[Book Review] The Sage Challenger by Chad Rasumssen

Photo Credit: goodreads.com

The Sage Challenger

by

Chad Rasmussen

Blurb:

"The day Arian Coles stepped into the CUBUS his life would be changed forever. His scores were high enough to thrust him into the world's greatest and most dangerous competition. But this is no game, the winner will become one of the ten world leaders--a Sage. According to Sage Law there must always be Ten Sages, but the eldest, Kanja, is dying. He must be replaced. Unable to find a suitable replacement among their own people, the Sages turn to the working class populace and institute the Challenger Competition. Through their love of intelligence, athleticism, technology, and extreme sports they have created The Challenges--ten Challenges in the most dangerous locations on earth. Making friends and foes along the way, Arian must be on his guard at all times. He must decipher his feelings between Maria and Ciana and decide if one is his ally or enemy. At the brink of death, Arian will have to prove if he has the fortitude to make it through unimaginable adversity and be crowned a Sage. But is this the end goal for Arian? He must decide what his true purpose is." 

My Review:

Wow! What a ride! Full disclosure: Chad Rasmussen lives in my neighborhood. It always makes me a little nervous to review books for people that I know. What if I hate it? What if it's poorly written? Especially with first-time authors, you never know what you're going to get. So, when his wife asked if I'd read his book, I said, "Yes," and then I got worried. However, I needn't have worried. In his debut novel, Chad Rasmussen takes one part Hunger Games, one part The Amazing Race, and one part Olympics, and successfully mixes them all up into one crazy concoction of action, revenge, betrayal, amazing feats, and change for the Cive people. You can't help but like Arian. He's strong, determined, intelligent, easy to relate to, and courageous. The Challenges are insane! Racing on snowboard-type boards on sand dunes, capoeira to the death, soccer on water skates, and flying suits. I was really glad that my brother-in-law and sister-in-law introduced me to capoeira so that I knew what they were talking about. I watched them in a tournament once, and it was quite exciting! Here's a video of what capoeira is. It's 8.5 min, but you just need to watch the first couple of minutes to see what it is.  

What did you think? Pretty fun to watch, right? Now just picture them fighting to the death using capoeira. On a small platform. Thousands of feet in the air. Scary! Overall, I'd say that this book is well written. The characters are developed well, the story flows well, is easy to read and understand, and it's full of action. The Challenges are exciting to read about, and the relationships Arian has with Maria, Shen, and Komi add such a great element to the story. I loved how they supported him. I'd say that overall it was a bit predictable, but there were enough surprises along the way to keep me reading. I came to enjoy this sci-fi world that Chad Rasmussen has created. The ending was a bit of a drop-off-a-cliff, so I hope there is a second book to take us off the ledge we're hanging from.

Rating: PG+ (There was one swear word that I remember, so not terrible there, and there isn't any "intimacy," except for some brief kissing. It is quite violent though. A lot of characters die, and some of them quite graphically.)

Age Recommendation: Young Adult and up (12+)

Disclosure: I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review, and Chad Rasmussen does live in my neighborhood; however, this did not affect my review.

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[Book Review] Devil in the Microscope by Ryan Decaria

Photo Credit: goodreads.com

Devil in the Microscope

by

Ryan Decaria

Blurb (from goodreads.com):

"When “science-fair-geek” Anika goes to live with her scientist father in a town built around his mysterious genetics laboratory, she is determined to prove herself worthy of his legacy. But all preconceptions about her new life are thrown out the window when Anika discovers her father is a megalomaniac living in a town populated entirely by mad scientists. Now Anika will have to navigate her way through a high school filled with vindictive evil geniuses, deadly science projects, and unspeakable human experimentation. Relying on her wits, scientific know-how, and talented allies, Anika fights for her very life, and the lives of her new friends. Will Anika have to become like her mad scientist father in order to save the day?"

My Review:

Anika is a fun character. She's smart, witty, sassy, and doesn't put up with anything. She's a good, strong, female leading character. I liked her voice a lot, and thought she was well developed. It's always good to have a science nerd as a main character. Her mom isn't in a lot of the book; even though she's a bit mysterious, you find out more about why she is the way she is as the story goes on. I did think that Anika was a bit quick to disregard her mom after all they'd been through together, but teenagers are never predictable. I liked Billie a lot, and felt so bad for her and the situation she was in. Anika's father is quite the interesting guy. I didn't feel like he was developed as much as Anika was, but part of that is the mystery that surrounds him. Anika doesn't know him very well either, so I guess it's fair that the reader is also kept in the dark. I liked the story line a lot at the beginning, with the science fair and all that. It was when Anika got to Moreau that the story became a little unbelievable to me (you may not feel the same way). It's sci-fi, and you know I love a good sci-fi, but this definitely bordered on fantasy, and was a little hard to believe. I liked her friends at school, especially Misty and Sasha, and I did think they were well developed and likable characters. Victor is scary, creepy, and intimidating, but his situation is a bit on the unimaginable side. Well, honestly, a bunch of the characters have sides of them that are unimaginable. On one hand, it gives the story a lot of action. It's definitely full of action, Anika is a go-getter for sure! On the other hand, some of the scenarios are a tad on the strange/inconceivable side. I liked that the teenagers took matters into their own hands because they really didn't have anyone they could turn to for help, but at the same time, that included them doing some things that I don't think teenagers should have to do. I wanted to scream at their parents for putting them in that situation. You never really heard anything about their mothers, either. Where were they in all of this? The ending wasn't my favorite, either. It just ended. I'm assuming that means that a second book is in the works, but there were still quite a few things that could have been tied up a little better. Overall, the book was ok for me. There were some parts of it that I really enjoyed, and some parts that I had a hard time believing. If you're a science nerd then you will definitely enjoy this book. 

