Book Review: True Believer by Nicholas Sparks

Name: True Believer

Author: Nicholas Sparks


Brief summary: Jeremy Marsh is a journalist. He doesn't believe in crazy supernatural stuff, like ghosts, or psychics. After unveiling the truth about a world renowned psychic, he gets a mysterious letter asking him to come investigate a haunted cemetery down in a small town in South Carolina. While there, he meets and falls in love with Lexie, a girl who brings out the best in him. He also meets and makes friends with a variety of different characters.

Grade/Age level: 14 and up

Cautions: There is a brief brief brief mention of unwed pregnancy, and the author mentions that a couple had sex.

If you like this book, you will also like… Even Now by Karen Kingsbury

Personal Opinion: Um, wow. Wow wow wow. This, without question, is the best Nicholas Sparks novel I have read. This had humor, romance, mystery, everything! This was definately the funniest book... who knew that Nicholas Sparks could write romance? Not me, that's for sure.

Rating: 10/10

Book Review: Even Now by Karen Kingsbury

Name: Even Now

Author: Karen Kingsbury


Brief summary: Shane and Lauren are two teenagers head over heels in love with each other. When Lauren unexpectedly becomes pregnant, they know they want to get married. Their parents, however, have different plans. Shane's father is a successful business man, and all his parents can think about is how Shane's life will be ruined if he and Lauren keep the baby, and worse get married so young. So, Lauren and Shane's parents decide to keep them away from each other. Years later, their daughter, Emily, decides to find and get her parents back together. Will Shane and Lauren get their happy ending or will they find happiness from other people or things?

Grade/Age level: 14 and up

Cautions: Teenage pregnancy, they may briefly mention abortion, they talk about life in Afganistan and war and stuff like that.

If you like this book, you will also like… True Believer by Nicholas Sparks

Personal Opinion: Absolutely amazing. I can't wait to read more of Karen Kingsbury's books. I love her writing style.

Rating: 10/10

Name: My Sister's Keeper

Author: Jodi Piccoult


Brief summary: Anna is tired. Tired of living for her sister. She was concieved as a perfect genetic match for her sister, who has been sick with Leukemia since a very young age. Anna makes a choice that will tear her family apart, more than it already is. She decides to sue her parents for the rights to her own body.

Grade/Age level: 14 and up, maybe older, maybe a little younger. My sister was thirteen when she read it, but she's a very mature thirteen year old.

Cautions: You should have caution to the whole book. This book, as wonderful as it is, is very disturbing.

If you like this book, you will also like… I've found that Jodi Piccoult is very much the female version of Nicholas Sparks, so anything by Nicholas Sparks. I highly recommend a Bend in the Road or a Walk to Remember.

Personal Opinion: This book is one of the saddest, but one of the most amazing books I have ever read. Anna's personality is great, she reminds me so much of my younger sister. :D

Rating: 10/10

Movie Review: Up

Name: Up

Director: Pete Docter & Bob Petersen

Starring: John Ratzenberger & Christopher Plummer

Rated: PG

For: Some Peril

Brief summary: Carl is about to fulfill his and his late wife, Ellie's, life-long dream. Going to "Paradise Falls" and forgetting everything. When Carl gets violent with a construction worker, he is forced to move into a convalescent home. However, before the bus can pick him up, Carl makes his grand escape by tying thousands of balloons onto the top of his house. When he's in the air, he finds out that he is not the only one making the voyage. Russell, an eight year old "wilderness scout" had climbed onto his front porch and is now making the journey with him. On their way to Paradise Falls, Russell & Carl encounter many things, including Carl's childhood hero, a giant bird, talking dogs, and much more. This movie is sweet, appropriate, and perfect for the whole family.

Age level: All ages

Cautions: A woman has a miscarriage, a man hits another man, making him bleed. A man is ordered to go to a convalescent home. A boy mentions having a stepmother and says that his relationship with his dad isn't so great. There're some scary parts. Some fighting….

If you like this movie, you might also like . . . The Incredibles!

