Hooray!

Today is my mom's birthday. Happy birthday Mom!!!!! Lots of love from your daughter. :)

Pix from: http://www.gifts2pinas.com/pictures/balloons/balloons14-big.jpg

I Want to go Home

Title: I Want to go Home


Author: Gordon Korman


Genre: Humor


Description: A sarcastic boy and his faithful sidekick hate the camp they have been forced to go to, and they take every opportunity to run away.

This isn't a real hard read. I don't have much to say about it. But sometimes when I am in the middle of several books that are really serious and have some major character development, I like to take a step back and read this funny story. Rudy Miller has calm, cool ways of devising brilliant plans to escape, and the reaction of his camp counselours just makes me laugh. It's a nice simple story and a quick read.

Picture from: http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/k/gordon-korman/i-want-to-go-home.htm

By the way, there is one flaw in the cover of this book. In the story, Camp Algonkian Island (the camp that Rudy was sent to) is a boys' camp! So there should be no girls!

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Title: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (that's a mouthful)

Author: Mark Haddon

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Description: A dog is murdered on a dark night. Who did this? Why? What are all these strange secrets Christopher keeps uncovering about his family? Christopher is not your ordinary boy, but he must find out.

The voice in this book is really good. The story is in the point of view of an autistic child, so we get an insight on what his life is like, and with an interesting plot. For school, we were asked to read this and find out what we had in common with Christopher, then write a response. At first I was like, how am I ever going to find something in common between an autistic kid and an avid book reader? We live in different worlds, pretty much. So what did I make of it? Here is my response:

Probably like many others, I found very little in common with Christopher when reading The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time for the first time. After finishing the last page, I looked back, but I still couldn’t find much that we shared. Then I thought about not focusing on specifics, but the big picture. For example: we both have a color we don’t like. Mine is orange instead of yellow and brown, but it is a likeness. With this new idea in mind, I read the book once more, and found many more similarities than before.

First I found little things we had almost exactly in common. We both have a favorite color, and we both like Indian food. We both like puzzles because they are calming. I do a Sudoku when I want to relax, and Christopher does the puzzle Conway’s Soldiers when he is overwhelmed on the crowded train. We both don’t like being shouted at because we are scared of further consequences. These similarities were easy to find because we both liked (or disliked) the same thing for the same reason.

I looked deeper into the story and found things we both have done or liked or wanted, but for different reasons. Christopher likes math because it is stable. I like math because there is always a specific and straightforward formula to find the answer. Christopher doesn’t like lies like the ones they tell in proper novels. I don’t like lies like the ones they tell in scary alien movies. Christopher wants things in a nice order because it makes him feel safe. When he sees 4 red cars in a row, they are in a nice order, so that makes it a Good Day. I want things in a nice order because it is easier to find things. Sometimes I spend an afternoon picking up my room so that it is orderly, which makes me feel better. We have both snooped around like detectives. Christopher snooped around to find out why his father hated Mr. Shears. I snooped around to find cool new things, like my favorite dress from Kindergarten, which was stuffed into a rag box. Christopher writes a story about his experiences. I just write stories.

I can relate to Christopher in a few big points of his life as well. He learns his mother has supposedly had a heart attack. He isn’t very sad, just accepting. When I was much younger, my grandmother had a heart attack. I didn’t understand so I didn’t worry much, just accepted the fact. Then, Christopher finds some hidden letters in a box, addressed to him! I once found a box of letters too, but addressed to my great-grandmother from my great-grandfather. In both cases, the letters piqued our curiosity. Finally, Christopher decides to go live with his mother and travels to London and has an adventure on the London Underground. The tube sign is only too familiar to me. Just this summer, my aunt took me to London, and I know exactly what the Underground is like. We share a big experience.

From reading this book and writing this paper, I found out how I can share a great deal with someone I would have thought to be a complete stranger. From small dislikes to big events we will always remember, Christopher and I have a lot in common.

Picture from http://reeyah.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/the_curious_incident.jpg

Coraline

Title: Coraline


Author: Neil Gaiman


Genre: Adventure,


Description: Coraline wishes for more than what she has in her dull, much-less-than perfect world, and it seems her wish has been answered when she finds a small door hidden in her dreary apartment. But this door and the perfect world behind it are more creepy and frightening than they seem.


