Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children

Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs isn't what I expected. I skimmed through the book with all it's creepy photos and thought it wasn't necessarily the kind of book I'd be interested it. But when I saw the trailer, which is actually not really anything like the book though it still looks pretty cool, it caught my interest.

I liked it though it look a while to get going.

The story starts out with Jacob getting stories from his grandfather, stories that Abe says are true but there is no way that that could possibly happen. Floating girls, invisible boys, a boy with bees living inside him. He also spoke about monsters that roamed about. Jacob's father said that these were metaphorical stories of what happened during WWII against the Nazi's. But when Jacob finds his grandfather attacked and told a puzzle that will hold answers to Abe's "insanity."

The trail ends up leading to child's home that Abe went to when after he fled Poland. With the okay of his psychiatrist (he saw Abe die and some kind of creature there that no one else saw), he went to England with his father and actually found the house. But no one has lived there since the 1940's when a bomb went off and blew out the whole inside. But wait, there is something weird there. Was that a girl? But she looked like that girl from one of Grandpa Abe's photo album. Exactly like her. How is that possible?

A time loop. After nearly sinking in the bog he finds his way to Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. He finds all of the children his grandpa told him about. But while the children are there, so are the terrible monsters.

Really I thought it was a fresh and rather ingenious. And it was nice that because they were kids they hadn't fully figured out how to use their powers. I mean, it not every twelve year old with abnormal powers would know how to use all of their powers. I do wish that they could have gone more into some of the other characters and their backgrounds. We didn't get too much on any other characters but Jacob and that Emma had a crush. It is the first in a trilogy so hopefully the next bunch of books will have more of the character development that I love in my books.

Fruits Basket

This time I reread a series that is near and dear to my heart. I LOVE Fruits Basket. I read this series a few years ago when it was in high school and is perfect for teens. (Though I will warn you there is a tad bit of swearing, though it drop a lot as the story goes on--Kyo isn't so mouthy.)

Fruits Basket is a manga (a Japanese graphic novel) written by Natsuki Takaya. These graphic novels are written "backwards" for us English readers where you read it from the top right to bottom left. It can be difficult to read when you first start out, but by the end of the first book you'd get it. Going back to any other graphic novel is the hard part for me.;)

The premise of the story is that Tohru Honda, a kind and very selfless girl, just lost her mom in a horrible accident and when she can't stay with her grandpa (her dad has passed away as well) she decides to live on her own and finds a piece of land and sets up a tent. On her way to school after a little bit of time living in her tent, she finds a house that she didn't know was there (or that she was living on their land without their permission). She comes home to her tent one evening and Yuki Sohma (the "Prince" of her high school) and his cousin Shigure find her and invite her into their home. There ends up being a landslide where her tent was so she is invited to stay longer in their home until something else can be figured out.

She ends up finding out the Sohma family secret, that certain members of the Sohma family are possessed by the Spirits of the Zodiac where if they are too stressed or sick or if they get hugged/bumped into by members of the opposite sex they turn into the animal that they are possessed by. (Another warning, when they change back into their human form, they don't have clothes on. There isn't anything shown and it is done artistically, so I still think it's okay for teens to read it.)

Tohru is told that she can stay so long as she keeps their secret. As time passes, she meets all the members of the Zodiac and tries to find a way to break the curse.

But the reason I love these books is for the characters. It is a very character driven story. There are a lot of characters that we get introduced to (most of which are on the front cover of the 23 novels) and they are all very full characters. Thought out and have their own stories that we get to know them all. The characters develop in the way they are drawn and throughout their own real character progression.

The second thing I love so much are the themes that run through the book. Kindness is the best policy. Loyal friends are better than fearful allies. To just be yourself. (Amongst many others.)

These books have become my go to for a chick flick book. There are cute romances throughout the books. Hatsuharu and Rin are my favorite couple followed close by Torhu and her beau (which I won't give away). When I was in high school and reading it along with my best girl friends we split up who got which boy and I happily called dibs on Haru because of the way he treated Rin as well as his personality. (Not to mention, if he was a real person, he'd be smoking hot. ;) ) I was just super sad when the anime only got half way through the storyline and missed out on a lot of Haru's development.

Speaking of the anime, you should check it out. There are lots of sights you can find both the anime and manga (if your local library doesn't have it). You just need to search it out. And when you do, you won't be disappointed. This series was named the number one manga in the USA for a reason.

ENJOY!!!!

Update: There is also a sequel series called "Fruits Basket Another." Enjoy that one too.

These Shallow Graves

These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly wasn't what I expected, though at the same time I found it very predictable. The cover made me think it would be a horror or thriller, but it was a simple mystery about his her father's death.

Set in the pre-turn of the century New York City, Josephine, Jo, is from a very wealthy family where nothing but puppies and flowers and getting married is talked about when women are in the room. So Jo is hopelessly naive so much so that it gets really annoying. If I was going to describe Jo naive would be the first thing, then curious and determined. But it felt like she was those things so then we could move the plot forward. Jo wasn't really good at anything that we actually get to see. Supposedly she is a good writer and dreams of being a reporter who "tells other's stories," but we never get anything of her writing. Other than that, she isn't good at anything else. No hobbies besides her writing, that we don't see, no little quirks like flicking her hair or clicking her nails... She seemed flat. Jo was really annoying, though Eddie and Oscar were more interesting, though I wished from more of them.  Most of the characters lacked character. Eddie, Oscar, and Grandmama seemed to have the most character to them. They seemed the most real, which is really sad when the main character doesn't seem real.

