While I Live (Ellie Chronicles #1)

The Ellie Chronicles follow the Tomorrow Series by John Marsden. The first of the Ellie Chronicles is While I Live.

A peace settlement has been reached, but in the process Australia has lost almost half of the country to the invaders. But all Ellie cares about is getting back to normal - living on the farm with her parents (and her new adopted brother), going back to school, and being able to eat regularly.

There are rumors of border raids, which doesn't at first concern Ellie although their land in on the edge of the Australian territory. Then one day while hiking with Homer and Gavin, she hears shots.

And with that sound, her world is turned upside down again. She will have to cope with more loss, learn to run a farm on her own, raise Gavin, somehow finish school, and convince the court to appoint Homer's parents as her guardians. And those skills she learned during the war might be put to use again.

Marsden, John. (2007). While I Live. New York: Scholastic.

Tomorrow Series, Ellie Chronicles - John Marsden

The Tomorrow Series I feel I haven't given John Marsden's Tomorrow series the due it deserves. It is hard to write enough to explain the story without giving any of the key points of the plot away. Marsden does a great job of telling an engaging story and including the pain, fear, and triumph of a band of teenagers fighting a war for their country - Australia. Ellie Linton and her friends - Fi, Homer, Lee, Corrie, and Kevin - convince their parents to let them go camping over school break, skipping the Commemoration Day festivities. They are gone for five days to a camp site deep in the bush. When they return, first to Ellie's place, her parents are missing and all of the animals have died. They check each kid's home on the way into town -Wirrawee. And each looks the same. No sign that anyone returned from the Commen Day fair at the Showgrounds. Once they get into Wirrawee, they begin to see evidence of soldiers - and not Australian soldiers. Ellie and her friends know instinctively to keep hidden. They collect supplies and head back to their camp to decide what to do. After realising that they are on their own, the group decides to do what they can to fight back. And for the seven books of the series, the group of friends sneak, fight, scavenge, hide, run, sabotage, and find out what is important in life - at a time when so much has been stripped away from their normal way of life that they took for granted for so long. This is an intense look at war through the eyes of Ellie as she writes about her experiences through the invasion of her country. It is well written, with many lessons to teach. "It seems like suffering's the only time we can see what's essential. If peace ever comes back I'm making a vow: I'll design myself special glasses. They'll block out whether people are fat or thin or beautiful or weird-looking, whether they have pimples or birthmarks or different coloured skin. They'll do everything suffering's done for us, but without the pain. I'm going to wear those glasses for the rest of my life." The Tomorrow Series by John Marsden: 1 - Tomorrow, When the War Began 2 - The Dead of Night 3 - A Killing Frost 4 - Darkness Be My Friend 5 - Burning for Revenge 6 - The Night is for Hunting 7 - The Other Side of Dawn The Ellie Chronicles This series is followed by The Ellie Chronicles. The war has ended in a peace settlement that has left many people who used to spread across the continent of Australia, crammed into only part of the land. All Ellie wants is for life to get back to normal - living on the farm with her parents, feeding animals, going to school... However, it looks like the story has some other plans for her. She may yet need the skills she acquired in the war to protect her family farm. The Ellie Chronicles: 1 - While I Live 2 - Incurable 3 - Circle of Flight

The Other Side of Dawn (Tomorrow Series #7)

The Other Side of Dawn is the seventh and final book in John Marsden's Tomorrow series.

In this final installment of the Tomorrow series, Ellie and her friends are separated. They are still trying to do what they can for the war effort when things go wrong. Without the support of her friends, Ellie feels lost. If she has learned anything, it is how important friends and family are in her life.

The final push by New Zealand begins and will end the war in one way or another. How will it come out? Will Ellie ever see her friends again? Where are her parents? And what will become of everyone once the control of the land is decided?

Marsden, John. (2002). The Other Side of Dawn. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

The Night is for Hunting (Tomorrow Series #6)

The Night is for Hunting is the sixth book in John Marsden's Tomorrow series.

As amazing as it is Ellie and her friends are still making it on their own in the war. They have been hiding in town for a while and are about to head back to their camp - the only place they feel safe anymore.

But this time they will not be going alone. They have added a few members to their group. The trip back over Tailor's Stitch and into Hell will be the most frustrating trip so far.

At this point, Ellie and company should probably lay low as long as possible. There may be soldiers still looking for them from their last mission. They may not leave camp for any reason other than to get food.

Marsden, John. (2001). The Night is for Hunting. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

Burning for Revenge (Tomorrow Series #5)

Burning for Revenge is the fifth book in John Marsden's Tomorrow series.

By this point it seem like torture that the series is continuing - not because of the story line which is still riveting - but because Ellie and her friends need a break! Of course, for a realistic series the war couldn't be neatly wrapped up so soon.

Obviously Ellie and her friends are still doing what they can against the invaders. The more they do, however, the higher the risk for them to stay around Wirrawee. So, after a rest in their camp, they decide to head for the other side of the mountain. They don't have an exact plan yet, but it is better than sitting around waiting.

They get into a situation that they can only see one way out of - and that way leads to a surprise - a surprise that could be the most dangerous thing they have had to face so far.

Marsden, John. (1997). Burning for Revenge. New York: Scholastic.

Darkness Be My Friend (Tomorrow Series #4)

Darkness Be My Friend is the fourth book in John Marsden's Tomorrow Series.

Ellie and friends have been safely removed from the war. However, they are now asked to go back and guide soldiers into Wirrawee.

