Who has time to read books?

No one is probably reading this. That's the thing though now adays. No one reads unless it's for school (guilty) for work (I'm still in high school but I can only imagine) or if its conveniently in front of them and theres nothing better to do. What has happened? Were phones and technology really the catalyst of a new era where reading is a chore and free time is spent playing iPhone games? 100 years from now will the rates of illiteracy rise due to the lack of participation as a society? Will schools begin to transition out the importance of literature? So much to contemplate.

- Her

"The Old Man and the Sea"- classic

After reading Old Man and the Sea, Hemingway's writing style to me was clear- verbose, and wordy. Yet around me teachers and friends would comment on his terse and clean writing style. How can my beliefs be so contradictory with everyone else's? To me, Hemingway used every possible adjective and took every possible way of going "around" what he really was trying to say. At no point, did Hemingway come right out and say "I killed the fish because I was hungry." Were others thinking he was terse in his diction? Perhaps his words were chosen with meaning, but overall his wordy messages were in no way terse apart from their meaning. The Old Man and the Sea's overall meaning did not come out to me as a story reflecting man's responsibility and duty in nature, but more reflected Hemingway's views on the way a man should be and the principles he should have. It is clear that Hemingway believes a man should live with dignity and honor, enduring all kinds of pain. No matter the writing style, terse or not, The Old Man and the Sea is to be read as a classic.

-Her

Rating: 5/10

"Lord of the Flies"- classic

I was definitely not expecting this. I sat there finished with Lord of the Flies unsatisfied and rather disappointed. After learning Lord of the Flies was an English class reading requirement, my mother began to tell me how powerful a story it is with references and connections to man kind... I was excited and hopeful that maybe, just maybe, I would read a book as breathtaking and genius as Animal Farm. So I read and read and was gravely disappointed. The boys stranded on the island hardly paralleled the actions of human nature. The subtleties of Animal Farm were non existent. The writing style was rather irritating to me.. It's as though, the author is trying not to say something, but is, at the same time. The actual "Lord of the Flies" story line that was intertwined with the boys, was weak and obvious in its nature. To say it simply, Lord of the Flies by William Golding is simply, overrated.

-Her

Rating: 4/10

"Romeo and Juliet"- classic

Though "Romeo and Juliet" was an intimidating school-assigned play to flip through, I somehow was able to slyly decode Shakespeare's ethereal yet distant writing style using Spark Notes' plain English version. Of course at some point of every ones educational life Romeo and Juliet seems to be a journey everyone must go on. The writing style was far from blunt and the frustrating old English writing seemed to linger in me head. Once properly analyzed, Shakespeare's words could be noted as subtly and largely metaphorical. I personally, do not feel qualified to judge the historical and legendary author Shakespeare, until I have read more of his work. I have yet to make my mind up on my stance on Shakespeare, though Romeo and Juliet is a must read classic.

-Her

Rating: 7/10

"12 Angry Men"- ages 13-16

Each page is full of human nature and unfaltering persistence. Each page is full of righteousness. Each page is full of prejudice. Each page is full of stubbornness. Each page will defy your expectations of a mystery novel. When 12 jurors are placed in one room to determine the fate of a young boy accused of killing his father, the jurors' different personalities and beliefs flare up after one juror completely turns the tables on this "open and shut case." Or, that's what they thought it was before entering the court room. The unnamed jurors give the novel an impersonal feel on the outside, but throughout the novel "impersonal" is not at all how it seems. Almost all jurors must learn to separate their own path and their own prejudices to seal the deal on whether the boy truly has commited premeditated homicide. Can I say gripped and ready for more? At all parts I felt like the 13th juror ready to throw my opinion in! Though the ending could have included a motive, the story was well written and extremely thought out and well explained.

-Her
Rating: 9/10

"Catalyst"- ages 12-14

After receiving a list of authors I should read from my English teacher, Laurie Halse Anderson was the one my mom randomly ordered for me. Catalyst had a believable plot and an even more believable main character but, unfortunately, at no point in the book did I have that one "ooh, that was a good way of putting it" moment that I always like to find. The plot was average with a simplistic story line. After the main character gets rejected from the only college she applies to--- why she only applied to one, I have no idea! From that point on, everything becomes over dramatic.... her world seems to come desperately crashing down until she realizes that her drawback is a minute detail in relation to the others that she disregards in her life. Catalyst questions peoples beliefs on priorities, assumptions, and, despite the cover, what doesn't meet the eye! (Get it? Eye? The cover?)