There is a tiny love triangle, though it doesn't run or ruin the story. Most of it is choosing between her family and the world she knew and grew up in, Bram is "good" someone who can bring her stability. Eddie, on the other hand, is a reporter who will do anything to get a story. He represents all that she wants and dreams about. He is the wildside of everything she didn't know. This triangle is more of the worlds she tries to decide between. Thankfully, it doesn't run the whole show (love triangles are really overdone).

The plot itself was predictable. I called the bad guy fairly early out, and (which is really weird) I was right. There were a few twists and turns that I didn't see coming that were nice, but if a really good reader was reading this, they would have gotten it. The story was very plot driven getting from one piece of evidence and witnesses, and like I said the plotline was predictable.

It also was really slow at the beginning and middle part of the book. I was about ready to put it down and read something else, but I persisted. I ended up finishing the last 2/3 of the book in two days because I wanted it done. So it could be a quick read and one with an interesting motive to murder, but I felt like Jo needed everything explained to her which meant that the reader had everything explained. Nothing was left up to the reader to figure out, though like I said, I figured whodunit fairly early off.

The one thing that I did like was the setting. The world and history was well thought out and she paid particular attention to the poorer sides of NYC: 1890's and what it would have been like. I have read some reviews that it was overboard, but I thought it was okay. I enjoyed another look at NYC and a part of history that I knew very little about.

A question I would have, though, would be: would Jo have been that naive because of her surroundings and family? I mean she reads the newspapers of awful things, but she doesn't know what a "disorderly house" or prostitute is? What?

Overall, I was very sad. Jennifer Donnelly's other book Revolution was excellent and this one seemed to fall flat on its face. I honestly hope there isn't a sequel.

Hero of Ages

I have found that I'm very unsettled by the last book in the Mistborn series. I am a big fan of Brandon Sanderson, but.... I don't know.

Now that they found the Well of Ascension and released something called Ruin, ashe has come more hazardly down from the ashmounts and the world is really dying. How are Vin, Elend, and the rest of Kelsier's remaining crew supposed to handle the end of the world?

Vin, Elend, and Ham are down south helping gather villagers into the capital city where they are sure crops can grow. Then they head to the final cache location that the Lord Ruler had set up to supply his people. Though they are having a hard time with an obilgator playing king as though nothing bad were happening.

TenSoon went back to his people to pay for the betrayals he committed in telling Vin kandra secrets.

Spook is up north playing a spy where the fourth cache is hidden  under city with a king who is killing most everyone who was nobility. But what is this? Is he starting to see Kelsier? Also, how did he suddenly become so strong? He is no longer someone who is just ignored or a common scout. He tries to be so much like Kelsier, the leader the powerful one, the Survivor... And they end up giving him a name: the Survivor of the Flames, which is cool.

And Sazed is having a crisis of faith. Now that the love of his life is dead, he doesn't know where she has gone. So he searches all of the religions he's collected to find the answers. This is a very interesting plot line to me. His search for truth and trying to find faith. Breeze tells him he wouldn't be a good atheist and it is very true for Sazed. I'm sure many people found this annoying if they weren't religious at all, but the way Sanderson explores the process of finding faith, and that it isn't normally some grand thing that everyone sees, but often times something small that no one else really notices, was interesting to read about. (PS Breeze is with Sazed and they venture up to meet with Spook.)

I do like the explanations of what is going on in this world, though. The chapter headings were super helpful in world building that just couldn't happen through the normal story. The world building, well...the world in general, is engenious. Ruin and Preservation and their battle with balance and the people of the world have to endure it, or at least try too.

Through some thought, I think this is my third favorite of the Mistborn series. Third because it is the last in the trilogy (though don't get me wrong it was a good book). I think it was because more of it focused on everyone else but Vin more a large portion of the time. She got her moments of awesomeness, but they weren't nearly as many as in previous books. I love Vin. She is my favorite! I wanted more of her or Elend. Sazed is cool, but I wanted more of them.

Also, the ending had me in tears, which is okay. I can take some well earned crying. But there were too many people killed in this final battle to make me happy. The way they beat Ruin was awesome, and the mythology behind it was extremely well thought out, but SO MUCH DEATH!!!!

Lack of Vin and in my opinion unneeded deaths. I mean, I'm sure they are all happy in the afterlife, which is illuded too, but they could have been happy now that they have (SPOILER!) grass and flowers again. Instead now they have to have someone else run the kingdoms and govern everything now that most everyone is dead. Ugh, I think there was too much death for me. While it wasn't a pretty sight to begin with and it ended up very much better at the end.... *shakes head* Also, there wasn't nearly as much witty bantering as there were in the other two books. It seemed for more depressing, which I get fits the mood of the end of the world but still.

