Book Review: The Bone Cage by Angie Abdou

 Title: The Bone Cage
Author: Angie Abdou
Pages: 233
Publisher: NeWest Press
Year Published: 2007
"Digger, an 85-kilo wrestler, and Sadie, a 26-year-old speed swimmer, stand on the verge of realizing every athlete's dream- winning a gold medal at thw olympics. Both athletes are nearing the end of their careers, and are forced to confront the question: what happens to athletes when their bodies are too worn to compete? The blossoming relationship between Digger and Sadie is tested in the intense month leading up to the Olympics, which, as both of them are painfully aware, will  be the realization or the end of a life's dream."

My Rating: 8/10

I thought this would be a good book to read after these past summer Olympics in London. I found this novel to be very insightful, not only into the physical toll of sports but also the emotional. Many times we don't realize what athletes go through just to be able to compete in Olympics, the training is more intense than I ever could imagine. As i am not an athlete, I had trouble understanding the "Olympic Dream." I realize now that the Olympics are the highlight of any sport and if you don't make it there, you won't really make it anywhere, unless you are a hockey player in North America (NHL anyone?). Living in the country where this book takes place helped immensly and it was great to read something from a fellow Canadian.
THANK YOU ANGIE ABDOU FOR A VIEW INSIDE ATHLETES'  WORLDS AND MINDS!

Have a good day/night/afternoon/weekend etc.
Love,
Sidny ♥♪♫

Spoiler: The Bone Cage by Angie Abdou

I finally finished this book on coffee break at work today, and I realize now that I don't completely relate to the story. I am about the msot clumsy person you will probably ever meet and so an athlete's world is not one I live in. I do understand the main point of the story though. You can't really live your life counting on one thing, maybe that's just what I got from it. What point did you draw from the story?  I didn't feel in tune with characters, but let's talk about them anyways. Tell me who your favorite was/is?

Characters:Digger: This character makes me smile. He's just so focused on his sport, it really doesn't seem like he's allowed to have a life. I never really noticed how much Canadians do ignore wrestling, probably as much as we ignore cyclists really. Unless someone wins a gold in it, they aren't really recognized. I think Digger just wants to be noticed for all the hard work he puts in. Its a large price (on the physical body) for a small prize, in my view.

Sadie: I felt horrible when Sadie got in the car accident, how one moment ruined her life dream. She does learn an important lesson about how she can't always count on swimming, how she has to enjoy the other things in life as well. When Sadie's grandma dies in the beginning of the book, we see her downfall into depression, and I almos tthink its best that she got in the car accident after, so then she wouldn't have to go through losing a medal.

Fly: He seems like a really odd boy. Almost like a 5 year old on pixie sticks at 1 am. He's always going and running his mouth, but he's optomistic.

Ben: In the begining of the novel is a big teddy bear, but as the story line progresses we see him fade from his friendly, happy self into a depressed and confused man. After he loses wrestling, it takes him some time to realize he didn't lose everything

Favorite Lines/Moments:

♥Pg. 3
" 'If I want relief alls I do is tak an Ex-Lax.' "

♥Pg. 21
" 'Is it drugs or just sleep deprivation? Brainwashing? Too much chlorine?' Russ asks, smiling, not breaking the rhythm of his shots. 'I bet it's an underwater sex thing. A twisted underwater sex cult.' "

♥Pg. 55
" 'You don't have to worry about Digger, Denis. Digger loves big girls. Always drooling over the rowers and the swimmers. He wants a girl who hasta turn sideways to fit her shoulders through doorways. he wants her triceps bigger than her-' "

♥Pg. 172
"A five-foot freckled doctor with dimples? It's almost to muich. Digger would laugh if he were somewhere other than the trauma ward."

 

Thanks for reading,
Love,
Sidny xoxo

BOOK REVIEW: Dark Secrets 1: Legacy of Lies by Elizabeth Chandler

 Title: Legacy of Lies
Author: Elizabeth Chandler
Pages: 199
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Year Published: 2000

"In Legacy of Lies, Megan has to stay with the uptight grandmother she wants nothing to do with. She's determined to get through the visit without any drama, but when she falls into a twisted love triangle with potentially fatal consequences, Megan may be caught up in her family's legacy in more ways than she realizes."

