Long time no hear!

With the new school year storming in, the boys found themselves overwhelmed with obligations. Several of the kids are taking high school classes in middle school, and the high school boys have been taking college classes in high school.

Unfortunately,there have been several other circumstances that have made it near impossible to keep up with our postings. We had to say good-bye to a very dear friend in October after she lost her battle with cancer.

While the boys have not had the time to sit down and write reviews worthy of posting, they do have a list of great reads:

Love {and other uses for duct tape} by Carrie Jones
"Carrie didn't let me down!"

Hit the Road, Manny by Christian Birch
"OMG! Funny!"

The Compound by S.A. Bodeen
"This had me on the edge of my seat."

The Rule of Won by Stefan Petrucha
"Definitely thought provoking."

Shift by Jennifer Bradbury
"Intriguing, must read."

The Adventurous Deeds of Deadwood Jones by Helen Hemphill
"An adventure well worth the read!"

Hopefully we can pick up the pace after the new year. We are looking into doing vlog's or podcasts. Hoping they might work out better for the boys.

Thanks to everyone who hung in there and supported the boys in their efforts.

I am continually on the lookout for boys who like to read and have time to send in reviews. If you know of any please send them my way!

Wolf Brother-Michelle Paver

Wolf Brother
Author: Michelle Paver
http://www.michellepaver.com/
Reviewer: David

Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver is an action-packed odyssey that has been on the National Best Seller list. Set in 6,000 BC, Wolf Brother is about two friends: Torak, a twelve-year old boy, whose father has been killed by a mindless bear and Wolf, a wolf around 3 weeks old whose pack has been drowned by a flood. Torak is able to speak the wolf language because he has a special gift. Unfortunately, early in the story Torak is accused of stealing a roe (an ancient deer), and is taken to Fin-Kedinn, the clan leader, who will decide his fate. Torak’s fate is to fight Hord, a raven clan youth, and Torak wins the fight by blinding Hord with steam from a stew. When a dark evil called the soul eaters threaten to take over the world, Torak and Wolf must fulfill the prophecy given to them by the leader of the Raven Clan and kill the demon-bear. Joined by Renn of the Raven Clan, the threesome journey to the Mountain of the World Spirit where Torak will give his blood to the World Spirit, and the demon-bear will die. The world created by the author is cool, and I hadn’t thought about that ancient time like that before. The dangerous setting was intriguing. Also, the characters were appealing because the wolf and human could talk to each other and were friends. I’d really like to be friends with a wolf. Wolf Brother is the first book in the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series and is the most renowned, too. The sequels to Wolf Brother are, Spirit Walker and Soul Eater, which are also very good. This book is definitely very hooking, so don’t read it unless you have time to sit on the couch for long periods of time. Lastly, in 2005 the press announced that there will be a movie of Wolf Brother, but the release date has not yet been determined. Overall, Wolf Brother is a big hit and will last for a very long time.

More Books In This Series:

Extras:

You can be a part of the Torak Clan on this awesome interactive website:

http://www.torak.info/

Coraline - Neil Gaiman

Coraline
Author: Neil Gaiman
http://www.neilgaiman.com/
Reviewer: Joseph

As people who are familiar with his Sandman books will know Neil Gaiman has a twisted sense of reality. Gaiman takes the old theme of a child stepping into a wonderland through a parallel dimension and horribly distorts it. Coraline is a modern fairytale where nothing is as it seems and reality is distorted. In Coraline the young protagonist is drawn to adventure the area around her house because of boredom. The weather is horrible, it constantly rains and is foggy, there are no other children in her neighbourhood, and her parents completely ignore her. She is drawn to a mysterious door in her house that supposedly leads to no where. It is locked and has a brick walll on the other side as she finds out. But when her parents are gone and she finds the key it turns out to be a sort of mirror world where her mother is loving and a brilliant cook, her neighbours are beautiful entertainers, and she plays with friendly rats from the man upstairs. This world seems perfect until she realizes that she is a pawn in a game this other mother has played for years. Coraline is at once a fairy tale, an adventure story, a mystery, and a cautionary tale. It features some extremely interesting characters including a talking cat who guides Coraline, two neighbours who give Coraline the key to her victory against the other mother, a man upstairs who has a band of musical rats (mirrored by the evil rats in the alternate reality), and a father who can’t cook. This book quickly became one of my favourites. And Neil Gaiman also plans to release this book as a graphic novel later this year even though the illustrations by Dave Mckean in the regular version are fantastic.

