Review: The Misadventures of Phillip Isaac Penn by Donna L. Peterson

The Misadventures of Phillip Isaac Penn by Donna L. Peterson

Details: Paperback, 96 pages
Published: June 14th 2011 by Bonneville
Source: I got it for review
Buy It: Amazon

Summary: Pip, whose real name is Phillip Isaac Penn, feels that the world is against him as he struggles to deal with angry parents, a bossy older sister, a frazzled teacher, and memorable characters such as Bully Bart, Cheater Chaz, Know-It-All Nell, Liar Lizzy, Stealer Steffan, Conman Cody, and Tattle-Tale Tess. Every day of the week brings another challenge that Pip handles in his own endearing way. Yet, no matter how hard he tries, he realizes that it’s just not easy being a kid.

My Review: Pip really dislikes his name and no matter how hard he tries to be good, he always seems to get into trouble at home and at school.

I was smiling the whole time I read this book. It is such a cute, fast read. Pip is a really great character. He reminded me of myself when I was younger. I was always getting yelled at.

I will definitely be recommending this book to everyone. It's a great book for younger teens and kids, but it's so much fun that older teens and adults will enjoy it too.

My Rating: 

Review: Jane Austen: A Life Revealed by Catherine Reef

Jane Austen: A Life Revealed by Catherine Reef

Details: Hardcover, 192 pages
Published: April 18th 2011 by Clarion Books
Source: I got it for review
Buy It: The Book Depository

Summary: Jane Austen’s popularity never seems to fade. She has hordes of devoted fans, and there have been numerous adaptations of her life and work. But who was Jane Austen? The writer herself has long remained a mystery. And despite the resonance her work continues to have for teens, there has never been a young adult trade biography on Austen.

Catherine Reef changes that with this highly readable account. She takes an intimate peek at Austen’s life and innermost feelings, interweaving her narrative with well-crafted digests of each of Austen’s published novels. The end result is a book that is almost as much fun to read as Jane’s own work—and truly a life revealed. Includes bibliography and index.

My Review: I just re-read this review and I think it is pretty obvious that I have no idea how I feel about this book. I am all over the place. I both liked this book and felt like it didn't do what it was supposed to do, tell me more about Jane Austen.

Jane Austen: A Life Revealed is a short, fast, easy to read biography for young adults. It is packed full of information about Janes' family and her novels. However I feel like I still don't know much about Jane. This book is well researched and well written, although a bit slow at some parts and once in awhile it reminded me a little of something a teen would write for school.

I still can't believe how much I learned about her family in such a short time. I just wish I learned more about Jane. That is why I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars. It was good and I did enjoy it, I just don't feel like it tells you much about Jane herself. You learn about her family, friends and novels, but not Jane.

I wouldn't recommend this book to people who haven't read all of Jane Austens' novels due to spoilers, I do think everyone who has read them all should pick this up. It is a must read for all Austen lovers. Even if it leaves you with more questions than answers.

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Review: The Salbine Sisters by Sarah Ettritch

The Salbine Sisters by Sarah Ettritch

Details: Paperback, 288 pages
Published: October 4th 2010 by Norn Publishing
Source: I got it for review
Buy It: The Book Depository

Summary: She gave up everything to become a Salbine Sister, member of a religious order of powerful female mages. But when Maddy nearly dies while trying to draw forth elemental fire, she learns that Salbine has withdrawn from her the gifts every sister works to master. Feeling trapped in an order to which she no longer has any right to belong and believing herself unworthy of the love of Lillian, one of the most powerful mages in the sisterhood, Maddy begs the abbess to let her travel to another monastery to research her condition.

On her journey, Maddy's faith in both herself and Salbine are tested to their limits. When she attempts to draw fire and fails horribly, frightened townsfolk throw Maddy into prison. Fearing that the abbess will never learn her fate and rescue her, Maddy resigns herself to a short and brutal life.

The only bright spot in Maddy's existence is Emmey, the pickpocket with whom she shares a cell. Through her and the steadfast love of Lillian, Maddy learns that Salbine's purpose is not always the same for everyone, and that love and compassion are more valuable than magic.

My Review: The Salbine Sisters is an incredible read. I honestly don't even know where to begin. This is one of the best book I've read so far this year. It is beautifully written, with amazing characters and a fantastic plot. I wish it never had to end. I just couldn't get enough and when I got to the last page I was so sad that there was no more.

I love this book so much and I recommend it to everyone. You have to pick this one up. Please get it. It is a must read. You will love it. I know I will be re-reading this one in the future. Probably more than once.

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Review: The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

The Goddess Test (Goddess Test #1) by Aimee Carter

Details: Paperback, 304 pages
Published: April 19th 2011 by Harlequin Teen
Source: I got it for my birthday.
Buy It: The Book Depository

Summary: It's always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.
Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he's crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess.

