🍁 Friday Reviews Week 3: September 16th- 22nd, 2017 🍁
🍂 Book 1: The Memory of Things by Gae Polisner 🍂
Read September 16th-18th
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This is the story of a sixteen-year-old named Kyle Donohue, who on September 11th, 2001, watches from his high school the first twin towers come down. On his way home after the students are evacuated, he comes across a girl covered in ash wearing costume wings. He decides to take the girl home. Both of his parents are not there, his mother is in California with his younger sister and his father is part of the Joint Terrorist Task Force and is helping at the disaster. Kyle finds out that the girl does not remember who she is and he decides to try and help her. This is their story as they deal with the disaster happening around them.
First, I want to mention how incredible this novel was. It pulled on my heartstrings countless times and had me wondering what was going to happen next for this family. Kyle is a young man having to deal with a lot of stress and tragedy in a short amount of time in the novel. He does not know what is going to happen to his dad, his mother, sister, or himself. Gae Polisner does an incredible job creating this atmosphere that carries throughout the whole novel. I really related to Kyle even though I have never experienced something quite like this. Many of us can say where we were on September 11th. I was in second grade at the time and I have vague memories of it all. I could never imagine what it felt like to actually be there.
It was hard to read this book at times because of how heartbreaking it really was.
Another aspect of this book that I would like to talk about, is the style Polisner wrote in. This book is told in prose and also in verse. It was interesting to get the two different perspectives, Kyle's and the girl's, in such a way. This could get jarring though at times. I loved seeing this story in such a way and learning little bits and pieces from both of their lives.
Another aspect of this book that I would like to talk about, is the style Polisner wrote in. This book is told in prose and also in verse. It was interesting to get the two different perspectives, Kyle's and the girl's, in such a way. This could get jarring though at times. I loved seeing this story in such a way and learning little bits and pieces from both of their lives.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book as a whole. It was a hard-hitting story that touched me and I really felt for both of the characters. Their story is definitely one that I would recommend.
Also, the memory technique used in the book was really awesome. I wish I would have known about it when I was still in school myself. It would have come in handy. I still remember all ten of the items. This is one that I'll have to let students know about.
🍂 Book 2: Disney Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas: 🍂
Special Collector's Manga by Jun Asuka
Read September 19th
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This is a manga version of the 1993 movie The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Jack Skellington, the ruler of a Halloween centric world, called Halloween Town, comes across a door that leads him into a new world. A world that shows him the joys of Christmas, Christmas Town. Jack wants to replicate this world in his own world because he is becoming bored of the constant repetition. He has all of his citizens work together to create the holiday and this is when problems ensue.
I liked the overall premise of the story. When I was a child, I saw this movie but did not remember most of it when I read this book. I do remember that it creeped me out though. This was an interesting manga.
I love the Pumpkin King. Jack's innocence when he found out about Christmas and how he wanted to recreate the joyful feelings of it was enduring. The way he goes about accomplishing this is not the best idea but he just wanted to spread the Christmas feeling.
The artwork was nice to look at. It was reminiscent of the style of the movie, just in black and white. The style was nice but it loses some of the magic without the stop-motion animation and the music.
I'll have to watch the movie again to compare it to this. If you are interested in this manga I would pick it up. I don't feel that it would disappoint a fan of the movie.
This is definitely an interesting concept and I think that it would be cool to see the other doorways in the forest that Jack comes across. I would watch those movies. Let's have Jack go into another door and become obsessed with St. Patrick's Day or Easter.
Also, I'm going to be watching the movie this weekend and doing a review on that.
* I received a copy of this from Netgalley for an honest review. *
* I received a copy of this from Netgalley for an honest review. *
🍂 Book 3: The Curse of the Cheese Pyramid by Geronimo Stilton 🍂
Read September 21st, 2017
Release Date: October 19th, 2017
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I first read this book back when I was around eleven or twelve. This was when I was still in elementary school. I remember signing out many of the Geronimo Stilton books from the library that year and I adored them. I thought that Geronimo's job at the paper was cool and I was so interested in exploring the world someday.
Now this book is being re-released in October for a new generation.
I will say that yes, I am feeling nostalgic when I read this book. It was very cute and funny. I enjoyed the characters especially the ridiculous grandfather of Geronimo, who would give Scrooge a run for his money. Also, the mouse-related puns were adorably cute. I wanted to pick up this book for the nostalgia and I'm happy that I did.
