Book Review: Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters

Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters [Percy Jackson & The Olympians #2]
by Rick Riordan
279 pages
published by Hyperion Books, 2006

Goodreads Description:
 
The heroic son of Poseidon makes an action-packed comeback in the second must-read installment of Rick Riordans amazing young readers series. Starring Percy Jackson, a "half blood" whose mother is human and who's father is god of the sea, Riordan's series combines cliffhanger adventure and Greek mythology lessons that results in true page-turners that get better with each installment. In this episode, The Sea of Monsters, Percy sets out to retrieve the Golden Fleece before his summer camp is destroyed, surpassing the first book's drama and setting the stage for more thrills to come.

My Review:
Fantastic. Riordan just doesn't disappoint. This being a second in series, I didn't expect to be as surprised, intrigued, thrilled as I was reading the first book. It's just a habit for sequels to disappoint me, but Riordan managed to impress. Sea of Monsters has more thrills and edge-of-seat action than the first book did, and this one was much shorter in length even. The action really builds, and the reader's curiosity is twisting and bending trying to get a peek at what might happen next because there's just so much going on. The action in this book was killer. Speaking of killer, plenty new mythological beasts come to wreak havoc, which is all the more enjoyable for us readers. The number of beasts in this book was great, all with mythological relevance of course. I actually loved the villains in this book. They were just the right amount of terrifying and stupid, and even humorous too. 

The action was great. The beasts were great. However, I do struggle some with our heroes. Is it just me or do they seem a bit redundant. I guess that's natural when following the 'hero on a quest' archetype. Things are bound to overlap. I just didn't get the feeling that Percy was truly unique. I love his powers and abilities, but as far as his character goes he really doesn't carry much of the story in my opinion. Percy's dry wit does give him a bit of an edge, and Grover creates a unique dynamic to Percy's character, so I can't be too harsh. 
Annabeth always has all the answers. Truthfully, I find her character a bit predictable, but I really enjoyed the personal struggle with she and Tyson in this book. It gave her more depth than in the first book (you just have to read the book to know what I'm referring too). 
The addition of Clarice and Tantalus in this book was great. They are two very unlikable characters, yet you become sympathetic for them in a way. They're just the final touch to the chaos that Riordan creates. 

I thought this story was completely entertaining. Riordan took the book in a new, yet thrilling direction. He kept up the beat all the way to the very end of the book, leaving readers ready for the next installment. I know I'm ready to read the rest of the series!

I give this book five out of five foxes. Sea of Monsters proved to be a dramatic and adventurous sequel to The Lightning Thief. It presents new challenges, engages with terrible and even comic mythological beasts in an exciting way, and it never stops entertaining the reader. 

Zahn's Review: Flyte by Angie Sage

Flyte (Septimus Heap Book #2)
by Angie Sage
Published by Harper Trophy, 2006

Goodreads Description:
It's been a year since Septimus Heap discovered his real family and true calling to be a wizard. As Apprentice to Extra Ordinary Wizard Marcia Overstrand, he is learning the fine arts of Conjurations, Charms, and other Magyk, while Jenna is adapting to life as the Princess and enjoying the freedom of the Castle.
But there is something sinister at work. Marcia is constantly trailed by a menacing Darke Shadow, and Septimus's brother Simon seems bent on a revenge no one understands. Why is the Darke Magyk still lingering?
Bringing fantasy to new heights, Angie Sage continues the journey of Septimus Heap with her trademark humor and all of the clever details readers have come to love

My Review:

As the story of Septimus Heap continues with Septimus Heap a year and a half into Septimus's apprenticeship, Simon comes and kidnaps Jenna. Septimus must try to find her and bring her home again. 

I liked that this book had surprises around each corner! It's never boring,and has a good adventure to the book. It's definitely a must-read. 

The characters are all wizards, princesses, and more. All are courageous, good and bad alike. 

I give this book five out of five foxes

Reviewed by Zahn

Picturebook Review: Perfect Square by Michael Hall

Perfect Square
by Michael Hall
Published by Greenwillow Books
Illustration is acrylic monotype ink prints

Goodreads Description:
 
A perfect square is transformed in this adventure story that will transport you far beyond the four equal sides of this square book. 

