News and Mistakes

What I said about daily posting...that started out well, but it kinda failed, I guess.  My bad.

Life was really busy, what with end-of-the-year projects, massive tests, and of course, finals.  Oh, finals.  Quite possibly the bane of my existence.  Or at least one of the banes.

So, anyway, now that school's over, I won't be posting about books or poetry every single time.  I know that might disappoint some of you, but don't worry, I'm still going to post!  Some of these might be about funny things, summer plans...you know, life in general.  But gimmie some feedback!  I want some reactions!  It seems like I'm just rambling on and on to the depths of cyberspace!

Hope you all have a great summer!
--SwimmerGirl

Magic Thief

Sorry I haven't been posting every day, I've been a bit busy lately.


I recently reread a great book called The Magic Thief by Sarah Prineas.  It begins with the story of Conn, a young thief in the streets of Wellmet, a fictional city.  He attempts to pickpocket who he think sis an old man walking down the street.  However, the man is actually a local wizard named Nevery.  Conn accidentally grabs the wizard's locus magicalicus-- the stone that wizards use to control the magic-- and it knocks him out.  When he regains his wits, Nevery has decided to take him back to his house.  Conn serves as Nevery's apprentice.  Can he ever make it as a full wizard?  Read to find out!  There are three books in this series so far.  The first book is fantastically written, with lots of detail that enriches the storyline and brings the characters to life.  I would recommend this if you like wizards, magic, and adventure.

Keep reading!
--SwimmerGirl

I Am Number Four

Another book review!
This time it's about a book called "I Am Number Four" bu Pittacus Lore.  It's about a race of aliens called Lorians, who came from a distant planet.  They are being hunted by a different kind of aliens called the Mogadorians.  The Mogadorians are intent on wiping out the Loric people and using their planet for its resources.  Happily, some Loric escape to Earth, where they live among the people there.  Unfortunately, the Mogadorians are hot on their tail.  There were nine to begin with, and can only be killed in a certain order.  Number Four is intent on avoiding being captured or killed, but first he must learn to survive high school.  The first book ends dramatically, and I'm eager for a second!

Here is the link to where you can buy the book!

Keep reading!
--SwimmerGirl

If it's Love

Today I'll be reviewing a well-known book... "Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare.  It's a tale of love, fate, and misfortune.  The story opens with Romeo, a member of the Montague family, being depressed and unhappy.  The reason for this is a girl he loves, but she does not love him back.  Then his friend Mercutio suggests they go to the Capulets' party.  There is only one problem: the Montagues and the Capulets are enemies.  Romeo reluctantly agrees to go to the party, and there, he meets Juliet, Lord Capulet's daughter.  The two fall in love, and the rest of the book is devoted to how the two lovers attempt to stay together.  The tragic end, however, results in both their deaths, and the families mourning their losses.  I thought this book was good.  One of the more annoying things, however, was the fact that I constantly had to look at the guide to figure out what certain words meant.  The plot of the story and the characters were well-developed, and I found the book a good read altogether.  It may be tough to read at first, but you will eventually get the hang of reading his language.
Keep reading!
--SwimmerGirl

Wow!

14 followers!  Thank you all so much!

Today I'm reviewing a book that I'm sure all of you have read.  It's about magic, dragons, flying broomsticks, and friendship.  Have you guessed?  Yup, it's Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling.  Many of you already know how this book goes, so I'll review the series as a whole.  I couldn't put any of these books down because they were all so great.  The imagery described really created a whole new world.  I also like how Harry, Ron, and Hermionie are really good friends.  You really don't see plots like that anymore, and  this was a relief.  For me, "Order of the Phoenix" was a bit boring, but the story quickly picked up again towards the end.  If you haven't read these books, go out and get them!!!

