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By Emmy, Laura, and Liane






Thanks, once again, to Liane :)

The Castaways

The Low Down
Title: The Castaways
Author: Iain Lawrence
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Date: 2007
Main Components: Tricks, Schemes and swash-buckling adventures.
Interesting Detail: This book is up for a Red Maple award



The Castaways by Iain Lawrence gave me some troubles when trying to come up with a review that wasn't too harsh, but by the end of the book I was saved from having to do that. The Castaways is the story of Tom Tin and his four convict companions who come across a deserted ship. Of course, they take the opportunity and climb aboard, no knowing whether this boat is a blessing or a curse. After they pick up two castaways, Mr. Beezley and Mr. Moyle, Tom begins to suspect that these mysterious men he is beginning to hate are hiding something. Tom’s suspicions are confirmed when he overhears them plotting to get rid of him. His companions don’t feel threatened by these men however, that is until the men attempt to sell them all as slaves, a decision that ends with death for some and Tom sailing the ship to London. Once he reaches his destination, Tom searches for a diamond he buried hoping to give its curse to the man that caused his ruin, Mr. Goodfellow. In order to do this though, Tom has to figure out who can be trusted, and get rid of all those he cannot before he can truly be free.

The Castaways was a difficult book to love. Lawrence failed at capturing the reader’s initial attention, making it hard to want to continue the story. Often during the first few chapters I found my mind wandering. The book jumps right into the story with no background information and hardly any character development. This leaves the reader confused and bored at times. There are also some badly worded sentences in the beginning and sentences that are supposed to be exciting just die due to how they were written. An example of this is within the first few pages of the book. Lawrence builds up the suspense by describing a terrible storm that is approaching the ship. He is successful in conveying the characters fear at the approaching storm and their panic for their lives. Unfortunately, this “terrible” storm only lasted for about two very small paragraphs. It almost makes you feel cheated, here you are expecting to have a ruthless sea storm described to you and all you get is a few sentences of how they huddled in the cold as it rained and the ship rocked. The way this book started made me have little hope for it. Another thing that bugged me about it was that often Lawrence used the technical terms of the parts in the ship. When describing where a character was or what they were doing he would use words like ‘fo’c’sle’ and ‘hummock.’ The last thing a reader wants to do is interrupt the story to look up a word just so they could understand what was happening. Yes, it made the book authentic but it also made it confusing. The final thing that really bugged be about this book was the chapter titles. Chapter titles are supposed to make the reader interested and curious as to what was going to happen. In The Castaways, the chapter titles practically give away what is going to happen. For example, chapter seven is titled ‘The Castaways Come Aboard’ and chapter twenty is titled ‘I Find the Stone of Jacob Tin.’ These titles failed to interest me and chapter twenty’s title ruined the mystery and the suspense of whether or not the main character would be able to locate the diamond. Much of this book was a disappointment.

However, not everything about The Castaways was terrible. By the middle of the book I was able to become more interested in the story and finally I was able to piece together some kind of background information. Around the middle, it is almost like Lawrence changed his writing style. The descriptions get better, the action doesn’t fall flat and you are actually able to get caught up in the schemes and betrayal. By the end of the book I didn’t feel so negatively towards it. The ending solves most of the mysteries with only a few things left unanswered. All the important mysteries of the story were solved and those that weren’t leave the reader wondering. I was able to accept that I will never know what happened to some of the characters because they had very small roles in the story and the way the book ended was as if the main characters were just going off to solve the remaining mysteries.

I rate this book 2 late nights out of 5.

Originally, I was going to give it a one or even less, but Lawrence redeemed himself with the ending and improved his writing. It took a while for him to make the story exciting but when he did it was fairly good. Maybe I wasn’t able to get into the book because of its genre, as pirate books aren’t my favourite but maybe it was just his style of writing that failed to capture my initial attention. If you enjoy pirate books, I would recommend this book as a light read that is just for something to do as it is no literary masterpiece.