-Her

Rating: 5/10

10 assorted people invited to an abandoned island for a week long get away, only to find the host is no where to be seen. As the cryptic nursery rhyme of 10 Little Indians becomes true, suddenly another person dies, leaving only less and less people fretting for their lives. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie never left my hands or mind as I continuously thought of an explanation for the murders and the murderer. The novel revealed the truth about human nature; when people are upset, confused, or simply out of answers, they began to turn on each other. Of course, until there isn't anyone left on the island.

-Her 

Rating: 9/10

The Shadow Thieves by Anne Ursu- ages 12-13

Summer reading lists for school can be a bore... with a list of books to choose from it is often important to just bear down and read. But...I was greatly surprised by enjoying the opening pages of The Shadow Thieves but soon learned that the quick, clever, border line and confusing beginning turned into the typical and unfortunately formulaic writing. The plot was border line great. A 13 year old boy moves in with his cousin just after every kid in his old town becomes deathly sick with no symptoms. After moving in with his cousin, kids become to fall sick until they realize that the cause are black 'beings' from the underworld taking children's shadows to create an army to over throw "Hates." Though the childish writing doesn't bring up any truly interesting or thoughtful subjects, it made summer reading a little less painful! The Shadow Thieves by Anne Ursu.

- Her

Rating: 6/10

"Dear John"- ages 12- 100

Dear John by Nicholas Sparks, was just turned into a movie but I was determined to read it before I saw it. If you enjoy sappy writing and a gut wrenching plot then I suppose you'll like it. Though I never cried, the dynamic between the boy and the father made me more emotional then the boy and the girl relationship. The book has a feel of emptiness and is full of unbearable decisions, most of which I disagreed with. Though I know some people actually enjoy feeling unbearably gloomy after reading a book, I now know that I do not.

-Her

Rating: 4/10

"Uglies"- ages 12-16

It's hard to describe Uglies by Scott Westerfeld. Sci-fi? Hmmm... no. Futuristic? Hmmmm.... maybe. Good? Definitely! In this mysterious world, everyone under goes a procedure when they turn 16 and they miraculously turn pretty. Every ugly, or normal person, in Ugly Ville dreams of growing up and becoming pretty where the only rule is to have fun! Creepy, huh? Throughout the novel I questioned our own society and just how far we will go for beauty and the quest to obtain it. At just what point does the artificial beauty make us ugly? If you want a book you'll never put down, you must pick Uglies! I have had friends who completely hated it but it must've been a lack of comprehension and openness to a harsh world tainted with lies and mass manipulation. So I suppose it's rather a hit or miss.

-Her
Rating: 7/10

"Prom"- ages 13-16

Prom has the back cover of every other book out there. Ordinary you may say. It was good until page 3, then it changed. The main character, Ashley, is extremely poor and dating a thug whom she plans to run away with after she barely passes high school. Nice right? Oh, I almost forgot to mention she works at a Chuck-E- Cheese. Even better right? The whole time reading I am positive she will have a change of attitude at the end and she will hopefully dump her stupid boyfriend. At the end she sneaks into prom and still doesn't want to go to college. I guess it's a bit better because she does dump her boyfriend...... Anyways, don't be fooled by the cute cover or back cover description, you're not missing anything if you don't read it! Prom by Laurie Halse Anderson.

-Her

Rating: 2/10

"A Kiss in Time"- ages 12-14

As I read 'A Kiss in Time' by Alex Flinn, I was reminded of her other book I have read and reviewed-'Beastly'. Definitely the same majestical yet down to earth feel. Fairtale yet real and a modern novel. Distant yet detailed. Suspenseful yet simplistic. For once, the inside book sleeve does it justice. However, I did get bored at the climax. I was slighlty irritated after Jack (the main character) wakes Talia (the princess) by a kiss. There is a full 15 pages of a confusing scene. The guards are ready to kill Jack... the King is mad..... Jack's friend tries to steal some jewels.... Jack get's thrown into a jail cell... Talia is in trouble for touching the spindle...... and yet they all don't know that they've been asleep for 316 years. Yep, it's complicated.... slightly irritating, but an OK read none the less.



