Book Review #8

Title: We Die Alone

Author: David Howarth

Date Published: May 1955

Publisher: Collins

Age Rating: 12+

Genre: War Biography

Main Character :

     oJan Baalsrud

 

Plot

           Jan Baalsrud and  his three friends attempted to smuggle bombs into WW2 Norway as part of
           a sabotage mission. However, soon after arrival, they were betrayed by a man
         thought to be a friend. The only survivor, Jan is forced to make his way through
treacherous terrain in the hope of finding his way to Sweden.

 Review

Firstly, I found this book slightly boring. This was due to the fact that that the story was a bit slow

at times, making reading the book a bit tedious at times.

Another problem with the book was the fact that the story didn’t exactly draw me in. It took me

about a week to read this book because of how little the story appealed to me. Instead of reading

war stories, I was more interested in the latest post/pre apocalyptic story.

However, one of the good points of the story was the writers ability to describe. I loved the

intriguing way the author described Jan’s adventures, as if I was really there.

Overall, this was a good book that tried its best, but just wasn't me in the end.

Rating Out Of 5

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Book Review #7

  Title: Blue Is For Nightmares

  Author: Laurie Faria Stolarz

  Date Published: November 8th 2003

  Publisher: Llewellyn Publications

  Age Rating: 11+

  Genre: YA Paranormal

  Main Characters :

• Stacey
• Amber
• Drea
• Donnovan
• Chad
• Maura
• Veronica

Plot:

   On the outside, Stacey is an average teenage girl. However, there's one problem: she's psychic. Every night, Stacey has nightmares about the death of her best friend, Drea. The last time this happened, someone close to her heart died. Determined to right the wrongs she did when she kept her gift quiet and did nothing to help, Stacey soon finds herself in a world of mystery and adventure, where one wrong move could kill her best friend. Despite being no stranger to magic, Stacey is soon faced with the worrying fact that magic has its limits and that even witches cant save the world all the time.

Review:

   

I absolutely adored this book. Personally, I think it was an amazing new read into a world rarely explored by me.

Firstly, BIFN had an wonderful plot. It was fast enough to be interesting, yet not too fast that you had to keep on looking back to see who each person was and what they were going on about. The plot was also full of mystery and deceit, my favourite kind of story.

Another good point, was the characters. You found yourself really empathizing with them, like Drea and her cheating boyfriend and Stacey with her malfunctioning psychic powers and night-time problems.

Lastly, you always felt part of their world, even after you had finished the book. You found yourself wanting to slap some characters, and hug others. You find yourself not wanting to put the book down night and day. You find yourself promising only one more paragraph, whilst secretly hoping that it will never end and knowing that you mean to break your pledge in a few moments when the next character finds themselves in a life-or-death situation.

The only problem that I found with it, was that about three quarters of the way through the book, I realised who the murdering stalker person was. After that, the book wasn’t as fun, however, this had given me another incentive to read on: to find out if I was right.

Despite the bad point, I still found this a remarkable new read.

Rating Out Of 5

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Book Review #6

Title: Dark Inside

Author: Jeyn Roberts

Date Published: 2nd September 2011

Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books

Age Rating: 13+

Genre: Post Apocalyptic

Main Characters:

• Aries
• Clementine
• Mason
• Michael
• Nothing

Plot :

 After a wave of deadly earthquakes nearly destroys the Earth, the surviving few watch as their loved ones, friends and neighbous turn in to killing machines, that will stop at nothing to slaughter the human race. Now, there only seems to be one rule, one law: kill, or be killed...

Review:
   One of the problems I found with this book, was the narration. Usually in books with multiple narrators, I don't have any trouble knowing who was who. However, in this book, I had to keep on skipping back to find out how the character got there, or who they were in the first place.
   Another problem, was how similar Aries and Clementine were. This was also the same with Mason and Michael. I would have prefered the book if they could have some obvious differences in their personalitys.

Despite these problems with four of the main characters, I really enjoyed reading Nothing's story. It helped me get some extra insight into the story, and really kept me on the edge of my seat. I hope that this character is also included in the next book, Rage Within.
   I also loved the storyline. It was fast, fun and full of surprises. I literally couldn't put this thrilling book down.
   Overall, I found this an enjoyable read, however, there were a few problems with it. I can't wait to read Rage Inside, but hope that some of the problems that I found with this book don't apply to the sequel.

Rating out of 5:

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Book Review #5

Title: Speak

Author: Laurie Halse Anderson

Date Published: 22^nd October 1999

Publisher: Puffin

Age Rating: 12+

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Main Characters

     

·        Melinda

·        Andy

·        Rachel

·        Ivy

·        Heather

·        Nicole

                                    

Storyline:

   Melinda had been invited to the party by her best friend Rachel. Halfway through it, she called the police. This left her as a loner, the outsider who had ruined their party. In this stunning story, one girl is trying to break free of a silence that has gripped her and won’t let her go.

Review

   I absolutely adored this book. When I picked up this book from a genre that I usually avoid, I wasn’t expecting something this amazing and emotional.

   I loved the way that the speech in the story was usually indirect, yet when it wasn’t, it was as if the story was a play. I think that this was a very unique way to narrate a story, and I really enjoyed it.

   I also liked the way that the author created a realistic image of all the characters in my mind. It helped me really bond with Melinda and sympathise with her. I ended up feeling as if I was there, witnessing the story happening infront of me.

   Another thing I liked about Speak, was the speed that the story developed at. It wasn't so fast that you ended getting confused, however it wasn't slow and boring, which makes you want to either skip bits, or stop reading completely.
   Overall, I think that Speak was an amazing book, which drew you into the story and bought the characters to life. I really enjoyed reading it, and I can't wait to read more novels by this author.


Rating (out of 5)

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