Each risk they take increases the odds of things going wrong. The deaths are starting to add up and Ellie is having a harder time convincing herself to keep taking risks where there are professional soldiers to do the job.

But once again the friends find themselves in the thick of it, running and hiding for their lives.

Marsden, John. (1996). Darkness be my Friend. New York: Scholastic.

A Killing Frost (Tomorrow Series #3)

A Killing Frost is book three of John Marsden's Tomorrow Series.

Ellie and her friends are still surviving on their own. After recovering from their last attack on the enemy invaders, they have been laying low in their camp. But it is time to do something. The longer they sit around, the more boredom and depression set in.

One of them mentions that they ought to have a look at Cobbler's Bay. It is the bay that the enemy is using to supply the entire area.

On the way to the bay they get a surprise. Colonists have started to move into the abandoned farms. And Australia prisoners are being turned into farm slaves. As they are passing one farm they recognize a friend. Can they help him escape? If they can, it would not only give them someone else to talk to, but he would have information on their families, who are still being held in the Wirrawee Show grounds.

Marsden, John. (1995). A Killing Frost. New York: Scholastic.

The Dead of the Night (Tomorrow Series #2)

The Dead of the Night is the second book in John Marsden's Tomorrow Series.

After surviving a few months on their own, Ellie and her friends are trying to figure out what to do next. There last attempt to strike a blow to the enemy was a success but they lost a friend that night.

The plan is to go into town and break their friends out of the hospital. They should have had time to recover by now. But when they get into town, much has changed.

Now that the enemy is settled, it is a wise idea to find a back way out of their camp. So most of the friend set off down the river to see if the way is passable. What they find is a camp of other resisters. But when they arrive, in spite of their efforts thus far, they are treated like children.

At first it is nice to let the adults take over, but how long can they just sit there waiting for something to happen. This group thinks they are heroes but their attacks have not been nearly as successful as those of Ellie and her friends. Will they be able to sneak back out of the camp and away from the adults?

Marsden, John. (1994). The Dead of the Night. New York: Scholastic.

Tomorrow, When the War Began (Tomorrow Series #1)

Tomorrow, When the War Began is the first book in the Tomorrow series by John Marsden.

Ellie and her friends go camping for a week and when they return, their country (Australia) has been invaded.

"When we set out on our camping trip, we had no idea that we were starting out on the greatest and saddest adventure of our lives. We had no idea we were going to be together, not just for a week but for a time that we couldn't measure. There we were, lying about in the bush, eating and sleeping and talking, and without our even knowing it, a rush of enemy soldiers had overrun our country."

Now Ellie and her friends have to decide whether to hide until the war is finished, try to free their families, or fight back in any way they can.

In this first book, the friends set up camp where they had been camping for fun the week before. They must find out how to ration their food because they do not know how long they will be there. Any food or supplies brought from town come at a price. The soldiers will shoot on sight if they are seen.

Marsden, John. (1993). Tomorrow, When the War Began. New York: Scholastic.

Twisted

Laurie Halse Anderson is the queen of teen angst. Not to take anything away from her book Speak, which was extremely powerful, but Twisted might be the best book I have read dealing with teen emotions in a crisis.

Tyler Miller grew up being a geek. No one noticed him unless they happen to be beating him up. But over the summer he filled out. It probably had something to do with the hours of community service and digging holes for a landscaping service to pay off the damage that he did to the school. Now people at school notice him - he is not sure if it is because they saw him driven away in a police car or, as his sister says, because he is now a hottie.

With his new reputation he has the respect of some classmates - the bullies don't pick on him much anymore. But, when a crime is committed against a fellow student, he is the first one to be blamed.

Anderson does a phenomenal job of capturing the desperation of being a teen. I wish I had read Twisted when I was one; it proves that no matter how bad it gets, you still have choices.

Anderson, Laurie Halse. (2007). Twisted. New York: Viking.

Godless

In Godless, by Pete Hautman, Jason is struggling with the religion his parents have assigned to him. They are Catholic, but he is not sure what he is, or if he believes at all. Really, since you can't prove otherwise, how do we know that the water tower is not God?

It is the highest structure in the land. People need water to live. And no one can prove it is not God. Jason gatherers friends into his new religion - worshiping the ten-legged One. They call themselves Chutengodians.

But as Jason soon finds out, it is easier to start a religion than it is to control one.

Hautman, Pete. (2004). Godless. New York: Simon Pulse.

The Chronicles of Pern: First Fall

The Chronicles of Pern: First Fall is yet another Anne McCaffrey book about life on Pern. This one is a collection of stories that fill in the blanks between some of the other books.

In The Survey: P.E.R.N. we finally find out how the name got its name. The first humans ever to set foot on Pern spend ten days determining whether the planet is fit for human settlement.

The Dolphin's Bell is the story of the escape from the Southern continent with the volcano erupted and covered the original settlement in ash and lava. The dolphins brought from Earth play a great part in the escape.

The Ford of Red Hanrahan is the settling of Ruatha Hold.

The Second Weyr is the founding of the second, third and fourth weyrs when the number of dragons got too large for Fort.

Finally, Rescue Run is the story of what happened when the emergency message that was sent in the ninth year on Pern is intercepted by a ship - almost 50 years later. The team that lands on Pern is headed by Admiral Benden's (the leader of the settlers journey to Pern) nephew.

