Flush by Carl Hiaasen

Carl Hiaasen is also the author of Hoot, which I haven't read, and Scat, which I have read. Those books aren't really related or anything, but they all involve nature and animals- that sort of thing.
This specific book is about how a casino boat is doing illegal dumping, putting their crap into the water. After his father is sent to jail for sinking that ship, Noah and his sister Abbey try to stop the flusher themselves. They've got a few allies and a crazy plan of their own that just might work.
This book was very supportive of protecting nature and all that, which I am not ace on. But I still really liked it.
I'd suggest it to people who love nature of all ages. It's probably for younger children but reading a kid's book every now and then is always nice.
I'd rate this book a 9/10
~Mushu

I read this book when I was in third or fourth grade. I remember that I liked it. The idea was interesting and their plan was intriguing. I don't really remember too much character development which maybe if I re-read it I would find but off memory I don't remember a whole lot.

I think after I had read it I would have rated this book an 8/10 because it was good but not fantastic.
-Flounder

Bloodthirsty by Flynn Meaney

Vampire books are either something people are totally obsessing over, or are completely hating on. Especially Twilight vampires. I don't know about those guys, but in Bloodthirsty, vampires aren't real, but boy do some people wish they were.
Finbar isn't exactly the luckiest of guys. His brother is so much cooler, he never gets any girls and he's just... well, lame. But then things start to change. All the girl's at Finbar's school are interested in some book called Bloodthirsty. A book about vampires. After discovering the girls' obsession for vampires,  Finbar decides to become a fake vampire. It's pretty easy and people actually believe him; he starts attracting a whole lot of girls too. But when he meets a girl who might like him for who he is, then things get complicated. Maybe sometimes nice guys can get the girl... even without drinking blood or having sparkly skin.
I actually really liked this book. It was more or less ridiculous but still. The writing was very casual and easy to relate to and the book brought up some really good points. In the big picture, this book was pretty sweet.
I'd recommend this book to people who are sick of vampires, or maybe even those who love them.
I'll rate this book a 7/10
~MUSHU :D

1001 Cranes by Naomi Hirahara

I just want to say, I really liked the cover of this book, I'm not so sure about the story.
This book is about a girl named Angela who is sent to live with her grandparents and aunt while her parents work out their divorce. Life is very different there, and Angela is relunctant to adjust.
The writing and the plot were okay, I guess, but I REALLY didn't agree with the opinion the main character had on things all throughout the book. She actually really annoyed me and it took me a while to finish the book.
I'd suggest this book to people who like a simple plot.
I didn't really like this book, but it was okay so I'll rate it a 5/10
~Mushu

Kill You Last by Todd Strasser

Kill You Last is about a girl, Shelby, whose father becomes a prime suspect concerning the wherabouts of some missing girls after they each had a headshot taken by her father, a photographer. Life is getting really hard for Shelby and now she's not even sure who she can trust. And the main mystery is: what does her father have to do with these girls? And what happened to them, exactly?
I thought this was an amazing plot with great writing and I just loved it. It was a nice mystery that kept me wanting to find out what would happen next and there's even a big twist at the end. I would have never guessed it. The book wasn't actually all that scary though it sounds like it would be and though I usually find mystery a tad annoying, this wasn't.
It is also part of a "thrill-ology" but you don't need to read the other books. I didn't.
I highly suggest this to those who love a good mystery. Even if you just like a thin plot, the book's short so it'll be fine. Now if you don't like those little mystery books, try it anyway. I recommend it.
I'd rate this book a 10/10
~Mushu



I'm just going to flat out say it: this was a pretty good book but it wasn't as good as I thought it would be. It had like good writing and plot and all - I was totally hooked in the beginning and the ending was pretty good, too - but the Prologue or whatever was something that happened later in the book, so I was just getting pretty confused. Also, I felt like what happened to Gabriel was just overkill and that shouldn't have happened.

All in all I would rate this book a 8/10 because it was pretty good just that those extra things pushed it over the top and made it too much for one book. Also I would recommend this book to anyone who likes creepy books or horror or murder or stuff like that.

