Book:Percy Jackson and the olympians book two: the sea of monsters

This book is a fine sequel to The Lighting Thief and does little wrong. It follows the same pattern ( which for me is a plus).Percy gets a quest and has to travel, but this time to the sea of monsters to save grover  which is located in the bermuda triangle. Which of course Rick gave is own spin on.
Also like the first book every encounter an or with a monster(s) is not to long or too short so the book keeps a nice brisk pace once it gets going it keeps moving along. I have to say that the pace of the book is one of its best feature, and great for keeping some of the younger readers interested. The book also brings in a new character tyson who at first i did not like but grew on me. another thing like the first book is the modern version of the gods and monsters this time stand out  being Hermes the chacter development is good as well. This book is a great seaquel on par with the first one. I think that fans of the first book will be far from let down with this.

(  9+ )
Stars:  * * * 3.7
By The B Team

Book:Percy Jackson and the Olympians book one: The Lightning Thief

by now you have already heard of these books or the movie based upon them. This book is the idea of what would happen if the Greek gods,goddesses, and mythology were real and lived in modern north America. and one of the highlights of the book is seeing what the author thinks these gods and  monsters  would look like in the modern world and all of them fit though its up for interpretation . also the book is a very fun, easy and enjoyable to read. it is written how a kid thinks not like an adult trying to write how a kid thinks and making it come off looking dumb. The characters are very good and the book flows nicely with a slow start but  once it gets started it rarely gets  dull throughout  book. Though it can be predicable and a bit cliché at times. But it captures a magic rare to find in kids books and can be easily compared to harry potter and comes the closest to topping potter  that i have seen but it is a lot fluffier and in some ways more enjoyable in the sense that there is no lasting  bully character  and that's nice as keeps Percy focused on the his enemies who are as fun to see in the modern world as the gods. the monsters in this book are pretty standard far with the likes of  the Furies. Also the action is very good not dull and does not get annoying.the humor in this book is very good not to much and pretty true to kids in real life. I recommend this book to anyone who wants a fun short and enjoyable book which will teach a few things without forcing it upon you.

9+
stars *** 3.7

 Reviewed by  The B "team"

Books: My Most Excellent Year

This book would not have been my first  pick. But the Mary Popins thing  got me. First off the book is good. It is not great it is just your bite of life book. Sweet,insightful  and all.  Just life. Nothing out of this world. No Magic. No space ships. Nothing that does not happen.Nothing that could never happen to the rest of us. I did not like every thing in the book.But I did in no way hate it. 

The writing was odd.And I could not see it being written any other way. odd or not it worked. I also like all the odd movie stuff.It add to the books realness in a lot of ways.I also liked the way the you could just see the plays in your head. And feel what it was like to be up there with them. So that was very fun for me to read about. I think it was fun to have all the baseball stuff. even if I did not know what I was reading.I know nothing about baseball.

And the best part of the book was by far the end.I love the end of this book.I love it! In a lot of ways it made the book well worth reading. it was the kind of ending that almost made you forget everything that you did not like. So  over all this book really rocked once you read the end.

! I think that a lot of you will like it ( and a lot of you will not like it so much those of you who do not like these real kind of books). Its a sweet story of high school. and how we do not know it but we can change lives in so many great ways. I think that any young teenager who wants to see life the way other people live it  will love this book. Really a good book when you take the time for it.and take it for what it is.

( YA-13 and up)

