Category Archives: Fantasy

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May
04
2017

Upside-Down Magic, Sticks and Stones, By Sarah Mlynowski

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The book I read was Upside-Down Magic, Sticks & Stones by Sarah Mlynowski. The book takes place in modern times. The main characters are Bax and Nory. In the book, everybody has a magic power. You can only have one power and there are only a few different powers. Flyers can fly, fuzzies can speak to animals, fluxers can change into different animals and there are a few other magic powers that I forgot. Nory and Bax are fluxers. But there’s something wrong with their magic. Nory can make a mix of two animals and Bax can only flux into a rock (but once a leash but that’s a whole different story). That’s what you would call UDM, upside-down magic. But UDM isn’t just for fluxers. It can be for anybody. So the UDM kids take different classes than the normal kids. One day (going to the book) there were rocks all over the ground in Nory and Bax’s school. Everybody was tripping all over the place. And there’s also a pennies for potions jar to help hospitals get better potions. That day, there were no pennies in the jar even though the day before there were pennies in the jar. Everybody knew the pennies were turned into rocks. There was this one mean girl whose name was Lacey Clench who blamed the UDM kids for doing this so she made a petition to get rid of the UDM kids. Does the petition work out for Lacey Clench or not.

I’m going to describe Bax in three adjectives. He’s quiet. He gets tutored with Nory for fluxing but he says nothing so the tutor only pays attention to Nory. He’s mysterious. When everybody was trying to figure out who turned the pennies to stone, everybody glared at him because of his rock magic. He’s personal. He doesn’t share anything about what’s happening in his life or his feelings. Like when his dad told him that he (the dad) got fired, he (Bax) didn’t tell anybody.

An interesting part of the book is that people talk about other people even though they don’t know that that person is listening. Another interesting part is that the book gives all of the mystery away but you still can’t figure out what’s happening. Lacey Clench said, “If I get fifty signatures, the UDM kids get kicked out.” That means Lacey Clench is mean because if you’re a student, it doesn’t mean you can kick other students out of school.

I liked Upside-down magic. I liked it because it was mystery and I love mystery. The book is filled with mystery. Page by page, something mysterious has happened. There’s also a bunch of magic. That’s why the book is called Upside-Down Magic  It’s a mystery book because something bad happened and people need to find out who did the bad thing. The book for me is really unique, but if you read it, you’ll be able to make a connection with another book or with a movie. I rate this book four 1/2 out of five stars.

May
04
2017

A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning By Lemony Snicket

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WARNING THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS!

“A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning” is about the three Baudelaire children: Violet the eldest, Klaus the middle child and the baby Sunny. Their parents had died in a fire and they went to live with a horrible man, Count Olaf. Since the Baudelaire parents had a lot of money, Count Olaf wanted it but Violet hadn’t come of age yet and when she comes of age it will be hers. I think the time is about year 2007 because it seems modern but not as modern as 2017.

(DO NOT READ THIS IF YOU DO NOT LIKE SPOILERS)

I think that Violet is smart, inventive and protective. I think she is smart because she has read a lot of books and she likes to build machines. I think she is inventive because when her sister gets trapped she makes an contraption  that makes her go up and save her. She is protective because when anything happens to her siblings she always protects them in different ways.

The quote I think brought together the whole story was when Klaus said “you can’t marry my sister!”.  I thought that brought together the whole story because Count Olaf wanted to marry Violet so he could get hold of the Baudelaire’s fortune. I think an interesting part is when the banker, Mr.  Poe,  tells the kids that their parents died. Another interesting part is when Sunny bites Count Olaf’s finger.

I did enjoy this book because it is so unique. I would recommend this book if you like realistic fiction. This book only reminds me of the movie and the Netflix series A Series of Unfortunate Events. I would give this book five stars because it is amazing and it is not like any other book I have read before.  

 

      

 

May
04
2017

8 Class Pets + 1 squirrel / 1 Dog = Chaos by Vivian Vande Velde

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This book is called 8 Class Pets + 1 squirrel / 1 Dog =  Chaos. This book starts out right after summer break after school when the school yard squirrel named Twitch trips on the nose of the principal’s dog named Cuddles. Already the dog and the squirrel weren’t friends to begin with, so when the squirrel tripped on the dog’s nose the dog had enough then started chasing the squirrel into the school. Now the squirrel is running through the school trying to run away from the dog and get back to safety, and that’s when the school got locked up and was closing for the night. The squirrel then meets up with all the eight class pets and tries to defeat the dog and find a way out, and that was what started the 8 Class Pets + 1 squirrel / 1 Dog adventure.