Wow. Creepy. Scary. Frightening. Fascinating.


Neil Gaiman really takes you away with this highly suspenseful and intriguing story. He hooks you and lays out the setting neatly. He clearly describes the wills and wants of his character, and adds a bit of mystery. All seems innocent until you realize the truth along with Coraline. But does she turn back? No. As the story becomes more fast-paced, you read, being pulled deeper and deeper with each thrilling sentence.At the creepiest part of the book, you have to give it to Coraline for bravery. Even though her parents are missing and she has nothing to go to but a dreaful and powerful other mother, she faces her enemy and does whatever it takes to find her parents and triumph. It gives you courage too. If she can do it, so can I. I couldn't put this awesome book down. After the story, I gave some thought to the question: If I were in Coraline's place, what would I do?

Everyone I talked to told me this book was really scary, and I might not like it. I would never tell anyone not to read this book. The scary parts were so exciting, and I read them eagerly. And if you are scared, don't worry. It will all turn out O.K. in the end.

The Willoughbys

Title: The Willoughbys


Author: Lois Lowry

Genre: Juvenile Fiction

Description: Four unhappy children wish to be orphans because they hate their parents, and and old grouch finds happiness again. I guess.


After some thought, I have found I do not know how to describe this book and its story. Maybe I could say it was random. Possibly undecided. A very simple story. The author had NO IDEA what she was doing.
Just kidding. But it is true that this book isn't the greatest piece of literature.

My first thought on this book was that it was sick and slightly racist. That sounds harsh, but what kind of kids wish their parents were dead so they could be orphans? What kind of parents name their twins the same name, then can't remember their other two children's names? Then the parents go on a vacation, leaving their kids behind and Put their House up For Sale. The trip turns out to be a perilous journey, and some fellow tourists die. And the parents say: 'It doesn't matter that they died, they were French." I mean, what kind of book is this?????? It is for children, right?? What is the book world coming to???? ....Okay, I'm calm now. But I don't understand why my sister likes this book. And one more thing. The oldest Willoughby child, Tim, is an absolute beast. For example, if his brothers and sisters don't do something absolutely right, he docks "points" off them. At the end of the day, he always has the most points, because he does everything perfectly. Ha ha. As an older sibling myself, I am appalled.



As I said before, I found the story random. One moment, you are learning about the aggravating Willoughby children and their horrible parents. Then, they find this abandoned baby on their doorstep. You may think this is a turning point for the Willoughbys, but it's not. Instead they shave the baby and dump it on somebody else's doorstep. Now it is time for the parents to go on their vacation. A nanny is being hired. There is this big fuss over the nanny, and you think, oh, this is going to be sort of like Mary Poppins! But think again. After that chapter, the nanny doesn't come up much, except when she makes cookies. Now enter another character, the old grouch. He finds the unwanted baby, and now the baby has to affect his life a little tiny bit, or otherwise, why have the baby in the story at all???

Book #1--Again

Being my first ever book review, my The True Meaning of Smekday review is pretty lame. I'm going to do this great book some justice right here.

Title: The True Meaning of Smekday

Author: Adam Rex

Genre: Adventure, Science Fiction

Description: Aliens envade Earth in 2013!! Join the Amazing Gratuity Tucci and her hilarious alien friend, J.Lo, on a journey you won't forget!

Anyway.

I laugh at what I just wrote, because the most distinguishable feature of the main character, Gratuity Tucci, is her voice. One of the most common things she does is go off topic then say, "Anyway." Adam Rex does a great job at the voices, and gives each character their own special way of speaking. J.Lo the alien's first language, Boovish, consists of strange sounds mixed together, like a Crying Baby Riding on a Duck with Its Mouth Full. Anyway. One of J.Lo's common English mistakes is saying 'for' or 'to' after the 5 w's. For example: Wherefor are you knowing it? or Whyfor is he exploring our car? He also confuses the word 'exploding' with 'exploring.' Not a good idea. Still, Gratuity and J.Lo make a hilarious combination with their distinct characters.