Rating: PG-13 (There is some profanity, and there are times where they don't actually say the "f" word, but they say a word that is VERY similar, so you know that's what they mean, which is a tactic I don't particularly care for. There isn't any "intimacy," but there is a lot of violence. There are a few characters that are killed, and there is a lot of fighting.)

Age Recommendation: 14 years-old and up

Disclosure: I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Also, the author is the son of my good friend. 

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[Book Review] Mysteries of Cove: Embers of Destruction (Book 3)

Mysteries of Cove: 

Embers of Destruction (Book #3)

by

J. Scott Savage

Blurb:

"After the battle of Seattle, Trenton and Kallista--along with their friends, Plucky, Simoni, Angus, and Clyde--fly their mechanical dragons south toward San Francisco, looking for any sign of Kallista's father, Leo Babbage. Arriving in a new city, the young riders investigate the area in secret, only to be reunited with Leo Babbage, who reveals that the humans in the city are working as slaves to the dragons. What's more, the humans don't want to be rescued--himself included. He says they are being protected by their new master: a huge, powerful white dragon who lives in an impenetrable tower fortress overlooking the city. Kallista is stunned by the news. Why would her father ever willingly work for dragons? With the white dragon watching their every move, Trenton and Kallista will need every bit of creativity and ingenuity they can manage to find a way to enter the dragon's tower fortress and break its hold over the city--and the world--once and for all."

My Review:

This has been such a fun series to read! My boys both got to this book before I did (they're now 16 and 14), and they loved it. I enjoyed it too, which I love because then we can talk about it together. We have our own in-house book group going on! Love it! Trenton is just such a great kid (and character). I love his humility, his creativity, and his ability to think and act appropriately under pressure. He has his flaws, he's not perfect, but that's one thing I like about his character. Kallista is a great character as well. She's a little more complex than Trenton is, and may be strong-willed, but I love her ingenuity, her work ethic, and I love that she's a strong female character. The descriptions in this book are very good. I loved reading all about the different dragons, especially the white one; you could just feel the evil dripping out of him! I love that the kids need to use their brains and skills, and that it's difficult, but they are determined and work hard. Some of those qualities are hard to find in kids these days, so it's a great example of what working hard and being smart can get you! This book is very well written, it's engaging, and I couldn't put it down! There are a few surprises, and a bunch of new characters. It's a great ending to a very fun trilogy. At our house we are sad that this is the last book in the series. I highly recommend this book and series for middle-graders and YA.

Rating: PG+ (I marked this one a little higher than I did the other two because there is quite a bit of fighting (they're fighting dragons, mostly), and a character dies in this one. There is no profanity or "intimacy."

Recommendation: 3rd grade and up! (Middle Graders and Young Adults)

Disclosure: I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Mysteries of Cove Trilogy:

      Book #1                                                       Book #2                                           Book #3

Also by J. Scott Savage:

      

                                  Book #1                       Book #2                      Book #3

[Book Review] Mysteries of Cove: Gears of Revolution (Book #2) by J. Scott Savage

Mysteries of Cove: Gears of Revolution (Book #2) 

by 

J. Scott Savage

Blurb:

"After finding a compass and clues left by Kallista's father, Leo Babbage, Trenton and Kalista head west aboard their homemade mechanical dragon to search for the missing inventor. The teenagers hope to find answers about their mountain city of Cove, but instead, they find only a blackened forest, ruined buildings, and a small underground city. Almost immediately, Trenton and Kallista are caught up in a civil war between a clan of scavengers called Whipjacks and the Order of the Beast, people who believe that dragons are immortal and divine. Stranded in a new city, the two friends meet Plucky, a Whipjack girl with mechanical legs, and Ander, a young member of the Order who claims humans are able to communicate with dragons. Can they trust anyone, or have they unknowingly stepped into a trap? And high above in the sky, the dragons are gathering..."