Although I don't normally like stort stories (they end right about the time they get interesting) this is an intersting chronicle of what happened between the other novels about Pern.

McCaffrey, Anne. (1993). The Chronicles of Pern: First Fall. New York: Del Rey.

Deeper (Sequel to The Descent)

In Deeper, Jeff Long takes us back into the underworld he created in The Descent. (Both of which are most likely based on Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne).

It is ten years after a plague destroyed all of Hadal life in the tunnels that run under the Earth's crust. There are settlers and entrepreneurs all over the deep.

One film maker and his crew are following the route of the Helios expedition (from the first book) to create an IMAX film called "Hell." There are other teams also exploring the deep, including a NASA subterranean team that is mapping the largest fresh water lake on the planet.

But something is still killing off the settlers and explorers. At the same time, something is drawing people into the tunnels. Could it be that not all of the Hadals perished?

On Halloween, hundreds of children are kidnapped from the United States by monsters from underground. Now there is proof that Haddie is still alive. Teams are organized to find the children and bring them back.

But there are two snags to the planning - 1) the international peace treaty for the subterranean planet says no military may enter the tunnels; and 2) Ali Von Schade, one of only two people to survive the original Helios expedition, refuses to return to the depths.

Long, Jeff. (2007). Deeper. New York: Atria Books.

Protect and Defend (Mitch Rapp Series)

Vince Flynn has done it again. His books are always impossible to put down. Protect and Defend is the ninth book featuring Mitch Rapp.

Rapp is an assassin. He works for the CIA. But he only kills the bad guys.

If you like political thriller, spy thriller, or the like, you will love this series of books.


This is the series so far:
Term Limits
Transfer of Power
The Third Option
Separation of Power
Executive Power
Memorial Day
Consent to Kill
Act of Treason
Protect and Defend

Flynn, Vince. (2007). Protect and Defend. New York: Atria Books.

Heir Apparent

Heir Apparent by Vivian Vande Velde is the story of a girl who gets trapped inside of a video game.

Giannine Bellisario is given a gift certificate for Rasmussem Entertainment for her birthday. She can use is for either 45 tokens or 1/2 hour of virtual reality gaming. She chooses the virtual reality.

The game is Heir Apparent. The set up is that she is the illegitimate child of the king raised in the country by sheep farmers. Now the king has died and named her their heir.

Unfortunately, while Giannine is in the game, the OPOC (Citizens to Protect Our Children) break into the game center and destroy enough that she is trapped in the game. The only way to safely be removed from the game is if she can manage to win.

Technicians have determined that if she stays in the game too long brain damage will occur. Giannine doesn't know this. Although a hologram has warned her that she must win soon she does not know the risks to herself.

Velde, Vivian Vande. (2002). Heir Apparent. New York: Magic Carpet Books.

Holes

Holes by Louis Sachar is a great book! It is the story how people are connected through generations. That is to say, what happened to Stanley Yelnats's no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather is still affecting the family today.

Stanley was in the wrong place at the wrong time (the story of his life) and was arrested for theft. He is sent to Camp Green Lake, a boys' juvenile detention center. There is no lake at Camp Green Lake - it has been dry for over a hundred years.

The daily chore for boys at this camp is to dig a hole. One hole each day. Five feet deep and five feet wide. The sooner it is done, the more free time the boys have in the afternoon/evening. The warden claims that digging the holes will build character.

This is a humorous tale of crime and punishment and a curse passed down through Stanley's family line. I highly recommend it! It is a well thought out and written tale that weaves the story of many generations together in parallel tales of chance, justice, and decision that will change the course of the Yelnats family.


Sachar, Louis. (1998). Holes. New York: Frances Foster Books.

Letters from the Inside

Letters from the Inside by John Marsden is the story of Tracey and Mandy. Tracey puts an add in a magazine for a pen pal. Mandy answers it. Neither of them thought it would lead to finally having a friend to confide in.

Tracey says she put the ad in as a joke. Mandy doesn't even know why she would answer the ad. She doesn't want a pen pal. But soon they are sharing stories of their lives and families. Or are they?

Soon, things that Tracey says don't add up, they contradict what she wrote before, and no one knows her at the school she says she goes to...

Mandy will not give up. She has promised to harass Tracey with letters until she finds out the truth.

John Marsden is also the author of So Much To Tell You, a riveting story of a girl who doesn't talk (much in the style of the book Speak). He writes about difficult situations in an honest and compelling way that pulls the reader into his stories. He is yet another of Australia great young adult authors. There must be something in the water down there!

Marsden, John. (1991). Letters from the inside. New York: Laurel-Leaf Books.

Rashi's Daughters, Book II: Miriam

Rashi's Daughters, Book II: Miriam by Maggie Anton is just as compelling as the first installment - Joheved. This book begins where the first book ended but changes focus to the second of Rashi's daughters.

Miriam is engaged to Benjamin and cannot wait to marry him and start a life together. His is going home for the holidays and will return for the wedding soon. Unfortunately, while he is away he has an accident and dies. Miraim is devastated and cannot imagine marrying someone else.

She focuses all of her attention on being a midwife as her aunt has been teaching her to do. But eventually she will have to start looking at suitors. She is too young to stay single.

Judah ben Natan is a scholar in Mayence - at the yeshiva that Rashi used to attend. He has never been interested in getting married. His only passion is the study of Torah. However, as time passes he starts becoming attracted to his study partner and realises that he must get married to control his yeter hara (evil inclination). But he will not marry just any woman. She must know Talmud.

