TOP TEN TUESDAY: The Top Ten Books Whose Titles/Covers Made Me Buy It

Top 10 Tuesday is hosted at The Broke and the Bookish. Today’s topic is theTop Ten Book Whose Titles/Covers Made Me Buy It.

 

Big Nate by Lincoln PeirceThe cover is bright and looks fun. I thought it was something middle schoolers would really like.

Twilight by Stephenie MeyerWhat’s up with the black cover and the hands holding the apple?

Malice by Chris Wooding
The cover is 3-dimensional. And it has a creepy looking dude on it. So of course I bought it!

NERDS: National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society by Michael Buckley
Apparently Nerds are the new cool J

Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn’t Have) by Sarah Mlynowski

Who wouldn’t want to read about things people did and probably shouldn’t have done?

The Absolutely True Story of a Part-Time Indian by Alexie ShermanThis sounded totally random so of course I wanted to read it! Plus, the cover kind of reminded me of The Indian in the Cupboard.

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. LockhartI got this at the UMS Student Council Bookfair last year because the title sounded interesting. I read it immediately. It. Was. Aweome!

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie PerkinsThe main character’s name is Lola. How fun is that?

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith (and Jane Austen)
I LOVE Pride and Prejudice. Adding in Zombies only makes the book sound more fun (and it was a great book!).

The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin by Josh Berk Fablehaven

Again, this title just sounds interesting. Or maybe it’s just because Hamburger is in the title and I am hungry.

Roger and Amy’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

Roger and Amy’s Epic Detour

By Morgan Matson

Published by Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers, 2010

343 pages (paperback)

Amy Curry thinks her life sucks. Her mom decides to move from California to Connecticut to start anew—just in time for Amy's senior year. Her dad recently died in a car accident. So Amy embarks on a road trip to escape from it all, driving cross-country from the home she's always known toward her new life. Joining Amy on the road trip is Roger, the son of Amy's mother's old friend. Amy hasn’t seen him in years, and she is less than thrilled to be driving across the country with a guy she barely knows. So she's surprised to find that she is developing a crush on him. At the same time, she’s coming to terms with her father’s death and how to put her own life back together after the accident. Told in traditional narrative as well as scraps from the road—diner napkins, motel receipts, postcards—this is the story of one girl's journey to find herself. (from barnesandnoble.com)

This book is just fun. Yeah, there is some not-so-fun stuff, like when Amy is thinking about her Dad who died, but this book is also about having an adventure. Between the random facts about the states Roger & Amy drive through, pictures and other mementos from the road trip, and the ‘will they or won’t they become more than friends’ vibe, this book was an enjoyable and quick read.

Amy & Roger initially set out on a trip to get Amy and her vehicle to her new home in Connecticut. However, instead of following Amy’s Mom’s course, the two take one detour after another that makes the whole experience a life changing journey. The author also did a good job of letting the characters grow-up in a believable way during their road trip and really got into the minds of two teenagers on their own with a credit card and an entire country before them.

I kind of want to go on a long, random road trip now!

STUDENT REVIEW - The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan

The Last Olympian

By Rick Riordan

Published by Hyperion Books for Children, 2010

416 pages (paperback)

All year the half-bloods have been preparing for battle against the Titans, knowing the odds of victory are grim. Kronos’s army is stronger than ever, and with every god and half-blood he recruits, the evil Titan’s power only grows. While the Olympians struggle to contain the rampaging monster Typhon, Kronos begins his advance on New York City, where Mount Olympus stands virtually unguarded. Now it’s up to Percy Jackson and an army of young demigods to stop the Lord of Time.

In this momentous final book in the New York Times best-selling series, the long-awaited prophecy surrounding Percy’s sixteenth birthday unfolds. And as the battle for Western civilization rages on the streets of Manhattan, Percy faces a terrifying suspicion that he may be fighting against his own fate. (from barnesandnoble.com)

What I liked about the book was that Luke gave up his own life to kill [someone else]. In the end of the book Percy was given a choice. I would have improved that part and made him say [something else]. I would recommend this book to middle schoolers because it is full of adventure, comedy, and romance. But more importantly because it teaches kids (if they really think about it) they don’t have to do things by themselves. –Angelica L.

[I liked that this book had] lots of drama. I think there should have been more fights. Yes, [I would recommend this book to middle schoolers because] the book is very action-packed. –David G.

Big Nate in a Class by Himself by Lincoln Peirce

Big Nate in a Class by Himself

By Lincoln Peirce

Published by HarperCollins Publishers, 2010

214 pages (hardcover)

Big Nate is in a class by himself!

But things don't always go your way just because you're awesome.

• Nate barely survives his dad's toxic oatmeal before rushing off to school—minus his lunch.
• He body slams the no-nonsense principal.
• He accidentally insults his least favorite teacher, the horrifying Mrs. Godfrey (aka Godzilla).
• And school has barely started!

