The Giver by Lois Lowry

GUEST BOOK REVIEW

51frar1pval-_sx300_bo1204203200_The Giver by Lois Lowry is unlike any piece I’ve read before. Jonas is a boy living in a unique community. It appears to be utopia until he learns its secrets. When children in the community turn twelve, they enter adulthood. Then, they receive an assignment that they will upkeep until they enter the “House of the Old”. Jonas is given the rarest assignment of all. With this assignment, he then learns about the pain of the outside world, and some of the things that are happening in the community that no one knows about. When he discovers that Gabriel, an infant who has been living with his family, is doomed because he doesn’t fit into the utopian community, Jonas decides to leave the community and take Gabriel with him. This is a very good, classic book that everyone should read at least once in their lifetime.

~ Asha M., age 14

My Life with the Liars by Caela Carter

download (7)A book unlike any other I’ve read before, My Life with the Liars was an enthralling read focused on Zylynn, a twelve-year-old girl whose entire life consisted of “living in the light” until she is forced outside. Zylynn knows little about “the outside”, other than it’s crawling with liars and darkness. Brainwashed and homesick, Zylynn soon discovers “the outside” is nothing like she was told while she lived in her (supposedly) safe, white compound walls. Instead, it has scrumptious foods, bright colors, and a store called Target. She now must decide, to return to her home and previous beliefs, or stay outside. My Life with the Liars is incomparably unique, an absolute must-read.

The Honest Truth by Dan Gemeinhart

415Wpdo3ejL._SX341_BO1,204,203,200_Twelve-year-old Mark is very ill. Miserable and angry, he runs away from home towards the greatest challenge of his life. Climbing the reputable and daunting Mount Rainier is no easy day hike, even with the “best dog in the world” by your side. Mark, despite his illness, is determined to go up against the beast of a mountain. He leaves his family distraught, and his best friend torn, as she must make an impossible decision in Mark’s best interest. This poignant story is powerful and engrossing. If you’re a softie for heartwarming adventure stories, this is a must read.

 

Angels and Demons by Dan Brown

The next book review of the day is beautifully written by Maya F., age 14. 

1The book that I read is called Angels and Demons. It is by Dan Brown who is the #1 New York Times bestselling author. It is an action filled story about a man named Robert Langdon, who is a distinguished Harvard symbologist, that was called to a Swiss research facility to observe the murder of a scientist with an ancient symbol burned into his chest. Langdon thinks the murder was committed by an ancient brotherhood called the Illuminati. I think that this book is very interesting. It has a lot about science and religion in it. Multiple people think that science and religion are total opposite fields of work, but this book suggests other wise. This book is very thrilling and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking to read about an adventure.

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Even though a review on The Hobbit was recently posted, Astrid A., age 14, presents another excellent “bird’s eye view” on the literary classic. 

5907The Hobbit, written by J.R.R Tolkien, is an fantasy adventure based book. The book includes many quests and stories. The main character, Bilbo Baggins, becomes a burglar on a quest to take back the dwarven kingdom from Smaug the drake. It is about 300 pages long, meant for readers age 11 and up. The Hobbit is the first book in the “Lord of the Rings Book” series. If you like to read books with an ancient writing pattern, or adventure, you will like this book. It’s a good novel that sparks the imagination, and can’t be put down due to the constant action. A good re-read as well. It was amazing, and I would read it again anytime!

Moon Over Manifest by Claire Vanderpool

200px-Moon_Over_Manifest_book_coverHer father and herself have never known a permanent home. No, Abilene Tucker is only familiar with dust, hungriness, and the thud of her heart before she leaps off trains from town to town. But when Abilene’s health takes a scarring turn towards death, her father, without so much as a short explanation, sends her off to the town he lived in for a while when he was young. That summer, she discovers her father’s past in the town, Manifest, that apparently didn’t used to be so dusty and shriveled. Through the stories of a wise old diviner (a fortune-teller), hidden trinkets, and a mission to find the supposed haunting spirit that roams the woods, the mystery she calls her father, is slowly solved.