Where on earth would he find such a woman?

Anton, Maggie. (2007). Rashi's Daughters, Book II: Miriam. New York: Plume.

Rashi's Daughters, Book One: Joheved

Maggie Anton writes books that not only read like historical fiction, they teach the reader Torah and Talmud. The first book - Rashi's Daughters, Book I: Joheved - is an informative and engaging read.

Salomon ben Isaac, known as Rashi, is one of the most studied Talmud scholars of all time. His commentary changed the way Talmud is studied.

In the year 1068, Salomon had to return to Troyes, France to take over the family winemaking business. He was heartbroken to be away from the yeshiva and his students and teachers. So he began to teach Torah and Talmud to his daughters - secretly. Women were not taught Talmud in those days (and even now in many places). It was thought to be dangerous knowledge.

His oldest daughter, Joheved proves to be a dutiful and serious student. She keeps her knowledge a secret to save her father's reputation. He is starting a yeshiva in Troyes. She doesn't even tell her betrothed, Meir ben Samuel, until the young couple faces it first crisis and she must decide between marital happiness and her true self.

Anton, Maggie. (2005). Rashi's Daughter, Book I: Joheved. Glendale, CA: Benot Press.

The Rules for Hearts (sequel to Empress of the World)

The Rules for Hearts is the second book by Sara Ryan featuring Battle Hall Davies. The first was Empress of the World, where Battle met Nicola at summer camp.

It is now one year later and Battle is moving to Portland, Oregon. She will attend Reed in the fall but is moving early to reunite with her brother, Nick. She hasn't seen him for almost five years, since he left home.

Battle will soon find out that Nick is not necessarily the kind of person she wants her brother to be. In the mean time, she will live in Forest House - a group house where her brother lives - and join the play that everyone in the house is participating in.

Ryan, Sara. (2007). The Rules for Hearts. New York: Viking.

Magic's Child (Magic or Madness trilogy #3)

Magic's Child is the final book in Justine Larbalestier's Magic or Madness Trilogy.

Reason, Jay-Tee and Tom are still reeling from what happened to Reason. She now has more magic. Jay-Tee, on the other hand, has almost used hers up. Unless the vision that Jason Blake had about Reason being able to fix the problem of running out of life when running out of magic comes true, Jay-Tee will not live much longer.

But Jason Blake is not done trying to steal the magic from Reason and is not above using others to trick her into a vulnerable position. Will she be able to defeat him? Will she find a way to save Jay-Tee?

Larbalestier, Justine. (2007). Magic's Child. New York: Razorbill.

Eclipse (Twilight series #3)

Eclipse is the third book in the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer.

In the third installment of the series, Bella has to choose between Edward and Jacob. They are both in love with her and she loves them both. What makes this decision more intense than some love triangles, she will be choosing between a vampire and a werewolf.

Again, I really can't say much without including spoilers, which I do not want to do. This is an exciting, well thought out series that is addicting. I cannot wait for the fourth book!

Meyer, Stephenie. (2007). Eclipse. New York: Little, Brown and Company.

New Moon (Twilight series #2)

New Moon is the second book in the Twilight trilogy by Stephenie Meyer.

Bella is just as klutzy as ever and it soon puts her in an awkward situation with Edward and his family. Although they all care about her, they are not completely immune to the lure of human blood. They are vampires after all.

The story between Bella and the Cullens continues and Bella reconnects with her friend Jacob.

I really can't say much without fear that I will accidentally add a spoiler. So just read it. If you like the first you will like this one, too.

Meyer, Stephenie. (2006). New Moon. New York: Little, Brown and Company.

Anne McCaffrey's books of Pern

I have now read eleven of Anne McCaffrey's book that take place on the planet of Pern. They have all been great. My one complaint along the way was not knowing the order in which to read them. So, here are two ideas for you. One is recommended by Anne McCaffrey (I found it in the 10th book) and the other is in chronological order in the history of Pern.

McCaffrey Recommeded Order:

Dragonriders Trilogy:
Dragonflight
Dragonquest
The White Dragon

Haper Hall Trilogy: (overlaps time with Dragonriders trilogy)
Dragonsong
Dragonsinger
Dragondrums

Dragonsdawn

Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern

Nerilka's Story

MasterHarper of Pern

All the Weyrs of Pern

The Skies of Pern

(4 others - don't know the order.)

Historical Timeline:
It may be that if you read them in historical order you miss things that were revealed by the order thye were written in...

Dragonsdawn - the founding of the planet by people from Earth and nearby planets.
Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern - A plague strikes the Northern Continent
Nerlika's Story - Overlaps with Moreta, plague from a different point of view.
MasterHarper of Pern - the story of Robinton
Dragonflight - The story of Lessa who becomes Weyrwoman of Benden Weyr
Dragonquest - A trip back in time to save Pern
The White Dragon - Ruth and Jaxom of Ruatha
Dragonsong - Story of Menolly of Half Circle Sea Hold
Dragonsinger - A continuation of Dragonsong
Dragondrums - The story of Piemur
All the Weyrs of Pern - The discover of the computer Aivas
The Skies of Pern - A new role for dragonriders

Other books (I haven't yet read and will fit add to lists later)
The Renegades of Pern
The Dolphins of Pern
The Chornicals of Pern: First Fall
Dragonseye
Plus books written by Todd McCaffrey that continue the series?

The Skies of Pern (Pern)

The Skies of Pern is the eleventh book in the series by Anne McCaffrey that began with Dragonflight.

