Destiny's Path

Destiny's Path

Jones, Frewin

Fantasy

4 out 10

no disclaimers

Destiny's Path  is the sequel to The Warrior Princess.  Branwen is a young girl who  is forced out of her home because of enemy attacks by the Saxons.  She  is a princess, but after her brother and father die she has to fight  for her home.  She has a great destiny given to her by the Shining Ones, and if she does not fulfill her destiny her whole country will be destroyed by the Saxons.  As she travels to find her destiny she meets a few friends and all of them together are working to defeat the Saxons and regain the peace in their land. 

In this book Branwen always wanted to become a great warrior , and to help save her country from the viscous attacks that the Saxons armies are causing.  She was told by everyone that she needed to do her duty by getting married to a stranger.  They would not let her become what she wanted.  This is the exact same thing that happens to people all the time in reality.  One point that the author was trying to get across is that we all need to dream big, and shoot for our dreams.  If we always become what everyone tells us to be, then  we will never really be very happy.  Do not let other people take away your dreams.

Destiny's Path is written in third person, and the main character is a sixteen year old girl named Branwen.  She takes you on a whirlwind adventure of fighting wild and ferocious Saxons, falling in love, creating new friendships, and chasing dreams.  Branwen is a strong, loyal, and kind girl who grows to become a warrior princess, and helps save her land form the evil Saxons.  There is action and fighting from cover to cover.

This book is intended for anyone from junior high to adults.  It is a quick easy read that will keep you entertained from front to back.  People of all ages could enjoy this book.    It is a fantasy book, so if you do not enjoy reading about magical gods and other weird stuff like that you might not enjoy this book .  I think that both boys and girls would enjoy this book because there is a tons of action and fighting, but there is also a love story going on in this book.  If you like Greek Mythology, you might like this book.

"A fast-paced plot that will keep readers turning pages."         ~ALA Booklist

"A forthright and smart heroine.  Readers will be anxiously awaiting the next installment,"                        ~VOYA 

                                       

~The Host~

The Host
Meyer, Stephenie
Science Fiction
8 out of 10
no disclaimers

The Host is set in the future, when our world has been taken over by aliens.  The aliens take over by inserting themselves into the human's brains.  Since they are worm-like creatures and cannot do much for themselves, they use the bodies of the humans to function.  By the time people begin to figure out what is happening to them, most of man kind has already been infected with these aliens.  But a small group of people have hidden in a large cavern in the desserts of Arizona.  When Melanie, a girl from Arizona who has been hiding in the desserts of Arizona for many years, is caught, she refuses to just be taken over.  Wanderer is the alien that is placed inside Melanie, and because Melanie refuses to disappear, they(Wanderer and Melanie) set off on a journey to find the people who are still hiding.

In this book people are fighting to save themselves from being trapped in their own body, it is awful what the aliens are doing.  But it turns out that not all of the aliens are bad, they are not trying to hurt the humans, they are just trying to survive.  Sometimes we can only see our side of the story, and how situations look in our perspective, but The Host shows us that sometimes in order to understand everything, you have to look at other  perspectives, and try to understand other people and where they are coming from.

The Host is written in first person, the narrator is Wanderer, the alien that was implanted into Melanie's body.  In this book you are thrown into a world where aliens have taken over peoples bodies, and a small group of people  who refuse to die are fighting to stay alive.  You get to see how Melanie and Wanderer work together, despite their differences, to find the people they love, and somehow find happiness.  While reading this book you are faced with the question, "Who deserves to live, and who deserves to die, the girl who's body was taken from her, or the girl who was thrown into a strange body, on a strange planet?".

This book is intended for high school age and up.  Although I think the author mostly intended for adults to read it, I think that many teenagers, would enjoy this book.  I think that girls would mostly like this book, because it is a romance, but I think that there is enough action and alien invasions that some boys might enjoy reading this book too.  Also, this is a VERY long book, it is 619 pages to be exact, and at times it can be a little slow, so if you don't really like reading and get bored with reading long books you might not like this one.

I personally enjoyed this book, I thought it was really well written, and it made me think a lot.  It is such a unique book and story line, and I never could guess where the next page would take me, it is unpredictable in some ways, but I wasn't disappointed with the ending, like I thought I would be.  It also has romance, and I love romance!!