If I had to give Twitch three adjectives that describe him they would be that he’s a teaser, he’s nice (but only to a few animals), and he’s self-centered. He’s a teaser because he annoys people by rubbing it in their faces (specifically the dog Cuddles) that he’s a squirrel and he can climb and he brags how good he is at climbing, and brags that the dog can’t climb. One reason Twitch brags in general to the dog is because he’s tied up to a metal leash so he can’t come after him (at least Twitch thinks) and secondly because he’s a dog and in general dogs can’t climb. He’s nice because he’s friendly with all the other animals, and and they help each other in the book. He’s self centered because he doesn’t think how other animals might feel if he teases them or brags to them and sometimes he doesn’t think before he does things and it makes other animals feel bad.

An important part about my book is in the beginning when Twitch  tripped on the dog’s nose in the playground. That’s an important part because if you take that part out you will be left with no plot and no story. Another important part is when Twitch runs into the first grade hamsters room and asks for help. That’s important because the hamster suggested to go to the second grade bunny who’s smart and could get him out and if the hamster didn’t suggest that to Twitch would have stayed in the first grade room he would have gotten caught! An important quote that I think describes twitch would be “Ha-ha.” That’s because he loves to tease and I think that describes how sometimes he in sensitive and doesn’t take in how other animals might feel if he teases too much.

I thought this was a pretty good book. I love how Vivian Vande Velde put a lot of chaos into it with animals all over the place. This book is also unique. I think it’s unique because It’s really cool how someone could think up a weird plot like that and come up with a story that starts off with a weird beginning then turns into a big adventure! If I were to rate this book between 1-5 stars I would rate it a 4 . That’s because I love how there were animals. In the book and It’s chaotic, but the only thing that I would change would be to make it longer because it’s only 68 pages!

Hope you liked reading!

 

May
01
2017

Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L’engle

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What were the three W’s going to do? Mrs. Who, Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Which. They are the wise women who have been living for millions of years. They also guided Calvin Meg and Charles Wallace (brother + sister except Calvin, just a friend) on possibly the greatest adventure through time and space ever.Image result for wrinkle in time

 

Meg and Charles Wallace’s dad was an amazing scientist but a year or so ago he was sent on a mission by the government. Meg Calvin and Charles Find the siblings father on a dangerous planet controlled by IT. IT is a giant pulsing brain having everyone under its pattern.

 

Believe it or not IT is not the  main problem or “villain”. It is a black thing that  is pure evil and has been terrorizing many galaxies for longer than the W’s have been alive.

 

They go through many adventures together and after a while they realize that they love each other. That is like their power.

 

If you want a spoiler read this if not, DON’T:

 

THEY FIND THEIR DAD!!!!!

I love this book because I love adventure. The book is basically just adventure. They toggle withe time, play with space. In fact they stretch through time with the 5th dimension.

 

I would give this book a 5/5 stars.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐.

May
01
2017

Spaced Out by Stuart Gibbs

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            After the incident of the book Space Case, Dashiell Gibson, has another case to crack. In the year 2041 (doesn’t say the day) Nina Rodriguez has gone missing. Dashiell Gibson has gotten in trouble for running away from a bully. He made the bully destroy the eggs which are very valuable because you don’t get fresh food everyday. Nina Rodriguez the base commander called Dashiell Gibson in her office. After their talk Dash walked away listening to her call an anonymous person.

              Dash is a very determined person because he first he found out who was the killer in the first book which is amazing by the way. He doesn’t lose hope because if he did they’ll be dead by now.

              Later that day they found out that Nina has gone missing, Chang, the 2nd in command, asked Dash some questions, “You were the last person seeing her did you see anything that will give us any info on where she went?” Chang said, “No she was calling this person who I did not know so I have no clue.” Dash said. Then they started searching the whole Moonbase Beta. It’s a fairly small place so they didn’t have to search that much.