My Review:

I enjoyed the first book in this series, Mysteries of Cove: Fires of Invention, so I was excited to read this second book. It did not disappoint! Trenton and Kallista may have been the same, there was that same feeling of searching for answers, and yes, the mechanical dragon is there too, but other than that, this book is very different from the first one. I liked that we really got to know Trenton in this book. We get to see his strengths, weaknesses, successes, and failures, and we get to see him using his creative/mechanical abilities. There are a few new characters in this book that we get to know quite well. Plucky, Ander, and Cochrane are a few of the new characters. These new characters definitely have different names! There is a lot of tension in this book because Trenton and Kallista are constantly wondering who they can trust, and they're somewhat at odds with each other as well. There are some surprises in this book that totally threw me off, and then there were parts that were a bit predictable. I loved it when Trenton and Kallista were able to fly the mechanical dragon together. What a neat thing for them to be able to experience. Too bad there's not a "Build a Mechanical Dragon That Flies" kit I could purchase my boys for Christmas! Overall, this book is well written. There were a few parts that I saw as a little superficial, and a couple of places that I didn't think fit well, but other than that this book is well done. The characters are done well and the story is exciting and full of action. I didn't love the place where they found themselves, I thought it was a bit off, but because I enjoyed the first book I'll give it some leeway. I did enjoy the book and would recommend it, especially if you enjoyed the first book.

This book is clean, thank goodness! There isn't any profanity and there isn't any "intimacy" at all. There is some violence though. The people are attacked by dragons and at least one character dies.

Rating: PG (There isn't any profanity or "intimacy." There is a little more violence in this book, but it is not too bad. The dragons attack and at least one character dies.)

Recommendation: Third grade and up. (Great for Middle Graders and YA)

*This post was originally posted on 10/24/16, and was updated on 11/3/17.

Mysteries of Cove Trilogy:

Book #3

Book #1

Book #2

Saturn Run

Saturn Run by John Sandford and Ctein

Blurb: 

In 2066, a Caltech intern notices an anomaly – something is approaching Saturn, and decelerating. Space objects don’t decelerate. Spaceships do. A flurry of meetings produces the inescapable conclusion: Whatever built that ship is at least one hundred years ahead in technology, and whoever can get their hands on it will have an unmatchable advantage. A conclusion the Chinese share when they find out themselves. The race is on, and a remarkable adventure begins – an epic tale of courage, treachery, resourcefulness, and astonishing discovery, as the members of a hastily thrown-together crew find their strength and wits tested against adversaries both of this earth and beyond. What happens is nothing like you expect – and everything you could want from one of the world’s greatest masters of suspense.

My Review:

I usually enjoy a good sci-fi story, so I was excited to read this book. This book has a lot of science and detail in it; you can tell the authors put a lot of time into researching the technology and science of it. Some of the technology in the book is actually quite interesting. The different engines, the heat shields, the eggs (little personal space transporters), and the unusual gadgets on the ship especially caught my attention. The writing got a little technical in a few spots, but it wasn't too bad, and it didn't last long. The characters are fun. Many of them are well written; some of them are a little cliche, like the intelligent, good-looking, stuck-up, spoiled, lazy, ivy league Sandy, who doesn't really deserve to be there, but is. I like that the President of the United States is a woman, Santeros. Also, the commander of the ship is a woman. She goes by Fang-Castro. The story is somewhat predictable, but there are a few surprises along the way that hold your attention. You could feel the characters' excitement, fear, worry, stress, and feeling of accomplishment at every step of the way. I don't have any idea if any of it is really possible, but it's a fun and unique story. 

There is a lot of profanity in this book. A lot. And much of it is the "f" word, which is extremely annoying and distracting. There is violence in this book as well, with several characters dying, and some intense fighting scenes. There is also quite a bit of "intimacy." There are scenes, innuendos, jokes, and bets. Without all the profanity and "intimacy" I would have enjoyed this book more. All that stuff is so distracting and irritating. I wish authors would leave it out (ok, I'll step off my soap-box now....)!

Rating: R (Profanity, including a lot of "f" words, violence including fighting scenes and several characters dying, and a lot of "intimacy," with scenes, innuendos, jokes, and full-on, ship-wide bets with a lot of money.)

Recommendation: Adult. This book is NOT appropriate for YA readers, or younger.