Now that the path of the Red Star has been altered and the last Pass is coming to an end, dragonriders need to think about what they will do After. They have always protected Pern from Thread; always kept the skies of Pern safe.

However, the more immediate concern is that a meteor is headed straight for the planet. Best case, it will miss and continue on through space. If it does hit Pern and it lands in the ocean, a tsunami will be released. Will the dragons be able to evacuate coastal holds in time?

McCaffrey, Anne. (2001). The Skies of Pern. New York: Del Rey.

All the Weyrs of Pern (Pern)

All the Weyrs of Pern by Anne McCaffrey is tenth book in the Dragons of Pern books, which began with Dragonflight.

At the end of the last book (chronologically, not by publish date but in the time of Pern) Jaxon and Ruth found part of the original settlement. Contained within this facility is the computer Aivas, an artificial intelligence that has been waiting almost 2500 years to hear what happened to the settlers, when they fled the southern continent.

Now Aivas will help the dragonriders, craft halls and holders catch up on the technology that was lost. All in an attempt to destroy Thread forever.

McCaffrey, Anne. (1991). All the Weyrs of Pern. New York: Del Rey.

Magic Lessons (Magic or Madness #2)

Magic Lesson is Justine Larbalestier's second book in the Magic or Madness trilogy. Reason, Tom and Jay-Tee are in Sydney to begin magic lessons with Esmeralda, Reason's grandmother.

They already know that they have two choices about magic - use it or go mad. Of course, the more you use magic the more you use up magic. Once you are out you die. So the only logical choice it to use as little as possible only as often as needed to survive the longest. Doesn't sound like magic is quite as fun as we thought!

Before they can further their knowledge, someone or something tries to break through the door - the back door to Esmeralda's house in Sydney, Australia that opens in the East Village of New York City. Is it Jason Blake? Or is it someone else? And whoever it is, why are they trying to get through the door?

Larbalestier, Justine. (2007). Magic Lessons. New York: Razorbill.

Twilight (Twilight #1)

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer is the first in the Twilight series. This is the first vampire book I have ever enjoyed.

Bella is moving to Forks, WA to live with her father. She is seventeen and moving in with him for the first time. She is not excited about moving to the darkest, rainiest place in the States.
She quickly makes new friends and starts to acclimate to everything but the weather. The weather she will never like compared to the bright hot sun of Phoenix.

Bella notices Edward and his siblings do not mix with the other students. They always sit by themselves at lunch and only talk to each other. But Bella sits next to Edward in her science class.

Soon they start to talk. Then her father's friend, a Quileute, tells of a legend of the cold ones who live off of drinking blood. Once Bella hears this, many things fall into place about Edward. But it doesn't scare her off. In fact, she is more intrigued than ever.

Meyer, Stephenie. (2005). Twilight. New York: Little, Brown and Company.

Magic or Madness (Magic or Madness #1)

Magic or Madness by Justine Larbalestier is the first book in a trilogy of the same name. (Justine is married to Scott Westerfeld, writer of the Uglies series.)

Reason Cansino has lived on the run in the Australian outback for fifteen years. She and her mother, Sarafina, were in hiding from her grandmother, Esmeralda. Sarafina is convinced that Esmeralda is a witch. She has warned Reason never to trust her. But when her mother suffers a mental break, Reason is sent to live with Esmeralda in Sydney.

Reason, while planning her escape from her grandmother's house, finds an old key. When she unlocks the back door with it and steps through, she ends up in New York City. Now she must admit that magic is real. She also must find some warmer clothes, as it is January (summer in Australia, winter in New York).

Larbalestier, Justine. (2005). Magic or Madness. New York: Razor Bill.

The Book Thief

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is an amazing book. Read it. In fact, buy a copy for yourself and read that.

Liesel Meminger, a young girl living outside of Munich in nazi Germany, steals books. The first book she stole, she took from the snow before she could even read. Soon she is stealing books from nazi bonfires and even the home of the mayor.

This is the story on one family during the nazi reign. Liesel's Papa is not a part of the nazi party. In fact, he does not believe that Jews are bad. During WWI a Jew, and one of his best friends, saved his life. Now he wants to do something to help someone else.

Narrated by Death himself, this is the story of a group of quirky Germans and what circumstances put them through. It is a beautiful book that will make you cry and laugh out loud.

Zusak, Markus. (2006). The Book Thief. New York: Knopf.

A Wrinkle in Time

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle is the story of time and space travel. Meg Murry, her brother Charles Wallace Murry, and their friend Calvin O’Keefe meet three strangle women living in the woods behind the Murry house. The three women are not from this planet, but from some far off galaxy where Meg’s father, a scientist, has been experimenting with time travel.

Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who and Mrs. Which help the kids travel through space and time to rescue Mr. Murry from the planet Camazotz.

L’Engle, Madeleine. (1962). A Wrinkle in Time. New York: Yearling.

Truesight (Truesight Trilogy #1)

Truesight by David Stahler Jr. is an interesting look at humanity.

Jacob lives in Harmony Station on the planet of Nova Campi. Harmony is a colony of the Truesight. The Truesight movement began at the end of the 21st century. Genetic alteration was common, but when a blind couple in Canada decided to ensure their offspring would also be born blind, the Seers in the world thought they were crazy. Now, almost a century later, there are Truesight colonies on many worlds.