My Rating: 10/10

I would like to tell everyone that Dark Secrets has 2 stories in one book, so I'm reading one at a time.
I really enjoyed this book. It was spooky, mysterious and had a romance peeking through in between those other two characteristics. Legacy of Lies was filled with twists and turns that kept my heart racing and my mind wondering. I compliment Elizabeth Chandler for having a strange mind, I'm not even sarcastic! The only thing I could have used more of was a description of the town that Megan was living in. I didn't feel as if I had enough information to satisfy my imagination, but that's just me. If I may just say that Elizabeth Chandler has a twisted sense of writing, like VC Andrews, but with paranormal activity and in a Young Adult form. I love it!
THANK YOU ELIZABETH CHANDLER FOR A CRAZY PARANORMAL MYSTERY!

Hope you enjoyed :)
Love,
Sidny♥♪♫

SPOILER: Dark Secrets 1: Legacy of Lies by Elizabeth Chandler

May I just say it's about time someone wrote a reincarnation mystery that had this many twists and turns. I love a book where I am completely wrong about how it's going to end. Of course I knew that Megan and Matt were going to end up together, no brainer, but Lydia being the murderer, never saw it coming. I was very suspicious of all the characters, I even wondered about Sophie, but never once did I think it was Lydia. And so this book is rated a ten and I can hardly wait to read Don't Tell, the second story in this book.

Characters:Megan: I felt in touch with Megan during this book. She was stubborn and not afraid to talk back, traits that I believe I have. Megan is a great main character to follow, as we find out that she looks like Avril, her stubborn trait has to ease out to find explanations. I didnt have trouble seeing that she was a reincarnate of Avril, it made sense why Grandmother and Matt hated her so much. In the end I knew that she was going to end up with Matt though. How could she not?

Grandmother/Helen: She comes off as a nasty old lady, but in reality I think she was hurt long ago and hasn't dealt with the pain. In the end she actually turns out to get along with Megan, even if she doesn't believe she's a reincarnate of her sister, Avril. I think though, that Megan and her grandmother are more alike than they realize.

Matt: What a hunk? Sure he was stubborn and harsh in the beginning, but like most men, he came around at the end. I thought for a while that he was the one who had killed Avril or at least who he was in her time, Thomas. I was very relived to find out that it wasn't him at all. He was just the one who took her to the docotor. I was disappointed that Thomas ended up with Helen, that's really wrong.

Lydia: HOLY MAN! I couldn't believe that I little old woman would try to poison Megan, but it makes sense since she believe in Karma and the chance that she would die by Megan's hands. I also didn't think that she would be the killer of Avril, but after hearing her alibiy, it made sense. She wanted Thomas for herself, understandable but oh so twisted. Love it!

Sophie: The best friend in the book and obviously also an incarnate! She makes me smile.

Alex: A sweetheart that was definetly made for Sophie :)

Favorite Lines/Moments:
♥Pg. 43
"'Tell me,' I said, 'what kind of supllements do you take to grow an attitude like yours?'"

♥Pg. 53
" 'What's this sort-of cousin stuff?' he asked, not bothering to keep his voice down, perhaps thinking I was inside. 'Is she or isn't she?'
'Legally she is, but not really,' Matt replied. 'She's adopted.'
'Which means you can date her,' Alex said. 'Are you interested?'
'No,' Matt answered quickly.
'Good. I am.'
'She's got a mouth,' my cousin warned.
His friend shrugged. 'Makes it easier to kiss.' "

♥Pg. 77
" 'Was that your dog, Matt?' I asked, pointing to the other photo.
'Yes.'
'What's his name?'
'Homer.'
'Homer?' I repeated. 'You named him after the Greek writer? The guy who wrote the Illiad?'
Alex threw back his head and laughed. 'Yeah, and he had a cat named Shakespeare.' "

♥Pg. 147
" 'Hey, guess what I noticed tonight while getting dressed?'
'I don't think I want to,' Matt quipped."

♥Pg. 199
"Matt's at Chase College now on a lacrosse scholarship. I'm applying to colleges in Maryland. And we're keeping another secret, though maybe not as well as we thought. Just the other day Jamie stopped me on High Street. 'You know,' he said. 'I make wedding cakes.'"