Coraline is coming out as a film in 2009



And here is a sneak peek we found on YouTube:

The Cry of the Icemark - Stuart Hill

The Cry of the Icemark
Author: Stuart Hill
http://www.doublecluck.com/authordetails.php?aname=Hill,%20Stuart&btype=fiction711
Reviewer: David

"The Cry of the Icemark" is an epic story about a thirteen-year-old girl that has to fulfill her destiny as the Queen of Icemark. Thirrin Freer Strong-in-the-Arm Lindenshield is a beautiful girl and is destined to rule the small kingdom of Icemark. Her father, King Redrought, has been killed defending Icemark from the powerful Polypontians. The Polypontians have never lost a war, are more advanced technologically, and will stop at nothing to destroy Icemark. They also have a general that's never lost a battle. In the process of destroying the first army of the Polypontians (there are many Polypontian armies), Icemark's army has been destroyed. Now, Thirrin Strong-in-the-Arm Lindenshield has retreated to the neighboring allies, the Hypolitan, and must form a collaboration of allies to even hope to have a chance in the upcoming war. Thirrin will forge an alliance with the vicious Wolf-folk, the Dark Vampires from the Lands of the Ghosts, and the courageous Snow Leopards from the Hub of the World. Thirrin won’t do this alone, and will find help from Oskan, a young Warlock who had extraordinary powers and is brave in the face of great danger.

Parts of "The Cry of the Icemark" were catchy, and I enjoyed reading those parts, because there were action-filled battle scenes and heroics. You would like these parts of the book if you’re into books about King Arthur,” “Lord of the Rings,” and the “Inheritance” series by Christopher Paolini. The only bad thing about this book was that it dragged at some times, and it seemed as if there were a few too many chapters about Thirrin finding good allies. I would have liked the climax battle scenes to be longer. This book is the first book in the Icemark Chronicles. The author has created a world that reminds me of Paolini's world with lots of interesting characters, creatures, and conflicts. Lots of readers will have fun hanging out in that world.

What some other fans think found on YouTube:



Chronicles of Icemark

1. The Cry of the Icemark (2005)
2. Blade of Fire (2006)
3. The Last Battle of the Icemark (2008)

Uncle Pirate - Douglas Rees

Uncle Pirate
Author: Douglas Rees
http://otterlimits.org/doug/
http://biography.jrank.org/pages/2228/Rees-Douglas-1947.html
Reviewer: Michael


If you like pirates, talking penguins, and schools turning into pirate academy then Uncle Pirate is the book for you! Wilson has to deal with bullies but now his Pirate Uncle is coming to stay with him. When Uncle Pirate comes Wilson is surprised to see a real pirate and a penguin that talks! Wilson learns a lot from his uncle. Although his uncle is smart he still has to learn to fit in with modern day society. I loved this book and was ready to say ARGH when I was done. You feel so much into the story you will hate to set it down. I highly recommend this book to any kid!

The Outcasts - L.S. Matthews

The Outcasts
Author: L.S. Matthews
http://www.lsmatthewsonline.co.uk/
http://www.randomhouse.com/kids/catalog/author.pperl?authorid=58241

Reviewer: Jason

L.S. Matthews’ The Outcasts dares you to think outside the box and discover if the world around you is really what it seems. As a group of misfit teens go on what seems to be a school fieldtrip, they end up being tossed into a different sort of world where the rules don’t apply. Facing one challenge after another, will the group make it out of the alternate world together? Or will one fall behind? The Outcasts keeps you interested with its creepy mood and mysterious twists. I highly recommend it for the great twists and turns it throws at you during the entire story.

Check it out! Tons of resources on The Outcasts:
http://www.lsmatthewsonline.co.uk/theoutcastsresources.htm

Here you can find some teaching ideas for The Outcasts:
http://www.lsmatthewsonline.co.uk/outcasts%20resources.pdf

Glass Houses

Glass Houses
Author: Rachel Caine
http://www.rachelcaine.com/
Reviewer: Jason

The first installment in The Morganville Vampires series, Glass Houses, is a thrilling adventure that tells the story of Claire Danvers as she starts her new chapter in life as a college student. Tired of being bullied by the more popular girls, Claire seeks out somewhere off campus to stay. What she finds is an old house that looks and feels haunted. After convincing her new roommates to let her stay, Claire discovers a dark secret about one of her new friends and the terrible things that haunt the night in Morganville, changing how she lives her life forever.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I loved the characters and their very different personalities. Some parts will leave you on the edge of your seat, much like the cliffhanger at the end.