-Flounder

Radiant Darkness by Emily Whitman

An interesting twist on the Greek myth of Persephone kidnapped by Hades, Whitman did a good job I guess. She certainly made the myth a lot sweeter.
Paradise simply feels like a trap to Persephone with her overprotective mother. When a stranger arrives in her "paradise," Persephone feels drawn to the man and the new life he promised -a dangerous and exciting life. But the choice to leave with the stranger or stay with her mother will cause many, many changes, and some would be for the worst.
Call me old-fashioned, but I don't in anyway approve of Hades and Persephone's relationship. Even if they both truly loved each other. I do not approve. And I don't think Whitman (or this Persephone) realized that while Persephone is childishly in love and causing ruckus, Demeter was raped by Poseidon as she wandered the earth, grieving. Talk about sad. Well, ignoring that fact, this book was very good and enjoyable. I still don't approve of the relationship.
I'll suggest this to people who like reading Greek myths, twists to them, and romance.
I'd rate this book a 7/10 It was really good, no doubt, but I just didn't love it.
~Mushu

The Wedding Planner's Daughter by Coleen Murtagh Paratore

I read this entire book on Saturday. It's pretty short, only like 200 pages and fairly small sized.

This book is about a girl named Willafred (Willa for short) Havisham who is the wedding planner's daughter(I bet you didn't guess that). This is all the background info you get in like the first 3 chapters: Her dad was a poet and her mom fell in love head over sandals in love with him while her dad fell head over sneakers in love with her(that's what she says in the book, although not a direct quote). Everyone loved her dad. He worked across the pond and while he worked Willa's mom was planning the perfect wedding. Anyways, they got married and everything was perfect and then the next day her dad had gone to get a hot air balloon to fly in with her mom to their honeymoon. The hot air balloon didn't work and Willa's dad ended up going down in the harbor. But her mom still had Willa. Skipping to present day, Stella(her mom) is always afraid to fall in love and get hurt like she was when her husband died so Willa and Stella don't stay in the same place for over two years. They finally move back to Cape Cod where her grandmother lives and she has a whole bunch of friends and this is the story of her life there.

I really, really, really enjoyed this book. I had been looking through my bookshelf of books that my sister grew out of and lent me so I asked her which one she recommended and this was the one. At first I thought it was boring but once I got like 3 chapters in I was hooked and read it all the way through. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a short pleasurable read. That's what I was looking for when I read it and it was exactly what I got. I read it in the sunshine, I would recommend that too.

I would rate this book a 9/10 because it was really good and I liked it although it seemed like something I had read before and it was really short. Short and sweet, I guess.

-Flounder

Sarah Bishop by Scott O'Dell

I read this book for a project when I was in 4th grade so I don't remember all the details of the story.

I do remember that this is about a girl named Sarah Bishop and she has to run away to the woods, although I don't remember why. I remember that I worked on this project with my friend and both of us were really into it.

I would recommend this to people who like adventure books and kind of lonely books because there aren't all that many people in this book.

I think when I read it I would have rated the book high so something like a 8/10 or maybe an 8.5/10 but I can't really remember. Read it and fill me in. :)

-Flounder
p.s. sorry, I know that was super vague and short but I'll re-read it sometime I get the chance and then I can fill in all the gaps, deal? Deal.

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

I read this book directly after Catching Fire but had forgotten to write the review for both this book and Catching Fire. I have to add that I read each book in under 48 hours and I had a lot going on (i.e. school, homework, places to go, stuff to do). I liked this book; people kept saying it was the worst so I thought it was going to be super duper bad. But really what I think they meant was that the plot was upsetting, the writing was great it's just that you got mad at what was happening. It's nothing against the book, it's just the emotions you get. I really like how this book wrapped up the series and although the ending wasn't perfect for everyone, it was still an ending and not a cliff hanger.

This is the 3rd book in the series and I would recommend that you read the first two before you read this one. Spoiler for those of you reading book 1 and 2!!!!: This book is about District 13 and the rising revolution. This book is about Katniss as the mockingjay. I have to say that this book was really sad and made me cry. The ending had some parts that really upset me and made me mad but the epilogue made it kind of okay because I knew that in the end she was happy. 

I would really recommend this book to anyone who read the first two. I would recommend the whole series to anyone who likes romance, action and adventure. 

I would rate this book a 9/10 because I have to show you how I really appreciated the first two books and this is my way of expressing it. 

I would rate the series as a whole 9.5/10 because it was really well written and the plot was amazing and it was super wonderful but it also wasn't perfect, although this could really have been because I'm kind of grading the happiness of the plot along with the books themselves. This was an amazing series, I would recommend this to everyone. READ THIS SERIES!

