Meyer, Stephenie. Breaking Dawn. Little Brown and Company: New York, New York, 2008
Heart
Borders Books, $22.99
754 Pages
Fantasy, Life and Moral Issues, Teen
For anyone that hasn't been to a store lately, the Twilight saga is the newest thing that is sweeping the world. Breaking Dawn is the fourth and last book in the saga written by Stephenie Meyer. The book picks up where Eclipse left off, where the two main characters, Bella Swan and Edward Cullen, become engaged. This is a canon of life, but not when one of the couple is a vampire. Edward has been a vampire for nearly a century and has found his true love in Bella. She wishes to become a vampire so she can be frozen at her current age and they can live together for eternity, but Edward refuses to change her until they are officially married. They tie the knot and go on their honeymoon, and within two weeks, Bella looks like she is two months pregnant when there should be no physical proof of the fetus. They are both dumbfounded because a human has never become pregnant with a vampire's child in history and lived. They return home to the rest of Edward's vampire family to try and figure out what to do. Bella wants to keep the aberration, which brings several hardships to the family as a whole. The rest of Breaking Dawn shows their struggles and the many ups and downs of their lives which I will leave for you to discover as you read the book.
I decided to read Breaking Dawn after reading CVerel's blog about the book. Although the length is overwhelming, it is a great book that is a constant page turner. Expecially after reading the first three books of the saga, it is almost impossible to rescind the book until you know the ending. I wish that Stephenie Meyer would keep writing more just to continue the story because I never want it to end. Her writing is filled with all of the emotion and detail that makes the story so great. Her whole writing style and way she present the book attracts me to the story, there is no specific quality. If it was written by anyone else, there is no way it would be as entrancing. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone, although I think that young adult women would enjoy it the most. However, men could definaltly take some notes from Edward.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Crank by Ellen Hopkins
Hopkins, Ellen. Crank
Simon Pulsh Books: New York, New York
2004
Heart
Amazon.com $9.99
Semi-Biography
Ellen Hopkin’s graphic tale, Crank, is based on the actual accounts of her daughter’s life. In the story, the main character Kristina Snow endures lots of peer pressure from her newfound friends. On a trip to visit her father who had left Kristina and her mother, she meets a boy and he talks her into doing crystal meth, also known as Crank. Crank begins to take control of her life and even causes Kristina to create a new identity that she calls Bree. Instead of being the Kristina George Snow that was an outstanding citizen, she becomes the new sexy, sleazy, meth addict Bree. Bree begins to do whatever it takes to satisfy her cravings for the drug. After becoming highly addicted, she began to drop off socially and academically. She reaches her lowest point after she is raped and becomes pregnant at the hands of one of her drug dealers. Even after she becomes pregnant, it doesn’t completely stop her from doing crank. The terrifying tale of a teenager that takes the wrong path is sure to be a wakeup call for any teenage reader.
Crank reveals to readers the scary truths behind drug addictions and the dangers of living with a wild lifestyle. From reading this story it teaches the reader much more valuable lessons than any cautious parent could preach. Hopkins uses vivid imagery to make it feel like the events are taking place to the reader themselves. This delivers the message in a very stern and effective way. Hopkins also uses a very interesting form of characterization through Kristina and Bree. These two characters may be the same person, but in fact they are literary foils. Kristina represents the ideal teenage girl, while Bree represents a parent’s worst nightmare for a child. By using imagery and literary foils, Ellen Hopkins reveals that drug addiction leads to difficulties in all aspects of life.
Simon Pulsh Books: New York, New York
2004
Heart
Amazon.com $9.99
Semi-Biography
Ellen Hopkin’s graphic tale, Crank, is based on the actual accounts of her daughter’s life. In the story, the main character Kristina Snow endures lots of peer pressure from her newfound friends. On a trip to visit her father who had left Kristina and her mother, she meets a boy and he talks her into doing crystal meth, also known as Crank. Crank begins to take control of her life and even causes Kristina to create a new identity that she calls Bree. Instead of being the Kristina George Snow that was an outstanding citizen, she becomes the new sexy, sleazy, meth addict Bree. Bree begins to do whatever it takes to satisfy her cravings for the drug. After becoming highly addicted, she began to drop off socially and academically. She reaches her lowest point after she is raped and becomes pregnant at the hands of one of her drug dealers. Even after she becomes pregnant, it doesn’t completely stop her from doing crank. The terrifying tale of a teenager that takes the wrong path is sure to be a wakeup call for any teenage reader.