If you enjoy a good adventure with a dab of mystery, don’t miss this great series. Be sure to check out the next book in the Morganville Vampires series, The Dead Girls’ Dance. Available now along with the rest of the series!

Also make sure to check out the author’s awesome website, where you can win some free stuff and see her other series that are now available: http://www.rachelcaine.com/index2.html

Down the Rabbit Hole

Down the Rabbit Hole
Author: Peter Abrahams
http://www.peterabrahams.com/index.html

Reviewer: Joseph

Peter Abrahams’ Down The Rabbit Hole is the first book in the Echo Falls series and other than its adventurous hero Ingrid Levin Hill the most interesting character in the book has to be Echo Falls itself. There are multiple storylines at work here and they are all extremely intriguing, from Ingrid who has to find out who killed Cracked up Kate, to Ingrid’s grandpa (who is probably the reason Ingrid is so feisty) who has to save his house, and a love story in Echo Falls’ history that could be the key to Ingrid finding the murderer. Thanks to Peter Abrahams fine hand we become captured by most of the characters in the book including Ingrid’s dog. It is one of the best mysteries I’ve read and definitely one of the best mysteries for kids.

Check out an interview with Peter Abrahams at Kidsreads.com:

http://www.kidsreads.com/authors/au-abrahams-peter.asp

Other books in the series:

Behind the Curtain - Book 2

Into the Dark - Book 3

I Heart You, You Haunt Me

I Heart You, You Haunt Me
Author: Lisa Schroeder
http://www.lisaschroederbooks.com/books.html
http://www.myspace.com/writerlisa
http://lisa-schroeder.livejournal.com/
Reviewer: Kurtis

Imagine,
the love of your life
dying
right before your eyes.

You think:
I’ll never get
to tell him
what I wanted.

There’s so many things
I wanted to do.

It’s as if
your life…
will never be the same.

Then,
he comes back.

This is exactly what happens to Ava in Lisa Schroeder’s I HEART YOU, YOU HAUNT ME. This was a particularly interesting story, creatively told in verse. It’s the story of a girl who struggles to move on from her dead boyfriend, Jackson. Of course, who wouldn’t have a hard time forgetting when he is there every day to remind her. It becomes even harder when she meets a “real” boy and Jackson becomes overly jealous for her attention. Her only way to move on from this ghastly situation is to let go and not blame herself for his death. But she can’t bring herself to do it.
I HEART YOU, YOU HAUNT ME, is a gripping story of love and remorse. I would definitely recommend this one.

I Heart You, You Haunt Me Book Trailer



Lisa reads from I Heart You, You Haunt Me on her official release day.

The Battle of the Labyrinth

The Battle of the Labyrinth
Author: Rick Riordan
http://www.percyjacksonbooks.com/
http://www.rickriordan.com/
http://rickriordan.blogspot.com/
Reviewer: David

Note: If you haven’t read “The Lightning Thief,”
this review contains spoilers. And why haven’t you read it yet?
It’s awesome. Go get it. NOW!

“The Battle of the Labyrinth” written by Rick Riordan is a very hooking and comic adventure. This fourth establishment in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, that started with “The Lightning Thief,” is definitely one of my favorite books and one of the best at mixing comedy with action/adventure. In the middle of the most serious circumstances, the author will crack a really funny joke that isn’t corny. This series reflects on a modern day world with the Greek gods. The main character, Percy, is a half-blood. That means that his dad (Poseidon) was a god and that is mom was a regular mortal. During this series the titans are back and are trying to take over Mt. Olympus.
This epic starts with a surprise attack on Percy by a demon-cheerleader while at a summer orientation for a new school that he is trying to go to the next year. He luckily escapes, and meets up with his friend Annabeth (also a half-blood). They go to Camp Half-blood and real adventure starts. They discover that Luke (a half-blood who betrayed the gods, and joined the titans in an earlier book) and his army of monsters and evil half-bloods, is trying to attack the camp through a nearby entrance to the Labyrinth. So, together with his friends Annabeth, Grover (a satyr), and Tyson (a cyclops), they enter the labyrinth.
This odyssey is amazing and is a must-read!! This adventure shows the theme of having great friends that you trust to the death. Their friendship prevails no matter what the odds are. If you like mythology and action/adventure books like “Lord of the Rings,” then this book is definitely right for you. If you are looking for a great book that will keep you on the end of your seat throughout the story, then this is the next book for you. So, read this book!!!!!!