-Flounder

Happy Easter!

Hey guys, it's Easter! I hope you all enjoy your holiday Sunday. Don't forget that it's not all about the eggs and the candy. This day is really about the risen Lord. Although you can enjoy the eggs and candy as well. Enjoy ;)

-Flounder

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

This book is the 2nd in The Hunger Games series. I read this directly after I read The Hunger Games because I had to find out what would happen next.

This book is about how Katniss and Peeta and Gale are all living in District 12. Katniss and Peeta have to go on tour again where they find out the dangers of kindness towards other districts. Then it is time for the next Hunger Games and they know that they will have to mentor kids from their district. But it's a Quarter Quell, the 75th Hunger Games, meaning that there will be a twist to this game. For the first Quarter Quell the tributes were voted on. The second Quarter Quell twice as many tributes were required. Well this year they learn that they will be selecting for the previous winners. Katniss has to return. She'll be fighting either Peeta or Haymitch. This doesn't look good for her.

I actually really enjoy this book. I would recommend reading The Hunger Games before you read Catching Fire but the plot is pretty much explained for you again in Catching Fire so if you don't read The Hunger Games you'll be alright.

I would rate this book a 9.5/10 because it was super duper good but the first book was still better and I have to express that someway.

-Flounder

Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

I finished this book Thursday. I had started it a while ago but then got distracted with The Hunger Games series (<3, go check it out!) But then when I had gotten just about halfway through this book, I put down my homework and spent the entire afternoon reading until I finished it. I'm such a sucker for books.

Anyways, this is a book about a girl named DJ Schwenk. She lives on a farm and has to do basically and the work because her mom teaches 6th grade and is currently the acting principal, her dad hurt his hip, her younger brother, Curtis, plays on a baseball team and DJ's two other brothers, Win and Bill, moved out after The Fight that tore their family apart. Brian who plays on Hawley's football team is sent by his coach, a family friend of the Schwenks, to get training from DJ because she knows quite a lot about football and it was her idea he gets a trainer. Win and Bill played for Red Bend, and DJ goes to Red Bend so DJ and Brian have kept training a secret in fear of their rivaling schools and rivaling parents getting mad. This is DJ's story.

I have to say that I really enjoyed this story. Football and farming have a lot to do with it. But if you don't like football, you might still like this book. I hate football and I still love this book. It had a nice plot that made me feel for the characters. I would recommend this to anyone who likes reading about relationships and gets head over heels into books.

I would rate this book a 9/10 because it took me a few tries to get into it although once I did, I was hooked!

-Flounder
p.s. in the back of the book I read there was a second one, we'll see if I read it ...

Snow White by the Brothers Grimm and Camille Rose Garcia

Ah, Snow White. A fairy tale classic. This version I read was based on the real one, I'm pretty sure because it involved the step mother eating a boar's heart and lungs and stuff. I don't know if the words were by the original people (I think they were) but the art was by Camille Rose Garcia.
About the story, as many of you may know Snow White is about a young girl named Snow White who was very beautiful. Snow White's stepmother always thought of herself as the fairest in the land but when her magic mirror tells her Snow White is more fair, the evil stepmother tries to kill the girl.
I like this story in general and the art of Garcia added a nice touch. The art was different from your average kind. Kind of gothic, funky and very interesting. I didn't really like how the prince was drawn. He looked evil. It's also ridiculous reading how the prince and Snow White got together... but oh well.
Though many of you know this story, I still suggest reading the book to enjoy the art that comes with it. I probably don't recommend this to younger kids because the art might just scare them a little.
I rate this book a 8/10 for the art and the story.
~Mushu

Magic or Madness by Justine Larbalestier

This book certainly was an intriguing one. The beginning was very boring though, and more than once I considered to never pick up the book again. Eventually, I reached a quite interesting point. Because I am very stubborn and the book kind of hooked me, I ended up finishing it. But I can't say I like it. While there are books where I remember reading from when I was much younger, I just read this last year and I can barely remember the slightest details.
The book is about a girl named Reason who is first discovering that she has magic. She always thought her grandmother was mad but when her mother has a mental breakdown and Reason has to go to her grandmother, she begins to find out the truth.
I think it was also something like, "accept the magic or go mad."
An interesting plot, but the writing wasn't awesome and second of all, I don't like how things went. Misunderstandings, mean to the innocent, unfair forcing, that kind of thing I can't stand.
I'd recommend it to those who can deal with a thick plot and love fantasty
I rate this book a 5/10
~Mushu

