the ones that intermingled with the part of the story that converges with A New Hope. 

-    I liked getting to know Tarkin better. His character intrigues me, and he was interesting to read about. 

-    The story really took off for me during Part 2. That is when A New Hope starts, and I loved seeing the Empire's side of the story. 

-    The writing is very dry, and it took me a while to get used to. Once I was used the writing, the book became more enjoyable. 

-    Overall, I'm glad and proud that I finished this book, but I probably wouldn't read it again. 

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

Goodreads Says:    Orphan, clock keeper, and thief, Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks with an eccentric, bookish girl and a bitter old man who runs a toy booth in the station, Hugo's undercover life, and his most precious secret, are put in jeopardy. A cryptic drawing, a treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and a hidden message from Hugo's dead father form the backbone of this intricate, tender, and spellbinding mystery. 





My Thoughts:

-    I randomly picked this book up while I was browsing the library. We were in the children's section, and I saw a big fat book. I picked it up and flipped through it. The pictures looked awesome, so I brought it home, and I'm SO glad I did!

-    This was a very fun and informative book. It is fiction, but it is based on a real person. 

-    The book isn't illustrated. The pictures are part of the story. I LOVE that! The book is half words and half illustrations. They work together to bring the story to life.

-    The illustrations are amazing. They are sketched with pencils or charcoal or something like that, and they are awesome! There are also some real photos about Georges Melies. 

-    I have seen the famous picture of the rocket in the moon's eye, but I didn't realize it was an old black and white silent film. In the middle of the book, I went and watched the film. It is terrible, but it was fun to see what the book was talking about. If you want to watch it, it is on Netflix. There are two versions.

-    This book made me want to learn how to build a clock. Ha! It sounds fun and intricate. I also want to see automaton toys and things. 

-    The characters are brilliant. Each one is special in their own way. The girl is annoying sometimes, but she is okay. 

-    I found out that they made a movie adaptation that is pretty good. I want to see it!!

Princess Mia

Goodreads Says:    A princess on her own . . .

Mia has been invited to speak at a gala for Domina Rei, an elite society of powerful businesswomen. But what could she possibly have to say? Now that Michael has broken things off, Mia can barely get out of bed, and her parents are making her see a "therapist." School, where Lilly still refuses to speak to her and Lana suddenly wants to be bff, is a total nightmare. Even J.P.'s efforts to cheer Mia up (he's being really sweet!) aren't helping. What's a royal to do?

Just when things couldn't get worse, Mia uncovers an old family secret, a long-forgotten diary of a teenage princess of Genovia. It could be just the thing to help Mia write her speech--but it might also change the fate of the Renaldos forever.

My Thoughts:

-    Lilly rebounded fast! She has made out with everyone! She is kinda of a tramp. She just goes from one guy to the next.

-    Mia has the slowest character development of ALL time! Thank goodness she is finally in therapy, and there is a little glimmer of hope that she is going to grow and mature in this series. 

-    J.P. is nice and all, but he is a little annoying.

Previous Book in The Princess Diaries Series:

(covers are linked)

  
  
  
  

Vampire Knight: Volumes 6 - 10

Goodreads Synopsis:    Cross Adademy is attended by two groups of students: the Day Class and the Night Class. At twilight, when the students of the Day Class return to their dorm, they cross paths with the Night Class on their way to school. Yuki Cross and Zero Kiryu are the Guardians of the school, protecting the Day Class from the Academy's dark secret: the Night Class is full of vampires!

Yuki sneaks into an exclusive vampire party and sees Aido's parents introducing their daughter to Kaname. They, like many other Night Class parents, desire an alliance with the pureblood. Kaname is the most eligible bachelor in the vampire society--but will he choose Yuki?

My Thoughts:

-    I'm still loving the series. The artwork is amazing!

-    I knew Kaname would eventually pop the question!

-    Why is it so important for Yuki to remember her past? What is it that she has forgotten?

-    Some crazy shiz is going down!

From Goodreads:    Yuki debates asking Kaname about her past, suspecting that he may have been the one who erased her childhood memories. Zero confronts Kaname to find out the truth, and the two come to blows over Yuki...

My Thoughts:

-    Zero is seriously messed up! I'm not sure I like him anymore.

-    Why is Kaname being so pushy? If he did it more tactfully, Yuki would be putty in his hands. He is playing with her. Grr!

-    Why isn't Zero reacting to the Kaname and Yuki situation? He should be furious or something.

