Little Women

Synopsis: This book focuses on a family of sisters who are very close to one another. Mainly the story is centered around Jo, the playful and passionate tomboy of the family. The story line is about these girls growing up together, and maturing independently. A classic.

Review: I love Jo, even when she acts childish and handles something in the wrong way you can't help but smile and shake your head, of course, she probably wouldn't like that one bit.I loved the characters and the old fashioned society. I loved the importance of family and the emphasized value of friendship. Even the romance was believable and appropriate. I never once rolled my eyes at the romance, as I usually do. The way the story was told was so realistically and I think the book is one of my favorites.

The Singing by Alisson Croggon

Synopsis: In the final book of the Pellinor series, Maered and Hem face war, flood and plague as they strive to find one another to defeat the Nameless One. Both equipped with Bardic powers and Elidhu magic, they come together to fulfill prophesy and bring down their overwhelmingly strong common enemy. Their transformation from slave of the world to the saviors of the world is intense, complex and fulfilling.

Review: I liked it, but there were many times when I thinking, "ok, I get it, it's a really hard journey, but let's get it over with! Face the enemy already!" I think the suspense was too long suspended, and became over drawn out. I did like the ending though. I think it addressed all that I, as a reader, wanted to hear about, even after all the action had settled. I think the world that Croggon created was complicated and realistic. I felt like I really understood the culture and the people involved. I also really appreciated the good sense of moral values, and the lack of profanity. I never felt like anything I read throughout the series offended me, which is rare because I have high standards.

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

Synopsis: This graphic novel illustrates the challenges an American-born Chinese boy might face while living in America by following three seemingly different stories. One story is of a monkey deity called the Monkey King who rules his island inhabited by his monkey subjects. When there is a party of the Gods held in the Heavens and the Monkey King is kicked out, he struggles to accept his monkey self and begins to take on human like qualities because he is no longer confident in himself. Another character is introduced as a younger boy in elementary school who is made fun of because of his racial background. When another racially different kid moves in at first the boy treats him badly but soon enough they become good friends. Another character is introduced with his crazy cousin from China staying with his family to visit for a week or so. He is forced to take him to school and is constantly embarrassed by his Chinese cousin and is frustrated to the point of losing it when he learns his cousin's crazy true identity. All of the character's stories come together as they all learn important lessons about accepting who they are and learning that being different is okay.

Review: I loved this book, every page was well done and very entertaining. I think it shared it message well and taught lessons to me that I didn't expect to learn when I opened the book. Though the images are funny and the dialogue doesn't seem serious I think there are serious lessons to hear. I think this book is a friendly graphic novel to any audience and a great way to spend a little less than an hour of your day.

Zel by Nancy

Synopsis: Zel and Mother have always been together. They live in a secluded glen far from any neighbors; they grow their own food; they live their own lives and most importantly, they are always together. Once in a great while Mother will go to town for needed supplies and take Zel along. One time while visiting the market, Mother decides to leave Zel on her own while she finishes some errands and Zel meets a curious young man. The young man is none other than the Crown Prince and after just one encounter with the young lady, the prince is desperate to find her. As Mother discovers her daughter's ardent admirer, she is determined to keep her safe, even to extreme and horrifying ends. Will Zel and her prince ever be together?

Review: It was very well written- 5 stars for great writing, but the ending was too weird for me. I did not believe that many of the attributes of the book were realistic. I did not think that Mother was a believable character- and usually I can be ok with one or two characters not being great, but as Mother was a main character and her story was the base theme for the whole book, I think it could have been...hm, maybe a little less extreme? When I read the chapters that were from Mother's point of view I found myself thinking, "Ok, no human being thinks like that!" I suppose that was perfectly intended, but it just rubbed me wrong. I did not like the ending either. It seemed to me that the story took a while to progress and then all of a sudden it's over! Ta-Da! It was like a sneeze; completely took me off guard and left me asking too many questions. But, like I said, it was very well written, I was intrigued and thoroughly drawn in after every chapter.

Court Duel by Sherwood Smith

Synopsis: The Countess Meliara, known as Mel, and her brother swear to her dying father that they will lead a revolution to usurp the throne from the greedy Galadran. Their rebellion leads to a war that they are unevenly matched for; equipped with impoverished farmers and makeshift weapons, they use their best strategies to hold their own, until the Marquis is called in by the King to solve the problem. After the war settles, Mel finds herself in even more dangerous waters at court. Here her sword is useless and she must learn quickly to use an even more dangerous weapon: her mind.

Review: I love this book and have read it several times. My copy is well worn and well loved. I think this is a classic adventure/romance novel with nonclassic characters and a well organized plot with twists and turns I never saw coming. It reminded me vaguely of another book I read called Trouble with Kings which too is about a war and court life, romance and fighting. I think this book is a great read and recommend it to others looking for a good, past-time read.

The Alchemyst by

Synopsis: This book is a fictionalized fantasy about the ancient celebrity Nicholas Flamel, otherwise known as The Alchemyst. Born in France he led a rather ordinary life until he happened to come across a little copper book that held invaluable secrets, such as the magical brew of Immortality and the formula to the Sorcerer's Stone. HE and his wife Perenelle have been taking the Immortal concoction for several centuries now, but their life of hiding from the ambitious and powerful dark magician Dr. Dee is about to get complicated as a brother and sister, twins in fact, named Sophie and Josh are brought into the scene.

Review: I was not expecting this to be a serious and I'm a little upset that I'm going to have to find the next book in the serious to finish the story! And yes, I really must find the next book because I think it is a good, fresh story and I am quite interested in what twists the author will introduce to the plot next. Though slightly predictable and with a little bit underdeveloped characters the book is carried on by vivid and descriptive displays of a creative and imaginative story that combines all cultures mythology both common and uncommon and creates a new original story altogether.

Trouble with Kings by Sherwood Smith

Synopsis: Princess Flian wakes up one morning

"Princess Flian finds herself the unwilling object of desire of three royals. Is the one she wants a villainor a hero? Waking up in a strange place, Flian Elandersi at first doesn't know who she is. One wicked prince tells her she is secretly engaged to an even more wicked king who wants to marry her right away. But before that happens, yet another wicked prince crashes through a window on horseback to sweep her off her feet. Memory returns, and Flian realizes that all any of them seem to want is her considerable wealth, not her pleasant-but-ordinary self. She longs to escape the barracks-like, military atmosphere and return to civilization and her musical studies. Who is the villain? Prince Garian Herlesterlanguid, elegant, sarcastic? Prince Jaimhe of the dashing horsemanship? Or King Jason Szinzar, whose ambiguous warning might be a threat? Flian decides it's time to throw off civilization and take action."