Wednesday, November 18, 2009

The Trouble with Mark Hopper

Synopsis: Mark Hopper is the smartest student in the sixth grade, and he knows it. When another Mark Hopper moves to town (the same age, with similar looks), Mark Hopper makes trouble for Mark Hopper. The Mark everyone knows isn’t very nice, so the other Mark finds no one will talk to him. The new Mark isn’t very brainy, so the other Mark worries that people will think he’s a dummy. When a teacher forces them to be study partners, they realize that they can benefit from one another’s strengths—and maybe win the Mastermind Challenge together. Trouble is, one of the Marks wants to win so badly that he’s willing to steal from Mark.


Review: This book's key market is for mainly middle school boys: with that said I am neither a boy or in middle school. So I'm going to try to give my opinion based with this in mind.

The storyline had a unique quality to it, maybe a bit unbelievable at times but it kept my interest. When you read this book you have to be paying attention, it's not one of those books you can quickly skim over.

You have to keep paying attention to little details, if you don't you won't know what Mark Hopper you're reading about. Yes, you heard me right There are two characters with identical monikers and physical characteristics, to the point each one has a sister sharing the same name. That's what made this book confusing and unbelievable, but it kept me on my toes, so to speak. The difference comes in their personality traits and this is what fuels the plot and drives the storyline.

The characters are a bit predictable at times but they're also well developed. I gave this book to my sister to read after I was finished and she agreed that the book was enjoyable also.

All around I would recommend this book to old 7th or 8th grade middle school student because of the journey each character takes.

I give it 3 stars.

Friday, November 6, 2009

The Eternal Kiss 13 Vampire Tales...




Synopsis: There’s an allure to vampire tales that have seduced readers for generations. From Bram Stoker to Stephanie Meyer and beyond, vampire stories are here to stay. For those fresh-blooded fans of paranormal romance or for those whose hunt and hunger never dies, these stories have what readers want! This collection of original tales comes from some of the hottest, most popular, and best-selling YA writers, including:


• Holly Black (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Tithe)


Libba Bray (A Great and Terrible Beauty)


• Melissa De La Cruz (Blue Blood)


• Cassandra Clare (City of Bones)


• Rachel Caine (Morganville Vampires)


• Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie (Wicked)


• Cecil Castellucci (Boy Proof, Queen of Cool)


• Kelley Armstrong (Women of Otherworld)


• Maria V. Snyder


• Sarah Rees Brennan


Lili St. Crow


• Karen Mahoney


• Dina James

They will make everyone a sucker for eternal kisses.




The Review: If you love the paranormal genre than you will love this book. This is a collection of short stories by several talented writers , including Melissa De La Cruz (Blue Bloods), Rachel Caine (Morganville Vampires), and Cassandra Clare (City of Bones).


Each individual story takes a different unique view into the dark world of vampires. I'm usually not a compilation type girl. But the lure of reading Rachel Cane's short story made me want to buy it. By buying it for one story it exposed me to other author's literary style in the supernatural genre.

I found myself going to the bookstore with a list of books I wouldn't normally purchase. Each individual story was like an appetizer that left me craving more.

If your like me, constantly searching for new and better authors to read I highly recommend this book, just beware the title says "story's of blood and desire" but there was no desire...just blood.