The first three of this four book series:

TheLightning Thief

The Sea of Monsters

The Titans Curse

Teen, Inc. - Stefan Petrucha

Teen, Inc.
Author: Stefan Petrucha
http://www.petrucha.com/
Reviewer: Jason

Jaiden Beale lived an ordinary life…Well, as ordinary as it gets if you’re worth forty million dollars and you’re adopted by NECorp, a multimillion dollar company. With all of his decisions being made by the company, Jaiden is forced to live a life in secrecy. No one knows of his identity of the boy adopted by a company. Teen, Inc. delivers a fast paced adventure about Jaiden and his discoveries about the horrible crimes that NECorp has been hiding. But Jaiden’s hardest decision in this story is between whether he chooses the only “family” he has ever really had, or what he thinks is right and ultimately betraying NECorp. Stefan Petrucha’s Teen, Inc. is a wonderful read and I would highly recommend it to any adventure loving readers.

Big Slick- Eric Luper

Big Slick
Author: Eric Luper
http://www.ericluper.com/
http://www.myspace.com/ericluper
http://eluper.livejournal.com/

A while back Eric Luper had a contest. He needed a book trailer for his book Big Slick.
Our very own Kurtis was instrumental in assisting in the production of the winning video.
If you haven't already read it, this book is highly recommended!
Don't take our word for it. Watch the video then go check it out for yourself!







Keep your eyes open, there are more books to come from this awesome author!

Bad Girls Club

Bad Girls Club
Author: Judy Gregorson
http://www.judygregerson.com/
Reviewer: Guest-Jordon

Destiny doesn’t exactly live your normal teenage lifestyle. Instead of worrying about boys and parties, she gets to deal with a dysfunctional family. A REALLY dysfunctional family.
She has a secret. Something happened at Crater Lake with her and her sister and her mom. If she tells anybody, it could break her family apart. A dysfunctional family is better than no family. Besides she has worked too hard to keep things together and working.
Judy Gregerson tells us Destiny’s story. It’s not easy to hear. But if you listen, by the end of this book you will look at your life differently.

Want to Win an autographed copy of BAD GIRLS CLUB?

It's easy to do:

Judy Gregerson is giving away one signed hardcover copy of BAD GIRLS CLUB on May 1st. All you have to do is email her at judy (at) judygregerson (dot) com with "I'm In!" in the subject line and your name goes in the hat.

Good Luck!

We've been Syndicated!

I syndicated Boys Blogging Books on LJ.
Feel free to add them to your friends list.

boys_blog_books

Safe as Houses

Safe as Houses
Author: Eric Walters
http://www.ericwalters.net/
Reviewer: Joseph

Eric Walter’s latest young adult book Safe As Houses is a story about Hurricane Hazel in 1954 and three kids who try to survive it. It is based around real people on Raymore Drive, a street that was completely destroyed, and three children who survived because of the help of two real life heroes. The story centers around a young babysitter named Lizzie Hardy and the two young children she babysits. She is left alone with them in the middle of the storm without her parents or theirs. Even though at first they think the storm is nothing, they realize that the storm will be truly devastating and may kill them as it floods the house and the river outside destroys houses and cars. Throughout the book Liz tries to protect the McBride children from the dangers outside and all of the children grow because of the dangerous situation. Liz looses her self-doubt in her babysitting abilities and begins to understand David’s resentment towards her. Suzie is the youngest and most naive of the group but her youthful innocence is what gives the rest of the group hope. And David is Suzie’s older brother who believes he doesn’t need a babysitter but after the whole ordeal is over he is grateful that there was someone else that cares about him and his sister. Since the book is based on true events it helps to further the readers involvement with the characters. As you follow them every step of the way you are astonished by their resourcefulness and intelligence that are beyond their years. It is an enthralling book about a terrifying event in Canadian history that Eric Walter has shone from the perspective of three young children. It is the kind of book that effectively takes an event in history and makes it real for its readers, especially the teen audience that it was written for. As well as having excellent literary quality it is filled with moments of incredible suspense. This book is well worth reading and just like Elixir it shows Eric Walters skills in taking historical events of Canada and giving them a personal feeling.

Welcome Joseph and Steven!

We have two new reviewers joining us!
Welcome to Joseph and Steven.

