Blog Moving
I have moved my blog to a new site. All the old posts have been moved over to the new blog. The site is at http://ramblingsofacoffeeaddictedwrter.blogspot.com.
Book Review – Runaway Storm
Runaway Storm
BY: D.E. Knobbe
PUBLISHED BY: Emerald Book Company
PUBLISHED IN: 2010
ISBN: 978-1-934572-35-1
Pages: 223
Ages: Young Adult
Reviewed by Billy Burgess
In the first book of the Runaway series, author D.E. Knobbe introduces us to an almost fifteen year-old boy named Nate. He’s a troubled kid who’s having problems adjusting to his parents split and the recent move to New York.
Nate decides he needs a break from his life and comes up with the prefect scheme. He’s going to go kayaking by himself. He tells his mother that his dad wants him to fly to Vancouver while she is away in Paris. He forgot to mention that his dad is on a business trip.
He is quickly on his way to Vancouver with two hundred dollars in cash and his mother’s credit card. When he arrives at his father’s place, he finds his birthday present – a brand new, yellow kayak. Two of his friends, Mike and Eric, helps Nate buy supplies and helps him get to Galiano Island.
Nate launches his Kayak into the waters unaware of the adventures and dangers ahead of him. From drug dealers, to runaways and even a goth girl, this is a journey Nate will never forget.
“Runaway Storm” is an exciting coming to age story. Male readers will easily connect with Nate and relate to some of the problems he faces. I will warn you that there is some mild language in this book. Overall, I enjoyed reading “Runaway Strom” and will look forward to the second installment in the series.
Great Finds #16
What to do when you don’t live close to a book store? Two words – Thrift Shop!
Hardback:
The Secret Garden
Paperbacks:
Clockwork by Philip Pullman
California Diaries: Dawn by Ann M. Martin
The Cooper Kids Adventures: The Deadly Curse of Toco-rey by Frank Peretti
Kentucky Keepers by Lynn A. Coleman, Jennifer Johnson, Gail Sattler and Kathleen Y’Barbo
The Rescue by Lori Wick
Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul
Peachtree Road by Anne Rivers Siddons
Real Life: Help Me! by Wendy Coris Staub
Lawless by Nora Roberts
SVH: Senior Year #17 Backstabber by Francine Pascal
Great Finds Issue #15
What to do when you don’t live close to a book store? Two words – Thrift Shop!
Hardback:
The Bartimaeus Trilogy Book Two: The Golem’s Eye by Jonathan Stroud
Paperback:
The Bartimaeus Trilogy Book One: The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud
The Bartimaeus Trilogy Book Three: Plolemy’s Gale by Jonathan Stroud
The Proposal by Lori Wick
Dragon Keeper by Carole Wilkinson
Still More Tales to Give You Goosebumps: Special Edition #4 by R.L. Stine
Ghosts of Fear Street #8 The Ooze by R.L. Stine
Book Review: Cirque Du Freak: Hunters of The Dark
PUBLISHED BY: Little, Brown and Company
PUBLISHED IN: 2002
ISBN: 0-316-60709-6
Pages: 213
Ages: Teen & Up
Reviewed by Billy Burgess
With the Vampaneze Lord soon to rise, Mr. Tiny visit’s the Vampire Mountain with a message. The War of the Scars will be a bloodybattle between the vampires and vampaneze. The Vampire clan will die if the Vampaneze Lord is not killed before he is fully blooded.
The Hunters of the Dark is different than the previous installments in the series. It was nice to have Darren return to the Crique Du Freak for a short time.
They link up with the Cirque Du Freak where they run into a group of Vampaneze.
Mr. Crepsley, Harkat Mulds, and Darren leave Vampire Mountain after living there for six years. Vancha would join them later. They meet a witch, Lady Evanna. She could see the future and gives the warning that two of them would be dead by the end of their quest. She travels with them.