Not just the voices are great, but the plot. Aliens land, twice! They take up the entire U.S. and leave only one state for the entire human population! Find out what its really like, all through the eyes of an eleven -year-old girl whose mom was taken by the aliens! This same girl drives across America with her funny Boov sidekick and her cat! And get the first-hand story on how strange aliens can be! It can't get any better than that.

Even as an avid book reader, I only find a few books that really take me into their world. You always hear about books as being the doorway into different and amazing places. I'm not saying they aren't, but have you ever almost forgot where you were and belived yourself to be with the characters? With this one I laughed out loud and cautiously made my way across an alien-filled America with the two main characters.

This is a book you don't want to miss, seriously!!!!

Anyway.

Tangerine

Title: Tangerine

Author: Edward Bloor

Genre: Mystery, Adventure

Description: Moving to Tangerine, Florida, is not what it seems. This place used to be famous for it's Tangerine Groves. Now, as Paul Fisher finds out, there are more and more problems and danger resurfacing every day.

This book is definitely worth reading. It's very captivating, and the story holds onto you. You always want to read on, and you always are asking, "What's going to happen next?" The book has an air of suspense, although some parts are not really scary. Paul Fisher, the main character, becomes a soccer player on a great team. Being a soccer player, I find the games he plays as exciting as the suspicious crimes. You are astonished at how many things can go wrong in one place and in one lifetime, and you may think, "I am very lucky." How many times have you complained about a boring spot in a book? Never fear. In Tangerine, something is always happening. It may be drastic. It may be lightning. It may change your life. Okay, I'm exagerating, but you get the point. You won't be able to put this book down!

The Way Authors Use Words

When reading my many books, I noticed how the authors used word play or puns as names for their characters. I found some pretty fun names and some interesting origins in my reading. Here are some examples I want to show you:

In The True Meaning of Smekday, the main character is named Gratuity. Defined from the dictionary, gratuity is "a material favor or gift", which is usually money, and is given in return for service. In other words, a tip. Which turns out to be the character's nickname.

Trial By Journal is chock full of puns and word play. Almost every characters name has to do with their occupation and/or an animal. For example, one of Lily Watson's (no pun there) fellow jurors is named Woody Pecker (woodpecker, of course) and he owns a furniture store. Anna Conda styles snake-skin clothing. Penny Gwen sells tuxedos. The supposed murderer and murdered boy both have bird names-Bob White and Perry Keet. Lynn Goe (it took me a while to get this one, but I suppose it is lingo) is against child jurors (children should See no Evil, Hear no Evil, Speak no Evil). I liked reading all the creative names, and it's a good story too!!

Asterix in Britain is an old comic book about this Gaul named Asterix and his friend Obelix, and they travel to Britain to help defend a little town from being taken over by Romans. I just recently noticed how the author had some fun with the names.

Gaul Names
Anticlimax
Mykingdomforanos (I don't get this one, do any of you readers?)
Overoptimistix
Vitalstatistix
McAnix
Cacofonix (the musician whose music is ear shattering)
Haystax
Hiphiphurrax

Roman Names
Tillius Stratocummulus
Encylopaedicus Britannicus

The names are all like this, but I am surprised that I just noticed them!

In Harry Potter, there must be almost one hundred characters in all the books put together! I did some (more) reading and found out a couple of the origins of the names and spells. The names often reflect the characteristics of the character.
Rita Skeeter (Miss Skeeter): Like mosquito, a bloodthirsty pest. Indeed, Miss Skeeter is always out looking for the bloody details on a story, being a pest the whole time.
Severus Snape: Like severe, snub, and snipe. An unpopular and strict teacher who can't get the job he wants.
Professor Sprout: Like sprout. She teaches the study of magical plants.
Draco Malfoy: Like dragon (Draco=Latin for dragon), malevolent, malignant, and malfeasance. Draco is a true enemy of Harry.
Voldemort: Like death (mort = Latin for death) and Vol de mort (French for 'flight from death') Voldemort continually causes death but escapes from it himself.
Albus Dumbledore: A tricky one. Albus = Latin for white, Dumbledore= old English word for bumblebee White bumblebee. Go figure.

