The Circus Arrives Without Warning...

Hello everyone!
Imagine a circus that opens at dark, where illusions are real, stories are trapped in jars and gardens are made of ice- that circus is the Night Circus. The Night Circus, written by Erin Morgenstern, is about a challenge between two magicians, Celia and Marco. They have been trained for this challenge by their mentors for years, and the venue of the challenge? The Night Circus, a dark, beautiful traveling circus that appears in places all over the world with no warning. But the challenge is made even more dangerous when Celia and Marco fall in love... but how can they possibly survive when the only way to end the challenge is for only one magician to remain standing?
The Night Circus is beautiful. The description is lush and the setting imaginative. I fell in love with the setting, that is, the Night Circus, and wished that I could actually visit it. The story is slow-moving and takes place over the span of more than a decade, so if you don't like slow-moving books, you may want to avoid this one.
But all of these positives have their downsides. The description sometimes masked the actual story and was sometimes boring. I don't have a real problem with a book or series taking place over a long period of time, but here, it could get a bit confusing. The narrative moved back and forth between different periods of time. It is essential to read the chapter names in order to get a sense of where each chapter is taking place. For example, a chapter may end with an intriguing cliffhanger, and the next chapter, taking place a year later, begins as though nothing happened, so the reader has to flip back to both chapter beginnings to see when both chapters are taking place.
Additionally, while the main characters started off strongly, with strong backstories, they soon lost everything that made them individual after they fell in love. After that, it felt like their main character trait was being in love, which it shouldn't be. Luckily, the book wasn't only about them and had other side stories as well.
I especially loved Chandresh Christophe Lefevre, the circus mastermind, Herr Thiessen the clockmaker, Isobel the fortune-teller, Tsukiko the contortionist, Poppet and Widget, the twins with strange powers and Bailey, a normal boy who is not entirely sure what he's doing there. They were interesting to read about and I looked forward to their chapters and storylines.
Another thing I liked were the very short chapters that were written in second-person, about the reader visiting the circus. It was interesting to see what the average visitor thought about the circus and to see some more of what the circus offered.
Erin Morgenstern is an American author. Her first book was The Night Circus.
Overall, the merits of this book definitely outweigh the demerits. The Night Circus is well-written and creative, and it is a book that I will recommend and re-read. I recommend this book to ages 12 and above.

Being Selected

Hey everybody!
Now usually I don't read modern romance novels- I'm more of a classic type, but today I'll be reviewing The Selection series by Kiera Cass.
The Selection takes place in the future, in a dystopian world where the society is divided into castes. America, the main character is a Five, an artist. When the Selection is announced, America's mother expects her to compete. The Selection is a competition where girls compete for the hand of the nation's prince, Maxon Schreave. But America doesn't want to compete- she thinks she's in love with her secret boyfriend, Aspen.
But, to her surprise, she is chosen and is thrust into a competition she wants no part in- she just wants to go home.
The premise sounds familiar? If you think so, you're correct. The premise, to me, feels like a cross of the Hunger Games and the TV show The Bachelor, which I have never actually watched but have heard of and know the premise of.
A bond develops between Maxon and America- and then Aspen is thrust in the middle of the competition- and America has no idea what to choose. And in the background, conflict is brewing and rebels are rising- they want the system to be changed...
The book is predictable, and while the story was enough for one or two books, the author stretched it into three books- therefore there was a lot of time in the book spent doing nothing. I felt like the whole rebel conflict was pointless. The story could have just been a sweet love story instead of having an unnecessary conflict at the end that didn't mean much to the story anyway. It's not like much was done about this conflict at the end, so it felt extra. I would have also liked more description- I couldn't picture the castle properly in my head, but there was way too much description about makeup and dresses. There were also some places where I felt that there was no logic at all.
That said, if you want to read The Selection series, don't expect too much or use too much logic and think of it as what people call 'fluff.' Then it will be more enjoyable.
The books in the original Selection series are The Selection, The Elite and The One. There is also a collection of short stories of what happened after the series published in the book Happily Ever After. The writing is clear, definitely not flowery.
There is also another series based on America's daughter, but I'll leave that review for another day.
I recommend The Selection for ages 12 and above.
Well, I've finished my goal for this year- to write 18 book reviews. Yay! Anyway- happy new year to all of you, and I can't wait to see you next year!