-Her

Rating: 5/10

"Oh My Gods" ages 12-14

When Phobebe's mom comes back from Greece with a new husband, Pheobe is forced to leave her friends, school, and California. When she attends school on an island in Greece and is forced to accept a new life, she finds out the secret to this private school- the kids are descendants of the Greek gods; powers and all. Definitley a light, by the pool read but definitely a good one. The book has been compared to 'The Lightning Thief' but in my opinion much better. I love the Greek mythology aspects without being such a cliche.... I have already reommended this book to one of my friends and she is enjoying it so far. I read this book in...hmmmm.... 2 days. That's all there is to it! Oh My Gods by Tera Lynn Childs.

-Her

Rating: 7/10

"Flawless"- ages 12/15

Hmmmmm........ what should I say? I am torn over my opinion on this book...

Good: I love it's aspects of rumors/hookups/breakups/drama with the incorporation of mystery... I love it for that reason...

Bad: I can't stand it because all of the characters are in a way bad... one stole her sisters boyfriend, one was an ex-bulemic, another moved back from Iceland and randomly hooked up with a guy from a bar who ended up being her teacher, one is starting to have feelings for her girlfriend(nothing wrong with that I just don't want to read about it...). The second in The Pretty Little Liars series, Flawless by Sara Shepard.

-Her

Rating: 5/10

"Chosen"- ages 13-16

Chosen by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast is third in the series of Marked and in my opinion (well, this entire blog is my opinion but you know...) the second best. I love the main character ever since book one. I often feel the heroine of a book is stereotypical and annoying in a way but Zoey was simply realistic and relatively normal(apart from being a vamypre with extreme powers).I liked the plot and enjoyed being pulled into the world of teenage vampyres. This book should not be mistaken for Twilight- if you did not enjoy Twilight still give the Marked books a chance. Don't forget to read the rest of my Marked and Betrayed reviews!

-Her

Rating: 9.5/10

Airhead- ages 11-14

After reading "Airhead", I knew I had to read "Being Nikki", the sequel by Meg Cabot. The book was great from the start, but toward the end of the book, things started to heat up. New characters are involoved and the plot turns, and then turns again, then again! This book is worth getting out the flashlite in the middle of the night and reading under your covers... Needless to say, I couldn't put the book down.... literally. it was always in my hand for a full 2 days until I finished. I am still hungry for more! I am excited to read "Runaway" the 3rd in series. (scroll down for the review of Airhead!)

-Her

Rating: 10/10

The Luxe- ages 12-15

I love this book for three reasons...

1) Has the fabulous socialites you love to read about

2) Includes a twisty- turny plot of desire and forbidden love

3) and... oh yeah.... it's set in the 1800's...

This book is such a nice change from the "We're going out but you can't tell anyone" and the "I am so gonna text him..." or "You backstabber! I thought we were friends! I'm not talking to you now!" Puh-lease.... I need a break! I am not saying this book isn't scandalous with the hook-ups and break-ups, but this book is way more dignified and refreshing then the other petty teen books. I am excited to continue reading the two other books in the series of The Luxe, by Anna Godbersen.

-Her

Rating: 9/10

"Pretty Little Liars"- ages 12- 16

Once a year, my school takes a trip down to the big Barnes and Noble for a book fair. Of course I love it! The bookstore is like my home away from home, or my haven. So, I finally got around to reading one of the books I chose last year called "Pretty Little Liars" by Sarah Shepard. I thought it looked cute, had an OK blurb.... So, I began to read it with low epectations... The book was great and really mysterious. Although the four main characters are quite messed up(one is an ex-bullimic, one loves her sisters boyfriend, one thinks she's gay, and one steals things with her best friend), the story line really pulled me in. In the seventh grade, there were five best friends, and the leader, Ali, goes missing. No one knows or hears from her but she's gone. The girls drift apart and get new friends and boyfriends, until suddenly, they start getting emails, texts, notes from someone named "A". "A" knows all of the girls secrets that only Ali knew... and what is even more parculiar is that "A" could stand for Ali (SEE??). I can't tell you the rest becuase I'll give it all away! I can say, that the girls are really confused after they recieve same text from "A", they know that "A"'s here to say.

-Her

Rating: 8/10

"Betrayed"- ages 13-17

I read "Betrayed" in three days... need I say more? Betrayed by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast is the second in the series of Marked(scroll down for Marked). I loved Marked and I lovedddddd Betrayed even more!!!!!! SO GOOOOOD (makes me wanna scream it out)! So when Zoey, a girl who just got Marked, finally gets settled in at school, gets great friends, has a great boyfriend (or two!) things start to change... and fast.... So many things happen in Zoey's life and she finds someone extremely close turn bad, and someone even closer dead! Things are changing, and before you know it, Zoey is being betrayed.

