Son by Lois Lowry

This is the conclusion to The Giver series, so if you haven't read The Giver yet, I suggest you don't get into this book too much until you read the first, actually, I suggest that you don't get into this book at all. However if you have read The Giver, go for it!

This book is about Gabe's mom, (the little dude Jonas took with him).
OK, so remember in the first book how the town Jonas lives in is really insane and particular. So Claire, (Gabe's mom) is assigned a job as Birthmother, which is at it sounds. She basically produces the Products. which are children. The only problem is, she does not get to keep her child, it is only assigned to a family that suites it, because that is how the town works. (Yeah, I know, awful) so when her little son is taken away from her, you can imagine her anguish. During her delivery, there are some unusual complications that Claire has to endure, and after her delivery, she is taken away from the Birthmother role and put into the job of the Fish Hatchery. Somewhere in between getting transferred from jobs, Claire forgets to start taking the Pills again after her pregnancy, so she starts having heartfelt feelings once more. Most of the woman who delivered did not care if their newborn was taken away from them, but for Claire, it was differant. Since she had feelings, she automatically loved her newborn, even before setting eyes on him. This of course, is just the beautiful nature of mothers. So when her little guy is tragically taken away from her, she decides to seek him out in the Nursery, keeping his ID number in mind (thirty-six). Naturally, she finds him, and immediately yearns to be with him forever and ever. However, that is not possible considering the tight circumstances. She instead pays him several visits, short and sweet.
However, once Claire discovers that her child (whom she thinks is called Abe, though his real name is Gabe) has some "problems" to him and will be taken away from the community. What will Claire do?

Find out the story following by reading Son.Trust me, happy ending, lovely book, awesome winter read (especically when it's snowing) so grab some hot coca, (with TONS of whipped cream) and settle down, and read this book. You will not regret. And for all you guys who havn't read The Giver yet, do the same thing, but just change your book choice.

To The Best Book Ever!!! :)

The Springsweet by Saundra Mitchell

You might have noticed that I wrote about another book by this same author (The Vespertine) and you also might have guessed if you're smart that this is the sequel of The Vespertine. if you read the Vespertine then you probably should read this--but if you didn't you probably shouldn't read this; read The Vespertine first!

Ok so this time this is about Zora Stewart, Amelia's cousin, and Zora of course is in a complete mess from the disastrous events that occurred before (With her fiance being shot and killed, and Amelia's sudden "death") and Zora did not know what to do. She had reached a large wall in her life, which she was finding hard to climb over and move on. Zora knew what she needed though--she needed change. Change of everything: change of environment, change of society, change of EVERYTHING! She just needed to forget about her prior life and get out. You might see this as kind of running away from her problems, but it was more of a starting anew type thing. Zora decided to stay with her aunt (Beatrice, or Aunt Birdie) and help take care of her little one-year old cousin, Louella, in the country. When Zora arrives, she meets a charming young man named Mr. Emerson Birch, and is completely taken by him. Unfortunately for Zora, another man comes into the picture--someone who's a bit more likable to Aunt Birdie. The man is called Theo de la Croix, and he is indeed all that his name requires him to be--handsome, smart, rich, and chivalrous. Although Theo was a very kind person--but Zora cannot come to like him, let alone love him! She finds herself completely taken by Mr. Birch, regardless of Aunt Birdie's not so nice opinion of him.
Apart from all this romance, Zora discovers something completely new and astounding about herself--she's a srpringsweet! Um. Ok, great Zora, just what the heck is that? Well, basically it's the quality of having the ability to sense water, wherever, whenever, however. Zora suspects she is emulating her dear cousin, Amelia. Fire and water. Opposites attract, what can I say?

Anyway, this book is absolutely GREAT so please read it (after reading The Vespertine of course!!) I'm really in love with Saundra's style of writing--it's so lusty and deep. I absolutely adore it!
Ok so one million stars, no kidding :) Thanks Saundra Mitchell for publishing this--you're awesome!