Pride and Prejudice

Hello readers!
Today I'm reviewing the all-time classic, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.
What begins with a visit to an eligible bachelor leads to a classic love story! The Bennett sisters, including Elizabeth Bennett, visit Mr. Bingley and meet Mr. Darcy, who at first seems to have horrible manners and is aloof and rude. But soon afterward, he falls in love with Elizabeth Bennett- but she has no interest in him. She thinks he is rude and doesn't want to marry him.
Will Darcy and Elizabeth ever find true love?
The plot is simple- but the way the characters are made is wonderful and the writing, I found, personally, was beautiful. I deeply enjoyed the novel and its characters, whom I could relate to. While some may find the writing to be boring and long, I found it beautiful, while it was not as easy as other books to read.
Jane Austen, an English novelist who also wrote Sense and Sensibility, Emma, Mansfield Park, Persuasion and Northanger Abbey. Her books are considered to be classics and are well-known around the world.
I recommend Pride and Prejudice for ages 12 and above.

Charlotte's Web

Hey everyone,
I'm going to be reviewing the classic children's book, Charlotte's Web by E.B. White, today.
When Fern saves a little piglet called Wilbur from being killed, she lovingly takes care of him. But when he gets older, he is sent to Fern's uncle's farm. He is snubbed by the other farm animals- there is no one to talk to- except for Charlotte the spider.
Soon afterward, Wilbur discovers that while he may have been saved by Fern from being slaughtered when he was a baby, Fern's uncle still plans to slaughter him.
Can Charlotte help save Wilbur?
And will things end happily?
Admittedly, the ending of the book can be tear-jerking, but it is still a lovely, simple book for children, and for that matter, almost anybody.
Charlotte's Web is enjoyable, and easy to read. I enjoyed the book and it made me feel sad and happy at the same time.
E.B. White was an American writer who wrote many other books, such as Stuart Little.
I recommend Charlotte's Web for ages 7 and above.

A Search for Treasure

Hello everybody,
I'm going to be reviewing The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, originally written in Portuguese.
When shepherd boy Santiago gets a dream about finding treasure, he decides to follow it and go on a quest that will change his life.
On the search for treasure, Santiago meets extraordinary people and learns things he would have never learnt had he just stayed as a shepherd boy. He meets his true love, an alchemist and sees amazing sights. But will he ever find the treasure he set out to find in the first place?
The Alchemist is like a fable- it is a book about destiny and how, if you want something hard enough, 'the universe will conspire so that your wish comes true.' It somehow felt, for me, like a realistic fairytale of sorts. It was fascinating and I loved the ideas presented in the book- they stayed with me even after I put the book down.
The book is written in simple language, easy to read and easy to follow.
Paulo Coelho is a Brazilian lyricist and novelist who has also written Brida, The Winner Stands Alone, Brida and many more books. He is best known for The Alchemist.
I recommend it for ages 9 and above, but in order to grasp the ideas fully, I would recommend it for ages 11 and above.

Number the Stars

Hello everybody!
Today I'm reviewing the historical fiction book, Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry.
Number the Stars is set during World War 2 in Copenhagen. Annemarie Johansen is ten years old and lives with her family. Her best friend and neighbor is a Jew, Ellen Rosen. She has a younger sister, Kirsti, but she had an older sister, Lise, who died shortly before her wedding.
There are Nazis on every street corner, and soon, it is found out that the Nazis want to relocate Jews elsewhere. Ellen and her family are Jews, and Ellen's parents flee with Peter, Lise's fiance. Ellen must stay with Annemarie's family.
The story is about Ellen and her family fleeing the Germans, and while I really like the book, I would have liked to know what happened later to the Rosens and Annemarie's family, but that as left to the imagination.
The book was interesting and easy to read in one sitting. It is absorbing and meaningful, the language is clear and easy to read. I loved the historical aspect of the book, and it was this book that got me very interested in the events of World War 2.
All the characters in the book, especially Annemarie's family is very brave and I thought that they were very strong and stood up for what they believed in and helped people get away with their lives.
Number the Stars has won the Newbery Medal.
Lois Lowry is an American author who has written over thirty books, including the Giver quartet, which I have reviewed already, Anastasia Krupnik, and many more.
I recommend Number the Stars for anyone who loves history, and for ages 9 and above.