"A fantastic,inventive, thoughtful, and powerful, novel.  The Host will keep you reading into the wee hours of the night, and keep you thinking, deeply, hauntingly, well after the final word."
                                                                         ~Ridley Pearson, author of Killer Weekend


"A fascinating, passionate, and unique psychological thriller."
                                                         ~Katherine Neville, author of  The Eight

*Coffeehouse Angel*

Coffehouse Angel
Selfors, Suzanne
Young Adult, Fantasy
6 out of 10
no warnings


Katrina is a teenage girl who lives with her grandmother in their coffee shop.  Her parents died when she was three years old, so she doesn't remeber them very well.  When Katrina sees a homeless guys sleeping in the alley behind their shop, she decides to be kind and leave a cup of coffee and some pastries for him.  Little does she know that this single act of kindness will flip her whole world upside-down.  She lives in a little town called Nordby, that attracts lots of tourists.  Right next to her grandmother's coffeeshop is Java Heaven, a coffeeshop that recently moved in next to them, and because of it's more contemporary style, has stolen all but a few of their customers.  Meanwhile, she finds out that the myterious homeless guy is actually a guardian angel, and that he has to repay her good deed by giving her what she most desires.

This book reminds us that when we do a good deed we can change the lives of others, or even our own life.  When she left the coffeeand pastries for the man in the alley, she did not expect a reward.  But in return, although a lot of things had to go wrong before they went right, she found that her life unexpectedly changed for the better.

Coffeehouse Angel is written in first person, and is narrarated by Katrina.  She takes you on the journey of her life, while she is struggling to find her place in this world.  The author tries to help you see and understand what it would be likt to live in a little town, as a teenage girl who's life is tumbling down one step at a time, and how she searches for her role in life, and creates new unexpected friendships.

This book is definately a chick-flick, and is aimed at teenage girls.  It is probably aimed at junior high to high school level girls who love a good romance novel.  It is also a quick read, with a comfortable flowing plot line. If you love a romantic story with a sweet fairytale ending, then this book may very well be right up your alley.

"From the author of Saving Juliet comes a romantic comedy that is good to the last drop."
                                                                                                           -- goodreads.com

"COFFEEHOUSE ANGEL is a light-hearted tale of love and friendship. Suzanne Selfors uses wonderful language to describe the small town and its quirky inhabitants. The reader easily feels like one of the family and will want to organize a campaign to close the evil Java Heaven."
                                                                                                            --karinsbooknook.com



 

~The Thief~

The Thief
Turner, Megan Whalen
1996
7 out of 10
Young Adult, Fantasy
some swearing, and mild violence


The Theif  is the first book in a series of four books.  It begins in a land called Sounis, in the king's dungeon.  Gen is a cocky theif, who blatantly brags about the objects that he steels, and claims that he can steal ANYTHING.  Due to his bragging in a local wineshop, he eventually lands himself a spot in the King's dungeon after he steals the King's seal, a gold ring with a ruby engraved on it.  After sitting in the dungeon for a while, the king's scholar, called the Magus, freed Gen.  But, yes there is a catch, first Gen must steal a certain precious stone, called Hamaithes's Gift, for the King of Sounis.  Hamaithes's Gift, which is considered "unstealable", is located in a hidden temple in Attolia .  Many men have tried to steal this object, but none of them have survived.  It is a very dangerous journey, and the group that assists Gen is filled with lots of bickering and unrelentless fighting.  Along the journey you will find that things are not what they seem, and some people can never be trusted. 

Gen is a thief that has been in prison, he is considered very lowly, and people who consider themselves higher up on the totem pole than him (which is everybody) treat him awfully.  He is slapped, kicked, hit, tied up, and beaten with multiple different weapons.  He is considered the lowest of the low, and therefore he does not recieve even a little respect from anyone.  But, along the way, you start to realize that there is more to Gen than just a lowly thief.  You'll find that he is actually smart, and very good at what he does.  I think the author is trying to say that you shouldn't judge a person before you get to know them.  I know we hear that a lot, "Don't judge a book by it's cover.", but it is totally true.  If a poor, lowly thief, considered no more important than dirt, can be trusted by a king to steal the most valuable stone the world has ever known, then imagine what we can do with our lives.

This novel is written in first person, narrarated by Gen.  The author gives you a look into the life of a man who is ranked very low in his society and the journey he takes to steal a very precious stone, for the same king who has imprisoned him.  You are thrown into a world filled with many different gods and goddess, and you are able to see the interactions between man and the gods.

This book is a fantasy book, filled with fictional stories about many different gods and goddesses that were made up by the author.  I think this book is aimed towards teens, about the junior high to high school level, but I am comfident that many people of all ages will enjoy this book.  The author starts out slow but works her way into an unfamiliar world with strange characters and unusual circumstances.  Also, this book does not have one of those expected endings that is in almost every other books that we read.  They author slowly unravels more and more information throughout the book, but at the end she totally swipes your feet out from under you, takes you by suprise, grips your attention, and almost leaves you hanging, wanting more.

