Trash - Andy Mulligan
Blurb:
Three friends. Raphael, Gardo and Rat. Living on a heap of trash, a lifetime of sifting rubbish. One day they find something extraordinary - a deadly secret. From that moment they are hunted without mercy.
With danger snatching at their hee;s, the boys are chased from the city's dirty gutters to its wealthy avenues. But they can't run for ever. They need a miracle.
Reflection:
I thought that this book was good because it was good to understand and see people's perspectives that are on the bottom of the heap. We, being at Kristin, are obviously on the top of the heap and we have this perception that everybody glowers at us because we have been dealt a good hand and they haven't but this book proves to us that it is not like that. This book is a book about the future and what the world could be like if we don't care for our environment.
The world that Raphael, Gardo and Rat find themselves in, is a world that they have to suffer for because of others not caring about the environment. Although they all are at the bottom of the heap, literally, they still have family and this is a major theme within the book. It shows us how people stick together through thick and thin because they are doing what they believe is right.
This book also shows us how everything in our world today revolves around money. Our status, our friendships, our education and our lifestyle.
This book also shows us that education is not very important to people who count on making money for their next meals and how it comes to be at the bottom of their agendas. This is a massive contrast when you look at us today and see how important it is to us. Our main goals are to get a good job that pays well so that we can support our future family. Their's is to survive. I don't think in our positions that we appreciate the extent of poverty and I think in our day and age we should pay more attention and not just turn it the television off because it is a world crisis that we all should have to deal with and help with.
One character that I noticed the most change in was Rat. At the beginning our perception of him was that he was frail, he was sensitive and he was insignificant because he was living with the rats. This all changed when Raphael and Gardo decided to trust him with the secret of what they had found. In the end, it turns out that without Rat, the boys would not have been able to accomplish what they intended to do. This tells the reader that you can never underestimate someone and you should always respect their choice of lifestyle and other decisions they might make.
I would recommend this book to anyone who find futuristic situations interesting and also people who enjoy mysteries. Be warned that there is a little bit of violence during the book if you are uncomfortable with that sort of stuff.
Tuesday, 25 June 2013
Wednesday, 5 June 2013
Rapture - Lauren Kate
Rapture - Lauren Kate
Blurb:
The sky is dark with wings... and time is running out for Luce and Daniel.
In order to stop Lucifer from erasing the past, they must find the place where the Fall began. Only Luce can break the curse, and it is her choice alone that will decide all of their fates.
But as Dark Forces gather, great sacrifices will have to be made in this final, epic struggle...
In the fight for Luce, and for love, who will win?
This is the fourth and final book in the series by Lauren Kate about an 'ordinary' girl who discovers that she is in love with an angel and that she has been for centuries in past lives. In this book Luce discovers things about herself that she never would have had she given up trying on Daniel's and her fate. It also taught me that people do things for a reason and hardly ever not for a reason. Therefore you should never assume something about somebody unless you know the whole story. Luce knew that wat Lucifer was doing was wrong but she never knew why even though she had a hatred for him that even she couldn't understand. In the epic climax, Luce and Daniel choose each other so that the balance of good and evil will not be tipped. Not that this is the only reason. This book also gives the definition of mercy and why it is good to possess this skill. Luce is a brave character in this book because although she should feel outnumbered and weak standing next to all of these angel that are her allies, she befriends them and learns to love them. Even the ones that she doesn't like at first. She also realizes that the line between heaven and hell is quite a thin one and that even the angel that were destined to go to hell are good. This book is quite a religious one and I personally found it quite hard to understand because I am far from religious. Although this book did give me a better understanding of loss, love and sacrifice. I would recommend this book for any teenagers and adults wanting a book on romance so probably women or girls. You muse read the previous books before reading this one otherwise it will make no sense to you. You can get away with it in some books but not this one.
Blurb:
The sky is dark with wings... and time is running out for Luce and Daniel.
In order to stop Lucifer from erasing the past, they must find the place where the Fall began. Only Luce can break the curse, and it is her choice alone that will decide all of their fates.
But as Dark Forces gather, great sacrifices will have to be made in this final, epic struggle...
In the fight for Luce, and for love, who will win?