Goodreads Says:    After trying to recall her past, Yuki's hallucinations become more vivid and she tries to strangle Zero during a fit of madness. Locked in her room, all she can see is a world dyed in blood, but Kaname comes for her. He tells her it's time to wake up and sinks his fangs into her neck...

My Thoughts:

-    HOLY CRAP!!

-    EWWWWW!!!

-    OMG!!

-    What the crap just happened!?!? I knew something crazy was going to happen, but dang!

From Goodreads:    Zero is imprisoned as Rido begins to revive slowly, and his army of Level E vampires approach the academy. Ichiru, fatally wounded, shoots Zero, and it is revealed that Ichiru was on Zero's side all along, and that he was plotting to kill Rido, the one who made Shizuka Hio murder their parents. Ichiru tells Zero to eat him to become stronger...

My Thoughts:

-    Why is the headmaster letting all this crap go on at his school?

-    This volume was pretty action packed, but it is also a bit confusing. Zero has crazy plant powers, everyone wants to kill everyone, everyone is after Yuki, and I'm not sure of motives here.

-    I love Yuki's new look. She still looks like Yuki, but she is much more defined and beautiful. Artist did a great job with her.

Goodreads Synopsis:    Rido is gone, but the battle rages on at Cross Academy. The Night Class is still under attack, and Headmaster Cross has joined the war to protect his students. Zero, however, has vowed to get rid of all the Purebloods--including Yuki!

My Thoughts:

-    It is hard to differentiate a lot of the characters. It makes it hard to know exactly what is going on.

-    Some of the action isn't depicted well enough for me to really see it. I needed to watch the anime to really get some of this.

-    Towards the end, I think I figured some of it out.

-    I liked the flash back moments. They gave nice info.

-    I'm still weirded out by the whole pureblood marriage thing. Gross!

Vampire Knight: Volumes 1 - 5

Goodreads Synopsis:    Yuki Cross has no memory of her past prior to the moment she was saved from a vampire attack ten years ago. She was adopted by the headmaster of Cross Academy, and now works alongside Zero to guard the Academy's secret. Cross Adademy is attended by two groups of students: the Day Class and the Night Class. At twilight, when the students of the Day Class return to their dorm, they cross paths with the Night Class on their way to school. Yuki Cross and Zero Kiryu are the Guardians of the school, protecting the Day Class from the Academy's dark secret: the Night Class is full of vampires!




My Thoughts:

-    This was a great first volume to the series. The characters are very compelling, and I'm very intrigued by the story.

-    The text varies sizes a lot. It is kinda weird.

-    I wish this was in color. The illustrations are beautiful, and I want to see the character's eye color and hair color. The eyes are so big and awesome.

-    Do we really need to be reminded that the night class is for vampires every chapter/book? It is getting old.


From Goodreads:    Yuki and Zero go into town to do some shopping for the Headmaster, and they are attacked by a fiendish vampire called a "Level E". Two Night Class students, Takuma Ichijo and Senri Shiki, come just on time and slay it, and invite Yuki and Zero to their dormitory at midnight to find out why they killed one of their own kind...










My Thoughts:

-    I loved learning more about the vampires in this volume. The lore and hierarchy are very interesting. 

-    Why do mangas have to have the mentor that is flamboyant one second and super serious the next? This is popular in a lot of mangas and animes.

-    It is hard to tell some of the vampires apart. They look and sound so similar. 

-    I am craving more!! I'm seriously hooked!


Goodreads Says:    Kaname, the pureblood vampire, has kept to his room since learning of Yuki and Zero's forbidden act. However, the arrival of Ichijo's grandfather brings the entire Night Class together to greet one of the oldest vampires on the senate. Ichijo's grandfather says he's there merely to visit his grandson, but he's out for Kaname's blood.









My Thoughts:

-    I loved seeing more of Kaname and Yuki's history in this volume! What is up with those two?

-    I want to know what is going on in Kaname's head. He is so stoic and mysterious.

-    The new girl is definitely trouble!

-    The boy vampires all look the same, except Kaname. They need name tags! Even then, I don't think it would help.


From Goodreads:    Zero warns Yuki to stay away from Maria Kurenai, the new Night Class transfer student, although he won't tell Yuki why. Kaname is also wary, and he sends Ichijo to watch Maria so she doesn't start trouble. Who is this girl, and why does she have the entire Night Class on edge










My Thoughts:

-    I really like the cover on this one.

-    Whoa! Just whoa! The things this volume reveals is intense and crazy!


