Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Across the Universe (Across the Universe, #1) by Beth Revis

Across the Universe (Across the Universe, #1) by Beth Revis
Hardcover, 398 pages
Published January 11th 2011 by Razorbill
A love out of time. A spaceship built of secrets and murder.
Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.
Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone-one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship-tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn’t do something soon, her parents will be next.
Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed’s hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there’s only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.  – Goodreads
My opinion: This was definitely something that was different, although it sort of reminded me of Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder and those of you who have read it, can see the similarities that I won’t mention. The book has two narrators, Amy and Elder. They are both teenagers, only difference is that one is from space (a spaceship) while the other was cryogenicaly  frozen on Earth. Elder is trying to figure out how to be a better future leader than Eldest, while Amy is trying to figure out who wants the other “frozens” dead and who is trying to murder them.

The plot of this book was pretty interesting, we are out in space in a ship that is about the size of a Japanese island (I believe it was said in the book), lets just say that the ship is HUGE. The mystery back-up to the story makes the whole experience of Amy being a place/location that is so completely different from what she is used to. I really liked that Beth Revis made it so that in the beginning when Amy was still frozen, we know what she is feeling and thinking. I thought that was a great point to make in the novel. I also really liked that Elder admits to his mistakes and that he regrets it and feels sorry for it. I also really liked how the characters change as the story continues. Elder learns what a real leader is supposed to be like and Amy learns the truth and she wants to improve the condition of the ship and its people. I also really liked that Amy was an individual on the ship, because she was so completely different from the people on it (from the inside to outside looks). It makes the whole experience that she goes through more real for us, the readers.

And the cover… can you say gorgeous?

Overall: 4.5 out of 5

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Selfish Elf Wish by Heather Swain

This is an awesome book about an elf family that moves from their world of Averland to Brooklyn. The novel features two cousins who attend high school, fall in love for the first time and celebrate their first Thanksgiving. A twist occurs when two bad elves cast bad spells on the cousins so they can locate Averland.Take my advice and read this awesome book. This is the second book in a series but you do not need to read the first book to understand the action in the second book.

Winter Reading Review by Massera

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

When Grace was little she was pulled off a tire swing and dragged into the woods by a pack of wolves.One wolf with captivating yellow eyes turned human to save her.Now Grace looks out her window hoping to see her yellow eyed wolf. When a local boy disappears the town decides that it is time to kill the wolves once and for all. Grace stops them from shooting at the wolves but when she comes home discovers a boy who has the same eyes as her wolf, bledding all over. She helps the wolf, he tells her that he changes into a wolf when it starts to get cold and both of them try to keep their love alive, despite many troubles. This supernatural romance covers the themes of coming of age and self-confidence. During parts of the book I couldn't help but smile nonstop since the moments were so pure and I could feel the warmth of the moment in the pit of my stomach. This book expresses that if you truly love someone even though he changes physically you shouldn't stop loving them. This is an amazing and captivating book. If you love this book read the second book in the trilogy, Linger. The third book will be coming out next summer.

Winter Reading Review by Aimee

Absolute Brightness

Girls will love this novel. It shows that it is ok to be different. It also alerts us to be more forgiving and loving.

Winter Reading Review by Sherlina

Faery Rebels Spell Hunter by R.J. Anderson

This novel gives an insider's look on the less beautiful aspects of the faery realm. Knife is a spunky, young heroine ready to sacrifice for love. I give it four out of five stars.

Winter Reading Review by Grace

Blank Confession by Pete Hautman

I liked how the story was told by different people so that the the reader experiences various viewpoints of the story line.The novel starts off in a confession room with a teenage boy with a disturbed nervous face confessing to the police. The reader will find out that there is much more behind that face. Never judge a book by its cover. This is a beautiful book full of mystery and action.
Winter Reading Review by Alina



The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Amazing! This book will keep you on the edge of your seat. I was unable to put the book down! I couldn't stop reading and every page lured me in with new suspense. Great book for guys and girls with a perfect balance of fighting and emotion.

Teen Winter Reading Review by Sherlina