Hope you enjoyed this book spoiler :)
Love,
Sidny xoxo

Book Review: Next Summer by Hailey Abbott

 Title: Next Summer
Author: Hailey Abbott
Series: Summer Boys
Pages: 230
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Year Published: 2005

"Three girls. Too many boys. One tempting summer.
Beth:I know I love George. And everyone thinks we're perfect together. So why does that sexy new lifeguard keep flirting with me? And why do I like it so much?Ella:Bye-bye, bad girl. I'm  trying to change my wild ways. But there are so many yummy boys around this summer. How can I resist them?Kesi:Tim is totally not my type. Besides, after last summer, i need a break from boys. If only I could get him out of my head...
Things are heating up again. Can you handle it?"

My Rating: 10/10

Next Summer, is the second book in the Summerboys series. I love the fact that Hailey Abbott made a smooth transition from summer to summer. I felt as though I'd read through what happened during the year. Again I say, a wonderful transition. The characters in this series have captured my heart and I had a struggle with the drama and not yelling at them all at one point. Yes, I do talk to the characters in my books, and no I'm not completely insane; only a touch. This story, I thought improved from the first book in the series, which is rare in my reading. Not only have the characters tugged at my  heart strings, so has the setting. I have never been to Maine, but my desire to go has increased in leaps and bounds after reading this book. It sounds like a beautiful place.
THANK YOU HAILEY ABBOTT FOR A SUPRISING IMPROVEMENT! 

Hope you enjoyed,
Love,
Sidny♥♪♫

Spoiler: Next Summer by Hailey Abbott

I really loved this book! Next Summer is dramatic, captivating and heart-warming. I mentioned in the book review how I felt in tune with the characters and how I loved the setting but what I neglected to say was that I felt in tune with Beth the most. I guess that's because of some personal stuff going on (I haven't cheated like she did, but other stuff has been going on). I love the fact that Hailey Abbott made a clean transition between the end of last summer and the beginning of this one. I also enjoyed the setting, I wish with all my heart i was at the beach right now with my friends and Pebble Beach, Maine is a escape in my mind at least. I can settle for that :)

Characters:Beth: I love Beth, but my favorite thing about Beth is George and when that was in the air I was mad. I think I scared everyone in my house when I started swearing at my book. I love Beth, but the Adam thing was just wrong! I know being away from someone you love is hard, but you have to be strong and push through it. I'm so happy that George and Beth got back together though, anyone with me? I was also happy at the way she retold their last summer with the events and places, especially getting stuck on a roof of a house.

Ella: So Ella is a little out there, but still a great character in the story. Everyone has that friend thats sorta a man eater. And Ella is that character. In this book, we see a softer side of Ella where she really just wants what every girl wants; to be loved unconditonally. When Ella meant Jeremy, I thought he was gay when he wouldn't touch her or kiss her. As it turns out he's straight, just amazing! They are great together :)

Kelsi: I was shocked at the totall Kelsi makeover that we witness in the first few chapters. She is a changed person who realizes that a woman doesn't need a man to make her strong. But when she founds out what Ella did with Peter, she crumples and the strong exterior fades. I could hardly believe that Kelsi hadn't found out that Ella and Peter slept together. Unfortunately, Ella appears to be a good secret keeper. Kelsi in the end got an amazing man who is 10,000 times the man that Peter was.

Adam: What an idiot? Did he really believe that Beth would leave someone as amazing as George to be with him? He doesn't deserve Beth and he shouldn't have been so willing to help her cheat on George. I suppose he is actually a great guy, but it doesn't make me any less mad!

Jeremy: What a sweetheart? It's not very often that a girl meets a guy who wants to get to know her, not just get physical. I think that Jeremy is the perfect boy for Ella. She's a wild child and he's an easy going lifeguard; she winds him up, and he cools her down :)

Tim: Tim is a special kinda jock, who I'm not sure exsists out there. I hate to sterotypical, but in my experience jocks are usually uncaring and up for the physical side of a relationship, but not the emotional. Maybe that's just me. Hope that doesn't offend anyone.

Jamie: I was kind of disappointed that she wasn't going to be a main character in this book, but I think that Kelsi's view was more entertaining than Jamie's would have been.


