Over Sea, Under Stone

There is a The Dark Is Rising movie. I haven't seen it, but I'll watch it once I finish the series. This is the only one I've read so far, but when my roommate saw me reading them, she quickly read all five books in the series in about a weekend. So, on a hunch, I'd say the whole series is pretty good.

Summary: Simon, Jane and Barney Drew find an old (and I mean old!) map in a secret room while they are on holiday in Cornwall. They're Great Uncle Merry tells them that this is a map to the grail of King Arthur. The only way to fight the rising evil is to get to it before their enemies. So they're off on an adventure.

Other: The writing is a bit dated, but the story is timeless, and worth some of the old fashioned behaviors of the characters.

Favorite Parts:
1. When the children find the map
2. When Barney gets kidnapped and the dog rescues him, but not in the way you would think.
3. The final step of the map, which leads.... over sea and under stone (duh!).
4. The final confrontation with the doers of evil.

What My Mother Doesn't Know

This is a novel expertly told through poems. It was entrancing. I read it in one sitting, and the next day went to the library to get other books by this author.

Summary: The book follows Sophie after she breaks up with one boyfriend and starts dating a second. But she much watch herself because every time she's not paying attention she starts imagining herself kissing Murphy, the class loser.

Other: This book doesn't sound very deep, and I didn't expect it to. I had very low expectations for the plot because I didn't understand how a book of poems could tell a story. I was so surprised when I finished the book. The plot is great, it talks about about boys, and feelings, and problems and home. There's a lot here, and I wouldn't miss a word of it if I were you.

Favorite Parts:
1. Sophie goes on vacation at home, since her family isn't actually taking a vacation.
2. Murphy sends Sophie a post card.
3. Murphy finds Sophie skating and tells her that he doesn't care if she chooses popularity over him.
4. Sophie makes her choice.

Once a Mouse

Story: A hermit is sitting and to help a mouse, proceeds to turn it (the mouse) into larger and larger animals until it is a tiger. When it is a tiger, the mouse/tiger is boastful. Annoyed the hermit turns him back into a mouse.

Picture: The pictures are amazing! They are the reason I picked up this book in the first place. I'm not a huge fan of traditional literature, but the pictures made this story totally worth it. Woodcuts is a style that has always impressed me.

Thoughts: It's an interesting fable and not one I've heard before. The story was really good as far as traditional literature goes. I really only read traditional literature in order to understand references in contemporary literature.

Dr. De Soto

Story: Dr. De Soto is a mouse with a dental practice. When, against his better judgement, he admits a fox, he must find a way to outwit the fox before he and his wife become dinner.

Pictures: I like these pictures a lot better than those in Steig's other books. They are more traditional, yet still have that unrefined quality that I like about Steig.

Thoughts: This story was one of my favorites as a kid. I could read so much into it, but just rest assured that it's a good book reassure kids that evil is easily spotted and outwitted. It's up to you whether you want to promote that message.

Shrek

Story: Shrek is an ogre making his way through the world. When a witch tells him that he will marry a princess more hideous than he is, he is determined to find her.

Pictures: They are a lot like Steig's other illustrations, although they do seem a bit more colorful. They're fun. Children will relate to them, because they look childlike.

Thoughts: I may be biased because the movies are so good, but I didn't really like it. I didn't think the story had much depth, but then again, it's a picture book. Just be warned. It's nothing like the movie, although the movie was based off the book.

Sylvester and the Magic Pebble

Story: Sylvester finds a magic pebble, that will grant any wish you make when you are holding it. But he mistakenly turns himself into a rock. No longer able to hold the pebble, will he be stuck as a rock forever?

Pictures: William Steig is a pretty respected illustrator, but I'm not a huge fan. Even though they are not my style there is not denying that they are much better than a lot of the stuff that's out there.