This is a perfect book for middle-grade students. They will get a great story and also learn about ancient Egypt. I recommend it. I know that my younger self would be happy to know that there are still books coming out from this series.
*I received a copy of this from Netgalley for an honest review. *
Read September 21st, 2017
Release Date: October 19th, 2017
📚📚📚📚
I first read this book back when I was around eleven or twelve. This was when I was still in elementary school. I remember signing out many of the Geronimo Stilton books from the library that year and I adored them. I thought that Geronimo's job at the paper was cool and I was so interested in exploring the world someday.
Now this book is being re-released in October for a new generation.
I will say that yes, I am feeling nostalgic when I read this book. It was very cute and funny. I enjoyed the characters especially the ridiculous grandfather of Geronimo, who would give Scrooge a run for his money. Also, the mouse-related puns were adorably cute. I wanted to pick up this book for the nostalgia and I'm happy that I did.
This is a perfect book for middle-grade students. They will get a great story and also learn about ancient Egypt. I recommend it. I know that my younger self would be happy to know that there are still books coming out from this series.
*I received a copy of this from Netgalley for an honest review. *
🍂 Book 4: The Library of Souls by Richard Denney 🍂
Read September 22nd, 2017
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I first found Richard on Youtube about a year and a half ago. His Booktube channel interested me. I have always loved reading so many different genres and middle-grade novels are some of my favorites. Richard has been promoting his book on his channel throughout the year and I was excited to pick it up. I'm glad I did.
The main character of the novel is Simon Santiago, a thirteen-year-old boy who lost his parents in a train accident when he was nine. He is sent to live with his uncle Monty, who uses Simon. Simon can see and speak to the dead. So his uncle has created an agency, where Simon expells the ghosts and his uncle gets all of the credit. His uncle gets them a job at an old library that is known to be haunted. The library has had many people die throughout the years and Simon's job is to go in and get rid of the ghosts. Simon meets a young library assistant that helps him in his quest to help the library. Little does Simon know of the mysteries hiding in the library.
This was a quick read that I enjoyed reading. I don't think I have ever read a middle-grade novel that has spooked me before. There is one scene in this novel that creeped me out a bit, bathtubs anyone.
The pictures were also a great feature in this novel. I have read other books that have "creepy" pictures in them, but I feel like Richard utilized the pictures in an interesting way for the story. They are not just used here to get people to read this book. They are actually another aspect of the story and help tell it. I love that Richard created these pictures himself and that he showed how he did this on his Booktube channel.
Overall, I fully enjoyed this novel. It was a quick read that had me questioning what was going to happen next. I would have never expected that ending. Great storytelling. I will be picking up the second novel.
If you like a great mix of creepiness and a mystery pick this book up. I believe you'll enjoy it.
🍁 Happy Fall everyone. I hope you have a great weekend and have a great time reading. 🍁
📚📚📚📚📚
I first found Richard on Youtube about a year and a half ago. His Booktube channel interested me. I have always loved reading so many different genres and middle-grade novels are some of my favorites. Richard has been promoting his book on his channel throughout the year and I was excited to pick it up. I'm glad I did.
The main character of the novel is Simon Santiago, a thirteen-year-old boy who lost his parents in a train accident when he was nine. He is sent to live with his uncle Monty, who uses Simon. Simon can see and speak to the dead. So his uncle has created an agency, where Simon expells the ghosts and his uncle gets all of the credit. His uncle gets them a job at an old library that is known to be haunted. The library has had many people die throughout the years and Simon's job is to go in and get rid of the ghosts. Simon meets a young library assistant that helps him in his quest to help the library. Little does Simon know of the mysteries hiding in the library.
This was a quick read that I enjoyed reading. I don't think I have ever read a middle-grade novel that has spooked me before. There is one scene in this novel that creeped me out a bit, bathtubs anyone.
The pictures were also a great feature in this novel. I have read other books that have "creepy" pictures in them, but I feel like Richard utilized the pictures in an interesting way for the story. They are not just used here to get people to read this book. They are actually another aspect of the story and help tell it. I love that Richard created these pictures himself and that he showed how he did this on his Booktube channel.
Overall, I fully enjoyed this novel. It was a quick read that had me questioning what was going to happen next. I would have never expected that ending. Great storytelling. I will be picking up the second novel.
If you like a great mix of creepiness and a mystery pick this book up. I believe you'll enjoy it.
🍁 Happy Fall everyone. I hope you have a great weekend and have a great time reading. 🍁
Oh, and happy Hobbit day!
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