Ace and I are about to start Percy Jackson & the Olympians, The Lighting Thief. We both have been wanting to read it for awhile now, and we are so excited to finally start it.
~Eliz

Review: Charlie St. Cloud

Charlie St. Cloud by: Ben Sherwood
320 pgs.

Synopsis

In a snug New England fishing village, Charlie St. Cloud tends the lawns and monuments of an ancient cemetery where his younger brother, Sam, is buried. Graced with an extraordinary gift after surviving the car accident that claimed his brother's life, Charlie can see, talk to, and even play catch with Sam's spirit. Into this magical world comes Tess Carrol, a captivating woman training for a solo sailing trip around the globe. Fate steers her boat into a treacherous storm that propels her into Charlie's life. There Beautiful and uncommon connection leads to a race against time and a choice between death and life, between the past and the future, between holding on and letting go-and the discovery that miracles can happen if we simply open our hearts.

Opinion

I really enjoyed this book. Definitely made one of my top ten. It was very inspiring and it's amazing the connection that Charlie and Sam have. The ending wasn't really how I expected it to be be, but I liked the ending that it had. It was a very religious/spiritual book in Eliz and I's opinion. It had some very inspiring words and a few scriptures. There was also an Atheist in the book that started to rethink his relationship with God in the end. It was really touching and it really made you think... Charlie has to live with the thought that he killed his brother against a drunk driver that he could have dodged, his mom and all the rest of his family is several hours away. I know I would burst after a few months of that. It's also kind of a mystery, you never really knew what was going to happen next. It always surprised you. The book was kind of disturbing at the beginning, because of the whole crash, and had minor language throughout. There was also one part that Eliz and I skipped... it was a love scene. I'm not sure how explicit it got, but be aware. I think it was chapter 25. Ages 14+

Update

Eliz and I finished Charlie St. Cloud yesterday and we both loved it. It was very inspiring and kind of a sad movie. The outcome was different than what I expected but I loved the book and i can't wait for the movie to come out. Today we have also started The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, one of the Narnia books. The movie comes out in December but we wanted to read it soon. After that, we are going to start The Lightning Thief, which also is a movie, already out on DVD. We need some more suggestions for books into movies!! We were thinking maybe Eat, Pray, Love. But we aren't so sure yet. So please comment some more on this and give us some suggestions. We will be posting a review on Charlie St. Cloud soon!

-Ace

Review: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by: John Boyne
240 pgs.

Synopsis

Berlin 1942
When Bruno returns home from school one day, he discovers that his belongings are being packed in crates. His father has received a promotion and the family must move from their home to a new house far far away, where there is no one to play with and nothing to do. A tall fence running alongside stretches as far as the eye can see and cuts him off from the strange people he can see in the distance.
But Bruno longs to be an explorer and decides that there must be more to this desolate new place than meets the eye. While exploring his new environment, he meets another boy whose life and circumstances are very different to his own, and their meeting results in a friendship that has devastating consequences.

Opinion

I saw this movie before I read the book and I liked it. It was very depressing, but that's understandable. It's a movie about a boy meeting a Jew who lives in a concentration camp in 1942. When I found out that the movie was based on this novel, I was interested. I ended up getting the book for my birthday, so I picked it up and read it. I liked the book better than the movie. I thought that the book wasn't as depressing, because it was in Bruno's head, and you weren't seeing it for yourself in a movie. It was written very well. John Boyne is one of my new favorite authors. He created very a typical family who's dad was a commandent, and they had to move from place to place in order for him to keep his job. He created a tense relationship between Bruno and his sister Gretel, just like every other brother and sister. He just did a very good job with the book overall. There was some mild violence, as well as some extremely cruel and harsh punishments the soldiers gave to the slaves. There wasn't anything else that you wouldn't expect in a realistic fiction book about a concentration camp. Very good book! Ages 10+

Update

Eliz and I have decided that we are going to start Charlie St. Cloud tomorrow. We are going to finish it in 2 weeks and than are going to start on The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, one of the Narnia books. Some other books that we will read together in the future are The Lightning Thief, The Red Pyramid, and Children of the Lamp. We would love to hear your thoughts on any other books that you think we should read together. We will hopefully get some new reviews on here soon.

-Ace

Our Apologies

Eliz and I would like to apologize to all of the people out there reading our blog. Life is soooo time consuming. We have been extremely busy going on vacations and reading a lot and spending time with family and friends. We haven't posted anything on our blog in forever!! A little bit of an update - I have just finished Breaking Dawn, the fourth in the Twilight Saga. I have also finished The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. Eliz went to the bookstore and got a couple new books, and she recently finished the second and third in the Land of Elyon series. We have picked a book that we are going to read together in the middle of July. It is a novel by Ben Sherwood called Charlie St. Cloud. It will be out in the theatres July 30th. We will try and keep you guys updated as much as possible. Thank you for your patience!!!