Keep reading!
--SwimmerGirl

Life and a Good Book

Today was a relaxing day for me.  Softball practice in the morning-- windy and chilly!  We also have my cousins' Labrador retrievers until Saturday.  They're both pretty big, and LOVE attention and treats! :)

I just finished a book entitled "The Absolutely True Story of a Part-Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie.  It tells the story of Junior, a Native Americana living on the reservation.  His dreams are to go to Reardan, a school in a nearby town.  Unfortunately, the rez kids are not well-liked by the people not on the rez.  Can Junior adapt to his new life in Reardan?  Or will he be an outsider of both his new school and his home reservation?  I liked this book because it was cleverly written.  There were some pretty amusing illustrations scattered in the pages, and that added to the humor of the book.  I would suggest this to older kids.

Keep reading!
--SwimmerGirl

The Anybodies

One book that I could read over and over again is "The Anybodies" by N. E. Bode.  It's about a girl named Fern who is strikingly different from her family.  She has known this all her life, but it only really sets in when a mysterious man who calls himself The Bone arrives at her door.  He claims to have mistakenly taken her parents' child, and in truth, the boy looks more like her parents, and she looks more like The Bone.  Once home, Fern is taught how to become an Anybody, a person who can change their looks to become anyone or anything.  She is quickly wrapped up in a world of magic and mysteries, but can she find her way out?
I really like this book because the author actually interacts with the reader.  They ask the reader questions and talk to them as if they were there.  Also, the imagery used in this book is fantastic, with illustrations scattered here and there among the pages.  I would recommend this book to anybody!  :)

Keep reading!
--SwimmerGirl

Teen Ink

Hello everyone!
This post is not actually a review, but it's about one of my favorite websites.  It's called Teen Ink.  It's a fantastic website where you can post your own artwork, poetry, stories and more.  Once they're on this site, anyone can read then, and they can rate your art and write reviews on it.  I have a few poems there myself!  My username for that website is StarGazer453.  Feel free to comment and review my stuff!

Keep reading!
--SwimmerGirl

Vacation!

Hey everyone!  It's school vacation week for me.  What a relief!

Just finished a book called "ttyl" (for those who aren't leetspeek-savvy, that's "Talk To You Later") by Lauren Myracle.  The story is told through the instant messages of three freshmen friends: Angela, Zoe, and Maddie.  Their IMs are funny, witty, and oh-so-true.  The conflicts are numerous and scattered throughout the book, and each is resolved in its own time.  The three friends are very different: Zoe is quiet and shy, Maddie is tough on the outside and the "bad girl" of the group, and Angela is crazy and fun.  Deep down, however, they are all fun-loving, happy teenagers.  I would recommend this book to young girls in their early teens, as it was a bit easy for me.

Keep reading!
--SwimmerGirl

Little Brother

Hello again!  I recently went to the library, so expect a lot more posts!

I'm reading a novel called "Little Brother" by Cory Doctorow.  It's a futuristic story about a boy named Marcus who is a hacker.  He and his group of friends play a game called Harajuku Fun Madness, which involves both online and real-life playing.  While searching for a clue, the friends are caught in a terrorist attack and Darryl, Marcus' best friend, is badly hurt.  They frantically search for help, but end up captured by the Department of Homeland Security, where they are questioned and forced to reveal information.  Marcus, angered at the way he was treated (and the fact that Darryl was not released), strikes back, organizing groups of teenagers and twenty-year-olds who also hate the DHS. This story was a tale of how one boy fights for his freedom and rights.  I thought it was a good book, because it told the story realistically, and stayed in the viewpoint of a teenager.  It outlined the fact that everyone has rights, and they cannot be taken away.  This book is for older kids, maybe in their mid to late teens and up.  I enjoyed it and I hope you will too!

Keep reading!
--SwimemrGirl

Ice Drift

This book is called "Ice Drift" by Theodore Taylor.  It's about two Inuit boys and their dog who are hunting seals to feed their family.  Unfortunately, the ice is thin, and a large chunk breaks off, carrying the two brothers, Alika and Sulu, with it as it drifts.  Alika, the elder by four years, is able to hunt and sustain himself and his brother.  Sulu, a mere ten, is unable to do much of anything.  Alika must hunt enough seals for them to survive, because if he can't, there could be dire consequences....
I liked this book because it was an adventure story.  It described how the boys survived on the ice floe, and the facts in between chapters were interesting.  Also, the author used many Inuit words throughout the novel, and provided a helpful pronunciation guide in the back.  However, this book was a little too easy for me.  I would recommend this book to slightly younger children.

