Vampirates: Demons of the Ocean by Justin Somper
This is the first of three (so far) books that mix vampires and pirates together and surprisingly they work pretty well together, not unlike a good fluffernutter sandwich. I know what you are thinking. How could peanut butter, bananas and marshmallow creme go well together? Dude. You just have to try it. And it is much the same with Vampirates. It has the swashbuckling adventure that we all know and love from those famous Johnny Depp pirate movies. It also has creepy gothic vampires who just happen to have an affinity for the seven seas.
Grace and Connor are the children of a reclusive lighthouse keeper. He sings them old sea chanties to calm them down before bedtime. The children’s favorite chanty is about Vampirates, a sea faring vampire clan that plunder, and pillage, but also feast, on human blood. Soon the kids grow into young adults and their father passes away. Left orphaned, they turn to the sea and take off on their father’s small yacht. Suddenly a storm comes from nowhere and they are cast into the sea. Grace is rescued by the mysterious Vampirates, while Connor is saved by a gang of pirates. It is up to Connor to learn the pirate trades of sword fighting and pillaging in order to rescue his sister from becoming a vampire’s dinner. And it is up to Grace to find the truth behind the Vampirates and their reason for sailing the ocean blue.
This book is suitable for all ages, and has strong male and female main characters. It would be a good read for anyone who likes adventure, vampires, historical fiction, and suspense. Justin Somper does a wonderful job of setting the stage for a series of books without being obvious about it. One warning, Demons of the Ocean has an abrupt end so make sure you have the second book on hand so you can pick up the story right away.
August 5th, 2008
Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
What would you do if a meteor hit the moon and caused an apocalyptic climate change that left billions dead and forced you to survive in the world with no modern conveniences, such as heat, running water, or refrigeration? And did I forget to mention that everyone is out to protect themselves and just may kill you for your can of beans? Or that disease has run rampant and your loved ones may not survive against an onslaught of West Nile virus, and the deadliest flu in a hundred years?
These are the situations that Miranda, the main character who just wanted to enjoy high school, has to face in Life As We Knew It. The novel is written in diary form by Miranda herself. In the beginning she is just enjoying being a teenager, school, and hanging with her friends and wrestling with her feelings about her divorced parents and how her step-mom is expecting a new baby in a few months. Miranda mentions off handedly that a meteor is expected to hit the moon and how everyone is excited to see it occur. After the meteor impact the moon changes (it’s tilted and looms larger in the sky) and so does Miranda’s life. Immediately the ocean tides rage out of control flooding the coastal regions of the world. Volcanoes spring up where none existed before. It could quite possibly be the end of humankind. Fortunately, Miranda’s mother has the foresight to stock up on supplies (food, water, winter clothing). Miranda’s family decide to hole up at their house at the edge of town instead of migrating south like a large majority of people. But with four people in the house and chaotic weather patterns will they have enough to make it through winter? And even if they do, will civilization be waiting there for them? Or will they truly be alone and just forestalling their own extinction?
If you can’t tell I really enjoyed this book. It took me a while to get into the diary format but once I did the story became a real page turner. There is a lot of suspense, and heartfelt drama as this family struggle with surviving and surviving each other. It reminded me a lot of Hollywood disaster movies but better, since this story has real characters and situations that anyone could relate to. The book is appropriate for all ages, but would especially appeal to girls or anyone who is into disaster yarns.
Life As We Knew It has a sequel, The Dead and the Gone, about a boy surviving the same event, but in New York. I really can’t wait to read it and it has a lot to live up to!
May 24th, 2008
The Babysitter by R.L. Stine
5 stars
The Babysitter by R.L. Stine This book is way better than any of the Goosebumps series that R.L.
Stine wrote. It is about a girl name Jenny has recently taken a babysitting job for the mysterious Hagens. There are some weird babysitter attacked going on in her town, but the chances are slim of the attacker targeting her right? Well, that what she thinks until she meets the shadowy next-door neighbor, and the phone calls start. I think this is the book for people who like suspense and mystery. It is very hard to predict the future in this book, so you never know what’s around the next corner.
May 7th, 2008
Eragon by Christopher Paolini
5 Stars
Eragon by Christopher Paolini is about a young boy named Eragon who lives in a world of danger, war, and rebellion. While out hunting, he finds a stone which happens to be a dragon egg. It hatches and he names the dragon Saphria, and the two team up with Brom the storyteller. They must join they rebellion to defeat the evil king with danger around every corner. This is a perfect book for anyone who likes suspense.
May 7th, 2008
This book deserves 4 stars.
It was good. It should have been longer. The ending wasn’t so good. The rest of the book was great. That’s why I rated it a four.
Reviewed by John O., age 11
March 7th, 2008
This book deserves 5 stars.
It left you wondering and i couldn’t put it down! I loved the plot and characters.
Reviewed by Tyler R., age 11
March 7th, 2008
I’m Not Who You Think I Am by Peg Kehret
This book deserves 4 stars.
It is a fast pace and a really good book. On this girl’s birthday a girl comes up to her and asked her some stuff. Then the girl gets all scared because she keeps on seeing her.
February 12th, 2008
