Book Review: House of Secrets

Hello All!

This week, I'll be reviewing an amazing, action packed book by Ned Vizzini and Chris Columbus: House of Secrets.

While you're all oohing and aahhing at that awesome cover (which promises an action-packed roller coaster complete with pirates [hello, top left corner]), allow me to just say that this has literally rocketed to the top of my favorite book list. Catapulted, ya'll. It was so good.

Why I read this book: I was over at my friend's house and she just shoved it into my hands and was like, "read this." And I'm just like, "okay."

Publication Year: 2013    Number of Pages: 480

Author(s): Ned Vizzini and Chris Columbus

Summary (from HarperCollins): 

Siblings Brendan, Eleanor, and Cordelia Walker once had everything they could ever want. But everything changed when Dr. Walker lost his job. Now the family must relocate to an old Victorian house, formerly the home of occult novelist Denver Kristoff—a house that simultaneously feels creepy and too good to be true. By the time the Walkers realize that one of their neighbors has sinister plans for them, they’re banished to a primeval forest way off the grid.

Bloodthirsty medieval warriors patrol the woods around them, supernatural pirates roam the neighboring seas, and a power-hungry queen rules the land. To survive, the siblings will have to be braver than they ever thought possible—and to fight against their darkest impulses. The key may lie in their own connection to the secret Kristoff legacy. But as they unravel that legacy, they’ll discover that it’s not just their family that’s in danger . . . it’s the entire world.

Six things to love about House of Secrets:

• Never a dull moment. Seriously. Never. In every single chapter they were always running from something, fighting something, or discovering something. J.K. Rowling wasn't kidding when she called it a "Breakneck, jam-packed roller coaster of adventure." 
• The characters. Average siblings turned world-saving heroes. A creepy villainess. A WWI pilot. This book has it all.
• The plotline. A desperate family moves into a creepy old mansion for an insanely low price and all furniture included. A creepy lady catapults the siblings into a world of an even creepier guys' books. They must fight to save the world!! Does it get any cooler, people? I think not.
• Creepy....but not too creepy. Gave me chills, but not nightmares (thankfully).
• The illustrations. Which are pretty awesome!

My thoughts: This was an amazing book. Action packed and creative, I feel like it's summed up in this review from J.K. Rowling: "A breakneck, jam-packed roller coaster of adventure about the power of books, House of Secrets comes complete with three resourceful sibling heroes, a seriously creepy villainess, and barrel loads of fantasy and fear." Spot on, J.K. Rowling. Spot on.

My rating: 8 1/2 out of 10 stars. I would like to say here that, due to some violence and intensity, I would recommend it to readers in the 5th grade and up.

Wanna read my super fantabulous post about meeting the one and only Avi? Click HERE.

Want a super cool behind-the-scenes look at House of Secrets? Click HERE and scroll down until you see "Top Ten Secrets Behind House of Secrets."

Comment and tell me about your favorite book where ordinary kids become heroes!

Thanks for reading,

Paige

Book Review: A Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom

Hi guys!

Super excited for this book review :). This fun read is geared more towards younger kids, but is an entertaining and hilarious read for readers of all ages. It's called: The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom.


                               


Why I read this book: My cousin told me I needed to :P.

Publication year: 2012     Number of pages: 480 (never fear--large print!)

Author: Christopher Healy (To visit the author's site, click HERE)

Summary (from author's site): 

Sure, we’re all aware of those guys who show up at the end of fairy tales to save the princesses, throw on a fancy suit, and get hitched in a lavish wedding. But have you ever wondered who those guys really are? Or if the few, meager facts we do hear about them are even true? (Hint: Generally not.)

In the first volume of the Hero’s Guide saga, we meet Prince Frederic, Prince Liam, Prince Gustav, and Prince Duncan — better known as the Princes Charming who rescued Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel, and Snow White, respectively — and find out that these men are far more (or less) than the cardboard cutout heroes we’ve heard tales about. Rejected by their princesses and cast out of their kingdoms, these four men bond over their shared anonymity and band together to battle witches, goblins, trolls, bandits, and giants in order to save each of their kingdoms from a diabolical plot. And by the end, with any luck, they may finally become the real heroes they were always meant to be.