My Review:
Perfect Square is one of my favorite picture books! I'm really excited to share this one today. 

I was first attracted to this book by the crooked smile on the book cover. It is very welcoming and carefree, which is a perfect introduction to this book. 
The endpages are bright orange and flipping through the pages creates the most colorful array of pages. This book is meant to be fun, playful, and even played with. 

It is the story of a perfectly happy square who becomes increasingly less square. Yet the square, though clipped, crumpled, and torn, makes the best of each change. It even creates beautiful images. Every new transformation is something creative and playful. This book could be used for so many different purposes. Besides being a very entertaining read, it displays shapes, art, days of the week, and adaptation. 

The illustrations are beautiful as well. The pages are very bright and the repurposed square even changes textures. The artwork is simple yet powerful; it is perfect for the intended audience. The pages are all very bold and filled with positive space. The font is large, bold, and contrasts the colorful images. I really can't find anything I don't like in the illustrations.

At the end of this story, readers may find that a perfect square is much more confining than they once thought, and a few small changes can have endless possibilities. 

I give this five out of five foxes for being a fantastic read and experience. 

Picturebook Review: The Dark by Lemony Snicket, Illustrated by Jon Klassen

Picturebook Review:  The Dark
Words: Lemony Snicket
Pictures: Jon Klassen
Published by Little, Brown and Company, 2013
Illustrations done in gouache and digitally

Goodreads Description:
Laszlo is afraid of the dark.

The dark lives in the same house as Laszlo. Mostly, though, the dark stays in the basement and doesn't come into Laszlo's room. But one night, it does.

This is the story of how Laszlo stops being afraid of the dark.

With emotional insight and poetic economy, two award-winning talents team up to conquer a universal childhood fear. 

My Review:
Opening the book with thick black endpapers and young Laszlo illuminating the story about to unfold, I was immediately drawn into the story. The title page is in the cone of light from the assumed flashlight. It's as if to say, 'these words have been lit for the sole purpose of telling this story, and as soon as it is finished, will be swallowed again by darkness'. It appears a bit mischievous really. A little scary even. 

Being a long-dedicated fan of Lemony Snicket, and more recently Jon Klassen, I had high expectations for this book. It is difficult to judge a book without regards to its author's and/or illustrator's reputation, so I will do my best. The Dark is a wonderful book, and it reflects Snicket and Klassen's reputations well. However, I must say I (just  as an aside!) I missed Snicket's sharp wit. His writing was still very clever, but this book is much more tame in comparison to some of Snicket's other works. Okay, I'm done with that now. Let's get on to the story!

As written previously, this is a really wonderful book. The story is simple, yet animated.   The dark is personified by Laszlo. It has a voice and invites Laszlo into his "room". The reader does not know the dark's intentions, so there is much anticipation what will happen to Laszlo as he enters the dark alone. The unknown, that fear, was livable throughout the story. Laszlo followed the dark, and even with his flashlight to light his path, he was still always surrounded by dark. "[A]nd even though the dark was right next to Laszlo, the voice seemed very far away."It certainly sounds suspicious. And truly, my favorite part of this story, is that even after all Laszlo overcomes, the fear isn't instantly or entirely eradicated. The dark will always be mischievous and Laszlo continues to linger in the light. 

I really enjoyed the illustrations as well. As touched on earlier, the lighting was masterfully done, and its relevance to the story personified through the verbal narrative. Klassen does a great job at reflecting Laszlo's childhood fears with color and size. Every color had some dark hue or shadow to give the setting of the story and offer a visual narrative that correlates with the verbal. Also, Laszlo is always very small. Chairs, doors, and stairs seem to tower over his small body. I don't think I need to interpret this any further, but I thought the illustrations were combined perfectly with the text. The two narratives really came together to tell the story. Snicket and Klassen make a great team. Character and anticipation were developed throughout the book with a satisfying, yet slightly unresolved ending. 

I'm going to give this book 5 out of 5 foxes. It was fantastic. It is a simple, you might even say common, story. However, it is very powerful, especially good for young readers with fears of their own. This book is clever in that much of what the book states, is actually unsaid in the narrative. It has a lot of feeling, and I think young readers can appreciate Laszlo's learning experience. Especially since it doesn't simply announce that one should not be afraid of the dark, rather to acknowledge the fear and welcome it. 

