To Kill A Mockingbird

by: Harper Lee

323 pages

Summary:
Jem and Scout's life has always been pretty quiet, living in the town of Mayomb, Alabama. Then a strange boy from out of town shows up to stay with his aunt for the summer. The three of them decide to try to lure out a man, Boo Radley, who has been outside of his house for as long as they can remember.

Summer after summer they try different ways to get him out. And summer after summer, Scout and Jem's life change as their father takes on an unusual and threatening case. And after the case is over, their lives will never be the same again.

My Reaction:
Since I had to read this book for school, at first I found it boring and not something I usually read, and it's not. But after a while I found myself enjoying the book and getting carried away on the adventures of Jem and Scout. But no book is perfect, and this one wasn't either, it is a bit hard for us in these modern times to relate to two childern, but for the time it was written in, I think it's great.

My Rating: 8.5/10



                                                   Spring Into Reading,
               
                                                                                 ~Chantel(:

P.S. Sorry guys, between breaks, travelings, finals, sports, and just soo much going on, we've been soo busy...but trying to post more often. Thanks for staying up with our blog!!

Inkheart

by: Cornelia Funke (Inkheart #1)

534 pages

Summary: When Meggie Folchart was three years old, her father, Mo read aloud from Inkheart. Out of no where, three characters from the story appeared. Now nine years later, Meggie's in for the surprise of her life.
                         For some reason, that Mo won't tell her, the Folchart's are forced to leave their home and stay with an aunt that Meggie's never met, along with an "old friend" of Mo's. When they get there, Meggie finds herself in a world of books. But Meggie's interested in a particular book, and it seems that she's not the only one. 
                          When secrets are revealed, unexpected visitors arrive, and a new world is introduced, Meggie, Mo, and all their friends wish they go back to a different time and place...

My Reaction: This book was AMAZIIING! I absolutely loved it. Funke tells a great story about family, friends, and books. Inkheart is told from many different viewpoints, and is a book I would recommend to any one who loves books. After reading Inkheart, I appreciated books a whole lot more. After reading the back of the book, it seemed a little slow getting into it, but it's full of action and suspense right from the beginning. A wonderful read!!!

My Rating: 11/10

                                               Tender Loving Reading,

                                                                                  ~Chantel<3

P.S. Sorry we haven't posted in a while, started high school and have been really busy. We'll post when we can. Love u guys! 
Also currently reading Magyk by Angie Sage. Review coming when I finish it!

Serenity's Desire

by: Kay D. Rizzo (Serenity Inn series book #1)
256 pages

Summary: Serenity Powell's life had always been perfect-well pretty much. A good home, loving parents, and money in the bank.  But that was before her mother died, and ever since then her life has changed drastically. 


Now some widow wants to marry her father, she hears strange things in her house at night, and she knows her father is keeping secrets from her. Serenity looks to her mother's journals to find out more about her mother, and finds God's promise that he will never leave or forsake her. But if her promises that, why is Serenity's life so out of control?        
   
   When things are as bad as they could get, the Powell house burns down. Now her father wants Caleb Cunard-a family friend-to take Serenity as far away as possible from her home, and the only life she's known. As her life goes from perfect to disaster, Serenity finds out more about her family, friends, and her mother's God, in the years before the Civil War. 


My Reaction: This book was pretty good. I liked that Serenity had problems in all aspects of her life, like many of us do. One thing that disappointed me, was that there wasn't enough romance. Another was Serenity, she seemed really spoiled and selfish, but she did seem a little different at the end. For the most part it was a good story about life, love, and God. Book 2: Serenity's Quest, coming soon. 


My Rating: 7.5/10




                                                  Keep Reading,


                                                                       ~Chantel!


P.S. Hey guys, just wanted to say sorry for not updating for a while, been away at camp, but back now!
       
Also, almost finished with Take A Bow-review coming soon!