We'll be adding their profiles soon.

Look for more reviews soon!

Heather Brewer's Chronicles of Vladimir Tod

Ninth Grade Slays
(The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod, Book 2 )
Author: Heather Brewer
http://www.heatherbrewer.com/
http://www.myspace.com/heather_brewer
Reviewer: Michael

If you liked the first book then get ready for twice the action! Heather Brewer has done it again in Ninth Grade Slays (The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod, Book 2), only better.
Vlad is finally in 9th grade with his friends. Henry’s cousin is visiting and going to the same school as them. After Vlad’s last encounter with Meredith, where he failed to kiss her, he worries if he’ll still have a chance with her. Or, will she fall in love with Henry’s cousin? Girl troubles aren’t the only thing Vlad has to worry about. He has to be careful not to let out his secret, and worry about the a vampire slayer too. Vlad has so much going on he has to be careful who he can trust.

If you read Eighth Grade Bites, this sequel is a must. If you haven’t, pick them both up you won’t be sorry.


Trailer - Ninth Grade Slays by =mree on deviantART

Check out Jason's review of Eighth Grade Bites and a link to Michael's review below.


Eighth Grade Bites
The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod
Author: Heather Brewer
http://www.heatherbrewer.com/
http://www.myspace.com/heather_brewer
Reviewer: Jason

If being thirteen wasn't hard enough, Vladimir Tod has to hide his identity as a vampire while attending junior high. Eight Grade Bites is the first book in the Chronicles of Vladimir Tod series. The protagonist of the story Vladimir, or Vlad, is your average teenage vampire. Still learning to control some of his powers, Vlad is able to float, read minds and has a taste for blood. The story starts out with a chilling opening, a mysterious man and murder. Vlad grows suspicious when his English teacher suddenly disappears and a new substitute teacher takes over, Mr. Otis Otis. Vlad searches for clues about the disappearance of his teacher, Mr. Craig, and makes some startling discoveries that lead to him learning about a whole other world of vampires. Eight Grade Bites is a blood-sucking good book with plenty of twists and turns that leaves you hungry for more.

Michael's Review of Eighth Grade Bites

Rock The Drop!

This is something well worth checking out!

http://readergirlz.com/tbdpr.pdf


Today is Support Teen Literature Day!

Welcome and more.

I would like to welcome Jason, our newest reviewer to the blog. Keep your eyes open for his first review, coming soon!

Be sure and check out the new poll on the side of the page. Inquiring minds want to know.

Note to Reviewers:
If you have emailed with an interest in reviewing and you have not heard from me, please re-send. I have been having issues with my email, both in and outgoing. Somedays I have well over a hundred emails cross my desk. Sometimes things slip by me even when I am not having issues. If you have not heard from me, assume that I have not received it. I will try and respond to all inquiries within a week.

Thanks to all for the ongoing support of Boys Blogging Books!

Sheri
Site Moderator

We Love Carrie Jones!

There's a "We Support Carrie Jones" campaign going on over on LJ.

So, for the record, there are Carrie Jones supporters here on Boys Blogging Books!

If you are legal voting age, and a Maine resident be sure and check this out:
http://www.votecarriejones.com/index.php

Tips on Having a Gay (ex) Boyfriend

Tips on Having a Gay (ex) Boyfriend
Author: Carrie Jones
http://www.carriejonesbooks.com/
http://www.myspace.com/calajones
Reviewer: Kurtis

Imagine finding the love of your life and thinking everything is going to be perfect for the rest of your life. But then, as if out of nowhere, you find out he is gay. This is what happens to Belle Philbrick in Carrie Jones’ Tips on Having a Gay (ex) Boyfriend. When her boyfriend, Dylan, her “Golden Boy” admits to being gay it’s as if her whole world was changed. There is a lot of hate in the world especially with the homosexual community. As the next week progresses, Belle becomes frustrated at how much ridicule both her and Dylan get. It is a constant struggle for her to be there for him while she hates him so much for how much he hurt her. Her only hope at this point is Tom. The boy who has made fun of her his whole life, and now she thinks she likes him. This book was completely inspiring to me. Carrie Jones has a way of making you rethink how you see people who live life in a way that might not be your ‘normal’. I couldn’t put this one down.

Extras:
What we learned about Postum. (Belle's drink of choice, and Carrie's too.)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postum

Taken straight from the link above. How cool is this?