-Her

Rating: 10/10 (this is rare)

P.S. You may think this book is a copy-cat of "Twilight" but I promise- it's not!

"Confessions of a Shopaholic"- ages 12-17

Yes, I, I saw the movie before I saw the book... So? I still loved it! Definitely a great read! Unlike the movie, many more obstacles take place as Becky, our beloved shopaholic, tries to get rid of her shopping habbit and her debt... This book made my stomach go in nots because it bothered me that she couldn't control herself and just NOT shop. I can imagine it being hard to stop shopping (me being a slight shopaholic myself) but she needed to get over it. Also, the book had a LOT of detail.... not good, not bad, just a lot of what Becky thought, what Becky felt, and what happened to Becky. Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella is a fun and spirited read for the hopeless shopaholics (or not it's still cute)!

-Her

Rating: 6/10

"Betrayed"- ages 13-16

My new favorite book of all time!!! OMG, I don't know where to begin.... This book is the Second book in the Marked series and is so good! I read it in 2 days and loved every part of it! The ending is a slight cliff hanger but it's satisfying at the same time! There were so many surprises and turns in the plot that made the book fresh and interesting. I love Betrayed by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast, as much as I loved Nikolai of the North! Again... the first Marked book had a bit of sexual content and so does this one. There are also swear words but it definitley does not dominate the book or make it exceedingly crude or crass.

-Her

Rating: 10/10

"Down the Rabbit Hole"- ages 9-13

Mysteryyy!!!! I'm already hooked! THIS mystery starts when- a pair of shoes are forgotten somewhere. Yes, you read right.... a pair of shoes. When Ingrid, a young girl, retrieves her shoes, she also retrieves the town's murder mystery that's strewn across all the newspapers. I enjoyed Down the Rabbit Hole by Peter Abrahams.

-Her

Rating: 4/10

"Airhead"- ages 12-14

What would you do if your brain was put into the most famous, wealthiest model of your time? Yeah, I don't know and neither does Em Watts. A great storyline, a great main character(or two... no one, but kind of 2... oh, you'll see!) and a great balance of glamour and reality... I (her) loved it with two thumbs up and eight and a half stars!!!! Airhead by Meg Cabot.

-Her

Rating: 8 and a half/10

"The Lightning Thief"- ages 9-12

I read this book last summer for school and I was reminded of it when I was at the movies last night and saw the preview for the movie. I was able to enjoy the book but, at times, thought the events were slightly forced. I mean, I felt like the way they just happened to find a hotel that was really fun but slightly suspicious and time moves faster so they have less time to get to the end was too easy and uncreative. This book is one of many others in a series so if you enjoy this one, you may like to read the others! The Lightning Thief, by Rick Riordan.

-Her
Rating: 4/10

"The Twilight Saga"- ages 9-100

I am pretty sure that almost everyone has heard of the Twilight series. I am not going to go into a review of the book- more like a brief update about how I feel about them. I have read all in the series and love each one! If you ever had a doubt in your mind, these are great books and are not inappropriate. The characters deal with love, and confusion in a tasteful way, with a twist- vampires. The Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer is a must read according to me!

-Her

Rating: 9/10 

"Nickolai of the North"- ages 9-11

I do not have a book I could recommend more. For a girl, for a boy: this book was my all-time favorite book when I was 10! Yes, I know that 'how Santa came to be' has been written about and talked about in movies many times, but this book was able to create a world in mind unlike any other book. The story filled me up inside and the evil character had me shaking in my boots (...most likely cute flats)! All I have to say is READ THIS BOOK!!!! Nickolai of the North, By Lucy Daniel Raby

-Her

Rating: 10/10

"The Mother-Daughter Book Club"- ages 8-12

The Mother-Daughter Book Club by Heather Vogel Frederick, was a novel that I decided to pluck off the shelf at the book store purely out of the cute cover and relateable title. I started the book with high hopes and was disappointed to find the characters dull and annoying. Each character was pathetic and just a stereo type of the different types of "girls" that an unimaginitave adult writter would come up with. In every book I begin to read, I give it a go until page 50. This book was disappointing, uncreative, uncontinuable and I could not bear to finish.