Nate keeps his cool. He knows he's destined for greatness. A fortune cookie told him so. (from barnesandnoble.com)

Poor Nate. Nate is a 6^th grader trying to survive middle school. Some days are great, some days are complete disasters, but most are just ok. And on this day Nate’s fortune cookie tells him that he will surpass all others. As he tries to think of how he can be great and surpass his classmates, Nate learns that things don’t always work out how he wants them to.

Big Nate is told in words and drawings to explain Nate’s thoughts, feelings, and actions as he tries to figure out life. The story is told in Nate’s stream of consciousness so there are times he goes off topic, but it is never really confusing and usually his side-thoughts are told in the pictures.

Big Nate in a Class by Himself is a fun read that might just echo the thoughts of a lot of middle schoolers.

TOP TEN TUESDAY: The Top Ten Book Endings That Left Me With My Mouth Hanging Open

Top 10 Tuesday is hosted at The Broke and the Bookish. Today’s topic is theTop Ten Book Endings That Left Me With My Mouth Hanging Open (because of the cliffhanger or because it the ending was MINDBLOWING, etc).

Chains by Laurie Halse AndersonBetween the choices Isabel had to make and her surprise supporters/enemies I was left looking for more pages because the book just couldn't be finished.

Of Mice and Men by John SteinbeckThat ending? I totally didn’t see it coming. I’ll re-read the book, but I can re-read the ending (or watch the ending on the movie).

Catching Fire by Suzanne CollinsThe Hunger Games actually ended without a huge cliffhanger. But Catching Fire? The last several pages was a whirlwind of action and I think my eyes really were about to pop out of my head (it could also be that I was finishing reading the book at 3am).

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
The mystery was solved and in an unexpected way. Even though I have read this book multiple times, every time I get to the end I go back and re-read parts of the book to double-check the ending was right.

 Looking for Alaska by John GreenThe prank at the end of the book was amazing. I don’t recommend that anyone actually try it, but it really was hilarious.

The Alchemyst by Michael ScottTowards the end of the book I thought the main characters would finally get a break from all the life-threatening action. Nope. The author had a lot more weird/creepy stuff in mind. 

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by AviThis book had tons of adventure (secret alliances, an eventful ship crossing of the Atlantic, a young girl on a ship full of unrefined sailors) and was a great read. In the end, I kinda wished I could be Charlotte.

 Night of the Twisters by Ivy Ruckman
Growing up in a town where tornado warnings were common, this book kept me on the edge of my seat (and had me hoping this wouldn’t really happen). My childhood friends and I still talk about this book!

My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult
I wasn’t expecting that ending and all my hopes for something happy were completely dashed.

Divergent by Veronica RothSo much action and I didn’t know who I could trust (I was that invested in the story). Oh, I really can’t wait for the next book in the series!

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Divergent

By Veronica Roth

Published by HarperCollins Children's Books, 2011

496 pages (hardcover)

In Beatrice Prior’s dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can’t have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.  (from barnesandnoble.com)

In the past year I have picked up quite a few books set in a dystopian society where a big event is coming up for the main character that will set the course for the rest of his/her life. Some of those books I read, but wasn’t thrilled with the book and some of the books I couldn’t get past the first few badly-written chapters. I had heard great things about Divergent but I wasn’t too excited for yet another dystopian society book.

Then I started reading Divergent. Wow! The dystopian society was set up well and I really wasn’t confused about how things worked. Also, the story was great. I was hooked by the writing, the choices Tris had to make, and the results of her decisions. There were plot twists, a little romance, friends who became dangerous, friends who might be more than friends, enemies who were not as dangerous as they seemed, enemies that were way more dangerous then they seemed, and relatives who had to decide if faction or family was more important.

Divergent is the first in a series of books and I am excited about the next book. Although the book may seem a bit long, it was such an engaging and interesting story that it was a quick and enjoyable read.

TOP TEN TUESDAY: The Top Ten Books I Want To Reread

Top 10 Tuesday is hosted at The Broke and the Bookish. Today’s topic is the Top Ten Books I Want To Reread.

Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

I love books and movies where you have to figure out how everyone is connected and what people’s secrets are. I read this book every few years and each time I notice new secrets and connections.

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

I reread this book this summer and I picked up on a lot of things I had missed before. It is such a good book.

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

The movie comes out in just over a year. I definitely need to reread The Hobbit before then.

Revolution by Jennifer DonnellyThere are a lot of historical references and people that I want to know more about. Also, this book is just amazing.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

This is my favorite Jane Austen book. I’ll reread the book and then watch the BBC movie version. Sounds like a good day to me!

The Giver by Lois Lowry

A favorite from growing up. It really made me think about memories and how knowledge of the past can affect us.

Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar

This book is fun and clever and makes school seem like an adventure.

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Not only is this a book I think most teenagers should read, but also educators. Besides being well written, it is compelling and an insightful look into the lives of teenagers. AND it is an interesting story.

Matilda by Roald Dahl

I wish I had magical powers to get revenge on really mean people J

Divergent by Veronica Roth

 I just finished this book and I already want to read it again. It is THAT good. And I want the sequel to come out NOW.