Crank reveals to readers the scary truths behind drug addictions and the dangers of living with a wild lifestyle. From reading this story it teaches the reader much more valuable lessons than any cautious parent could preach. Hopkins uses vivid imagery to make it feel like the events are taking place to the reader themselves. This delivers the message in a very stern and effective way. Hopkins also uses a very interesting form of characterization through Kristina and Bree. These two characters may be the same person, but in fact they are literary foils. Kristina represents the ideal teenage girl, while Bree represents a parent’s worst nightmare for a child. By using imagery and literary foils, Ellen Hopkins reveals that drug addiction leads to difficulties in all aspects of life.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Twisted
Book: Twisted
Fiction
Viking Juvenile
Author: Laurie Halse Anderson
250 Pages
$9.99 Borders.
Heart.
(Recommended from A. Cottle)
The book Twisted is shown in the perspective of a senior in high school named Tyler Miller.
I enjoyed this book because I think the author did a really good job showing the high school experience. She doesn’t sugarcoat it like other authors do, and I think that most of my peers would enjoy reading something that they can relate to. This book also shows the problems
There were times when I the book wasn’t as interesting as other parts in the story, but I still believe that others should read this book despite some of the lacking parts, and overall I enjoyed this book.
Jacob's Ladder
By:Brendan Connolly
Keaney, Brian. Jacob’s Ladder. Candlewick Press: Cambridge, Massachusetts, 2005.
Heart
Borders Books, $15.99
Young Adult Fiction
Keaney, Brian. Jacob’s Ladder. Candlewick Press: Cambridge, Massachusetts, 2005.
Heart
Borders Books, $15.99
Young Adult Fiction
The book, Jacob's Ladder, begins with a teenage boy waking up in a huge field. The boy has no recollection of how he got there or his life before he woke up, all he remembers is that his name is Jacob. As he walks, he soon finds out that he is in a town called Locus. As he talks with the other people there, he realizes that everyone else has the same problem as him and can't remember their past. After exploring the town and questioning why he was there, he finally realized that this society was the after-life. Determined to find his family and who he really is, Jacob sets off on a journey with two friends to try to find the Palace of Remembrance. Along this journey, Jacob and his friends face many obstacles and difficulties that make them question whether or not they should keep looking for the palace. The journey shows them more about their lives and the lessons they must learn. Once they get to the Palace of Remembrance, they find out that there is a catch before they can go back to their lives. Will they be able to obey this task that they are given and go back to their lives?
I really enjoyed the book Jacob's Ladder. Brian Keany gives the reader a very interesting look about what he believes life is like after death. The book takes you away from reality and brings you into a world of surrealism and symbolism, which makes you want to read more and more. The way Keaney uses conflict and other literary features throughout the story keeps the reader drawn to plot of the book. The symbolism throughout the whole story will make you think about your own life and make you question your beliefs. It makes you wonder if you're living life how you should be and if you are living life to the fullest. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to read something that is different and unusual compared to other books. This story makes you think if there is an after life or something after death. So if you want to take a step out of reality into an interesting view about life, this book will be perfect for you.
Disclosure
By: Michael Crichton
Ballantine Book, New York, 1994
$6.29 at Giant Eagle or Free at the Twinsburg Library
Disclosure is based around Tom Sanders, a computer engineer, at DigiCom. It's a multinational software design company based in Seattle. Tom has been with DigiCom for over ten years, and is expecting a long awaited promotion the head of the division of Advanced Products. But as he later finds out, one of his odl girlfriends, Meredith Johnson, has gotten the job over him. The only reason he didn't get it was because the company was under pressure for diversity. But he thinks he'll just suck it up, and work for the sake of the company. When she has a "Personal" meeting with him, she wants to get together like they before, and he rejects her. He then files a sexual harassment charge, but she has countered, and everyone belives her. He now has to fear for his job, and now his entire life is coming to an end, unless he can prove that he is innocent, and he has less than a week.
I give this a heart for it's fast paced plot. The 494 page book flies when you get into it. It's real fast read. I recomend this book to anyone who likes fast paced, intense books with a little riske activity.
I read this from Adam Kozelka's blog.
