Owlie Reviews is a blog dedicated to book reviews. For the past few years I have kept a journal, which then turned into a notebook file on my computer, of all the books I've read, including the date and time I started them and the date and time I finished them. Now I've decided to modernize my original notebook idea, and write a review of each of the stories I read.
Why has a sequel not come out about
this book yet? Do you like magic? Circuses? Imagine a world where you had the power to do phenomenal things, but there was a price to magic. There are different ways of teaching and learning, and magic is something that has to be studied quite strictly. But what do you do when the two people meant to battle to the death magically end up falling in love?
This was quite hard to put down. I absolutely love this book. Love!
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This book is amazing! Think of a combination of Romeo and Juliet and West Side Story, but then written in a way that allows young people and young adults to fully understand the differences in society and how every action you take has a consequence. Though love isn't the driving force in this book, this book will cause you to reevaluate your life. Everything you have and take for granted someone else may be struggling to obtain. Not everyone is of the same class, and although people have vastly different experiences, it doesn't mean that you should think less of them.
My students loved this book and felt quite connected to it. We had a dress up day and not only my students, but the whole school participated. The students loved how the book had them evaluate how they would react in scary situations and they learned from class discussion that not everyone lives the same way.
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Sometimes people don't grow up in the average household with two parents. Kate is one of those people. She grew up with her grandmother living on a house on top of a hill (sort of like a small mountain). On top of that, Kate and her grandmother are different. Her grandmother runs a small shop and is known for being a witch. Because of her differences, many of her classmates shun Kate.
One day, a new boy comes in to school and Kate senses something about him. She brings him to her grandmother and they learn that something is seriously wrong with Jarrod's family. Together, perhaps Kate and Jarrod can learn to look past differences and come together, learn, and defeat what stands in the way of Jarrod having a proper future.
This book is so great! Like many other books it shows that beauty is only skin deep, and that being empathetic is always a positive thing. I've reread this several times throughout the years and it's pure magic.
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One of my absolute favourite more recent YA book series. These books are the most amazing mixture of history and fantasy. Some historical people/creatures/gods make appearances, and most of the time they are portrayed acting the same way that they would have during their life span. With tons of twists and turns, there is always something bigger and more surprising around the corner, even if you think you've figured out what is going on.
Two teenagers, Sophie and Josh, become involved in a legend. The legend of Nicholas Flamel. Supposedly Flamel can never age, and his secret is in a particular book. A book that Dr. John Dee intends to steal. A book that could have dire consequences in the wrong hands.
These books are incredibly hard to put down. Buy them and you will be living with legends, Sophie, and Josh for a while.
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This isn't about dying. Not in the traditional sense. A lot of people take life for granted, especially their freedom to wear what they like, listen to what they like, and have a choice in what faith they practice. Some places are still full of witch hunts and prosecutions, where if you are a bit different from the societal norm you can end up not only ostracized but blamed for something you never did- something that will end up leeching away your life. Freedom isn't free, and sometimes how you portray yourself will be the only character witness to something you may have no idea about.
Imagine that you were young, still in high school, and that you knew you were poor. Meet Damien Echols, who experienced that and so much more than he ever bargained for when he, along with two friends, was blamed for ruthlessly murdering children. Damien's world changed drastically when he was blamed for something he didn't do and he is sharing that experience in this life altering book. You'll learn about the prison system, what goes on behind the scenes, and what government may not want you to know. Luckily for Damien, he now has a second chance. Will it make up for his lost innocence and the years he spent in jail? No. But if nothing else, Damien can now truly live.
I know this is a lot darker and more adult than most of the books I've posted. I've met Damien Echols and heard him speak. He's a well grounded and greatly spiritual person. I had my reservations about him and about buying his book, but when you see him stand there and read the passages aloud you can hear the sad truth ring with clarity. He is sharing this not only to get his past off his chest but so others know what it's like. Until he gets a full pardon, he is still considered guilty of his crime. The circumstances that drew him in for questioning were ludicrous and as scary as it may seem, it could also happen to you.
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Think that perhaps you or someone you know is becoming overly reliant on technology? M. T. Anderson thinks that dependency can become deadly, given government supervision. What if everything you did, thought, saw, was monitored? Perhaps there will come a day when computers aren't outside of us and instead are installed in our brains. The only let down? If something happens to the computer, if it malfunctions, what would happen to us?
This book has incredible language for the futuristic time it is based on, which is easy to read and understand. The concepts of doing whatever you can to fit in, and trying to be yourself despite adversity are quite prevalent with youth today. Part of what this book does so well, is showing just how addicted to technology the majority of people have become as well as showing that you it's important to be able to stimulate and entertain yourself without technology.
I have met M. T. Anderson and he is incredible. This isn't his first book for Young Adults, and each book has a distinctly different voice. If you like historical fiction, look to Octavian Nothing. More of a vampire type of person? Thirsty was written just for you!
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All children have issues from time to time. No one is ever the same as another. Yet Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle knows everything there is to know about children. If there is an issue, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle can solve it. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's house always smells like cookies, and she always treats children with respect and as equals. Maybe half of her magic is from giving children choices, and not expecting them to bow down because they are younger.
