The Strain

  It's Ephraim Goodweather's "perfect" weekend off work, and he's spending it the best way he possibly could; with his son, Zack.
  That is, until he gets a call from work. Apparently a plane has been found with all of its passengers....dead. Dr. Goodweather is stumped for the cause of death. There's no clues as to how this happened....and the fact that the corpses suddenly vanish doesn't make the case simpler.

  It was somewhat of a relief to read a book about vampires that don't sparkle. Hogan and del Toro have written an epic apocalypse book that is original but also familiar. I loved how it switched points of view, giving the readers a better understanding of what was going on (and of course wrenching our hearts so that we couldn't put the book down!).

The Maze of Bones (The 39 Clues, #1)

  Amy and Dan Cahill have the craziest, meanest family. Their parents died years ago, putting them into their Aunt Beatrice's care (who only took them in due to family obligation. Otherwise they'd be in foster care). The only Cahill who doesn't bully Amy and Dan is their grandmother Grace, and sadly, she's gone.
   But only in certain aspects. At Grace's funeral Amy and Dan, along with several other relatives, are told that their family has a secret--a dangerous secret that can only be found by finding and following 39 clues. Thus begins the most dangerous, life-changing journey of Amy and Dan's lives.

   While these books may be a little below my reading level, they are just as enjoyable as any of Rick Riordan's works. I loved the characteristics and uniqueness of the Cahill family, I loved the relationship between Amy and Dan, and I can definitely relate to Amy's love of libraries. The only thing I didn't like was the unresolved ending; it leaves you begging for more, that's for sure!

The Great Gatsby

 The Great Gatsby takes place in the 1920s, the Jazz Age, is narrated by Nick Carroway, and focuses on the rich and mysterious Jay Gatsby, who is also Carroway's neighbor. Gatsby has a romantic history with the lovely Daisy Buchanan, the cousin of Carroway. They'd met years before, and Daisy, married now, isn't even sure if Gatsby is alive. 

  Sound boring? I thought so, too. I'd heard the book was brilliant, but the synopsis never appealed to me. (Mainly because the first thing they start with is how the book is Fitzgerald's best novel. It seemed to me as if they were trying too hard to sell the book). So I saw the movie, thought it was excellant. I bought the soundtrack, loved it. That's when I gave the book a chance, and OH MY GOSH. I was right to do so. (I'm almost always right ;) )
   Fitzgerald's writing flows smoothly. It feels as if you're not even reading, you're just gliding your eyes over the words. He has a fantastic way of giving you a clear picture without using that many words. It's incredible, really. Definitely one of the best books I've ever read. 

Jane Eyre

Jane Eyre follows reserved, serious, thoughtful Jane through her life; first at her mean aunt's home, then at her school, then as a teacher, and finally, as a governess at Thornfield, where she surprises herself by finding more than just a job there.

  The length and classic-ness of this book was daunting to me, which is why I hadn't read it sooner. The only real reason I read it now was because my English class assigned it. But I am glad I read it, because it wasn't half as scary as I'd expected, plus it doesn't take long to read at all. Jane Eyre has the flowery writing similar to the Jane Austen novels and the kind of story that stays with you, like Harry Potter. And while it's one of the saddest books I've ever read (Getting Near to Baby is the saddest) it's a great read.

Just One Year

  When Willem wakes up, he can barely remember what happened. He doesn't even know how exacty he ended up in the hospital. The only thing he remembers is the girl who he needs to get back to. Lulu. Not even her real name. Just the nickname he gave her, because he said she looked like a Lulu. Nevertheless, she is waiting for him, and he must get back before it's too late.


    For those of you who read my review of Just One Day or heard my rant about it, I was not as disappointed with Just One Year as I thought I would be. The messages in the first book were awesome, and I was sure that this second book wold ruin it.
   But it didn't. Instead, this book, told from Willem's point of view, was about his journey to realizing his mistakes. Sure, he still isn't the greatest role model, but I like that he became a better person by the end. I loved how the so-called "accident" helped him to fix his relationship with his mom (No, I didn't cry...I have no idea why you would think that....).
  

The House of Hades

In the fourth book of The Heroes of Olympus, things are only getting harder for the seven demigods. *spoiler alert* Percy and Annabeth are in Tartarus and the rest of the crew is trying to save them. But a demigod's journey is never that simple.

  I've liked this spin-off of the Percy Jackson series a lot more than I liked the Percy Jackson books. Don't get me wrong, I loved those too, but these are much better in my opinion. 

   House of Hades was, well, depressing. Although in a good way. I enjoyed it tremendously and the character development was incredible. Jason was addressed for being "perfect" and I like him a lot more now. 

   As for Nico...I won't spoil anything, though I found him way more relatable in this book. He hid his feelings for fear of being teased. That I can definitely understand. He is quiet because he doesn't think the others will accept him,  which is how I was when I first moved to Ohio (and it's been in the last two years or so that that's changed.) So although it may sound strange, that is honestly how I feel. (Tease me all you want, it'll only prove my point.) ;) 

Artemis Fowl

  Artemis Fowl is a twelve-year-old genius. A criminal mastermind with foolproof, evil schemes.
However, these plans are not fairy-proof. Artemis thinks he knows exactly what he's getting into by taking Holly Short captive. But then the fairies stop playing by the rules.

  I've heard this book talked about a lot, but it was always one of those things where I would say, "I really don't need to waste my time with books I probably won't enjoy."
  It wasn't until I was waiting at the library and saw it on the shelf that I gave the book a second chance. I just wanted to pass the time, and I ended up loving the book. I really enjoyed Colfer's witty remarks throughout the story (which is awesome, by the way). The fact that it is an Irish book probably contributed to my liking it, too. :)