By: Michael Crichton
Ballantine Book, New York, 1994
$6.29 at Giant Eagle or Free at the Twinsburg Library
Disclosure is based around Tom Sanders, a computer engineer, at DigiCom. It's a multinational software design company based in Seattle. Tom has been with DigiCom for over ten years, and is expecting a long awaited promotion the head of the division of Advanced Products. But as he later finds out, one of his odl girlfriends, Meredith Johnson, has gotten the job over him. The only reason he didn't get it was because the company was under pressure for diversity. But he thinks he'll just suck it up, and work for the sake of the company. When she has a "Personal" meeting with him, she wants to get together like they before, and he rejects her. He then files a sexual harassment charge, but she has countered, and everyone belives her. He now has to fear for his job, and now his entire life is coming to an end, unless he can prove that he is innocent, and he has less than a week.
I give this a heart for it's fast paced plot. The 494 page book flies when you get into it. It's real fast read. I recomend this book to anyone who likes fast paced, intense books with a little riske activity.
I read this from Adam Kozelka's blog.
The Biitch Posse
O‘Connor, Martha. The Bitch Posse. St. Martin‘s Press: New York, 2005.
Heart
335 pages
Borders Books, $13.95
Teen Angst
Previous Blog: k morgano
I initially read the book blog for The Bitch Posse by Martha O’Connor, from k morgano, but also noticed that several other people had also read this book. Martha O’Connor ensured that choosing to read this book was the right one. She laid out a twisted tale of a bizarre friendship between three girls. Each girl different but very similar to one another. You are hooked throughout the entire book because of their extreme actions and outspoken personality’s. You are never what is about to happen with these three girls until the last page. I was shocked after turning the last page.
I would highly recommend this book to any teenage girl, other the then the obvious dealings and the easily relatable topics, this book was a quick read. O’Connor helps the pages turn by switching between present time with the girls in their thirties reflecting on their mistakes, and with the girls as seniors in high school making those horrible mistakes. She shows each characters growth and reflection on each of their lives.
Heart
335 pages
Borders Books, $13.95
Teen Angst
Previous Blog: k morgano
I initially read the book blog for The Bitch Posse by Martha O’Connor, from k morgano, but also noticed that several other people had also read this book. Martha O’Connor ensured that choosing to read this book was the right one. She laid out a twisted tale of a bizarre friendship between three girls. Each girl different but very similar to one another. You are hooked throughout the entire book because of their extreme actions and outspoken personality’s. You are never what is about to happen with these three girls until the last page. I was shocked after turning the last page.
I would highly recommend this book to any teenage girl, other the then the obvious dealings and the easily relatable topics, this book was a quick read. O’Connor helps the pages turn by switching between present time with the girls in their thirties reflecting on their mistakes, and with the girls as seniors in high school making those horrible mistakes. She shows each characters growth and reflection on each of their lives.
Jacob's Ladder
By: Stephen Gardner
Class: Ms. Smith
Book: Jacob’s Ladder.
Type: Fiction
Keaney, Brian. Candlewick Press. 2007.
Length: 224 Pages.
Borders $15.99.
Heart <3
The book I chose to read was Jacobs Ladder. From the beginning it got my attention with an unexpected mysterious beginning. The book starts off with a boy who wakes up in a field. After he wakes up someone called Virgil comes to collect him and he is sent to a dormitory with 6 or 7 other boys in it. In this whole scenario of events, Jacob can’t remember anything but only his name. This situation would be very shocking to me and as for boring beginnings in books go, this is not one of them at all. This story is gripping and exciting all at the same time.
The book was very interesting as it brought up the topic of death in life, and how we cannot predict the future. It also made clear that sometimes we can’t go back and change the choices we made. I would definitely recommend this book anyone who likes an insightful book with meaning that is truly interesting as you are always predicting what might happen to Jacob throughout. It keeps you on your toes. I would give it heart cause I enjoyed it overall.
Class: Ms. Smith
Book: Jacob’s Ladder.
Type: Fiction
Keaney, Brian. Candlewick Press. 2007.
Length: 224 Pages.
Borders $15.99.
Heart <3
The book I chose to read was Jacobs Ladder. From the beginning it got my attention with an unexpected mysterious beginning. The book starts off with a boy who wakes up in a field. After he wakes up someone called Virgil comes to collect him and he is sent to a dormitory with 6 or 7 other boys in it. In this whole scenario of events, Jacob can’t remember anything but only his name. This situation would be very shocking to me and as for boring beginnings in books go, this is not one of them at all. This story is gripping and exciting all at the same time.
The book was very interesting as it brought up the topic of death in life, and how we cannot predict the future. It also made clear that sometimes we can’t go back and change the choices we made. I would definitely recommend this book anyone who likes an insightful book with meaning that is truly interesting as you are always predicting what might happen to Jacob throughout. It keeps you on your toes. I would give it heart cause I enjoyed it overall.
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