Jacob is not the average kid. Like everyone who lives in Harmony, Jacob is blind. But just before his thirteenth birthday he starts to have headaches. At first he doesn't know what they might mean. Then he starts noticing a difference between the light and dark.

Jacob is learning to see. His brain is overriding the genetic marker for blindness. How will his community react to a Seer among them?

(Book two of the trilogy: Seer)

Stahler, David. (2004). Truesight. New York: EOS.

So Yesterday

So Yesterday by Scott Westerfeld is about trends. Hunter Braque is a Trendsetter. He does not start new trends, he spots them on Innovators and passes them up the line to the companies who spread them. Mostly he works in shoes. And is paid in shoes.

While spotting a new shoelace trend, he meets Jen. Jen is definitely an Innovator. She does not follow what is cool, but makes her own cool.

Together Hunter and Jen follow the trail of a missing colleague of Hunter's. She disappeared when trying to show them the coolest shoe ever. The trail leads them to a group that is trying to bring the downfall of consumerism as we know it.

So Yesterday is an interesting look at trends and brands that we see everyday and probably don't even think about. The book takes place in New York City and has a unique view of the city that only someone who lives here will fully appreciate.

Westerfeld, Scott. (2004). So Yesterday. New York: Razor Bill.

Extras (Uglies series #4)

Extras is the fourth book in Scott Westerfeld's Uglies series. It begins three years after Tally, Shay and David helped to bring the bubbleheaded time to an end.

The world has changed a great deal since then. One city has installed a system where you fame ranking is what decides your status in the economic ranking as well. The higher your face rank, the bigger your apartment, the more merits you have to spend. This economy leads to "kickers." Kickers spread gossip and stories to gain fame.

Aya Fuse is a fifteen year old ugly who wants to raise her face rank. Right now she is at 451,369. A nobody. An extra.

Then Aya meets a group of girls who pull great stunts. The strange thing about them is that they want to be anonymous. But if Aya can become one and then kick the story she might be famous enough to break out of the extras.

Though this book features other characters, Scott Westerfeld stayed true to the vision he began with Uglies. Extras is just as exciting as the first three books. I can't wait for the next one!

Westerfeld, Scott. (2007). Extras. New York: Simon Pulse.

First Among Sequels (Thursday Next #5)

First Among Sequels is the latest Thursday Next book by Jasper Fforde. Thursday Next is a literary detective with Spec-Ops, the special law enforcement branch for weird stuff. She is also a Jurisfiction agent - the group that polices fiction, from within.
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First Among Sequels takes place 12 years after the previous book - Something Rotten. Thursday and her friends from Spec-Ops now run Acme Carpets, ever since Spec-Ops was disbanded.
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I loved the first four book, but this one did not capture my imagination to the same degree. That being said, I did laugh out loud numerous times. Jasper Fforde is completely mad!
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Fforde, Jasper. (2007). First Among Sequels. New York: Viking.

Specials (Uglies Trilogy #3)

Specials is the third book in Scott Westerfeld's Uglies Trilogy.

Tally has been an ugly, a pretty, and now she will become a special. How will she react to being on the other side of the battle for freedom? Will she, like other specials, capture the pretties who are trying to escape the city?

Specials are super fighting machines. They are created to keep the uglies and pretties in line with the dogma of the city. They have strength, speed, clarity and focus. And Tally feels better than she ever thought possible. Being icy makes everything clear at last.

She has the chance to stop the New Smokies once and for all. As soon as she can make Zane into a special she will do whatever is asked of her...

This is an awesome trilogy! Go read it! Now!

Westerfeld, Scott. (2006). Specials. New York: Simon Pulse.

Pretties (Uglies Trilogy #2)

Pretties is the second book in Scott Westerfeld's Uglies Trilogy. The trilogy takes place in a world where everyone has an operation when s/he turns 16. An operation to become pretty.

There are those who try to fight against becoming pretty. Those who escape the city to live in the wild. Because there are those who believe that along with changing bodies, the operations alter personalities - a way to control the population.

But for those who have already had the operation, is there any escape? Or are they to "pretty-minded" to care about anything other than the next party?

Westerfeld, Scott. (2005). Pretties. New York: Simon Pulse.

Uglies (Uglies Trilogy #1)

Uglies is the first book in Scott Westerfeld's Uglies trilogy. It is partly a social commentary on the superficialness of society.

Tally is about to turn 16. On her birthday she will have an operation that will change her from an "ugly" to a "pretty." Her time living in the dorms in Uglyville will come to an end. New Pretty Town, here she comes... or not.

A few months before her birthday she meets Shay - another 15 year old who shares her birthday. Shay tries to convince her not to become a pretty - a concept that goes against everything they have been programed to believe.

Shay is convinced that outside of the city there is a place where people go who do not want to have their faces and bodies altered to look like everyone else. Tally is sure it does not exist.

Just before their birthday, Shay runs away. She leaves Tally a cryptic note she can follow if she want to join her.

On her birthday, the authorities - Special Circumstances - informs Tally that she will not be able to become a pretty unless she helps them find Shay and the others who have run away.

This is a great book! I cannot wait to read the next one - Pretties.

Westerfeld, Scott. (2005). Uglies. New York: Simon Pulse.

Always (Aud Torvingen #3)

Always by Nicola Griffith is the third book featuring Aud Torvingen. The first two are The Blue Place and Stay.