Stars:  * * * * 3.7

Webshow :House of Cards

I first became very interested in the show because its netflicks first show.The very first thing that they have done on their own. and I feel that is have changed the game. no matter how I feel about the show which we will get into soon. I think that had this aired on HBO it would be a huge hit. People everywhere would be only talking about this. It would also be up for a lot of Awards.Which in away its a shame its a webshow because the people who made the show now miss the chance to get the awards. But on the brightside for them they did a great job and have shown us that Netflix might be the new place for the shows that HBO does not pick up. and I think that its a good thing. Many more people will be signing up for netflix now. You get not only tons of hit and indie films alike but you also get a show that is up there with the top TV shows out there. and the best part you get to watch it all at once if you want or you can slowly watch it when you have time. either way its " a win, win".
Now on the review. the show is not going to be one that many people like. Its starts off very rough. and many might not want to watch the first one.
But something that blows me away is this the fact that Underwood is not a nice guy yet once you start watching the show you can't stop.
Robin Wright is very good. She does not have an easy time.At many times it feels like she is trying to do the right thing in a town were people only do the wrong thing.
Kate Mara is just as talented as her sister and could be a big start if she keeps up the good work. She stands out in this show which is a hard job.
I would also like to talk about the writing which is the hardest part. and they do a great job. I do not like many points of the story. I think that any show that has you watching it even though you hate them. and not the  kind you like to hate. the ones you out and out hate. And I think that this show will be one people are going to talk about for a long time. This show will also be a big helping hand to netflix and other webshows. And this also means not only do we get a great show now but that netflix will be hopefuly more great shows in the future.

( TV-MA )
Stars: * * * 3.7

Book: Sequins, secrets, and Silver linings

I found this book at the library as always and had to read it when I found out it was from the UK. It can be so hard to find books from other countries some times. and this looked cute.
And I have to say it was. I liked how this was like the UK's The Daughters. and I found it really fun and easy to read. I loved the how story with Crow and how she.... well read it for your self to know the awesome story that is hide in in side the book.
what I did not always like was how it was just like every other book i had read like it. the fact that it showed  3 girls that are just like every non-teen thinks teen-agers are. we are not  either fake in want to be an actor. we are not young workers and we are not the young girl trying to find her self in cloths. we are more then that and I wish the book would have tried harder to show us that. but other then that it was all good. I liked how it was cute it was. and how it was just a nice story of teen age friendship and how it is always changing and how you can still stay friends if you try.


(Tween/YA 11 and up)

Stars: * * * 3.7

Book:Matched

I have heard a lot if good things about this book.I have really wnated to read it but have not had the time. So when I saw this at the book store I had to get it. And I have to say that I loved the cover. But was sad to read that it had nothing to do with the cover.that really made me mad. I like the dress. but it had nothing to do with the green thing. I wish it would have been a scene from the book on the cover. the cover is cool. just not for the book its self.
as for the book. I liked it. but it was very slow book. the opening was awesome. but I was a little let down when the book stayed slow. I wanted more. I wanted to  more Si-Fi stuff. but there was none. yes it was really good Si-Fi. but it missed the high drama that comes with Si-fi. that is one of the keys to good Si-fi. it has to have lots of drama. it needs people fighting. love. anger, but this book missed that. other then I liked it okay. I liked the people in the story alright. they were good. need a little more to be good.
so really I was happy with the opening and mad at the end. it was to up in the air. and it did not leave me wanting to read the next one. I wish that this would have been just a little longer and that I could have had a good ending. what I would have also liked is that she write lots of books in the world she has made but that they are not about the people in this book.
 I think that teens will like this book because it shows us how we may feel powerless but be still make the choices that give us and other people the power. I like that in this book. I like how it shows us that some times we are alone. and that we have to do what is hard. and for a long time in the book that was not to talk not to tell any one what was going on.
also the book talks about how taking the choice away from the people will not take away the fact that they are people. and I like that. there is a lot of good in this book too.
so over all I liked and disliked this book. so this is a good  book for fans of slow  Si-Fi.

( YA- 13 and up. mostly for things that  younger kids do not get yet.)

Stars: * * *  3.7

Book Abandon

I love meg's books and the fact that every time she writes a book she always keeps the best things about her writing but she keeps it new and fun. I really liked this book.it was so good. not like I like her other books. I love her other books. but what I like is that this one is so new. it is not like  her other books.
this book was really good. I like people. I like the way the story plays out. it is a little slow at first but it gets a little faster. not by much.  but some how I did not mind at all.  meg has  a very very natural writing. that is easy and fun to read. and on top of that she is a great story teller. she knows how to make people and they're world come to life.
I liked how this book was dark. but it was about death and not werewolf's and stuff. it  was nice to read something that was done like this. the only thing I did not like was  how things did not always add up. she  did a bad job of making it a cliff hanger with out making it a cliff hanger.  well that is just about all I have to say about abandon. other then it was over good. not her best but very good.
this is a book for fans of her and fans of most books.