Goodreads Synopsis:    Zero is suspected of killing Shizuka Hio, the pureblood vampire who murdered his family. Incensed, the vampire senate sends assassins to Cross Academy to execute him. Will the Night Class intervene, or will Kaname let Zero take the fall?











My Thoughts:

-    Things are getting tense in the vampire world. I can't turn pages fast enough.

-    What is Kaname planning!?!? I feel like everything is part of this elaborate plan he has, but what is the goal? 

-    Zero is fighting his instincts, but he is still dangerous. I don't know if I trust him.

-    What is going on with Aido?

-    So many questions!! I need answers!

Captain Wentworth's Diary

Goodreads Says:    The retelling of Jane Austen?s novel Persuasion from the point of view of Captain Frederick Wentworth?by the author of Mr. Knightley?s Diary.

During his shore leave from the Navy, Frederick Wentworth falls in love with the elegant and intelligent Miss Anne Elliot?only to see his hopes of marrying her dashed by her godmother.

Eight years later, Wentworth has realized his ambitions. A wealthy captain, he has pushed his memories of Anne to the furthest recesses of his mind?until he sees her again. And though Anne?s bloom has faded, Wentworth is surprised to find that his regard for her wit and warmth has not.

My Thoughts:

-    Move over Mr. Knightley, Captain Wentworth might be replacing you as my favorite Austen hero! I still love you though.

-    This book was everything I'd hoped for. I loved seeing how Anne and Wentworth met and fell in love for the first time and broke off their engagement.

-    I loved reading Captain Wentworth's perspective, especially while he was writing the letter at the end. I loved reading about his indifference to Anne, and then learning that he still loved her. Oh the agony he felt!

-    I felt that Grange did a wonderful job staying true to the story and the characters.

-    I doubt any man would keep a diary as detailed as this, so I don't know if the diary angle was the right one, but I still loved it.

-    I devoured this book! I couldn't read fast enough! I can't wait to read more of these!

-    This is a must read for Persuasion fans! 

Persuasion

My Thoughts:

-    The 1995 version is WAY better! This was dull and awful.

-    The camera work throughout the film drove me crazy! There were really bad monkey cam moments, especially in the beginning and the end. Why did we need to be so close to everyone's faces? The costumes and scenery is nice, lets see some of that! I hated just seeing giant  heads for most of the film.

-    The picture quality is pretty bad for 2007.

-    The story strayed from the book. I hate that! The 1995 version follows the book better.

-    The ending made me so angry. It just drags on and on. The letter isn't as awesome. The fact that Anne is running all over town was annoying. The kiss was SO awkward. It looked liked she was going to eat him. Stupid stupid ending!

-    Something about Anne bugged me. I don't know exactly what it is, but I didn't like the actress for her. I kept thinking she needed to close her mouth. She just lets it hang open.

-    Although the Captain Wentworth in this was better looking than the 1995 Captain, the acting wasn't better. The acting in the 1995 version was better overall.

-    The longing looks and glances weren't there :(

-    I was bored for a lot of this movie. It just didn't grab me or keep my interest. It felt like the whole movie took forever.

-    Skip this and go watch the 1995 version. It is much more satisfying.

The Swan Kingdom

Goodreads Synopsis:    A new voice in fantasy weaves a rich, entrancing tale of a girl with powerful healing gifts —- and the courage to use them to save her ailing kingdom.

Shadows fall across the beautiful, lush kingdom after the queen is attacked by an unnatural beast, and the healing skills of her daughter, Alexandra, cannot save her. Too soon the widowed king is spellbound by a frightening stranger, a woman whose eyes reflect no light. In a terrifying moment, all Alexandra knows disappears, including her beloved brothers, leaving her banished to a barren land. But Alexandra has more gifts than she realizes as she confronts magic, murder, and the strongest of evil forces, and is unflinchingly brave as she struggles to reclaim what is rightfully hers. Fantasy lovers will be held in thrall by this tale full of visual detail, peppered with a formidable destructive force and sweetened with familial and romantic love.

My Thoughts:

-    This was a unique story. I enjoyed it. 

-    I liked how the 4 siblings worked together in the beginning. I have 3 older brothers as well.

-    The style and the way the story was told was different. I liked it for the most part, but sometimes it got a little slow.

-    I forgot the title of the fairy tale, but this is a retelling of the siblings turned into swans and a sister must make clothes for them to change them back. 

-    This is one of those books where I liked it, but I don't know what to say about it. It was a nice story.