Keep reading!
-SwimmerGirl

Singer of All Songs

I'm finishing up a book entitled "The Singer of All Songs" by Kate Constable.  The story is about a young girl named Calwyn who is becoming a priestess in the mountain town of Antaris.  She, like all of the girls there, is an ice-worker, meaning she can sing chantments to bend and shape the ice and cold weather to her wishes.  One day, while performing her duties to strengthen the massive ice wall that surrounds Anatris, she finds a badly injured man and brings him to the infirmary.  As the man slowly heals, Calwyn learns his name is Darrow, and that he is an ironworker, able to control the forces of the earth.  She helps Darrow escape and continues on a journey with him to stop Samis, who is determined to become the most powerful sorcerer of all.  Will she and Darrow be able to defeat him?  Read and find out!

The details in this book were fantastic, and I loved how the author described the powers of the people so vividly.  This book is a great read!

Keep reading!
--SwimmerGirl

Raven's Gate

Another great book is Raven's Gate by Anthony Horowitz.  It follows a boy named Matthew Freeman.  He is a quiet boy who really doesn't care about his studies at all.  One night, he assists his friend in breaking into a warehouse, where his friend panics and stabs a security guard.  Matt is given the choice: he can either go to a juvenile detention facility, or he can participate in the LEAF (Learning and Education Achieved through Fostering) project and be sent to live in the countryside.  Matt picks the latter, and travels to Lesser Malling to live on Mrs. Deverill's farm.  But strange things are happening to Matt, and stranger still is what's going on in Lesser Malling...

This book was really gripping, I couldn't put it down!  It was exciting and didn't get boring at all.  Horowitz's setting captivates the reader and keeps them turning the pages until the very end.

Keep reading, everyone!
--SwimmerGirl

Magic, Monsters and More

Artemis Fowl, by Eoin Colfer, is a fantastic story of magic, fairies, and witty jokes.  It is about a twelve-year-old criminal mastermind named Artemis Fowl, who is determined to get his hands on some fairy gold.  He attempts this by capturing a fairy named Holly Short, a member of the Lower Elements Police Reconnaissance unit (also known as LEPrecon).  Unsurprisingly, Holly is outraged, and sends for help from her fellow fairies.  An epic battle ensues.  Who will win?  Read and find out!
I really liked this book because it made me laugh a lot.  Eoin's descriptions are outstanding, and the personalities in each of his characters stand apart from each other.  If you're looking for a read that won't disappoint, this is it!


Keep reading!
--SwimmerGirl

Finnikin of the Rock

Weekends are awesome, because you finally have time to finish those books you've been meaning to.

I just finished a great fantasy book called Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta.  The story is about a boy and his mentor who are wandering the country after their kingdom, Lumatere, was cursed.  Finnikin is desperately attempting to locate his father, Trevanion.  They come across a girl named Evanjalin, and at first, Finnikin hates her.  Slowly but surely, they begin to tolerate and even like each other.  This trust is broken when she has him arrested.  As it turns out, arresting Finnikin was part of her plan, for in prison, Finnikin locates his father and they manage to escape.  Now, with the fate of Lumatere in the hands of Finnikin and Evanjalin, they set off across the country on a daring adventure.  The end has some surprising revalations, and it was a good book.  One thing that got a bit annoying was how confusing the story was.  Everything tied up quite nicely at the end, but in the middle it was hard to decipher what was happening then or what had happened already.  I would recommend this book if you like fantasy, action, and tales of heroes.