-Ace

What's New

Hello, I just wanted to let you all know again that we have both finished Spells recently so hopefully there will be a review soon. I have also just finished the second in the Chronicles of Vladimir Tod series. It was very good and I have just started the third. Along with the third in that series, I am also reading the fifth in the Cirque Du Freak series. I'm kind of in a vampire-y mood(: I hope that your summer's are starting off well. I know mine is, I have pool, and games, and of course... READING! Our book that we are starting this month is The Last Song by: Nicholas Sparks. I personally have never read anything from him, but I hear he is an incredible writer. I can't wait to see some new reviews from people!
-Ace

Spells

We have just finished Spells. It was so good. We will be posting a blog soon.

Hi, Ace and I have just started Spells, the second in the wings series. I'm really enjoying it so far. I was wondering if any of you have read wings yet. If you have we would love to read you comments.

~Eliz

Personal Summer Reading!

I know that Eliz and I are doing a book club and we are reading a book a month. I also need some personal books to read over the summer because the book club won't hold me off=D. I already have:
-Maze Runner Trilogy
-Fablehaven
-Tantalize
-Chronicles of Vladimir Tod (I'm on the 3rd)
-Children of the Lamp Series
-The Chronicles of Narnia (I'm on the 3rd)
-The Kane Chronicles
-Percy Jackson & the Olympians
-The Last Song
-The Mortal Instruments
-Evernight Series (I'm on the 3rd)
-Wings Series (Waiting for next one)
-Morganville Vampire Series (I'm on the 3rd)
-Blue Bloods Series (Waiting for next one)
-Hunger Games Trilogy (Waiting for next one)

-Ace

Update

Just wanted to let you know that we are now reading Spells. We finished Wings and for the rest of this month we are going to read the sequel. We've heard that the book is a four book series and Wings was VERY good so we're interested. I am reading Secret Life of Bees and Hourglass, the 3rd in the Evernight series. So hopefully I will have some reviews on that in the next 2 weeks. I think Eliz is just reading Spells at the moment. I just got off the phone with her so... I can't wait to see some more reviews from Harry and Addy!
-Ace

Review: Wings

Wings by: Aprilynne Pike
294 pgs.

Synopsis

Home schooled Laurel begins public high school as a tenth grader when her adoptive parents move to LA., leaving behind the land that has been in her mother's family since the Gold Rush days. The many clues that Laurel is different (she is strictly vegan; sunlight seems to shine through her fair skin; she never gets cold; she craves the outdoors) culminate in a bump on her back growing to the size of a softball and blooming into a flower that has foot-long petals. Returning to her parents' land, she meets Tamani, a faerie to whom she is attracted, who tells her that she is not human, but rather is a plant or, more specifically, a faerie. David, her accepting and supportive classmate, tests her tissue and confirms that Tamani is right. When a creepy alleged realtor pressures the family to sell the land, the teens become suspicious, and they are soon fighting for their lives in a centuries-old battle between faeries and trolls. Laurel's struggles to figure out what it means to be human are matched by her struggles to determine what it means to be a faerie, and she is torn between love for David and love for Tamani.

Opinion

This was such a great book! It had me totally captured in faeries. This has a whole new look at faeries. In this book, faeries are actual plants. They don't bleed, they can hold their breath for over 15 minutes, a flower blooms out of their back (Laurel), they breathe in carbon dioxide and breathe out oxygen. It's amazing. The author is fantastic. It's also very interesting that she didn't make faeries enemies vampires or something, since they are so popular right now. She has me totally hooked for a series. Really need to check it out! Ages 12+

Update

Just a little update on what's going on. Eliz and I have finished Wings this week and we are very excited to start Spells. It was very good. I'm going to post a review after this. I am currently reading The Secret Life of Bees and will be posting something on that sometime soon. I'm very excited to buy the new book by Rick Riordan, The Red Pyramid. I really like his writing and this is a new series that he is starting and this is the first. I would also like to know if anybody has read the book The Forest of Hands & Teeth? It's a new series and I'm hoping to read it soon, but haven't had the chance to get a hold of it yet. We would love anybody's book suggestions too! One more thing... After we finish reading Spells, we are going to start The Last Song by: Nicholas Sparks. That will be our June Read It Before You See It book. We hope to hear more from Addy and Harry!
-Ace

Review: The Lovely Bones

The Lovely Bones by: Alice Sebold
372 pgs.

