Graduation

This last semester was very hectic! I read hardly anything, and continue to stress over school. I only have two weeks left, one of classes and one of finals. After that... I graduate from College! YAY!

After graduation I'll be back on the site, updating with posts, contests, interviews, etc.

Can't wait to get back.

Dear John

Dear John by Nicholas Sparks

Release Date: October 30th, 2006
Publisher: Warner Books
Age Group: Adult
Pages: 276
Overall:

An angry rebel, John dropped out of school and enlisted in the Army, not knowing what else to do with his life--until he meets the girl of his dreams, Savannah. Their mutual attraction quickly grows into the kind of love that leaves Savannah waiting for John to finish his tour of duty, and John wanting to settle down with the woman who captured his heart. But 9/11 changes everything. John feels it is his duty to re-enlist. And sadly, the long separation finds Savannah falling in love with someone else. "Dear John," the letter read...and with those two words, a heart was broken and two lives were changed forever. Returning home, John must come to grips with the fact that Savannah, now married, is still his true love--and face the hardest decision of his life.

Nicholas Sparks has a way of writing characters that readers immediately care about. I was happy when John was happy, I was sad when he was sad, and I was angry when he was angry. I felt exactly what John was feeling and it was an intense read that I highly enjoyed.

John and Savannah are character that immediately become favorites and friends. John goes into the world of falling in love, going to war, and losing the love of his life. John is a guy that girls want and yet he is normal in a human way that lets him find his own self and how to relate to his father. Savannah is a girl that readers love and hate. Her choices make us immediately side with John, but not because she is wrong in her decisions. Instead, it is because we simply know John better than we know her. We understand why she does what she does, but that doesn’t mean we agree with it.

Nicholas Sparks’ writing style is great. It is from John’s perspective as he tells us the story of how he met Savannah and his experiences with her. While it is from his point of view, Sparks does a great job of giving us an insight into Savannah’s head without letting on too much since John will not know what is actually going on in her head. The overall story telling is great and I loved following the story.

I have read a few others of Nicholas Sparks’ works, and plan on reading more in the near future. I have seen the movie and will do a comparative blog about it at a later date.

Who Might Like This Book:
Love Story Lovers
Nicholas Sparks Lovers
Self Discovery Lovers

Plot:

Character:

Writing:

Cover:

Percy Jackson: The Last Olympian

Percy Jackson: The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan

Release Date: July 5th, 2009
Publisher: Hyperion
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 591
Overall:

All year the half-bloods have been preparing for battle against the Titans, knowing the odds of victory are grim. Kronos's army is stronger than ever, and with every god and half-blood he recruits, the evil Titan's power only grows. While the Olympians struggle to contain the rampaging monster Typhon, Kronos begins his advance on New York City, where Mount Olympus stands virtually unguarded. Now it's up to Percy Jackson and an army of young demigods to stop the Lord of Time.

This is the final book in the Percy Jackson story. It is time for him to come to terms with the Prophecy that was foretold long before he was even born. Also, he is going to finally come up against his ultimate enemy: Kronos. The question everyone has is who will come up on top? The Titans? The Gods? No one? Only time will tell.

This book has it all. Romance is a new exciting feature in this book. Percy finally comes to terms with his own personal feelings. Also, he explores his friendships and what it means to be a true hero. Percy grows a lot in this story and by the time it ends, the reader knows Percy better than when the first book begins. This book is also full of adventure and fight scenes. It is an overall exciting book.

The ending is satisfying. While I love the series and want to read more about Percy and the Half-Bloods, the ending left nothing unresolved. I really can’t wait to read more about Camp Half-blood and other demigods.

Who Might Like This Book:
Harry Potter Lovers
Mythology Lovers

Plot:

Character:

Writing:

Cover:

Percy Jackson: The Battle of the Labyrinth

Percy Jackson: The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan

Release Date: May 6th 2008
Publisher: Hyperion
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 362
Overall:

Percy Jackson's fourth summer at Camp Half-Blood is much like his previous three—high-octane clashes with dark forces, laced with hip humor and drama. Opening with a line for the ages—The last thing I wanted to do on my summer break was blow up another school—this penultimate series installment finds Percy, Annabeth and the satyr Grover furiously working to prevent former camp counselor Luke from resurrecting the Titan lord Kronos, whose goal is to overthrow the gods. When the heroes learn that Luke can breach Camp Half-Blood's security through an exit from Daedalus's Labyrinth, they enter the maze in search of the inventor and a way to stop the invasion. Along the way they encounter a lifetime supply of nightmare-inducing, richly imagined monsters. Grover's own quest to find the lost god Pan, meanwhile, provides a subtle environmental message.