Latin origins can easily be found for all spells, and they usually explain exactly what that spell does.
I got these origins from Verbatim magazine, edited by Eric McKean, in the article by Jessie Randall. To read more interesting origins of names, places, things, passwords, and spells in the Harry Potter books, go here!

Just Ella

Title: Just Ella

Author: Margaret Peterson Haddix

Genre: Fairy/Folk Tale

Description: The continuance of the story of Cinderella, but as Ella (a.k.a. Cinderella) begins to live the life of a princess, she realizes it is not what she thought.

I enjoyed this book, but I realized some parts are not what I thought. I like these stories about the aftermath or true story of a fairy tale, and this one goes pretty well, but, as I always say, every piece of writing has some weak spots.

As the story unfolds, Ella is not portrayed as the poor servant girl who needs mice and a fairy godmother to help her. She is an independent, defiant, strong-willed young woman, called Cinders-Ella by her Step-Evils. She took matters into her own hands, and somehow the magical story was brought into the mix by over-imaginative townsfolk. I like Cinderella known this way--she isn't so much the magical Disney character we know, but just herself, Ella. Hence the title.

The story is interesting as she fights back against the palace that is trying to shape her into the perfect lady. Her aims are set, and they continue like this through the whole book. I enjoyed her fight against delicacy, and the fight for her own way. She faces whatever lies between her and her goal. But it keeps going in this vein for the whole book, and then there is this abrupt change at the end. The first time I read this and finished it, I sat there for a moment and thought, "The End? Huh?" The story left off a little suddenly and it wasn't until I had read it a few times that I realized a point had been made by the author. When it leaves off, there are some unsolved problems and goings-on, but you are told Ella is happy. The End. It isn't quite that direct, so it took me a couple minutes to figure out that this story was told with Ella wanting more, wanting this and doing it, but never feeling content. So Ella has found her happiness. She finally knows her place. But until I reached the end, I had no idea this is what the author was getting at. I had a few guesses of the conclusion, but none of them fit in now, like she would finally find the right prince, or true love, or whatever. I am also a little unsure how Ella is happy. I think if I was in her place, I would have a sense of purpose and determination, but she already had that. This isn't as bad or abrupt of an ending as I first thought; there is evidence leading up to the conclusion, but it could do with some refining and some more wrapping up. I hope you readers will read this book and tell me what you think.

The author also has a habit (which sometimes gets annoying) of ending chapters with questions. Ella will make a statement,(for example, "I like chocolate.) then finish up the chapter with a contradicting question like "Or do I?" At some ponts she is facing confusing periods of time, but sometimes I just think, I don't know. Make up your mind. But these questions do supply an interesting bit of foreshadowing.

I look forward to your comments on this book, and hearing your thoughts.

The Last Dog on Earth!!

Title: The Last Dog on Earth

Author: Daniel Ehrenhaft

Genre: Adventure,

Description: A mysterious dog disease is gripping the state of Oregon, sending people into a frenzy! Logan Moore must protect his pooch, and must find a way to return the world to how it once normally was.

Cool Stuff: This book won 3rd place in the Division II 2008 Maud Hart Lovelace Awards. It totally should've gotten first.

Rating: *****! Seriously.

Alright, so it is kind of a lame description. It's good to be back and writing again, but I am a little out of practice. But trust me, this is an awesome, AWESOME book, and trust me, (again) I know a good book when I see one. I love the word pooch.

Anyway--there are tons of good things about this book. It rates in my top 5 favorite books.

To start, this story has an excellent hook. A couple, actually. The first is a strange, life or death situation, about a dog attack on another dog. It's sad, but gripping. Then it changes to a different location, and a little insert in the form of an incident report. It's a report of another dog attack, and this brings the same creepy hook. With these two first stories, you really want to know what's happening to these dogs. Not in a bad, impatient way, but you're interested. Hooked, actually. You can learn a good thing or two or three about hooks from this author.