Zahn's Review: The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
Pages: 216
Published by Scholastic, 2004
Newbery Medal Award

Goodreads Description:
When an eccentric millionaire dies mysteriously, sixteen very unlikely people are gathered together for the reading of the will...and what a will it is!

What I liked, I liked that this is a sitting on the edge of your seat mystery. Lots of dramatic adventure, and if you like mysteries you’ll love this book! I thought it was fantastic.

What I didn’t like, it was very confusing and almost nothing made sense until a little after they solved the mystery.

A short review, 16 different people are all invited to Sam westing’s funereal, with no connection except that they all live in sunset towers. Sam westing’s Will says that he was murdered and he creates a game for them all to find the name of the person using 5 clues for each pair. If they win they get 2 million dollars! But they have to find it before they are the next victim.

I rate this book 5 out of 5 foxes.

I really liked the character named Chris in this book. He was smart and crippled, and nice. 

Reviewed by Zahn

(about Zahn)

Review: Daughter of Smoke and Bone

Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #1) by Laini Taylor
Pages: 417
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company in 2011
Series:Daughter of Smoke and Bone
Source: Library
BUY: Amazon -- BN -- Book Depository 

Goodreads Description:
Around the world, black hand prints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged stranger who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grows dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherworldly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages - not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers - beautiful, haunted Akiva - fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

My Review:
Right, so I loved this book. Loved. It.

I loved Taylor’s characters, the romance, and mostly the writing. The characters in this book were so incredibly vivid. Karou’s blue hair, Akiva’s fiery wings, Brimstone’s scars, Zuzanna’s small figure, and even the white wolf was terrifyingly real. I felt like I had been transported directly to where the characters were, and like I could easily have portraits of them hung in my apartment. Each character’s beauty and flaws were absolutely captivating to me.

On top of writing lovable characters, Laini Taylor’s imagination and creativity of Elsewhere filled me with jealousy. I wish I could grow a fox’s tail and wolf ears so that I can be a Chimera too. Oh yeah, the Chimera are the beautiful and potentially dangerous creatures that occupy Karou’s other world. For lack of a better term.

Here is a book filled with love, danger, and friendship. In a perfect blend of joy and grief that made my heart wrench for each of the characters and wonder about them long after I finished reading.  The two worlds that Karou traveled between created the lure of the novel. I couldn’t help but hope that the world of Brimstone, Karou’s guardian and Akiva, Karou’s lover could be real; that one day I might see an angel with wings of fire or a beast of many designs. Sigh. I guess I’ll just have to pretend it’s real.

Another thing that I truly enjoyed was the romance. I’ve read a lot of reviews that were extremely critical of the romance in this novel, but I personally loved it. I thought what Taylor did was unique. I wish I could tell you, but you’ll just have to read it to find out. Yes, the romance was a bit gooey at times, but it worked. The romance wasn’t over the top in that I couldn’t believe the lovers were disgustingly ignorant of what love really is. Maybe I enjoyed it so much because I’m totally gooey in love with my boyfriend that I can relate to their feelings of overwhelming need for each other. So, if you’re not a fan of flowery love, then maybe you can just skip those parts. Although, I recommend that you don’t. This book has so much more to it than Karou’s romance. (Oh, and to my boyfriend, if you’re reading this I apologize for writing about you on my blog. Unless you loved it, in that case I’m not sorry one bit).

Lastly, my favorite bit of this novel was the writing. I am an enormous fan of a good metaphor. I love metaphors, and this book is full of them. The writing is so well crafted that I can actually empathize with Karou, whom I actually have very little in common with. You know, not having a beast guardian who collects teeth and opens portals all around the world. However, Taylor has a way of simplifying some of Karou’s complications so that I really could relate with her, and she did so with some very beautiful language.

I give this book a five out of five fantastic foxes. It is full of new adventures, ones I've never dreamed of. I wanted the characters and their worlds to be real, and have thought about them even after I finished the book. Also, the writing is simply beautiful.