Gripping and fast-paced with likeable characters. This book will transfer well into film.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Legend by Marie Lu
Gripping and fast-paced with likeable characters. This book will transfer well into film.
The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor
Do you remember the story of Alice in Wonderland? Well, this isn’t it. This is the story of Alyss Heart of Wonderland, but it’s a very different story than what you’ve been told.
Wonderland is a land full of imagination and there are two types of imagination – white and black. White imagination is good imagination and Alyss has one of the greatest imaginations anyone has ever seen. Black imagination is dark and evil and illegal under Queens Genevieve’s rule.
The story begins when Princess Alyss is just 7-years-old. The court is celebrating Alyss’s 7th birthday when Redd Heart, Genevieve’s evil sister, shows up with her army and begins to wage war on the palace. Redd Heart practices black imagination and has used her imagination to create awful war machines. Redd is able to quickly take out the palace guards, King Nolan, and Queen Genevieve. Alyss is able to escape through the pool of tears into another world and away from her evil aunt Redd.
Alyss struggles in this new world to keep her memories. Over the years she begins to believe she just imagined Wonderland. In her absence, Redd has taken over as queen and has turned Wonderland into a very dark and scary place. Will Alyss be able to return and claim her rightful throne and bring Wonderland back to a state of peace?
Find out for yourself in the Looking Glass Wars.
Fantasy/Steampunk
Monday, February 13, 2012
Variant by Robison Wells
Benson Fisher has been moved around from one foster home to another his entire life. In an effort to escape his grim situation, he applies for a scholarship to Maxwell Academy. After arriving at Maxwell, Benson quickly realizes that this school is a much worse prison that CPS; one that he might die in. Escape is impossible, but it is his only chance of surviving.
A wonderful suspense novel with plenty of twists. The male protagonist makes this book appeal to both boys and girls. The ending will leave you with your mouth hanging open.
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater is a fantastic book. Not being a fan of her earlier work, I wasn’t sure what to expect. In this latest book she has crafted her writing and storytelling into a fascinating tale. I’ve seen Scorpio Races described as a mix of fantasy and mythology, which it is, but it’s so much more. This book is about loss, determination, love, and growing up.
The story takes place in the fictional island of Thisby, which seems Irish, although that’s never stated. The time period is in the early part of the 20th century...not your typical setting for a fantasy novel. What makes this story magical is the legend of the capall uisce. The capall uisce are horses that are meat eaters and come ashore on Thisby in October, becoming both objects of fear and awe for the locals and tourists alike. There are a few brave men that attempt to capture and race the capall uisce in the annual November 1st Scorpio Races. Many of these men will be killed by these horses, but they still come out every year and try again. These men are drawn to the sea and to these fearsome creatures with a similar passion that drives these sea horses to this particular island.
Puck Connelly has her own reasons for racing in the Scorpio races. Her mother and father were killed by a capall uisce while fishing the year before, and her older brother has just announced that he has decided to go to the mainland, leaving Puck and her brother to fend for themselves. Her decision is reinforced when she finds out that the landlord will be evicting the Connellys from their home after the races. Puck can’t fathom leaving the island of Thisby. Thisby is her home, and it is where she belongs.
Puck Connelly’s decision to race is met with resistance by the men of Thisby. She is the first female to ride in the races, and she has chosen to ride her own mare.
Sean Kendrick’s father died racing a capall uisce named Corr. Sean has a very special bond with Corr and has won three races with him. Unfortunately, Sean has only ridden Corr for his boss and, therefore, has no money of his own. Sean is known for his connection to both the capall uisce and the ocean. He is described as having one foot on land and the other planted firmly in the sea. Sean has a simple dream...to make enough money to buy Corr from his boss and live in his own house.
As they train for the races, the relationship between Puck and Sean develops from mutual admiration into a deep connection. The legendary capall uisce has shaped both of their lives, and they both love the island and their horse. However, only one of them can win the races.