The Giver

Hey guys!
Recently, I've finished The Giver quartet by Lois Lowry.
The first book, The Giver, is about Jonas, a young boy in a seemingly utopian society, where everyone is assigned a role at age 12. Jonas is assigned the role of being the future Receiver of Memory, training from an old man called the Giver. Jonas experiences things he has never experienced before- snow, sleds, even colour.
But when Jonas finds out the truth about his society, he must save an infant named Gabriel, from death. He must leave the community- and go into the unknown.
The other books in the series, Gathering Blue, Messenger and Son are about similar dystopian societies. Although the ending to the first book is unclear, it is all tied up in the third book, Messenger.
The series is interesting, and I really liked the dystopian societies Lois Lowry created- it is interesting reading about them.
The writing of the book is good, and the main characters of all the books are compelling and easy to root for. I enjoyed the series as a whole, though I would like to see more about the 'special gifts' some characters have and where they came from, as well as the Trademaster.
Lois Lowry is an American author who has written over thirty books, including Number the Stars.
I recommend the books for ages 9 and above.

Long Story Short

Hello fellow readers!
I'm not much of a storyteller- that is, the speaking, talking type of storyteller. So when I found 'Long Story Short' by Margot Leitman, I hoped that it would help me with my storytelling skills- and help it did!
Long Story Short by Margot Leitman is a good guide to storytelling for a beginner. It talks about how to be more expressive, choosing what stories to narrate, what to do and what not to do and how to make your own life story-worthy.
I enjoyed it- Margot recommends to the reader some good short stories to read and listen to. She talks about how to get the audience to root for you- the trick, it turns out, is to make yourself flawed instead of perfect. She also uses some of her own stories to help us understand what she means. I'm definitely going to use some of her tips next time.
I also liked the way she wrote- it was casual and not boring. I swept through the book pretty easily, which can be hard for me, personally, because I'm not that into non-fiction books, but Margot Leitman's book held my attention.
Margot Leitman is a storyteller, comedian and writer from New Jersey. She's also written Gawky: Tales of an Extra Long Awkward Phase. She is five-time Moth StorySLAM winner.
I recommend this book for ages 12+.

Twilight- a 'Love' Story

Hey everybody!
Today I'll be reviewing a pretty popular book- Twilight by Stephenie Meyer.
Twilight is the love story of Isabella 'Bella' Swan and Edward Cullen. When Bella moves to Forks, Washington, which she calls 'the rainiest place on the planet', she expects to find boredom, misery and homesickness. But when she goes to school, she is fascinated by the mysterious Edward Cullen and his family, but at first sight Edward seems to hate her.
Gradually, though, they start to bond and Bella figures out the Cullens' secret- they're vampires. The Cullens accept her, though, but soon Bella is put in danger when a hunter wants to track her down and drink her blood...
I personally didn't find the love story to have much love. The 'love' didn't feel like actual 'love.' Edward and Bella have known each other (not very well either) for barely two months before professing their 'love' for each other, and having barely any proper conversations. Also, I would like to know more about the Cullens' (and Bella's) daily lives, including their hobbies- not just their special gifts. It would be more realistic if this was shown.
I would also prefer it if Bella had more of of a personality instead of just being a blank slate that dumps her friends the moment Edward takes an interest in her. In fact, from the moment she has her first conversation with Edward, we hardly know what happens to her at school or at home- everything is now about Edward.
Also, the plot felt pretty rushed, as did the love story. I feel like this could have been much better if the love story was slower and daily life was explained better- not just at school but at home as well. I wanted to know more about the vampires too- why did they only move to Forks, 'the rainiest place on the planet' now? How come nobody other than Bella figured the whole vampire thing out? She can't be the only girl to research about vampires, can she?
The book is supposed to be based on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, but personally I feel that Pride and Prejudice is far better- if you want a good love story I would recommend it instead.
There are four books in the series, and I have only read the first book; I'm not sure whether I'm going to read the next three.
Stephenie Meyer is best known for the Twilight series, and she has also written The Host.
I don't really recommend Twilight to anyone- but the age group would be around 12+.

Send A Million Angels...