Postum in popular culture
Postum was sometimes marketed by an invisible cartoon ghost named, "Mister Coffee Nerves", who would appear in situations wherein normal human characters were shown in uncomfortable life-situations (e.g. irritability, lack of sleep, loss of athletic prowess) due to their use of coffee and its negative effects. These cartoons always ended with the humans switching to Postum and Mister Coffee Nerves running away until the next cartoon.[3]
In the book Tips On Having a Gay (ex) Boyfriend, the main character Belle Philbrick drinks Postum because caffeine gives her seizures.[4]
It was also a sponsor for the radio show "Lum and Abner".

We also learned that Postum was discontinued by Kraft! Oh no what will Carrie and Belle do now?

We found this recipe online for homemade Postum. If you are a Postum drinker and you try it let us know if it works.

HOMEMADE "POSTUM"
http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/10,1630,149185-250198,00.htm

1 qt. fine ground wheat
1 pt. coarse ground corn meal
1/2 c. molasses or dark syrup

Mix the wheat, corn-meal, and syrup. Rub them in the palms of the hand until it is well mixed. Put it into shallow baking pans and brown in a slow oven until it is a rich dark brown. It must be stirred often for even browning. Don't try to hurry the process or it will burn. When it is done, cool and store in a sealed jar or canister. Use like any cereal coffee. I use 2 tablespoons coffee for each cup and a half of water. It may be boiled or it can be made in an electric coffee-maker.
With hot milk this makes a nice evening drink.
If you can't buy ground wheat, you can sort whole grains of wheat and grind them in your blender. However, take them out before it grinds them into a flour.

Moving on to Tom and Duct Tape:
Tom, has an addiction to Duct Tape. Wonder if he knows about this site:
http://www.ducttapeclub.com/
Hey make your prom clothes out of duct tape and win this contest!
DUCK® BRAND DUCT TAPE STUCK AT PROM® SCHOLARSHIP CONTEST

Speaking of Duct Tape...
Carrie Jones celebrated her birthday and the release of her new book on March 1st!


Extras brought to you by the adult moderator because Kurtis had a more pressing engagement:


If you want to know more about Carrie Jones we found these interviews she has done:
http://cynthialeitichsmith.blogspot.com/2007/09/author-interview-carrie-jones-on-tips.html

http://slayground.livejournal.com/205410.html

http://blbooks.blogspot.com/2007/12/carrie-jones-interview.html

http://www.teensreadtoo.com/InterviewJones.html

http://classof2k7.com/interviews/authors/carrie_jones/

http://fdreview.blogspot.com/2007/08/interview-2-carrie-jones.html

http://www.theedgeoftheforest.com/archive/2007/apr/interview.shtml

http://britlitfantwin.livejournal.com/75573.html

http://www.invictusverbum.com/blog/?p=5

Reviewers Wanted

Boys Blogging Books is looking to expand!

Can you help?

If you know a guy between the ages of 10-18 who would be interested in contributing a review at least once a month please contact me for information.

goadingthepen at yahoo dot com

Many Thanks!
Sheri
Blog Moderator

Boys Reading Books

I sometimes forget that not all boys love reading as much as the boys here at Boys Blogging Books. It is easy to forget when you are surrounded by boys who actually love books!
Not all boys like to read, as a matter of fact, there are probably more who don't than do.
There is a great conversation going on at Through The Tollbooth right now Tami Lewis Brown is inteviewing Andy Sherrod. They are chatting about boys and books.
You should check it out!

Sheri
Boys Blogging Books Moderator

Snakehead

Snakehead

Author: Anthony Horowitz

http://www.anthonyhorowitz.com/

Reviewer: David

For this next book, I read the sequel to Ark Angel in the Alex Rider series. It was very good, but definitely will not be a classic. It follows the same formula as all of the other books, but has a much unexpected twist. There is a very big betrayal at the end of the book that changes the whole course of the story.

In this book you find out a lot about Alex’s past and his parents. A reader will meet the character Ash who is Alex’s godfather. He tells Alex about his parents during a mission against a branch of Scorpia, Snakehead. The mission is to go under cover as an Iraqi emigrating from Iraq to Australia. Snakehead is illegally transferring immigrants into Australia. During this book Alex works for an Australian intelligence agency, ASIS. While in his first stop on his trip to Australia from Iraq, Alex is surprised to find out that M16 is also in Australia and that the leader of Snakehead, Major Yu is working on a big project that will kill thousands.

