The Book Thief

Markus Zusak

Summary:

-There is a small fact-

You are going to die.

1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier.

Liesel, a nine-year-old girl, is living with a foster family on Himmel Street. Her parents have been taken away to a concentration camp. Liesel steals books. This is her story and the story of the inhabitants of her street when the bombs begin to fall.

-Some important information-

This novel is narrated by Death.

it’s a small story, about:

a girl

an accordionist

some fanatical Germans

a Jewish fist fighter

and quite a lot of thievery.

-Another thing you should know-

Death will visit the book thief three times.

Plot:

Some books play with your mind, this one plays with your heart. It’s also the kind of book that you want to start over when you reach the last few pages because you just don’t want it to end, or you know you won’t be able to handle the end.It’s brutally honest, but never becomes gory or overly graphic. I think it’s great that the story centres on a German family instead of a Jewish one. The writing is incredible, the author creates pictures and describes things in a way that captures you completely. He plays with words and breaks language rules, without which this story would have been entirely too sad to read. Every word, sentence, paragraph and chapter of this book needs to be savoured. This is not a happy book, but it’s a beautiful one. And one thought kept popping into my head while I read: “everybody dies sometime, and maybe that's okay”.

Characters:

You absolutely fall in love with the characters in this book. Even the ones you don’t really like all the time. Death, the narrator, is shown in such a strangely positive way that you actually sympathise with him instead of the human characters. Liesel is incredible and you root for her from the very first page. I also fell in love with Rudy, Liesel’s best friend. None of the characters were perfect and all of them were relatable. You felt for every character, even the ones who did the wrong thing.

Who should read this:

13+, mainly for the dark themes (the book is narrated by Death...) and some language. If you like historical fiction, but want something different this is absolutely the one for you. I would actually recommend this to anyone and everyone. If you’re looking for a book that will capture your mind, heart and imagination you don’t need to look any further. However, if you’re looking for a quick, light or happy read this is definitely not the one for you. Just because this is YA, does not mean adults can't enjoy it too, trust me.

My rating:

I usually walk away from books that were over-hyped feeling extremely dissapointed. This was not the case with ‘the Book Thief’. It’s everything I want in a novel, emotional, original and well-written. This book has all the ingredients to become a classic. I will definitely be rereading it, because I feel like this is one of those books you can get something new from with every read. 5/5

Quote:

Almost every sentence in this book is quotable, but this one sums up the book pretty well for me:

“I have hated words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right”-Liesel.

Cinder

Marissa Meyer

The Lunar Chronicles #1

Summary:

A forbidden romance.

A deadly plague.

Earth’s fate hinges on one girl...

Cinder, a gifted mechanic in New Beijing, is also a cyborg. She’s reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s sudden illness.

But when her life becomes entwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s she finds herself at the centre of a violent struggle between the desires of an evil queen – and a dangerous temptation.

Cinder is caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal. Now she must uncover secrets about her mysterious past in order to protect Earth’s future.

Plot:

This is a great story. I really enjoyed the way the author combined the traditional fairy-tale elements with the futuristic setting. The story kept me interested throughout, even though I saw the plot twist coming for most of the book. The fact that I knew what was going to happen, but was still intrigued by the story definitely proves that it’s a pretty good plot. I would have liked a little more explanation of some elements of this book, for example how Cinder’s mind works etc. I did, however really like the mild references to racism, which made the whole setting a feel a little more realistic.

Characters:

I like the characters in this book. I didn’t fall in love with them, but I rooted for the heroes and was scared for them at times. Cinder is very relatable, even though she’s half-robot, and that is probably what made this book good. Even though very little about the setting or the plot is relative to our current situation you still felt like you could understand the characters.

Who should read this:

10+, mainly for violence and scenes of people dying etc. If you’re looking for a fairy tale retelling that’s completely different from anything you’ve read before I would definitely recommend this one. If, however science-fiction isn’t your thing you might not like this as much.

My rating:

I’m not a huge sci-fi fan, which is probably why I wasn’t that excited for this book, even though the idea behind it is fascinating. However, I really enjoyed it and it definitely met the expectations I had after all the hype. 4/5.

Quote:

“Does your kind even know what love is? Can you feel anything at all, or is it just... programmed?”

