ANIMAL FARM

ANIMAL FARM
by George Orwell
144 pp. Penguin Group. £8.99. (Ages 13 and up)

ISBN
9780141182704

Rating: ? Stars


    This book is set in a future when animals are much cleverer than now. And because of their cleverness, the pigs started a revolution against the humans. Pigs could speak fluently in English unlike the other animals, and that gave them the power to be leaders. But, the story that follows only happened a few years after that...
    Their first leader, Old Major, was kind and fair who knew animals should be equal. But when Napoleon became the leader it was very unpleasant. He made a rule that allowed the pigs to have better food and that forced all of the other animals to work crazily hard every day and night. That wasn’t enough, Napoleon wanted more power.
    He decided to kill his brother, Snowball, so that he would be the only leader. Snowball was admired because he came up with a clever idea to build windmill. Snowball was also popular because of his role in the revolution. He and Boxer (a hardworking horse) were the bravest. So this selfish pig, Napoleon, destroyed what the animals built (the windmill) and blamed Snowball who escaped the farm. Then Napoleon made the animals work harder and harder, making the animals very weak and even die. If any of the animals were clever like Napoleon, he would just order an execution to get rid of them.
    My favourite character is Boxer the horse, who would work the hardest of the animals but never give up no matter how much it hurt, or how old he gets. He never complained to Napoleon, instead saying, “Napoleon is always right”. This book made me think of another newer book, Mockingjay (Part Two of The Hunger Games films) because President Snow is like the humans and President Alma Coin is like Napoleon. President Alma Coin defeats President Snow, but then becomes corrupt and maybe worse.
also on the Guardian Children's Books Site

CITY OF FALLEN ANGLES

CITY OF FALLEN ANGLES

The Mortal Instruments Book 4

by Cassandra Clare

480 pp. Margaret K. McElderry Books. $13.99. (Ages 13 and up)


ISBN

9781481455992


Rating: 4 Stars


  This book is a start of an new adventure. The enemy has lost and a new one rises. I think it is a good idea the author made a new enemy. Now the book wont end!
  I don't like how the author divides the book into many parts. It makes me think its a very large book and sometimes I get bored. It makes the book seems like a very very big book. And most pages are wasted for the page to say a new part and also the quote/poem the author has made.
  In a new story there will be new characters. The villain in the book has lost now if the next villain will be bigger new characters will come. The are new characters now like Mia, Jorgan and other characters.
  I don't like the part when a partner does not let the other one go in a fight because they don't want to lose them. Its like making a choice for a person. But a person can make its own choices. Another person cant make that choices for them. Its not fair. Why don't the parter let the other partner come into the fight it they want to, but protect them.
  Overall I think this book is good. I hope next time the author will not make more parts in a new book in the future. I rate this book 8/10 stars. And I also hope in the future that there wont be a partner bossing the other one to keep safe.

CITY OF GLASS

CITY OF GLASS
The Mortal Instruments Book 3
by Cassandra Clare
592 pp. Margaret K. McElderry Books. $13.99. (Ages 13 and up)

ISBN
9781481455985

Rating: 4 Stars

   This is the 3rd book of the series. Its the best book out of the 1st and the 2nd because it is the book that has the war between Valentine and the Shadow hunters. When I started reading it it seems very messy. But in the end it all makes sense. Its ether between the valentine or the shadow hunters who wins.
   From the first book until this book (the third book) the cover always has the text by Stephen Meyer.. looking at the cover of the book makes me think its the same book over and over again. I also think the text by Stephen Meyer should be in the back because most text by a famous author is in the back.
   Valentine is a villain and also a father of 3 children. I don't understand him. Is he trying to use his children or does he really love his children? I think the author should explain more about this character because i'm not sure if this man is a villain or just a father. For some reason I feel like I should pitty him dieing.
  The moral of this book is 'consequences'. If you do something there will always be a problem. Its just you need to think if its a good choice. Clary has brought Jace from the dead. And she is not s supposed to. But she has already done it. Problems will come. But was it a good choice or a bad one?
  Overall I think this book is interesting and fun. I think next time the author should make the text in the back of the book and explain more about Valentine. I also think the book has good morals a moral that all children,teens and adults will understand. I rate this book 7/10 stars

CITY OF ASHES

CITY OF ASHES

The Mortal Instruments Book 2

by Cassandra Clare

512 pp. Margaret K. McElderry Books. $13.99. (Ages 13 and up)


ISBN

9781481455978


Rating: 4 Stars


  This is a type of book that mixes every type of book into one book . I would think it has everything. Like Action,romance,comedy all in one book. It is like other teen books like the Divergent series. It is one of those teen books that every teen enjoys reading. I also like the love story in the book. Clary and Jace is very sweet and caring, but I think they are a bit over protective.
  I think the cover in the book has too much color and pictures. It kind of makes people think “what is really in the book?”. I think the illustrator should lessen the pictures and just have Clary and Jace or another main character. Most people like simple but charming covers.
  The moral in this book is friendship and care. Everyone needs to learn how to care and to take care of their friendship. It is a very important thing. That is one of the things that the author is trying to say in this book.
  The character that I think shines in the book is Simon. Before he was a Mundae (human) but now he is a vampire that can go out in the light (sunlighter) and now all the villains want his blood that is very important. It is very weird but the book always takes turns and bends to make it a good book. And I think Simon is the most caring person in the book. No matter what happens he always cares for everyone.
  Overall I think this is another book I like. I think this is the book that stands out, out of the other series. I rate this book 8/10 stars. I hope the author can make more books!

