Showing posts with label action. Show all posts
Showing posts with label action. Show all posts
Sunday, September 13, 2015
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Series: Endgame (YA Fic)
AUTHOR: James Frey (US)
PUBLISHED: HarperCollins ; 2014.
PAGES/ILL: ~460 pages.
SERIES: Endgame. The Calling, Sky Key, (third book title TBA).
TIE-INS: Website, Game, Movie.
PLOT: (First book: The Calling)
At the beginning of civilisation on Earth, "They" descended from the sky. They needed gold and they built our earliest civilisations to mine it for them. Then They left, but they told the the 12 lines of the human race that they would be back, and when they did, a game would be played, with a teenaged Player from each line. For ten thousand years the lines have each had a Player prepared at all times. They have trained generation after generation after generation. In weapons, languages, history, tactics, disguise assassination. Together the players are everything: strong, kind, ruthless, loyal, smart, stupid, ugly, lustful, mean, fickle, beautiful, calculating, lazy, exuberant, weak.
Now the game has started. It started in death and will end in death, with only one winner. The one whose line will continue. The Players must find three Keys, in order. In the first book, The Calling, they are searching for the first, Earth Key. Some bonds will form. Some Players will die.
REVIEW:
This book is like the Hunger Games with aliens. Teenagers who like maths and geography will particularly like it. The books, together with the accompanying website, give clues so that the reader can play along with the characters to solve the puzzles. In fact, there is a competition where if you solve all the clues you can win half a million dollars! (Competition ends on or before October 7, 2016).
This is a book that would probably need librarians to promote it, especially to teens who are interested in codes and puzzles.
Overall, it's an appealing dystopia for sci-fi fans.
AGE: 14+.
GENRE: Science fiction, Dystopia, Adventure.
RATING: 4 1/2 stars.
PUBLISHED: HarperCollins ; 2014.
PAGES/ILL: ~460 pages.
SERIES: Endgame. The Calling, Sky Key, (third book title TBA).
TIE-INS: Website, Game, Movie.
PLOT: (First book: The Calling)
At the beginning of civilisation on Earth, "They" descended from the sky. They needed gold and they built our earliest civilisations to mine it for them. Then They left, but they told the the 12 lines of the human race that they would be back, and when they did, a game would be played, with a teenaged Player from each line. For ten thousand years the lines have each had a Player prepared at all times. They have trained generation after generation after generation. In weapons, languages, history, tactics, disguise assassination. Together the players are everything: strong, kind, ruthless, loyal, smart, stupid, ugly, lustful, mean, fickle, beautiful, calculating, lazy, exuberant, weak.
Now the game has started. It started in death and will end in death, with only one winner. The one whose line will continue. The Players must find three Keys, in order. In the first book, The Calling, they are searching for the first, Earth Key. Some bonds will form. Some Players will die.
REVIEW:
This book is like the Hunger Games with aliens. Teenagers who like maths and geography will particularly like it. The books, together with the accompanying website, give clues so that the reader can play along with the characters to solve the puzzles. In fact, there is a competition where if you solve all the clues you can win half a million dollars! (Competition ends on or before October 7, 2016).
This is a book that would probably need librarians to promote it, especially to teens who are interested in codes and puzzles.
Overall, it's an appealing dystopia for sci-fi fans.
AGE: 14+.
GENRE: Science fiction, Dystopia, Adventure.
RATING: 4 1/2 stars.
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Series: The Last Thirteen (Fic)
AUTHOR: James Phelan (Aust)
PUBLISHED: 2013
SERIES: The Last Thirteen
FIRST BOOK: Thirteen
PLOT:
The premise of the series is that there are some people (called Dreamers) who dream 'true dreams' in that their dreams predict the future and come true. The Last Thirteen (TLT) are 13 teenage Dreamers who not only dream 'true dreams', but are part of a prophecy that will prevent the ultimate evil, Solaris, from destroying the world.
In the first book, 'Thirteen', we are introduced to Sam, the first of TLT, Alex (a character who adds nothing to the storyline), and Eva (another Dreamer, but not one of the precious Thirteen).
Two groups, the not-evil but not-good-guys-either Enterprise, and the Good Guys (who operate out of 'the Academy' and are led by 'the Professor' in a way that is blatantly borrowed from the X-men in a way that tries too hard and misses the mark) need TLT to defeat Solaris.
REVIEW:
I was very underwhelmed by the first book. The characters lack development and the plot lacks depth and explanation. The author has borrowed vaguely from the Matrix (dreams), the X-men (the Academy), and Harry Potter (the prophesy). Overall, it has nothing to grip the reader and maintain their engagement.
Some children (particularly boys) may like it, especially those for whom character development and quality writing doesn't mean anything. However, for the time spent reading and the effort needed to get some children engaged in reading, there is FAR better material to promote (I would recommend an X-men comic before this series).
It lacks qualities that would appeal to a wide audience.
AGE: 9-11
GENRE: in the vein of Fantasy
RATING: 3 stars
PUBLISHED: 2013
SERIES: The Last Thirteen
FIRST BOOK: Thirteen
PLOT:
The premise of the series is that there are some people (called Dreamers) who dream 'true dreams' in that their dreams predict the future and come true. The Last Thirteen (TLT) are 13 teenage Dreamers who not only dream 'true dreams', but are part of a prophecy that will prevent the ultimate evil, Solaris, from destroying the world.