Book Review: Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire Prince
BY: Darren Shan
PUBLISHED BY: Little, Brown and Company
PUBLISHED IN: 2002
ISBN: 0-316-60709-6
Pages: 195
Ages: Teen & Up
Reviewed by Billy Burgess
After barely surviving the Trials of Death, Darren Shan finds himself cold and alone after escaping the huge waterfall. Two wolves, Streak and Rudi, nurture him back to health.
Darren gets help from Seba Nile and is able to tell the Vampire Princes of Kurda’s plan. A blood battle takes place between the clan and the vampaneze. Another friend of Darren’s is killed in the battle.
At the Hall of Death, the Vampire Princes and Generals have to a discussion that Darren should be put to death!
Book Review – Cirque Du Freak: Trials of Death
PUBLISHED BY: Little, Brown and Company
PUBLISHED IN: 2001
ISBN: 0-316-60367-8
Pages: 207
Ages: Teen & Up
Reviewed by Billy Burgess
In the fifth chapter in the series, Darren must pass five dangerous trials to prove himself to the Vampire Princes and Vampire Generals or face death by the stakes in the Hall of Death.
Great Finds Issue #14
What to do when you don’t live close to a book store? Two words – Thrift Shop!
Paperbacks:
Baby-sitters Club: Friends Forever #10 Stacey’s Problem
This Presents Darkness by Frank E. Peretti
Great Finds Issue #13
What to do when you don’t live close to a book store? Two words – Thrift Shop!
Hardbacks:
Comes the Bond Fury by John Saul
The Loch by Steve Alten
Blue Smoke by Nora Roberts
Engaging Father Christmas by Robin Jones Gunn
Paperbacks:
Then Again, Maybe I Won’t by Judy Blume
The Baby-Sitters Club Mystery #17 Dawn and the Halloween Mystery by Ann M. Martin
The Baby-Sitters Club #123 Claudia’s Big Party by Ann M. Martin
The Baby-Sitters Club #19 Claudia and the Bad Joke by Ann M. Martin
Petals on the Wind by V.C. Andrews
Baby-Sitters Little Sister: Karen’s Field Day by Ann M. Martin
Baby-Sitters Little Sister: Karen’s Copycat by Ann M. Martin
The Baby-sitter 3 by R.L. Stine
Bone Chillers: Beware The Shopping Mall by Betsy Haynes
Sweet Valley Twins #21 Left Behind by Jamie Suzanne
Book Review: Battling the Unknown: The Last Rawl Trilogy
Battling the Unknown: The Last Rawl Trilogy
BY: Meg Christian
PUBLISHED BY: Infivity Publishing.com
PUBLISHED IN: 2008
ISBN: 0-7414-4793-2
Pages: 146
Ages: Teen & Up
Reviewed by Billy Burgess
In book one of the trilogy, the young author Meg Christian has created the fantasy world of Umberodia. In this land is a sixteen year old Katrina Rawl. Her mother passed away when she was very young. Since then, she has lived with her aunt. Katrina spends her days selling vegetables on the side of the road. She likes to read books which is something that is forbidden by the Emperor.
Katrina stumbles upon a letter written by her mother. In the letter is a message that she is suppose to give to Amile the Warrior. Soon after, the Emperor sends out his army to do a routine house by house search. The army reports back to the Emperor telling him of a young girl named Katrina Rawl. The Emperor knows this must be the only daughter of Marianne Rawl. He orders his army to retrieve the girl.
When the army arrives the next night, Katrina slips out of the house and escapes. She heads to Ioni where she hopes to find the Amile the Warrior. On the way she finds may other dangers. She also meets a skittish bird named Twitter and a young man named Arlon who help her on the journey.
This is an adorable tale set in an original world of Umberodia. Meg Christian’s love of adventure and storytelling is shown in Battling the Unknown: The Last Rawl Trilogy. The young author is donating all of the profits to the Southern New Hampshire Rescue Mission. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good quest and wonderful characters.