Five things to love about A Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom:

• The humor. When I think of this book, this is the first thing to come to mind. I was laughing out loud LOT, considering there's humor on nearly every page. I would imagine the author is quite the comedian, although a lot of the laughs are due to the princes. Which leads me into....
• The characters. The author takes practically lifeless, undeveloped legends and turns them into laughable characters that are bursting with life. This is such a unique book in the way that he has totally re-imagined fairy tales and turned them into something unique that kids will love. I loved the villianess, and the funniest part of all is that these princes aren't real men, more like failures. On multiple levels. And don't even get me started on the princesses! (Which, actually, are not failures :) )
• The creativity of it all. The settings. The characters. The fresh twist on it all. Enough said.
• The illustrations. I don't know who did these, but they're so good. And, even better, there's a lot of them! However, I've picked some of my favorites:

                    

The Princes, looking stoic

The Princes, being *ahem* true to character. And lost.

The Princesses

So yeah.

My take: This fun, creative read kept me entertained and laughing. Despite a few dry moments, it was, for the most part, a roller coaster of adventure that I enjoyed immensely. This book has it all: humor, fun a characters, a great villain, and a fantastic plotline. I would recommend it to readers of all ages, and i give it 7 1/2 out of 10 stars.

If you are reading this for MMGM, please scroll down or click HERE to read my second book review on The Silver Bowl.

Thanks for reading!

Sincerely,

Paige

                              

Book Review: The Silver Bowl

Hi Guys!

Okay, so I have to admit: I LOVED this book. I'm a little disappointed it didn't walk into my life a little sooner, but now I've read it and I'm doing a review on it and so all is well. I need to stop rambling.

Anyhow...

This week I am reviewing: The Silver Bowl. A very interesting title, I know. A picture if you will:

                                                               

The story presented a fresh twist on medieval kings, curses, and mythical creatures. It was somehow able to incorporate all this while still being down to earth and real. The story is really sad, but worth it. I really loved the characters, as they were a mix of people who nobody had ever wanted, had been wanted at some point, were wanted and loved right then, and who were so famous everybody wanted them. The story was touching, exciting, sad, and always kept you guessing. I really did enjoy it.

Summary (from cover): Unwanted at home, Molly goes to work for the king of Westria as a humble scullery maid. She arrives at the castle with no education, no manners, and a very disturbing secret: She sees visions, and those visions always come true.

One day, while she’s working in the king’s great hall, young Prince Alaric passes by. Molly finds him unbearably handsome—but also unbearably rude. But what does it really matter? She’ll probably never see him again.

In time Molly is promoted to polishing silver and is given a priceless royal treasure to work on: the king’s great ceremonial hand basin. But there’s something odd about it. The silver warms to her touch, a voice commands her to watch and listen, and then the visions appear. They tell the story of a dreaded curse that has stalked the royal family for years. There have already been deaths; soon there will be more.

As tragedy after tragedy strikes the royal family, Molly can’t help but wonder: Will the beautiful Alaric be next? Together with her friends Tobias and Winifred, Molly must protect the prince and destroy the curse. Could a less likely champion be found to save the kingdom of Westria?



Why I read this book: I actually saw the second and third books on the shelf at the library, and I decided I needed to read the first one because the covers were SO COOL!! Check em' out:

                            

Okay. Moving on....

Five reasons to love this book:

• The plot. Written over a couple years, the plot was super well done. It flowed pretty smoothly and kept you guessing. I also loved how there were flashbacks where she went back in time and watched scenes from the past.
• The intensity level. I know this sounds weird, but it handled the graphic fighting and injuries in a realistic yet age-appropriate way.
• The creativity. I find it very hard not to spoil stuff in times like these. But when you do read it, please appreciate when they go inside the bowl!!! That was just way too awesome. 
• The characters. I mentioned it above: they're all pretty much a bunch of misfits, but they're so awesome. They're kinda funny, too.
• There's more. Don't ya just love when you finish an awesome book and you're just like, "Wait...there's two more of them!?" This is what I'm experiencing right now, y'all. Can't wait. 