The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell

Okay, talk about lusty romance. This book is the definition of it. Not in a inappropriate way of course, but in a precious, sweet way that you want to savor till the last bit. It's basically a historical romance (yes, my favorite) because it incorporates both history (which is the educational aspect) and romance (which is pleasure) so both mixed together is perfect!

Basically this is about a young woman named Amelia who goes to stay with her cousin Zora over the summer. (This book is based in the Victorian times by the way). Zora practically changes her cousins life. Well, indirectly anyways. When a group of men come to visit the girls (Zora, Amelia, and their friends) it seems like the sun has split in two for Amelia. (Almost literately). Nathanial Witherspoon was a young gentleman who visited, and who seemed completely entranced with Amelia, as she with him. It almost seemed like they were...meant for each other! Well, they actually were meant for each other.
Amelia discovers (with the help of Nat) that she has a special ability to portend the future. She says the sunset splits in two, reliving the following days, and she just sees...well, the future! Nathaniel also has a special ability. He can defy the forces of air. He says that's his "element". That's actually what this series is called--the elements series. Basically Amelia is the fire and Nathanial is the air (that's why I said they are literally meant for each other) but this love Amelia and Nathanial have for each other is actually forbidden...so that's what makes it so amazing!

Please read this amazing romance--you will savor every last bit!

Prom and Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg

Oh. My. God. This book is absolutely amazing! I read Pride and Prejudice by Ms. Austen, and I have to say, this is a hilarious, cute, amazing spoof of it. Of course it's kind of given that in order to get all the inside jokes from the book, you have to read Pride and Prejudice first (or if you're too lazy at least know the plot by watching the movie)

Basically, there is no point in reading this post if you don't know the plot of the original Pride and Prejudice, that's how similar it is too the classic. Okay, so there is an Elizabeth (of course) but instead she's a scholarship student in a filthy rich school called Loungborn Academy. (yes, I know, hilarious) and instead of Jane being her sister, she's actually her best best best best friend/roommate. Lydia's Jane's really immature lil' sister, and she also goes to Loungborn. Believe it or not, Elizabeth (Lizzie) actually hates Loungborn. Everyone there (with the exception of Jane) seems to be haughty and rude. Lizzie's had to put up with a strawberry smoothie being thrust onto her face, people scribbling "Hobos not wanted" on her dorm door, and daily snide remarks at school. Man, if I were Elizabeth, I'd give up at the first moment. But you know Lizzie, she's not like that! She has a very strong character (haha not to mention prejudiced) and can put up with a lot of things. Okay, so you probably are wondering how she meets Mr. Darcy! Well, Jane begs Lizzie to go to the reception at Loungborn, so Lizzie goes (but only for Jane). Jane wants her to see Mr. Bingley, the absolute love of her life. Lizzie goes, and guess who she meets along with the friendly Charles? The disdainful Will Darcy! Well of course when Will first meets Lizzie, he's all friendly and normal, but then, he discovers that she's a scholarship student and immediately turns black on her. Lizzie is disgusted with his sudden change of manner and decides (with prejudice) that Will Darcy is just a flat out snob. Meanwhile, Will Darcy decides (with pride) that Lizzie Bennet is a flat out lowlife. Of course, we know this is not true and both Lizzie and Will are simply being impulsive and have a certain degree of pride or prejudice.

Well, I'll stop the description there, so you can just sense the awesomeness of it till it overwhelms you so much so that you have to read the book. (Yeah, just wait till Mr. Wickham comes into the picture) I have witnesses to show that this book is awesome and it really is! Also Caroline Bingley is hilarious, it's almost not funny it's so funny. But also, apart from that...there's this whole other side. It shows just how amazing Pride and Prejudice is; other amazing books can spring from one amazing book. It just shows what authors can do if they work together! (like the 39 Clues that was awesome) Well, anyway, please read this book it's really really really good I promise!