Aud (rhymes with loud) is a kick ass chick. With a past in law enforcement she now teaches self-defense, is a private security consultant, and has more money than she could ever need. She is starting to make some changes in her life after the stories in the first two books. (I will not spoil anything!) She is beginning to learn that everything is not black and white and that there may be more than one way to do things.

In Always Aud and her friend Dornan fly to Seattle - partly to see Aud's mother and her new husband and partly so Dornan can visit the coffee capital, as he owns a chain of coffee houses in Atlanta. While in town Aud must check on some property she has inherited from her father. And that is where the story get interesting.

One of the warehouses she owns is being rented by a movie company. The set has been plagued by one mishap after another. Aud suspects the sabotage has more to do with someone wanting her to sell the property than with the movie production.

Griffith, Nicola. (2007). Always. New York: Riverhead Books.

The Masterharper of Pern

The Masterharper of Pern is another of Anne McCaffrey's dragon riders books. Chronologically in the history of Pern (as opposed to publish date) it precedes Dragonflight.

A boy is born in the Harper Hall. His parents are the MasterComposer and the MasterSinger. Perhaps not surprisingly, Robinton begins to show his musical abilities at the age of three. He begins to compose songs before he is ten.

The Masterharper of Pern is the life story of Robinton, from birth to the time the Dragonflight book takes over.

McCaffrey, Anne. (1998). The Masterharper of Pern. New York: DelRey Books.

The Memory Keeper's Daughter

The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards is a beautiful book. It is the story of what happens in many lives based on one single decision made in 1964 by David Henry.

During a snow storm Dr. David Henry is forced to deliver his own twin. The roads are blocked, making it impossible to get his wife to the hospital. Luckily, his nurse Caroline is able to join them at the office. Due to the advances of medical science at the time, Norah and David do not know they are having twins.

When the second child is born, David immediately recognized signs of Down syndrome. In a split second, he make the decision that will haunt all of their lives forever.

He asks Caroline to take the second child to an institution. But when Caroline gets to the institution, she cannot leave the baby there. She takes the child to another city to raise her as her own.

I can't possibly say enough about this book. It is well written with characters so vivid and a story so haunting, it is hard to put into words. Edwards is obviously a master story-teller. Read this book today. Buy it even. (Think about this. I don't purchase books. I am studying to be a librarian and fell that 95% of books can be read from the library. But this one, you can buy!)

Edwards, Kim. (2005). The Memory Keeper's Daughter. New York: Penguin Books.

The Saturday Wife

The Saturday Wife is yet another great novel by Namoi Ragen. She writes about Orthodox Jews, usually in Israel or the US. This book is a satire about the rabbi's wife. It is well written and entertaining, but it is a little like watching a train-wreck in slow motion.

Delilah Levi spent her young life dreaming of the perfect match. She would marry a brilliant, gorgeous Orthodox Jew and have the perfect life. But during college, she meets Chaim. He is a rabbinical student who is neither brilliant nor overly bright. In fact, he agreed to get a rabbinic ordination because if he did his grandfather would pay for college.

When her husband is hired by an affluent synagogue in a wealth suburb in Connecticut, she thinks everything will turn out alright. But she will ever be the social climber who is not happy with what she has if she sees someone with more. Partly because of this and partly because she is Delilah, she will set in motion a social disaster that threatens to destroy the entire community.

Ragen, Naomi. (2007). The Saturday Wife. New York: St. Martin's Press.

John Rain series

Though I am not sure each book needs it own entry, I would like to introduce you to a dangerous character who you would never want to meet in a dark alley. John Rain is introduced in the novel Rain Fall by Barry Eisler.

Rain is half American and half Japanese and was raised in both Japan and the US. Growing up he never felt like he fit into either culture. During Vietnam, the US Special Forces trained him to become a killer. And since then he has only improved on the skill.

Now living in Tokyo he is known to a select few as the man to hire to make a hit look like the target died of natural causes. He has only a few rules about taking a job. He does not kill women or children. And he only goes after the primary target, not family members or others who are not directly involved.

But he may soon find out that he is not working for the people he thinks he is working for. As you may imagine, this will not make him happy. Fortunately for him, he is a man of determination and he will find out who is really paying him.

John Rain Books:
Rain Fall
Hard Rain
Rain Storm
Killing Rain
The Last Assassin
Requiem for an Assassin

Movie: Sahara

Sahara based on the book by Clive Cussler is an adventure to rival Indiana Jones. Though I have never been able to read one of his books (and I have tried several times) the stories are entertaining.

Dirk Pitt, Al Giordino, and Rudi Gunn work for retired Admiral Jim Sandecker and make up the NUMA (National Underwater and Marine Agency), a company that sails around the world in search of sunken treasure, usually in the form of historic missing ships.

The NUMA members cross paths with WHO doctor Eva Rojas who is trying to find the source of a new plague in North Africa. Through a series of adventures and follies, they must team up to stop the spread of the deadly plague before it spreads. At the same time, Dirk is convinced that a one-of-a-kind Civil War ship may have ended up in the area.

Staring: Matthew McConaughey
Steve Zahn
Penelope Cruz
and William H. Macy

Move: Free Zone

Free Zone is an interesting look at Israeli-Palestinian-US relations through the story of 3 women.

Rebecca, an American living in Jerusalem, talks her way into a ride to Jordan. The driver of the car, Hanna ben Moshe, is on her way to Jordan to pick up money. Leila is the woman who is waiting to pay Moshe (Hanna's husband) in the Free Zone - a market area at the borders of Jordan, Syria, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia.

