Friday, June 23, 2006

Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment by James Patterson

Meet Max, Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gasman, and Angel. Six perfectly normal kids, except for one little thing. They are ninety eight percent human, two percent bird. Before they were born, they had bird DNA grafter into them. At birth, they were taken to a lab called ‘the School’, and were used for a series of horrifying and painful experiments. They escaped from the lab, and were living free, until the wolf-like mutants called the Erasers fund their home. The Erasers kidnap Angel, sending the other five on a wild chase to get her back. They then find out that there is an institute in New York that is information on their parents, where they live, and thousands of other mutant children experiments. Think they can save them? Hop on for the ride. The Maximum Ride.

James Patterson has written a page turner full of suspense, mystery, and non-stop action. Filled with witty humor, Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment is a book that you won’t be able to put down. – Olivia R.

East by Edith Pattou

The moment Ebba Rose was born, her family knew she would be different, from her purple eyes, to the fact that she had been born facing the north. As her mother says, babies born facing north will be adventurous and troublesome. One day, Rose’s sister Sara falls ill, and her parents become extremely worried. Then, out of the blue, comes a white bear. He claims he can heal Sara, and also help the family in their poverty, as long as he can have Rose in exchange. Rose’s mother, following her superstitious ways, agrees to it. Her father is against it. Of course, Rose decides for herself that she must go. The bear takes Rose to a beautiful castle in France, where she lives our her days, sewing, and learning to play music, but at night a stranger she cannot see sleeps in her bed beside her, and she has a strong suspicion that he is in fact, the white bear. One night, Rose lights a candle, and sees that is a man with golden hair, but hot tallow drips onto him, and he is awakened, and with a few rods of pain and sorrow explaining his curse, he is whisked away by a beautiful woman in a chariot. Now Rose must find him and save him from his fate.

Edith Pattou has written a beautiful Norwegian rendition of Beauty and the Beast. It takes place in sixteenth century Europe, and has the air of mystery and magic. East is a wonderful tale of a girl who defied all odds to save the one she loved. – Olivia R.

Dark Fusion: Duckling Ugly by Neal Shusterman

Let’s face it. Cara DeFido is the ugliest girl, no, person, in Flock’s Rest. She’s so ugly, her face can break mirrors. Literally. Her life was miserable, until one day, she receives a mysterious letter. There’s no name. Just a return address. The letter has three words: Find the answers. Cara is curious, so for weeks, she tries to figure out what the letter means by find the answers. The cutest boy in school then throws a bomb by asking her to the homecoming dance. It ends horribly, with him throwing up in the punch bowl. Cara runs away, and finds the place the letter came from. The place is called De Leon. It’s a beautiful valley, where everything ugly is given a chance to become beautiful. That is exactly what happens to Cara. But now, Cara has a serious taste for revenge, revenge against the people who made her life miserable.

Neal Shusterman has written a darkly humorous book, a mix of ‘The Ugly Ducking’, and the fabled tale of the Fountain of Youth. Its a dark humor and horror is sure to give readers a chill. – Olivia R.

Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements

On a normal morning in February, fifteen-year-old Bobby Phillips wakes up and realizes he is invisible. With his “Joe Physics” of a father, and his blind friend, Alicia, Bobby tries to figure out how to go back to normal. When his parents are injured in a car accident, Bobby tries to survive normal life with his “disability”, and avoid his nosy neighbor. After missing three weeks of school, the State Department of Children and Family Services gets involved. If the Phillips family can’t prove that Bobby is alive and well, Bobby’s parents could get sent to jail. Will Bobby be able to save his family in time?

Things Not Seen is a suspenseful story about being accepted by friends, even if you are invisible or blind. I liked how Alicia and Bobby from their disabilities, and how Bobby’s parents were willing to go to jail to protect him. Andrew Clements is really able to make you feel like you are in Bobby’s place. Things Not Seen is a magnificent book, and tells an imaginative tale. – Ellen P.

The Pearl by John Steinbeck

In 1947, John Steinbeck wrote “The Pearl.” It is a tale of wealth and the power it holds over its weak-hearted pursuers.

Kino, the mina character, finds a great pearl. Quickly the word gets out. Sadly, Kino realizes that no one cares about his welfare and that all the others want is his pearl. Finally, someone sneaks into Kino’s house to steal the pearl. Kino kills the intruder. Realizing his wrongdoing Kino flees. On the run for several days, Kino makes the decision to kill the trackers. In the confusion, a shot is fired and Kino’s son is hut! John Steinbeck in the course of the story shows how the alleged answer ends up being the greatest problem.

Steinbeck’s unique style of writing supplies the reader with detail but at the same time gets straight to the point. His characters respond well with the plot’s surroundings and situations. Because of its well-written plot, the underlining meanings, and his unique writing style, I highly recommend reading “The Pearl.” – Mary C.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

"Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” was written by J. K. Rowling and tells the story of the strange happenings that occur at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry Potter, the main character, risks death to find out who is making these strange events occur.
Because her sentences are descriptive and exciting, Rowling’s in an enjoyable author. The following passage shows how this is true:

“The enormous serpent, bright, poisonous green, thick as an oak trunk, had raised itself high in the air and its great blunt head was weaving drunkenly between the pillars.”

This book is an adventurous book that contains two great morals: Always be brave when times are most frightening, and never loose hope when things seem hopeless. It is a great read. – Magdalene C.