This is the fourth and final book in the series by Lauren Kate about an 'ordinary' girl who discovers that she is in love with an angel and that she has been for centuries in past lives. In this book Luce discovers things about herself that she never would have had she given up trying on Daniel's and her fate. It also taught me that people do things for a reason and hardly ever not for a reason. Therefore you should never assume something about somebody unless you know the whole story. Luce knew that wat Lucifer was doing was wrong but she never knew why even though she had a hatred for him that even she couldn't understand. In the epic climax, Luce and Daniel choose each other so that the balance of good and evil will not be tipped. Not that this is the only reason. This book also gives the definition of mercy and why it is good to possess this skill. Luce is a brave character in this book because although she should feel outnumbered and weak standing next to all of these angel that are her allies, she befriends them and learns to love them. Even the ones that she doesn't like at first. She also realizes that the line between heaven and hell is quite a thin one and that even the angel that were destined to go to hell are good. This book is quite a religious one and I personally found it quite hard to understand because I am far from religious. Although this book did give me a better understanding of loss, love and sacrifice. I would recommend this book for any teenagers and adults wanting a book on romance so probably women or girls. You muse read the previous books before reading this one otherwise it will make no sense to you. You can get away with it in some books but not this one.
Nina of the Dark - Ken Catran
Nina of the Dark - Ken Catran
Blurb:
Against the forces of evil and night, who will stand true?
Slave-born, fated to seek a terrible truth from lost centuries, her only allies are a thief , a giant and an ancient prophesy.
Together, they must seek answers to shrouded mysteries and resolve the fate of their world... but first they must survive a haunted landscape of monsters and ruthless lords.
Unknown to her companions, the girl has another battle, uniquely her own.
Before she can face the ungodly creatures who threaten humanity with a new age of darkness and evil incarnate, she must first defeat the darkness within herself.
She is Nina of the Dark, thrust unwillingly into a legacy of nightmare and violence. In a world on the edge of an abyss, she is the last hope ... and she is afraid.
This book was really interesting because it showed me that although you may know what is happening to a person on the outside, you will never be able to tell what is happening to them on the inside. The thumb-fire was a prime example of this because this influenced Nina's choices quite extremely. This book also showed me that no matter what you are doing or who you are, you must always be true to yourself. In the beginning of the book, Nina was completely in charge of her own thoughts but as the thumb-hurting began to progress she found that her thoughts were being gradually taken over by the strange being living inside her brain. You could see that this was becoming worse and worse as the plot progressed until we could tell that she was a completely different person from the girl at the beginning of the book. At the end of the story she realized how different she had become and makes an obvious choice to become the girl she once was. During the story, when Brod dies protecting Nina, and lets her know that Alen is still alive and hiding somewhere, she begins a perilous journey in search of her old friend and finds him where no others had ever been before. In the end, what saves her is the kindness that she had before the thought-fire really took control. I think this was a huge wake-up call for Nina as she realises that the thought-fire actually doesn't know what's best for her like she perceived when it first announced itself all those years ago. Heroes of literature have certain aspects of their life simulated during the plot. Two of those things that Nina of the Dark possesses is that she was born in unusual circumstances and she had to complete the last task on her own. This book was great and I would recommend it for anybody who loves to read books about adventure and mythical creatures.
Blurb:
Against the forces of evil and night, who will stand true?
Slave-born, fated to seek a terrible truth from lost centuries, her only allies are a thief , a giant and an ancient prophesy.
Together, they must seek answers to shrouded mysteries and resolve the fate of their world... but first they must survive a haunted landscape of monsters and ruthless lords.
Unknown to her companions, the girl has another battle, uniquely her own.
Before she can face the ungodly creatures who threaten humanity with a new age of darkness and evil incarnate, she must first defeat the darkness within herself.
She is Nina of the Dark, thrust unwillingly into a legacy of nightmare and violence. In a world on the edge of an abyss, she is the last hope ... and she is afraid.
This book was really interesting because it showed me that although you may know what is happening to a person on the outside, you will never be able to tell what is happening to them on the inside. The thumb-fire was a prime example of this because this influenced Nina's choices quite extremely. This book also showed me that no matter what you are doing or who you are, you must always be true to yourself. In the beginning of the book, Nina was completely in charge of her own thoughts but as the thumb-hurting began to progress she found that her thoughts were being gradually taken over by the strange being living inside her brain. You could see that this was becoming worse and worse as the plot progressed until we could tell that she was a completely different person from the girl at the beginning of the book. At the end of the story she realized how different she had become and makes an obvious choice to become the girl she once was. During the story, when Brod dies protecting Nina, and lets her know that Alen is still alive and hiding somewhere, she begins a perilous journey in search of her old friend and finds him where no others had ever been before. In the end, what saves her is the kindness that she had before the thought-fire really took control. I think this was a huge wake-up call for Nina as she realises that the thought-fire actually doesn't know what's best for her like she perceived when it first announced itself all those years ago. Heroes of literature have certain aspects of their life simulated during the plot. Two of those things that Nina of the Dark possesses is that she was born in unusual circumstances and she had to complete the last task on her own. This book was great and I would recommend it for anybody who loves to read books about adventure and mythical creatures.
