Ben and Me

  Ben and Me is written from the point of view of Amos, the mouse who changed history. Amos was friends with Benjamin Franklin, and is the one responsible for all his great inventions.

  I really liked this book. It's educational, a quick read, and absolutely hilarious. I loved Amos's small comments, and the book can help make history fun!

Julie of the Wolves

Miyax (also known as Julie, her English name) runs away from a home situation she finds intolerable and plans to go to San Francisco, towards her pen pal. But it isn't long until she finds herself lost in the Alaskan wilderness.
She is then adopted by a pack of wolves, who she loves as her brothers. And with the help of her new family and the survival skills her father taught her, Miyax struggles to survive.

Although I would have liked a little more description here and there, I really enjoyed this book. I liked how the author didn't tell you Miyax's story right away, she left you wondering for a little while. Also, I loved when Miyax sorted her memories by color, because I do that all the time! I'd say this is a must-read for all animal-lovers.

City of the Beasts

 Alexander Cold is sent to live with his fearless grandmother, and shortly after his arrival they set out on a journey to the dangerous forests of South America in search of the legendary creature known as the Beast.
   But as Alex and his new friend Nadia find out, the unexplored wilderness is full of secrets. With the help of the forest spirits, both of them are led on an unforgettable and thrilling adventure. 

   This book is a quick read and hard to put down. I like the author's writing style and the characters are all very amusing. I especially like Kate, just because she has such a unique personality. I love that Alex and Nadia could just be really good friends, and I also like how Alex started the journey as a grump and a picky eater but completely changed by the end of the book. I recommend for any fantasy lover!

My Top Ten

  Like any bookworm, it is extremely difficult for me to chose my absolute favorite book. There are just so many to chose from! But here are my top ten (for the time being, anyway). They all made the list for different reasons, and they were all quite fun to read!

1. Harry Potter~just because the stories, the twists, the writing, the characters, are all awesome, in a magical way.

2. The Hunger Games~a story of love, being strong, and doing what's right. The protagonist isn't at all the typical teen girl found in most novels.

3.The Underneath~it's a terrific tale, mystical yet realistic, and a quick read.

4. Percy Jackson~it's Greek mythology and teens who have powers, and laced with wit throughout the series. What's not to love?

5. If I Stay~one of the saddest books I've ever read. I found it easy to like and relate to the characters. Just remember your tissues.

6. The Help~a must-read. It's interesting, educational, and touching.

7. Wildwood~a great adventure, good humor, and well-developed characters. Sure to make your "Favorites" shelf.

8. Breadcrumbs~the main character is one of the very few that I have thought "That's me!" Her sense of humor, way of thinking, and love for her friends make her a great protagonist. Not to mention her well-described adventure in search of her friend.

9. Picture the Dead~Mysterious from the start, this book will surely surprise you with its twists.

10. Twilight~DON'T PANIC. I do not really like Twilight. It made my list because without it, my friends and family would not have anything to make fun of. A good book to read when you need to laugh (a LOT)

Where She Went

It's been three years since the accident. Three years since Mia made a miraculous recovery. And three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life.
Then, by chance, the two of them run into each other in New York. And that night all their memories--the good and the bad--are unearthed, causing both of them to rethink their choices, their emotions, and, most importantly, their futures.

I enjoyed reading this book. It had the same lovely writing style as If I Stay, but I would suggest being at least 14 to read this one as it has plenty of language and some other content. One of my favorite things about this book was that Adam had the "perfect life" desired by most people, but he wasn't happy and his problems didn't disappear; rather, they multiplied.

Matched Trilogy

Book One

Matched 

  Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate... until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.

    The Society tells her that it was just a glitch and that she should forget about it and focus on living a happy life with Xander. But Cassia doesn't forget and can't help but feel that the Society isn't as safe as she once thought. She soon finds herself falling in love with Ky, and by doing so she chooses a path that no one else has dared to follow.

Book Two

Crossed 

  Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in search of Ky, who has been sent by the Society to his certain death. She arrives to find that he has escaped, and then she must follow the clues he left behind. The longer she travels the more determined she becomes to spend her life with Ky and the angrier she becomes at the Society. She wants to find the Rising, the rebellion plotting against the Society, and help them destroy it. 

Book Three

Reached 

 Cassia, Ky and Xander are all in the Rising but are stationed in different places, and with the sudden outbreak of the Plague, it's hard to get away and see each other. The Rising and the Society are both trying to find a cure for the Plague, and soon the three of them realize the the Rising is just like the Society, and that both of them are running out of places to look for a cure.

  I liked the whole series, but I think Matched and Reached were better. I love sci-fi and usually don't like romance, but in this series I liked both. The romance between Cassia and Ky isn't like the romances in other books I've read. I liked it because it was more about their friendship and they slowly started having feelings for one another rather than . Cassia isn't flighty, Xander isn't evil, and Ky isn't perfect like the typical characters in love triangles. I highly recommend these books.

Under Wildwood

   Prue and her brother Mac return to their home in Portland, Oregon, after their exciting adventure in the Impassable Wilderness. But as Prue settles back into a routine she finds that her mind remains with her friend Curtis, who stayed in the Wood to train as a bandit. 
   Little does Prue know that she and Curtis will be reunited soon. With the help of her new and odd science teacher, Prue finds herself once again the magical and dangerous I.W., fighting new enemies alongside Curtis.  But this time they must explore a part of the Wood that they never knew existed--for in order to go above, they must first go under.


      While reading a series, I rarely find that the second book is better than the first, but Under Wildwood was, in my opinion, better than Wildwood (which I also really liked). I love how all the different stories, although different, were connected, and as the book progressed they become even more so. The style of writing is clever, descriptive, and interesting. My only complaint would be the cliffhanger ending, which is probably one of the (unfortunately) most effective cliffhangers I've ever read.