Reality Check by Jen Calonita

I can't say I loved this book but it still was amazing. Though the overall story seemed quick, there was a lot of intro and rising action before the climax. There was also a lot of typos in the text which kind of bothered me, but it wasn't too bad.
Also, if you plan on reading this book, don't read the summary provided on the front flap. It's slightly incorrect and mentions something that isn't even mentioned until three-quarters into the book
Reality Check is about Charlie and how she and her three best friends are invited to be the stars of a reality TV show, The Cliffs, obviously they couldn't turn down such a promising offer. The show was supposed to be a pure reality one about their friendship, but things stray sadly afar from that idea. Their friendships start to break up; the show is turning up nothing as they imagined. Soon, The Cliffs, is something Charlie wants to completely step away from. The four friends gave up a lot to get on the show, and they'd have to give up a lot to get off it.
I hated all the back stabbing, misunderstandings and betrayals that took place in this book but it was acurate, well-written and down right amazing. There was a nice and happy ending, even if there was one part that kind of wanted to make me cry. It was upsetting, but in a way that showed that the author was amazing and got me feeling just how I was supposed to.
Oh yeah, I also absolutely LOVED the cover of the one I read. It's like doll-versions of the main characters. It was cute and looked like how it was supposed to.
I'd suggest this book to anyone who loves a good teen fic or watches all those cheesy reality shows. And even if you don't, this was an amazing book that's worth a try.
I'd rate the book a 8.9/10
~Mushu



I read this book in like 1 day so that kind of says a lot about it. It was an interesting concept and I really liked it. The characters had a certain fiction to them that made them more interesting. I agree with Mushu that the cover was pretty cute and it made sense - people become plastic when they're put on TV. Once I started this book I just really had to finish it. I would totally suggest this to people who like shows like The Bachelorette [which is waaaay better than The Bachelore, personal opinion] or Love in the Wild or Keeping Up With The Kardashians or any reality show because the book is from the perspective of someone on a reality show so you get to see what how things get taken out of context as well as things getting omitted and stuff like that.

I would rate this book a 8.7/10 because it was a pretty good story and everything, it just had a lot of typos and wasn't completely perfect.

-Flounder

The Storyteller by Antonia Michaelis

This was one of the most amazing books I have ever read. I'm asuming this book was originally written in German because that's where the book takes place and it was translated. Unfortunately, I don't know who the translator was but give them credit too; they did an amazing job in translating! I'd most definately suggest this book to anyone.
The book is about Anna, a good girl, and Abel, a rough-looking kind of guy who is actually very nice and simply trying to take care of his younger sister, Micah. After slowly getting to know Abel more and more, Anna gets to hear the beautiful fairy-tale which Abel tells his sister. Abel has many problems living the way he does, and Anna is more than willing to help, if Abel would just let her. But then when people messing with Abel wind up dead, all fingers point to Abel himself. Anna can't help but wonder- is she in love with a murderer?
I wasn't drawn in right away, but I soon enough was! The writing of this book is very formal and I'd just recently read a teen fiction so I guess I just wasn't prepared. At times I was a little confused, but everything quickly made sense after I read on. The plot was very thick and there were so many twists in the story, it was hard to ever put the book down.
Someone once told me, "American stories often have basically happy endings. Well, you should read a European story. It's much more meaningful and realistic." Very true. In the end, everything somewhat turned out alright, but not everything was perfect. It was so, so sad I was about to cry. And I don't usually cry over books. It was also kind of mature... So if you can stomach an extremely sad and mature story, DEFINATELY, without a doubt, read The Storyteller. The only thing you will regret is not reading it sooner. And sorry this is so long...
I'll rate this book a 10/10
~Mushu

April Fool's

Happy April Fools! :P Well, if you could consider it happy. While some fool's jokes are silly and fun, some could be awful. So make sure you won't actually hurt somebody before you pull a prank.
Partially thankfully, this year April Fools is on a weekend so there is no reason to stay on my guard!
To all of you who are left exposed to jokes, good luck and have fun!
~Mushu