Reading Abounds

Title: The Wager Author: Donna Jo Napoli Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 44190 Description: Having lost everything in a tidal wave in 1169 Sicily, nineteen-year-old Don Giovanni makes a simple-sounding wager with a stranger he recognizes as the devil but, while desperate enough to surrender his pride and good looks for three years, he is not willing to give up his soul. Rubric Rating: Level 2 - Like It Why I Read It: The cover and write up made the story sound interesting.  I have also read other titles by Donna Jo Napoli. Lori's Notes: Don Giovanni is a rich youth in Italy until Mt. Etna erupts and a tsunami swamps the town of Messina where he lives.  Calling on his friends and guardian, Giovanni learns he has spent through all of his inheritance.  Living like a beggar he runs into a man who makes a wager with him.  Giovanni will be given a magic purse if he does not wash or change his clothes for 3 years, 3 months and 3 days.  Giovanni learns the valu...

Title: Matched Series: Matched Trilogy Book 1 Author: Ally Condie Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 47538 Description: Cassia has always had complete trust in the Society to make decisions for her, but when she is being paired with her ideal mate, a second face flashes on the screen, and Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility. Rubric Rating: Level 2 - Like It Why I Read It: I read this title while reading a bunch of other dystopian selections.  I also really liked the cover. Lori's Notes:  Cassia Reyes has turned 17 and is "matched" with her good friend Xander.  Not often do people in the same community get matched and she feels lucky that she has her best friend for a mate.  However, while looking at Xander's microcard Cassia sees another face - her friend Ky Markham.  Ky is an aberration from the outer provinces who is ineligible for matching.  Could society have made a mistake? Could Ky be her true match?  A dystopian tale, wher...

Title: Breaking Dawn Series: Twilight Saga Book 4 Author: Stephanie Meyer Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 27392 Description: Although eighteen-year-old Bella joins the dark but seductive world of the immortals by marrying Edward the vampire, her connection to the powerful werewolf Jacob remains. Rubric Rating: Level 1 - Leave It Why I Read It: I admit, I haven't read the other books in the series.  I started with the last book because I had seen the movies and wanted to find out what happened at the end of the novels.  (I was not a fan of the movies either but thought I should at least give one of the books a try). Lori's Notes: Bella and Edward get married and Bella gets pregnant.  Their daughter, Renesmee, is a mix between human and vampire. Jacob imprints on her giving her the protection of the entire pack.  When the Voltari come for Renesmee the vampires "witness" that she is not a forbidden (a vampire child) but a hybrid who will age and not be a danger...

Title: Ghost in the Wires Author: Kevin Mitnick Format: Ebook Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 4951822 (Publisher's Hardcover) Description: The adventures of the world's most wanted hacker Rubric Rating: Level 3 - Laud it. Why I Read It: Recommended by my husband and downloaded to my phone to read while on vacation. Lori's Notes: This was not the first book I was planning on reading while on our vacation.  As my husband likes to call me, I'm a bit of a "momo" when it comes to technology.  However, seeing as I'm doing more and more online it certainly captivated my interest in terms of personal security  This book was a completely fascinating autobiography of Kevin Mitnick.  One of the best known phone phreakers and hackers.  The novel begins with his first forays into phone phreaking to his eventual capture by the FBI.  What I found most interesting was his ability to "social engineer" people.  By using the right language and terminology...

Title: Colin Fischer Authors: Ashley Edward Miller & Zack Stentz Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 74916 Description: A youthful Sherlock Holmes whose Asperger's syndrome makes social interaction difficult, young Colin investigates a crime where he must uncover the greatest mystery of all -- what other people are thinking and feeling. Rubric Rating: Level 4 - Love It! Why I Read It: Interesting Cover.  I loved the little faces all over showing different emotions. Lori's Notes: I loved this book.   I’ve had it in my reading pile for a while and it finally made it to the top of the list.   I finished it in a couple of days.   With more time I probably would have finished it in one sitting.   Colin Fischer has Asperger’s syndrome and sensory integration disorder.   He doesn’t like loud noises and he definitely doesn’t like to be touched.   This is going to make his first year in high school more than a little challenging.   He doesn’t even ...