This was a pretty fantabolous book. I give it 7 1/2 out of 10 stars.

You'll like this book if you enjoy medieval fiction, fantasy, or interesting plotlines.

Thanks for reading! See ya next time,

Paige

Be sure to subscribe by email :).

Book Review: The Zoo at the Edge of the World

Hi Guys!


This week I'm featuring a middle grade novel that i really enjoyed: The Zoo at the Edge of the World.

I was drawn by the cover and description and wasn't disappointed by the story. The unique POV (from that of a stutterer) and diverse setting made for a fresh twist on the common (and often boring) talking animals scenario.



                                 


Genre/Subject (from inside of cover): Human-animal communication, jungle animals, zoos, stuttering, fiction


Author: Eric Kahn Gale

Publication Date: 2014         Page Count: 232


One-Sentence Summary:


Marlin, a stutterer, can talk smoothly and freely with the jungle animals that populate his father's zoo in South America--until a mysterious man-eating black jaguar, that his father catches and brings home, talks back.


Meatier Summary (from Goodreads):


Marlin is not slow, or mute; what he is is a stutterer, and that makes it impossible for him to convince people otherwise. What he is also is a Rackham: the younger son of the world-famous explorer Ronan Rackham, renowned for his daring exploits in the jungles of South America, taming wild beasts and filling in the blank spaces on the map. Ronan is the owner and proprietor of the Zoo at the Edge of the World, a resort where the well-to-do from all over the globe can come to experience the last bit of the wild left at the end of the nineteenth century. For Ronan, each day is a new opportunity to cast a light into the dark recesses of the world; for Marlin, each day is a struggle: to speak, to communicate, to live up to the lofty expectations that his family name carries. This isn't easy when the only ones who understand him are his father and his pet monkey.

In order to impress a powerful duke who comes to visit the zoo, Marlin's father ventures into the jungle and brings back a mysterious black jaguar, the only one in captivity. Everyone is terrified of it, including Marlin—until one night, when the jaguar confers upon him a powerful gift. Soon, Marlin finds himself with a difficult choice to make and, finally, something to say. If only he can figure out how to say it.

What I liked about it:

• The point of view (POV). A book takes on a whole new meaning when the main character literally cannot speak. He looks at the world in a different way and is much more intellectual than other children his age since his thoughts are trapped inside his head. I thought the author did a good job of making the frustration, shame, and disability very real and vivid for the reader.

• The creativity. The resort is well thought out and interesting. There is a map included at the front of the book, which was well drawn and helpful.

• The animal's dialect. After discovering that he can talk to animals, Marlin has several comical conversations with them. It made me laugh and got me thinking about how animals must view humans. 

• The animal's names. A small thing, I know, but i just loved them.

Conclusion:

I would recommend this novel to anyone who has ever wanted to go on a jungle safari, or even wondered what happens at the zoo after the gates are shut. Personally, i really enjoyed it. It's adventurous and fresh, and explores the hardships of family, loyalty, and doing what's right.


Don't forget to read the book, comment, and subscribe by email.


Check out my recent Holiday Update and come back soon!


Paige

Book Review: Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians

Hi Guys!

I think it's time for another book review, wouldn't you say? I mean, I haven't posted in days. ;)

This book review is on....

                                       

Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians! Sounds incredibly ridiculous, doesn't it? Well, I can tell you right now that, although it may be a little (okay, a lot) ridiculous, this one is a must read.

Author: Brandon Sanderson

Genre: Fantasy (yes, yet another fantasy)

Summary: (from his website)

From the author of the Mistborn series and a master of contemporary fantasy comes a collection of his four-book Alcatraz series, the tale of a small group of freedom fighters operating against the cult of Evil Librarians.
On his 13th birthday, Alcatraz, a foster child, gets a bag of sand in the mail which purports to be his “inheritance” sent from his father and mother. The Librarians, of course, immediately steal the bag of sand from him. This sparks a chain of events which leads Alcatraz to realize that his family is part of a group of freedom fighters who resist the Evil Librarians—the secret cult who actually rule the world. Alcatraz’s grandfather shows up and tows him off to infiltrate the downtown library to steal back the mystical bag of sand. The ensuing story involves talking dinosaurs, sentient romance novels, and a dungeon-like labyrinth hiding beneath the innocent-looking downtown library. With a seductive mix of offbeat humor, high adventure, and endearing characterization, this is a fantasy that will appeal to all lovers of the fantastical.

