Review: Ark Angel

Ark Angel by Anthony Horowitz

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



My kids and I have enjoyed all of the Alex Rider books so far but this one simply didn't hold our interest. Perhaps it's because we switched from audio to book format for this one but it just wasn't the same. Or perhaps it was too much of the same story? Regardless, I simply couldn't make myself finish it.



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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: The Bungalow Mystery

The Bungalow Mystery by Carolyn Keene

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Another classic detective story that my daughter and I read together. We both keep wondering when Bess and George are going to show up!

This book has more drama and excitement than the previous two and I wondered how my daughter would feel about. She loved it and now wants to be a detective!



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Review: Septimus Heap: The Magykal Papers

Septimus Heap: The Magykal Papers by Angie Sage

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Sometimes a series can lead to fun, entertaining or informational add-on books. Sometimes they can't. The Septimus Heap series is definitely one that could! The book design was awesome and everything was written in the same tone as the books so that if you read the books, you can recognize the characters because they are exactly as you have come to expect them to be. It's not a book that can be read in one sitting, though. Because there isn't a storyline, it's most enjoyed when read a page or two at a time. My only complaint is that this book had to change my mental images of the Heap family. The only one that was drawn as I picture him is Simon! It's funny how we can all read the same story but imagine it so differently. My favorite part focused on the Ramblings. I loved it!



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Review: The Artemis Fowl Files

The Artemis Fowl Files by Eoin Colfer

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



I've liked all of the Artemis Fowl books but this companion piece didn't feel like an Artemis Fowl story. I enjoyed the Seventh Dwarf, mainly because Mulch Diggums is always entertaining. Everything else felt flat and forced, however. The interviews, the diagrams...it wasn't anything that couldn't be included in or explained by one of the main stories. I'd much rather have a new Artemis Fowl book to read!



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Review: Raven's Gate

Raven's Gate by Anthony Horowitz

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I listened to this book because my kids and I liked the Alex Rider series so much. I listened first and it's a little too old for them but we'll check it out again in a few years. I liked the story and feel it will build up to something interesting but it made this book less exciting because I feel like I put a book down mid-story.



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Review: The Hidden Staircase

The Hidden Staircase by Carolyn Keene

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



My 7-year old daughter and I have been listening to Nancy Drew books for a few months - Clue Crew, Notebooks, etc. We're now working through the originals and I love sharing them with her. The innocence of the stories is a nice change and it gives us a mystery she can enjoy. She loves racing Nancy to the answer. We are starting to wonder when Helen leaves and Bess and George show up, though!



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Review: James Potter and the Vault of Destinies

James Potter and the Vault of Destinies by G. Norman Lippert

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Of the three James Potter books, this one took me the longest time to read. I liked the book but I wasn't absorbed by it. Of all the characters, Petra was one of my least favorites and I wasn't thrilled that this book would focus on her. However, I'm not a fan of Merlin, either, so it was an even trade.

This book made me realize what Lippert sacrificed to write these books. By associating with the Harry Potter series, I don't believe he can profit from any use of the characters or ideas...but this book, with someone else as the main character, could have been the start of a stand-alone series. He could have contrived an American magical world, swapped out the obvious references and built an entire series of his own. While the characters were born in Harry Potter, they could have been any other children and a new wizard world would be born. I wish that he had because the details that I don't like wouldn't be in place - for instance, the changes to the way houses at Hogwarts inter-relate in the future - and there would be new magical terms to learn.

I stopped reading the first time after the silver thread bit. I mean, here's this 13 year old kid and this unstable adult and he loves her enough to die for her? Creepy and weird. I picked it back up but quit reading again when the crimson thread was stolen and he covered up the eyewitness account of Petra's presence just because he "knew" she was innocent. I started reading again for the 3rd time and got caught up in clutchcudgel and enjoyed hearing more from Albus...and then the end stunned me. I am really, really shocked by the character loss and the torch event (trying to be vague to avoid spoilers) and now I'm ready to start the next book...but it's not out there yet!

I want to read number four and I'll keep checking back and hoping it gets written. And if the author sees this, I vote for more Albus and Scorpius - they are two of my favorite characters!



