The School for Dangerous Girls by Eliot Schrefer

"She blamed me. And now, I was going to get punished."

My Rating: 10/10

Publisher: Scholastic
Publication: January 2009
ISBN: 978-0-545-03528-6
Page Count: 341
Age Range: Children - Young Adult

Angela Cardenas isn't your typical teenager who just get in some troubles in her life. Her whole life basically defines trouble.

The School for Dangerous Girls by Eliot Schrefer is about Hidden Oak Academy for Dangerous Girls. Schrefer gives the glimpses of events that lead Angela to be enrolled in Hidden Oak.

All the Hidden Oak Academy girls did something bad enough for their parents/guardians to give consent to Hidden Oak's staff to do, well, anything to discipline them.

There's Dr. Zsilinska, Angela's counselor who just listens and talk in a circle. There's Juin, who has been to Hidden Oak and know all these things before.

There's Hidden Oak; the school that imprison its girls within.

In Hidden Oak's orientation, the counselors would make the girls fight among themselves to show their true colors. Then they judge whether each girl belongs to the Golden or the Purple thread.

The less dangerous you are--say, probably an emotional breakdown that made your parents think you're crazy--the more likely you'll be in Golden thread.

Angela was probably one of the most innocent, isn't she? But her motto in her whole life has been to stay as dangerous as possible. This book is about survival of the fittest in Hidden Oak; the hell of teenage crimes, and the teenager's solution to societal expectations.

What I love about this book: It was really about survival. The mystery in the beginning definitely build up the story and made you just want to read further and further. It was set in a good pace, and although it was a middle grade book (not too easy, not too hard--vocab wise) it was still thrilling. I love it.

What I dislike: The ending wasn't..exactly proper. I was hoping for...more about the Hidden Oak's fate at the end (you'll know what I mean when you read the book--since I'm not gonna spoil it for you...). I wouldn't mind reading another 50-100 pages about the ending, because it was just such an interesting book.

Eliot Schrefer's The School for Dangerous Girls Official Page

Life, After by Sarah Darer Littman

"'Open mouth and insert foot. That's a Brian Harrison specialty.'
I had no idea what he was talking about, and my confusion obviously showed on my face.
'It's an expression. To put your foot in your mouth means to say something stupid and tactless that you shouldn't have said. You know, that offends the other person.'"

Publisher: Scholastic
Publication: July 1st 2010
ISBN: 978-0-545-15144-3
Ages/Grades: 12-18/7-12

Before I read Life, After, I thought it was going to be sad and filled with emotions. Now that I've finished it, it was funny and more than just life-changing sad. It was crying-sad and I-can-relate-to-some-of-this-sad.

In Life, After, the main character, Daniela Bensimon is from Argentina. July 18, 1994 was the AMIA bombing in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Because of it, Dani lost her aunt Sara.

Her father, was nice and kind. Her father was gentle and caring--not short tempered and fussy about every little thing and impatient. Dani loved and liked him very much. But these days, it's a bit hard to, really.

Sarita, Dani's little sister, doesn't understand that the crisis is changing her father's life. Or her mother. Or Dani's. She was innocent--and curious. She asks a lot of questions, and asks them bluntly.

Dani lost Gaby, her best friend, who moved to Israel because of the crisis. But Dani still have Roberto, her novio (boyfriend in Spanish). But her novio had to move, too. To Miami in America.

After not being able to pay for electricity and a crazy protest-scene in front of the hospital (where Dani's mom works), Dani's dad finally gave in to move to America. But no, not Miami. New York, where Dani's uncle, Jacobo, lives.

In America, the high school is huge. The hallways are mean. First day, right off the start Dani was found wearing another girl's shirt from charity. They kept picking on her, although Dani made a friend with the girl's brother.

But Dani had her personal GPS--Brian Harrison. Who she can't help but think about even though her novio is still Roberto. Roberto, Roberto, Roberto. Whom she misses so much but when in contact with, couldn't speak much to.

Dani is changing. So is Sarita. Will her dad change? Will he try to live normally again? Will Roberto's feelings change?

What I love about the book: I didn't come from America (I came from Indonesia to America in 2007) and I struggled with the idioms, too. Or maybe just the expressions and slang, really. So I definitely relate to that, and this book was just hilarious. I would love to reread this book again and again. Also, Dani's not exaggerating. She's frustrated, but she keeps it under control, until (of course, just like any other teens) her parents doesn't listen anymore.