If a reader likes the author, Anthony Horowitz, then I suggest that they read Raven’s Gate and that series. The books are very good and don’t follow the same formula as all of the other books. I would give this book 3 out of 5 stars because it had some good parts, but was the same as all of the other books.

The Puzzling World of Winston Breen

The Puzzling World of Winston Breen
Author: Eric Berlin
http://www.winstonbreen.com/
Reviewer: Michael

If you like puzzles, mysteries, and adventures you will love, The Puzzling World ofWinston Breen, written by Eric Berlin.

Winston Breen is a puzzle master, he can solve puzzles and even make up his own within matters of seconds. When Winston buys a small box for his sister’s birthday gift he has no idea that the box holds clues to a great mystery.

When Winston comes upon this puzzle, made decades ago, will he be able to solve it?

What kind of strangers will Winston have to work with?

What seems to be an over-emotional librarian, and two treasure hunters, are only some of the strangers Winston will have to work with to solve the mystery. Not only does Winston have to solve this puzzle, but also catch a villain!

Eric Berlin lets you be a part of the mystery by solving puzzles as the story goes along. Will you be able to solve them? Overall I think this is a great book, I enjoyed reading it and solving the puzzles.

David's Top Five -2007

My Top 5 Books of 2007 by David

Summer Ball by Mike Lupica

This great sequel to Travel Team is a thrilling and exciting book about stepping up to the next level. Danny Walker is short for his size, but that doesn’t stop him from being a basketball player. It’s a very good book that appeals to all audiences.

Maximum Ride, Saving the World and other Extreme Sports by James Patterson

This epic is the final in the Maximum Ride series. It wraps up the story with a twist and even a little romance. Max learns about her past and her destiny. This book is a must-read and will keep you on the edge of your seat until the end.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling

This odyssey is the last and most important book in the best-selling Harry Potter series. It sums the story up in a way that is unexpected and brilliant. Harry is a great character and you should read all of the books about him.

The Outsiders by S.E. Hilton

Of all of the books that I read this year this book might just be my favorite. I thought that the actual book was very good, but the part that impressed me was how well I could relate to it. The book is about friends and helping others.

Maximum Ride, the Angel Experiment by James Patterson

This book was a great way to start the Maximum Ride series. It made me a little bit confused, but that just made me want to finish it more. If you have not read this book yet then I strongly suggest that you do!

More Cool Author Contests

Here are some fun author contests that you won't want to miss out on.

Crissa Chappell is having a "street art" contest. Take your best shot of "street art" and send it to her by Feb. 1st, for your chance to win her book Total Constant Order and more goodies! Check out her blog for more details.
http://crissachappell.livejournal.com/26826.html


Eric Luper, author of Big Slick, is having a book trailer contest. Do you enjoy creating videos, and being creative? This contest could be the one for you. Try your hand at making a book trailer for Eric's book and you could win an autographed Advanced Reader Copy of his next book, and the chance to choose the name of one of the horses in the book.
http://eluper.livejournal.com/60731.html

Looking For Alaska- Review and Interview

Looking For Alaska
Michael L. Printz Award
Author: John Green
http://www.sparksflyup.com/
Reviewer: Kurtis

Miles Halter is completely bored. He’s got nothing to look forward to when he gets out of bed in the morning. Everything about his life is completely normal. Who wants to be normal? After thinking all this he decides he wants to move to a different school where he just might find the “Great Perhaps.” These are the last words of a poet named Francois Rabelais. Miles always had a knack for knowing people’s last words. When miles moves to Culver Creek Boarding School he meets some people that will change his life forever. Alaska Young is the most interesting person he will ever meet. As his year progresses and she shows him more and more about the Great Perhaps and what life really has to offer, he realizes that he is in love with her. This is a truly inspiring story that captivated me from the very start. It showed me that life isn’t just one big boring routine until you die. Life can have a meaning and everybody can have a purpose, but this is only possible if you make it that way. Looking for Alaska is just an amazing story. It is a book that must be read.


Author Interview: John Green

Kurtis: I read in your bio that Looking for Alaska has been acquired by Paramount and Josh Schwartz, and they are working on a screenplay. Who do you think would make up an ideal cast for Looking for Alaska?


John: I think the ideal cast, honestly, would probably be a bunch of people we've never heard of before. I mean, there aren't a lot of big names in Hollywood who are actual teenagers or who can convincingly portray actual teenagers, you know? I do think Ellen Page (from JUNO) would make a lovely Alaska.