Personal Opinion: Okay, I was expecting this movie to be "Okay". Just in the first five minutes, I was drawn in and I KNEW I was going to love it. Weird, huh? Dug, the talking dog, WAS HACKING HILARIOUS! Most of the jokes he made kids wouldn't get (they weren't inappropriate, just for an older age group. You either have to OWN a dog or know someone who owns a dog to really get it.). Also, at the end of the movie, there's a great scene including sacrifice which I TOTALLY loved. But, younger kids wouldn't really get it. It was a totally sweet, funny, all around good movie. I really liked it and can't wait to drag my family to it. ;) MUAHAHAHA!

Overall rating: 10/10

Random tidbit: John Ratzenberger has been in every Pixar movie. And he's from the town my dad grew up in! Which is technically right next door to MY town! And my daddy saw him on the train, and he's been to the diner we usually go to… What I'm trying to say is… He's a cool dude.

Book Review: Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

Name: Eclipse

Author: Stephenie Meyer

Brief summary: The Twilight saga continues with Eclipse. In Eclipse, Edward and the rest of the beloved Cullens are back, and Bella is back to normal. Bella is also much closer to Jacob. In Eclipse, the infamous love triangle between Edward, Bella and Jacob continues. At the same time, Bella's life is once more threatened by Victoria and her army of newborn vampires. While fighting for her life, Bella has to choose, vampire or werewolf?

Grade/Age level: 13 and up

Cautions: Bella tries to push herself on Edward, there's probably some swearing… Many people have problems with the idea of vampires.

If you like this book, you will also like… I'm not sure…

Personal Opinion: Eclipse is my favorite book overall in the Twilight saga. The story, romance, and action all have their peak in this book. The romance is pretty much chaste, except for the fact Edward sleeps in Bella's bed (nothing happens), and there's some passionate kissing. After I had finished reading this book, I was left wanting to "punch a werewolf in the face". Hah.

Rating: 10/10

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

Name: Ella Enchanted

Author: Gail Carson Levine

Brief summary: When Ella of Frell was born, the foolish fairy, Lucinda, gave her the gift of obedience. Of course, as Ella grows up, she looks at that "gift" as a curse. Any command she is given, Ella has to obey. It could be something as simple as, "Clean your room." or something much worse, like, "Chop your head off.". When Ella is fifteen, she decides to find the foolish Lucinda and ask her to talk the curse off. This book follows Ella as she goes to finishing school, her father gets remarried and ultimately, she falls in love with the gorgeous Prince Charmont, Prince Char for short. Will Ella get the curse off and get the happy ending that she dreams of?

Grade/Age level: 10 and up

Cautions: None

If you like this book, you will also like.... Princess Academy by Shannon Hale

Personal Opinion: I read this book when I was about ten and it's been my totally favorite book since. It was always at the top of my "favorite books list", even above Harry Potter! Those who knew me at this age will find this as a shock, as I was a Harry obsessor from ages 8-12.

Rating: 10/10

An Old Fashioned Girl book review

Name: An Old Fashioned Girl
Author: Louisa May Alcott
Brief summary: Polly, a naive country girl, goes to the city to visit her friend, Fanny Shaw, and her family. While she's there, Polly realizes that people are growing up a lot earlier now. Her friend, Fanny, dresses different, and goes to adult activities. Polly, on the other hand, prefers playing with little Maude Shaw, or sledding with Tom Shaw, Fanny's brother, to spending time with Fanny and her high society friends. This touching book is the story of Polly's journey to staying true to herself while in a place where it's odd to be yourself.
Grade/Age level: 10 and up
Cautions: None
If you like this book, you will also like....Eight Cousins and Little Women, both by Louisa May Alcott
Personal Opinion: This was probably the first book that I had to read for school that I actually really really enjoyed. Wait, no. I liked Lilies of the Field too. Ninth grade books are better than any of the other years. *shrug*

I highly, highly highly recommend you read this. It's SUCH a good book!
Rating: 10/10

