Apology

I'm sorry to anyone who read this blog. I tried my best to keep up but ultimately couldn't. This sounds like I'm about to delete this blog, but it's quite the opposite. I promise to update this blog as much as I can, posting book reviews, interesting things that happen to me, general thoughts and feelings, and movie and television reviews. My main focus will be, of course, books.

That said, tomorrow I will be updating this blog with reviews of the books I read during my absense.

Rowan Hood - Nancy Springer

"Rowan Hood - Outlaw Girl of Sherwood Forest" by Nancy Springer.

First off, I should tell you that this first in a series of books won the Edgar Allen Poe Award, so I went in with high expectations.

The beginning of the novel was good if not decent enough. When I got to the middle, it really began to take off, and I couldn't put it down until I was finished.

It's a simple story. A twelve year old girl, Rosemary, is told by her aelfin mother, Celandine, that she is the daughter of Robin Hood, the infamous Outlaw of Sherwood Forest. After the sudden and unexpected death of Celandine by The Sheriff of Nottingham, Rosemary plans to venture to Robin Hood and his group of Merry Men. Disgusing herself as a boy and adopting the name Rowan Hood, she encounters a wolf-dog, gives it the name Tykell, and continues with her journey to the father who never knew he had a daughter. Filled with princesses, outlaws, villains, and more, this book is sure to delight readers of all ages. I plan to continue with the series, which has four more books. It even inspired me to pick up another Nancy Springer favorite, the first in the Enola Holmes series, which is about Sherlock Holmes' daughter.

8/10 Stars

School's Out...Forever - James Patterson

The second installment in a thrilling series titled "Maximum Ride", "School's Out - Forever" is a fast-paced novel that will keep you at the edge of your seat. Set a day or two after the events of "The Angel Experiment," the second one is about the Flock, consisting of the leader, Max, and her best friends, Fang, Iggy, Nudge, the Gasman, Angel, and their talking dog, Total, on the run from the Erasers, who are out to destroy them. The Flock travel to a multiple amount of places, such as New York City, and even Disney World, trying to hide from Max's half-brother, Ari who was created by Jeb, Max's father. Filled with action, romance, suspense, and more, School's Out - Forever is one not to miss!

Revenge of the Witch - Joseph DeLaney

This is the first in a series of books titled "The Last Apprentice." Book one, "Revenge of the Witch" is about a young boy, Thomas Ward, who is the seventh son of a seventh son. Ever since he was a little boy, his mother seemed a bit odd and always seemed to know so much about ghosts. Living on a farm, Thomas's daily chores consisted of milking cows, feeding hogs, etc, with help from his brother and father. One day, a man called the Spook comes to visit, insisting that Thomas's father had told the Spook that once Thomas turned twelve, he would become the Spook's next apprentice. The Spook rid the local villages of ghosts, ghasts, boggarts, witches, and other various monsters. Daily lessons and dangerous tasks are thrust upon Thomas, who handles them all with ease. The Spook warns Thomas of girls with pointy shoes who are supposedly dangerous. Picking up food from the village one day, Thomas encounters a girl who looks to be about his age. She introduces herself as Alice, and they get to talking. It turns out that her aunt is Bony Lizzie, the town's second worst witch, the former belonging to Mother Malkin, who Thomas must face...and defeat. Filled with mystery, action, horror, and suspense, Revenge of the Witch was a wonderful book that I strongly reccomend to everyone.

Identical - Ellen Hopkins

Identical was my first taste of Ellen Hopkins. It was written in freeverse, so it took a few pages or so to get used to it.

Kaeleigh and Raeanne are sixteen year old identical twins. After a traumatic accident, the twins turn to drugs, sex, alchohol, and self-injury to cope. Their mother is on the campaign trail, and their father, a judge, sexually abuses Kaeleigh, while Raeanne just watches, hoping for her father's love.

The ending was COMPLETELY unexpected and totally surprising, I actually stared at the page in disbelief. I will definitley be checking out more of Hopkins' books, which include CRANK, GLASS, IMPULSE, and BURNED.

I'm still unsure of whether I liked this book, but I know for a fact I will never forget it.

- Daniel

Introduction Post!

Hello, Hello, Hello!

My name is Daniel, and I felt like I needed to post reviews of the marvelous (and not so marvelous) books I read, since I read so many so often. I've been looking at many book blogs over the years, and have attempted to start some of my own, but they never lasted. I am determined to change that, and review as much as possible.

My first review will be up later tonight or early tomorrow morning.

Happy 2009!