Hello guys!
Sorry I haven't posted a review in a while! Today I'll be reviewing A Million Angels, by Kate Maryon. A few years ago, I posted a review a review on 27 April 2014 about a book called Shine, by the same author. I absolutely loved Shine, and A Million Angels was written by the same author.
Jemima's father is in the army and he has to go to Afghanistan for half a year. Jemima loves her father and is devastated by this. She's so scared for him- will he ever come back?
To make things worse, her frenemy, Jess, can't stop talking about how happy she is her dad has gone off too- and she continuously insults Jemima about her horrible fashion sense, her dad, her family, her lack of real friends...
Jemima's off to a bad start at school. She has absolutely no friends and all the kids seem to hate her. Her only consolation are the angels she draws on her arm and sends off to her father every day. But when her class is assigned to do a project on a topic of their choice, she knows exactly what to do- and it involves uniting her grandmother with her long-lost love.
That's when everything goes haywire- Jemima sets off the fire alarm, wears her gas mask to school, and lands in major trouble. But that's not the worst of it. The worst is yet to come...
The book, while with a massive potential, with a strong story line and a good writer, was not as good as Shine. It did not cast the spell over me that Shine did, and Jemima as a character, had no other qualities or hobbies other than being scared for her father. The story also felt unfocused. There are too many side plots for a book of this size(getting a new sibling, bullies, class project, helping her grandmother, getting along with her mother, seriously hurting her enemy, Ned's grandfather dying, her father going to war, etc.), and only a few were handled well. It would be better if Jemima had other characteristics and the story had fewer plot points.
I liked the idea, though, and Jess was an interesting character that I would like to read more about. The book was well-written for the age group and easy to get through. The lessons taught were definitely awesome and I liked the way Jemima helped her grandmother and gradually became happy.
Kate Maryon is a British author who likes chocolate, films, reading, eating out and lying on sunny beaches. Other books she's written include Shine, Glitter, Invisible Girl and Sea of Stars.    

Show Your Inner Star!

Hey readers!
What if you could go to a boarding school with absolutely EVERYTHING- shopping, horse stables, a gigantic library, your own room, a greenhouse, a pet-care center, a lake? That sounds awesome- just really expensive! But that school does exist- in the Innerstar University books by American Girl!
In the Innerstar University books, you can imagine yourself as a girl in this special boarding school, taking parts in all sorts of activities. But there are problems too- will you be able to go to your friend's party when it's at the lake, which you're afraid of? Will you ride in a horse show months after the most humiliating horse show ever? Will you make the right decision to keep your favorite dog safe? Can you lead a troop of girls for a hike in the woods?
These books are similar to the Goosebumps 'You Choose the Scare' books because the reader is the one making the stories and controlling what happens.
One thing that I don't like about these books, however, is that sometimes the situations are hard to believe and the decisions made may not apply to everyone. For example, one of the books, Braving the Lake, is about you facing your fear of the lake. But if you're not afraid of the lake in real life, this problem seems a bit silly and isn't relatable. Also, some of the choices are ones that you wouldn't make yourself.
These books are written by different authors and are part of the American Girl books. There is also an online website for Innerstar University which you can access if you have the book or doll.
Some books in this series are Braving the Lake, A Girl's Best Friend, Project Friendship, Taking the Reins, Fork in the Trail, Into the Spotlight, Bound For Snow and many more.
I recommend these books for ages 9 and above.

It's Not Poisonous, Dear...

Hey guys!
Sorry I haven't posted a book review for a while! Well, I have one now, and it's about the Poison Apple series by Scholastic.
Each book is about a different girl, a different story, and a different creature...
Meet Zoe, the amateur film-maker who is cursed by a fortune-teller after joking about fortune-telling in the carnival. She's about to learn that fortune-telling is a very serious business indeed...but she might just be able to figure out how to save her nightmare of a life with her best friend Mia...('Miss Fortune')

There's Hannah, who's just moved in with mean girl Madison, and her new house is right next to the cemetery. But when Hannah's beloved cat disappears right before the move, and after hearing a spooky story about a dead girl's cat and after she gets lost in the woods because of a cat, she's starting to wonder whether the cat going around...is more than just a cat...('Curiosity Killed the Cat')
Emma-Rose is very different from her parents- in fact, she's a lot like a vampire. And once Great-aunt Margo, who's extremely similar to Emma-Rose, comes to visit from Romania... Emma-Rose may have to admit that she is indeed a vampire. ('This Totally Bites!')
And those are just a few of the many Poison Apple books available! These books are like a counterpart to the Candy Apple books. I haven't read the entire series and the books are written by different authors. The books aren't masterpieces, but they are a quick, refreshing, not-too-scary set of books that aren't really a serious read.
Some of the other books in the Poison Apple series are At First Bite, Now You See Me..., Her Evil Twin, The Dead End, and many, many more.
I recommend this series to ages 9 and above.