In the first book, 'Thirteen', we are introduced to Sam, the first of TLT, Alex (a character who adds nothing to the storyline), and Eva (another Dreamer, but not one of the precious Thirteen).
Two groups, the not-evil but not-good-guys-either Enterprise, and the Good Guys (who operate out of 'the Academy' and are led by 'the Professor' in a way that is blatantly borrowed from the X-men in a way that tries too hard and misses the mark) need TLT to defeat Solaris.
REVIEW:
I was very underwhelmed by the first book. The characters lack development and the plot lacks depth and explanation. The author has borrowed vaguely from the Matrix (dreams), the X-men (the Academy), and Harry Potter (the prophesy). Overall, it has nothing to grip the reader and maintain their engagement.
Some children (particularly boys) may like it, especially those for whom character development and quality writing doesn't mean anything. However, for the time spent reading and the effort needed to get some children engaged in reading, there is FAR better material to promote (I would recommend an X-men comic before this series).
It lacks qualities that would appeal to a wide audience.
AGE: 9-11
GENRE: in the vein of Fantasy
RATING: 3 stars
Monday, June 28, 2010
Alex Rider series
AUTHOR: Anthony Horowitz (UK) (2000's)
NOTES: The series comprises a list of novels as well as graphic novels, short stories, and supplementary books, as well as movies and a video game, and a website. All this makes is an excellent series to get kids reading.
PLOT: A 14-year-old orphan, Alex Rider, discovers that his uncle, a spy with MI6, has been training him to be a spy also. After his uncle's death, MI6 recruits Alex, sending him on various missions across the world.
AGE: 9, 10+. Attracts boys from 4th/5th grade with solid reading ability.
GENRE: Action, Adventure, Mystery, Thriller. RATING: 5 stars.
NOTES: The series comprises a list of novels as well as graphic novels, short stories, and supplementary books, as well as movies and a video game, and a website. All this makes is an excellent series to get kids reading.
PLOT: A 14-year-old orphan, Alex Rider, discovers that his uncle, a spy with MI6, has been training him to be a spy also. After his uncle's death, MI6 recruits Alex, sending him on various missions across the world.
AGE: 9, 10+. Attracts boys from 4th/5th grade with solid reading ability.
GENRE: Action, Adventure, Mystery, Thriller. RATING: 5 stars.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Superpower series
AUTHOR: Alex Cliff (UK) (2007)
NOTES: The 7-book series covers one day (one superpower/task) in each book. By lining up all 7 books, the back cover creates a board game. Each book contains a paragraph of information about Hercules and other gods, and the topic for each book (Namean Lion, etc).
ISSUES: friendship, good vs evil, ancient mythology.
PLOT: Two young boys, Max and Fin, discover Hercules trapped in a castle, imprisoned by the goddess Juno. By using one of his powers each day, they must complete a task set by Juno in order to return Hercules' powers to him and set him free. Eg: In Book 1: The Jaws of Doom, Max and Fin use Hercules' power of strength to capture a saber-toothed (Namean) lion.
AGE: 6-9, or 10 y.o with low reading ability. Will attract younger boys with advanced reading skills in particular.
GENRE: Fantasy, Adventure. RATING: 3 1/2 stars.
NOTES: The 7-book series covers one day (one superpower/task) in each book. By lining up all 7 books, the back cover creates a board game. Each book contains a paragraph of information about Hercules and other gods, and the topic for each book (Namean Lion, etc).
ISSUES: friendship, good vs evil, ancient mythology.
PLOT: Two young boys, Max and Fin, discover Hercules trapped in a castle, imprisoned by the goddess Juno. By using one of his powers each day, they must complete a task set by Juno in order to return Hercules' powers to him and set him free. Eg: In Book 1: The Jaws of Doom, Max and Fin use Hercules' power of strength to capture a saber-toothed (Namean) lion.
AGE: 6-9, or 10 y.o with low reading ability. Will attract younger boys with advanced reading skills in particular.
GENRE: Fantasy, Adventure. RATING: 3 1/2 stars.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Conspiracy 365 Series
AUTHOR: Gabrielle Lord (Australia)
INFO/ISSUES: A 12-book series (one for each month); also has its own website http://www.conspiracy365.com. Issues of death, running away, solving a mystery, friendship, family, trust. Suspenseful, but in a "safe" way.
AGES: Recommended for boys ages 10-15, or as a read-aloud-to-the-class for ages 10-14. Might attract reluctant male readers.
INFO/ISSUES: A 12-book series (one for each month); also has its own website http://www.conspiracy365.com. Issues of death, running away, solving a mystery, friendship, family, trust. Suspenseful, but in a "safe" way.
AGES: Recommended for boys ages 10-15, or as a read-aloud-to-the-class for ages 10-14. Might attract reluctant male readers.
PLOT: "They killed your father. They'll kill you. You must survive the next 365 days." A 15 y.o. boy must race against time (and the 'baddies' - thugs and police) as a wanted fugitive to solve the mystery of his father's death and a centuries-old family secret.
GENRE: Action, Adventure, Mystery. RATING: 5 stars.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)