YA Bookologists: June 2014

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Summer Review Little Women

This post is part of a part of a series where I review books that are a part of my summer reading list. I won't rate them or talk about their writing because my teacher didn't want that. It is mainly going to focus on my relationship with the book. Hope you like it!

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Summer Review Johnny Tremain

This post is going to be a part of a series where I review books that are a part of my summer reading list. I won't rate them or talk about their writing because my teacher didn't want that. It is mainly going to focus on my relationship with the book. Hope you like it!

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Book Haul

So some of these books are mine, so of them are from the library.

The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
My friend recently went to Amsterdam and recommended I read the book. I was cleaning my room the other day and found it under my bed and put it on my to read list. I think I'm finally at the age I can appreciate it because one of my friends read it at 8 and I don't think she got it.

Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne
I might see her on tour with Leigh Bardugo and wanted to get started on her story. It looks like an interestign dystopian novel with teens stuck in a Walmart like store.

The One by Keira Cass
I've been waiting for this forever. I loved The Selection and The Elite. America must finally decide which person to choose. I was so happy I found it on the library's express shelf; I started hyperventilating.

Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes
This is required summer reading. I remember reading it in 4th grade and falling in love with it. I am rereading it to see what I missed and the themes seem a lot more mature than I remember them. This copy I accidentally (maybe) took from my fifth grade teacher's library I recently found in the front cover.

The Story of Owen by E.K. Johnston
That cover is plain cool. Rural Canada, boy, and dragons what more could one be looking for in a new debut (I think) novel. I hope this is another fantasy dragon novel I like after Seraphina.

The Vigilante Poets of Selwyn Academy by Earl Mathews
Poets and bad reality shows are a recipe for awesomeness. I can't wait to see how boys save their art school along with laughing at bad reality show puns.

Monday, June 9, 2014

Review City of Heavenly Fire

City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare Goodreads|Amazon

Published by Margaret K. McElderry Books May 27, 2014

752 Pages

#6 in The Mortal Instruments

Source: Library, read the rest of the series

Bookologist's Analysis: This book brought it all together. This wove together the story of the Shadowhunters of Idris, New York, and Los Angeles. I found myself recommitted to the story of Shadowhunters after feeling left out for a long time.

Shadowhunters and demons square off for the final showdown in the spellbinding, seductive conclusion to the #1 New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments series.

Darkness has descended on the Shadowhunter world. Chaos and destruction overwhelm the Nephilim as Clary, Jace, Simon, and their friends band together to fight the greatest evil they have ever faced: Clary’s own brother. Sebastian Morgenstern is on the move, systematically turning Shadowhunter against Shadowhunter. Bearing the Infernal Cup, he transforms Shadowhunters into creatures of nightmare, tearing apart families and lovers as the ranks of his Endarkened army swell. Nothing in this world can defeat Sebastian—but if they journey to the realm of demons, they just might have a chance…

Lives will be lost, love sacrificed, and the whole world will change. Who will survive the explosive sixth and final installment of the Mortal Instruments series?

Note: I was having technical problems over the last week and was so busy that I couldn't get around fixing them. My computer kept on crashing while I was trying to type up my review, so this took forever. I apologize for not getting this up sooner. On the happier side Cassandra Clare revealed at the end of the book that there will be a new Shadowhunter series (I know another…) called The Dark Artifices with the first book being called Lady Midnight. I ship Emma and Mark. It will somehow involve the Faerie Court and the Los Angeles Institute.

What an end I must say. Pieces of everything are falling into place with all our friends and enemies. The world of Jace and Clary is finally making sense and still continuing to mesmerize us. I found the end a suitable one if not a fantastic one. Over the last couple days I have been analyzing my relationship with the characters and the world of Shadowhunters. I have deduced the science of the City of Heavenly Angels to the plot and characters not the writing. Cassandra Clare isn’t the most eloquent writer or lyrical poet, but she has wonderful raw realness in a world that is often very delusional.

To deconstruct the characters- I have seen a bit of all of us in them. Simon is this scared person who is thrown into the world of Shadowhunters and Downworlders head on with becoming a vampire and is often unsure if he can handle the situation. Simon in this book matures as he learns to cope with Jace dating Clary and his growing relationship with Isabelle. Magnus after leading a near 400 year life is becoming closed off and warded off from emotion especially after being traumatized by the depth of love Alec has for him. Jace is the star of this book, after winning the YA Crush Tourney. He is a prideful leader wanting to do everything himself and wanting to change the world anyway he can. Clary, I believe was purposely made a red head to stand against the crowd; despite being a delicate doll like girl wanting peace, however she still is one of the fiercest women in The Mortal Instruments. Isabelle was brought up to be a badass and that definitely is evident in her approach to life. She enjoys shrugging it off and living in the present. It wasn't until this book that I saw the depth of Isabelle's emotions as she finally starts really putting herself out there with her friends. Alec stands out against the book. To be blunt he is gay and wants to save everyone he loves. Alec is the best friend who is behind the scenes and never noticed for what he does for everyone else. The characters in this book went on a journey. The journey wasn't something I really felt like was realistic for them, but it happened.

Back from piano break trying to get into a Jace mood- I played Heinrich Lichner’s Sonatina Op.49, No.1, Movement 1 (currently playing), Avalanche by Stephen Heller (an old one but loved it),and Puck by Edvard Grieg (old one).

“'Sure, he likes you,’ said Alec. ‘You’re heterosexual and have low expectations of father figures.’”

We all strive for confirmation of our success. We want people to recognize us for our accomplishments and what we have done for them. This is Alec being bitter about his father and how his father likes Jace more than him. I find that City of Heavenly Fire is something that makes our relationship grows with a new found respect for the Shadowhunter Council for banding together in moments of crisis against an evil. The Downworlders that recognizing all supernatural life is important even if they are your enemy. This book grew to a different level and I respect Cassandra Clare for finally finishing the series. Rating: ««««