What Would YOU Wish For?

Hello everybody!
I'm pretty sure a lot of us have read books about genies- people finding genies, about genies, magic carpets and lamps...but this book, Genie Us!, is a little different from all the others!
When step-siblings Milly, Michael, Jess and Jason move to a house in the middle of nowhere, they certainly don't expect that their lives are going to change forever.. magically! So when they find a magical book that tells them how to become genies in just six steps, along with Skribble, a talking bookworm, they sure are surprised.
Following the book's steps to become genies, they enter the world of genies, lamps, magic and wishes, where anything can go wrong! But is becoming a genie really safe and worth it? Wishes soon become dangerous and goes wrong quickly, and everything becomes chaotic! And with a mysterious couple watching the siblings in a shadow wherever they go, things just become even more scarier!
Will the siblings ever adjust to their new life? Will they be able to find out what the mysterious couple want from them? And will they ever become genies and have their biggest wish granted?
Genie Us! is the first book of a series written by Steve Cole and Linda Chapman. Linda Chapman has written the My Secret Unicorn series and Steve Cole has written the Astrosaurs series.
Genie Us! is fast-paced and interesting. It has a good plot and I did not see the ending coming!
I recommend this book for ages 8 and above.

You Look As If You've Seen A Ghost!

Hey everyone!
Today I'll be reviewing Vicky Angel, another book by Jacqueline Wilson. It touches on a sensitive topic, death.
Vicky and Jade have been best friends since forever. They are as close as sisters, maybe even closer. They know what the other is thinking. Jade is used to being bossed around and doing whatever Vicky wants. So when Vicky passes away after a horrible accident while the two are quarreling and walking back from school, Jade feels terrible- she doesn't what to do. It feels like it's her fault- after all, if they hadn't been fighting, Vicky would have never been involved in an accident.
But barely an hour after her death, Vicky appears in front of Jade- except, she's not living- she's a ghost, and no one else can see her. At first, things are great. Jade feels like she's still with Vicky, and life will somehow go back to normal.
But then, things stop being so fun. People look at Jade like she's crazy when she talks with Vicky, she starts being mean to those who try to be kind to her and Vicky just won't leave her alone for more than a moment- she's always around. And worse, Vicky's not letting Jade move on in life- she doesn't allow Jade to make new friends, take up a new hobby and follow her dream. Vicky's presence isn't so fun anymore and sometimes it's even a bit oppressive!
Will Jade ever be able to move on? Will she make new friends and start thinking for herself? And will she finally accept what happened on that fateful day?
This is a touching book about, grief, death and moving on in life. The book is thoughtful and sad, but at the same time sometimes humourous and fun. It is really interesting to read about Jade and Vicky's adventures and what will happen to Vicky at the end.
The book is sad in the beginning and a little bit at the end.
Jacqueline Wilson is a British author. I have reviewed many of her books previously. Her writing style is fun and amusing.
Vicky Angel is an extremely touching and absorbing story. I recommend it to ages 11 and above.