Thoughts: William Steig is REALLY respected and has won all sorts of awards. However, I don't love most of the stuff he's done. A lot of the stuff that he has written is older, so I hope that's why I don't connect with it. It's not bad, it's just not for me. This book feels a bit didactic at the end, but overall, it's probably my favorite of all of Steig's work.

Officer Buckle and Gloria

Story: Officer Buckle is a boring police man who tells children about safety. His lectures never sink in, but this all changes when he brings the new police dog, Gloria. She entertains everyone behind his back during his lecture. Now the students are learning about safety and Officer Buckle and Gloria have become celebrities. But what will happen when Officer Buckle finds out the truth about Gloria?

Pictures: The pictures are amazing and fun. There are so many great details that you won't get tired of looking at the pictures. For example, Officer Buckle's pajamas have safety signs on them.

Thoughts: An intriguing fantasy for young readers. You will be just as enchanted with Gloria as the children are in the story. It's a FUN story, that incidentally also teaches safety, but it does not feel didactic.

Well, I haven't updated this recently. I've been too busy reading. Expect lots of posts in the next few days. I'd do them all tonight, but a book is calling my name softly. I can barely hear it above the whispers of the other books. So here is what you can look forward to:

1. Lots of posts in lots of genres.

2. A new format for picture books

Well, I'll stop wasting time now and get to it!

Lake of Souls

Book ten of the Cirque du Freak. This one was a little bit different. It had a more independent plot, but was still very tied to the other novels. Two books left in this series. It's going to be biter sweet (who actually enjoyed Harry Potter seven? I'm not saying it was bad, just heart breaking).

Summary: It is time for Harkat to find out who he is. And Daren is going to accompany his friend. Mr. Tiny transports them to a place they do not know and they must follow his directions, meeting many adversaries, to arrive at the Lake of Souls, where Harkat must fish for his soul and recognize who he is. Who is he? I'll never tell.

Other: You'll never guess who Harkat is! Who would have guessed? Yes, total blast from the past.

Favorite Parts:
1. Harkat kills the panther.
2. The reveal about what Spits' real dream is! It's insane.
3. Harkat and Darren face a creepy creepy monster that is like a human snake with tons of tiny hands and only one weird eye.
4. Harkat finds out who he is.

The Sisters Grimm: The Fairy-Tale Detectives

I'm not going to lie. I was only vaguely interested in this book. I would never have read it if not for the library. Even for the first couple pages I was skeptical. However, the story is full of details and references and it's just fun. This book was great and I'm looking forward to the next one.

Summary: Sabrina and Daphne Grimm have been declared orphans ever since their parents abandoned them. Now they are going to live with the grandmother they thought was dead. When they get there they discover that they are direct decedents of the Brothers Grimm and part of a family curse. Fairy-Tales aren't stories, they are history, and they must play their part. Someone had a magic bean and now there's a giant running around and he stole their grandmother!

Other: Throughout the book, they use "big" words and define them for Daphne who is five years younger than Sabrina. I found this annoying. What happened to context clues?

Favorite Parts:
1. Their Grandmother serves them food and it's ridiculous colors!
2. Sabrina and Daphne meet Puck and he tries to make them walk the plank in a swimming pool, but instead Sabrina throws him in.
3. Sabrina and Daphne break Jack the Giant Killer out of Prison (the guard is Ichabod Crane!)
4. Meeting the magic mirror and learning even more about what he is!

Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowan Boys

You have no idea how upset I am that this is a novel and not a series. I absolutely loved it. It wasn't brilliant, it wasn't really surprising. However, it did have a smile on my face the whole way through, giggling and laughing and talking to myself. It drew me in right away and for that it is definitely a must read.

Summary: Megan Meade has moved around a lot. As a result, she's not very good with boys. And by not very good, I mean, she's never had a proper conversation with one. But then her parents tell her that their moving to Korea, and when she refuses, she finds herself living with family friends who have seven sons and no daughters. Can this possibly have a happy ending?