What I dislike about the book: To be honest, I was a bit disappointed about the ending--but that's just because I don't like the hanging ending. And to be honest, that's because I wanted more of Sarita's blunt remark and also Dani and Brian's hilarious relationship.

:D

This is a very amazing book--Never judge a book by its cover, it's really good!! Highly recommended!

Sarah Darer Littman's Official Life, After web page

Deep Down Popular by Phoebe Stone

"Conrad is the only boy on the face of the earth who can wear a pink T-shirt and carry it off. Doesn't bother him in the least. Doesn't even faze him. You know what that is? That's deep down popular."

My Rating: 7/10

Publisher: Scholastic
Publication: March 2008
Pages: 280
Ages: 9 and up

Jessie Lou is a 6th graders and she always has a special interest for Conrad Parker Smith.

Conrad is popular, Conrad is smart and is very likable by everyone.

Then something went wrong with Conrad's leg and he was out from school for a long time.

The popular kids stopped calling him gradually, and Conrad's popularity went down. And one day he came back to school with a cast on his leg, sealing the deal of his lost popularity.

He used to be the kids that was up in the lunch line first, now he's one of the kids that stayed behind in class and waited patiently. All because of his leg.

Then one day Jessie Lou was assigned by the teacher (who's oblivious of the fact that nobody really cares for Conrad anymore) to help Conrad take his bicycle home.

Jessie Lou wishes that Conrad's cast will never be taken off, so that she can stay with him even for a little while. Deep Down Popular is about understanding things more than what's shown, about seeing what's best.

What I like about this book: That it was entertaining, especially the bits about Jessie Lou's thoughts about Conrad.

What I dislike about this book: Even though this was written in Jessie Lou's perspective, it feels awkward that she really describes her surrounding without really putting her own thoughts so much in it. It feels awkward--which is different--hence, a little dislike.

Phoebe Stone's Official Deep Down Popular Page

Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

"I never knew there were so many different ways to say good-bye."

My Rating: 10/10

In Shiver, it was Sam's fight to stay human and Grace's fear for losing him. In Linger, it was Grace's turn to suffer the fever and her biggest fear--losing Sam--and Sam's turn to slowly break.

In Linger, the sequel to Shiver, Stiefvater wrote another beautiful novel. It's one of the books that's very hard to review, because there's just so much that can't be expressed with words.

Sam was staying human, the meningitis worked. But Grace was constantly feverish, drowsy and sick. Grace thought she was dying. Sam wasn't prepared for the worst case scenario.

There's the new wolf; Cole. Cole wanted to be a wolf. He's mysterious and playful, Isabel and him are both broken. They are drawn to each other in a strange yet familiar way.

Grace knew what was coming. She could feel the wolf in her. She wasn't telling Sam--it would break both of them. Besides, Sam was occupied by Cole. Cole and Isabel's father; a wolf-shooting maniac.

Plus, Grace's parents just suddenly had taken interest in her. After all the time they've left Grace to cook dinner without a suspicion. Just because of Sam.

Sam. Samuel Roth. The only one that Grace truly need.


What I like about the book: Sam's usual romantic mood--to the extent that it's a bit emo-ish, but it's still beautiful. If emo is bad, Sam makes it beautiful. Grace's response and her bluntness in Linger is also what I love.

What I dislike: The ending. But that's only cause I know I'm craving for more. The ending. The climax. If Sam got his wish or not. If Grace could stay.

Maggie Stiefvater's Linger Website.

Thanks again, Scholastic. I look forward to reading Forever, the final book of the series.

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

"...And me, holding this moment that was as fragile as a bird in my hands."

My Rating: 10/10

I've always wanted to read this--not because of I seem to be getting into the "forbidden love" kind of stories, but simply because of the cover and the simple title "shiver."

I read it today, and I finished. In the beginning, it was..well, introduction. Prologue. Whatever you call it. But you read more and more of the pages, and it's becoming a story you know. The deeper you're in the story, the more you're touched by it.

It's pure love, not lust, no made-up drama. I understand that this is still fiction, but just like other fairy tales, this is one of the tales that would make the reader crave for the knight in shining armor; Sam Roth.

Sam is a werewolf, and for 6 years he has been watching over Grace. Wanting to be with her, wanting to be close. But also afraid that Grace will be scared of her.

Sam never knew that Grace felt the same. How she looks forward to winter, because only in winter her yellow-eyed wolf comes close to her view.

Then this year they meet. Finally. Neither Sam or Grace wants to let go, although they know that it won't last. They plunge themselves into their love, and they're far too deep in love with each other.

