Tag Archives: Action

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey (review by Catherine H. ’17)

December 2, 2013 mspelmanlibrarian Leave a comment

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

When the aliens come and the human population is brought to its knees, only a few unlucky people survive. Cassie Sullivan, her brother, and her father were lucky enough to live through the first few waves, but when they are separated, her only mission is to find them. Armed with a gun and her wit, Cassie struggles to stay alive in this apocalyptic world. When she meets the mysterious Evan Walker who offers to help her, she doesn’t know whether or not to trust him. Rick Yancey has imagined a truly terrifying world where the enemy looks human and no one can be trusted. Though I thoroughly enjoyed the action and the plot, the strange love triangle just doesn’t seem to work out so well. Some of it was confusing and not well connected. I would only suggest The 5th Wave to people who are looking for a sci-fi or dystopian read. – Catherine H. ‘17

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Allegiant by Veronica Roth (review by Eddie S. ’17)

November 10, 2013 mspelmanlibrarian Leave a comment

Allegiant by Veronica Roth
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Allegiant, the third and final installment of Veronica Roth’s critically acclaimed Divergent series, takes off immediately where the second book left off, providing readers with an effortless transition. Readers and characters alike are forced to cope and adapt to some new circumstances, however. Previously, as the factions are rendered merely a scheme, a newer, larger setting is introduced. In addition to the plot shift, alongside Tris’s love interest Tobias Eaton shares narration. Roth cleverly makes this change in order to provide further insight into their relationship and the individual development of the two protagonists. Truthfully, the genuine beauty of this book lies in the bold, visceral outcome of the story. Filled with raw, intense emotion, virtually no one is left unscathed, and the ending is bound to elicit acute feelings and startle readers. Roth alters several concepts in terms of narrative, develops the prevalent relationships and themes, and wraps up the story with a stirring ending, ultimately providing readers with a riveting finish to the trilogy that does not disappoint. – Eddie S. ‘17

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Night Watch by Terry Pratchett (review by Andrew R. ’17)

November 4, 2013 mspelmanlibrarian Leave a comment

Night Watch by Terry Pratchett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As Commander of the City Watch, Sam Vimes is one of the happiest, wealthiest, and most powerful men in Ankh-Morpork. And he owes all his success to his mentor, John Keel, who taught him all he knows nearly thirty years earlier. Today, as Vimes chases a dangerous murderer through the streets, both men are sucked through a time portal and land in the Ankh-Morpork of thirty years ago. It’s bad enough that Vimes is stuck in one of the darkest periods of the city’s history—but the situation is made much, much worse when the criminal kills John Keel before his time. While writing a time-travel novel, many well intentioned writers fail to come up with a convincing theory for how to send their characters to another era; Pratchett avoids this trap entirely by intentionally putting forward the least convincing, but most entertaining, argument I’ve ever read. Science-fiction purists may have a hard time swallowing his theory (which includes monks with brooms, quantum physics, and the Baked-Bean Tin of Universal Oneness), but any other fan of the Discworld will enjoy this City Watch novel as much as the rest of Pratchett’s series.

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Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb (review by Elisabeth S. ’16)

October 30, 2013 mspelmanlibrarian Leave a comment

Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ship of Magic is the first book of a delightful trilogy that details the adventures of 7 or 8 POV characters, featuring the headstrong Althea Vestrit as the catalyst in a fictional world shared by Robin Hobb’s other series. Due to the ambitions of her brother-in-law, Althea has been stiffed out of her inheritance, the prized Vestrit family liveship that she has spent her entire life aspiring to captain. She will stop at nothing to regain her birthright. Meanwhile, out at sea Captain Kennit has goals of his own, which involve stealing a liveship of his own. The wills of beautifully written and believable characters clash in this adult fantasy novel which guarantees to keep all readers on the edge of their seats. With the character of Wintrow, a thirteen-year-old priest made a slave by his own father, and the seemingly sentient liveships, Ship of Magic raises interesting ethical questions about what is moral and what isn’t, concerning the ownership of another sentient being. All in all, this book is strongly recommended to high fantasy fans looking for a wonderfully inventive series to keep them occupied for awhile. – Elisabeth S. ’16

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The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan (review by Nikita R. ’16)

October 22, 2013 mspelmanlibrarian Leave a comment

The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thirteen-year-old Percy Jackson is once again brought into a world full of danger and uncertainty when he undertakes a dangerous quest to rescue his best friend Grover from a vulgar, monstrous Cyclops. Traveling with his half-brother Tyson and his comrade Annabeth, the trio experiences a lifetime of adventures as they encounter the mythological foes of legends, from the cunning sorceress Circe to the fearsome monster Charybdis. Full of engrossing, distinct characters, the strongest point of Sea of Monsters is the rich, humorous dialogue that reveals a phenomenal level of characterization, while also making the reader chuckle. Riordan’s world of mythological wonder mixed with relatable personal struggle makes this novel a must-read for teenagers and adults alike. – Nikita R. ’16

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The Hunger Pains by The Havard Lampoon (review by Kai A. ’17)