The first time I read this book, I got blown over by the feeling. That's why I thought it deserved the Maud hart Lovelace Award. Don't strange dog attacks sound creepy? Well, it doesn't just sound creepy, it feels creepy. The story is written with three views. One, a little she-pup in a wolf pack being overcome by a sickness. Two, a strange teenage boy who hates a lot of things. Three, an unsocial, retired professor who lives in the peace and quiet with his dog companion. With the she-pup, you feel her terror as she runs for her life from the pack, the sickness filling her senses, driving her forward. With the boy, you feel his annoyance, and you are annoyed at the same things as him. With the professor, you feel his disregard for people, and his enjoyment with his dog. As the story progresses, you feel and understand their realization of this sickness, and of the urgency and the danger.

The story is written in an appealing way as well. Among the chapters, which include the different views of the two people and animal, you have news articles, statements between different people of authority, email exchanges, interviews/news articles, so you actually get more than three views. these also show what is going on outside the world of the main character that helps bring the story to life.

Once you get this book started, you won't be able to put it down!!

Wicked: Revisited

Title: Wicked

Author: Gregory McGuire

Genre: I forgot the genre on my last review of this, but I am not quite sure what it would be. Fantasy, definitely, but I am not sure of what else.

Description: The life and times of the Wicked Witch of the West. I suppose.

All right, now that that is all out of the way, I would like to treat you readers to the view of another distinguished reader. I received an email from this reader, who has, unlike me, finished this book and here is what they think: (ta-da!)

Dear Raindrop,
I finished Wicked. This is an adult book. Lots of promiscuous sex. Lots of boring political talk. Plenty of nasty violence. And some philosophical discussions on the nature of evil.

I picked out what I thought I would use to make this into a musical. Then we printed up the 18 pages that are available on Wikipedia so I could compare my ideas to reality. Well, I was wrong. Entirely. I guess it hadn't occurred to me that the musical would just use the idea of telling The Wizard of Oz from a different point of view than Dorothy's, and then just take the names and some of the personalities from Wicked and entirely rewrite the book. People who die in the book do not die in the musical. People important to the plot in the book never appear in the musical. The nature of evil is never particularly addressed. Some of the better dramatic moments in the book (that could translate well to a musical) are never used.

From the description, it sounds like the music is all one song instead of separate songs for separate characters or events. This reminds me of Willy Russel's Blood Brothers (which I really like and have seen twice in London, by the way, in different years), where all the songs are different words to what is basically the same tune. Unifying, I guess. Though I am more attuned to a structure like South Pacific or Oklahoma, what the Wikipedia article calls a leit motif for each character.

So, where the book is X and R rated, the musical sounds like it is pretty generally G, and I think that is fine. Probably it is a better musical than it is a book. The book took forever to read (406 pages and not a masterpiece of writing) and I thought a lot of it was sad if not totally disgusting--and I wondered how the musical would deal with that. The answer is: it doesn't deal with it at all. It leaves it out.
-JCF

Thanks to our reviewer!! I hope you readers are all intrigued to go see the musical, but to put the book in up in the attic or the dumpster (anyplace will do) and pick up the Willoughbys(review coming soon). Here is my quick response:

From my experiences, I would say that all of Gregory McGuire's books are mainly for adults. I tried reading Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister, (it was a birthday present from a friend when I turned 9 or 10) but it is along the same lines as Wicked. I think kids look at the book and think, "Wow, the true story of the Wicked Witch of the West. That sounds really cool." Well, guess again. They may also believe the book is like the musical. One of my sister's friends gave Wicked to her on her 10th birthday. Gregory McGuire's books must make good birthday presents, but they are not totally great as reading books.

Lovely Pictures

This is a picture of raindrops that I really like:

And I also like Papa Smurf:

The Loveliest Thing on Earth

Don't you just love libraries?
All those wonderful books covering the shelves, just for you to enjoy reading.
The library I always go to has this wonderful little reading spot in the corner of the library, surrounded by windows and with several cushy armchairs. I could live in the library.
And thanks to the online library catalog, I have all the pictures of the books I review. So thank you, libraries, for supplying those pictures (and thanks for just existing, too)!
I love my library card.
I have a cool one, a red one with the library design on it. On the back it has my name and my signature from when I was five or six. I am sad though, because I had it in my pocket and it got bent, and the signature is wearing off. I don't want to get a new one, because the new cards are green with weird lettering.
Maybe I will be a librarian someday. My friends say I should be a teacher because I am so patient. Who knows? the future is a strange and complicated thing, in my opinion.
I love libraries.
No offense to bookstores, of course. The only difference is that you pay for the books and then you get to keep them.