This book just sends the story even deeper as it explores not only what it means to be a hero, but also the relationships between the characters. Annabeth and Percy have grown much closer in this book, but there is still a lingering disappointment when it comes to Luke and possible feelings Annabeth may harbor for him. Percy gets the chance to leave the battle behind, and yet he preserves like any true hero, along with the help of his friends.

The reader also gets to meet some more Gods in this book including Hephaestus who is seen in overalls with his name embroidered on it as if he were working at an automobile repair shop. We meet the mysterious Calypso, and some interesting creatures who are obviously up to no good.

The best part of this book that intrigues not only guys but girls who like a little action is the fight scene. It was great to see how even though the army might be small, with companionship and friendship anything can be overcome.

I absolutely love this series and enjoy just getting to enter the world of Half-bloods.

Who Might Like This Book:
Harry Potter Lovers
Mythology Lovers

Plot:

Character:

Writing:

Cover:

Percy Jackson: The Titan's Curse

Percy Jackson: The Titan’s Curse by Rick Riordan

Release Date: May 1st 2007
Publisher: Disney Press
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 320
Overall:

When the goddess Artemis goes missing, she is believed to have been kidnapped. And now it's up to Percy and his friends to find out what happened. Who is powerful enough to kidnap a goddess? They must find Artemis before the winter solstice, when her influence on the Olympian Council could swing an important vote on the war with the Titans. Not only that, but first Percy will have to solve the mystery of a rare monster that Artemis was hunting when she disappeared -- a monster rumored to be so powerful it could destroy Olympus forever.

There were so many things happening in this book, that it was sometimes difficult to guess what was going to happen. When the Oracle recited the prophecy of saving Artemis, like many of the characters, I thought it meant one thing, when it meant something entirely different. This book was one that I couldn’t put down because I had to know what happened.

It is in this book that the relationship between Percy and Annabeth really starts to become apparent. For anyone who knows anything of stories revolving between two characters, one male, one female, know that they will probably end up together. While this story is not surprising in that fact, it is fun to see how they slowly decide how they feel about each other.

While the other books before this one basically set up the story line and introduced vital characters, this book starts to center on the war against Kronos. Readers learn more about how Kronos is affecting the world around him.

We also get to meet more mythological characters like Atlas and Calypso. My favorite group is the Hunters of Artemis, who bring their own personal twist in the story which become vital in the other books later on. This series has easily become one of my favorites.

Who Might Like This Book:
Harry Potter Lovers
Mythology Lovers

Plot:

Character:

Writing:

Cover:

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan

Release Date: April 1st 2006
Publisher: Disney Press
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 385
Overall:

After a summer spent trying to prevent a catastrophic war among the Greek gods, Percy Jackson is finding his seventh-grade school year unnervingly quiet. His biggest problem is dealing with his new friend, Tyson, a six-foot-three, mentally challenged homeless kid who follows Percy everywhere, making it hard for Percy to have any normal friends. But things don't stay quiet for long.

Percy soon discovers there is trouble at Camp Half-Blood: the magical borders that protect Half-Blood Hill have been poisoned by a mysterious enemy, and the only safe haven for demigods is on the verge of being overrun by mythological monsters. To save the camp, Percy needs the help of his best friend, Grover, who has been taken prisoner on an island somewhere in the Sea of Monsters, the dangerous waters Greek heroes have sailed for millennia. Only today, the Sea of Monsters goes by a new name: The Bermuda Triangle.

Together with his friends, Percy must retrieve the Golden Fleece from the Island of the Cyclopes or Camp Half-Blood will be destroyed. But first, Percy will learn a stunning new secret about his family, one that makes him question whether being claimed as Poseidon's son is an honor or simply a cruel joke.

Like the first book, this book was amazing. I loved learning more about the world that Percy Jackson and his friends live in. It would be amazing to join that world, which makes it a new absolute favorite of mine.

The characters become even more detailed in this book. It is easy to see a budding relationship happening between certain characters, as well as learn to love new characters that are brought in. Tyson is one of my new favorite characters and he is adorable! I love how he treats Percy and is so protective of Annabeth. We also get to see more amazing takes on mythological beings such as the Cyclops that Odysseus encounters.

The thing that I love about this series is how easy it is to get drawn into the world, making it impossible to leave even more a second. Just like any other good series (thinking along the lines of Harry Potter), this series makes the reader wish they could simply jump into the pages and join the adventure.

I just love it.