The Mystery of the Blue Train by Agatha Christie

So I told you how awesomely awesome Agatha Christie is right? And an awesome author writes what? Awesome books. Therefore, logically speaking, since this book is by an awesome author, this book has to be awesome. There, now I went through the logical reasons why this book is awesome, now let's get through the HOW. How is this book awesome? Let me explain...

This book starts with a millionaire (Mr. Rufus Van Aldin) thinking about someone special in his life (no, not his non-existent wife). His daughter. Ruth Van Aldin, who has recently been named, Mrs. Ruth Kettering, has of late, been quite depressed. Her father, not bearing the thought of his daughter depressed, goes to visit her lovely little flat (actually not little since she too is quite well-off) . While visiting his daughter, he gives her a trifle of a present in order to cheer her up. What is it? Only the most famous jewel in the world, that's all. Trust a millionaire to get his hands on something like that then give it to his daughter as a cheer up present. Ruth is quite pleased with her gift, however an expensive stone still does not lift the heavy weight that seems to be weighing her down. Apparently, her husband, Derek Kettering, has been leaving his wife's company more and more, and has been in the company of a more dexterous woman. A lovely dancer by the name of Mirelle has captured Derek's attention entirely, which was, of course, meant to be for Ruth.
Ruth tells her father of this, and he, in rage, convinces her daughter to file a divorce. Ruth tells her father she would, however not immediately doing so.
Rufus Van Aldin decides to have a little chat with his son in-law to give him a little heads up on what his wife is planning to do. Derek seems not to be ruffled, but truly, he was nervous. If Ruth left him, he would once again be the same middle class man he was before marrying Ruth. And Mirelle was only a rich man's luxury, so in the process of him divorcing Ruth, he would not only loose his wealth but also Mirelle.
Days after Mr. Van Aldin had his chat with Derek, Ruth decided to go on a luxury train, Train le Bleu, to go to the Rivera. Unfortunately while on the train Ruth is murdered. Fortunately Mr. Hercule Poirot is also on the train and is there to solve all the questions presented.

There are many suspects, yet so little clues, so it is hard. But Poirot, never failing, solves the case!
Find out how in The Mystery of the Blue Train  by Agatha Christie. This book is a must read for all, so please, what are you waiting for???

To Be A Slave by Julius Lester

My dad got me this book since I have, of late, been watching the TV series, Roots. It's based on an African-American man who decided to be awesome and trace back all the way to the first man in his family who stepped foot in America. Kunta Kinte. Kunta Kinte was a young man when he was brought to America, but unlike other Africans, he did not lose his African identity when in America. He stayed strong to his people, his name, and his customs. He passed down his culture to his daughter, who passed it down to her son, to passed it down to his son, who passed it down to his daughter, and on and on until the message reached the man who decided to be awesome.
Well, you might imagine why I am going on about some TV program when I really should be talking about our lovely book here. Reasons being are, firstly, the book and the TV series concern the same topic (slavery) and secondly, I felt I understood the book two million times better after watching Roots. So there, makes sense right?

Ok, so I might as well give a little of what I think of To Be A Slave. Basically this book encompasses a collection of entries from journals of slaves during their hard times. Reading this book really made me look at slavery in way I never looked at before. Sure, I knew it was cruel and wrong, but why? What were the customs that the whites did to the blacks in those days? How did it feel like to be roped to a tree. Helpless, awaiting a cruel whipping you didn't even deserve? How did it feel like to be stacked on other human beings, like books on a shelve, for several days? Well, obviously we all know the answers to these questions. Terrible. But reading personal journal entries from slaves really put things to a different perspective. I felt like I was living their experience, working tirelessly in the field on a 100 degree day for a person who treated you like dirt, living in a small dark room, getting only scrapings of food, being frightened of "massa", being taken from your home and stacked (literately) onto a ship to be a slave.
Just imagine what those people were feeling. The feeling of being torn from your family, never to see them again. To have a child you love and care for separated from you at birth to work on another plantation. I read somewhere in this book that a mother kept having children, and her children kept being sold, so at one point when she had another child, she killed her newborn to save him from the torment of being a slave. Observe how desperate mothers got to save their children.
This is only a fraction of what slaves experienced. In this book, you are not only reading their experiences but living them. It really opens your eyes to the cruelty that had taken place many years ago, which is hopefully over. It's pretty sad actually, to know that human beings can treat each other like that solely based on the color of their skin. It's such a selfish thing to do, to overwork and abuse someone for the sake of what? Yourself.

