Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians

I read Alcatraz and the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson after it was given to me as a gift by my brother- and sister-in law while I was recovering from surgery. It's about a boy named Alcatraz who is in foster care and always breaks things. It isn't until he meets his grandfather on his 13th birthday that he realizes that breaking things like he does is actually a rare talent in his grandfather's world. Alcatraz joins his grandfather and others to stop the cult of evil librarians who are taking over the world.

This was a fun book. It was interesting because the whole book takes place on one day--it just follows every detail of Alcatraz throughout the day. I enjoyed the characters and the unique story.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

I re-read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling in preparation for the movie coming out. It is the conclusion of the series and tells how Harry goes about trying to defeat Lord Voldemort.

Of course, I loved this book, as I do every time I read or re-read any Harry Potter book. There are so many fun details, great characters, and just an exciting story. I love it all! It's particularly fun to watch the movie and realize how many more wonderful details are in the book, reminding me why reading is awesome.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

Mockingjay

I read Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins to finish up the Hunger Games series. I won't describe the plot because it would ruin the earlier books for those who haven't read the series. So, click here to read what I wrote to summarize the first book.

Even though the book involved me enough that I read the entire thing in one day, I was actually quite disappointed with it. The first two books were just SO good, and this one just didn't quite live up. The characters were less likable, and the closure just didn't mesh well with me. I am sad with how this book completed the series, but oh well. I'd still recommend the books.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

Anne of Avonlea

Anne of Avonlea is the second book in the Lucy Maud Montgomery series Molly lent me. This book follows Anne now that she has finished school and is a teacher. Marilla and Anne also take in young twins Dora and Davy--distant relatives whose mother died. Anne becomes close to Davy, whose curious personality causes some frustration.

This was another great read. I thought I wouldn't like it as much now that Anne is older, but I found that her character was just as enjoyable. It was a nice story with lots of different aspects to the plot to keep me interested.

Rating: * * * (3/3=Loved it)

Anne of Green Gables

Molly lent me her Anne of Green Gables box set to keep me busy at the end of my pregnancy. I started by re-reading the first of Lucy Maud Montgomery's series, Anne of Green Gables. (I had read it when I was in middle school or high school.) It is the story of imaginative 11-year-old Anne who is adopted by Matthew and Marilla. The book follows Anne until she's 16, chronicling her adventures with friends, family, school, and the outdoors.

This book was such a fun read. Anne is just a hilarious character, and I just loved her from the beginning. It's no wonder the author could write a whole series about this character--Anne just has such a distinct personality. I loved all the other characters in the book too and just laughed and cried throughout the book as I followed Anne's adventures.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

The Scarlet Pimpernel

Connor recommended The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Emmuska Orczy. It takes place during the French Revolution and is the story of a group of Englishmen (including their leader, the Scarlet Pimpernel) who secretly work to save French aristocrats from the guillotine. The book follows Marguerite, who must decide where her loyalties lie, and follows the mystery of who is the Scarlet Pimpernel.

This was a fun book to read. I had to adjust to the language at first (since I don't usually read classic literature written back in the day). I really liked the story line and the details put into the book.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

Sarah's Key

I read Sarah's Key by Tatiana DeRosnay for the book group I'm in. It is a fiction story based on real events that took place during the Holocaust--specifically the roundup of Jews in France. The book takes place in modern times and follows a journalist named Julia who researches those WWII events as part of the upcoming 60th anniversary of the roundups. As Julia learns more about what happened, she becomes fascinated and then discovers some secrets that will change her life forever.

This was a good book. It was very interesting and intriguing but unfortunately also kind of disturbing (which is understandable considering the Holocaust time period). It was an interesting approach to historical fiction because it took place nowadays but was very focused on a specific historical event. The problem with the book is that it had some adult language issues and such.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)