They couldn’t find her at all, so the last place she would be was outside the base. But the thing is her suit wasn’t gone which was very suspicious. What they didn’t think of, but Dash did, is that she could have took another person’s suit is Lily. Some of the people of the moon base. Dash’s mom. Chang and some other people. But Dash was left behind with Kira. They talked to Lily and she said she cracked one of the space helmets while playing foot ball. He immediately contacted his mom and some other people that his mom’s helmet is cracked. So then they took a buggy and went there as fast as they could. But then a meteor shower came and giant balls of rock plummeted down from space. The buggy was destroyed so they had to walk there when they got there all the resources were destroyed. So they couldn’t patch them up so then all of them had to run back to the Moon-Base luckily they made it. Find out what happens next in the book spaced out!

 

I really like the book because it’s a murder mystery but it’s appropriate  

May
01
2017

Ahsoka by E.K. Johnston

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Ahsoka by E.K. Johnston is a Star Wars book that takes place a long time ago in a galaxy far far away. This book takes place in space, but mainly on two planets. This book tells the story of Ahsoka after The Clone Wars, before Rebels (both television shows). Ahsoka goes all over the galaxy and saves many lives and kills many people (Stormtroopers). Kaden is Ahsoka’s only friend and Ahsoka rescues Kaden.

 

I would describe the main character, Ahsoka, as angry and conflicted. Ahsoka is angry because of Barriss Offee and the clones’ betrayal. When Ahsoka thinks back on Barriss’ betrayal she seems angry. You can tell she is conflicted because whenever anybody calls her a Jedi Ahsoka replies, “I am not a Jedi anymore.” There seems to be a struggle inside of her trying to decide if she is a Jedi or not. Kaden is lucky, stubborn and kind. Kaden was lucky because she was rescued after being captured THREE times! She was stubborn when she disobeyed. Kaden was kind when she tried to sacrifice herself to save her friends.

 

One of the most interesting and important parts of the book is when Ahsoka builds her famous white light sabers. This is interesting because the way she does it is very, very intriguing. She uses them as weapons of protection. They are important because she uses them to save her life and the lives of others.

 

This book was amazing! It was nice to know what happened between Star Wars Rebels and Clone Wars. Ahsoka is one of my favorite characters in the Clone Wars series and it was really interesting to get a book from her perspective. If you enjoy this book, you might also enjoy some other books I know that are about the Clone Wars but from her perspective. This book is not as good if you don’t know a lot about Star Wars, so I would recommend watching The Clone Wars first. On a 1-5 star rating five stars.

 

Apr
19
2017

Return of the Padawan by Jeffrey Brown

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My book is called “Return of The Padawan” by Jeffrey Brown. It’s the second book in the series of Jedi Academy. The main character is Roan Novachez. She has two best friends named Pasha and Gaiana and her two enemies named Cronah and Cyrus who are probably Sith. This book takes place in the Star Wars universe before the Clone Wars.

Three adjectives that would describe Roan are hard working, force-sensitive and ambitious. She is hardworking because on page 64 it says,“I’ve been studying for star pilot simulator a lot, because I want to get the high score in class.” She is also force sensitive which means she can control stuff with her mind or hand, or befriend or hypnotize people or animals. Also, on pages nine and ten the book says she goes to Jedi Academy where force sensitive people go to train. She is ambitious because on page 64 it says, “I’ve been studying for star pilot simulator a lot, because I want to get the high score in class” (she really wants to be a pilot).

An important part of the book is when Roan throws a ball in dodgeball so hard that her best friend gets a black eye. This is important because it really changes the plot of the story and you don’t see it coming. Another important part of the the book is when Roan tears a page out of an important book that her friend’s father was studying. This is important because her last best friend stop liking her because he says he didn’t hear Roan apologize.
I loved the book mostly because it was about Star Wars. But, I also really enjoyed how it plays out with a lot of plot twisters. I would recommend this book to anybody who likes Star Wars. But also I would recommend it to people who like fast paced, plot twisting emotions. This book connects to all the Star Wars movies because they all live in the Star Wars universe. I would give this book five stars because I like Star Wars, and may the force be with you.             