Written in the Stars by Aisha Saeed

writteninthestarspicWhen I was drooling over the galore of books in Barnes & Noble recently, Written in the Stars by Aisha Saeed stood out. I snatched it hungrily off the shelf (What? It’s a book store, my natural habitat) and was immediately impressed by its description… and reviews. Therefore, after reading it, I thought it was only appropriate to share my opinion with you book-lovin’ fans. Enjoy!

Naila is a young, Pakistani girl, whose beloved home rests in America. She is free teenager… for the most part. She can choose her image, her beliefs, etc., but not her husband. Such a minor topic it appeared to be, until she fell in love with Saif, her first true boyfriend. When the truth is revealed, Naila’s secret is torn mercilessly in half. Her parents, in a panic, suggest a short “vacation” to Pakistan, to refresh and replenish their minds. Suspicious, but agreeable, Naila and her family fly away on a two-week trip to their home country. But no! It’s a trick. Two-weeks grows into months, and months grow into years. Naila, devastated, was forced into marriage, unable to attend her first year of college, and taken away from the boy she loved most. Deeply saddened, Naila’s life had grown everything she feared it would be… until Saif arrives. Her incredible, realistic-fiction story will squeeze your heart and cost you tissues. I applaud you, Aisha Saeed!

The Meaning of Maggie by Megan Jean Sovern

Maggie Mayfield’s only purpose in life is to become President of the United States. That means no law breaking (liking watching R-rated movies), no crushes on boys, and only a perfect 4.0 GPA in school. On her 11th birthday, she asked for a stock in Coca-Cola. Her plea was accepted, and she proudly claimed herself, “Maggie Mayfield, member of a carbonated dynasty!” Impressive, huh? But suddenly, birthday’s are thrown pitilessly to the back of Maggie’s information-stuffed brain, for her dad’s medical condition is growing worse. He quit his job, and his legs are falling asleep. Permanently. Maggie’s long-standing belief that all of her answers are in books is impossibly twisted, because she now realizes there may be more to life than school and laws and being President. There is no known cure for her dad’s illness. Her mom has overworked herself into a “puddle of clothes on the floor,” and Maggie herself gets a B on her science project. Life is a disaster! Her “metaphorical bravery tank” is running dangerously low. But as she watches her family struggle with the “new chapter” in their lives, Maggie finally understands that there is nothing else more important than her family, because they are a team. An argumentative, occasionally dishonest, Neil Young loving team.

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

Jacqueline Woypl_woodson_Brown_Girl_Dreamingodson grew up in a world where the color of your skin mattered more than anything else. She watched as her country divided themselves, and prejudice roamed the dangerous streets. She listened as Martin Luther King Jr. spoke, pleading for freedom, and as Malcolm X thundered for civil justice. This poetic novel is raw, and will deeply move you as Jacqueline reminiscences her childhood. It is one of the rare books I have read that tells the past the way it is. Growing up as an African-American girl in the 1960’s was undoubtedly onerous, and Brown Girl Dreaming tells that truth.

*This was BookBirdz’s 50th post. It has been an amazing, sharing my love of reading with the world. Thank you to all who have provided unwavering support, as I learned how to fly around the world of book review blogging.

The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen

IMG_0491 A Schneider Family Book Award winner, The Running Dream is a beautifully woven book, which tells the story and struggles of right leg amputee, Jessica Carlisle. She was a runner, a champion, until an accident strikes that changes her running dreams forever, or so she believes. As Jessica attempts to rebuild her life with a prosthetic limb, she is slowly fading into a fog of self-pity. Stairs are the new enemy, and taking a shower has now become more challenging than running a marathon. And then, suddenly, Jessica is reflecting on her behavior when she meets Rosa, a girl with cerebral palsy who still excels academically, and doesn’t let her condition weaken her. Inspired by her new friend and math tutor, Jessica’s dream to run again seems much closer than before, especially with the help of modern prosthetic limb technology, and deep determination.