Who Might Like This Book:
Harry Potter Lovers
Mythology Lovers

Plot:

Character:

Writing:

Cover:

Teaser Tuesday (9)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme held by Should Be Reading and here is my Teaser for today.

”Hi, Abby. How was your day?”

“The usual.” Liar, Liar, Pants on fire…

“Did you have any standout readings?” My sister loved to hear about the people I read. Tales of my clients were a bit of a soap opera for her, and typically I would rattle off a list of the highlights, but I just didn’t have it tonight.

Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye by Victoria Laurie, Pg. 124

The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians)

Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

Release Date: July 2005
Publisher: Disney Press
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 385
Overall:

Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can’t seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. And lately, being away at boarding school is only getting worse—Percy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him. When Percy’s mom finds out, she knows it’s time that he knew the truth about where he came from, and that he go to the one place he’ll be safe. She sends Percy to Camp Half-Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island), where he learns that the father he never knew is Poseidon, God of the Sea. Soon a mystery unfolds and together with his friends—one a satyr and the other the demigod daughter of Athena—Percy sets out on a quest across the United States to reach the gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods.

This is Book One in the Percy Jackson series and I absolutely loved it. It created a Secondary World that existed within modern day America, which is partly why I love the Twilight Saga, and more importantly, the Harry Potter series. The entire series is set in a similar fashion to that of Harry Potter with a few exceptions: Percy Jackson is a demi-god; The Greek Gods are very important to the story; Oh and they go to a summer camp.

I loved the characters. Percy couldn’t be more of a hero as he struggles with his identity, his powers and his people skills. He makes many friends along the way including other demi-gods, nature spirits, and creatures of the ocean. He also makes many enemies with his peers, elders…and maybe a god or two. However, his trusty sidekick Grover and best friend Annabeth are there to help keep him in line. Grover believes in him, giving him courage when he needs it while Annabeth brings logic and wisdom to the group, as is her nature. The other characters are represented in fun ways including Medusa and Ares. No one would expect to see the Greek Gods represented in such a way, and it is enjoyable as Rick does it.

The writing is fun and easy to read. It gives you insight into Percy’s head, and though it can be frustrating at times because it is obvious someone else (Annabeth, typically) knows information vital to the story that he hasn’t discovered yet. It also works well with the age that Percy is, especially since the reader can see a few things coming in the future books when he’s older, Percy is portrayed perfectly at the age of twelve.

This was the first book in a long time where I couldn’t wait to pick up the sequel. I read it in a day without any trouble. It was a great read and I recommend it to anyone who likes to read.

Who Might Like This Book:
Harry Potter Lovers
Mythology Lovers

Plot:

Character:

Writing:

Cover:

Teaser Tuesday (9)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme held by Should Be Reading and here is my Teaser for today.

Both zombies were safe in their beds, sleeping it off. They'd snooze through the day and wake up around sunset, starving, but no longer craving human blood. Five or six pizzas each, and they'd be as good as new. Or as good as newly risen anyway.

Dead Town by Nancy Holzner, pg 138

Skeleton Creek

Skeleton Creek by Patrick Carman

Release Date: February 1st, 2009
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 185
Overall:

S trange things are happening in Skeleton Creek . . . and Ryan and Sarah are trying to get to the heart of it. But after an eerie accident leaves Ryan housebound and forbidden to see Sarah, their investigation takes two tracks: Ryan records everything in his journal, while Sarah uses her videocam to search things out. . .and then email the clips for Ryan to see.

In a new, groundbreaking format, the story is broken into two parts -- Ryan's text in the book, and Sarah's videos on a special website, with links and passwords given throughout the book.

This book is unlike anything I have ever read before. It combines reading and the Internet in a spectacular way. The marketing aspect of the book is what really got me hooked when I joined a bunch of kids who were trying to depict whether or not it was real but clues that Patrick Carman set up months before its release at http://www.skeletoncreekisreal.com. It was fun to get into the story before it even came out.

The characters are pretty realistic, especially when you can see Sarah and read Ryan’s thoughts. It feels as if the reader is following along with them as they try and figure out this ghost story. Even the clips that are given throughout the story to show Sarah’s point of view, allow it to become more realistic and intriguing than other books.

The writing style and video style is what one would expect of the ages that are portrayed through the characters. It feels as if you are actually reading the journal of Ryan, instead of just a story that someone is writing. The incomplete and random thoughts that he has, makes the idea of him existing a little more real. By combining that with Sarah’s videos, it makes the entire story more relatable and approachable to those who do not necessarily like to read.

Who Might Like This Book:
Ghost Story Lovers
Mystery Lovers

Plot:

Character:

Writing:

Cover: