The Scorch Trials

The Scorch Trials

By James Dashner

Pages: 384

Publisher: Ember      

Genre: Sci-Fi, Futuristic

Rating: A

Recommended to: Ages 11+

The Gladers have escaped the maze and gotten to safety - right? Wrong. After they were rescued, a man arrives and sends them out on another quest. This time, Thomas, Minho, Newt, Frypan and all the others that survived the Maze must set out into the Scorch; and struggle through a city full of 'Cranks,' or crazed people who have gotten infected with the Flare. The city is scorching hot during the day and dangerous at night. One thing keeps Thomas going; the promise of a cure for the Flare, the virus that came with the Sun Flares, that he has been diagnosed with, if only he and his friends reach the safe haven.

      I absolutely loved The Scorch Trials! James Dashner has again delivered an AMAZING sequel to his first book in the series, The Maze Runner. This was an exciting read, I flipped through page after page of mystery, romance, puzzles, and struggles. Thomas is a great main character; he is courageous, intelligent, and, I think, a natural leader. The character development is excellent. I can't even imagine what it would be like to go through what these kids have to do. I have no criticisms for this book, and am already flying to the end of The Death Cure, the third book of this series. I highly recommend this book (but make sure to read The Maze Runner first!).

A Poisoned Season

A Poisoned Season
By Tasha Alexander
Pages: 306
Publisher: HarperCollins, 2007
Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery
Rating: B+
Recommended to: Girls, ages 11+





      A Poisoned Season, by Tasha Alexander, is the thrilling sequel to And Only To Decieve. In this exciting installment, Lady Emily Ashton returns with another mystery to solve, and this one threatens  her reputation, her romance with Colin Hargreaves, and possibly her life. London's Season is filled with balls, parties, and dinners, but also gossip about a man claiming to be the descendent of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. A burglar is on the hunt for all of Marie Antoinette's possessions, now scattered throughout the wealthiest homes in London, and Mr. Francis is found murdered. Emily must solve the mystery of the cat burglar and the truth behind Mr. Francis' untimely end.
      I found this sequel to be as intriguing, exciting, and action-packed as it's predecessor. Lady Aston's excursions through London were well written, and the ending could be described as unpredictable, although for me it was a little too neat and clean. Emily is a perfect heroine, and the other characters were developed to perfection. I loved kind, sweet Ivy, handsome Colin, Emily's society-obsessed mother, and the "romance" between Jeremy and Margaret. Overall, I loved this novel, and am already devouring the next installment in Ms. Alexander's series, A Fatal Waltz.

Sorry I haven't posted any reviews for so long - I have had so much homework lately!

The Maze Runner

The Maze Runner
by James Dashner
Pages: 400
Publisher: Delacorte Press, 2010
Genre: Sci-Fi
Rating: A
Recommended to: Ages 11-15




The Maze Runner, by James Dashner, starts with a creepy scene in where Thomas wakes up in a old elevator with no memory of anything but his first name. There, a group of teenage boys greet him, and welcome him to the Glade. The Glade is a small community inhabited only by teenage boys. Outside the big, heavy doors that shut menacingly each night is a maze filled with dangerous things. None of the other Gladers know any more that Thomas, only that the stone walls open every morning, close every night, and every 30 days, a new boy comes to join them. But the day after Thomas arrives, the elevator rises again, this time bringing the unexpected; a girl with a ominous message and a curious connection with Thomas.
      I absolutely loved The Maze Runner. It was recommended to me by a friend, and once I got my hands on a copy, I couldn't put it down. The suspense was incredible, and the fact that you knew only the same information as Thomas (that is to say nothing) added to the mystery. Mr. Dashner's writing style added to the vibe of the book, and the ending left me hanging - and wanting more. I can't wait to read the sequel, The Scorch Trials. 

Forest Born: Lost Chapter

Forest Born: Lost Chapter
by Shannon Hale

I was looking around on Shannon Hale's official site and stumbled upon a chapter to Forest Born, the last of the Books of Bayern. This chapter is one the Ms. Hale had to cut from her novel, and although some things changed in the book after writing this chapter, resulting in some confusing bits (you'll still understand it), it is a fun treat. Forest Born is my favorite of all four books.

Find the lost chapter here:  http://www.squeetus.com/stage/forest_lostchapter.html
Spoiler alert!!!! Don't read if you haven't read Forest Born yet.

Enna Burning

Enna Burning
By: Shannon Hale
Pages: 317
Publisher: Bloomsbury U.S.A. Children's Books, 2004
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: A
Recommended to: Girls 10-15



Enna Burning, sequel to The Goose Girl, had high expectations. In my opinion, this book fulfilled them. Enna, Isi's friend in Bayern, was born and raised in the forest. Shortly after the end of the first novel, Enna moves back to her childhood home after her mother falls ill and dies. One day, after borrowing embers from her neighbor to start the fire in the hearth, Enna returns home to find the fire already blazing, and her older brother Leifer (who was out hunting) sitting in front of it, holding a strange vellum. He won't tell her about it, but she soon finds out that this has given him the power to make fire, burn things, and control fire. He's a fire-speaker. Enna soon realizes that, although Leifer has the power of fire, it's consuming him, and travels to the city of Bayern, searching for Isi's help with Leifer. Once there, Enna knows that Isi won't be of any help, because she is dealing with her wind-speaking taking over her. On top of all this, the neighboring country of Tira invades Bayern. Enna finds the vellum and learns the secrets of fire herself, looking to help win the war. Will the power of fire speaking be too much for her to handle?

Recent Reads

Recent Reads

The Aristobrats by Jennifer Solow

   Parker and her three best friends are so excited for eighth 

grade. They are finally the most popular and fashionable girls 

in school - but will that all change when they are assigned to 

do the school's super boring webcast?

Rating: B- Recommended to: Girls 11-14

   I felt that this book lacked a lot of the heart and feeling of 

other friendship novels. The characters were well developed 

but not easy to relate to, and the book seemed very shallow. An 

okay read.

The Selection by Kiera Cass

America doesn't want to be part of the Selection, an event

where 35 girls are picked from the kingdom of Illea to try to

 win the heart of Prince Maxon, and be the next queen. The 

odds are with her, but somehow she still gets chosen. Will this 

change everything?

Rating: A Recommended to: Girls 12+

This book is a great read. The writing style, characters, and plot

 are all amazing and it should definitley be read by everyone who enjoys

dresses, romance, and royalty.

Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George

   Princess Rose loved to dance. But now, after years of being 

forced to dance for the evil King Under Stone after a bargain 

made by their mother, Rose and her 11 younger sisters hate dancing. 

Will humble Galen be able to figure out the tie that keeps the sisters 

dancing, or will he be discouraged and sent away like the gallant princes 

who tried before him? 

Rating: A  Recommended to: Girls 10-14

   I loved this book. The sisters are so different and fun to read about, Galen

is everything a noble peasant should be, and the evil King is wonderfully

described. This book is truly exceptional.

 Gone With The Wind By Margaret Mitchell

Scarlett O'Hara is quite the Southern Belle. When

a burst of jealousy implants the idea to marry Charles

Hamilton, Scarlett doesn't think; she just acts. This

attitude carries her through the rest of her life, effecting

in many mistakes, through many twists and turns.

Rating: A  Recommended to: Ages 12+

Gone With the Wind is an amazing tale. Filled with

crude manipulative decisions, heartbreaking romance, and 

terrible tragedy, it is a must-read for everyone.

 

There's No Place Like Home By Jen Calonita

   Kaitlin Burke returns to LA to star in the hit show Small Fries

with Sky. She doesn't like being constantly followed by paparazzi,

and just wants a normal life. After a bad car crash, things are about

to go really weird. Maybe Kaitlin actually does like her crazy life?

Rating: C  Recommended to: Girls 11-13 

   The finale to Secrets of My Hollywood Life was much

less than expected. I felt that the series had been going downhill since

Paparazzi Princess, and this confirmed it. There was no character development besides Kaitlin's, the middle 200 pages were so boring, and it just dragged on and on. I wouldn't recommend this book.

Starters by Lissa Price

Callie doesn't want anything to do with the body bank, a creepy place 

where you can rent out your young body to 100-200 year old Enders, so 

they can be young again. The only thing that keeps her there is her 
younger brother, Ty. Ever since the spores wiped out every human 
between the ages of 20 and 60, she is all he has left. But when being 
rented, an odd event occurs, and Callie must survive countless events
 thrown at her.