I want a shirt that says this:

Have you been to a library today?

Or this:

I'd rather be reading!

Lights, Camera--Action!!!!!

Title: Stormbreaker

Author: Anthony Horowitz

Genre: Mystery, High ADVENTURE!!

Description: A 14 year old boy becomes a spy.

WARNING: those of you who are weak of heart, be careful when reading this book. This is one of the most action-packed books I have ever read, and I was constantly kept on my toes as the character performed numerous highly dangerous acts. At the start of the book, it is actually fairly low key, but then the main character (Alex) starts learning lots of startling information very fast, and things really speed up. I mean really speed up. Alex gets into to one dangerous situation after another, and you can't put the book down for fear that next time you pick it up, Alex finally will have gone too far and he will be dead. Even at the very end, when you think, Oh, this is the happy ending, and then they hit you with one last gripping scene. One may say it is a little too much, and yes, that is probably true. There is a lot of tension and suspense and high adventure and mystery and all that, but there isn't a lot of character development or some rest time in between all of Alex's tight situations. And because there isn't a lot of time for you to get to know the character, I do admit I momentarily forgot his name while writing this review. I did enjoy most of this book, and I could hardly put it down. I haven't read a book like that in a while. So if you would like something chock full of adventure and mystery and suspense, go check out Stormbreaker from your local library!

Trial By Journal

Title: Trial by Journal

Author: Kate Klise

Genre: Juvenile fict., Mystery

Description: 12 year old Lily Watson has been selected as the first juvenile juror in the Tyleville Court, to decide the case of the murder of Perry Keet. She relates her experiences through a journal.

I really like the way this story is told, because we get many different points of view, and it gives a lot of clues for the reader to decode or go "Ohh, I see-" at the very end. First off, we have the view of the main character, who is a twelve-year-old girl. She knew the murdered boy (Perry) from school, so this gives her some extra knowledge on the subject. Then, included in her "journal", are some exerpts from an autobiography being written by one of the other jurors, Fawn Papillion, who is a retired actress. Even though these are supposed to be the beginnings of a book, Fawn writes in them like her own diary, so we get her view of things as well. Then, also included in the journal, are some newpaper clippings. This gives the view of the general public, and things that are happening outside the jurors' world. There are also some messages written from one juror to an overly popular and controlling zoo/amusement park owner, who seem to have some strange connection. Then there are notes written from the main character Lily, to the woman who comes in to clean her hotel room, Robin. So here we have a murder case unfolding, and a bunch of stuff going on, and it is really cool, because IT ALL FITS! I was one of the people who, when I finished the book, went "Ohh, I see!!" This is a pretty entertaining read, although simple, so if you are looking for something interesting but not too complicated or confusing, try reading this.

You may have noticed the interesting names some of these characters have...

Twilight

Title: Twilight

Author: Stephanie Meyer

Genre: Romance, Fantasy

Description: A girl (Bella) falls in love with a vampire (Edward).


Big deal. I have to ask you Twilight fans, why do you find it interesting? You can probably tell I was not impressed with this story. Maybe it's because I am not really into romance novels. Maybe it is because Bella and Edward take 300 pages, (at least) just to fall in love. Maybe it is because it gets exciting only for 1 page. Or maybe it is because Bella is so obsessed with Edward you can hardly stand it. I have to say that there wasn't really any part I liked. In the book anyway. I did go see the movie, and I do think they made the part where the vampires play baseball pretty good. So I liked that part, but just in the movie. Edward was an okay character, but I didn't like that even though he knows that he is a vampire, but he acts really dumb about it. For instance, there is one point in the story where Bella faints because Edward dazzles her so much, and he says, "Do I really dazzle you?" C'mon Edward, you are a vampire, and you said yourself that everything about you was designed to be attractive to humans. But he seems to really enjoy being fainted over. Speaking of characters, I really don't like Bella; she is a weak character. It seems like she wouldn't exist without Edward, and he is all she thinks about. But she isn't the only one. Edward probably has about 200 girlfriends at my school alone. My own friend is absolutely sure that Edward is her next door neighbor. Aren't there so many other better books besides Twilight??? I constantly ask this to Twilight-obsessed classmates. But they seemed to be incurably addicted to it. I hope you, reader, do not limit yourself to just one book in a world of thousands.