Blink of an Eye

Ted Dekker

Summary:

The future changes in the Blink of an Eye...Or Does It?

Miriam is a Saudi princess promised to another, a pawn in a political struggle that could shift the balance of power in the Middle East.

Seth is a certified genius with a head full of numbers, a life full of baggage, and an attitude born on the waves of the Pacific.

Cultures collide when they find themselves thrown together as fugitives in a high-stakes chase across Southern California. A growing attraction and a search for answers fuel their fight to survive...but with no sleep and a massive manhunt steadily closing in, their chances of surviving any future are razor thin.

Plot:

This book is different in many ways from Dekker’s other works that I have read. Mainly because the violence is not as extreme, but also because there’s no real twist to the story. However, this does not mean it’s not a good story. It is thrilling and intriguing. Dekker doesn’t always explain everything that happens in his books, but it never feels like he’s taking the easy way out, which is great. I like the writing style, the setting and basically everything about this story. I should just say that I have read some reviews on this book, and most of the negative ones seem to focus on the facts Dekker uses in this story being wrong, I don’t know if that’s true or not, and I don’t think it should be too big of an issue. I also don’t know how this book differs from the original*.

Characters:

I really connected with these characters. They’re not perfect, but they are good and you really root for them. I also thought that the two main characters had great chemistry and their romance is believable. I would’ve liked a little more insight into the villains, but I like that you do get some parts from his perspective. These characters are also different from Dekker’s thriller-book-characters, but they’re extremely likable.

Who should read this:

13+, mainly for violence, which is only really disturbing in one or two scenes, but is present. There is no language or sexual content, but the theme is partly political and it might bore young readers. If you want Christian fiction that doesn’t push religion down your throat this is definitely one I would recommend.

My rating:

This is not my favourite of Ted Dekker, but I really like the characters and the story and I couldn’t put the book down. 4/5

Quote:

Prayer may just be the most powerful tool mankind has.

*Just note that this book is a rewrite of ‘Blink’ by Ted Dekker and there are many differences. Dekker rewrote ‘Blink’ in order to turn it into a movie, but according to him the overall feel of the book is now a little different. So if you read ‘Blink’ then this review might not fit your opinion at all. I also do not know how many other plot lines and ideas were changed in this book.

Poison Heart

S.B. Hayes

Summary:

Who is the real Genevieve?

What are her secrets?

Why is she determined to destroy Katy’s life?

Wherever Katy turns, Genevieve is there – at school, with Katy’s friends, and worst of all, trying to steal Katy’s hot new boyfriend.

Though popular with everyone else, Genevieve has a menacing side, a dangerous side that she only reveals to Katy.

Is Genevieve simply a troubled girl with a difficult childhood? Or does something sinister, something unearthly, lie behind that beautiful smile?

Plot:

I thought this book started off well, it drew me in and had me intrigued, but about half way through it lost me. It got predictable and the big twist didn’t surprise me at all. The story did get really exciting and interesting in the last few pages, but the way the author ended it didn’t pull the threads of the story together very well in my opinion.

Characters:

I totally get what the author’s intentions were with these characters, she wanted to make them really confusing and intriguing and have you wondering what was going on inside their heads. And mostly it worked. However it never felt realistic to me and I didn’t really connect with any of the characters. I usually like reading about strange and even disturbed characters, but these just didn’t interest me all that much.

Who should read this:

13+, mainly for the strange themes of this book, but also for mild language and sexual content. I don’t think I’d recommend this to anyone. Maybe if you really like creepy stories, but I still think there are better ones out there.

My rating:

I went from being really into this book at the beginning to not interested at all during the middle to really intrigued at the end, but overall I was a little disappointed, even though I didn’t have very high expectations. 2/5

Quote:

I’m your worst nightmare.

We'll Always Have Summer

Jenny Han

Summer #3

Summary:

Isabel has only ever loved two boys, Conrad and Jeremiah Fisher.

One broke her heart; the other made her happier than she ever thought she’d be. But each brother is keeping a secret, and this summer Isabel must choose between the Fisher boys, once and for all.

Plot:

Like the previous books in this series this book’s story is pretty generic. What makes this series good, however, is the author’s way of making sure the reader never knows what to expect. It never becomes predictable and you’re never sure if the character is going to do what you want or not. The writing is fun and light and very easy to read. I like that these books are all similar enough to make the whole series flow together, but still each unique enough that you still don’t know what exactly is going to happen.