When I was younger my grandmother used to tell my sister, cousins, and I stories about pirates. Sometimes, though, we didn't get to hear personalized stories about the four of us fighting pirates. Sometimes, she read us this book. This book was so well loved that the cover, a paperback, was in tattered bits by the time it was read to us- the original copyright is 1947. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle is a million times more fun than Mary Poppins and Frauline Maria (no offense, Julie Andrews) because there is always an adventure to be had, a lesson to be learned, but Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle always allows you to have the fun, adventure, and lesson on your own.
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This book has everything for all ages! Worried that one may be a bit too young? This book was written with a perfect tempo for reading aloud, the phrases easily rolling off the tongue. Though written for young people, everyone can get something out of Howl's Moving Castle. There is deeper characterization, more characters, and more adventures than in the Miyazaki film. Just some of the lessons include: beauty is more than skin deep, you can only do as much as you're willing to allow yourself to, not everyone is what they seem, and complaining never helps you solve a situation.
I love this book! This book makes me want to write magic stories, because this story allows every character to go on an adventure without romance being the primary objective. While there is some romance, looking for romance is not at all why Sophie and her two sisters Martha and Lotte get into all the mischief that they do. They want to experience life, go on adventures, and have good fortune. It takes them some time to realize that anyone can have anything, so long as they work for it.
I can't guarantee that all people will feel how I did after I happened to pick this up from the Rivendell bookstore in Montpelier, Vermont but I, for one, am absolutely smitten with this story and wish that Miyazaki had stuck closer to the original. Check below for the trailer to the movie. This would be another great story to get children involved with, and then allow them to see the movie afterwards (which would also lead into a perfect lesson about how books and movies differ, an important lesson for any school age children).
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These 12 days are really getting to me. It seems that a ton of books I've read seem to be subliminally coming at me and saying "Gifts for children/teenagers? Pick me, pick me!" Today's book is based on something I saw online that I disagree with. Apparently some people think that it's better not to call your daughter (niece, etc) a princess.
What's wrong with being a princess? Being a princess is hard work. You have to remain poise and collected no matter what adversity strikes you. You have to do what is good for all above what is good for yourself. You must also be kind. Are those not the attributes many like to see in not just women, but all people in society? There is a great deal of difference between "princess" and "damsel in distress."
Not everyone gets to have a happily ever after. Sometimes families are torn apart by work, especially if someone is in the military- something many young people face with their parents today. Sarah Crewe has always been with her father, until one day he is going to be shipped off to war. Despite her father's absence, Sarah continues to live with the morals and values he has taught her: that you should always try to remain collected and calm, even when upset, that you should be kind to everyone and stand up to those who are not, and above all else, that you should maintain your own self worth because no one can ever knock you down if you believe in yourself.
The pink leather bound copy of this book can be bought here from Barnes and Noble, and is one of the multitude of leather books currently on my bookshelves.
This book has also been made into two movies, one with Shirley Temple and one with Eleanor Bron. I prefer the second movie, from 1997. I actually saw the movie before I read the book, which is rare for me. This movie also fixed some of the racial tension that is in the book which while common at the time, is not acceptable today.
A link to where you can buy this movie can be found here.
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I was originally going to post about a book for a slightly younger audience but there is so much buzz about Harry Potter right now since J. K. Rowling is posting 12 short stories on the Pottermore website for her 12 days of Christmas, that I surely couldn't wait to write about my favourite boy wizard!
My thoughts: I received this book from my aunt for Christmas when I was 10 which is, in my opinion, the absolute perfect time to get a book about wizards who go to a magical school when they are 11. Harry Potter and the characters within the novel are completely relatable. For me, given that I, too, have no parents (though mine did die in an actual car accident, as far as I know), and given that I also have a scar on my forehead from my parents' accident (though it is not lightning shaped) there was no way I would ever give up on Harry Potter, or his ability to have a great life.
My Synopsis:
Harry Potter lives in a cupboard under the stairs of his aunt and uncle's house. While his cousin is a spoiled brat, Harry lives much like a beggar, who must do whatever is asked of him so he isn't yelled at or abused. He knows something strange is going on when he begins to receive letters, letters that even mention that he has the cupboard under the stairs as a bedroom. Although his aunt and uncle try to keep him from the letters, there is no way to fight destiny. What will become of Harry when he realizes who he really is, who his parents really were, and how his parents were really killed?
Age Recommendation:
I would recommend this book for children/young people around 9-10 or older. I found that the books grew with me, as I aged between each book, with the final book coming out when I was an adult. Although I have known some people that have read these books with children, I feel that the magic that is these books should be something everyone can experience on their own. The books were originally written at the young people level, and slowly travel up to young adult as the characters age, with language easily understood by people around the 10 year age.
Today I'm going to do something slightly out of the ordinary and begin 12 days of Christmas, where I recommend 12 different books on twelve different days for potential Christmas gifts. I was considering, and still am, one for each level of reading: a children's book, a middle level book (Young People or Young Adult), and an adult book. For now I'll start with just one a day, but if you'd like more, please feel free to leave a comment below! :)
This book holds a Caldecott Honor metal on the cover, is meant for young children, and is overall amazing.
Everyone has heard the story of Rumpelstiltskin but not everyone has been able to see the story in such vivid pictures as Zelinsky has painted. Getting this book out of the school library had been the first time I had heard and seen this story outside of Reading Rainbow. I took this story out again and again throughout the years, and now am purchasing it for friends' children.
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The Night Circus