Wicked

Title: Wicked

Author: Gregory MaGuire

Description: Um...the life of the wicked witch and why she is so wicked. I think.

Well, I didn't actually read this book, I just started it. But I think it is a little uh... complicated for me right now. You see, I really really really wanted to see the new musical they just made of it, but I missed it, so I decided to comprise by getting the soundtrack instead. Which is very good, by the way. My favorite songs are all of them. But, of course, i don't know how the songs fit into the story. So I then decided to read the book. I do think it is sort of "adultish"; the sentences are long with lots of big words, and you have to read the paragraph/sentence a couple of times to figure out what the author is trying to say. So I might wait to start it. But I really want to know the story! And I've already memorized the soundtrack!! I was looking up books on the library catalog, and now I want to read Son of a Witch (the sequel). I will have to read the Wicked series sometime. Once I finish the Odyssey.

HP5

Title: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter 5, for short)

Author: J. K. Rowling

Genre: Fantasy, Adventure

Description: Harry is back for the 5th time!! In this book, Harry faces explusion from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, then battles with an evil Ministry Affiliate while forming a secret army under her nose, then finally faces Voldemort and his Death Eaters in intense combat!! It's filled with excitement, don't miss it!

I just had to throw that last comment in there. This is probably my favorite of the 7 Harry Potter books, 1) because it is full of action, and if there is anything I can't stand, it is a boring book where nothing happens. This is not true in Harry Potter 5. It is full of excitement just from the beginning. and 2) it has Dolores Umbridge in it! I don't like her, but she is a super evil villain, and where would the story be without her? If Harry lived happily throughout the whole book, you could sleep while you read it. Anyway, Umbridge also adds to the action part. She keeps the story alive in her own wicked ways.

The almost best part of this book (in my opinion) has to do with Fred and George, the Weasley twins. They turn on such a fabulous show of tricks, mischief, pranks and more; it is so entertaining! J.K. Rowling put some nice effort into creating the Weasley twins. Go Fred and George! May the fun go on forever!

Now, I often think the character Harry has a couple of flaws. At the beginning of the story, he is stuck at his aunt and uncle's house, and is feeling a little annoyed, but really wants to see his best friends. So when he sees them, he yells at them for 5 minutes for having a good time together without him, completely ignoring whatever they have to say. Then he loses his temper repeatedly throughout the book. Maybe he should take some anger management classes.

Book #1

Title: The True Meaning of Smekday

Author: Adam Rex

Genre: Science Fiction, Adventure

Description: This book is about an 11-year-old girl named Gratuity Tucci (nicknamed Tip) who lives in the United States, 2013. Like we have predicted, things are different in the future. Mainly, Earth has been taken over by the Boov, who are eight-legged aliens with weird eating habits. Earth now bears the name of Smekland. Everyone in America is being herded into one state: Florida. Gratuity skips taking the rocketpods there and decides to drive (which she learned how to do after her mother was abducted by the aliens.) On her journey, she meets a Boov named J.Lo. J.Lo is on the run, and the two soon form a team. Together, (in Gratuity's amazing floating car Slushious) they search for Gratuity's mom, discover the secret of Happy Mouse Kingdom, meet some fascinating characters, and finally conquer the threat of another more serious alien invasion.

I just have to say one more thing. If you haven't read The True Meaning of Smekday, go out to your nearest library/bookstore and get it ASAP!!

Hello, All You Happy People

Hello everyone. I guess I'll explain what you will find when you visit Raindrop's Bookshelf, for my first entry. Raindrop is me. Hi. Anyway, I love to read, so I will tell you about all the books I've read. Maybe I will say they are really good. Maybe I'll say it is the worst book I've ever read. Of course, you should always choose books that have topics of your own interest, but if you want to read something good, come here for recommendations.