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. :)

The Little Woods

   Calista Wood transfers mid-year to a boarding school called St. Bede's. While most people go there so they'll have a better chance at getting in to a good college, Cally is there for another reason.

   Although it has been ten years, Cally has held on to the hope that she can solve the mystery behind her sister's disappearance. Clare had gone missing from St. Bede's, and rumor has it she was murdered. But was she really? Or is she still alive, living  in the little woods? 

   I have read some mixed reviews about this book. Many complain that the author used too many big words, that the mystery was easy to solve, and that the characters were flawed. I, however, really enjoyed it. I though the author's descriptions of people were awesome. I liked how she described them just as Cally saw them, which mad it easier to relate to her. The mystery was pretty easy to solve, but it was still enjoyable. My only complaint would be that sometimes the characters were unrealistic, and their reasoning didn't actually make sense. Otherwise, it was a good book. 

Irish Fairy and Folk Tales

  This book is a collection of fairy and folk tales from Ireland. It's written almost exactly like the Irish talk, so it was a little hard to get into, and at times very hard to understand. Despite this, I still really enjoyed it. It was really interesting and I learned a lot about the culture, language and history of the Irish (and I also learned that they are weird). If you're studying Ireland, or just want to learn about it, or looking for something to give you nightmares, this is the book for you!

Wonderstruck

  Ben and Rose secretly wish their lives were different. So when Ben finds a clue in his mother's room and Rose reads a headline in the newspaper, both children set out on a quest to find what they are missing. Their stories--Ben's told in words and Rose's in pictures--are set fifty years apart, and the ways they are similar and how they intertwine are sure to amaze its readers.

  I had heard that this was a good book and it sounded interesting, but when I saw that one story was in words and the other was pictures, I thought it wouldn't be good. Wouldn't it just be confusing and hard to follow?
  However I was very wrong. Wonderstruck is a wonderful book, and both stories are unique and engaging. Rose's story isn't at all hard to follow. And I liked how the stories were connected.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

 Through letters to someone he's never met but has heard is a kind and understanding person, Charlie tells of the ups and downs of freshman year. As he deals with the loss of his best friend who killed himself and his aunt Helen who died in a car accident, he is also trying to "participate" as his English teacher suggested. 

  I read this book knowing the twist because I didn't know until after the movie that it was a book. But I still loved it. There was one scene that wasn't in the movie and was not mentioned on Common Sense Media, and it definitely should have been. I liked the witty remarks that were scattered through Charlie's letters and how everything that seemed kind of unrealistic or odd was explained at the end. That's one thing that most books fail to do. I think this would be a really interesting book to read with a book club. because there's so much in it to discuss.