Other: I thought this book looked lame, but the library didn't have the other Private novel and I like the way Kate Brian writes, so I picked it up. You have no idea how glad I am.

Favorite parts:
1. Mrs. McGowan catches Megan gawking at Evan when she first gets to the house.
2. Doug climbs into a tree in order to watch Megan change through the window.
3. Megan helps Miller (who has a form of autism) break out of his shell. So cute.
4. Megan finds Finn's painting. Amazing scene!
5. There are so many more!! This book has just the right portions of drama, angst, sweet, and "oh, no she didn't".

Private

I've been meaning to check out this series for a while. And I certainly wasn't disappointed. The biggest disappointment is my lack of funds in the bank account combined with the fact that this series is not in my local library.

Summary: Reed Brennan has a terrible home life. Her mother was is a pill-popping alcoholic who's goal in life is to make her family as miserable as she is. To escape, Reed is going to Easton Academy, a premier boarding school, on scholarship. When she gets there she finds an elite group of girls, the Billings girls. She wants to be one, but how far will she go to be one? Especially, when they don't like her new boyfriend, Thomas. Which one has her best interests at heart?

Other: It was certainly interesting Google-searching for this image. Don't try it at home. Also, I'm going to give something away now, so skip down to favorite parts if you don't want me to give something away.... Reed gets really mad when she finds out that Thomas is a drug dealer. But seriously. How did she not figure that out? I figured it out the first time she met him.

Favorite Parts:
1. At the school dance, Reed and Thomas are the ONLY people dancing, and then he kisses her! So sweet!
2. The first morning service at school. So ridiculous it's funny.
3. Anything that involves Noelle, the lead Billings girl. That one is vicious. What a great character!

Killers of the Dawn

This one is probably one of my favorites so far! It has such a bittersweet ending. And I love that! Although, now that I think about it there is something in the first book that isn't quite captured in the rest of these novels.

Summary: Darren, Mr. Crepsley, Harkat, and Vancha have escaped the trap set for them by the Vampaneeze in the last book. But in doing so, they walk right into a second trap! The police and the public think that they're the vicious killers that have been plaguing the city! Now they must escape police custody, avoid the public (which forms an angry mob when it sees them!), and find the Vampaneeze to get revenge.

Other: The end was sad. Really sad. It was like when Dumbledore died. Except when Dumbledore died I grieved for a year. So I guess it wasn't like that.

Favorite Parts:
1. Steve pretending to be a hostage for the cops. Technically he was their hostage, but he was also pretending not to be in league with the killers.
2. The angry mob chasing them. So funny.
3. The witty banter between the Chief of Police and Vancha.
4. There was one whole chapter. Then at the end it said, just kidding. That was pretty brilliant.

Allies of the Night

This one was interesting. I never saw this coming! It was definitely a new area for this series: School!

Summary: Darren, along with Mr. Crepsley, Harkat, and Vancha, are in Mr. Crepsley's home city searching for the vampaneeze, but they sense a trap when a truant officer comes to find Darren. And it's blatantly a set up when he finds out his English teacher is his first girlfriend: Debbie from Book Three! Someone knows a lot about him, signing him up for school and faking official documents. But things won't end there. Enter Steve. Yes, the one who promised to devote his life to killing Darren and all Vampires. But is he really on Darren's side now?

Other: Sorry the summary is so long. The books are kind of intense at this point, and half of this set up is so i can work at my (non-existent) summary skills. I like detail. Sue me.

Favorite Parts:
1. When we find out who Hooky the Vampaneeze is. First of all, he's been newly blooded so he's stuck in contacts in a vain effort to look like a full vampaneeze. Finally, WHO he is. You'll never guess, and my lips are sealed! Think back to the earlier books though!
2. When Darren and Debbie first meet. I would have loved to be in that class and see my English teach jumping up and down with excitement when she say the new kid and running to embrace him.
3. The reveal when you find out if Steve is good or bad! I'm not telling though! It's a good scene. And I promise you it's one of two things: Scandalous if he's bad or touching and heart-breakingly with a dash of self-sacrificing if he's good. Did I give it away?

