Reviews

24
Jul
2021
Catching Fire

Catching Fire

by Suzanne Collins

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins is a great book about the continuing adventure of Katniss Everdeen. After the first Hunger Games, President Snow tells Katniss to pretend that she and Peeta are very madly in love or else a revolution will start. Since they both attempted to commit suicide in the last hunger games, they are seen as a sign of rebellion and bravery. Snow decides that since the next hunger games is the 75th quarrel, he would choose two victors from each district and allow them to compete. But in the end of the book, the remaining victors fly into District 13.

When the president announced that the remaining victors would be playing, I was surprised and happy at the same time. I was hoping for Katniss to become a mentor, but instead, she got chosen to compete again. I wanted her to not have to relive the horror, but at the same time, I wanted to see what they would do this time around, now that only one person is allowed to win. Thankfully, Katniss and Peeta survived, which I was joyful to know.

Also, after the games, when Katniss is in the plane, Haymitch says that there is no District 12 which got me thinking a lot. Was District 12 actually District 13? Later, you find out that District 12 got bombed but that line made me wonder and think more deeply than I usually do. The author wants you to keep on reading, to uncover the unknown within the characters by revealing the secrets later in the book, which is also a reason I enjoyed it.

But, as always, in every book, there is a part people dislike. Personally, I didn’t enjoy the part where Katniss planned to keep  Peeta alive and do everything she can for him. I think that Katniss is way better than Peeta and that Peeta should care for Katniss. I don’t like when the boy is weak and can’t protect the girl even though it shows a bit more of something different. It’s always Katniss who has to save and fulfill the quests Peeta fails to do. And that right there just proves that this is not your average fairy tale story.

Overall, I think that this book was amazing, and I would recommend it to readers who are looking for a surprise or adventure. But, be sure to read the first book before the second or else you won’t know what’s happening.

See my review of the first Hunger Games book here.

See my review of the third book Mocking Jay here. 

Posted by Hellen in Books, Reviews, 4 comments
18
Jul
2021
Mocking Jay

Mocking Jay

by Suzanne Colins

In the last book of the Hunger Games trilogy, Katniss finds a way to lead the desperate, solemn people of District 13, to find a path to freedom. When Peeta is taken away by the Capitol, to use as bait, Katniss struggles to decide who to love. Peeta or Gale? After what happened in the last hunger games, Katniss yearns for a life where none of this was ever possible, a life where she won’t have to worry about her future kids becoming a tribute.

The plot had a lot of twists and reversals from the previous two books. Several characters broke the images I had formed in my mind. Peeta, previously described as caring, selfless, and courageous, is now presented as a selfish, scared, and traumatized adult. Even though injecting poison into someone’s body was illegal, the Capitol still tried to do this with Peeta. That’s why he’s so disoriented when District 13 finally retrieves him. Because of this change, Katniss was hurt, for someone she actually cared about thought she was a monster. I was very disappointed since I was expecting that if Katniss was rescued in the Games, so would Peeta. But, that’s not what happened and it broke my heart to see someone’s love hate them. 

I don’t think Katniss was supposed to be seen as a woman, or with super heavy makeup, which is why I think no one really saw her as she is, therefore no one really believed in what she was saying. I didn’t like how the author made Gale such an antagonist, for I had thought Katniss would actually spend the rest of her life with him, but after all he did in the third book, I changed my mind. The change in their relationship tells me that not every girl and boy relationship ends peacefully with love. Obviously, Katniss and Gale had different ways of ending the war, and that’s what separated them even further, after the fake dramatic relationship with Peeta

I thought when Peeta started remembering, he would return to himself fully. Sadly, that’s not what happened, though I would have enjoyed it more if it did happen. This shows that hope may not ever match up with reality because when you hope, you are optimistic and think of every possible way for someone to survive. But when you face the harsh reality, the “hope” of what is possible becomes very small and unlikely. In the end, Peeta ends up staying with Katniss, and they have two beautiful children. Even though he did not remember everything, he remembered his love for her, and that she was the one he wanted to spend eternity with.

Overall, this book was amazing. The plot had many twists and turns, along with some cliffhangers, but that’s what makes it fun to read.

See my review of the first book The Hunger Games here. 

See my review of the second book Catching Fire here. 