Rating: A  Recommended to: Ages 11+

This book is a terrific novel full of suspence, creepy ideas, and 
futuristic things. Callie is a total kickbutt, spunky, character, and will 
stop at nothing to put to an end what she believes is wrong. A must-read.

The Goose Girl

The Goose Girl
By: Shannon Hale
Pages: 383
Publisher: Bloomsbury U.S.A Children's Books, 2003
Genre: Fantasy
Recommended to: Girls 10-15

       The Goose Girl, by Shannon Hale, is an amazing fantasy tale of the Crown Princess of Kildenree, Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee. From a small girl she had been taught by her aunt tales of a time when all creatures could communicate with each other. She learns the language of swans, and sees a colt being born with his name on his tongue; Falada. This starts their ability to speak to each other. Her mother mistrusts Ani's magic, and she sends her away to wed the prince of Bayern, but on Ani's travels through the forest, her lady-in-waiting, Selia, and the majority of her guard turned against her. Will Ani be able to stop them? Or will the poor princess be lost in the forest alone?

      This masterpiece, Shannon Hale's retelling of the German folklore, is just about perfect. Ani is a sweet, spunky princess, who loves her horse and the swans she speaks with more then almost anything else. Selia is just what a villain should be; deceptive, manipulative, and powerful. All the characters are very well developed, especially all of Ani's new friends in Bayern. I loved this book, and the rest of the Books of Bayern series.

New Feature!

      Hey everyone! I have been reading many books, and haven't had time to review them all. That's why I'm adding this new way you can learn my thoughts about great books, and recommendations of books to read. I am hoping to have a list up of all the books I've recently read but have not had time to review, along with a short one-sentence summary, a rating, and my quick thoughts about pros and cons of the novel. Hope you enjoy it!!!
      ~ Butterfly

The Sweetest Spell

The Sweetest Spell
By: Suzanne Selfors
Pages: 290
Publisher: Walker Publishing Company, Inc., 2012
Genre: Fantasy
Recommended to: Girls 11-14





     The Sweetest Spell, by Suzanne Selfors, is set in an ancient kingdom where Emmeline lives in the Flatlands, and is shunned because of her curled foot. Born this way, she was cast out to the woods with other unwanted newborns. Like magic, the milkman's cows protected her through the night, and after being found in the morning by the milkman, was forever discarded by the citizens, wary of her "black magic." Then one day, during the annual husband market, royal soldiers show up to ship off all unmarried man, claiming to need men for the war in the mineral fields. Only a day later, it starts to rain. And rain. And rain some more, for seven straight days. The Flatlands are flooding! Families evacuate their small village, and Emmeline is washed down river to Wander, where a kind, good-looking boy finds her and helps her, Owen. This starts her incredible journey of churning cream into chocolate, the unknown sweet, and what this talent brings her.
      I loved The Sweetest Spell, from start to finish. Emmeline was sweet, good, spunky, and a perfect heroine. Owen seemed like the perfect guy, and was so cute when he would stop at nothing to get Emmeline back, although he thought he didn't have a chance. The fantasy was a little predictable, poor girl discovers magic, is then loved by all, etc., and the ending was a bit too quick and neat, but I still enjoyed it and the subplot involving the Kells and their rights was fantastic. I loved the writing style Suzanne Selfors used. Overall, The Sweetest Spell was just that; a sweet, lovely fairy tale/fantasy.

Double Identity

Double Identity
By: Margaret Peterson Haddix
Pages: 218
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Genre: Mystery
Rating: A+
Recommended to: Boys and Girls 10-14




      Twelve-year-old Bethany is a normal girl with two normal parents, although they are very protective about her safety and have an uncanny knack for predicting the things she'll need right when she needs them - such as glasses. She doesn't think anything is wrong until she approaches her thirteenth birthday. Her mother cries all the time and her father is acting oddly. One day he packs the whole family in the car and drives to somewhere unknown, across many states, and leaves Bethany with Myrlie, an aunt she never knew she had. She hears him tell her "She doesn't know anything about Elizabeth." But Myrlie won't tell her who Elizabeth is, or why everyone in town seems to recognize her. Then she gets a package from her dad with four different birth certificates for her - all with different last names, coming from four different states, and thousands of dollars. A strange man shows up at the house asking odd questions, and Myrlie knows all of Bethany's favorite foods. The mystery gets stranger and stranger, and Bethany is desperate to find out the secrets of her past everyone is holding from her.
      This book is exciting, thrilling, tragic, and a bit creepy. It will keep you up all night waiting for an answer to the strange happenings going on - I think the first time I read this I read it in one sitting. Bethany is a great main character. The twists that this book throws at you are incredible, and well thought, out, for the end is nothing you would expect, even though Margaret Peterson Haddix writes clues along the way. The ending is a bit quick, but the characters are realistic and interesting, and it is a fantastic read for anyone looking for a great mysterious mystery!!

The Golden Compass

The Golden Compass
By: Phillip Pullman
Pages: 399
Publisher: Yearling
Genre: Fantasy, Coming-of-Age
Rating: A
Recommended to: Ages 11+




      Lyra Belacqua roams the halls of Jordan College, her home, and rampages through the streets of Oxford with the other children and her daemon, Pantalaimon, or Pan. But when her uncle Lord Asriel arrives bringing the news of the mysterious, strange particle found in the Arctic, Dust, Lyra sets of on a journey filled with new friends, mystery, danger, Gobblers, witches, polar bears, dust, children, and daemons. With the remarkable ability to read the alethiometer, a device used for knowledge, Lyra is prepared, but will it be enough? For she is the one in the prophency destined to end this battle.
      This book has a mysterious, other-worldy vibe to it that pulls you in and doesn't let go. Lyra is everything in a heroine; brave, kind, sweet, fearless, along with being innocent, oblivious and youthful. Her daemon, Pan, tries to lead Lyra to do what is right, but his youthfulness shows through. The villains are perfect; always changing and unknown. This is a truly remarkable book and left me clamoring for the sequel.

Janey's Girl

Janey's Girl
By: Gayle Friesen
Pages: 224
Publisher: Kids Can Press, August 1998
Genre: Coming-of-Age, Contemporary Fiction
Rating: A+
Recommended to: Girls 11-14




      Clarissa (nicknamed Claire) is fourteen the summer she and her single mom take a road trip to visit the town her mom grew up in, and her grandma. She hasn't been there since she was a young, young, girl, not even when her grandfather died. Claire doesn't know her father or her grandfather, and she tries to unravel her past and the mysteries surrounding it. Complications arouse such as the cute boy helping out around her grandma's farm, the sweet little boy Jamie who loves to play knights and dragons, and her mom's stubbornness to revisit the past.
      I first discovered Janey's Girl on the shelf of the school library a few years ago. I read it in a matter of hours, and was devastated when I turned the last page, because I didn't want it to be over. I have since re-read this book 6 or 7 times (not kidding). I can truly say that this is one of my favorite reads. I love Clarissa's character, and how she is determined to find out about her family. Her grandma is one of my favorite characters - warm, friendly, cheerful, and bursting with happiness and love. The character development of Janey, Clarissa's mom, is beautifully crafted, and Jamie is so sweet, you will fall in love with his cuteness over and over! I would recommend this to every girl ages 11-14. It is a short, sweet read.

Secrets of My Hollywood Life: On Location

Secrets of My Hollywood Life: On Location
By: Jen Calonita
Pages: 240
Genre: Contemporary Fiction/Chick-lit
Rating: B-
Recommended to: Girls 12-14

      Kaitlin Burke returns in the sequel to Secrets of My Hollywood Life, On Location. She has finally gotten the part to The Untitled Hutch Adam’s Project, a dream job with a dream director (or so she thought). After getting cast over Sky Mackenzie, jealous co-star, Sky shows up on set with the news that she was cast to play the next big role. Sky’s assistant keeps messing up Kaitlin’s schedule, and the director of the movie isn’t all she thought he is. The movie’s publicist has plans to make Kaitlin and co-star/ex-boyfriend Drew seem to be dating, and things between her and Austin are a little rocky. Will Kaitlin come through at last, or will the pressure break both her and her career?

      This book lived up to the expectations brought upon by the first novel, though by no means exceeded it. I felt that Kaitlin seemed weaker in this book that in the previous one, and that Sky was a little too manipulative and mean than was realistic. I loved Laney, Kaitlin’s publicist, and Hank, the crazy director. Kaitlin’s brother, Matty, seemed too young for his age, and Liz, Kaitlin’s BFF was uncharacteristically irresponsible with her new job. On the other hand, I loved the plotline involving Austin and Drew, and the movie’s publicist’s schemes. Austin was always described as the perfect guy, and Drew was everything you would expect from a Hollywood guy with a big ego. The brand names and outfit descriptions were too much and made the book have a cheesy, fake shell. I loved the amusing Hollywood Secrets, and the fun writing made me keep reading, although it’s somewhat shallow. It is a fun chick-lit, and I was happily waiting for the sequel.

Secrets of My Hollywood Life

Secrets of My Hollywood Life
By: Jen Calonita
Pages: 256
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Rating: A
Recommended to: girls 11-14





      Sixteen year-old Kaitlin Burke is the star on hit TV show Family Affair, where she has been working since the age of four. She is famous around the globe, and is in movies, on magazine covers, in countless articles and pictures (thanks to the paparazzi), and always invited to the most exclusive Hollywood events and parties. She has the life that so many teenage girls would die for, but Kaitlin isn't happy with being America's sweetheart. She is tired of being followed by the paparazzi and missing out on normal teenage things, such as high school and dances. With the help of best friend Liz, Kaitlin hatches a plan to attend Liz's high school, disguised as British exchange student Rachel Rogers. After convincing her momager (mom-turned-manager), publicist, assistant, and dad that this is what she needs, Kaitlin has to take on the biggest risk of her career.
      I think that this book is the best in the series. I loved the excitement, drama, and Kaitlin's anything-but-perfect personality. The writing style is spunky and spirited, and Kaitlin's voice shines through. My biggest problem about this series is that every character's outfit must be described in over-the-top detail with designer names every time. Detail is good, and I like hearing what they might wear to a party, but not what everyone wears every time Kaitlin crosses paths with them! It gets extremely tedious I get very jealous :). I love the struggles at school that Kaitlin encounters, they seem very realistic to someone in her pretend situation. The character development was good. Kaitlin was a changed person at the end, although Liz stayed exactly the same. I loved Sky, Kaitlin's jealous co-star who has it out for Kaitlin. All in all, this book was very good, and made me read the rest in the series.

Last School Year's Reads

Books From Last School Year

Last school year (2011-12), I read 104 books. Crazy, right!?! I am NOT up for reviewing them all ;), but will hopefully review some. Here is a list of most of the books, along with a quick rating from 1-10 (10=best, 1=worst), along with recommended ages of interest. They are all different genres, reading levels, and lengths. Keep in mind: I read all these books when I was eleven and twelve, so I rated some down because I was too old for them, but younger readers might enjoy           them more. Hope you get some suggestions of good novels, and look for reviews on some of the books coming soon!

