Midnight for Charlie Bone

This has been a series I have been interested in reading for some time now. I am a huge Harry Potter fan, and wanted something similar. I made myself wait to read this because I didn't want to be constantly comparing it to Harry Potter. No matter how good a book is, it will never stand up next to your favorite book.

Summary: Charlie Bone discovers that when he looks at a picture he can hear what happened as the picture was being taken. This ability lands him at Bloor's Academy, a school for art geniuses and children with magical abilities. As if Charlie hasn't found himself in a weird enough situation, he has suddenly been thrown in to a mystery involving a kidnapped child who he is determined to reunite with her Aunt, and last living relative. But the Bloor's are keeping a close eye on him and are determined that he won't succeed.

Other: The story is quite interesting, the characters are likable. I'm excited to read the next book (in fact, I'm picking it up at the library tomorrow). However, sometimes the story seems forced. Things happen the way they do in Interactive Fiction text-based games. For example, people give Charlie information for no reason, just because they feel he ought to know. Sometimes I wish the motivation behind every one's actions was more real.

Favorite Parts:
1. Charlie follows his Uncle.
2. Charlie finds out how his Uncle's date went.
3. Charlie explores the castle during detention.
4. Charlie's fight in the ruins.
5. Waking the kidnapped girl.

Grim Tuesday

I enjoyed the second book in this series immensely more than the first. I got through it quite quickly and am excited for the third. I picked it up at the bookstore yesterday, in fact.

Summary: Arthur has just taken control of the lower house and wants some time to himself, but after only a few hours after returning to his secondary realm, the special red phone rings. There are problems. The original Mister Monday had massive amounts of debt and Grim Tuesday wants to take control of the lower house in payment. But before Arther can figure out what to do the phone is cut off due to lack of funds! Arthur finds himself in another adventure that leads him into Grim Tuesdays territory and eventually a showdown with Grim Tuesday himself for control of Tuesday's domain!

Other: I like the names and the whole world that Nix has created. Nix creates amazing worlds for his books. I loved the seventh tower series when I was young.

Favorite Parts:
1. The phone is cut off due to lack of funds.
2. Arthur must pretend to be one of Grim Tuesday's indentured servants and creates allies.
3. Arthur finds the second part of the will and it's a right pain in the you know what.
4. The showdown between Arthur and Grim Tuesday.
5. Arthur must stop the nothing from erupting! Strange events indeed.

Love Is A Many Trousered Thing

Yes. In fact it is. This was by far my favorite in the series so far!

Summary: Georgia, having spent so much time chasing boys, does not know what to do when she must decide between Masimo, Robbie, and maybe even Dave the Laugh. She certainly can't ask Dave for advice. What is she to do?

Other: I'm am ridiculously pleased to announce that they have released information on the next book in this series. It is called Stop In the Name of Pants!, a title which I think is fabulous, and will be available on July 1, 2008.

Favorite Parts:
1. During a serious conversation with Masimo, Georgia sees Robbie and runs away from them both.
2. Georgia sneaks out of Jas's house.
3. Georgia and the girls go on a camping trip and the boys show up.
4. The very end! But I won't give it away. It involves a boy though.

Startle By His Fury Shorts

I read these all very quickly, because I got them out of the library so I could afford to read them all. I laughed for days as my poor roommates tried to sleep.

Summary: Georgia and the Ace Gang are being forced to participate in a production of MacBeth. The bright side? Dave the Laugh and the other boys are coming to help out! Georgia has her normal boy trouble, normal Rosie drama (which is out there! Like planning a viking wedding!), and could she be interested in Dave the Laugh?

Other: Dave the Laugh is my favorite character. Also, I'm excited to post something, but I'm gong to wait for my next post. So read carefully I'll probably make it red anyway.

Favorite Parts:
1. All the backstage scenes where Dave the Laugh replaces common words with Pants!
2. Georgia is startled by his furry shorts!
3. Georgia wears hot shoes that are several sizes to small. She ends up having to walk home in them, then falls asleep with them still on. They have to cut them off.

Then He Ate My Boy Entrancers

Number six in this series was one that I was quite excited to read because the last one ended with Georgia learning of a family vacation to the US! Seeing Georgia's take on the States, especially the south, was something I immensely looked forward to!

Summary: Georgia is off to Hamburger-a-go-go land with her family and Jas. Memphis to be more precise. But Georgia's plan is to hop a bus to Manhattan and find Masimo Scarlotti, the Italian Stallion and new front man for the Stiff Dylans. This proves harder that she originally thought, and she returns home having not seen Masimo. Now she is back to normal life where everyone is out to embarrass her. And could she be competing with Wet Lindsay for the affection of ANOTHER Stiff Dylans front man?

Other: I love Georgia! She's so funny. The story doesn't seem to progress much, it's more slice of life style, but as a character Georgia is funny and original and I could read about her life all day!

Favorite Parts:
1. Georgia tries to call every Scarlotti in Manhattan and ends up ordering food for delivery.
2. Libby sings her bum song and these two old American ladies teach her the American word for bum--fanny! This could end badly.
3. It ends badly. Libby incorporates the word fanny into her song and sings it to a police constable at Heathrow.
4. Georgia and Jas bring Bison horns back from America and incorporate it into their "Let's go down to the disco" dance.

The Phantom Tollbooth

The Phantom Tollbooth. What can be said in introduction? It is a classic. It is so full of lessons that you're practically gagging. Yet it is so entertaining, so endearing, that it automatically becomes a favorite.

Summary: Milo is bored and lazy. He is not interested in school or life or anything. His family is well off, he could do anything. He just doesn't feel the spark of life. Then one day a mysterious toy tollbooth appears in his room, and after setting it up he embarks on a journey through another land to free the princesses Rhyme and Reason. With his new friend, Tock (a watch dog!), he learns a lot about himself and life.

Other: This book has the potential to be cheesy and terrible. Often allegories are just ridiculous. However, this book is amazing and funny and one of my favorites for several years now.

Favorite Parts:
I'm not even going to write this. This book is genius and every chapter is new and amazing and surprising and funny. This list would end up just being a chapter list.

Mates, Dates, and Infateable Bras

Well, I've finished the latest book in the Confessions of Georgia Nicholson series. I'm dying for the next one, but luckily the librarian pointed out this series to me. It's for girls younger than Rennison's books and are much, much shorter.

Summary: Lucy's life isn't the way she wants it. She needs to figure out who she is for a school assignment and has no idea where to start. She does know that she is 14, but looks 12, that her friends can't go out and have fun because of it, and that her best friend might be replacing her. What's a girl to do?

Other: This book is not a carbon copy of Georgia Nicholson's diaries, however, it will appeal to similar people. Mates, Dates, and Inflatable bras is more of a novel rather than a diary, and the main character searches for discovery rather than just telling us her life and making us laugh.


Favorite Parts:
1. Lucy's dream guy is her new friends brother!
2. Lucy's friends give her an inflatable bra.
3. A real designer likes Lucy's clothing designs.