Hunters of the Dusk

This book takes place several years after The Vampire Prince. It was entertaining, and also, I was glad that they finally left Vampire Mountain. Not that I don't love VP, but there is only so many stories you can tell about one character in one place.

Summary: Mr. Tiny pays Vampire Mountain a visit. And he never brings good news. He says that if the Vampires are to win against the Vampaneeze then there must be three hunters who will have several opportunities in the coming year to face the Lord of the Vampaneeze. If they kill him before he is fully blooded they will survive. But they must follow their hearts and seek him out. Who are these fated three? Mr. Crepsley and Darren, of course (with the third for the them to meet on their quest). So off they head to seek the council of a Soothsayer, Evanna, then back off the Cirque du Freak!

Other: I love the Cirque. I wish they could have stayed their longer. Also, for Darren spending a lot of time in VM training, he's not very good at the whole fighting thing.

Favorite Parts:
1. Hearing Evanna's story. The story is long, but it boils down to this. Mr. Tiny created her (in the womb of a wolf) in order to be the one women who could bear a Vampire's child. Will this be important later? I hope so.
2. We learn how Mr. Crepsley got the distinctive scar on his face: He tried to kiss Evanna when he was young and didn't know better!
3. Darren, Mr. Crepsley and Harket fight vampets for the first time.

The Vampire Prince

I finally got a hold of this book! And I was happy I did! I read this and the next three cirque du freak books in about two days. They were good. Really good. I just checked number ten out of the library (have to save my money for textbooks). They really flow like one long book, although, each does have an individual plot as well, they don't really stand alone like the first few could. But that's been going on since book four.

Summary: Darren has miraculously survived the river which has taken him out of Vampire Mountain. After being nursed back to health by a pack of wolves (including Streak and Rudi, aww!), Darren must use all his wits to get back to Vampire Mountain and tell the princes of the vampaneeze hiding in caves below before they kill him for being a traitor. Then he must help the vampire's beat the vampaneeze!

Other: The books have pretty good moral dilemmas. There hasn't been a really strong one since book two, the strongest one being book one. Book six brings back the moral gray area so true to life that I love about this series.

Favorite parts:
1. The wolves refuse to let Darren collapse and nip at his naked butt to keep him moving to shelter and warmth.
2. When Mr. Crepsley cries (which NEVER happens), it broke my heart.
3. The very end when the vampire princes solve the problem of Darren failing the trials by..... you thought I was going to tell you the end?

Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy

I loved the first one, I adore the second, I'm waiting on baited breathe just to hear the name of the third. You could say that I'm excited. This series is up there for Harry Potter with me (and I LOVE Harry potter).

Summary: Cammie Morgan says she's over Josh, says she's through risking everything just for a simple boy, but deep down she's not sure. Then the unexpected happens: The Gallagher Academy is going to host several BOYS for a school similar to their own. But somethings not quite right. And even though she promised the CIA, her mother/headmistress, and herself that she was going to be a good girl this semester, she and her roommates are back to their old tricks again.

Other: This series is so imaginative. I think I would enjoy this book if it didn't even have a plot, if it was just the every day happenings of a girl at spy school. There details are amazing and intriguing. Also, I like the mystery of her father's disappearance (even though it makes me cry almost every time it is brought up). It is a good plot line to twist through the entire series. Also, the boys school has many mysteries that have not yet been satisfactorily dealt with.

Favorite Parts:
1. Cammie gets out spied by a cute boy!
2. Cammie's bra unsnaps and she has to flee the ball.
3. Cammie sees Dee Dee and Josh together.
4. Cammie and Zach's first kiss, maybe?
5. Cammie and Zach's study date.

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I disliked the ending where it was all just a test. Again? Really? Other than that, fantastic! Or "Excellent" as Dr. Steve would say.