• The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman, 9, ages 11+
• The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman (sequel to The Golden Compass), 8, ages 11+
• Tangerine by Edward Bloor, 4, boys ages 10-13
• Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata, 8, girls ages 9-13
• Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins, 9.9, ages 11+
• Ophelia by Lisa Klein, 9, girls ages 11-15
• Shipwreck, Survival, and Escape by Gordon Korman, 7.5, ages 9-12
• Airborn by Kenneth Oppel, 8, ages 11-14
• The Mother-Daughter Book Club by Heather Vogel Frederick, 6.5, girls ages 9-10
• Janey's Girl by Gayle Friesen, 9.5, girls ages 10-13
• Double Identity by Margaret Peterson Haddix, 9.5, ages 10-14
• The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, 10, ages 11+ (see review)
• Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins, 10, ages 11+
• Torn by Margaret Peterson Haddix, 9, ages 10-14
• Call Me Hope by Gretchen Olson, 3.5, girls 10-12
• The Mystery of the Third Lucretia by Susan Runholt, 9, girls 11-14
• Uglies by Scott Westerfield, 8, ages 11-14
• Moon Over Manifest  by Claire Vanderpool, 7.5, girls 10-13
• Come Juneteenth by Ann Rinaldi, 8.5, girls 12-14
• The Demon King by Cinda Williams, 9.5, ages 12-16
• The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke, 7, ages 11-13
• Matched by Ally Condie, 9, girls 11-16
• Crossed by Ally Condie (sequel to Matched), 8, girls 11-16
• The Exiled Queen by Cinda Williams (sequel to The Demon King), 9.5, ages 12-16
• The Grey Wolf Throne by Cinda Williams (sequel to The Exiled Queen), 9.5, ages 12-16
• Pretties by Scott Westerfield (sequel to Uglies), 7, girls 11-14
• Specials by Scott Westerfield (sequel to Pretties), 4, girls 11-14
• Extras by Scott Westerfield (sequel to Specials), 7, girls 11-14
• Gateway by Sharon Shinn, 7, girls 12-15
• On the Other Side of the Island by Allegra Goodman, girls 11-14
• The Amber Spyglass by Phillip Pullman (sequel to The Subtle Knife), 7.5, ages 12+
• Thirteen Days To Midnight by Patrick Carman, 6, ages 12+
• Kingdom Keepers books 1-4 by Ridley Pearson, 8, ages 8-12
• Cold Cereal by Adam Rex, 7, ages 9-12
• Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer, 8.5, girls 11-13
• Eight Cousins by Louisa May Alcott, 7.5, girls 11-14
• Prophency of the Sisters by Michelle Zink, 6.5, girls 12-15
• The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly, 4.5, girls 9-11
• The Dragonfly Pool by Eva Ibbotson, 5, girls 8-11
• Miss Penegrine's Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs, 8, ages 12-15
• Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George, 9, girls 11-14
• The Miles Between by Mary E. Pearson, 7.5, girls 12-16
• Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson, 6, ages 9-12
• Fever Crumb by Phillip Reeve, 8, ages 10-14
• When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead, 8.5, ages 9-12
• The Year of Goodbyes by Debbie Levy, 8, girls 10-14
• Incarceron by Catherine Fisher, 8.5, ages 11-14
• Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card, 8.5, ages 10-15
• Enola Holmes: The Case of the Left-Handed Lady by Nancy Springer, 7, girls 8-11
• Enola Holmes Mysteries (series) by Nancy Springer, 7, girls 8-11
• Sand Dollar Summer by Kimberly Jones, 7.5, girls 10-13
• Beswitched by Kate Saunders, 8.5, girls 10-13
• Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George (sequel to Princess of the Midnight Ball), 9, girls 11-14
• Harris and Me by Gary Paulson, 2, boys 8-10
• The Boy Who Dared by Susan Campbell Bartoletti, 7.5, ages 11-14
• No More Dead Dogs by Gordon Korman, 6, ages 9-11
• The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis, 8, girls 10-14
• Night of the Howling Dogs by Graham Sailsbury, 7.5, ages 10-13
• How Angel Peterson Got His Name by Gary Paulson (had to read for a school project), 1, not recommended
• Cecile: Gates of Gold by Mary Casanova, 7.5, girls 9-12
• Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce, 9, girls 11-14
• The Falconer's Knot by Mary Hoffman, 9, ages 11-14
• Before Green Gables by Budge Wilson, 9, girls 10+
• Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery, 8.5, girls 10+
• Aurelia by Anne Osterlund, 9, girls 11-14
• Switched by Amanda Hocking, 8.5, girls 12-16
• Radiant Girl by Andrea White, 4, girls 11-13
• Torn by Amanda Hocking (sequel to Switched), 9, girls 12-16
• Divergent by Veronica Roth, 9.5, ages 12+
• Legacy by Cayla Kluver, 9.5, girls 12-16
• Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce, 9, ages 11-15
• Wolf-Speaker by Tamora Pierce (sequel to Wild Magic), 7.5, ages 11-15
• Allegiance by Cayla Kluver (sequel to Legacy), 9.5, girls 12-16
• A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray, 8, girls 12-16
• The Season by Sarah MacLean, 9, girls 11-15
• Princess Ben by Catherine Gilbert Murdock, 8, girls 11-15
• The Maze Runner by James Dashner, 9, ages 11-15
• And Only To Decieve by Tasha Alexander, 7.5, ages 12+
• Ever by Gail Carson Levine, 8, girls 12-14
• Sapphique by Catherine Fisher (sequel to Incarceron), 9, ages 12-14