For more summaries and info in the book, click HERE.


What I liked about it:

• It's absolutely hilarious. Seriously--it's laugh out loud funny. Now that I think of it, it would make a fantastic read-aloud.
• It's so outrageous it's awesome. If you're not ready for the truth (that the world is being ruled by evil librarians, that there are actually eleven continents, and that there are magical, lethal labyrinths under libraries), don't read this book.
• It's brilliant. Somehow, Brandon makes evil librarians ruling the world look as if it could actually happen.
• It's refreshing. Sometimes we need a break from serious, intellectual books. 

My Thoughts:
I admit it: I wasn't expecting for this book to turn out as it did. I had attempted to read the book almost a year ago, but I just couldn't get into it--little did I know it would become one of my favorites! The whole reason I adore this book is the humor. I can honestly say this is the funniest book I've ever read, and I definitely wouldn't recommend reading it in public for fear of bursting out laughing. Alcatraz's witty, pessimistic remarks are so depressing and sharp that they come out hysterical.

This witty, funny, fast-paced story may have had me unsure at first, but by the end I was rooting for Alcatraz and his rather unusual gang.

Happy Reading!

The Paige Turner

Check out recent book reviews, subscribe by email, and comment below!

Book Review: The Two Princesses of Bamarre

Hi guys!

This week's book review is on The Two Princesses of  Bamarre, one that I just finished reading this week. Overall, I enjoyed the descriptive, poetic writing, the creative characters, and the setting. However, I must admit I was disappointed by some aspects.

                                      
Author: Gail Carson Levine

Genre: Fantasy

Summary: (From Barnes and Noble)

When plague strikes Bamarre, Princess Addie must fulfill an ancient prophecy.

Brave and adventurous, Princess Meryl dreams of fighting dragons and protecting the kingdom of Bamarre. Shy and fearful, Princess Addie is content to stay within the safety of the castle walls. The one thing that the sisters share is their unwavering love for each other.

The tables are turned, however, when the Gray Death leaves Meryl fatally ill. To save her sister, meek Princess Addie must find the courage to set out on a dangerous quest filled with dragons, unknown magic, and death itself. Time is running out, and the sisters' lives—and the future of the kingdom of Bamarre—hang in the balance.

What I liked about it:

• The sisterly love. Addie and Meryl's devotion to each other is really sweet and touching. Addie's drive and bravery appears to originate entirely from her love for her sister. I think this adds warmth and feeling to the story.
• The descriptive and poetic feel. In tribute to Bamarre's legendary poem, Drualt, this book is written very much like a poem itself. It also is filled with several excerpts from Drualt, which I thought was interesting and original. Through this you begin to see many parallels between Addie's adventure and Drualt's.
• A classic yet original feel. Although it follows the vague plotline of a traditional fairy tale, it has enough unique twists to make it a story of it's own.
• It's inspiring. I mean, come on. Who doesn't love a story about finding courage?

What I disliked:

•  I didn't fall head over heels for the characters. I know that Gail Carson Levine is indeed capable of creating lovable characters--she did it in her Newbery Honor Book,  Ella Enchanted.
• I didn't like the ending. I don't want to spoil anything, but I was disappointed by the conclusion. Although the conflict is technically resolved, this story, in my eyes, does not end happily ever after.

Conclusion:
Overall, this was a good book. I enjoyed the general wit, writng, and plotline.
Although there were some disappointing components, I would definitely say this book is worth reading.

If you enjoy the book, check out Gail Carson Levine's other books. To visit her website, click here.

Don't forget to subscribe and tell me what you think by commenting below! Check out recent book reviews and author spotlights, and check in soon for more.

Happy Reading!

The Paige Turner

For more fantastic MMGM recommendations on Shannon Messenger's blog, click here.