Favorite Lines & Moments:♥Pg. 2
" 'So you think painting is going to be more fun than the beach?' she asked George sourly, picking up one of the rackets. She ran her hand across the tight web of strings and pressed it against the pads of her fingers. There was a part of her that wanted to beat George over the head with the racket- how could he possibly give up a summer with her to work a job that required him to breath in toxic fumes?"

♥Pg. 7
" 'It's not the same,' Beth cut in. She hated it when he was reasonable. 'It's supposed to be all the cousins. Jamie, Ella, Kelsi, and me. The four Tuttle girls. it's a tradition, and Jamie's breaking it. And you're like an honorary Tuttle cousin, so you're breaking tradition, too.' She pouted.
'Okay, please don't refer to me as your cousin again, because that's just creepy and gross,' George chuckled."

♥Pg. 13
" 'Drool much?' Kelsi teased apparently noticing Ella's appreciation of the long-limbed blond guy who ambled in front of the car at a stop sign.
'I never drool,' Ella replied, smling. 'I just... admire.' "

♥Pg. 53
"Ella couldn't help it if she had a certain power. Kelsi was a brilliant student. When Beth performed some athletic feat, everyone talked about her talent. Ella's talent was making boys drool. Everyone had to be good at something."

♥Pg. 137
" 'You need a plan,' Tim said.
'To do what? Murder her?' Kelsi smirked. 'I have several.'
'Easy, Terminator,' he said. ''

♥Pg. 204
" 'You were fine,' George told her. 'Except maybe for that middle part. I thought we might have to stay there overnight'
'Overnight?' Beth waved a dismissive hand. 'I was thinking forever, like garden gnomes.'
'We're too cute to be gnomes,' George said, and laughed."

Hope you enjoyed this spoiler :)
Love,
Sidny♥♪♫

Book Review: The Dangerous Days of Daniel X by James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge

 Title: The Dangerous Days of Daniel X
Author(s): James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge
Pages: 220
Publisher: Vision an imprint of Grand Central Publishing
Year Published: 2008

"Daniel X was born with the world's most extraordinary power: the power to create. With his secret ability, he can conjure anything and everything, from the animate objects to living, breathing people. This talent has helped him survive-- but couldn't save his parents from being brutally murdered. Discovering a strange list of names, Daniel vows to complete his father's mysterious mission and hunt down his family's assassin. Now, on his own, he must uncover the dark truth behind an apocalyptic struggle that will determine the fate of all mankind. But hot on his trail is a cunning killer-- one who knows exactly what Daniel X can do."

My Rating: 8/10

This is the second book I've read by James Patterson. I really enjoyed the first one I read by him and thought that I would rate this a ten for sure, but I couldn't seem to get stuck in the story. I enjoyed that the story was based on something we have no idea if it's true or not. It gives me the chills that I'm not sure what's really out there. James Patterson is amazing at working with the unknown. He makes things believable but friendly in a way as well. The humor in the story lightens it so the book isn't filled a dragging depression. Thank goodness. I was drawn in to the super powers thing, but it wasn't quite as I expected...
THANK YOU JAMES PATTERSON AND MICHAEL LEDWIDGE FOR MAKING THE UNKNOWN BELIEVABLE!

 

Next to read is Next Summer by Hailey AbbottLove,
Sidny♥♪♫

Spoiler: The Dangerous Days Of Daniel X by James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge

I'd like to start this spoiler off with a little fact about me. I don't usually read the description on the back of the book. For many readers, this is thought unthinkable, but here I am, a book reviewer who doesn't like the descriptions. See, to me, the descriptions leave nothing to the imagination and if they do, they tend to make the book sound better than it actually is. I feel better if I trust my own judgement.
So now maybe you understand why some of the books I've read haven't disappointed me as much as they might have, say if I had read the back.
This book is a perfect senario, I would have given this book a 5 if I had read the back first. But all and all this book was good. Not great or perfect, just good. I enjoyed the out of this world, literally, story telling. James Patterson did a great job with the character of Daniel but I found the other characters lacking.

Characters:Daniel: Oh boy, where do I start?! This kid is insanely smart!!! He makes Sheldon Cooper look like a dumb a**. He just knows things and I hoped that his superpower to create would be used to save humanity a little more one on one. I love Spiderman, so this whole fight a huge planet of aliens kind of lost on me. I wished that he had more of a damsel in distress, or a partner something that made me relate to the character a little bit more.