"A tanatlizing, suspenseful,exceptionally clever novel."-- The Horn Book

"To miss the thief's story would be a crime."--BCCB

Crossed

Crossed (2011)

Condie, Ally

Young Adult, Fiction

Rating: 5 out of 10

No warnings

Crossed is the sequel to the novel Matched.  Each chapter alternates from Ky to Cassia's point of view, so  you get to read both of their sides of the story.  The book starts out a few months after the ending of Matched, Ky has been taken away to the outer provinces, and Cassia was sent to a work camp for rebellious teenagers.  Ky has been sent to the outer provinces to fight the rebellion, and he wants to escape and find a way to get to Cassia.  Meanwhile, Cassia is trying to find a way to get out of the work camp so she can find Ky.  As you read Crossed you will follow Cassia and Ky fighting against their twisted society, and their desperate journey to find each other.

As Cassia and Ky fight against their society, they realize that their love is really strong, and the society, no matter how hard they try, cannot stop them from being with each other.

Crossed is an intense, action-packed novel, that gives you a sneak peak into the life of two teenagers living in a futuristic, yet corrupt society.  The author switches off between the two main characters, both narrarating in first person.  The author has a very poetic style of writing, and often refers to a certain poem by Alfred Tennyson, called Crossing the Bar.

Crossed is a Young Adult, futuristic fiction, novel.  It is a late junior high school level and up.  Crossed is very similar to the Hunger Games series, and also the Uglies series.  Those who enjoy reading about teens struggling against their corrupt societies, far into the future, will most likely enjoy this book.

I would recommend this book, although the prequel to this book was slow and on the verge of boring, I feel that the author kicked it up a notch and added action and suspense to the romantic and forbidden love story of Ky and Cassia.

"This futuristic fable of love and free will ask:  Can there be freedom without choice?  The tale of Cassia's journey from acceptance to rebellion will draw you in and leave you wanting more."

                                                                                ~ Cassandra Clare, New York Times bestselling author

"Love triangle+ struggle against the powers that be= perfect escape."

                                                                                           ~MTV.com

The Crucible Cast List

                  Reverend Samuel Parris ~ George Clooney

  

I chose George Clooney to be Reverend Parris because he looks like he could be reverend.  He looks like a man who nice and has children, but he could also be greedy and deceitful and maybe even a little bit prideful.  He has a beard that is graying from age and stress.  He is a very good actor, and I think he would be perfect for the part.





                        Tituba~Whoopie Goldberg

I think that Whoopie would be perfect for Tituba.  In the play Tituba is a little crazy, and she summons spirits, and stuff like that.  Whoopie is crazy, and she has so much personality, and I think that she would give Tituba a ton of personality!!!  Whoopie also looks like she could be a really great slave who sings and chants!  She just looks like Tituba.



                    Abigail Williams~ Megan Fox

I picked Megan Fox because she is young and beautiful.  In the book Abby is supposed to be gorgeous so I think Megan fits the part.  She is also a good actress, everything I have seen of hers has been pretty good.  She can seem sweet and innocent, but turn out to be totally different. Abby tries to kill John's wife, she threatens her friends, and she has no problem with falsely accusing people, I think Megan Fox would be perfect.

            Thomas Putnam~Matthew Mcconaughey

I chose Matthew for Thomas Putnam because Thomas is very wealthy and prideful.  Matthew comes across as prideful sometimes.  He is also seems cunning and dishonest in some of the other films he has done before. Thomas is a prideful landowner who thinks he can take whatever land he wants, he thinks he is higher than everyone else, and I think Matthew kind of acts like that too.








                    Mary Warren~Emma Watson

Mary Warren is one of the girls who accused people of being witches.  She wasn't the leader of the group, but, like Abby but she has a pretty big role in the book.  That is why I picked Emma, she seems like she is sweet and innocent but she had a part in accusing people. She seems like she could pull of being a young girl who works for a farmer and his wife, who helps accuse people of being witches and getting them killed.  She is also a really good actress.



              Goody Rebecca Nurse~Betty White

I chose Betty White because she is just a little old lady.  She is really sweet and considerate, but she can also be feisty, just like Rebecca Nurse.  She also make herself well known, just like Rebecca.  In the book Rebecca Nurse tells it like she sees it, she is very blunt, and so is Betty White.








                  John Proctor~Ian Somerhalder

In the book John Proctor is a poor humble farmer.  He isn't prideful like Reverend Parris and Thomas Putnam, but he fights for what he believes.  When I was reading the book I pictured him being young and handsome, that is why I picked Ian Somerhalder, he is handsome and he doesn't come across as prideful or dishonest.  He is also really strong, like John Proctor who is a farmer.