Characters:

The character growth in this instalment is much more than in the previous two in my opinion. Belly is now finished with High-School and attending college and is much more mature than in the previous books, even though she still has a lot to learn. Her character stays very true to herself throughout the series, she grows, but never really changes. I also liked how the boys were more responsible and mature and you see them becoming men.

Who should read this:

13+, mainly for language and references to sex. If you’re looking for a cute contemporary series that’s very easy and quick to read and still has some emotional moments this is definitely one you should check out. If you’re looking for a series that’s going to have a profound impact on you this is probably not the one for you. This is definitely aimed towards girls.

My rating:

I enjoyed this book, I also got the ending I wanted (even if it’s not what everyone wanted), but I wasn’t sure of anything until the very end, which is always good. 4/5

Quote:

He didn’t give me flowers or candy. He gave me the moon and the stars. Infinity.

Wolf Blood

N.M. Browne

Summary:

It’s the first century AD and Britain is overrun by invading Romans and warring tribes.

A Celtic warrior girl escapes from the rival tribe which has enslaved her, straight into the path of two Roman foot soldiers.

She expects to be killed, but using her gift of second sight she sees that one of the soldiers has a secret.

Celtic blood runs through his veins too – and he is a shapeshifter...a wolf-man. Their only chance of survival is to help each other.

But what will happen when their extraordinary powers are combined?

And who will they choose to fight for?

Plot:

This is a pretty good story. There are no real plot-twists or surprising moments, but it stays interesting enough. I don’t think the plot is incredible, mainly because most of it is just about the main characters fighting or running for their lives. I also couldn’t really get into the writing, it felt a little stilted to me, and at times it felt as if the author didn’t explain what was happening clearly and just kind of assumed that the reader will figure it out for themselves. The end also disappointed me, I felt like there should be a sequel, but there isn’t.

Characters:

This is where my biggest problem with this book came in. I didn’t connect with any of the characters, I felt absolutely nothing for them. I might have liked Morcant, but for most of the story he seems to be pushed to the side a bit and because of his shape-shifting there is little communication between him and other characters. Also the main character is a great heroine, very brave and so forth, but I just didn’t care for her, I cannot say exactly why, but she just didn’t really interest me.

Who should read this:

13+, mainly for violence and some spiritual stuff that might make some people uncomfortable. If you’re tired of romantic/sappy scenes in fantasy books then you should try this one. There is very little of that. I don’t think I’ll recommend this to anyone though.

My rating:

I thought the story was good, but I needed more to make up for the fact that I didn’t really like the characters. 2/5

Quote:

I am Trista. I am a seeress and my visions are true.

A Clash of Kings

George R.R. Martin

A Song of Ice and Fire #2

Summary:

A comet the colour of blood and flame cuts across the sky. And from the ancient citadel of Dragonstone to the forbidding shores of Winterfell, chaos reigns. Six factions struggle for control of a divided land and the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms, preparing to stake their claims through tempest, turmoil, and war. It is a tale in which brother plots against brother and the dead rise to walk at night. Here a princess masquerades as an orphan boy; a knight of the mind prepares a poison for a treacherous sorceress; and wild men descend from the Mountains of the Moon to ravage the countryside. Against a backdrop of incest and fratricide, alchemy and murder, victory may go to the men and women possessed of the coldest steel...and the coldest hearts. For when kings clash, the whole land trembles.

Plot:

This series is extremely well written. The detail is exquisite and the descriptions make you feel like you could touch the stone of a castle or smell the food the characters are eating without ever becoming just a litany of descriptions. The story remains gripping and doesn’t let up once as far as suspense goes. You can’t read this story all in one sitting, there’s just too much information and things happening, your brain would explode. However it never gets too confusing, and if you are confused the author always manages to clarify after a while. There are amazing twists and turns, and things you never see coming, while at other times things happen exactly as you predict, which makes it much harder to anticipate what could happen.

Characters:

I’m not sure how to feel about these characters. You are never quite clear on who’s the hero or who’s right. Obviously you start to like some more than others, but none of them are perfect and sometimes you even wonder about your favorite characters’ motives. Another thing about this author, he has no qualms about unapologetically killling off his characters, so I would not get too attached.