Apr
19
2017

Foxheart By Claire Legrand

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Quicksilver grew up with a hard life. She was abandoned by her parents and grew up in an orphanage. She refused to go by her real name Anastazia and had no name, so everyone called her Pig Witch. Her only friend was a dog she named Fox. She was the big prankster.  One day a man came to the orphanage and got angry, he sent his seven wolves after the girls and revealed himself as the witch hunting wolf king. She fled with fox and found herself at a house of a kid and his ill parents. The kid called himself Sly Boots. Soon Pig Witch became Quicksilver, Best Thief In The Star lands. They made a deal,  he joined her in robbing and he let Quicksilver stay at his house.  On one of their lessons Fox found a stranger with magic Quicksilver just had to have. She went up to the stranger, and little did she know it was the start of a long adventure, in the past, to defeat the Wolf King. Will, Quicksilver, Fox, Sly Boots and the stranger succeed on their quest?

Quicksilver is a brave yet lonely girl. She grew up being teased with barely any friends and when she found true friends she brought them misfortune. She is brave since she was always ready for what came next no matter what the risks were.

I recommend this book to people who like adventure stories, with magic yet sacrifices too. I love it so much, the book really toys with your emotions. I give the book a five star rating.

 

Mar
17
2017

The City of Ember, by Jeanne DuPrau

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 This book is in the City of Ember series. It is about a boy named Doon Harrow, and a girl named Lina Mayfleet. They go on all sorts of adventures. They live in the City of Ember. It is always dark and there is a shortage of light. There is a system of pipes called the pipeworks that leads to the generator. They are very complicated. The generator is what powers the lightbulbs in Ember. Lina thinks that there is a City of Light somewhere and she sets out an adventure with Doon.

SPOILER ALERT

Lina Mayfleet is brave, determined, and smart. She is brave because she went on the adventure to find the City of Light. In the book, it says: “As far as anyone knew, the darkness did go on forever. Still, Lina wanted the other city to exist.” She is determined because she did not give up on the adventure. In the book, when Lina and Doon receive a secret message and they can’t entirely understand it, Lina keeps on trying to decipher the code. She is smart because she found her way through the pipeworks without

getting lost.  

Two interesting parts of the story were when Lina got the job of pipeworks helper and Doon really wanted that job. Then, Doon got the job of messenger and Lina wanted that job. Then they traded jobs. Also, it was interesting when Lina finds the secret message and she tries to decipher the code. This is interesting because it kept me on my heels and I was kind of nervous.

I really enjoyed this book because it is really mysterious and full of adventure. I really like suspense. I would recommend this book because if you like suspense, action, and challenging reads, this is going to be the book to read. This book has its own movie, and it (and the book) are very unique because there are not many books or movies that I know like this book.

I would give this book a four star rating because I’ve already read this book before I wrote this review, and nothing gets in their way for more than a few pages.

Mar
17
2017

Dream On, by Sarah Mlynowski

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Dream On is the 4th book of the series Whatever After. Dream On is about a girl, Abby. Her brother Jonah, and Abby’s friend Robin. Abby, Robin, and Jonah all get sucked into a mirror in Abby’s basement and go into a fairytale. The fairytale Abby, Jonah, and Robin get sucked into is Sleeping Beauty. Robin pricks her finger on the spindle like Sleeping Beauty and Abby and Jonah have to wake her up before it’s too late.

Abby is sweet, a little rude and caring. Abby is caring because when Robin pricked her finger on the spindle Abby didn’t want to leave her. Abby is a little rude because also when Robin pricked her finger on the spindle Abby grabbed Jonah and pulled him to the corner after she got over missing Robin. Abby is also sweet because Abby is always there for everyone when she needs them.

One of the most interesting parts of this book is when Abby, Robin, and Jonah get sucked into their magical mirror because not everyone has a magical mirror in their basement. Another interesting part is when Robin pricks her finger on the spindle because that’s what the whole book is about.

I didn’t really enjoy this book. I like this book because it’s about non magical people who get sucked into a  fairytale. I also don’t like this book because I don’t like fairytales and princesses I would recommend this book because if you like princesses and fairytales and love reading about Abby and her magical mirror. I wouldn’t  recommend this book if you don’t like princesses and fairytales. This book doesn’t really remind me of anything because I haven’t heard of a book where a girl, her friend, and her brother get sucked into a magic mirror in their basement. It is so unique because Abby is a character that is really unique and I haven’t heard of another character like her. She is so unique because she has a great personality sometimes she can be a little annoying, she’s brave, and she’s just different. I would rate this book a two out of five stars. I rate it a two because I did not really enjoy the book and I have read better books.