This was one of the most beautiful books I have EVER read. It was also one of the saddest I've ever read.
Last year, someone recommended this book to me, but I remember I just didn't feel like reading it at that time, so I just left it there, unopened. Almost a year later, I heard the movie soundtrack on the radio and realized I still hadn't read the book, which I admit is unusual for me. So I went, looked for it, found it, and started reading. And it just made me sob my head off. Literally. I honestly cried so much I was sure I would run out of tears to cry. I would probably rank it just underneath "A Monster Calls" (click here to read my review if you're interested: https://bookblog205.weebly.com/book-blog/a-monster-calls) in terms of sadness, but also in terms of beauty, for this book was beautiful. Simply beautiful. There's just no other word I can use that will convey exactly what I feel about it. It's basically about a girl who has thyroid cancer and meets a boy who had osteosarcoma at a help group for kids with cancer. Yeah, well, you can guess the story: they get to know each other and fall in love. But it's just so much more that that, except I can't actually tell you because that would be a spoiler. And as much as I like spoilers, I know a lot of people don't, and I guess it's always nice to be surprised by what you're reading. So, for once, I'll stay quiet and keep my mouth shut. Although it's really beautiful, I personally feel that it's better suited for teenagers than for adults. It just feels a bit awkward to be when I imagine adults reading it, although I'm not exactly sure why, and I'm sure many adults have read it already and will disagree, but maybe some teens out there will be able to relate with me and make me feel less guilty about feeling so. I'm going to leave it here, because I am finding myself unable to finish this review unless I tell you the ending, which I definitely don't want to do. I hope, if you do read this -or have already read it- that you liked it, because I definitely did.
0 Comments
When I borrowed this book from the library, it was a rather random pick. I really wanted a book to read and I thought it would give my blog some variety too. At first I thought this would be the typical girl story where you happen to break with your best friend for something silly or all that, but as I kept on reading I really started to enjoy it, and from Chapter 4 onwards I just could not put this book down. It had a really important meaning; you can't let the bully win. It just showed how broken someone can be after bullying, and all through the eyes of a girl who wants to help her friend and doesn't know how. And of course the characters (well, except Kit) were fabulous, and so different from each other too. And the end was fantastic! I think this is definitely a very cool and important book, and I went from being sceptical about Cathy Cassidy books to deciding to give some different books a go: including books I would have never thought of reading before! Altogether, this book is great for 10-12 year olds, because it would mostly interest girls this age and because it is not exactly qualified as long (it's approximately 190 pages long, which right now sound like a lot, but it is actually nothing when you hold the book in your hands and start reading). Another blurb from the book: Hannah and Joey have been best friends forever- just the two of them. But when Joey's new foster brother Paul turns up, everything changes. First Joey falls for Hannah's brother, Kit. Then Paul complicates things- with some kittens, a chocolate bar and a stripy pink bicycle. Hannah's world is turning upside down. Can you rescue a friendship when it's drowning? Can you save a friend in trouble- if they don't want to be saved? It says "How far would you sail to save a friend?", the picture is really blurry though :(
Ok, this is probably going to be the shortest post yet, because it is a general view on a series, not on a specific book. My previous post was about The Hunger, a book from the collection My Story. I really like this collection, and after reading a few more, instead of just writing a review for each, I´m just going to summarise it up. It is a great collection, fun, rather sad and awesome. So I recommend them to you. Most are about girls, although there are about 6 or 7 that are about boys (or maybe more; I didn't bother counting them). Anyway, they're a great read and I hope you like them. There are still a few more books in this series, only I couldn't find a picture which included them all.
I really think this set of books is really interesting, because they are historical, but they're not boring. I like them a lot, personally. I think its a great way to study a bit of history, and even if the stories are not true they sound true. I really think you should try this collection, because they are really cool.
Some are about the Black Death, some are about the Tudors, some about the World Wars, some are about the queens of different places, and this one in particular is about the Irish Potato Blight in 1845. They are written in first person and really take into account the writer's feelings. They are quite realistic, and rather sad in all, because the life they generally write about was rough and hard. I really think children, especially 11-14 year olds, should read these books because they are interesting, fun and educational. The Irish Potato Blight has just broke out, and supplies are running short. Ireland is starving and poor, whilst the British Government lean back and turn a blind eye towards the devastating events in the Emerald island. Phyllis McCormack is young girl of fourteen who has just received a diary for her birthday, where she records her life during the Potato Blight... Roald Dahl might not be my favourite author, but his work is amazing. He is so funny, and witty and smart I'm sure every 8-10 year old child has to love him. I love Roald Dahl's invented language and his awesome stories, and he just draws me into a book so much... I can almost always empathize with the characters, because they way he writes books helps a lot when I try to do so, and I generally end up with HUGE stitches on my sides because I laugh so much! I really don't think anyone can really find much fault with his books, because even if it is not really their favourite type of genre, I can guarantee they will LOVE it. This is one of his shortest books, but he does write longer ones if you are interested in more of his books.