Posted by Hellen in Books, Reviews, 3 comments
17
Jul
2021
Moonwalking with Einstein

Moonwalking with Einstein

by Joshua Foer

Find Moonwalking with Einstein in your local library

Moonwalking with Einstein is about the author’s journey from knowing nothing about memorization to becoming a World Champion of Memory. Joshua creates weird images in his head to help him remember what something is, where and when. He wrote things such as Einstein karate kicked five times to the groin, which helped him remember the 5 of spades.

Some of the vivid images Joshua used included “Michael Jackson defeated the salmon sandwich with three punches.” I enjoyed reading that and picturing it in my head because you wouldn’t see that in this world. It’s out of the ordinary. I like unusual things that you don’t come across often. That makes it unique and memorable.

Another part I liked was the introduction. It said, “On average people squander forty days annually compensating for the things they’ve forgot. Joshua Foer used to be one of those people.” I think it’s motivating because later in the book, after one year of training he ended up as the Memory Champion. That means I could train for one year and become a champion, too.

I thought it was boring that Joshua spent 30 pages talking about an 84-year-old retired lab technician (E.P.). Joshua explained that whenever EP went on walks, he would go the same way each time, but if he turned the wrong way, he would be completely lost. He used the example to show that people have different kinds of memory. E.P. has dementia. Even though one part of his brain shut down, the other parts are still working with intact spatial memory. There was a lot of repetition in this chapter. It would have been fine if it took just 10 pages.

Overall, this book was interesting in exploring the unusual and weird ways our mind works and how they can be useful in boosting memory abilities. But it felt boring when the same technical points are repeated over and over again, which I thought was excessive.

Posted by Hellen in Books, Reviews, 0 comments
07
Jul
2021
Life of Pi

Life of Pi

by Yann Martel

Life of Pi book cover Yann Martel
Find it in a library near you

Life of Pi is about a boy names Piscine Molitor Patel, who became stranded in a lifeboat with three dead animals and a tiger named Richard Parker. His family were planning on moving to Canada on a cargo ship put sadly, the ship sank, killing his parents and brother. The crew threw him off the ship to the lifeboat before being swept into the ocean themselves. On the boat Pi saw a zebra with a broken leg, an orangutan, and a hyena. The hyena killed the zebra and orangutan but then the tiger jumped out and killed the hyena. Pi learned to fish and tame Richard Parker while drifting for seven months.

I liked how quickly Pi adapted to life on a lifeboat with Richard Parker. He cared for Richard by hunting and feeding the tiger. Pi was a strict vegetarian before the ship wreck but now he eats raw fish and meerkats. This is very brave of him. Since he could’ve died, he knew he would have to eat meat to survive.

I also liked Pi’s comparison of animal world and humanity. Near the end of the book, people from the Japanese company who owned the ship came to ask Pi questions about his journey. They thought his story was unrealistic because it’s impossible for anyone to survive at sea for that long. So, Pi retold the story but replacing the animals with people. Pi outsmarted their skepticism and asked which story feels more interesting and natural. They replied the one with the animals and that’s how the story made it to the press.

One thing I didn’t like about the book is the excessive detail about gory or gruesome events. It’s violent and I felt that the author was magnifying the violence with sentences like “his blood oozed out all over me and Richard Parker”, and many vivid descriptions of killing. The cannibalism told in the people-version of the story is especially disturbing.

Posted by Hellen in Books, Reviews, 0 comments
05
Jun
2021
The Girl Who Fell from the Sky

The Girl Who Fell from the Sky

by Heidi W. Durrow

The Girl Who Fell from the Sky by Heidi W. Durrow is about a girl who has survived from an attempted suicide and starts a new life. Rachel is starting 6th grade at her new school, in a new town with her grandma. The book’s narrator switches between the main characters, Brick and Rachel. Rachel is a very light skinned brown person who is very smart but people still make fun of her because they are jealous of her beauty and her intelligence.

I liked how in the end of the book, Rachel tells us what her mother’s last words were, and it solves the mystery that was lingering throughout the book. I felt satisfied when they revealed the answer so I wouldn’t have to keep on worrying about why something happened. When Rachel was eleven years old her mother, Nella, killed herself by jumping from the roof of their apartment building. Nella pushed her son, Robbie, to his death and held her baby, Ariel, in her arms as she jumped. 

The book was a bit confusing since they kept on switching between characters, and sometimes you forget the narrator changed which changes how you read it. If you sometimes keep on reading, thinking it’s the same character, and the plot doesn’t make sense. It’s confusing because if this character was just in Texas, how did they end up in Australia? I wish there was more differentiation between the characters’ voice and style of narration to make the transition more obvious. 