Seth: The source of evil in this book is named Seth, a horse headed alien who is also a major director in hollywood. I couldn't quite picture Seth because of my love for horses, but all and all he seemed very frightening. The Penelope act was GENIOUS! What better to trap a teenage boy than through his hormones?

Drang: I decided to treat these four as one characters as they aren't very complicated. I find it funny that Daniel is in love with Dana, his own creation. Mainly the group is there for Daniel in his time of need, even though they came from his mind.

Grandma Blaleen: By far my favorite character, she just seems like the regular grandma. You know, pinching your cheeks, baking cookies, doing surgery with gardening tools... :P

Favorite Lines & Moments:
♥Pg. 40
"And if you think about it, creating is the best superpower of them all. It's a whole lot better than being part spider."

♥Pg. 86
"By the way, I'm not crazy for thinking elephants are completely amazing. You will too when you know this true story: Elephants were brought to Earth about three million years ago. From my planet. It was my people's gift to Terra Firma."

♥Pg. 117
"I don't know about you, but whenever I'm slimed and hog-tied in the stow-and-go seat  well of a minivan, I tend to do a little soul-searching."

Hope you enjoyed.
Love,
Sidny ♥♪♫

Kate's Choice: Here's Lily by Nancy Rue

 Title: Here's Lily
Author: Nancy Rue
Pages: 128
Publisher: Zonderkidz
Year Published: 2000

"Welcome to the wonderful world of Lily Robbins!
 In this fun, first story in a seires that has sold over one million copies, you'll meet an awkward sixth-grader named Lily. After reveiving a compliment about her looks from a high-powered woman in the fashion industry, Lily obsesses over becoming a model, setting her sights on winning th 'model serach' fashion show. She packs away her rock and feather collection in exchange for pictures of teen models and fashion magazines. But when the unthinkable happens the night before the fashion show, Lily learns a valuable leasson about real beauty."

Kate's Rating: 9/10

The Interview:
Q. Why did you enjoy this book?
♥ I liked it because of all the story seemed very tied together. I didn't get lost.

Q. What was your favorite part of this book?
♥All of it!

Q. What is your favorite character and why?
♥ I like Reni cause she seems like a very good person, someone who is fun and nice.

Q. Would you continue reading this series?
♥ Yeah I think it would be a fun series to read.

Q. What was your favorite part?
♥My favorite part was the fashion show.

Q. Was this different from other books you've read?
♥It was different from other books I've read because it was a girl's point of view that made it easier to relate too.

Q. Why did you pick this book out?
♥ It looked interesting.

Q. Who would you recommend it to?
♥ I would recommend it to girls from the ages of 9-13

Q. If you could speak to the author, what would you say?
♥ I'd ask about other books in this series.

Love,
Kate & Sidny ♥♪♫

Book Review: Summer Boys by Hailey Abbott

 Title: Summer Boys
Author: Hailey Abbott
Pages: 214
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Year Published: 2004

"First boy. First Love. First time.
Ella: Peter was watching me all night- I could feel it. I wish he'd make a move already. Too bad he's my sister's boyfriend.
Beth: Suddenly George is lookin greally good in his swim trunks. I don't know what I'm thinking- he's my best friend. Do I want more?
Jamie: Last summer, Ethan and i fell for each other-- big-time. My feelings for him haven't changed but why is he pushing me away?
It's summer. It's hot. It's time to hook up."

My Rating: 9/10

Lately I haven't read that many chicklits and I felt it was time for one and so I picked out Summer Boys. I thought it would be a good beach read, or a pretend beach read since I might not make it there, and started reading. I really enjoyed the fact the story switched through three different girls. Although all three girls are related, not a one is alike. Beth is athletic, Ella is a girly girl and Jamie is an artist. It really gives the reader a chance to relate with at least one character. I felt close to all the characters and almost as though I was in a family enviroment of my own. I would suggest this book to anyone looking for a chicklit beach read.
THANK YOU HAILEY ABBOTT FOR A PERFECT BEACH READ!

 

Love,
Sidny♥♪♫