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Review: James Potter and the Curse of the Gate Keeper

James Potter and the Curse of the Gate Keeper by G. Norman Lippert

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



After finishing book 1, I was excited to start this one as the First Years would include Albus, Rose and Scorpius. I expected certain actions on Albus' part and will admit that I had a good guess about Scorpius's personality as well. I will admit that I was wrong - and I'm glad about it because the story is so much more interesting with the twists!

It's interesting because I have always been a bit of a Harry Potter geek and had unknowingly placed Harry on a bit of a hero platform. Seeing a new Potter generation have a chance to follow in their father's footsteps without making the same mistakes has been fabulous. And seeing Harry as an adult...and more shockingly as a Ministry employee...gives me a chance to take him off that pedestal and appreciate him for what life must have been like. (okay, okay...what life would have been like if any of this was real. I can't help it. I'm a geek and Harry is truly alive in my head.) Self-deprecating family man Harry Potter is both a surprise and something I felt I should have recognized.

I'm starting book 3 now and I can hardly wait. I wish that there was enough (as in ANY) financial incentive to keep the author writing. As he said in the closing comments, I just want to see how everything ends.



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Review: James Potter and the Hall of Elders' Crossing

James Potter and the Hall of Elders' Crossing by G. Norman Lippert

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



The first few chapters were a bit overwhelming in their changes and I wasn't sure that I would finish reading it. In fact, I didn't even tell my daughter (who is a huge Harry Potter fan) about the book because I didn't want to re-read it if it was terrible!

Once I accepted that houses were friendly and welcomed others into their common rooms, that Slytherins weren't vicious, powerful and evil, that kids weren't placed in dorms by years, that Americans were around and completely changing the curriculum, well...after all of that, I was okay.

All in all, it was a good book. I loved that Snape and my other favorite characters were still around. Even Voldemort is mentioned regularly! And SPEW! The best part of the book was that James was finally overcoming that "Potters need to work alone and be the hero" mentality that was so strong in his father. Now, if we could get rid of Ralph's over-sized, lime green wand, perhaps the book would feel more magical :)

This book is fan fiction...but it's very well thought out and the writer carried Rowling's habits into this story, giving it a very familiar feel. I'll definitely read the next book!



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Review: The Sand Castle Mystery

The Sand Castle Mystery by Carolyn Keene

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Fun, quick read and well-appreciated by my kids who like to hear something more light-hearted in the car on occasion. My daughter is 7 and likes Nancy Drew, particularly the version found in the Clue Crew books but the Notebooks interest her as well, probably because of the age similarity. The narrator does an excellent job portraying the younger children and the culprit was a surprise to us all.



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Review: Uncommon Criminals

Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I've become an Ally Carter fan after reading several Gallagher Girl and Heist Society books. Light, fun, engaging reads with interesting characters living lives the average person would never live. Another look at an unlikely Robin Hood of lost art and another treasure restored - great read!



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Review: Darke

Darke by Angie Sage

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Big book (641 pages, I think) but surprisingly quick read. I have favorites among the characters and I was thrilled that they were primary in this story - Septimus, Marcia, Beetle, Simon - and also glad that some of my less-than-favorites weren't as involved - Snorrie and Ullr, Silas and the Gringe family. I still can't make myself like Jenna, though, and she isn't more likable in this book. I hope to hear more about the newly introduced Young Army graduates in the next one!



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Review: Space Case

Space Case by Carolyn Keene

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I was a Nancy Drew fan as a child and I love being able to introduce a more modern version to my daughter. We listen to these together and she really enjoys them (Clue Crew books are her favorites) and I just remind myself that the intended audience is children 5-8 years old. The solutions are predictable but my children are always shocked ;-) The narrator does a great job.



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Review: The Lost Hero

The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I enjoyed the Percy Jackson series and was happy to see that there were more books about Camp Half-Blood residents. I was hoping it would be Percy Jackson-esque but the writing reminded me of the Kane Chronicles instead, which is unfortunate because I didn't enjoy KC. Or the 39 Clues series, actually.

I liked the heroes in this book, especially Leo. I missed the camp time, though, as the book is almost completely about a quest and included only 3 brand new campers and not enough info on the other camp.

I will read more in the stories as my kids enjoy the characters and stories and I like the exposure to Greek and Roman mythology. My son has dyslexia and ADHD and I like that they powerful, brave, strong, clever characters have similar challenges. It's nice to have positive images for him.



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