Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Posted by: logan25 on: August 15, 2011
First off, I want to say sorry for not having updated in such a long time! But! I finished this book a few months ago and wanted to review the final book of one of my favorite series!
So, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K Rowling is the final book in the Harry Potter series. Harry, Ron, and Hermione set off to destroy Horcruxs. They travel all over, returning even to the place Harry was born, and the place where his parents where killed by Voldemort. Also, in this book you find out what side the characters are REALLY on. This book has lots of surprising twists ( they won’t be surprising if you have seen the final 2 movies, they follow pretty closely to the books, but the book is better, of corse.)
I really enjoyed this book! The main characters are so lovable and it is great to see them working together to try and defeat Voldemort once and for all.
Beastly
Posted by: logan25 on: March 19, 2011
Sorry it has been so long since I have posted something new! I have been super busy lately!
SO! Two of my good friends who live out of state came to visit! They drove here in 11 hours with all the crazy traffic. My friend, who isn’t really a “reader” Was RAVING about a book she read straight through on the car ride down…called Beastly. I didn’t really have intentions of reading it. But after school the day they left, I came into my room and found Beastly laying on my bed. I couldn’t put it down since 
.
Beastly, by Alex Flinn is a take on beauty and the beast. It is set in present day times and starts off with Kyle being a popular and handsome, but rude and heartless. A Witch then comes and changes him into a hideous beast. She gives him 2 years to find somebody to love him despite his ugliness. She gives him a magic mirror in which he can see ANYONE he wants in! This book is from “the beasts” Point of view. There is a surprising twist at the end I didn’t expect at all! To find it out…read the book
I give this book, 3.5 stars. It was great, a very quick read and fast paced. I didn’t like how there was barely any humor. I also disliked how they didn’t describe the setting very well. But, I love how it ends!
Here is an excerpt:
“I was a beast. I stared into the mirror. I was an animal not quite a wolf or a bear or a gorilla or a dog, but some horrible species that walked upright, that was almost human, yet not. Fangs grew from my mouth, my fingers were clawed and hair grew from every pore. I, who’d looked down on peoples with zits or halitosis, was a monster.”
Page 47
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K Rowling
Posted by: logan25 on: January 18, 2011
This book is the 6th Harry Potter book. I read the 5th one throughout the summer and once I finished it, I couldn’t WAIT to read the next one! I had my dad drive me out to Barnes & Noble’s at 9:30 to go get the last two! So, my tip when reading this series: Once you get to the 4th one (The Goblet of Fire) make sure you have all the books on hand!
Okay, at this point in the series, everyone now knows Voldemort is back. Harry, Hermione and Ron return for their 6th year at Hogwarts. In the beginning of the school year, they receive a new Potion’s teacher. In Harry’s text book he finds constant notes that help him excel in Potions. These notes are all made by the Half Blood Prince. Throughout the year the Hogwarts headmaster, Dumbledore arranges meetings with Harry, in which he shows some of Voldemort’s memories to give Harry a better idea of his past. Harry soon falls in love with Ginny, without Ron, her older brother’s approval. The Wizarding world then loses a great wizard as the search for Horcruxes begins and Harry is shocked when he finds out who the mysterious Half-Blood Prince is!
One of my 2010 New Year’s resolutions was to finish the Harry Potter series! Before reading the books, I had only seen very little of the movies. But for this one, I actually was taken to the midnight premiere by my Harry-Potter-super-fan friend. I absolutely loved it! I usually don’t even compare the book to the movie but in this case I preferred the movie. One of my absolute favorite parts was when Harry comforted Hermione after seeing Ron kiss someone else, is not in the book. I think both the 6th movie and book have great humor, they are just, different. The movie also doesn’t fallow the book as well as some of the other movies. But, the way the book was ended was much better than the way the movie was ended.
So, overall I give this book, 5 out of 5. I absolutely adore the writing style J.K Rowling uses! Also having “known” the character’s for 6 books, you really grow to like them! I also think the entire concept of this book is very creative. I could not stop reading this one and was onto the seventh one before I knew it!
Teaser:
“…I really don’t know where you get those brain waves, my boy…unless-” (the Potions teacher to Harry Potter on a potion he made using the half-Blood Prince’s tips)
Harry pushed the Half-blood prince’s book deeper into his bag with his foot.
“…it’s just your mother’s genes coming out in you!:
“Oh…yeah maybe.” said Harry, relieved.
The Hunger Games
Posted by: logan25 on: December 11, 2010
My second quarter book report, book was “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins. The assignment was to try to convince the rest of the class to read YOU’RE book. The person with the most votes gets five extra points. Read on to find out if I won . Here is the summary part of my presentation:
“The Hunger Games is about Katniss Everdeen who lives in the poorest district, District 12. District 12 is in a futuristic country in the ruins of the US called Panam. Panam is controlled by the Capitol, and to prove to the twelve districts they are in control and to discourage them to start a rebellion, they hold an annual hunger games, which is forced to be “celebrated”. On reaping day, the name of one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 from each district is picked by a lottery. They are forced to participate in the hunger games. What are the hunger games?