Kurtis: Some authors compile soundtracks of music to listen to that inspire them when they write a certain story. Did you have any music that you listened to when writing Looking for Alaska? If so what was it?


John: At that time in my life, I was listening to a lot of bluegrass and old time country music--artists like Doc Watson and Bill Monroe and Hank Williams. There were actually a couple references to bluegrass music in early versions of "Alaska," but they were eventually revised out. When I am writing, I often listen to music when I begin a day, but then I take the headphones off after a little while because it begins to distract me from the work.

Kurtis: I haven't read An Abundance of Katherines yet so I can't pick a favorite, but you can. Does one or the other stand out for you as being a "better" book or more important to you somehow?

John: Not really. I've heard it said before that trying to pick between your books is like trying to pick between your children. I don't have kids, but I suspect that's probably true. Certainly, "Alaska" stands out to me because it was my first novel, and it was in many ways a very personal book. And "Katherines" means a lot to me because it's concerned with love and friendship, and I wrote it during a time of my life that was just full-to-bursting with love and friendship.

Kurtis: I saw that when you were a kid, you aspired to be an oligochaetologist, aka earthworm scientist, and failed. Was the tragedy of killing off your entire earthworm farm hard to overcome? Have you been able to use that experience in your writing?
John: It's true that I once wanted to be an oligochaetologist (I still think that's a great word), and that I eventually abandoned this career when I was about eight years old and somehow all the earthworms in my earthworm farm died. I don't remember being particularly traumatized by the mass extinction; I was just frustrated. I don't know that I've used the experience in my writing in any direct way, but now that you mention it, I am interested in the dreams that we discard in adolescence and the reasons we discard them.

You to can try your hand at being an oligochaetologist:


http://www.earthworm-farm.com/

(Learn how to make your own here!)

Kurtis: You mentioned in your bio that you enjoy Nintendo. What systems do you own and what are your favorite games?

John: In the past, I've owned an NES, a Super Nintendo, an N64, and a Gameboy. I now have a DS and a Wii. Pretty much the only game I play on the wii is Wii Sports, because it's super fun and my wife and I mostly play together. On the DS, I like to play FIFA Soccer.

Kurtis: In a recent video blog you said you're not fond of commercialized Christmas. You said you didn't like the dead tree thing but you like ornaments. Where do you hang them?

John: We have them on an artificial tree. Which I guess is technically a "dead tree thing," but it is not dead in the sense of having-once-been-alive.

Kurtis: While researching before this interview I found a ton of interviews that you have done. It is a challenge to try and come up with questions that you haven't already answered. Is there any question that hasn't been asked that you wish someone would ask? If so, what is it and what is the answer?

John: I can't really think of anything in particular. It is always a pleasure to see the questions that people come up with, and even if they are not new questions, the phrasing is often different, which makes me think about the question differently and may help me to better understand my answer. Anyway, I enjoy answering questions because it makes me think a little about the work I do and the reasons I do it.

Kurtis: Here are a few easy ones you might not have been asked before:

Fast food or fine food?
Fine food, although I do find the price of fast food rather alluring.

Coke or Pepsi?
I don't drink caffeine, so Sprite (which is a Coke product).

Vanilla or Chocolate?
Chocolate

T-shirt or polo?
Well, I was fervently opposed to polo shirts on the grounds that they're "preppy" and "country clubby" for many years. And then the day before my wedding, my mom and I were at a department store and she bought me a couple polo shirts, and they are amazingly comfortable. Still, I wear t-shirts more often.

Loafers or tennis shoes?
Tennis shoes.

Hot or cold?
Cold

Night owl or early bird?
Definitely a night owl

Thanks for the excellent questions, and for reading "Alaska!"

Thank you, Mr. Green for taking the time to answer our questions!

Find out more about John Green by checking out his other Author interviews around the web.
For a great starting point visit:

Seven Impossible Things: John Green Interview

There is an awesome list of other interviews on her site as well.

Everyone's Doing It!

Soon Boys Blogging Books will be too. The boys are gathering their top five lists for 2007. We'll let you know what they are and why.
Coming soon:

Reviews on:
Tips on Having a Gay Ex-Boyfriend by Carrie Jones
Looking For Alaska by John Green
I Heart You, You Haunt Me by Lisa Schroeder

More Author interviews too! Stay Tuned to Boys Blogging Books 2008!