The only question is how to hold on to such fragile moments when any minute, it would all be taken away...

What I LOVE MOST about the book: The characters!! How romantic Sam was and how Grace is so unpredictable sometimes. How this book was written so beautifully and..and how it was just so full of pure love. It's rare to have a book that's filled with so many emotions that it would evoke this tender feeling to linger inside of your chest.

What I dislike about the book: Nothing! This is definitely my favorite book of all-time, now!

Thank you, Scholastic and Maggie Stiefvater (for sending the book for me, along with Linger, which I'll read right after I post this review..)

Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver Webpage.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

"May the odds be ever in your favor!"

My Rating: 10/10

Believe me; The Hunger Games is DEFINITELY one of the best book ever written. It's sophisticated and eloquently written, fast-paced and filled with energy. You wouldn't be able to put it down!

District 12 is where Katniss Everdeen lives and it's controlled by everyone in the Capitol. With her father being buried in a mine explosion, her family is down to a depressed mother and an innocent little sister, Prim. She has to survive for her little sister. She can.

So Katniss goes to the woods, where it is forbidden and dangerous, but the ones who knows the way can hunt. She used to do that with her deceased father. Now she's all alone.

Then she met Gale, her skillful hunting partner. Life is bearable for the two of them hunt, fish and set snares around. They also trade with the baker and the people around District 12.

Then come the Hunger Games. 12 girl tributes + 12 boy tributes comes from all 12 districts to fight for media purposes, to show the game of survival as a reminder of how harsh the Rebellion was. Everyone's names are all put in to a box, just like a raffle system. People who worked and signed up for the tesserae (a food-help-system from the Capitol) longer has more slips of paper than everyone else.

Prim, Katniss' little sister, had never signed up for the tesserae, for Katniss really tries to prevent her to be taken as the girl tribute to the game. Prim only has 1 slip of paper.

Prim's name was called out.

Katniss volunteered. Nobody sane would have done that, really. Because winning this raffle is like getting your automatic ticket to death (if you're in District 12). The boy tribute turned out to be Peeta Meelark, who was the boy who saved Katniss and her family at their verge of deaths.

Can Katniss win the game? Will the odds be ever in her favor to come home safely to see Gale, Prim and her mother?

What I like about this book: WOW. I read it in one day. I even finished the second book right away. The character--Katniss Everdeen is stunning. She's strong but she's vulnerable. She is sarcastic and witty, and she is impulsive. Katniss is also charming. Of course, what I really like was the Hunger Games concept!! Amazing, Suzanne Collins!!!

I even like the Capitol, the antagonist. How this book has opened my eyes about the imperfect government system is fascinating. :D

What I dislike about the book: Nothing. I highly recommend this book to read!

Suzanne Collins' official website

P.S: Thanks Scholastic for the copy of this great book!

P.P.S:WAIT FOR MOCKINGJAY (the final book in the trilogy) TO BE AVAILABLE IN STORES!!!

Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan

"Our baboon was going completely sky goddess--which is to say, nuts."

My Rating: 10/10

Riordan's fun narrating and free characters is definitely shown in The Red Pyramid!

When this book came out I was psyched (because I've read the whole Percy Jackson and the Olympians series and loved it). But the one crazy thing that even still made me smile after 42 days on which the event occurred was that I MET RICK RIORDAN!!! (got his autograph with my name on it too! :D :D XD XD)

Woo-hoo!

Okay, now I shall get back to the review. LOL.

Like his previous books, Rick Riordan chose to base this whole book off mythology, this time Egyptian.

Now, I knew a lot about Greek mythology already before I read Percy Jackson but compared to Egyptian mythology, I might as well think it's a whole new language. So when I got this book in my hands, I was, well, again; psyched.

Sadie and Carter Kane are brother and sister. They lived separately; Carter always pack his bags and go from one museum to another, accompanying his father Julius Kane while Sadie live the normal teenager life in London.

Then one day Julius Kane blew up...well..a Rosetta Stone. A figure of all 5 gods combined appeared and took Julius and disappeared. Soon Sadie and Carter are dragged into life-threatening, full-of-dangers roller coaster ride.

Fun??? Sadie loves it; after all, she's the one who gets to "Ha-di!" everything. (Ha-di = a zap of Egyptian magic; "to destroy")

With Carter's endless knowledge of the Egyptian mythology, Sadie's Ha-di and their Shabti Doughboy, one mission is out; Stop Set.


Kane Chronicles Website

:D