Who should read this:

16+, and like I said before, even then I advise extreme caution, the violence, sexual content and language is not for the faint-hearted or sensitive. However, fans of high-fantasy should definitely read this. You should also keep in mind that these books are not quick reads, they will take up a lot of your time. If you didn’t like the first book, don’t waste your time with this one.

My rating:

I’ve said before that I’m not a fan of grisly or graphic descriptions, especially not when it’s violent, but this book is so undeniably well-written that I cannot give it less than 4/5.

Quote:

“The brightest flame casts the darkest shadow.”

Read my review for the first book 'A Game of Thrones' here!

It's Not Summer Without You

Jenny Han

Summer #2

Summary:

When something is perfect, you hope it never ends.

Isabel’s lazy, long hot summers at her family friends’ beach house are over.

Conrad-sexy and unavailable – is the only boy she’s ever loved. He’s left for college, taking her heart with him.

Jeremiah-his gorgeous brother, is still Isabel’s best friend – but maybe friendship isn’t enough for him any more...

Isabel just wants everything to stay the same, because change means moving on. But if she stops looking back, will she find a future she never knew she wanted?

Plot:

I thought this was a very good sequel to ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’, it had less of that summery, fun feel to it and was a little darker. The first one didn’t touch me as much as this one did. I really felt for the characters in this installment and I couldn’t put the book down. I also think this love triangle is one of the better ones out there, it never feels forced. Like with the previous book the story is pretty generic, but it’s never predictable. The romance can be a little overly dramatic, but I think it’s very relatable if you’re a teenage girl.

Characters:

In the first one I liked the characters, in this one I didn’t always like them, but I felt more emotionally connected to them, if that makes sense. I’m not the hugest fan of Belly, but the boys develop and grow in this installment and it was great to see. Belly started annoying me a bit in the first couple of chapters, but she too changed and I liked her much more when the book ended.

Who should read this:

13+, the themes in this novel are a bit darker, there are some references to sex as well as alcohol use. The language was also more frequent. If you enjoyed the first one, but thought it was lacking a bit in character depth this is definitely going to surprise you in a good way. If you like easy reads that will tug at your heartstrings and keep you interested without taking up too much of your time, this might just be the one for you. This whole series was definitely written with girls in mind.

My rating:

In my opinion this was a better book that the first in the series, while I really liked the first one I couldn’t put this one down and I really felt for the characters. 5/5

Quote:

“We stood there, looking at each other, saying nothing. But it was the kind of nothing that meant everything.”

Read my review for 'The Summer I Turned Pretty'.

School's Out Forever

James Patterson

Maximum Ride #2

Summary:

The heart-stopping quest of six winged kids--led by fourteen-year-old Max--to find their parents and investigate the mind-blowing mystery of their ultimate destiny continues when they're taken under the wing of an FBI agent and attempt, for the first time, to live "normal" lives. But going to school and making friends doesn't stop them from being relentlessly hunted by sinister spies, who lead Max to face her most frightening match yet: a new and better version of herself.

Plot:

I really enjoyed this sequel. Just like the first one this book was filled with thrilling action sequences, but what I liked about it most was the way the author described the quieter moments between the characters. The story stayed interesting and full of suspense, with many twists and turns, but I liked that it wasn’t just one action-packed fight sequence throughout.

Characters:

The character development in this book was great. I liked the main character's more emotional moments, and I also really enjoy her dry sense of humor. I enjoyed watching the relationships between her and the rest of the flock grow and develop as well. I also liked that the author added some parts from the villains’ perspectives, which just gave a little more depth to him and made him a little easier to understand, and even sympathize with him at times.

Who should read this:

13+, mainly for language and violence, as well as the concept of experimentation on children which is obviously a little disturbing. If you enjoyed the first book you will definitely like this one, if you didn’t don’t bother, it’s not that different. This series is definitely for people who want an action-packed book with great characters that's not too hard to read.

My rating:

I’m not a huge action/adventure story fan, so that’s probably why this series will not be joining my favourites, but I really enjoyed reading this book. 4/5.

Quote:

I hoped I wasn’t truly dead. That would make finding our parents and saving the world really hard.

Read my review for the first book 'The Angel Experiment' here!