GOOD LUCK!

For all you 8th graders in NYC taking the SHSAT, Specialized High School Admission Test, this weekend, I wanna say good luck! I know all of you are going to do great!

The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games
Stars: 3 out of 5
Genre: fantasy
Age group: 15 and up

The Hunger Games are games where 24 kids actually fight and kill until only one is left. Katniss is in the games this year and must fight and win which means killing Peeta, her only friend at the games or just die.

I read this book because Stephenie Meyer recommended it. Now that I finished reading it, I'm starting to realize that she and I have different tastes. The Hunger Games wasn't my favorite book in the world but it was okay. I felt that the pin on the cover should have meant more in the story. The pin should have saved Katniss or something.

What I really liked about this book was Katniss' brains. She solves everything out, like how to get gifts from Haymitch. It's nice to have a narrator who can explain everything the way it is.

Peeps

Peeps by Scott Westerfeld
Stars: 3.5 out of 5
Genre: Fantasy
Age group: 15 and up

Wow, this is my 5th Westerfeld book in a row! Go Westerfeld! Anyway, Peeps is about a vampire parasite looking for his formal girlfriends which are all infected because of him.

What I really like about Peeps is that the even number chapters are about real, gross parasites. That makes me learn a lot about our microscopic "friends" and now, I am officially a vegetarian. Another thing about Peeps: the parasites mentioned in this book makes an infected person act like a vampire. Getting the parasite is from saliva and that is really original. I live for originality and so far, that's the most creative way to become a vampire.

The vampires-excuse me- parasite positives (a.k.a peeps) are very original. That makes the reader interested in the story because you are reading about a topic you don't know about. It is very interesting to see how disgusting little worms can be turned into a brand new story.

Westerfeld, you are the master at writing fantasy! Take that from someone who has read 5 of your books and wrote reviews for all of them in a row!

Extras

Extras by Scott Westerfeld

Stars: 4 out of 5

Genre: fiction

Age group: 10 and up

I said before that I don't like to read series or sagas of books because of something I lack: commitment. Another reason is the endings of series. I read series because I want to know what happens next but the end of a series ends everything. The last book usually makes me sad or have a too happy ever after that doesn't really belong in the series. However, Extras was different.

The ending was too happy or too sad; it was perfect. It was amazing and the right end to the Uglies series. Though it's the last book in the Uglies series, I feel like it had another identity:

a great book. Extras is it's own book because of the new main character, Aya and the end to the Uglies series because of Tally.

When I wanted another narrator or another main character, I expected Shay or David. I didn't expect a brand new character, Aya. That opens so many new doors and possibilities. Aya has her own problems and it interesting how Tally Youngblood fits in her life. That kept me on the edge of my seat reading how the world has become so different since Tally Youngblood.

Once again Westerfeld, you have used you creativity to the max. Great job!

Specials

Specials by Scott Westerfeld



Stars: 5 out of 5

Genre: Fiction

Age group: 11 and up



Specials was a delight for me to read (**spoilers ahead**). Like all the other books in this series, Specials was action-packed and had many surprises. When Zane died, it sent chills down my spine. When Dr.Cable released Tally, I gasped.



I was a bit shocked that Tally wanted to stay a Cutter. In Uglies, Tally didn't even want to become a pretty, much less a Special. In Uglies, she was willing to stay ugly for David but that all changed when she met Zane. Her love for Zane is strong though; she picked Zane over David in the end of Pretties.



Since Tally becaswitched sides, I have begun to like her a little less. I liked Tally when she was a brave ugly because she faced obstacles but got past them using her nothing. However, Specials have lightening fast reflexes and all other kinds of super powers. Still, I liked Tally aiming for her goals and getting in trouble, no matter what she was.



I feel that Shay is the fault for everything Tally blames herself for. If Shay never told Tally about Smoke, Tally would never have gotten in all that trouble. If Shay didn't turn Tally into a Special, Tally would still be with Zane and she wouldn't want Zane to turn into a Special. On the other hand, if Tally never did all that trouble, there wouldn't be an awesome, action-packed series.

I hope that in the future or in Extra, it would be narrated by Shay or Dr.Cable looking for Tally.

Scott Westerfeld, thank you.

Pretties

Pretties by Scott Westerfeld

Stars: 5 out of 5
Genre: Fantasy
Age group: 11 and up

As I said before in my review of Uglies, I ran out and got Pretties as soon as I finished Uglies. I'm really glad I got it soon.

I really don't like to read series or sagas because that requires commitment. However, if a book is really good, I would need to read the sequel. I felt that way about Uglies: it was awesome and I couldn't just stop there.

Pretties was as good as Uglies. It was impossible to put down and impossible to forget. I've liked Uglies and Pretties so much that I noticed Westerfeld's writing style. Westerfeld wrote his books so that there isn't a sappy happily ever after but a huge question mark. I really like that; it makes the reader want to buy the next book immediately to find out what happens next. I haven't been so interested in a series since the Twilight Saga.

Can't wait to read Specials, Westerfeld!

Uglies

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld


Stars: 5 out of 5
Genre: fiction
Age group: 11 and up

What really got my attention to pick this book up was the author. Scott Westerfeld is a man, so I'm thinking, What does this guy know about teenage girls? Unless he's a dad, he only cares about food and sports.



While I was reading, I began to regret thinking that. Uglies is about Tally, a girl living in Uglyville. In her world, everyone is considered an ugly until they get an operation that will turn them super-model gorgeous pretty on their 16th birthday. Tally can't wait for the operation but everything changes when her friend, Shay runs away. The authorities force Tally to make a decision: turn Shay in or never turn pretty at all.

Uglies is full of action, friendship, and excitement. There were surprises on every page. That made me wonder if even Westerfeld knew what was going to happen on the next page. Uglies is breath-taking and hard to put down. In fact, I didn't even know that I was at the end of the book until I turned the page and there was blank pages. The ending was so captivating, I dropped what I was doing and ran out to get the sequel, Pretties.


Well done, Scott Westerfeld. You surprised many girls, including me, that even men can write about teenagers.

Blogroll

I was reading some of my favorite blogs and I realized something: I don't have a blogroll. So, comment here if you would like your blog name on my blogroll or your favorite blog on my blogroll. I will try to make my blogroll in a week or so.

Love,
mary