Good book and it finished out the series so then I can be mostly content. Not completely, but well enough. I'm super glad that there are three more books in this world that I can hopefully be more satisfied.

Calamity

Calamity by Brandon Sanderson is the third and final book in "The Reckoners Series" and it was a good ending.

The story start out after David, Megan, and the rest of their crew leave what used to be known as New York. Prof has gone crazy and they are trying to decide if they can save him or not. They make their way to what was once Atlanta though the city has changed dramatically. Do to the Epics that reside there, Ildithia moves, but not like you think. The city is made of salt and as one end the the town disintegrates the other rebuilds itself.

Prof has come to Ildithia and has quickly become the High Epic that everyone fears. But David and the Reckoners believe they can save Prof like they were able to save Megan in New York. But not only are they facing Prof and his abilities, but also Calamity, the bright star in the sky that appeared when people started gaining powers. Calamity is an Epic. They know Prof's mission in Ildithia is to somehow take down Calamity, but how are they going to take down the Epic of Epics?

I loved this series since the first one came out. The ideas of Super Heroes being the bad guys was interesting and fresh. Who would have thought to have a city move across country by moving salt?

The characters have always been fantastic, both the bad guys and the good. The world has changed so much from our world to theirs and he takes so many things into account that I hadn't until it was mentioned. But I like most of all the themes throughout all of the stories and weaves quietly in the background: "humans are inherently good." There are some bad eggs out there, but we are more good than we are bad. This was uplifting. There is also the more abrupt theme being that we can all face our fears and we can grow from them. Once we face our fears we can conquer whatever darkness that lies in our hearts or souls.

Again, I really love this series. It is clean; there is little gore; there is great fantasy; there are fantastic characters. And it is a marvelous read.

Firefight

Firefight  is the second of Brandon Sanderson's "Reckoners" series.

After defeating Steelheart in Newcago, they travel to Babilar (once New York City) where another Epic is terrorizing people. Obliteration is an epic who, after bathing in the sun for a while and gaining as much radiation as he needs, can obliterate the entire city. Then he'll teleport over to the next largest city he wants to visit where he'll do the same thing.

Not only is Obliteration there, but Regalia, an Epic who can control water currents, is stationed out there. She has raised the water levels of the Hudson up to the third or fourth floors of the high rises. Needless to say, New York City doesn't look like the Big Apple anymore. The city has plants growing all over it for the people to eat, because of some little-known Epic also in the city. People live on the upper floors of the high rises with rope bridges connecting each building. The spray paint that lines all the walls of the city glows in the dark and illuminates the night, much like the neon had done before Calamity found his place in the sky.

But not only are these powerful Epic in Babliar, but Megan is here. After disappearing after Steelheart was killed, she fled and David is seeking her out--though isn't telling anyone around him (though they already know it). He hopes he can save her, but does she want to be saved?

The characters--old and new to this series, bad and good guys--I think are what make this book. We find we want to know more about Obliteration and his odd biblical style speaking and quoting. Megan, whom we thought we knew, is almost a complete mystery. David is his usual odd, charming self. And now there are new things about Prof that we didn't know before.

I love these character based stories and the new scenery that is completely odd and different and wonderful makes it that much better. It is a great follow up to Steelheart and Brandon pushes the characters in fantastic ways that makes us question humanity and ourselves.

Steelheart

Steelheart is the first book in Brandon Sanderson's "Reckoners" series.

The basic concept is that Super Heroes are all bad. After the sudden appearance of Calamity, a bright star orbiting earth, people suddenly starting having superpowers. The people first thought these Epics would save them from their problems with other countries, but were soon proved wrong as the Epics were far worse than any war that the world had ever had.

In Newcago (what once was Chicago), David, after losing his father because of Steelheart, vows to make Steelheart pay. David knows Steelheart, the High Epic who runs Newcago, has a weakness. He saw the Epic bleed. There is a way to destroy all of these Epics. After years of memorizing different Epics and their powers, David finds the Reckoners, a group rebels whose purpose is to take down Epics. They hesitantly allow him into their ranks where he puts his expertise on Steelheart, their current target, to use.

There are many cool things about this book. Many turns that I didn't see that had me enable to stop turning pages. It was constantly engaging and in very few parts where I would actually want to put the book down. The premous where Superheroes are the bad guys is ingenious, where the whole city of Chicago has been completely turned into steel and it is constantly night. Working as regular people or working to take down the "God" who looms over the city can cause come difficulties that are fun to work with and around.

The characters here are individuals. Each one, though there are a few, are easy to tell apart. David, our main character, is funny. His metaphors and similes make no sense and are odd, but he's endearing.  I think the guys in the book are more full and complete as characters than the girls are. Cody has more life than Megan or Tia does. Which is kind of sad, but it is something that I'm willing to look over.

This book is a good one to start new Brandon Sanderson readers on or newbies to Science Fiction/Fantasy books in general. It is a quick read because you get sucked into this world. I'd recommend it to  most anyone. I got my 13 year old nephew to read it when he doesn't like to read anything. It has enough guns, suspense, thrills, and adventure to get almost any young boy into reading. It's a good series for anyone.