Thursday, 2 May 2013
A Fringe of Reeds - Rosamond Rowe
A Fringe of Reeds - Rosamond Rowe
Blurb:
Even the long grass in the paddock had its magic after years of pocket-handkerchief living, and I loved to stride through it, scattering dewdrops, thinking with each footfall, "This is my patch. My home, and a haven for any other critter who needs me."
This was a really sweet book not very long and almost the perfect length for somebody to read it leisurely and at their own pace. This book is like going into the sea. You want to enjoy it while it lasts and not rush through it like a race. This book wouldn't be to some people's tastes but I thoroughly enjoyed it as this is the kind of reading that I like to do. This story is like an auto-biography in that it is an account of what she actually did to her garden.
This story shows how something can change with a little bit of blood, sweat and tears and a little bit of motivation. Ros's motivation came from her late Grandmother and her vision of peace amongst animals and humans in a natural habitat. A haven that is to be shared. Plagued with a Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, she creates a natural haven for both herself and animals through tales of hilarity and perseverance. Along the way she collects animals to help her build her farm such as a kune kune pig called Digby, her childhood friend Barkley the cat, a mischievous magpie called Mavis, a goat called Buffy and a flock of chickens. She also sets up a DOC bird sanctuary on her property while she is at it and as the bird internet is in full motion, she receives visitors of all shapes and sizes. Some of which are long-finned eels that nest in her lagoon, and her most prized friend, the kotuku or white heron. This is very sacred to her as these are rare birds and it reminds her of her late grandmother.
The author's intent of this story is to show that with perseverance comes reward and what the results can be! I would recommend this book to anybody of all ages as long as they have a bird bible and a plant thesaurus handy.
Prospero's Children - Jan Siegel
Prospero's Children - Jan Siegel
Blurb:
A mysterious, isolated house awaits sixteen-year-old Fern and her brother Will for the summer holidays. As the old house reveals its secrets, their familiar world starts to fracture, giving access to a magical and corrupt land destroyed thousands of years ago.
For hidden in the house is a talisman which has been sought by the forces of good and evil for millennia. And only someone possessed of the Gift can use it.
Soon, Fern finds herself being courted by the enigmatic wanderer, Ragginbone, and the sinister art-dealer, Javier Holt, who know that she has the Gift. Both want her to find the talisman, and use it to unlock the door, but what awaits her on the other side...?
This was an interesting story but I found it hard to read because the author used some really long words and I almost feel that she over-described everything. It gave the story a non-simplistic feel and bored me in parts. I also felt that towards the end, the author wittled on a bit and could have ended it sooner. The story was divided into two sections, one when Fern is in the present time and looking for the key, and the second when she goes back in time to Atlantis. I preferred the first part because it had more of a sense of adventure than the other. It also took me a while to get my head around the second part because it almost started again where she thought she had lived another life that she actually hadn't. As the story went progressed, Fern changed. At the start of the book she was reserved and it almost felt like she had matured too quickly because she didn't have a mother. She herself commented that her father needed somebody sensible around to make the decisions. At the beginning she looked down upon her younger brother as though he should rein in his imagination but as they find themselves caught in the spider's web of the story with no way to get out, they become closer and rely on each other more than they did. At the end of the first part she has changed so much because she has let her imagination run free like it should when you are that age. She realises that she was wrong to think that mythical creatures and magic are fictional and she admits that. At the beginning she is self-reliant and consults only herself, but her change in character leads her to be more reliant on others and more trusting. In the second part to this story, when she is in Atlantis, she again changes and this is what confused me I think. When she has an argument with Raf about staying and going she doesn't do much to defend herself from him telling her that she is stupid for thinking that she can do this alone. She just quietly sits there without changing her mind. In the first part of the story, I would have expected her to take a stand in her own defence and this change in character made me wonder whether it was the same girl in the first and second parts. She was still sure of herself but her mannerisms were different. Halfway through the second part where she is trying to remember her name made me realise that she isn't sure of much in this new world and therefore this is why she isn't as aggressive in her defence as she would have been in the first part. This book showed the change in character as the plot progresses but I think that the author made it too wordy and therefore made it hard to read. I would recommend this book to avid readers that don't find it hard to get through a 400 page book, because they are the ones more likely to finish it.
Blurb:
A mysterious, isolated house awaits sixteen-year-old Fern and her brother Will for the summer holidays. As the old house reveals its secrets, their familiar world starts to fracture, giving access to a magical and corrupt land destroyed thousands of years ago.
For hidden in the house is a talisman which has been sought by the forces of good and evil for millennia. And only someone possessed of the Gift can use it.