( YA-13 and up)
Stars: * * * 3.7

Movie: The Tourist

Every one said this movie was a wast. So I did not think it would be very good.  so yeah it would not the best of movies. but it is fun. I like it, a lot. and I love Johnny Depp. for an old guy he is really hot. like really.  and as far as Angelina Jolie goes I like her but her make-up  was way  heavy. She had so much on. and as for the story? well it was not great but I like it. I really like this movie. it is fun. and movies like books sometimes you need something lighter.  and come on this movie was just fun.  I liked it. and come on the end was fun. this movie is one that families will watch for fun for years to come.  so over all I like this film. a really good Rom- Com 

PG-13

Stars: * * *  3.7

Movie: You Again

You Again is a laugh out loud movie! a cute sweet movie.Great cast. I love this movie. It's not a life changing movie.but it is a really fun. And who can't love a Betty white movie?! This is not a great movie. But it's fun. As a great as hard movies Are some time we need a break. And this is just the movie to break with. All though the thinks in the movie would really go down like that. It's still fun.over all pretty good movie. And a must watch if you like chick ficks.

(PG)

Star:*** 3.7

Book: Stork

I when I saw the book at the library I thought "stork?" I had seen some reviews of it and thought that I should read it. I did not have high hopes for the book. but was very happy when I found that it was really good. not great but good.I like Kat and the hole LA to Small no where town. I thought she was very funny. and I love how she looked at everything like a really LA beach girl. I thought she had a lot going for her. I think that with out her sass and witt the book would not have been any were as good as it was.I thought that it was cool to read about her. The writer did a lot of thinking about her story. which was good because it made Kat feel and sound pretty really as I read it. One thing I did not like was jake. I know I know jake was great for some of you. but I did not lke him at all. I thought he was all wrong for Kat.I'm sorry I know a lot of you might have liked him but I really did not. I did not like he asked her to change her stlye. or how she will not go to the school of her dreams for him.if he loves her them he would get it not ask her to change for him. so with that aside I thought the book was good. not great but it was nice not to read about Vamps or Werewolfs. after reading this I could see my self reading more books about storks. I think it would be cool to see some books for Teens about storks for a change.
Over all a good book. I would change something but thats just me

( YA-12 and up)
 Star:* * * 3.4

Book:I Kissed A Zombie, And I liked It

This book was okay. not the best book but it was fun.I liked how it made fun of all the books like twilight and Shiver. But I was shocked at how it moved me. Doug's story touched me. it would not have moved me at all if it was not for the fact that a good friend of mine just lost her sister in a car crash. so this book might not move any one else but it did move me. not it was not like a big " Aha" but it did make me think. it made me want to try to live my life better. so it was good to read this book for that. I did like the love story of this book. over all not the best book in the world but it was okay. sort and sweet which I really liked. I was happy that the book did not go on for every like some books these days do. that it was funny but had a sweet part.
over all good not great but happy I read it.