Well, please, please, please read this book. I feel that everyone should live the life that the slaves lived, to feel every feeling that went through their body. To feel a whip at your back, then a sting in your eyes, and all the while hearing your mother begging "Massa, please massa, you can whip me, just don't whip my baby!" How cruel is that, to let it even get that way? Anyway, one million stars. Seriously, this book really is the perfect read, and I think every single human being on earth, whether black or white, should read this.

Death On the Nile by Agatha Christie

I have to say, reading this book was like a new awakening to me. I never knew how much I really liked mystery until then. Before, I thought I only had eyes for romance and nothing else. Now, my whole reading experience has changed; it's amazing!
Basically at first glance this seems like the typical cliche romantic mystery. However, after finishing the book one will have a completely different view of things. 

Linnet Ridgeway, a rich, blonde beauty, has a best friend called Jacqueline de Bellefort. It's pretty ironic because Jackie's practically the opposite of Linnet. She's got the most intense of personalities, while Linnet can be calm with just anything she pleases. Also, Jackie's not very well off, Linnet on the other hand got the world right under her pretty little toes.
The mystery starts out with Linnet calling her best friend, asking what she's been up to. They converse together in the most intimate and dearest of ways, just like best friends should converse. Jackie surprises Linnet by telling her that she's got herself engaged to man called Simon Doyle and she is terribly in love. She says that she would kill herself and him if he ever leaves her. Jackie also asks her rich friend if she could visit with this Mr. Handsome and if Linnet could aid him in some financial matters while they were at it.
Linnet agrees, saying it would be "her plesure"
Now, lets see it from our famous detective's side of the story. Hecule Poirot, the well-known detective of England, is going to a restaurant. At the restaurant, he notices a very perfect couple sitting but a few seats away from him. The girl, she has the most serene look on her face, yet, it seems faintly edged with constant alarm, a sort of worry. Something must be bothering her. It seems the couple are discussing their honeymoon plans. "And, as I say, we'll go to Egypt for our honeymoon. I've always wanted to see the pyramids and the sand..."
Poirot contemplates within himself. This woman, she seems too much in love, as if she could never let it go.
You might be wondering how this is important, this little scene that Poirot catches. As our detective says, "Time will tell, time will tell."
Now, let's go back to the two best friends. We are fast forwarding now, later, to what becomes of Jackie and her most excellent fiance. Poirot finally meets both the couple and Linnet in Egypt, where a they are having their honeymoon. They, as in Linnet and Simon. Jackie seems to be following them, in a revenge. The plain, terrible truth is, our handsome Mr. Doyle fell for Linnet on meeting her, and broke off his engagement to Jackie, instead marrying the rich, lovely Linnet. So Simon is going to Egypt for his honeymoon, and in the company of Jackie, (to his greatest anger) but his trip companion a completely different woman. Ms. Linnet Ridgeway, also known as Mrs. Linnet Doyle. And Ms. Jacqueline de Bellefort, formerly known as Ms. Jacqueline Doyle, has accompanied the poor couple with them, tormenting Linnet with guilt in the process.
 
Who knows what the infamous Jackie will do to the man she loves to death, and of course, the woman who stole the man she loves to death? Find of by reading Death on the Nile, by Agatha Christie. I recommend reading this book in a cold, darkened basement at the dead of night; it really gives you the thrills and shivers! (that's what I did, no kidding) Well, exit real, innocent world and enter the intriguing world of Agatha Christie, Queen of Crime!