Soon, Fern finds herself being courted by the enigmatic wanderer, Ragginbone, and the sinister art-dealer, Javier Holt, who know that she has the Gift. Both want her to find the talisman, and use it to unlock the door, but what awaits her on the other side...?
This was an interesting story but I found it hard to read because the author used some really long words and I almost feel that she over-described everything. It gave the story a non-simplistic feel and bored me in parts. I also felt that towards the end, the author wittled on a bit and could have ended it sooner. The story was divided into two sections, one when Fern is in the present time and looking for the key, and the second when she goes back in time to Atlantis. I preferred the first part because it had more of a sense of adventure than the other. It also took me a while to get my head around the second part because it almost started again where she thought she had lived another life that she actually hadn't. As the story went progressed, Fern changed. At the start of the book she was reserved and it almost felt like she had matured too quickly because she didn't have a mother. She herself commented that her father needed somebody sensible around to make the decisions. At the beginning she looked down upon her younger brother as though he should rein in his imagination but as they find themselves caught in the spider's web of the story with no way to get out, they become closer and rely on each other more than they did. At the end of the first part she has changed so much because she has let her imagination run free like it should when you are that age. She realises that she was wrong to think that mythical creatures and magic are fictional and she admits that. At the beginning she is self-reliant and consults only herself, but her change in character leads her to be more reliant on others and more trusting. In the second part to this story, when she is in Atlantis, she again changes and this is what confused me I think. When she has an argument with Raf about staying and going she doesn't do much to defend herself from him telling her that she is stupid for thinking that she can do this alone. She just quietly sits there without changing her mind. In the first part of the story, I would have expected her to take a stand in her own defence and this change in character made me wonder whether it was the same girl in the first and second parts. She was still sure of herself but her mannerisms were different. Halfway through the second part where she is trying to remember her name made me realise that she isn't sure of much in this new world and therefore this is why she isn't as aggressive in her defence as she would have been in the first part. This book showed the change in character as the plot progresses but I think that the author made it too wordy and therefore made it hard to read. I would recommend this book to avid readers that don't find it hard to get through a 400 page book, because they are the ones more likely to finish it.
Tuesday, 2 April 2013
I am the Great Horse - Katherine Roberts
I am the Great Horse - Katherine Roberts
I am Bucephalas...
I am a stallion trained for war.
This is my story.
From the moment the battle-scarred horse Bucephalas allows a prince and a runaway girl to sit on his back, he is bound to them forever.
The prince is the young Alexander the Great, who he proudly carries into battle, blazing a trail to the very edge of the world in his search for glory and adventure.
The girl Charm is a lowly stable hand who brushes away the ghosts Bucephalas sees and forgives his arrogant ways. But unlike Golden Alexander, Charm has darker reasons to stay by his side.
Reflection:
I really liked this book because it was an adventure story but it also included some history about Alexander the Great. This really intrigued me and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I thought towards the end it dragged on a little bit though, but the author couldn't have edited it because then the facts wouldn't have been there to support the story which is what she said she needed in the author's notes. This book shows a lot about what other's can see from the outside (or Bucephalas' point of view). I think that the author was trying to get across that humans aren't so different to animals although they think themselves above animals. This is shown by how Bucephalas understands Alexander's need to dominate other civilizations. I ride horses once a week and this book actually taught me a lot about horses and I think it has benefited my riding and understanding of horses. I thought that the ending wasn't great either, because it didn't really tell you what happened to everybody in the end apart from the horses. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it for anybody either interested in horses or in history.
I am Bucephalas...
I am a stallion trained for war.
This is my story.
From the moment the battle-scarred horse Bucephalas allows a prince and a runaway girl to sit on his back, he is bound to them forever.
The prince is the young Alexander the Great, who he proudly carries into battle, blazing a trail to the very edge of the world in his search for glory and adventure.
The girl Charm is a lowly stable hand who brushes away the ghosts Bucephalas sees and forgives his arrogant ways. But unlike Golden Alexander, Charm has darker reasons to stay by his side.
Reflection:
I really liked this book because it was an adventure story but it also included some history about Alexander the Great. This really intrigued me and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I thought towards the end it dragged on a little bit though, but the author couldn't have edited it because then the facts wouldn't have been there to support the story which is what she said she needed in the author's notes. This book shows a lot about what other's can see from the outside (or Bucephalas' point of view). I think that the author was trying to get across that humans aren't so different to animals although they think themselves above animals. This is shown by how Bucephalas understands Alexander's need to dominate other civilizations. I ride horses once a week and this book actually taught me a lot about horses and I think it has benefited my riding and understanding of horses. I thought that the ending wasn't great either, because it didn't really tell you what happened to everybody in the end apart from the horses. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it for anybody either interested in horses or in history.
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