-Her

Rating: 0/10

"The Black Sheep"- ages 9-12

Kendra Bishop is a 15 year old, fed up with a binder full of rules, strict lifestyle and conveyer belt life to becoming a banker. So, she writes a letter to the new reality tv show, The Black Sheep, which will swap her and another teen for a month. Kendra finds herself living with a new family, in Monterey, CA, and falling for their son, Mitch. But with Judy, the show producer, who follows her everywhere and invades her privacy, will not stop until the show gets higher ratings. This book is The Black Sheep, by Yvonne Collins and Sandy Rideout. ***Recomended as "by the pool" reading. Definitley an easy, light, fun read!!***

-Her

Rating: 6/10

"Beastly"- ages 12-14

Once upon a time, in nowaday NYC, lives a ninth grade boy. Kyle Kingsbury is gorgeous, popular and rich. He's also rude, arrogant, and snobby. A young girl named Kendra is the only one who can truly see his "ugly side", and she turns him into a beast. Of course, theres a catch (isn't there always in a farytale???), Kyle has two years to break the spell and kiss a girl who truly loves him, no matter WHAT he looks like, in Beastly by Alex Flinn.

-Her

Rating: 7/10

"The Westing Game"- ages 12-15

Who would've thought that a summer reading book for school could turn out to be one of my most recommend books? This murder mystery is cleverly written with shocking characters and a wonderful twisty-turny plot! Once the wealthy Sam Westing is found dead in his mansion, 16 planned heirs are competeing against each for the millions of dollars inheritance. What do the clues mean and what are they really competeing for? I must say, this book has a very satisfying ending that truly makes this book a classic. The Westing Game, by Ellen Raskin.

-Her

Rating: 9/10

"Marked"- ages 13-16

Vampyres, love, hatred. Is it Twilight? Nope... but just as good! Marked by PC Cast and Kristin Cast, a mother-daughter writing team, is a tale about a young girl who lives a normal life, but one day, she's marked, meaning she's destined to become a fledgling vampyre at The House of Night. The House of Night is a vamyre finishing school that helps young marked kids go through "the Change" and become full vampyres. All the people in the book are aware of vampyres and hope not to be a vamypre or get marked... they live their life hoping not to turn out like "the freaks". But once Zoey gets marked, her life completely changes!!! She has responsibility and power beyond the normal fledgling given to her by the Goddess Nyx herself. While kids are dying left and right from "the change", Zoey falls for the handsome Erik, becomes enemies with the meanest, most popular girl in school, makes some really great new friends, and fulfills her rightful duties given to her by the Goddess. I couldn't put it down from sentence one! I warn you though, definitely some, okay, a lot of bad words and some sexual content.... but it's still really-really-REALLY good!

-Her

Rating: 9/10

"Centre Stage"- ages 8-10

Lights... camera... action! Sophie has a hard time fitting in for secondary school, especially because she has just been in a lead role in a movie! Like every new girl, Sophie just wants to be accepted and have a role in the school's Christmas play. But how will Sophie conquer the dances, or more importantly, middle school? Find out more in Center Stage, by Linda Chapman.

-Her

Rating: 5/10  

"Nora's Surprise"- ages 4-7

One sunny afternoon, Nora and her friends have been invited to a tea party with the near by Geese. An unwanted visitor arrives and is shunned and brought down by the others. The story ends when the visitor sends a mysterious package, and you realize he is kind, sweet, and compassionate! With enchanting water colors and loving characters, Nora's Surprise by Satomi Ichikawa, is one picture book that definitely should not be missed!  

-Her

Rating: 7/10

"Mama, Coming and Going"- ages 5-8

Moms. They do a lot for us…and sometimes…not everything happens they way they plan! In Mama, Coming and Going, the author, Judith Caseley perceives the mistakes and miraculous workings of our mothers from the perspective of a young and eager daughter. After the birth of the baby brother, things begin to go wrong: the car breaks down, the mom forgets to make dinner, the bath-tub overflowing and, yet, they have a good time! This heart warming picture book describes the relationship between a positive daughter and a busy yet loving mother!

-Her

Rating: 8/10

"Chocolatina"- ages 5-7

Fantasy, cute characters, and CHOCOLATE????? Yep, it’s Chocolatina by Erik Kraft! Like every girl in the world (except my friend Kiki), Tina is overly obsessed with chocolate… But… what do you do when you wake up and realize you’ve been turned into chocolate? Throughout this imaginative story and the delicious illustrations, Erik Kraft explores a plot-twisting story where the least expected character tries to take a bite out of Tina. This creative and adorable story line is one that everyone will relate to and is the perfect bedtime story for every girl! Sweet dreams!

-Her

Rating: 9/10