CITY OF BONES

CITY OF BONES
The Mortal Instruments Book 1
by Cassandra Clare
544 pp. Margaret K. McElderry Books. $13.99. (Ages 13 and up)

ISBN
9781481455923

Rating: ? Stars

   The story starts with a 15­ year old girl named, Clary Fray. She starts out as a perfectly normal teen with a best friend, Simon. Then everything turns upside down. Her mom disappears out of nowhere and she falls in love with a stranger that she saw murder a demon. I have seen this book resistantly in many book stores so I had a feeing I should read this book.
  I think the book should have a different beginning. I am starting to be bored with the same start of stories, always starts with a normal person opening their past. Most teen books (ex. Divergent series, Harry potter, The pretties series, etc.) have the same beginning. I think the author should make it more exiting and different in the beginning, so it can attract the readers attention.
  I think in this book there is too many poems/quotes like at the start of the book, In the beginning of a part, and at the epilogue. I think it is a god idea to put poems/quotes but not to much. If readers see a lot of quotes/poems they will start to get bored.
  Jace is a character that I think stands out. In the shadow hunter world he is the bravest and the best shadow hunter. But inside he has fears, and feeling but he doesn't show it. I like how the author tells the readers that don't judge people by their cover, even if they always act brave or fearless they have feelings but they might not show it.
  Overall I think this book is a good book. But It is not suitable for children below ages 12, because I think they would not understand the story the author is trying to make. I also give this book 7/10 stars. I hope in the future the author can make new books but with different beginning so she can get the readers attention and not have to many quotes/poems on the book. i

DIVERGENT

DIVERGENT
Divergent Trilogy Book 1
By Veronica Roth
496 pp. Katherine Tegen Books. $17.99. (Ages 13 and up)

ISBN
9780062024039

Rating: 5 Stars

   This book is the best book I have ever read. It’s a teen novel about the future. It’s like all types of novels mixed together. It has love, adventure, friendship, science fiction and so much more. One of the other reasons I like this book is because it has so much information that you make an epic movie in your mind.
   I like romance, but not any kind of romance. I like teen romance or a story about crushes. I don't like when the romance is so simple, like the 70's romance. This book has a very advanced type of romance, it has sharing secrets, crushes, the type of ‘aww’ caring and more.
   Sacrifices are one of the worst parts of most books you may think, unless it has the enemy sacrifice themselves. Yes, I agree to. This book has too much sacrifice. Tris's mom, dad, and friends died in the book. It’s too much, hurts the reader’s heart. The deaths of Tris's friends and family is because of this erudite woman. Argh! The sacrifices are good because of the reasons they sacrificed themselves. I won’t say anything more to save the secrets.
   I love how the author made the fear simulation. It would not be the best book I have ever read. And also Four would not be there. Four is amazing, he has only four fears. My fears are uncountable. It’s also fasinating to imagine.
   I will rate this book all the stars in the word.

ANIMAL FARM

ANIMAL FARM
by George Orwell
140 pp. Signet Classics. $8.99. (Ages 13 and up)

ISBN
9780451526342

Rating: 5 Stars


    This was a very strange but brilliant book. It really made me think about our world, as in how the government always try's to make a new start, create a better place, but making it work is hard. After a while, sometimes, bad people will take over and ruin it, making it just as bad as it started. Are all revolutions like that? This book made me think of the Hunger Games. They are both about revolutions where the new leaders end up being just as selfish as the old ones.
    This book was about a farm where the animals were angry with humans for imprisoning them, treating them badly and then killing them when they grew up. Finally they chased out the farmers and put the pigs in charge (as they were the cleverest). Snowball and Napoleon were both leaders and disagreed with each other on everything. Snowball was actually the good leader because he did everything for the good of everyone instead of being selfish like Napoleon. One day Napoleon became sick of Snowball and let 6 hounds, that he had secretly been training, loose on Snowball. This forced Snowball to flee, leaving Napoleon in charge. Will Snowball come back and create the place everyone wishes for? Or will Napoleon create a place even worse than before?
    I think this book is for ages ten and up because you need to be quite clever to get the true meaning of the story. This book definitely deserves five out of five stars. My parents told me it is a classic, and I can see why.