October 11, 2013 mspelmanlibrarian Leave a comment

The Hunger Pains: A Parody by The Harvard Lampoon
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Based on The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Pains follows Kantkiss as she unwittingly accepts being volunteered for the Hunger Games in place of her sister, Princess, and proceeds to the Capital with the affable but pudgy Pita. The Harvard Lampoon pokes fun at Collins’s sensation, distorting it into a laughable story revolving around Kantkiss’s obliviousness, which allows The Lampoon to mock the characters and plot in a sneering, sarcastic tone. The Hunger Pains begins with an introduction of the main characters and a creatively expanded historical background, though a little too much emphasis on names and an incredible amount of stereotyping. Additionally, the humor is enjoyable but sometimes limited, starting out as juvenile and transforming into inappropriate. In summary, The Hunger Pains is a quick, easy read made for those who are easily amused and need a laugh, but nothing more. – Kai A. ’17

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Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor (review by Maya V. ’17)

October 1, 2013 mspelmanlibrarian Leave a comment

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Daughter of Smoke and Bone tells the story of a teen on a journey to discover her true identity. Karou, a young art student, knocks on a door that can only be opened from the inside. It leads to a house in the middle of an unknown realm; she is not allowed outside this house. Her only family is four chimaera that collect all sorts of teeth. Suddenly, strange handprints start appearing on doors, and before she knows it, she is left alone. Where did her family go? How was she born into that alternate world? Is she even human? Even though the novel is quite lengthy, I can assure you that you will finish the book wishing that it was even longer. Taylor does such an excellent job of foreshadowing events that you will not be able to sleep before finishing the book. If you are a fan of plot twists, fantasy, romance, and violence, this book is definitely for you. – Maya V. ‘17

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The Rise of Renegade X by Chelsea Campbell (review by Monica K. ’14)

September 24, 2013 mspelmanlibrarian Leave a comment

The Rise of Renegade X by Chelsea Campbell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I would just like to say: The Rise of Renegade X is a seriously cool read, whether you’re a hardcore comic book fanatic, a lover of The Avengers/Thor/the next major superhero movie, or none of the above. Set in Metroville, the city with the highest concentration of superheroes and villains in the US, the novel introduces a world where every young hero and villain gains their power, their acceptance in respective training academies, and a H or V on their left thumb on their sixteenth birthday. Damien Locke is just one of the many villain hopefuls waiting for his sixteenth birthday. However, he is in for a nasty surprise when an X instead of a V materializes on his thumb. The novel follows his crazy adventures as he finds love, the true identify of his father, and his own true self as well. Even with its refreshing, hilarious take on superhero mythology, the element of the novel that really carries the story is Damien’s warped, obnoxious, highly entertaining personality. Highly recommended to fans of the superhero genre and those in the mood for a fast-paced, engaging read. – Monica K. ‘14

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Screwed by Eoin Colfer (review by Mrs. Vaughan, Harker librarian)

September 9, 2013 mspelmanlibrarian Leave a comment

Screwed by Eoin Colfer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Eoin Colfer successfully follows up his first adult crime novel Plugged with Screwed. Former member of Ireland’s UN forces in Lebanon and current New Jersey night club owner, Daniel McEvoy is back wending his way through the unintentional but thrilling labyrinth that comes with living on the seedy side. Small time Irish crime boss Mike Madden has McEvoy over a barrel and wiggling his way out forces loveable if slightly unbalanced McEvoy to suffer a host of dangerous fools and predicaments. The action is top notch and, like Elmore Leonard and Carl Hiaasen, littered with whip-smart humor. Colfer provides more back story in this second novel and weaves in information about McEvoy’s alcoholic father and doomed mother and brother as well as McEvoy’s experiences in the Middle East. Colfer further develops characters introduced in Plugged and adds a few more, all colorful and keenly crafted. Like his young adult Artemis Fowl series, Colfer proves he can sustain a character through more than one ever-twisting plotline. And like Artemis Fowl, let’s hope there’s no end in sight for McEvoy’s travails and adventures. – Mrs. Vaughan, Harker librarian

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Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch (review by Kacey F. ’15)

August 29, 2013 mspelmanlibrarian Leave a comment

Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As a sequel to the stunning first novel The Lies of Locke Lamora, Red Seas Under Red Skies continues just about where its predecessor left off, starting with the recovery of the two main characters. Before long, the inseparable Locke and Jean are back at what they do best: clearing the nobility of Tal Verrar of everything under their noses through multi-layered, unpredictable grand schemes. Even so, the two see their share of hardship and deceit as they get swept under an increasingly uncontrollable and bloodthirsty political web. Compared with the first book, Red Seas somewhat falls short as a result of its wavering and complex plot. It succeeds, however, in brilliantly furthering the compelling relationship between the two reprobates that readers first fell in love with in The Lies of Locke Lamora. Deploying all the world-building craft of a video game designer and skilled fiction writer, Lynch weaves an action-packed story complete with some of the snarkiest characters you will ever meet and an ending that will leave readers agonizing for The Republic of Thieves. – Kacey F. ‘15

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