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Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Review: If I Stay by Gayle Forman

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Plot: Seventeen-year-old Mia's life is changes in an instant when she and her family are in a car accident, and she must make a very important choice-- the most important choice she will ever have to make.

My Thoughts: This book was pretty good. I went into it knowing absolutely nothing about it, so I was a bit shocked by the beginning. This tale of young love and tough choices and relate-able, and the struggle Mia goes through is unforgettable. I read this book in a few hours, and I'm pretty pleased with how it ended. I kept posting "all the feels" because this book has a lot of emotion, but it definitely doesn't overdo it.

Review: The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold


My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Plot: Susie Salmon is raped and murdered, and when she goes to Heaven, she sees how her loved ones (and her murderer) cope with her death, while coming to terms with her own fate.

My Thoughts: This book was phenomenal. I like that it wasn't your usual murder-mystery point of view, and I thought it was interesting how you could feel the passage of time through the narration. At first it was slow, with every detail, and then it got faster and skipped days and months and then years, kind of like what happens when someone dies and you grieve them. I spent weeks reading this because because I didn't want it to end. This book was so good.

Friday, April 18, 2014

Review: Number the Stars by Lois Lowry


My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Plot: In Denmark during the Second World War, Annemarie Johansen learns a lesson in growing up and making adult decisions in order to keep those around her safe. When German soldiers start imprisoning Jews, Annemarie's family takes in Ellen, Annemarie's Jewish best friend, as their own daughter to keep her safe. 

My Thoughts: This is a pretty easy read, but it's still good. I picked it up because I read it in second grade (ish), and couldn't remember how it ended. This book is really about protecting those around you by making sure they only know what they need to in times of danger, as well as becoming an adult before you really need to. 

Review: Ghost of Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen


My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Plot: Cole and Peter return to school after their time on the island, and realize that life in the city is hard to cope with. Cole strives to see change in his school, the same change he's seen in himself, but he can't do it alone. He needs the help of those around them in order to really make a difference.

My Thoughts: This book was ok. It was nice to see what happened to Cole and Peter after the island, but I don't think this book was totally necessary. It does have a great message about changing yourself in order to make a difference around you, though.

Catching up on my book reviews!
I was sick, and then went on vacation, and then got sick again. And now I've just been too busy. So I'm putting up a bunch of reviews now!

Review: Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen


My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Plot: Cole Matthews, a troubled teenager, has a choice-- jail, or a year alone on a remote island in Alaska. When Cole is first left on the island, he burns down the hut that was built for him, along with his supplies, and tries to fight the legendary Spirit Bear, which basically tears him to shreds. After recovering in a hospital, he goes back to the island, set on changing his life for the better after being given a second chance at life.

My Thoughts: This book is great. I read it in middle school and I didn't really get it, but reading it again made me enjoy and understand it a lot more. I think this is a great coming-of-age book, and there are lessons to be learned about anger and trust.

Review: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban


My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars

Plot: Sirius Black escapes from Azkaban Prison and comes after Harry. Dementors are everywhere, and Harry meets his dad's old friends. Hermione is a time traveler even though she's only thirteen. Wizarding laws, what?

My Thoughts: As I've previously mentioned, writing reviews on books I've read a thousand times feels so silly. I think this is probably one of my favorite Harry Potter books, and the movie does not do it justice.

 
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