Disclosure: I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Book Review] Mysteries of Cove: Fires of Invention (Book #1) by J. Scott Savage

Mysteries of Cove: Fires of Invention (Book #1)

 by 

J. Scott Savage

Blurb:

"Trenton Coleman is a creative thirteen-year-old boy with a knack for all things mechanical. But his talents are viewed with suspicion in Cove, a steam-powered city build inside a mountain. In Cove, creativity is a crime and "invention" is a curse word. Kallista Babbage is a repair technician and daughter of the notorious Leo Babbage, who died in an explosion--an event the leaders of Cove point to as an example of the danger of creativity. Working together, Trenton and Kallista learn that Leo Babbage was developing a secret project before he perished. Following clues he left behind, they begin to assemble a strange machine that is unlike anything they've ever seen before. They soon discover that what they are building may threaten every truth their city is founded on--and quite possibly their lives"

My Review:

What a fun book! This story just comes to life on the pages. The characters are well developed and really great. I especially liked Trenton, Kallista, and Simoni. Trenton is the main character, and I feel so bad for him! He doesn't end up where he wants to end up, job-wise, and he feels like he's been betrayed and like he is missing a huge part of himself. However, he finds ways to use his......gasp! creativity (creativity is frowned upon in this story), and he might even make an.....gasp! invention or two (the word "invention" is considered profanity in Cove). He's a very likable character who is easy to relate to. He may make me nervous in some situations, because I'm definitely a rule-follower, but he has a cute personality and reminds you of your best friend growing up. Simoni is a cute character as well. She is more like me, a rule-follower, but she is a cute character. Kallista is a little more on the wild side, you may say. She is a bit of a rebel and is.....don't say it! creative. She may bring out a different side of Trenton, but it's not necessarily a bad thing. She is smart and thinks outside of the box, or mountain, in this case. The story line is fun and adventurous, and has enough action to satisfy the boys and enough girly stuff to capture the girls. Both Trenton and Kallista are strong characters, and each have their own abilities that they bring to the table. The history of Cove is interesting, and I enjoyed hearing how the whole city-in-a-mountain works. There's a bit of mystery to the story, and I liked how Trenton and Kallista worked together to solve each of the pieces of the puzzle. This is a fun middle-grader story, that I think both boys and girls will enjoy. I love the message of this book as well. Creativity and invention are wonderful things; learning to think outside of the box is an excellent skill to have.

I love that this is a great story, and it's completely clean! There is no profanity (thank you!!), no "intimacy" except for 13 year-old crushes, and very little violence. It is a fantastic middle-grader story that boys and girls will enjoy. I was hooked from the beginning! It's a fast, easy read, and I recommend it. It would make a great read-aloud as well.

Rating: PG (No profanity or "intimacy," and very little violence.)

Recommendation: 3rd grade and up.

Disclosure: I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

*This post was originally posted 9/28/15 and updated on 11/3/17.

Mysteries of Cove Trilogy:

Book #1

Book #2

 

Book #3 

The Impossible Race (Cragbridge Hall Book Three)

The Impossible Race (Cragbridge Hall Book #3) by Chad Morris

Blurb:

"In the final book of the Cragbridge Hall trilogy, Abby, Derick, and their friends must utilize their skills in time travel and technology to survive roving bands of dinosaurs, race through space, build robots, and fight virtual dragons. It's known as the Race--an annual tournament where teams of students compete in the hopes of winning an unbelievable prize. But before their year's competition, Derick and Abby receive a terrifying message from the future: Charles Muns's plan to control history is going to succeed. It will cost countless people their lives and change the destiny of the world. And there is nothing anyone can do to stop him. Despite the danger, the twins gather their friends and enter the Race, ready to compete against the best of the best in order to claim what might turn out to be a key of ultimate power. Can they complete the Race in time and stop Muns? Or has the future already been written?"

My Review:

I love this series! My boys and I have been counting down to book three since we finished book two. May I say that it did NOT disappoint!! Wow. This book is action-packed from the beginning. Not only does it continue with the history and excitement of the first two books, but it adds more! Think space, robots, and the future. Seriously, could it get any better? Well, now think spies, betrayal, dinosaurs, dragons, mythology, deadlines, and even more secrets. Abby, Derick, Carol, and Rafa are there, and this book adds many more fun characters. I love how Abby never gives up. Her attitude is so great. She is such a great, strong female character. You see a little bit of a more vulnerable side of Derick, and Carol is still as hilarious as ever. There isn't as much history in this book as there was in the previous two, but there is still some, and there are other twists and turns that make up for it. I love how this series makes being smart and trying hard in school a good thing. I love how it shows that doing your best in school translates to success in other areas in your life as well. I love the lesson of never giving up and thinking through problems, and I also love the lesson that the future may not be set--work harder and/or smarter, try something different, think of things in new ways, and your future is in your hands. You have the power to do whatever you want to do in life. There are some fantastic new inventions in this book that I really wish I had. Someone needs to invent them for real! And did I mention the illustrations and cover art? Brandon Dorman has definitely outdone himself this time. This book is the perfect way to end this series (Does it have to end??). Everything does get tied up nicely, but it's a middle-grader series, and that's of course how I wanted it. I can't wait for my boys to read it, they are going to love it!

Another great thing about this book is that it is clean! Yay! There is no profanity and no "intimacy." There is a little bit of violence when they are fighting robots, and Muns is still evil, but it's not too bad.