Girls on Film

The sequel to the A-list was not a disappointment. This is turning out to be quite a good series, but at ten dollars a pop I need to get me a library membership or these will be few and far between. I'd rather own the books, but at the same time, I'd also rather afford food.

Summary: Anna is now an official resident of the 90210 and has enrolled in school. But things are anything but normal. She has to make a film about the Great Gatsby (go figure, since these books explore the same ideas) with Sam! But is Sam in love with her? And as if that weren't enough to worry about, her sister is out of rehab (early, I might add) and in California. Can Anna keep her sister sober, survive high school, and not leave a trail of broken hearts behind her?

Other: I can't decide whether the Gatsby references were cool, or over the top. Read it and let me know what you think?

Favorite Parts:
1. Ben and Anna have a huge confrontation in front of everyone Anna knows and it's caught on FILM.
2. Sam watches the film of number one and instead of checking out Ben, she can't take her eyes off Anna.
3. Anna is at a prestigious party for her new internship, but how is she going to keep it when both the person she's been assigned to escort AND her sister are too drunk for words?
4. The very end, but I'll never tell what that is!

Away Laughing On A Fast Camel

This one goes back to the first one and is much more similar to it than the others because there are lots of boys and lots of uncertainty and lots of drama and this is what I love about the series in the first place.

Summary: Robbie has gone off to Kiwi-a-go-go-land and Georgia will never love again. Even though Mark Big Gob thinks she's one of those girls (a tease), she keeps kissing Dave the Laugh (who she's just friends with), and the new lead singer for the Stiff Dylans is totally smoking. One little date won't hurt.

Other: I love Georgia chasing around an older boy while not really knowing what is going on with the younger guys. She's just confused and funny and willing to make a fool out of herself having fun. It's the reason that when I read the first book, I said, "I can't wait to read the next one."

Favorite Parts:
1. Georgia tells Dave the Laugh that Mark called her one of those girls when she wouldn't let him get to second base, so Dave the Laugh finds him, punches him in the face, and makes him apologize to Georgia.
2. Georgia sneaks in to watch the Stiff Dylans practice.
3. Georgia uses too much glue for her fake eyelashes (aka-boy entrancers) and ends up gluing her eyes shut while she's talking to the smoking front man of the Stiff Dylans.
4. Georgia's dad says she can't have one of Naomi's kittens, so Georgia tells her sister Libby to ask her mom, and Libby terrorizes her mom until she gets a kitten.
5. And every other even in the whole book.

Dancing in my Nuddy-Pants

This novel was definitely not a disappointment. It was the perfect book to relax to after a rough week of exams (okay, I should have updated this way before Christmas, let alone New Years). It was fun and funny and apparently they're making a movie about it. I'll need to find out more.

Summary: Georgia is done with her red-botomosity and is through allowing herself to kiss Dave the Laugh. She's going to stick with Robbie. However, that would be easier if Robbie was around more. And when he is around, he acts very strange. He's started writing songs about the environment, and sold his hot car for a bike. Georgia's planning on being the rich girl friend of a famous musician, so hopefully he'll start paying more attention to the band and less to her father talking about Kiwi-a-go-go-land.

Other: Georgia gets a bra! Finally!

Favorite moments: As always there are many because Georgia is a ridiculous girl after my own ridiculous heart.
1. Georgia gets stuck in detention and has to volunteer at the school Panto. Trying to help Wet Lindsey into her tights, Georgia knocks her into the tampon dispenser.
2. For Christmas Georgia gives Robbie an identity bracelet with her name on it, because he already knows his own. Talk about marking your own territory.
3. Naomi has little baby Anguses. Go Angus!
4. Georgia finally goes straight and grows a backbone. She stands up to the Bummer Twins by turning them into Slim after they get Nauseating P. Green expelled because they forced her to shoplift for them. (She got caught because she put seven winter coats on underneath her own and tried to walk out. Then she got stuck in the revolving door.)