My Review: Kates' mom is dying and wants to move back to her childhood home. While there, Kate meets Henry who says he is Hades and will keep her mother alive if she agrees to spend six months with him trying to past seven tests.

How could I not enjoy a book like that? It sounded so good and I hadn't read a book with a twist on Greek myths before. I am definitely happy that I picked The Goddess Test up. It was a fast, easy read that would be perfect for summer. I just wish I had saved it for the beach.

I really liked Henry. I thought he was a great character but I'm not so sure how I feel about Kate. I honestly can't say that I didn't like her but I don't know if I can say that I did. As for the writing, it was a little too easy and fast for me and I think that is the biggest problem I had with this book. I wanted more.

I liked The Goddess Test but I just didn't love it. I still enjoyed it enough that I will be getting the second book, Goddess Interrupted.

My Rating:

Review: This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen

This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen

Details: Paperback, 345 pages
Published: March 8th 2004 by Puffin (first published May 27th 2002)
Source: I won it.
Buy It: The Book Depository

Summary: When it comes to relationships, Remy doesn't mess around. After all, she's learned all there is to know from her mother, who's currently working on husband number five. But there's something about Dexter that seems to defy all of Remy's rules. He certainly doesn't seem like Mr. Right. For some reason, however, Remy just can't seem to shake him. Could it be that Remy's starting to understand what those love songs are all about?

My Review: Believe it or not, this was the first Sarah Dessen book I've ever read. I actually won this book awhile ago with a couple of others. I just kept putting it off since I didn't know what to expect going into it but I can honestly say that I enjoyed it so much that now I want to read all of Sarah Dessens books.

This Lullaby was a fantastic read. It was also a fast read. I flew right through it needing to know how it would end. I just couldn't put it down. I kept telling myself that I would take a break after one more chapter but that never happened. I read the whole thing in one sitting.

The main character, Remy, was hard to like at times but for me that just made her seem more real. She actually had flaws which is pretty unique. Usually if a main character has flaws it's something that can be looked at as kind of cute and not much of an actual flaw. So as much as I wanted to smack Remy sometimes, it was also refreshing to have a character that seemed so real.

Dexter was just plain awesome. I wanted to be friends with him from the start. He is so funny and just impossible to not like. He had me laughing so hard at times. Even weeks after reading This Lullaby I wanted Dexter to be real and not a fictional character so I could hang out with him
Overall, this was a great book, with an interesting plot and it was well written. I am now a Sarah Dessen fan and I will definitely be picking up more of her books in the future.

My Rating:

Review: The Fourth Stall by Chris Rylander

The Fourth Stall by Chris Rylander

Details: Hardcover, 314 pages
Published: February 8th 2011 by Walden Pond Press
Source: I got it for review.
Buy It: The Book Depository

Summary: Chris Rylander delivers a funny Ferris Bueler-style middle grade novel with The Fourth Stall.

Do you need something? Mac can get it for you. It's what he does—he and his best friend and business manager, Vince. Their methods might sometimes run afoul of the law, or at least the school code of conduct, but if you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can pay him, Mac is on your side. His office is located in the East Wing boys' bathroom, fourth stall from the high window. And business is booming.

Or at least it was, until one particular Monday. It starts with a third grader in need of protection. And before this ordeal is over, it's going to involve a legendary high school crime boss named Staples, an intramural gambling ring, a graffiti ninja, the nine most dangerous bullies in school, and the first Chicago Cubs World Series game in almost seventy years. And that's just the beginning. Mac and Vince soon realize that the trouble with solving everyone else's problems is that there's no one left to solve yours.

My Review: The Fourth Stall is a fun read. It was surprisingly intense and very well written. It wasn't as light as I thought it was going to be and there was a lot of action.

The kids in this book are so brave, smart and tough. I wouldn't want to go up against them.

Rylander creates an exciting, unique story that is impossible to stop reading. This is a very hard book to put down. I definitely recommend it.

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Review: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Mockingjay (The Hunger Games #3) by Suzanne Collins

Details: Hardcover, 390 pages
Published: August 24th 2010 by Scholastic Press
Source: I bought it
Buy It: The Book Depository

Summary: Young Katniss Everdeen has survived the dreaded Hunger Games not once, but twice, but even now she can find no relief. In fact, the dangers seem to be escalating: President Snow has declared an all-out war on Katniss, her family, her friends, and all the oppressed people of District 12. The thrill-packed final installment of Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games trilogy will keep young hearts pounding.

My Review: I love this trilogy, however I was slightly disappointed with this book. After I finished Catching Fire, I had to start Mockingjay right away. Going from such an amazing read is probably why I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first two. Don't get me wrong, it is still an incredible read, it just didn't feel the same as the books before it.

I gave it 4 out of 5 bats because even though it was a bit of a let down, I still really loved it. I wish there was more.

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