Rating: PG (No profanity or "intimacy." There is some minor violence when they're fighting robots, and Muns is still his evil self.)

Recommendation: Third Grade and up (Boys and girls will enjoy this book, and it would make a fabulous read-aloud.)

Disclosure: I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Frankenstein

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Summary:

"'I saw the pale student of unhallowed arts kneeling beside the thing he had put together. I saw the hideous phantasm of a man stretched out, and then, on the working of some powerful engine, show signs of life and stir with an uneasy, half-vital motion.' A summer evening's ghost stories, lonely insomnia in a moonlit Alpine room, and a runaway imagination--fired by philosophical discussions with Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley about science, galvanism, and the origins of life--conspired to produce for Mary Shelley this haunting night specter. By morning, it had become the gem of her Romantic masterpiece, FRANKENSTEIN. Written in 1816 when she was only nineteen, Mary Shelley's novel of 'The Modern Prometheus' chillingly dramatized the dangerous potential of life begotten upon a laboratory table. A frightening creation myth for our own time, FRANKENSTEIN remains one of the greatest horror stories ever written and is an undisputed classic of its kind."

My Review:

I have read this book a few times, and I reread it today because I realized that I haven't ever reviewed it, and I thought it would be perfect for Halloween. This is definitely a classic. I love the language and the rich vocabulary in this book. It does take awhile to get back into it, after reading many current novels, but I love it. Mary Shelley did a great job with this book. Although it is well known, the current trend is to call the monster Frankenstein, when in reality, it is the scientist that is named Frankenstein. The creature is never given a name, except for Fiend, Monster, and Creature. This book is morbid, if you think about it. And, even though technology may eventually be to where we could possibly create life, I hope we never do. The creature that Frankenstein creates is a very interesting character. He begins his life with hope and joy and innocence. The more humans that revile him, the more angry and fiendish he becomes. At times you feel sorry for him and at other times you are repulsed by him and his behavior. There are many human traits discussed in this book, and many of them are still with us today. This book is well written. The characters are very well developed and come to life on the page.

There are a few swear words, but they actually aren't really used as swear words in the book. There is no "intimacy," but there are several murders. There is also the ethics of giving life to a monster. I actually really do like this book, even though it is morbid.

Rating: PG 13+ (Several characters are murdered)

Recommendation: 14 and up

George Goes To Mars

George Goes To Mars by Simon Dillon

(Summary taken from an email the author sent me) "When George Hughes discovers he has inherited the planet Mars, he goes from poverty to becoming the richest boy on Earth overnight. Accompanied by his new guardian, a mysterious secret agent, and a crew of astronauts, George voyages to Mars to sell land to celebrities wanting to build interplanetary homes. But sabotage, assassination attempts and an alien threat plunge him into a deadly adventure."

This book has a little bit of everything: action, adventure, mystery, space, a touch of romance, a few surprises, and some politics scattered here and there. Hahaha.....you know how I feel about that last one in middle-grade and early YA books. Yeah, not my favorite. Anyway, there are some good moments in this book. I liked a few of the characters. I liked Giles and I liked George's parents. I also liked a few of the characters on the space expedition. For some reason, I just didn't latch onto George. I'm not quite sure why, but I didn't relate to him at all. The story line was ok. I actually found a lot of it too unbelievable to even go with. It's not fantasy where you can kind of go with it, it's sci-fi and supposed to be realistic, and I didn't really find it to be realistic. The whole premise was a little out there for me. I wanted to like this book because I liked "Uncle Flynn," Mr. Dillon's other book, but it just kind of fell flat for me. My boys might like it more than I did; maybe it's more of a boy thing. I usually like sci-fi, and space can interest me, but this time I just didn't care what happened to George (even though I wanted to), and that usually isn't a good sign. 

There are a couple of swear words, but that's all. There's some violence with fighting and bullies, and a deadly river with some graphic descriptions. There are some deaths as well. 

I might give this to my boys to read (they are 12 and 10), because it may just be a boy thing. I'll let you know if they enjoy it more than I did.

Rating: PG+ (Minor language, violence with bullies, deaths, fighting in a war, and a deadly river with some graphic descriptions)

Recommendation: 5th grade and up (10-11 year-old), and  I think boys will be more interested than girls.

(It's only $.99 on amazon.com right now, so it might be worth the read.)

The Avatar Battle (Cragbridge Hall Book Two)

 The Avatar Battle (Cragbridge Hall Book Two) by Chad Morris

(Summary taken from inside the book jacket) "The adventure continues as Abby and Derick begin their second semester at Cragbridge Hall, the most prestigious secondary school in the world. The year is 2074, and Abby and Derick are busy designing their own virtual worlds and learning to control new robot animal avatars, but when their Grandpa Cragbridge admits them into the Council of the Keys--a secret group of people who have keys to travel back in time--strange things begin to happen. One by one, members of the council are found unconscious and unable to wake, their keys stolen. Now Abby, Derick, and their friends must scramble to figure out who is behind the attacks before they become the next victims, which would give their enemy the power to change the past--and forever alter the present and future."