The Hunger Games is an awful game where kids must fight each other to the death which Capitol puts on annually. When 16-year-old Katniss’ 12 year old sister, Prim is called. Katniss heroically takes her place. After lots of preparations in the capitol, they begin interviews where Peeta confesses he loves her, to get more sponsors, or does he truly love her? She battles for her life along with her fellow district twelve tribute, Peeta. But there can only be one victor.”
Overall I give this book four out of five stars. It was very fast paced with no dull moments. But I don’t think the characters are built up enough in the beginning. Other than that, I do defiantly recommend this book!
I did return this book back to the Library and can’t do an excerpt of this book. I will tell you what my favorite part was. Well, it was when they were in the Capitol preparing for the Games because I like the suspense and how her stylist put together an elaborate outfit for the interviews!
Also, my book DID win. It was either because of my hard work on the report or because two other people who also did this book. Either way all three of us got five extra points!
Waiting for Normal by Leslie Conner
Posted by: logan25 on: November 26, 2010
Before I start my review, I’d like to give you an update of what I’ve been reading for the past few weeks! I have meet my New Year’s Resolution and finished the Harry Potter series! It was great! I will do reviews of the last two books soon, I thought I would take a break of Harry Potter books. I’ve also read “The Hunger Games” I am doing a book report on that project. The assignment is trying to persuade reader to read your book. I will try to record my presentation than attach it to a post!
On to the review! So, Waiting for Normal by Leslie Conner is over all a great book! It is about a 12 year old girl named Addie, who is part of a very dysfunctional family. Her mom, who she calls “Mommers”, has a very all-or-nothing approach to life. After Addie’s father dies when she is 3, Mommers remarries Dwight, everything was great and Addie got two new little sisters. But a few years later, Mommers and Dwight end up getting divorced. Dwight got custody of Addie’s two sisters but since her and Dwight aren’t blood, he can’t get custody. Addie and Mommers live in a trailer in Schenectady, NY. Mommers leaves the trailer for days on end, leaving Addie alone. Addie still stays optimistic things will one day be normal. She makes friends, and Dwight keeps in close contact with Addie making sure Mommers is taking care of her, and has her come visit in him, her sisters, and his-soon-to-be-wife Hannah in Lake George frequently. But when something tragic happens in Mommers absence, The State begins to question her as a mother. Okay, I give this book 3.5 out of 5 stars. The pros of this book where it was such a page turner! I think I read the whole thing in two days! Addie is very likable & optimistic. The book has a diverse story line. The cons: It was a little bit of a downer, there wasn’t great character development. It explained what they were like but not how they looked. It was also very hodge-podge-y. It would be like this:”I reached for flute, knowing I’d have to bring it back.
I walked over the bridge, looking to see if the diner was open…”
I do recomend this book, but keep in mind it is very sad!
***NOTE: I DID CRY!***
Here is a quote:
“‘…How was it up there (with Dwight)?’
‘Oh! Mommers-’ I hesitated. ‘It was all right’ I said. I added a shrug.
‘And Dwight’s all moved in with that Hannah chick’s place? What did I hear? A mansion or something?’
Page 137, Waiting for Normal
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoniex by J.K Rowlings
Posted by: logan25 on: October 30, 2010
I’ve finally finished this book! I always think it is hard to review a Harry Potter book because there are just so many details that you loved and want to fit in there…but not give too much away!
Harry returns to Howarts yet again for his 5th year of wizarding school and is now 15 years old (I have to agree with this review of the 5th book on the inside cover of the sixth one:
“Rowling has not lost her flair as a story teller or her ability to keep coming up with new gimcracks to astound her readers. But her true skill lie in the way she ages Harry…”)
Due to Voldemort’s return, which the rest of the wizarding community refuses to believe, Dumbledore re-activates the Order of the Phoenix. Upon Harry’s arrival at school the new defense against the dark arts is from the ministry of magic. No teacher has ever been from the Ministry so this is a shock for Harry. During the Climax of this book, someone very dear to Harry dies, but of course you have to read the book to find out who!
I give this book a 4.9 out of 5. Why not make it a five? I’ll explain. It isn’t my FAVORITE book but it is definitely one of the best in the series. My favorite book would be book four, which I also have a review on. It isn’t my favorite because the new professor makes Harry miserable at Hogwarts. I loved: The story line, the characters, how well it is written, and the excitement! You never know what is going to happen!