BOOK REVIEW: My Secret War

Hi Guys!

Okay, soooo...BOOK REVIEW!! Yay!

This particular review is on My Secret War, one of my favorite books and my favorite Dear America.



Author: Mary Pope Osborne

Genre: Historical Fiction

Summary: (written by me) My Secret War follows the life of young Madeline Beck from 1941-1942. While her father is serving in the military, Madeline and her mother take up residence at a boarding house on long island. Despite the lingering fear for her father's safety, Madeline starts a new school, participates in home front efforts, and even falls in love. This sweet yet deep story will touch your heart and open your eyes to the hardships, courage, and victory of World War II.

Why I love this book:

• The author takes a simple story and turns it something amazing. Despite the fact that it's a diary in which only so much can be explained, a lot is portrayed.
• It deals with war in an honest way. Although they don't get into detail, I like how this book is real and portrays war for what it was: a horrible, horrible time where lives were lost and our country suffered.
• She falls in love!! Oh how cute this little love story is :). I need to stop or else I'll spoil something.
• You learn something. Through this story, you discover a lot of the home front efforts and hardships that took place during the 1940s. I really enjoyed learning about it, I hope you will, too.

Reading level: 5th-8th grade

I really hope you enjoy this book :). It's more of a quick read, but still fun.

Be sure to comment about why you liked the book and follow me, too! Check out previous book reviews and check in soon for more!

The Paige Turner

BOOK REVIEW: Keeper of the Lost Cities

Hey Guys!

So, as promised, here is the Keeper book review (yay!).

                               

Never fear--this book does not necessarily represent all of the books I'll be doing (I'm thinking about some historical fiction next....), and I'm planning to do lots of different genres.

Okay, so, on from the boring stuff!

 Author: Shannon Messenger

Genre: Fantasy (well...a little bit of everything, really. there's some Sci-Fi and Mystery in there, too.)

Summary: (from Goodreads) Twelve-year-old Sophie Foster has a secret. She’s a Telepath—someone who hears the thoughts of everyone around her. It’s a talent she’s never known how to explain.

Everything changes the day she meets Fitz, a mysterious boy who appears out of nowhere and also reads minds. She discovers there’s a place she does belong, and that staying with her family will place her in grave danger. In the blink of an eye, Sophie is forced to leave behind everything and start a new life in a place that is vastly different from anything she has ever known.

Sophie has new rules to learn and new skills to master, and not everyone is thrilled that she has come “home.”
There are secrets buried deep in Sophie’s memory—secrets about who she really is and why she was hidden among humans—that other people desperately want. Would even kill for.

In this page-turning debut, Shannon Messenger creates a riveting story where one girl must figure out why she is the key to her brand-new world, before the wrong person finds the answer first.

Why I Love This Book: Where do I start???

• It starts off with a bang--followed by a fantastic Plotline. The action starts right away. Normally the first few chapters of the first book in the series are boring because the author has to ease into it as they describe the setting, explain the situation, introduce the characters, etc. However, I felt like she did a really good job of doing this in a really interesting way.
• I want the characters to be my best friends. Oh, how I love these characters. Some are laugh out loud funny (yay for Keefe!), some are super smart (go Dex!), some are loyal (yay Sandor!), and some are traitorous (I believe putting someone here would be considered a *ahem* spoiler alert.). Anyway, they mix together so, so well--kinda like Harry, Ron, and Hermione. I really wish they were real :(.
• Seriously--who thinks of this stuff? A completely different world full of elves and other creatures? An academy that rivals Hogwarts (wow, I did not realize all the parallels between Keeper and Harry Potter until now...)? Tons of cool gadgets and foods? You can tell more and more as you read that Shannon really though out every aspect of their world. Details, details.
• The twists and turns keep me guessing. I never know what'll happen next. Ever. 
• It's funny. I will not spoil anything, but I can assure you hat there is plenty of comic relief.
• It's fun to get into. If you make your friend read this book, you can talk about it with them.

Age Range/Reading Level: 5th-8th grade (it may be a fun read-aloud, too!)

So READ it!!

Enjoy :))

The Paige Turner