My boys and I loved the first book in this series, and they have been asking me for months when the new book will be coming out. Finally I get to tell them it is here! And boy, it did not disappoint! Abby and Derick are great characters, along with Carol, who adds a lot of humor, and Rafa, who adds some mystery. I might have liked this one more than I liked the first book. Maybe??? I loved the new gadgets and tricks. I thought the build-your-own world bit was awesome. I love that there are so many lessons in these books. I think it's great that Grandpa Cragbridge makes them work for their answers. I like how it describes Abby thinking and thinking and trying out new ideas and using knowledge she gains from her classes. I also like that she doesn't always succeed, but when that happens she just keeps on trying. I feel like I'm constantly telling my kids to keep trying, don't get discouraged, get back up and try again......it's much better coming from a fun book than from mom's mouth....again. The characters in this book have flaws (Abby performing lowest in the school and Derick actually failing at some things) and they know it. I love that they don't get too down on themselves and stop trying. It's a great lesson for all of us. The avatars are so fun, and the cover by Brandon Dorman is amazing. I love the history lessons as well. I actually learned a lot about the Hindenburg. I did feel like this book had a little less history than the first one, but it had more action. If I had a complaint that is what it would be; I wish it had a few more history lessons in it.  If you enjoyed the first book, you definitely need to read this one!

There is no language and no "intimacy" except some minor flirting between Carol and Derick. There is some violence, and a few characters do get injured. It's a little scary in parts. There is a fun twist at the end that surprised me! My 12 year-old son has already read the book as well, and he loved it. He specifically commented to me about that surprise twist at the end. Crazy and unexpected, for sure!

Rating: PG (No language or "intimacy." There is some violence with characters being injured, and there are definitely bad guys.)

Recommendation: Third grade and up. This series is great for young and old, boy and girl, and would make a great read-aloud.

Disclosure: I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Betelgeuse Oracle (Book One)

The Betelgeuse Oracle (The Betelgeuse Chronicles Book #1) by Joseph Macchiusi

(Summary taken from the back cover of the book) "Thousands convulse and perish. Electronics die. Aircraft plummet. Food and water are scarce. Trapped in this huge calamity, James Muir suffers bizarre visions. Desperate to reunite with his wife and young daughters, he cannot resist the command of a mysterious Voice berating him in ancient Egyptian. He must embark on a quest for 'the Stone.' Haunted by the erosion of his own sanity, hunted by gunmen, James joins a group of strangers desperate to escape a metropolis transformed into a burning, violent wasteland. But what awaits them beyond the fringes of the city? The Stone has a fanatical will of its own. As strangers become friends and lovers, James realizes that even if the trek doesn't kill him, he may not be strong enough to match the Stone's baffling power."

Wow. What to say, what to say? The character development in this book is fairly good. The characters, although a lot of them are very unlikable, including James, seem realistic and have some depth to them. There are some good descriptions of events that occur and places the characters find themselves in. After that, though, I'm just not a fan of this book. Mr. Macchiusi's writing style is strange and difficult to read and understand, especially because he constantly uses fragmented sentences. It drove me crazy. The grammatical mistakes alone made this book difficult to read and understand. I read the prologue several times trying to understand what in the world was going on. I finally just moved on. And then I found James. And I didn't like him at all. He is a very unlikable character. He has a bad attitude about everything, especially when he is at home with his wife and daughters. Then this event occurs that changes life as we know it, and I got so lost. I kept having to go back and remind myself who the different characters were.  I knew James was being led by some unknown force, but it just didn't come together for me. The ending was confusing and very lackluster. It goes back to the characters in the prologue talking about time travel and eons of time, and I was confused and had no idea what had happened. Also, the profanity in this book is awful. There are so many "f" words that I lost track after just a few pages. And that's not all; almost every other profane word is also used abundantly. There is also "intimacy" and lots of violence. It is a very gory and gruesome book. Lots of people die, and they don't die calmly in their sleep. Yeah, this book is definitely not for me. I do not recommend this book.

Rating: R (Lots of profanity, including dozens of "f" words, violence, gore, death, "intimacy," slavery)

Recommendation: Adult 

Disclosure: I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. 

Allegiant (Divergent Series Book #3)

Allegiant (Divergent Series Book #3) by Veronica Roth

(Summary taken from amazon.com)

What if your whole world was a lie?
What if a single revelation—like a single choice—changed everything?
What if love and loyalty made you do things you never expected?
The explosive conclusion to Veronica Roth's #1 New York Times bestselling Divergent trilogy reveals the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent.