” ‘Sirius!’ Harry said loudly, but Sirius appeared not to hear him. ‘I’ve warned you Sivellus,’ said Sirius, his face barely a foot from Snape’s, ‘I don’t care if Dumbledore thinks you’ve reformed, I know better…”
Page 520, The Order of the Phoenix
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Posted by: logan25 on: September 11, 2010
I know, I know it has been forever since I’ve last posted an update! Things have been very busy lately! But, one of my New Year Resolutions was to finish the Harry Potter series. I am toward the end of the 5th one, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix right now and over the summer read harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K Rowling which is about a boy wizard (Harry Potter!) during his 4th year of Wizarding school. In this particular book, the annual sport of Quidditch is cancelled an in its place the Triwizard Tournament takes its place, this tournament is hundreds and hundreds of years old! It involves two other Wizarding schools. One requirement to enter was you had to be 17 so Harry( and everyone else) was shocked when Harry… WAIT! I can’t tell too much! This book is my favorite one in the series and I highly suggest you read it !
I give this book a 5 out of 5 star rating, it was well written, a great story line and the characters are very lovable! My favorite part is probably the first chapter.
Here is an excerpt:
“There was a pause in which Hermione beamed at the pair of them, and Harry sat, torn between exasperation at Hermione and amusement at the look on Ron’s face. The silence was broken, not by Ron… but by a soft tap tap on the window.”
Page 225, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Freakonomics
Posted by: logan25 on: July 3, 2010
Both of my parents have read Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything, the New York Times bestseller by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner and loved it! So I thought I should give it a try. This book is a nonfiction book. So, it does get a little slow at times but overall it is great! The title of each chapter is a question and the authors answer the question by using outside topics. Some chapters are~
What do Schoolteachers and Sumo Wrestlers Have in Common?
Where Have all the Criminals Gone?
What makes a Perfect Parent?
And many more. I like this book because it challenges you to think differently. For example~ Instead of asking why are there so many criminals ask where have all the criminals gone? I also like it because if you aren’t overly interested in a certain topic the chapter is about you don’t have to go in order at all!
I give this book a 4 out of 5 star rating. It gets stars for: the way it was wonderfully worded (if the author of Series of Unfortunate Events, Lemony Snicket wrote a nonfiction book it would be similar to this), the interesting studies, how it is on a wide variety of topics and being one of the few non-fiction books I have read before the other, fiction books on my night stand. But it does loss a star for getting slow at times. There will be a sequel to this book called Super Freakonomics
There are so many quotable quotes in this book but this one I think sums everything up nicely.
Here is an Excerpt~
“And now, with all these pages behind us, an early promise has been confirmed: this book indeed has no “unifying theme.”
But if there is no unifying theme to Freakonomics, there is at least a common thread running through the everyday application of Freakonomics. It as to do with thinking sensibly about how people behave in the real world.”
Page 205, Epilogue: Two Paths to Harvard
The Giver
Posted by: logan25 on: May 16, 2010
I was assigned in school to read The Giver by the award winning author Lois Lowry. It made me smile because last year a few of my friends read it and LOVED it! So it made me think of them. I started to read and normally I don’t like Sci-Fi because you don’t know what planet your on! But this to my surprise was excellent! It is about 12 year old Jonas who lives in the Community. But beyond the Community they knew nothing else. Everything is meant to be the same. But when Jonas begins seeing beyond things start to change. He wants everyone to see what he does but he knows they can’t. The book is a page turner!
I give this book four and a half out five stars! This book is so different than any other book I have read. It is great because, being Sci-Fi, the author really uses lots of adjectives which helps you understand what this Community is like. Also I liked that the characters were very likable and relatable. Another reasson I loved this book was it was so different and got to the point very quickly! I disliked that the ending was such a cliff-hanger and was very confusing. But over all this is definitely one of my favorite books!
Here is a teaser:
“You remember last year, or the year that you were a Sven or a Five, can’t you?
“Of course.”
“It’s much the same. Everyone in the community has one-generation memories like those. But now you will be able to go back further. Try. Just concentrate.”
page 38; “The Giver”
White Fang
Posted by: logan25 on: April 18, 2010
I apologize for not having updated in such a long time. Things have been kind of hectic. But I have recently read the classic novel White Fang by Jack London. This book is about a half dog/ half wolf from the frigid Klondike, who throughout the book is moved from place to place, having many people trying to train him to act more like a dog and less like a wolf.
I give this book, 3 stars. I liked it in the sense that it is very well written, the characters are very likable, and the book has a lot of details. What I disliked about this book was it didn’t get you to the point fast enough and was hard to follow. I also disliked how it lacked so much dialogue. I would only read this book if you enjoy the classics and are patient enough to wait many chapter until you actually meet White Fang.
Here is a teaser:
The cub felt prod of the life what was in him, and stood up and snarled valiantly by his mother’s side. But she thrust him ignominiously away and behind her.
Page 80, White Fang, Jack London
