Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Half-bloods

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Book #1: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

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           I will be posting on Tuesday for a little while and after next weeks review I will be taking a break from blogging until SATs are over. Also, I decided to flip this weeks and next week’s books because I finished this one first. Is that cool? Okay, good.  Percy has just found out he is a demi-god. Half Greek god, half human. He accepts a quest: retrieve Zeus’s stolen lightning bolt in order to restore peace in Olympia. Along the way he comes across many monsters and gods who try to stop him from completing his quest.

“At its core it is a wild adventure story about friendship, courage, and rising above labels.”




Language:
              
  None

Alcohol/drugs:
             
        Percy’s step-father has poker parties where beer is abundant. Throughout the book Percy shows his disgust for him and his treatment of his mother. Basically, the guy is the typical "jerk" character that provides conflict for the main character.

Violence:
              
        As this is a fantasy novel battles and monsters being slayed are frequent throughout the book. It is mentioned that the stepfather has hit Percy’s mother. I would rate the violence a 4.5.

Sexual Content:
              
        The whole idea of demi-gods stems from the fact that gods came to earth and had affairs. It’s not explained upon or talked about in a sexual way but as a fact of their existence.

Spiritual Content:
             
         By now, you have definitely picked up on the fact that this book is about Greek gods. They are pictured as immortal beings who each have their own personalities and faults. They are not depicted as things to be worshiped and certainly not as a religion. To put it plainly, it’s more like they are just giant people with super powers who live up in the sky. It follows Greek mythology and all its stories as if they really happened (which includes the underworld).
            
         Percy inquires once as to whether or not there is an all-powerful God and it is quickly made clear that that is not something to be discussed at the moment. My impression of the exchange was that God existed but, his exact role in this fantasy world was not going to be explained.

Currently Reading: A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro

Next Post: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

A Boy and His Horse

Some Kind of Courage by Dan Gemeinhart

 
           
         Do you remember all those horse movies you would watch as a kid? You know, the ones with stolen horses, wild animals, Native Americans, Cowboys, and an ultimately happy ending where horse and owner live happily ever after? I LIVED on those movies. My favorite was and is Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron. Some Kind of Courage reminded me of those movies in all the right ways. The whole book exuded nostalgia (do I get brownie points for using those two words in the same sentence?).

“It was such a spectacular adventure full of thrills, surprises, and heart-wrenching moments.

          The main character, Joseph, was excellent and the supporting character, Ah-Kee never stopped impressing me. I enjoyed their unique friendship and all the funny exchanges they had.
Moving on to the next part of this review. I’m going to give you a detailed content review with the same format I usually use at the end of my posts. Then, I’ll let you be the judge.


Language:
              
       There was some language in this book. The “H” word is used five times by some of the gruff men Joseph comes across. Damned is used once and heck or heckuva is used a few times as well. Joseph mentions himself swearing a handful of times even though he knows his mother wouldn’t like him saying things like that.

Alcohol/drugs:
              
       The man who “stole” Joseph’s horse is drunk in one scene. His actions are nothing more than slowed reflexes and a temper. He offers Joseph some alcohol but he refuses.

Violence:
               
      One character breaks his ankle and another’s leg is torn up a bit by a bear. Someone is shot and it is mentioned that they are bleeding out but it doesn’t go onto much more detail than that.

Sexual Content:
              
      None

Spiritual Content:
               
      Joseph’s parents are dead and he references them anytime a moral decision needs to be made. His mother is his main point of moral guidance and has strong advice that lines up with God’s word. He also frequently asks himself what the Lord would want him to do. Joseph always does the right thing even if it scares him. He looks out for others especially his friend Ah-kee, a Chinese immigrant who is looked down upon by society. He shows great strength of character by giving others a second chance even if they don’t deserve one and looking at all peoples as equal.

Currently Reading: Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K Rowling

Next Post: Full review of: Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K Rowling

Monday, May 2, 2016

4/12

April Wrap-up, Haul, and May TBR
               
                I am happy to say I got myself out of my slump this month and actually ended up reading quite a lot of material. I say material because some of what I read was comic books and a graphic novel. This post kick-starts middle-grade May which is where I review only middle-grade books all May. These reviews will be heavily geared towards parents.

The lineup so far:

May 8th Some Kind of Courage by Dan Gemeinhart

May 15th Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K Rowling

May 22nd Percy Jackson and The Olympians Book 1: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

Books Read

What got me out of my slump are these guys right here:


Nightwing Comics. They were given to me by my uncle and I thought they looked pretty cool so I started reading them immediately. Nightwing is in the same "world" as Batman. In fact, I’m pretty sure he was the first Robin the Wonder Boy. I thought these comics were super entertaining and Nightwing is just . . . awesome.

I was then (finally) able to finish The Love That Split the World by Emily Henry and move on to the next books which were Sudden Mission and Nasty Leftovers by Guy L. Pace. I wrote a full review on both books and they were both pretty cool.

Next, I read my first graphic novel Through the Woods by Emily Carroll. The art in this book is just stunning. Seriously, the pictures don’t do it any justice. This is a book of short horror/spooky stories and I loved every one of them.




The last book I read is Some Kind of Courage by Dan Gemeinhart which you will see a full review of next week. I’m so excited to write the review for this book because it was SO GOOD.

April Haul


The first book is one I bought and it’s The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I have read the entire series but do not have the physical copies of any of them. I received an Amazon gift card as  thanks for some work I did and purchased Miss Mayhem by Rachel Hawkins, Nimona by Noel Stevenson, and Through the Woods by Emily Carroll. I also went to a book talk at a high school near me and got to bring home two ARCs. The Land of 10,000 Madonnas by Kate Hattemer and Fiona by Meredith Moore.

               
My May Reading List

1.  Finish Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling

2.  Finish Percy Jackson & The Olympians Book 1: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

3.  A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro

4.  Entertaining Angels by Emerald Barnes


Currently Reading: Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling and Percy Jackson & The Olympians Book 1: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

Next Post: Full Review of Some Kind of Courage by Dan Gemeinhart