I was so excited to read this book. I LOVED the first two! I was number 60-something at the library and so I finally just borrowed it from a friend because I couldn't wait any longer. And then I started reading. Oh my gosh!!!! I have not been this upset or angry or disappointed by a book three since the third book of the Eragon series. What a waste!!!! Now, if you have read the first two, you will still want to read it, I guess, but don't get your hopes up. It is written very poorly. The first two were all first person Tris, and this book is split between first person Tris and first person Tobias. Weird. But to make it worse, you can't tell the difference in their voices. I had to keep flipping back to the beginning of the chapter to see who was talking. It completely ruined my vision of who Tobias was; because I couldn't tell the difference, he took on Tris' voice, almost, and became quite girly and whiny. Instead of being "the" Dauntless example of tough and fearless, he became soft and scared. It's too bad, because I didn't expect what happened outside the city. It was an angle I had never thought of, and never would have guessed. But it was ruined because of her poor writing. I'm not sure if she was being rushed by the publisher or what, but it was bad. Very bad. The characters also didn't stay true to themselves in this book either. The choice Tobias' mother makes at the end, although I kind of hoped she would choose that way, was completely unbelievable because she had acted completely opposite the whole second book. Tobias' actions with the underground group surprised me, and I didn't think that was true to him. I couldn't believe that after Tris' little group knew the truth that they didn't run back and tell everyone in the city. There wouldn't be any way the compound people could keep me there; I would have run back right away to let my friends and family know the truth. Although the choice Tris made at the end was expected, what happened after that was not. I hated the ending. It doesn't make sense or work with how the first two books are written. I'll leave it at that. Lame, lame, lame. I do not recommend reading this book. After you finish the second one just let your imagination run wild and find your own ending. I promise it will be better than this one!!!

There is language in this book, and although there is never actually an "intimacy" scene, there are a few times that come pretty close. Hands go places and clothes are lacking. They sleep in the same bed a couple of times, leaving you wondering.....There is also quite a bit of violence in this book. Some of it is quite graphic.

I finished this book a long time ago, and just thinking about it again makes me as angry as I was when I finished. Boo. I am very disappointed.

Rating: PG 13 (Language, violence, some very-close-to-intimacy scenes, and the deaths of some well-known characters.)

Recommendation: 13-14 years and up

Insurgent (Divergent Series Book #2)

Insurgent (Divergent Series Book #2) by Veronica Roth

(Summary taken from inside the book jacket) "One choice can transform you--or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves--and herself-while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love. Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable--and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so."

I LOVED the first book, Divergent, so I was really excited to read book two. I purchased it right when it came out, but I have so many books that I have to read that I feel bad reading a book I want to. So, it sat under my bed for a very long time. I finally decided it was time. And I was so excited. It had been so long that I had a difficult time remembering all the characters and details at first, but then it all came back to me. Wow, this book did not disappoint! It is exciting, engaging, and well written. It brings out a side of Tris that makes her seem a little more vulnerable: she grapples with guilt from killing Will, and she can't even bring herself to hold a weapon. Her relationship with Tobias, although still there, is strained at times. There is a lot of guilt and forgiveness in this book. I love Christina's transformation. Forgiving your brother's killer would be so difficult. The characters come to life in this book. I love that they are able to interact with a few of the different factions, so we get a sneak-peek into the lives of Amity and Candor factions as well as the Dauntless. I'm with Tobias when it comes to Tris and her lack of caring about herself. She drove me crazy in a few places, but I did understand why she made those choices. There are some interesting turns in this book, and I really enjoyed it. Bring on book three!!!

There is quite a bit of violence in this book. Many people die, and some are well known characters. There are times when Tris and Tobias get close to "intimacy," but they do not ever actually do it. There are scenes where they sleep in the same bed, with not very many clothes on, and hands go places, but they never go farther than that. There are a few profane words, but not a lot. If you loved book one, you will love book two!

Rating: PG-13 (Violence, deaths of characters, minor profanity, and some close-to-"intimacy" scenes with kissing)

Recommendation: 13 years-old and up.  It's a good young adult book.

Time In

Time In by Tim Filewod

(Summary taken from the back cover of the book) "What are you like? Would you take a risk? When Toby is invited to travel through time one day, he accepts without thinking. He wants to find his father. Suddenly, he finds himself in the future--in a world with no countries that is controlled by huge multinational companies and policed by the Council and their Time Masters, who need his help. Toby persuades two of his best friends to join him and together they try to prevent an environmental disaster [from] happening by travelling back in time to 1981. However, a sinister organization called MORSC wants to stop them. Will Toby be able to complete his mission and meet his father? And if he ever finds his dad, what will he be like?"