The Misadventures of Greg Heffley

Happy New Year everyone!
This year my New Year Resolution is to do more book reviews than last year- that means I want to do at least 18 book reviews this year. And I'm starting 2017 with a book review on the bestselling series Diary of a Wimpy Kid! Diary of a Wimpy Kid is written by Jeff Kinney.
Greg Heffley has a few problems. His mom gave him a diary- sorry, journal- to write in, he's in middle school, he has problems with his best friend Rowley Jefferson and his life is a mess in general.
How do you deal with the pressure of school, friends and a crazy family? These books portray a normal boy's life in a hilarious journal and cartoon format. The drawing are extremely funny and the things that happen to Greg Heffley are bound to keep you in stitches.
Although some of the incidents that happen to Greg are normal and have happened to all of us, and some are straight crazy and unthinkable, everything is funny and relatable, even if we don't have two brothers and a school that cuts down on playground equipment.
Although Diary of a Wimpy Kid is not exactly an example of great literature, it is funny and easy to read but at the same time is not absolutely ridiculous. Greg is a humorous character and even though he does some unlikable stuff (like making his friend carry all his books, and rewrite his homework for a peanut-butter cracker) he is somehow likable and also teaches us what NOT to do and the dire consequences of procrastinating and not thinking before acting.
I personally like Diary of  Wimpy Kid and think it is extremely funny and relatable.
Jeff Kinney is an online game developer and is the creator of Poptropica (poptropica.com) and is the author of Rodrick Rules, The Last Straw, Dog Days, The Ugly Truth, Cabin Fever, The Third Wheel, Hard Luck, The Long Haul, Old School and most recently, Double Down, all Diary of a Wimpy KId books.
I really enjoyed Diary of a Wimpy Kid. I recommend it for ages 8 and above.
Did you read Diary of a Wimpy Kid? What are your thoughts on it? Write them in the comments section below, or give your own book review that I will publish in my blog. For more information, click on the 'Reviewed by friends' subheading near the top of the page.

Want Some Candyfloss?

Hello everyone!
Do you love going to the fair? Raise your hand if you do, because Floss from Candyfloss by Jacqueline Wilson certainly does!
Flora 'Floss' is at odds. The worst news ever has come on her birthday- her mum and stepfather and her baby brother are moving to Australia! Even if it's only for a few months, how will Floss manage without spending time with her father, who runs a cafe? That's when Floss is faced with a tough decision- will she start anew in Australia or will she stay with her father who barely manages his next meal?
When she decides to stay with her dear old dad, she's not at all sure she made the right decision. She arrives at school smelling like chips, with a ruffled uniform and mussed-up hair. Even her best friend Rhiannon and Rhiannon's mum treat her like a charity case. She wants to be friends with Susan, the new girl in school, but she's scared Rhiannon will tease her and break friends with her if she even talks nicely to Susan. Floss is the new joke among her ex-friends. Things get even worse when she betrays Susan and instead goes off with Rhiannon, who teases her and her father.
Somehow, Floss and her dad manage to scrape by, eating chip butties. The one thing Floss really looks forward to is the fair, where she makes new friends and where she feels at home. Maybe things really will be okay. But that's until she and her father become homeless and are forced to live in an old friend's flat.
Will their fairground friends help them? Will they manage to get everything they need? Will everything turn out okay?
Candyfloss is a moving story, though I felt the ending was a bit rushed. Otherwise, I loved it and it is definitely worth a read!
I've reviewed numerous Jacqueline Wilson books. She is a British author who has also written Vicky Angel, Cookie, Sleepovers, The Suitcase Kid, Double Act and many other books as well.
I recommend this book for ages 9 and above.
Have you read Candyfloss? What did you think of it? Let me know in the comments below!

Enter the O Yal Hotel!

Hey fellow bookworms!
Today I'll be reviewing The Bed and Breakfast Star by Jacqueline Wilson.
Meet Elsa, the future comedienne who plans to be famous someday! Only, no one seems to laugh at her jokes anymore... maybe it has something to do with the fact that her family- her mum, her stepdad Mack the Smack, her stepsister Pippa and her GIANT baby stepbrother Hank the Hunk- have had to move out of their wonderful old house into a dump of a bed-and-breakfast hotel- the Royal Hotel.
At first it seems like it couldn't get worse- until Elsa's mum breaks down and she's simply known as 'one of those bed-and-breakfast children' at school, Elsa starts to wonder what will happen to them.
So, of course, when a television crew visits the hotel to record the misery of the children living there, Elsa can't resist grabbing her chance of fame...or rather, pushing her best friend Naomi to take it. But Elsa regrets it when her actions threaten to make Naomi and her family homeless...
Now how will Elsa make up for what she's done? Will she be able to help change her family's situation or is she destined to live in a bed-and-breakfast hotel for the rest of her life?
Jacqueline Wilson is a renowned British children's author. I've reviewed many of her books before.
I think The Bed and Breakfast Star is a heart-touching, humorous story and I extremely like it. I think that this may be among some of the best books Jacqueline Wilson has written.
I recommend this book for ages 9 and above.

Welcome to the World of Shadowhunters!