The plot of the story was very exciting. The story was very original, and there were many mysteries waiting to be solved. As I was writing about this book, I found out that the story of the suicide was based on a true story, of a mom who couldn’t bear seeing her children suffer. It made me feel sad, because the baby who died was less than a year old, and I felt that they should’ve lived longer to experience the wonders of the world.

Posted by Hellen in Books, Reviews, 0 comments
13
May
2021
Charlotte’s Web

Charlotte’s Web

by E. B. White

Reviewed by Eve

Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White is a great book about friends who always help each other out, no matter how different they are. Wilbur is a pig who lives in a barn, while Charlotte is a spider who accompanies him.They become best friends and promise to never leave each other hanging. An unruly dog breaks into the barn one day, and kills one of the sheep. As Wilbur tries to save the sheep, the owner of the barn arrives and assumes it was Wilbur’s fault. 

Wilbur is then put on the waiting list to be sold. Charlotte hears all about this, and decides they need to prove to the owner that Wilbur is worth saving. She spends days spelling out words with her web, all meaning something very important. She wrote the words, “Some Pig”, “Terrific”,”Radiant”, and “Humble”. As news spreads about her webs, more people come to see Wilbur. It makes Wilbur famous and the owner decides to keep him for the greater good. Sadly, at the end of the book, Charlotte dies, but we’ll never forget the sacrifices she made for Wilbur.

Many children learn the importance of a strong friendship through this book. White shows us that friendships can be unexpected. You would never even think of a pig being friends with a spider, but that’s what makes these bonds so special. Devotion is also very important. Charlotte sacrifices her life to save Wilbur, who is very lucky to have a friend like her. Many friends also tend to misunderstand each other, so it’s better to clarify when it happens, than to wait until the mix up turns into something unsolvable.

I liked how Charlotte was dedicated to the cause of rescuing Wilbur. And it sets a perfect example of helping. Charlotte also showed leadership skills by taking action and being the friend we all should have. Charlotte’s not afraid of the dangers and consequences she might have to face, or the fact that she may die soon. 

Overall, I think this is a great book for little kids ages 8 to 10 and a great storybook for all ages. The reading level is suited for elementary school children, while the book is worth reading for all ages because of the lesson it teaches.

Posted by Hellen in Books, Movies, Reviews, 0 comments
02
May
2021
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

by J. K. Rowling

Reviewed by Eve

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone book cover

original cover for the American edition – where the title is called the Sorcerer’s Stone

In the book Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (also called Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in the American version), Harry Potter, an orphan who lives with his aunt and uncle, discovers a world of magic. When Harry turned 11, he received an acceptance letter from a magic school named Hogwarts. Soon after he starts attending Hogwarts, Harry discovers that Voldemort, the dark wizard who murdered Harry’s parents, is back.

The Philosopher’s Stone is a red gem that makes the holder immortal. Voldemort envies immorality. He’s so crude that he possesses a professor named Quirrell to steal the stone, since it is buried at Hogwarts. Harry befriends Ron and Hermione as he becomes more desperate to catch the culprit. They prevent Voldemort from winning by confronting him in the chamber where the stone was hidden. All the teachers in the end decide that it would be better to destroy the stone than to keep it.

One thing I liked was that the story was very original. Some of the obstacles were very strange, such as a mountain troll stuck in a bathroom, or a three headed dog that falls asleep to music. But the way the protagonists solved them was what pulled me closer. Harry actually sticks his wand up the troll’s nose, while Ron bonks it on the head with a bat which I thought was very brave of them. Hermione somehow had the guts to pick up a harp and play it, though she couldn’t really play, to walk past the vicious dog.

Another thing I liked was that the author included so many eye-catching details, that we could have lived inside of her world. I thought the details were very specific, mostly because many authors,  such as C.S. Lewis, described spells as “a flick of the wand,” more so than taking the time to invent new spells and creatures. The author used many Latin words such as lumen, which means light, and revived them into spells such as lumos. Though there are many books and stories about magical worlds, J.K. Rowling really developed the myth about wands, wizards and witches, by creating an entirely new society that brings imagination to a whole other level. 

Overall I really liked this book. Some kids start reading it at the early age of 7, while the majority starts somewhere around 6th grade. It is very fun and enchanting to read, for there is a surprise every couple of pages. You just want to keep on reading to find out how the characters resolve each problem and what will happen in the end.

See my review of the complete Harry Potter series here.

Posted by Hellen in Books, Reviews, 0 comments