Esperanza Rising

by: Pam Munoz Ryan
288 pages
Summary: Esperanza has always had a privileged on her father's ranch in Mexico. But then tragedy strikes when her father dies. Now her she and her mother have to escape to California to get away from her uncles who want her father's land. Esperanza finds herself in a new world as she faces harsh living conditions, hard work, and financial problems during the Great Depression. 
                        Just as Esperanza starts to accept her new life, her mother becomes ill. Esperanza finds herself upset with her grandmother, but things only get worse when she finds out what has happened to her. With everything falling apart, Esperanza must find a way to rise above it.


My Reaction: Like a few other books, this isn't the typical sort of book we post on this blog. But teens can relate to the family and prejudice in this book. Also it has a riches to rags kind of feel, as Esperanza adjusts to this new life. There's also a great deal of history and even if you have read a book about the Great Depression, this is different, in a good way. Ryan does a great job dealing with the problems and emotions Esperanza feels. This book is not only good for teens, but for every girl.


My Rating: 8.5/10


                                                        Continue Reading,


                                                                                         ~Chantel:)

The Vow

 By: Kim & Krickitt  Carpenter       
183 pages


Summary: Kim and Krickitt were married for only 2 months before the accident. Traveling to Phoenix for Thanksgiving, their car was hit and both of them were nearly killed. Kim was in the backseat and wasn't injured nearly as bad as Krickitt, who was driving. She had severe head injuries and was in a coma. 
  Miraculously, she recovered. However, when she woke up, she had no idea who her husband, Kim, was. She had lost all memory of meeting, falling in love, and marrying him. 
  Desperate to get his wife back, but knowing she will never be the same, Kim stays with her. Against all the odds, they fall in love again.


Reaction: First of all, you've probably all seen the movie, but the book was a little different. For one thing, there was a lot in the book about God and how He played a part in their relationship. This is definitely an inspiring book and it just makes you feel better about love and life in general after reading their story.


Rating: 10/10


                           Comment and tell us what you think!

                                           ~Marie :)

Eggs

by: Jerry Spinelli

220 pages
Summary: After nine year old, David's, mother dies, he, his father, and grandmother pack up and move to Pennsylvania. His grandmother takes him to an Easter Egg Hunt, where he sees this beautiful girl lying there. He asks her if she's dead, and she doesn't respond. He starts to tell her about him, and leaves waiting to her about the news in the paper. Turns out the girl who was supposedly dead, is Primrose, a 13 year old girl who defies all rules. 

  
 The two fight on and off constantly, only to hurt each other about the parents they lost (Primrose's father and David's mother). They make up and Primrose announces she going to go to Philadelphia to see the Waving Man-a man who had been seen on TV waving at people. Having no choice David goes along, and the two have a wild and sweet adventure. Showing us that two opposites who have nothing in common, except loneliness, can have a friendship as deep as this. 


My Reaction: So my summary did not give the book justice. It was a really sweet book, about friendship. Davids and Primroses friendship has its ups and downs just like any other friendship. It is also very relatable to if you have lost someone-particularly a parent-which I have. There were a couple parts of the book that I personally didn't think had to be there, or didn't have to do with the situation, but amazing besides that.


My Rating: 8/10


                                              Never Finished Reading,

                                                                                    ~Chantel!

A Deadly Game

 

By: Virginia Smith


Summary:   Susanna Trent didn't expect to become part of the game. After fulfilling an odd request from her boss, buying a red Corvette, she returns to the office to find him dead. She has no idea what happened. Then she receives a package filled with strange metal tokens and what seems like random clues to something. 
   When Susanna realizes her little girl is in danger, she and Jack Townsend, the only other witness of the murder, know they must get to the bottom of whatever is happening. All they know is, they aren't the only ones playing the game, but they need to hurry.


Reaction:   This book had me guessing from the beginning. Virginia Smith is a good writer, and I really enjoyed reading this book.The summary may sound a little confusing, but the book itself is easy to follow. Aside from the first scene, there's not a lot of blood involved. It's more of a strategy game. But, I won't reveal too much!!


Rating:  10/10


                                Thanks for Reading!
                                      ~Marie