Hey readers!
Today I'll be reviewing the first book of the best-selling series The Mortal Instruments, The City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. I haven't read the rest of the series, though.
Clary Fray, a fifteen-year-old who lives in New York with her mother, Jocelyn, is noticing things that no one else can see, including her best friend Simon. It all starts when she visits the club Pandemonium and witnesses a murder of a blue-haired boy by a strange group of teenagers...
Then suddenly her mother disappears in a what seems like a vicious attack. What's going on here?
That's when Clary finds out that beneath the world that we know is a dark magical world filled with demons, vampires, warlocks and Shadowhunters- warriors whose mission is to destroy and track down demons. And it seems that Clary's only safe with them.
Their mission? To save Jocelyn and find the Mortal Cup to stop the evil Shadowhunter Valentine who hasn't been seen for fifteen years and stop his horrible plan of turning all humans into Shadowhunters and destroyng those who don't become Shadowhunters.
Follow Clary through the dark world of the Shadowhunters as she unravels secrets and finds out about her mysterious past.
I feel as though this book was fairly predictable and Clare could have developed the characters a bit better so that they are more relatable and interesting. Some scenes felt a bit stretched and unneeded. All in all, though, I feel as though the book could have been better. I didn't like the main character, Clary, much either, and although the characters did not figure out a major plot point till much later in the book, it is obvious to the reader (i.e., me). It is a quick fantasy read though and if you like fantasy you might want to read this book to give it a shot yourself, even if the writing isn't, in my point of view, very good.
Cassandra Clare has written The Mortal Instruments, The Infernal Devices, The Dark Artifices, etc., all part of the Shadowhunter Chronicles.
This book is for ages 12 and above.

The Ancient Mysteries of Egypt

Hello everybody!
Today I'll be reviewing The Egypt Game written by Zilpha Keatley Snyder.
Who likes history? Raise your hand if you do! Well, Melanie and April of The Egypt Game certainly do!
And that's why they start 'the Egypt Game,' a pretend game where they act like Ancient Egyptians. But it isn't as boring as it seems. As new members enter the club, things get more and more interesting. Everyday, the lonely backyard of the shop that the Egypt Game takes place in grows more and more familiar and more and more like ancient Egypt.
But that all crashes down when a horrific murder happens in their neighborhood. Nobody knows who committed the murder, but the main suspect for the townspeople is the Professor, who owns the shop...that the kids play behind!
Stuck inside and always under a watchful eye, how are the kids supposed to play the Egypt Game?
And who committed the heartless murder that has the entire town shocked?
I really enjoyed plunging into the rich story, world and characters that Zilpha Keatley Snider has weaved and the book is great for re-reads as well. This book has also won the John Newbery Medal.
I really like this book and it is perfect for lovers of history and good books. I recommend this books for ages 9 and above.

Agatha Christie: A Murder is Announced

Hello fellow bookworms!
Imagine a murder being announced in the newspaper! That would be something, wouldn't it? But who would advertise a murder? After all, a murderer would want everything to go smoothly...right?
In the small village of Chipping Cleghorn, everyone receives the 'North Benham News and Chipping Cleghorn Gazette,' popularly known as the Gazette. After all, that's the best place to find out what's going on in the area. But what's going on in the area may not be completely legal...
The villagers of Chipping Cleghorn are wide-eyed with curiosity when one day an announcement of a murder appears in the Personal Column of the Gazette. The murder is scheduled to occur at Little Paddocks, the house owned by Letitia Blacklock, at 6:30 pm that very day! At first, everyone, including the residents of Little Paddocks, thinks that this is just a joke.
But at precisely 6:30 pm at Little Paddocks, the light goes out and three shots are fired. Two of them are directed at Letitia Blacklock and one is towards the murderer himself...
Who is the murderer and what was his or her motive? What is so special about Letitia Blacklock? And why was that puzzling advertisement placed in the newspaper?
This mystery is a Miss Marple mystery, and I think that it is one of the best Agatha Christie books I have read till date. Miss Marple truly is a great detective!
Agatha Christie is a British crime writer. She has written The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, And Then There Were None, The ABC Murders, etc.
Her other Miss Marple mysteries are The Murder at the Vicarage, 4.50 from Paddington, Nemesis, Sleeping Murder, and many more.
I recommend this book to ages 12 and above as the plot can be slightly complicated.