Like Thisby, the story flows at an indirect and unhurried pace. The final pages of this novel left me amazed and tearful. Stiefvater has written a book that shows love in many ways...love for a particular place, love for an animal, and love between two people. This book is easily at the top of my “top five” list for 2011.
The story takes place in the fictional island of Thisby, which seems Irish, although that’s never stated. The time period is in the early part of the 20th century...not your typical setting for a fantasy novel. What makes this story magical is the legend of the capall uisce. The capall uisce are horses that are meat eaters and come ashore on Thisby in October, becoming both objects of fear and awe for the locals and tourists alike. There are a few brave men that attempt to capture and race the capall uisce in the annual November 1st Scorpio Races. Many of these men will be killed by these horses, but they still come out every year and try again. These men are drawn to the sea and to these fearsome creatures with a similar passion that drives these sea horses to this particular island.
Puck Connelly has her own reasons for racing in the Scorpio races. Her mother and father were killed by a capall uisce while fishing the year before, and her older brother has just announced that he has decided to go to the mainland, leaving Puck and her brother to fend for themselves. Her decision is reinforced when she finds out that the landlord will be evicting the Connellys from their home after the races. Puck can’t fathom leaving the island of Thisby. Thisby is her home, and it is where she belongs.
Puck Connelly’s decision to race is met with resistance by the men of Thisby. She is the first female to ride in the races, and she has chosen to ride her own mare.
Sean Kendrick’s father died racing a capall uisce named Corr. Sean has a very special bond with Corr and has won three races with him. Unfortunately, Sean has only ridden Corr for his boss and, therefore, has no money of his own. Sean is known for his connection to both the capall uisce and the ocean. He is described as having one foot on land and the other planted firmly in the sea. Sean has a simple dream...to make enough money to buy Corr from his boss and live in his own house.
As they train for the races, the relationship between Puck and Sean develops from mutual admiration into a deep connection. The legendary capall uisce has shaped both of their lives, and they both love the island and their horse. However, only one of them can win the races.
Like Thisby, the story flows at an indirect and unhurried pace. The final pages of this novel left me amazed and tearful. Stiefvater has written a book that shows love in many ways...love for a particular place, love for an animal, and love between two people. This book is easily at the top of my “top five” list for 2011.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
World Religion Animate Demo
GoAnimate4Schools.com: World Religions Demo by Seale
Like it? Create your own at GoAnimate4Schools. It's free and fun!
Like it? Create your own at GoAnimate4Schools. It's free and fun!
Read-It-Forward Spring 2012
The Spring 2012 Read-It-Forward book is The Adoration of Jenna Fox. If you want to read Jenna Fox, ask a friend to pass it to you or come check it out from the library. Once you have completed the book, take the survey and come talk to Mrs. Beddingfield.
Amazing! Coming of age collides with science fiction and Jenna Fox is born...or reborn... I loved reading this book. It was thought-provoking, touching, and at times laugh-out-loud funny. If you haven't read this yet...you should!
The Adoration of Jenna Fox
Amazing! Coming of age collides with science fiction and Jenna Fox is born...or reborn... I loved reading this book. It was thought-provoking, touching, and at times laugh-out-loud funny. If you haven't read this yet...you should!
Monday, November 28, 2011
State of Wonder by Ann Patchett
Once you get past the first 100 pages, this book is nearly impossible to put down. The majority of the story takes place in the Amazon jungle with the Lakashi people. Scientist are there to study how women are giving birth into their seventies and hopefully develop a drug that will extend fertility in the western world. What they ultimately discover is something much more significant.The characters are fantastic! There's Milton, the always competent and suave driver. Dr. Swenson is the no nonsense genius scientist, who has some surprising secrets. She is a character you will love and hate, but ultimately respect and sympathize with. Easter is the deaf mute boy whom everybody loves. Our flawed narrator, Dr. Marina Singh, is brave and good and alternately both weak and strong.
For those people who like books that wrap up in a nice little package at the end, this is not that book. The events that transpire in the last 50 pages are heartbreaking. I’m still trying to file some of these events away in my mind, but I’m sure to be processing them for days to come.
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