             Goody Elizabeth Proctor~Jessica Alba

Jessica Alba is really pretty and young, I pictured Elizabeth that way.  She is also really sweet, and I think that Jessica Alba is like that in most of the roles she plays.  She is also a great actress so I think Jessica Alba would do a great job.




                   Goody Ann Putnam~Kristen Bell

In the book Ann has lost seven children and her only daughter left alive is crazy, she is a very strong woman who has been through a lot.  Kristen Bell is a strong independent woman in all the movies she has been in.  She would be able to play the part well. 




                 Reverend John Hale~Johnny Depp

Johnny Depp is crazy.  He is always the craziest roles in the movies he is in, and he is really fun to watch.  Rev. Hale is kind of the expert on "demonic practices" and he is asked to come into their town to find out if there are any witches or devils, i pictured him like a crazy weirdo ghost hunter type.  That is why I think Johnny Depp would be perfect for Rev. Hale.

!!!My Meme!!!

5 things I was doing 10 years ago:
•I was living in Alabama.
• I was going to Pre-School.
•I was playing soccer and gymnastics.
•I was traveling to Florida, Georgia, and New Orleans, I went to Mardi Gras!!!
• I was playing with my best friend Dallin and my older sister Krissy.




5 things I was doing 5 years ago:
• I was going to Kermit Johnson Elementary in Alabama (5th grade)
• I was going boating, learning how to knee-board and wake-board!!!
• I was listening to Country music ( Rascal Flatts, Tim Mcgraw, Shania Twain, ect.)
• I was playing lots of soccer!!!
• I was traveling to Arizona,California, Florida, Tennessee, Mississippi, Utah, and lots of other places

                                                                               5 things I was doing 1 year ago:

• I was living in American Fork
• I was going on a cruise to Mexico
• I was playing volleyball for the High School.
• I was just barely getting my braces off!!!
• I was watching my team, the Greenbay Packers beat the Steelers in the super bowl!!!( i was born in Greenbay)


5 things I was doing yesterday:
• I was at the airport, welcoming home my cousin.  he was in New Zealand for two years!
• I was making a smoothie.
• I was watching the movie "127 hours".
• I was doing sit-ups!
• I was eating dinner at Cafe Rio!

5 snacks/treats I enjoy:
• Chocolate covered pretzels
• Celery
• Key lime pie
• Sliced fruit,especially pineapple!!!
• SMOOTHIES!!!!!

5 songs I think I know all the words to:
• Live like you were dying (Tim Mcgraw)
• When we all stand together (Nickelback)
• Bad Day (Daniel Powter)
• Second Chance (Shinedown)
• Someday (Matisyahu)

5 things I would do with $100 million:
• I would travel everywhere in the world!!!
• I would buy a ranch and horses!
• I would get snowmobiles, dirt bikes, 4-wheelers, and a brand new Malibu ski boat.
• I would give to Charity
• I would go to the Superbowl, the World Series, and the FIFA World Cup!!!

5 locations I would like to escape to:
• Salulito, Mexico
• Pinson, Alabama(where I'm from)
• New Zealand
• Phuket, Thailand
• Europe!!!

5 bad habits I have:
• I am addicted to Chocolate Milk
• I am a procrastinator!!!
• I get distracted easily
• I am VERY impatient...
• I always spend my money the second i get it.

5 things I like to do:
• I like to laugh til I cry...haha
• I like to go boating
• I like to spend time with my family, i love my cousins
• I like to travel, anywhere that isn't home is great!
• I like to WIN!!! (ya i am real competitive)

5 TV shows I like:
• CSI Miami,and New York
• Modern Family
• Cake Boss
• Pawn Stars (I like Chum-lee, he makes me laugh)
• Wipeout

                                                                                    5 biggest joys at the moment:
• My family and friends
• Sports, Snowboarding, Skiing, Wake-boarding...
• Hiking and doing anything active
• Laughing and telling stories with my cousins and friends
• Making smoothies and eating them!!!





I’m happiest when … it's summer time, and I don't have to worry about anything, and I can sleep in.

Someday I’m going to … finish a triathlon


When I’m really down, what I want to do is … watch a funny movie, then everything doesn't seem so bad. Or read a book, i am a book worm.


I feel anxious … when i don't eat anything


I like people who … are chill, and don't cause any drama, and they are funny

All it takes to make me happy is …  make me laugh and give me a smoothie

What I really want to do is … travel the world

I wish that …  I could speak Spanish fluently

I don’t like when people are … judgmental

A person really should ... just chill out, and lets things happen.

I just hate it that … children are starving to death in Africa, and we still waste food.


I just love it that ... Thanksgiving and Christmas are so close!!!