Title: How to Lead a Life of Crime Author: Kirsten Miller Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 79256 Description:  A teenaged pickpocket, haunted by the ghost of his brother killed by his father, is recruited for Mandel Academy, a school for criminals where only one student survives each semester. Rubric Rating: Level 3 - Laud It. Why I Read It: Great title but the cover and size of this book did nothing to entice me to read it.  I picked it up as a book to take with me to the cottage and I figured I wouldn't need to take any others with a book this size.  Turns out, I should have brought a couple of extras. Lori's Notes:   I picked this book up a couple of times but put it down again because of the length.  Glad I took the time to read it!  The book has good writing, an interesting plot, and moments that made me laugh out loud.  The plot was well devised and executed.  Flick is living on the streets after running away from military school. ...

Title: Delirium Series: Delirium Trilogy Author: Lauren Oliver Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 48617 Description: Lena looks forward to receiving the government-mandated cure that prevents the delirium of love and leads to a safe, predictable, and happy life, until ninety-five days before her eighteenth birthday and her treatment, when she falls in love. Rubric Rating: Level 2: Like It. Why I Read it: I've been reading a lot of dystopian trilogies and this one fit that category.  This cover didn't appeal to me at all. Lori's Notes:  I've read so many dystopian novels now that I've had to categorize them based on theme.  This particular novel I would classify as a "romance dystopian".  The theory is that all unhealthy behaviour and feelings are caused by love and if we can just cure society of this "disease" we can all live happy, healthy and productive lives.  Love is blamed for depression, eating disorders, suicide and the theory for th...

Title: To All the Boys I've Loved Before Author: Jenny Han Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 80429 Description: Lara Jean's love life goes from imaginary to out-of-control when someone finds her cache of secret love letters and mails them to the boys to whom they are addressed. Rubric Rating: Level 2 - Like It Why I Read It: Interesting title and write up.  (Cover didn't appeal to me at all) Lori's Notes: I have to admit this is not really a genre that attracts me.  I don't tend to read a lot of romance fiction.  The write up sounded interesting but I have to say that I was a bit disappointed in the execution.  Lara Jean writes letters to the boy's she's in love with.  They're not love letters, they're leaving letters.  She writes them to get over her crush.  She's never actually had a real boyfriend.  However, when the letters are sent out to these five boys - including her sister's ex-boyfriend (Josh), and the first boy who ever kissed...

Title: Freaks Like Us Author: Susan Vaught Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 79417 Desription:   A mentally ill teenager who rides the "short bus" to school investigates the sudden disappearance of his best friend. Rubric Rating: Level 2 - Like It Why I Read It: I must admit it was the title and cover that made me pick up this book.  (A short bus flipped upside-down) Lori's Notes:   Freak hears voices.  He has since he was eight-years-old.  He calls his voices Bastard, Whiner, and the No-Names.  They ramble continually in his head.  Now that he's in high school he's in a special class with Drip, who has ADHD, and Sunshine, who has selective-mutism.  Freak has schizophrenia.  They've grown accustomed to their lives as "alphabets" as they call themselves.  But when Sunshine disappears all eyes turn toward Freak and Drip.  But no one ever listens to the alphabets and when the FBI is called in even Freak isn't sure that he didn't h...

Title: Death Cloud Series: Sherlock Holmes - The Legend Begins Volume 1 Author: Andrew Lane Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 49369 Description: In 1868, with his army officer father suddenly posted to India and his mother mysteriously "unwell," fourteen-year-old Sherlock Holmes stays with his eccentric relatives where he uncovers his first murder and a diabolical villain. Rubric Rating: Level 2 - Like It Why I Read it: I like Sherlock Holmes mysteries and this one sounded interesting. Lori's Notes: This is a story about a young Sherlock Holmes and how he gets his start in sleuthing. With his father off to war, his brother Mycroft living in London and his mother unwell, Sherlock is sent to live with his stodgy Aunt and Uncle during the school holidays.  While there, his brother acquires a tutor for Sherlock, Amyus Crowe.  Sherlock, along with Amyus' daughter Virginia and a homeless youth named Matty Arnatt become friends and with a fair amount of intrigue and a...