Review: Enclave

Enclave by Ann Aguirre

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



There's a book out there about the Mole People that live underground in New York's subway tunnels and sewers. Enclave gave me a taste of what life would be like if it were even remotely true. In fact, the Burrowers seemed like the elusive Moles.

Darkness, cramped spaces, abandoned stations and trains, fighting for each meal, living in small communities, life expectancy of 20...Girl15 only knows that existence until she becomes a huntress for her enclave. Raised to fight and kill, she ends up topside and has to deal with a world she never expected to see.

I liked it for its novelty and it's approach to revealing the world as it would appear to someone who has never even seen the sun. It was interesting and the main characters (who I won't name since it would be a bit spoilerish) have different lives and understanding of the world. I liked the ending and will likely read the next book in the series.



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Review: Rot & Ruin

Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I've never read a zombie book. I've watched a few zombie movies but none really impressed me. I watched the Walking Dead on tv but it was too gory. So why did I read it? Well, I've been trying to force myself into new genres this year and this came up on Recommendations because of my recent foray into teen dystopian.

I didn't expect to like it but I loved it from the first page. In fact, the part about zombie killing simulations at scouts hooked me. I read it twice and had my husband read it. He was not interested at all...but it was too late for me.

The zombies in this post-apocalyptic book are not the zombies of the movies. They are gravity-driven, stay-at-home types of beings, only driven to eat the living when they stumble into them. Easily distracted by fluttering flags and unable to open a door, they are mindless forms that used to be human.

I'm glad this is a series - I'm ready to see where Benny goes next!



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Review: My Big Creative Activity Book

My Big Creative Activity Book by Roger Priddy

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



4 stars is based on my daughter's review. The projects were very kid-friendly and gave her a chance to play with every craft medium in her room - glue, glitter, paper, felt, rocks, markers, paint, etc. We actually covered a schoolbook with a fabric book cover and it was the hit of her classroom. And, I'm happy to report, I finally know how to make those woven hearts you see at Valentine's Day!



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Review: Sewing With Felt: Learn Basic Stitches to Create More Than 60 Colorful Projects

Sewing With Felt: Learn Basic Stitches to Create More Than 60 Colorful Projects by Buff McAllister

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Cute book for young crafters. With help, little ones could make many of the projects and once they are 8, kids could make most of them independently. Some of the projects are a little odd or dated but the average child would probably find a handful to make.



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Review: Cake Pops: Tips, Tricks, and Recipes for More Than 40 Irresistible Mini Treats

Cake Pops: Tips, Tricks, and Recipes for More Than 40 Irresistible Mini Treats by Bakerella

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



You know how Bento takes school lunches to a whole new level? Well, this is the Bento of the cupcake world. The ideas are absolutely adorable and I want to make every single one of them. But, like Bento, I look at them and think, "Wow. That is a LOT of time." Will I make them? Some. For events that are really, really important to me. Will I make these for an after school snack? Nope. However, I am happy to say that the level of work necessary is actually less than I expected, which is a relief. I have my candy ready and we'll see how the pops turn out at my daughter's birthday party.



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Review: Fa la la la Felt: 45 Handmade Holiday Decorations

Fa la la la Felt: 45 Handmade Holiday Decorations by Amanda Carestio

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Cute projects aimed at winter and Christmas. The level of difficulty varied by project and some including felting wool sweaters (which it did provide instructions for) while others were simply cut and stitch. A nice supply of beads and other decorative bits are necessary but the end results will be cute and festive.



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Review: Make It in Minutes: Felt Accessories

Make It in Minutes: Felt Accessories by Taylor Hagerty

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Truly a book of projects you can make in a minute. Great projects for my 7 year old and I to make together - cards, envelopes, mouse pad, iPod case, etc. If you have felt, embroidery floss and a pair of scissors you can make dozens of fun accessories. Some of these items would be fun crafts for Brownies or slumber parties.



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Review: Gone

Gone by Michael Grant

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



I'm disappointed. I realized when I got the book that it was the start of a new series because the GoodReads page lists it as Gone #1. I read all 558 pages of it, knowing that it would end and start again in another book. It doesn't, however. Instead, the book merely pauses and then waits expectantly for the reader to go buy the next book.

I love series. I love dystopian/changing reality books. I love teen fiction. I was ready to absolutely love this book.

I didn't like all of the characters (Quinn and Astrid in particular) but that's fine. Any book with nothing but agreeable people would be boring. I didn't like the speed and danger that happened, but again, it's the style of the book. I really didn't like all the baby and toddler deaths. Honestly, poofing everyone over 14 and under 4 would have been a great choice.

My biggest issue is that the book didn't end. Sam made one of the worst decisions I've ever seen made in a book and left the series ready for future epic battles. I simply prefer closure. I want the storyline and the current problem to be resolved and understood by the end of the book. Book 2 can have new situations, new dangers, new adventures, etc...but let Book 1 actually end. I wanted the closure. My 4 star rating dropped to 2 stars in the last five pages. At the same time, I decided I wouldn't continue the series. Six books (time-consuming books, by the way) to get to an ending that I might not even like? Not for me. I'll bow out now.



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Review: The Cageless Zoo

The Cageless Zoo by Thomas K. Carpenter

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Short story on Kindle and I've been reading it on my iPod for a few weeks. Imagine a futuristic story with animals as yet undiscovered. Not just unknown, but some of the scariest predators out there. Then, put them in a zoo with no cages and some mind altering technology that lets them not notice humans. The technology is fun and the animals are creative, both of which I enjoy in a story. Of course, like Jurassic Park, no system is foolproof and a power failure in a sandstorm means disaster.

All in all, I liked it. If this became a full-length book about the people behind the zoo or the scientists studying the animals, I would read it. A book 15 years in the future and featuring children that follow in their dad's footsteps would also be a potentially good read.



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Review: The Death Cure

The Death Cure by James Dashner

My rating: 1 of 5 stars



Really?? It's really going to end like this??? I feel cheated. I have loved this trilogy and have waited excitedly for book three. The first, with the Gladers, was amazing. The second, with the Scorch was crazy exciting. And then there is this...no enemy except WICKED?

More lies but enough truths. And I can't even begin to describe how irritated I am that I read three books and never learned anything. I want to know how the trials began and how average kids became involved. I want to know how on earth reactions to WICKED-made monsters would even remotely lead to a cure. I want to know what the point of a Griever was. Or the maze. Or two groups. Or cities for the afflicted.

**spoilers after this point**

And what did I learn? Nothing except Rat Man's real name, which is completely meaningless. Oh, and that WICKED was involved in the disease. Not exactly a surprise.

All of those Gladers get their memories back and we get nothing. No details, no emotions, no memories, no information on how they were selected. We're left with a hero that spent more time arguing and debating and a sidekick with serious temper problems.

Honestly, I think Dashner wrote two great books and hadn't figured out the answers to the questions he created. Maybe writer's block and a deadline created this story?



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Review: Hell House

Hell House by Richard Matheson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



The ultimate haunted house story. That's it. Can't say any more than that.



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Review: Soulless

Soulless by Gail Carriger

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I read this book because it was described as steampunk. I like the fashions and accessories and figure a book would be interesting.

I actually liked the book, even more than I had anticipated. The entire social system with the Hive and the Pack mixing with the Queen of England was fascinating. The changed Victorian era with supernaturals and preternaturals was interesting. I do wonder what the octopii were about, though...

For me, the biggest drawback was the romance novel intertwined in what was otherwise a good supernatural story. It was enough of a romance that I didn't reveal what I was reading. A bit of book elitism, I guess.

However, I will read the next book in the series and I'll add more steampunk books to my list.



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