The Hunger Games: Movie Review and Book vs. Movie

 

THE HUNGER GAMES:  MOVIE REVIEW AND BOOK VS. MOVIE

      You have probably all seen my recent post reviewing The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins. After reading an idea from Ilona (thank you, Ilona!), I have decided to write a review and comparison regarding the book-to-film adaption.

      First of all, let me say that The Hunger Games is one of my all-time favorite books. I was scared to see the movie, and at one point decided that I would skip seeing the Hunger Games on the big screen. Why? Because I hadn't wanted the movie version to ruin my love for the book, by twisting the plot line or having not-so-talented actors playing some of my favorite roles. After braving the dark movie theater on opening day, I found that my love for the book had not died, but had instead been rekindled.

      Jennifer Lawrence, playing Katniss Everdeen, was phenomenal. She stays true to the character I know from the novel, even though the transition from first person tense in the book must have been difficult. Liam Hemsworth (playing Gale), Amandla Stenburg (playing Rue), Woody Harrelson (playing Haymitch), Elizabeth Banks (Effie), Willow Shields (Prim), and Lenny Kravitz (Cinna), were all played to perfection. The one problem I had with the casting/acting was Peeta Mellark, played by Josh Hutcherson. My first thought after hearing that he had been cast as Peeta was that he didn't look like how I had imagined Peeta whatsoever. That fact was confirmed after seeing the movie trailer. Of course, wonderful acting would make up for that slight disappointment, wouldn't it? The problem was that, although it was fabulous acting, it was never quite as flawless as Lawrence's, and Hutcherson never really spoke to me as Peeta. It was an okay.

      I thought that the movie was paced wonderfully. There was never too much of a wait between the action, and the flow throughout the movie was incredible. 

      The problem I will always have with movies based off books that I have read is that they don't follow the exact plot from the book. The Hunger Games was no exception. Although the decisions regarding these scenes were probably made for a good reason, I wasn't a big fan of the changes made from the book, including the major change made with the Mockingjay pin. I found that the new version of it didn't make any sense; why would someone give away something so so valuable, and after Katniss gave the pin to Prim "for good luck," after obviously not working for luck (Prim got chosen for the Games), why Prim would give it back to Katniss. I also didn't like how they chose to sneak the pin into the arena instead of having the rule of one token per tribute.

      I also hated the shaky camera. Although setting the feeling for the scene, it was used way too much (Katniss standing in her bedroom - really?) and was way too much for me to handle. I did happen to see it in IMAX, so I might find that it is a great improvement when watching it in my basement, but on the big screen it was way to hard to follow the fight scenes.

      Overall, I think this movie was amazing. I will gladly re-watch it over and over. The acting, pacing, and dialogue really stood out to me, and made up for the disappointments from the shaky camera and the plot differences from the book. I would recommend this book and/or movie to anyone 11+ (fyi movie is rated PG-13, for violence) who enjoys dystopian/science fiction, or looking for a good action movie. When comparing The Hunger Games book versus the movie, I would have to say I think the book is better, and my favorite out of the two (but that will almost always be my thoughts for movies based off of books - I love the original!) Let's all hope that The Hunger Games's sequel, "Catching Fire," (coming out November 2013) will be as fantastic as the first!

Pride and Prejudice

Pride and Prejudice
By: Jane Austen
Pages: 411
Genre: Romance, Historical Fiction
Rating: A
Recommended to: Girls, ages 12+





      Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen, is the classical tale of the Bennet sisters. The two eldest, Jane and Elizabeth, are great friends, and the three youngest sisters are young, silly, and a source of embarrassment for both Jane and Elizabeth. Their father, a country squire, and his wife, silly, girlish, Mrs. Bennet, must marry off their five daughters. Jane is the kindest soul to ever walk the planet, always thinking the best of everybody, and never criticizing anything. Elizabeth, the main character, is more willful, spirited, and sensible than her sisters, although very headstrong. Studious Mary, tag-along Kitty, and romantic, shallow Lydia are the youngest of the sisters. When rich Mr. Bingley buys Netherfield, a house in their neighborhood, Jane falls in love with him, and him with her. His friend, Mr. Darcy, accompanies him to Netherfield. Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth clash at first, with much pride and predjudice standing in their way, but might slowly begin to doubt their first impression of each other.
      Jane Austen masterly weaves together this romantic, intriguing novel. With plot twists, much character development, humor, and wit, it is no wonder this novel is such a famous, well-known classic. I enjoyed every page of this book, the old-English language, and it's descriptions. While the ending was a bit obvious, the road to it was creative, and I highly recommend you to read it!

I Would Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You

I Would Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You
By: Ally Carter
Pages: 288
Genre: Contemporary fiction
Rating: A-
Recommended to: Girls ages 10-14





      I Would Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You, by Ally Carter, is a cute, spunky, and heartfelt novel about 15 year-old Cammie "the Chameleon" Morgan, who attends a top-secret girl's spy school, the Gallagher Girl's Academy. On a Covert Operations assignment in their town of Roseville, Virginia, Cammie meets Josh, a normal boy who seems to like her for who she is. Of course, Cammie can't reveal her true identity to him, so she makes up an elaborate cover. It's tough to sneak out at night with her mother as headmistress; do well in school, where she is learning college level subjects; deal with her snotty new roommate, Macey McHenrey; and date Josh. But with her best friends and genius' by her side, Liz and Bex, and the help of Macey, she might make it through.
      The comical writing of Ally Carter lets a realistic, funny Cammie shine through. The plot, although sometimes droning on for a bit, is good, and the other characters are well formed. Her struggles seem (somewhat) realistic, and I was never very bored. The one problem I found with this book was that it seemed like Cammie had struggles, and her friends always helped her out, but they never had problems themselves. They didn't have boyfriends, but she did. Sure, Cammie is the main character, but it seemed like it was ALL about her. Overall, this book is a great, quick read, and I will definitely read the next four books in the Gallagher Girls series by Ally Carter.

The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games
By: Suzanne Collins
Pages: 374
Scholastic Inc., 2008
Genre: Dystopian fiction
Rating: A+
Recommended to: Girls and boys, ages 11+




      The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, is an AMAZING book that most of you have already read. However, with this being one of my all-time favorites, I wanted to start off my blog with it's review.
      Far in the future, in present-day North America, a country called Panem is the home of main character Katniss Everdeen. She lives in the poorest district, District 12, with her mother and beloved sister Primrose (nicknamed Prim). Prim gets picked for the Hunger Games, and annual event in Panem. One boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 are placed in an arena where they fight to the death on live television. Katniss desperately volunteers to take her sister's place. Not out of jealousy, false hopes of being crowned victor, or duty, as some did in the wealthier districts, but out of love for her sister. The District 12 boy that joins her is Peeta Mellark, whose troubling actions and a memory from the past lead Katniss to confusion, battling how she must act on camera versus what is real, and her true feelings. Katniss must fulfill her promise to Prim, and try to win the Hunger Games, but also save Peeta, as their status as star-crossed lovers permits nothing else. Will she be able to survive the Hunger Games?
      This book has an exciting plot, and I found myself turning pages mechanically. It was always exciting - it is perfectly paced and beautifully well written. Katniss has a realistic personality, and makes mistakes that she has to fix. The other characters are formed perfectly, and I found myself loving, hating, and wondering about them just like they were real people. It's cliff-hanger ending will make you need to read it's sequel, Catching Fire, and the third book in the bestseller trilogy, Mockingjay! I highly recommend this book.

Hello

Hi!

Welcome to Butterfly Reader, my new blog where I will post reviews of books and some movies. The book reviews will be of books I have just finished, or are some of my favorites that I want to recommend. Most books I will review will be suitable for mostly girls (and some for boys) ages 10 or 11 to 14 or 15, but I will specify in the review.

I will start posting reviews Sunday, July 29th, 2012.

If you have any tips, comments, questions, or ideas, contact me at butterfly.reader.blog@gmail.com.

Thank you, and I hope you like my blog!

-Butterfly