Book Review: The Covenant by Beverly Lewis

Name: The Lilies of the Field

Author: William E. Barrett

Series: Abram's Daughter

Brief summary: The Covenant is the tale of Abram and Ida Ebersol two oldest daughters, Sadie and Leah, during their rumschpringe. This is a time when Amish teens are allowed to run wild and free before taking their baptismal vows.
Sadie, the eldest of the Ebersol's four daughters, is making her vows in the fall, and she is not at all sure this is the path she wants. Truth be told she has been sneaking into town asking for trouble. She knows her parents would be shamed if they knew where she had been, but this doesn't seem to bother Sadie in the least. Especially after the night she meets the fancy English boy, Derry. She could not stay away from this boy who whispered sweet nothings in her ear. Sadie at first does not understand the danger that everyone tries to warn her against, but it is not long before Sadie learns first hand what can happen when you are lead astray from God by temptation.
Unlike Sadie, Leah, the second oldest, was not raised to woman's work in the house but to man's work out side with her father. She has always been her father's son since her parents did not have any boys. As Leah watches her sister Sadie going through her rumschpringe, she begins to worry about her sister, but all she seems to get from Sadie these days is indifference. Not knowing what else to do, she starts to look forward to her own upcoming rumschpringe. Her father has it in his sites that she will marry the Smithy's son, but unfortunately Leah has another boy in mind. How can she break the news to her father without breaking his heart?
As Sadie and Leah are both going through their rumschpringe, they both learn that some times you can not stop the fall, but you can be there to help pick up the pieces. (From Amazon.com)

Grade/Age level: 14 and up

Cautions: Some adult themes including an teenage unwed pregnancy is mentioned. Nothing graphic.

If you like this book, you will also like.... Love comes softly by Janette Oke (link leads you to my review of this)

Personal Opinion: This was my second time reading this AMAZING AMAZING story! I have my fellow blogger and friend, The Other Katie (who also happens to be co-author of the Katie and Katie blog) to blame for my love of books by Beverly Lewis. This was the first book I read by her and I was honestly captivated! I fell in love with the Amish and their simple lifestyle. If I hadn't had read this book and read the rest of Beverly Lewis' books, than I never would have bugged my family to visit the Amish country and than we never would have gone there on vacation this fall! This is the sort of book that although is about the Amish, it's almost like a soap opera in the way of all the unexpected twists and turns! Great inspirational read! But, the cool thing about it is that it could be religious, or not. You can look at it as religious if you want to, but if you don't think about it as religious, than it won't seem religious.

Rating: 10/10

Book Review: Twilight

Name: Twilight
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Others in the Series: New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn
Brief summary: Isabella "Bella" Swan moves from sunny Phoenix, Arizona, to rainy Forks, Washington, to live with her father, Charlie. She chooses to do this so that her mother, Renée, can travel with her new husband, Phil Dwyer, who is a minor league baseball player. In Phoenix she was a bit of an outcast, so it surprises her that she attracts much attention at her new school, and is quickly befriended by several students. Much to her dismay, several boys in the school compete for shy Bella's attention.
When Bella sits next to Edward Cullen in class on her first day of school, Edward seems utterly repulsed by her. He even attempts to change his schedule to avoid her, leaving Bella completely puzzled about his attitude towards her. After tricking a family friend, Jacob Black, into telling her the local tribal legends, Bella concludes that Edward and his family are vampires. Although she was inexplicably attracted to him even when she thought Edward drank human blood, she is much relieved to learn that the Cullens choose to abstain from drinking human blood, and drink animal blood instead. Over time, Edward and Bella fall in love. (from wikipedia.com)
Grade/Age level: 13 and up
Cautions: Vampire-ness, a really scary scene (meaning it scared the heck outta me!)That sorta stuff. Oh. And be prepared. You WILL fall in love with Edward Cullen. I'm sorry.
If you like this book, you might also like . . . Harry Potter?
Personal Opinion: Woooahhhh dude! I was kinda skeptical when I first opened the book. This was AFTER I begged and begged and begged my mom to let me read it. Than I opened it and thought, "I'm not going to like it. It's going to be the biggest waste of time. Why am I doing this??" And boy, I was surprised! Yes, there are vampires in it. But they don't even SAY that Edward's a vampire until like, halfway through the book. And even then, it's not the whole plot. My friend is really into the whole vampire/emo stuff. But, this is really MILD vampire-ness. If you liked Harry Potter, you will like this. :)
Rating: 10/10
Random tidbit: The movie is coming out soon!! And the guy who's playing Edward Cullen played Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. And the girl who plays Bella was apparently in Zathura and In the Land of Women. Neither of which I have seen.