I liked the characters in this story. The kids are cute and adventurous. They might be a little too trusting, but that is the risk they take and it works in their favor this time. Duke and Mark Anthony, and some of the older characters are mostly believable and seem sincere. I like Mr. Filewod's creativity and imagination. There is definitely a lot of action in this book, and it is mostly clean, which is great! There were only a couple profane words, no "intimacy," and some violence (fighting bad guys). A main character does die as well. Unfortunately, that is where my like of this book ends. It definitely needs an editor. There were a lot of spelling and grammatical errors. Although the story was creative, the plot didn't really follow through as I thought it should. I felt like the main purpose of the story was for the kids to go on this mission and fulfill it. That mission mostly became a side-story. Although they tried a few times, the majority of the book was about the fighting and getting away from the bad guys. The last few pages finally got back to the main point, but I felt the solution was unbelievable and almost comical. The story also sidetracks into Toby and his dad. I didn't quite understand what he was going to do once he found his dad, and how that would help his mom. I thought he would go back and try to prevent the accident, but that is not what happened. I'm not quite sure his solution was very believable either, and I don't know really how it would help. My biggest dislike of this book, though, is one of my soap-box issues. I don't care what you believe politically, hiding those political issues in children's books is not okay. As an adult, if I read a book or watch a show that has a political bias, I can identify it and choose whether I agree or not, and if I don't know, then I have the power to research it and figure it out for myself. Children do not have that power or ability. They don't know all the issues and can't identify a bias. They believe what they read. The whole main point of this book is politically-based and biased. It makes one side look like the heroes and the other like horrible monsters, almost. If you want to write a political book, fine, then write it for adults, or write it nonfiction and identify it as what it is. Okay, I'll step off my soap-box now. Sorry for that little rant, but it really irritates me. 

Anyway, I think this book has potential. It needs an editor and some good rewrites. I'd say take out the political bias and have the kids solve a mystery or something. There are some very cool contraptions and some awesome technology; use those and make it fun. 

Rating: PG+ (Fighting bad guys, the death of a main character, a couple of profane words)

Recommendation: 4th grade and up (9-10 years-old)

Disclosure: I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Eternal Night

Eternal Night by Jade Kerrion

(Summary taken from amazon.com) "Alone for a millennium, since a human murdered her beloved consort, Ashra, the immortal icrathari queen, rules over Aeternae Noctis, the domed city of eternal night. Her loneliness appears to be at an end when her consort's soul is reborn in a human, Jaden Hunter, but their reunion will not be easy. Icrathari are born, not made. If Ashra infuses Jaden with her immortal blood, he will be a vampire, a lesser creature of the night, a blood-drinker rather than a soul-drinker. Furthermore, Jaden is sworn to protect his half-sister, five-year-old Khiarra. She is the child of prophecy, destined to end the eternal night and the dominion of the Night Terrors—the icrathari and the vampires. As Ashra struggles to sustain her crumbling kingdom in the face of enemies without and treachery within, Jaden fights to defend his sister and unravel a greater mystery: what is the city of eternal night, and how did it come to be?"

This book is very different from the other two books I have read by Jade Kerrion. I have to say I was disappointed at first. I was so confused; I had no idea what was going on. There was a lot of vocabulary that I did not understand, and I couldn't figure out what the point was. It took me quite awhile to figure out what was going on, who everyone was, what all the creatures were, and who I should be routing for. However, once I figured it all out, I couldn't put it down. The characters started to come off the page and the story grabbed hold of me. I had a deep respect for Ashra and came to understand why she did what she did, and what motivated her. I began to like her more and more. I liked Jaden from the start. I liked his personality, devotion, dedication, and ability to think outside the box. One of the things I didn't understand was the city itself: why did it continually stay in the dark, how did it do that? And wait, the city floats above the earth? When it said that they could see the earth, I seriously thought they might be on the moon looking at a far-away earth. I did not understand that the city was on the earth, just floating above the surface. Ahhhhh......I know, I'm making myself sound not very intelligent. I finally got it though. I understood why the city moved and stayed in darkness. It's a very interesting yet complicated scenario. After I started putting things together I also came to understand the other creatures more. The Daevas were one creature that baffled me at the beginning. I never liked them, but did begin to understand them more as the book went on. I thought it was interesting how Khiarra fit in and ended up fulfilling the prophecy: it wasn't really what anyone had thought it would be. Even though I had doubts about Siri from time to time, I thought it was clever of Ms. Kerrion to use that name for someone who had "encyclopedic knowledge of science and technology." They were constantly asking her questions. Iphone/pad/pod anyone??? Anyone ever ask "Siri" a question on their device? Hahaha....maybe it's only me, but I thought it was clever. I ended up really liking this book. If you haven't tried a book by Jade Kerrion yet, now might be a good time!

There is profanity in this book along with violence, deaths, fighting scenes, and quite the "intimacy" scene. 

Rating: PG-13+ (Profanity, deaths, fighting, and an "intimacy" scene)

Recommendation: High School Senior and up

Disclosure: I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.