( YA 13- and up)
 Stars: * * * 3.8

Book: Clockwork Angel

This book opened with a poor try at pulling you in. I do not see why the book opened like that. It just showing weakness by using death. and other nasty ticks. I mean yes it made for a good pull. but I feel like it was cheap move on the writers part she could have pulled us in with other doing what she did. it was poorly done. Her writing is good and Tessa was just fine you do not need to do all of all the... well the nasty stuff for us to like it and want to read it. I had opened the book with an open mind and after that I have a feeling this was just other trash of a 'new york times best' really I think it was just a selling tick. and really that does upset me. I know that her other books which I have not read are very well known and loved but I just feel that if all her books are going to be like this I will have a very hard time reading them.   because the frist page is the page that tells you the most about the book. and at times it  this page was trying to be the next Twilight meets harry potter. It was trying to hard. never a good sign. because you want a book to be fresh so much so that when you pick it up its like taking a shower after a long run. It wakes you up fills you with wonder and you have a hard time leaving. You find your thoughts randomly going there and thinking about it. the one thing that really did stand out for me  Tessa and Jem.There is something so real about them that pulls you in. and no matter what happens Will is always there to lighten the mood and make sure you never stay down. But all the fighting and the demon stuff did get old and when ever some one dies it feels to plained to pushed. never really like death.It makes it hard for you to like someone or a book when you feel like they are playing tricks on you all the time and they want you to get made and upset this book could have been great but it is not just because of that.]. but sadly this book made me feel like it was  trash because it at many times.  I can not believe that in all of the reviews I have read no one even said a word about how bad the book was. No were near as good as every one said it would be. its good but not that good mind you. I only hope that her other books where better and that the next one is a big step up.

( YA-14)

Stars:* * *  3.7

Book:East

This book is not one I would have read if not for the fact that it was a book club read( yes, I am a part-time book club member).And I could not wait to hear what every one had to say about it. So I read it.And I was very happy with the book. it is a retelling of the fairy tale "eadt of the sun,west of the moon". which I saw the movie of as a child. but unlike as a child I love this story. I did not love Rose. but I did love this book. it did not have a lot of heart but it did have a lot of story. I really liked it. the cover is not that great and it is not a book you might pick because of the cover but it is a book book. it is a book for fans of Graceling. I and another girl in the book club read the AIRHEAD books and liked them too. she and I both really like east. really one of the better teen novels.Sadly this book lost momentum around page 334. and it did not pick up again for the rest of the book. I found the end to be all wrong for this book. I feel that the loves story was a like weak for the book and the death a little to much for the book.The fairy tale part
that had the power to be great got played down till the poit where the story was lost in death and sorro.But the opening and most of milde was very good. I just wish that the book could have stayed true to its self and not gone so south.One thing was I did not really love Rose.I feel we did not get to know her as much as we needed to. with a book like this you need to know more about her. I feel every thing else was fine for the book. yes all the death did get old fast it did some how seem to work a little in an odd way. Rose need a little more work.
(YA-14 and up)
Stars:*** 3.7

Movie:Killers

 Well I really wanted to see this movie. I thought it was just my movie. well I was wrong. the name says it all. they where killers. And they did kill and they showed it. I liked the movie.But  I do not think that they need to show us the bodies and the blood.  I like the story. It was every funny. great movie to watch if you like Rom-Coms and movies about... well killlers. But the ending is not what you think it will be.just thought you should know before you see it.  I liked the cast. over all is pretty good. but  it is the name. it is like that movie Fool's Gold .

PG-13
Stars: * * *   3.7

Book: The Life & Opinions Of Amy Finawitz

 This book is not a great work.But it is a great fun read. it was like talking to a best friend for me. Amy is a fun girl. a Diva. but fun. and her plays are just great! I really liked this book. it is not like every Teen ( or YA) book out there. I like all the plays.  i think that they are a really funny. they made the book for me. the story was not that great. again just life. but Amy makes they book. I think that she is a  bit of an idiot my self. But once you get over that the book is pretty good. I like the book. but I thought Anna's Secret was OK. not as cool as I thought it was.  but over all the book was pretty good. not great. but it was really funny. I liked  Amy and how she changed for the start to the end.

(YA- 12 and Up)
Stars:* * * 3.7

Movie:Fool's Gold

well just like ever one I saw the TV adds for the movie and never wanted to see it.  I though it would just be some silly movie. like a really bad chick movie as some call it.but then one night I watched it. and I really liked it. funny. a little silly. but over all a really good movie.  it had love for the girls and it had  big bad with guns for the boys. it is a great date night movie or a good girls night movie. it is nothing life changing but it is a good because you smile when you watch it.

(PG-13)
Stars: * * * 3.7