Wolf Brother

Day 2!
This book was called Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver.  It is set long ago on a primitive Earth.  The story begins with a boy named Torak.  He is traveling with his father through the woods when a bear attacks.  Torak's father tells him to run, and the poor boy is left alone.  He travels through the woods until he finds a small wolf cub.  The cub follows him in his travels, which eventually get him captured by the Raven Clan.  Torak, an outsider of his own Wolf Clan, is scorned and thought to be evil.  Can he befriend the girl named Renn and complete his journey?  Read the book to find out!  This books is a great adventure with surprising twists and turns.  I couldn't put it down!

Keep reading!
--SwimmerGirl

Day 1

Hi everyone, and welcome to Day 1 of more posting!!

Not all of these posts will be about books, but they'll be something related to reading or writing.
One particular book I could read over and over again is called Skulduggery Pleasant.  The author is Derek Landy.  Skulduggery Pleasant (called SP from here on in) is a witty, smart, sarcastic, and brilliant detective.  One odd thing: he's also a walking, talking, magic-using skeleton.  When Stephanie Edgley's uncle dies mysteriously, she meets the detective (who is heavily disguised) and notices something odd about him.  Later on, when Stephanie is in her uncle's house, she is attacked by a man.  SP saves her and from them on, she is caught up in a world of sorcerers, good versus evil, and danger.  I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys magic, fantasy, or wants a good laugh.

Keep reading!
--SwimmerGirl

The Kneebone Boy

I recently read a book called the Kneebone Boy by Ellen Potter.  In my opinion it was a fantastic book.  The writing was extremely well done, and her descriptions made the book come to life.  There weren't really any slow points in the book, and it held my interest very well.  I am hoping for a sequel, and I would recommend this to anyone who likes adventure books.  The book is told in the third person, by one of the Hardscrabble children, but we are never told whom (although I have a guess).  Whomever it is, however, talks to the reader as if they were speaking to them in real life.  It keeps the reader entertained and wondering what the speaker will say/do next.

The Kneebone Boy begins by introducing us to the Hardscrabble children: Otto, who doesn't talk, Lucia, who likes to argue and make points, and Max, a very intelligent boy.  They live with their father and are seen as strange to the rest of their town, Little Tunks.  When their father sends them to live with their aunt for a bit, they are amazed to discover that she isn't at home.  With nowhere to stay, the Hardscrabbles go on a journey to find their father, meet their mother, and unravel the mysteries of their family. 

The Hunger Games

I recently re-read a book called The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.  It is about a post-apocalyptic United States of America.  The country has been decimated by war, but Panem, made of the Capitol and 13 Districts, has risen from the ashes.  The story follows a girl named Katniss Everdeen and her life in District 12, Panem's coal mining district.  Each year the districts are forced to give tributes, one boy and one girl, to participate in the Hunger games, a competition where 24 tributes battle to the death.  Katniss step up to save her little sister, Prim, thereby making her a contestant.  How does Katniss deal with her decision?  Will she survive the Hunger Games and return home a victor?  Read the book to find out!
There are two more books in the trilogy, called Catching Fire and Mockingjay.  I highly recommend these to anyone who likes sci-fi or survival books.
Keep reading!

--Swimmer Girl

Second Review!

So much for posting last week...

This should make up for it though.  Although I'm currently in class, my instructor said that this blog post would be a free post.  So, here is my second book review!

The most recent book I read was called Firelight by Spohie Jordan.  It was about a girl named Jacinda.  She is a draki, a descendant of dragons.  She (and the rest of her tribe) have a valuable secret: they can turn into humans if they so desire.  However, there are men who hunt the draki for their skin.  Jacinda's mother decides to leave the pride after Jacinda almost gets caught by hunters.  She takes her and her sister, Tamra, to a dry town near the desert.  Jacinda struggles to fit into her new life, while still wanting to return to the tribe in the mountains.  She meets a boy named Will who shows interest in her.  However, she also learns that Will is a hunter.  I won't spoil the ending, but I will tell you it is very dramatic.  There are mroe books planned in the series, but no titles have been released as of right now. 

Keep reading!\
--Swimmer Girl