After getting lost and arriving late, Hanna is told that the money is not there. The three women end up riding together to find the money.

One drawback to the film is that it was filmed by hand-held camera and has some Blair-witch motion-sickness at times. But is definitely captures the Israeli in the character of Hanna.

Featuring:
Natalie Portman as Rebecca
Hanna Laslo as Hanna ben Moshe
Hiam Abbass as Leila

Nerilka' Story (A Novel of Pern)

Nerilka's Story is yet another dragon book of Pern by Anne McCaffrey. The time frame of the story overlaps with Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern.

Nerlika is the oldest daughter of the Lord of Fort Hold. Her father is not a great and generous man like the Lord of Ruatha Hold, Lord Alessan (whom we met in Moreta). The first chance she has, Nerlika runs away from to help the people suffering from the new illness that has struck the northern continent of Pern.

For the first time in her life Nerlika, now going by Rill, will be judged on her own character instead of who she is related to. And she will prove herself worthy of praise in the work she does to help the ill and rebuild Ruatha Hold.

McCaffrey, Anne. (1986). Nerilka's Story. New York: Del Rey Books.

The Judas Strain

James Rollin's latest book, The Judas Strain, is just as good as every other book he has published. This man has quite and imagination and some great research skills. This is the second book in the SIGMA Force novels.

A horrific plague has bubbled up from the depths of the Indian Ocean and completely decimated life on Christmas Island. The SIGMA team, acting as World Health Organization doctors, infiltrate the cruise ship-turned hospital/research facility. All members of Sigma has some medical or scientific training, making them useful while they are gathering information.

At the same time in the US, SIGMA commander Gray Pierce is enjoying his parent's 4th of July party. But at the end of that party, an assassin crashes her motorcycle into the yard while trying to seek his help.

Somehow everything that is going on can be traced back to the travels of Marco Polo.

James Rollins writes books in the same genre as The DaVinci Code, but he does it well! He is a master storyteller. I recommend any of his books.

Rollins, James. (2007). The Judas Strain. New York: William Morrow.

Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern

Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern by Anne McCaffrey tells of life in a Weyr of Pern through the eyes of the Weyrwoman of Fort Weyr. (A weyr is any place that houses a dragon.)

It is nearing the end of a pass of Thread, the parasitic substance that falls from the Red Star and threatens life on Pern. The dragonriders are counting the days until the end of the pass when life will resume a quieter pace. After almost 40 years, they deserve their rest.

But then, without warning, a runnerbeast falls ill. Soon hundreds of beasts and people succumb to the strange new illness. Old records are searched by all who can read - trying to find a mention of this plague in the past.

All must work together to find a cure for this new influenza while maintaining a vigilant watch on the Thread at the same time. The most hopeful news, that the virus does not affect dragons, is the only thing that may save life on Pern.

Moreta and the others who have recovered must find a way to protect Pern from this new threat.

McCaffrey, Anne. (1983). Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern. New York: Del Rey Books.

Movie - Aftershock: Earthquake in New York

I love disaster movies; they are so funny! Seriously, most have such awful special effects that just have to laugh. Some, though have great special effects. This one is pretty good. (Though not quite as good as The Day After Tomorrow.)

What Aftershock: Earthquake in New York has this is missing in most disaster films is a real cast. The makers did not rely soley on the special effects to carry the movie. Stars such as Charles Dutton, Tom Skerritt, Sharon Lawrence, Jennifer Garner, Lisa Nicole Carson, and others make the movie the better than average disaster.

Dragonsdawn (A Novel of Pern)

Dragonsdawn by Anne McCaffrey is the first book in her dragon books about the planet Pern. It was not the first written, but it is in the history of Pern, the first.

The book begins with the space ships holding the people who will settle on Pern - the only people other than the original survey team 200 years ago - to set foot on the planet. The colonists signed up to go to Pern because they were tired of the way Earth and its settled neighbors had been depleted. On Pern they will do their best to live in harmony with the planet instead of destroying it.

Fire-lizards are one of the first animal species found. A cross between a lizard and the mythical dragon, fire-lizards are soon the favorite pet of everyone on Pern. Which is fortunate when, eight years after landing, a strange Thread falls from the sky burning every organic thing in its path. The fire-lizards help to fight the Thread by burning them with their dragon breath.

The new settlers will have to learn to cope with this new and potentially devastating problem if they are to survive their new life on Pern. Of course, with the 18+ books that McCaffrey has written about life on Pern, there is hope that the colonists will survive.

McCaffrey, Anne. (1988). Dragonsdawn. New York: Del Rey Books.

Dragondrums (Harper Hall Trilogy #3)

Dragondrums is the final book in Anne McCaffrey's Harper Hall Trilogy. This book follows the adventures of Piemur, Menolly's first friend at Harper Hall.

Piemur came to the Hall as a singer. He was always forced to sing the girl parts, as there were no female harpers and his voice was in the right range. But when he arrived he was young and his voice had yet to change. What use will he be at Harper Hall when his voice starts to change?

Luckily the Masterharper has a plan for Piemur that does not use his singing voice. He will be apprenticed to the Masterdrummer. Drums are used in Pern to send messages between Holds, Forts and Weyrs.

Piemur, being known as much for his pranks as for his voice, gets himself into trouble as easy as he breathes. How will he get himself out of the mess he get into at a Gather in Nabol Hold?

McCaffrey, Anne. (1979). Dragondrums. New York: Bantam Books.