Synopsis

When we first meet 14-year-old Susie Salmon, she is already in heaven. This was before milk carton photos and public service announcements, she tells us; back in 1973, when Susie mysteriously disappeared, people still believed these things didn't happen. In the sweet, untroubled voice of a precocious teenage girl, Susie relates the awful events of her death and her own adjustment to the strange new place she finds herself. It looks a lot like her school playground, with the good kind of swing sets. With love, longing, and a growing understanding, Susie watches her family as they cope with their grief, her father embarks on a search for the killer, her sister undertakes a feat of amazing daring, her little brother builds a fort in her honor and begin the difficult process of healing. In the hands of a brilliant novelist, this story of seemingly unbearable tragedy is transformed into a suspenseful and touching story about family, memory, love, heaven, and living.

Opinion

I got this book for Christmas last year and didn't pick it up for a while. It looked a little weird to me. After a while I went ahead and tried it and I'm so glad that I did. This has everything in one. It gets you on the edge of your seat but is also a real soft, "loving" book. It's very good and really makes you think of what it would be like to lose you daughter (parents) and what it's like to see you parents reactions while you're in heaven (Susie). It had 2 different point of views, so that was interesting for me. It had a lot of mature content though. A few parts even I skipped. I also recommend the movie. After I read the novel I went to the movies and saw it with a few friends. It has NO inappropriate parts in it. They took out everything. Overall I think that the book was better though. Great book! Ages 15+

Some New Books

Hello everyone. Just wanted to tell you guys that I just got a few ARC books. The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May and June, The Dead Boys, Pegasus, and Threads and Flames. I will hopefully be finishing some of them soon and posting some reviews on them so you can go and buy them when they come out. Hope that some of you have picked up a copy of Wings and started it. We will be finishing it soon!
-Ace

Review: Savvy

Savvy by: Ingrid Law
368 pgs.

Synopsis

Mibs Beaumont is about to turn thirteen, which in the Beaumont family means her "savvy"-her special power-is about to strike. Her brothers' savvies let them create hurricanes and spark electricity, but Mibs has yet to learn what her savvy is. Then, two days before her birthday, her father is in a terrible car accident. He is sent to a hospital two hours from their isolated small town, and Mibs determines that she must get there, adamant that her savvy is going to help save him. She ends up on a traveling bible salesman's pink bus with all her siblings and the preacher's children, including the preacher's son, Will, who has a crush on her. The story chronicles the ups and downs of their journey to the hospital-where, in the end, Mibs' savvy (she can hear the thoughts and feelings of people with ink on their skin) helps her hear Poppa's tattoo speak and, ultimately, save his life.

Opinion

This books was pretty good. It was a little young for me, and a little slow moving, but pretty good. The love between Will Jr. and Mibs was very sweet and innocent. I really enjoyed the ending. It you like adventure books than this is the one for you. The whole book they are on a bus driving to the hospital to see their dad. They run in to many obstacles on the way. Mibs' savvy is also a very interesting savvy. Not the one that she wants but, a cool one. I would recommend this to anyone that wants a pretty quick read. Ages 8+

Review: The Host

The Host by: Stephenie Meyer
619 pgs.

Synopsis

Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. The earth has been invaded by a species that take over the minds of human hosts while leaving their bodies intact. Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, didn't expect to find its former tenant refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.

As Melanie fills Wanderer's thoughts with visions of Jared, a human who still lives in hiding, Wanderer begins to yearn for a man she's never met. Reluctant allies, Wanderer and Melanie set off to search for the man they both love.

Featuring one of the most unusual love triangles in literature,THE HOST is a riveting and unforgettable novel about the persistence of love and the essence of what it means to be human.

Opinion

This was an incredible book. I read it over the summer last year and finished it within a few days. In my opinion, it was better than the Twilight Saga. I guarantee that you will love the new characters and the action/suspense in this book. It keeps you off your seat. I definitely can't wait until the movie comes out. My favorite character was Doc, by far. Very courageous person. Reminded me a bit of Carlisle. If you are a Twilight fan, you may not like it as well. It takes about 100 pages to get into, but that's when the action begins. I recommend this book for all guys and girls. Ages 11+

Wings

We are on chapter 15 right now. We are planning to finish the book by the May 16 and then we are going to start reading the sequel Spells. Hopefully that will be exciting. We would love to have some comments on the book after this post. We also have the June book and July book picked out. Get a copy and read it! It's really amazing.
-Ace

We are at the half way point. We can't put it down! Already it's one of my favorites. Seriously, pick up this book and read it!
~Eliz

Hi, as Ace told you we have started a summer reading club, and would love for any book lovers to join. This club is for fun! And Ace and I would love for you to join!
~Eliz

Wings

Hello! Just wanted to let you know that our first book that we are doing for our Read It Before You See It summer book club is Wings by: Aprilynne Pike. The movie will be out sometime next year. The main character is Laurel and Miley Cyrus is playing her in the movie. Get a copy from your local library or bookstore and ask for our calendar with all of the dates!
-Ace