Mr Fox is a fox with a family to support. Every night, he steals a few chickens from the nearby farms. But farmers Boris, Bunce and Bean have had enough, and they decide to hunt down that fox for once and for all. But Mr Fox is very cunning indeed, and he is not going to give up so easily... This book was really, really nice. We read it in English class when l was in Year 7 and I loved it. It was such a sweet story, and Bradley was so... nice, l guess? Actually, scratch that out. he was most definitely NOT nice at the beginning, or at least he pretended not to be nice. I felt quite sorry for him, and I was so glad when he finally- "Carol! I think we agreed on NO SPOILERS! Apologize this instant!"
Sorry, I got too carried away. Anyway, as l was saying before l was interrupted so rudely by my inner self, I felt really sorry for Bradley. Especially the ending. Yes, I'll admit I cried in the middle of class, but the ending was so SAD! l couldn't help it, I felt pity for poor Bradley. At least there was a part of the end that was happy. P.S. I don't usually copy the blurb of a book, but just this once, I will, because it is all you need to start reading this book. Ar least, that's all l needed. Give me a dollar or l'll spit on you. That's Bradley Chalkers for you. He tells lies. he picks fights with girls, and the teachers say he has "serious behaviour problems". No one likes him. Except Carla. She thinks Bradley is sensitive and generous and even enjoys his far-fetched stories. Carla knows that Bradley can change, if only he weren't afraid to try. Mockingbird is a sweet, rather sad story (although no tears were spilled this time) about a young autistic girl dealing with life after her brother's death. This story made me understand some things one cannot explain with words. Suddenly, I was Caitlin, and I could understand exactly why she did such things, the book explained evrething so clearly it was easy to read between the lines. I hope you enjoy this book.
Caitlin's brother Devon just died. Her father, deep in his grief, cries all the time. Caitlin, meanwhile, is trying to find closure for her family. To find closure, she will learn many things, including some things about friendship and some woodworking, too. And, slowly, Caitlin's world of black and white starts to merge into a colourful world... An awesome sequel to the diamond of Drury Lane, the plot was original, well written and very interesting. Cat Royal thrills me and makes me feel like I'm living the adventure with her, not just reading it secretly at night under the bedcovers. I liked this book so much I imediately bought the third book, Den of Thieves, which I am now reading and will post when I have time to finsh the book and review it. All I can say was that it is was extremely interesting and full of adventure, like all former cat Royal books. I hope you will like this book too.
Cat Royal has some problems. Her friend Pedro, a former African slave with a musical talent, is being claimed by his old master, Mr Hawkings. Cat will do anything to save Pedro from the jaws of this evil man, even if it means consorting with Billy Shepherd and disguising as a boy... This book was so sad, and yet so amazing. Tommo's story is beautifully written, sad and, though fictional, quite realistic when it concerns the events that happened during World War l. I quite cried, not only because of the deaths, but because of the injustice of things. Somethings were just done so unfairly I could not believe those events were real. I was stunned. I hope you will read this book, not only to enjoy it, but also to learn about the injustice of life during WWI.
Tommo is in the war, waiting for his terrible fate to arrive. He has a night until his end will come. That night he will spend remembering his childhood, his life as it was before the war with his brothers Charlie and Big Joe, his mother and Molly, his friend. He remembers his life, both the good and the bad moments in it. His last night is spent in remembrance of everything he knew as home, everything he know he will never see again. I quite liked this book. It was fun to read, with an interesting, lively plot full of action. For Year 7's and up, it would be a great story. I think it was set during King George's reign, but, truth be told, I can't be sure. I liked the way it was told in 1st person, it kind of made me empathize more with Catherine, the main character in this story. And the end was quite surprising, considering the beginning of the story. It all turned out the opposite of what I thought. Some parts I did guess, but overall it was quite mysterious and exciting. I'd highly recommend it to Year 7's and above. Personally, I think it would be a great read for them, just as it was for me. And it did teach me more about life during that period, especially focusing on the diference in the life of a young theatre girl and the children of a Duke.
Catherine Royal lives in the theatre. She has no parents and was found on the steps of the theatre as a baby. Then the new prompt, Johnny, appears, and so does Pedro, a talented young african violinist. Then Catherine meets Lord Francis and Lady Elizabeth, the Duke of Avon's children, and has a few unpleasant encounters with Billy Shepherd... And then her life changes quite unexpectedly... |
AuthorCarolina (or Carol for short), a girl who adores to read. A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The person who never reads lives only one. Categories
All
Archives
April 2018
Feel free to comment your opinions about the books when you read them or any suggestions to read!!
For security reasons, please write only your first name when you post a comment and/or if you submit the questionnaire.
|