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By: alethea aka frootjoos,
on 2/7/2012
Blog: Read Now Sleep Later
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JacketFlap tags:
science fiction, friendship, manga, middle grade, Orson Scott Card, space, boarding school, aliens, Tor Teen, alethea, 2011, frootjoos, HonoelAIbardolaza, TorForge, Emily Janice Card, Add a tag
Laddertop (Laddertop, #1) by Orson Scott Card,
Emily Janice Card / Illustrated by Honoel A. Ibardolaza
Publication date: 27 September 2011 by Tor/Forge
ISBN 10/13: 0765324601 | 9780765324603
Category: Middle Grade Science Fiction Manga
Keywords: Science fiction, space, aliens, middle grade, friendship
Format: Paperback, audiobook (ARC received from Tor/Forge)
Alethea's synopsis:
Based on Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game series, this first volume follows Robbi and her rambunctious friend, Azure, when they are recruited to Laddertop--one of four space towers suspended 36,000 miles over the earth by a benevolent alien race called The Givers. Fierce competition tests the relationships between friends and enemies both. As Robbi contemplates what she is doing at the Academy, she begins to ponder the question too few people seem to be asking: are The Givers truly friends of Earth?
Alethea's Review:
I really loved Ender's Game and so was excited to find out that a related manga was in the works. I found Laddertop entertaining, but a bit of a let-down. It's certainly not as deep or emotionally abrasive as the original story. This is understandable not because Azure and Robbi are eleven (Ender is younger still when he enters Battle School) but because of the format and audience chosen, but still, it's generally disappointing.
The story starts at a fair pace then comes to a quick halt--this is meant to be a series after all, and it wouldn't do to give it all away at once. But this first volume gives hardly any data to process--only query after unanswered query. Who are the Givers? What is the Scan? Why can only children work in the tubes--yes, we know the
Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
Publication date: 30 August 2011 by Tor Teen
ISBN 10/13: 0765328658 | 9780765328656
Category: Young Adult Horror
Keywords: Ghosts
Format: Hardcover, eBook
Kimberly's review:
Boo!
Did I scare you?
No?
Hmm, well I guess that's ok because I have got something that will Totally. Creep. You. Out.
Seriously.
And that, my friends, is
Anna Dressed In Blood.
Cas, a ghost hunter by trade and family connection, is given a tip that will change everything he has known. Given a tip from one of his sources, he is sent to a small town to confront the long suffering ghost they call Anna Dressed In Blood. An old and very strong ghost, Anna floats through the home she was killed in leaving a trail of blood that drips like water from her red stained dress. Cas doesn't think anything is special about this ghost until he tries to kill her. And then well, all hell breaks loose.
Rave reviews made me wary of this novel. How good could it be? It's a ghost story. I've read many a ghost story before. But no! While the general plot might sound contrived, once you start reading it, you'll see it's totally original. There are so many twists, turns, surprises and no one is safe. Let me repeat that. No. One. Is. Safe. From Anna.
Cas is a fantastically complex character. He is cut off from having any real friends, doomed to roam the earth killing ghosts as his father did before him. He only has his mother for company, until now. Now, he has adopted a band of misfits and unwilling ghost busters to help him kill Anna. Because he has to kill Anna. Doesn't he?
And Anna is equally as tortured and deep as Cas. Her story is not easy to hear and there is a wonderfully gross level of gore in this YA book. The writing is fast, fun and descriptions are so real, I had a lot of moments saying, "Eww. Gross." out loud.
I was given the book by my friend Alethea to review and I wanted to find out what the hype was about.
Half way through, I went to my local book shop and picked up my own copy.
Did I scare you now?
Thought so.
 Jack: Secret Histories by F. Paul Wilson
Reviewed by Mighty Mom (The Adventures of Mighty Mom)
Not much happens in Johnson, New Jersey until the day 14-year-old Jack discovers a dead body in a wooded area near his home. Soon after, members of an exclusive lodge in Johnson begin to die, one after the other. Driven by intrigue, Jack and his friends work to uncover the secret behind these suspicious deaths. But can they do so without becoming victims themselves?
Jack: Secret Histories is the first of three prequel novels to F. Paul Wilson's Repairman Jack series. As such, Jack's fate is predetermined: we know he's going to make it. The question is this: Can Mr. Wilson keep readers engaged when the hero's fate is not in mortal jeopardy? I would say, yes. There is an adequate mix of whodunit intrigue and paranormal creepiness to draw the reader to its final pages. My only reservations revolve around his injudicious mention of 1980's paraphernalia and the questionable relevance of some secondary characters and their respective scenes. While the significance of such oddities as the old lady with a dog may become clear later in the series, for now I am left feeling the narrative could have been tighter.
Jack: Secret Histories would be best read by the young adolescent or any fan of the Repairman Jack series who wants to step back in time.
What Other Bloggers are Saying:
Bookshelves of Doom: "There was also some effort made to explain some of the differences between 1983 and now (no internet, cultural stuff), but those bits felt disjointed and inorganic, and so they were also distracting, felt a bit teach-y and made me feel like the author might not think much of the audience's reasoning capabilities" (read more...)
Au Courant: "If you want a quick read thick with mystery and secrets, and a little supernatural icing that will leave you wondering what would happen next, I suggest Jack: Secret Histories." (read more...)
BookMoot: "...I must say that Jack is one of the most amazing characters I’ve ever encountered. He has no last name, no SSN and no official existence. He earns a living “fixing” problems for people who have no where else to turn. And he’s very good at it." (read more...)
Jean Little Library: "This is a great mystery, suspenseful and well-plotted. The mysterious secret societies are fascinating and Jack's character is a perfect foreshadowing of his future persona." (read more...)
Jen Robinson's Book Page: "I must admit to having a hard time assessing whether or not this book will stand on its own for teen readers who haven't read the Repairman Jack series. But as someone who has read that series, this book is a lot of fun." (read more...)
More Info:
- Reading level: Young Adult
- Hardcover: 304 pages
- Publisher: Tor Teen (May 27, 2008)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0765318547
- ISBN-13: 978-0765318541
- Source: Review copy from publisher
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You've got Partials! So jealous! I'm dying to read it.
I hope you will enjoy them all!
Agnieszka @ Nook of Books
Here's my IMM. ♥
You've got Partials! So jealous! I'm dying to read it.
I hope you will enjoy them all!
Agnieszka @ Nook of Books
Here's my IMM. ♥
Partials is really good!
Shame you didn't make it to the event...at least you have friends that will go for you. I doubt mine would.
Enjoy your haul!
Nina @ Death Books and Tea
ahhh a temptation of angels! let me know how it is. i am trying not to buy too many books but this one looks good. :)
I goofed up and left it in Maria's car the other night XD I'll see her on Tuesday, can't wait to get it back!
What a nice haul! I may have to add some of these to my TBR pile.
Thanks for sharing your goodies!
Dani C
http://paulettespapers.com/
Nice mailbox! Love Lauren Oliver, so hope you enjoy!
great books this week - I loved Pandemonium!
Happy Reading
My IMM can be found here:
http://www.teadaydreamsandfairytales.com/2012/04/in-my-mailbox-1/
Great mailbox this week. I can't wait to read Pandemonium.
Book Sniffers Anonymous