Other Fancy Tidbits
Price: $20.99 or borrow it from MW library
Other Books By Iain Lawrence: The Cannibals, The Convicts, Gemini Summer, B for Buster, The Lightkeeper’s Daughter, Lord of The Nutcracker Men, Ghost Boy and The High Seas Trilogy.
Website: www.iainlawrence.com

Iain Lawrence studied journalism in Vancouver, British Columbia and worked for the small newspapers in the northern part of the province. He currently lives on the Gulf Islands.

Jerk, California

The Low Down
Title: Jerk, California
Author: Jonathan Friesen
Publisher: Speak
Date: 2008
Main Components: Finding yourself, love, and struggling with an incurable disease.
Interesting Details: This book was inspired by the author’s own struggles with Tourette syndrome. There is an interview with Friesen in the back and at the beginning a list of books he recommends.

Wow, what a book. Jerk, California by Jonathan Friesen is exciting from beginning to end. This book depicts the story of Sam Carrier, a teenage living in a small town struggling with Tourette syndrome. What is this you may ask? Well, dictionary.com defines it as “a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent involuntary movements, including multiple neck jerks and sometimes vocal tics, as grunts, barks, or words, esp. Obscenities.” Jerk, California follows Sam’s story as he deals with his abusive step-father who cannot accept him for who he is, a mother who can’t stand up for him and a diseased father who he knows nothing about except what his lying step father tells him and that he also had Tourette syndrome. There are good people in his life though, there is a crazy old coot named George, Naomi, a girl he can’t understand why she likes him, his grandmother, and all his parents old friends that he meets on his journey. I would give a better synopsis than this but since I so highly recommend you read this book, I don’t want to risk giving even the smallest detail away. So go out and buy it or even borrow it from me if you want to know more.

Jerk, California captivates its audience from the first chapter. There is excellent character development, imagery and the way Friesen describes Sam’s emotions makes you feel as if you are inside his head. Whenever something mortifying happens to him because of his illness, you also cringe in embarrassment. I must say, this book can be quite the tear jerker as it is so amazingly written. Now I just noticed I have been making this out to be a depressing novel when it isn’t. Yes, there are sad parts and the whole concept behind it is heartbreaking but it is paired with eccentric characters and witty dialogue. It is laugh-out-loud funny and it is filled with twists and turns that you never expect, keeping you guessing and enthralled right to the end. I am not the only one with this opinion, Liane Vaz took it upon herself to text me in her excitement upon reaching part two of the book. When I asked what she thought of it the next morning after Liane finished it, she responded, “I love this book. Nothing more to say. Jerk, California was utterly hilarious and touching. There were unexpected twists and turns that kept my attention. I burned the midnight oil on this one.”

My only complaint with this book is that there are a few sentences here and there that could have been worded better, but not many. This is a small fault that was easily forgotten. Word of advice, if you know a sad part is coming, close your bedroom door or at least make sure you’re alone. I was ridiculed by my brother for days when he walked by my room to find my nose in a book with tears running down my face. I highly recommend this book, it makes you laugh, cry, cringe in embarrassment with the characters, have a better understanding of people with this disease and makes you think about your own life and how everyone takes a simple thing like sitting still for granted.

I rate this book 5 late nights out of 5.

That is the first full score I have given and it wasn’t given lightly, but this book deserved it. Now go out and buy it! Right now!

Price: $11.00
Other books by Jonathan Friesen: Jerk, California is his first book, amazing for his first time. He is currently working on another book called Rush.
Website: www. jonathanfriesen.com

Jonathan Friesen live in northen Minnesota on a small farm with his wife, three kids and many animals. He is often travelling aroudnt he world and when he isnt he is teaching gifted young writers in fiction. His own personal experience with Tourettes inspired this novel.

Brisingr

The Low Down

Title: Brisingr
Author: Christopher Paolini
Publisher: Knopf
Date: 2008
Main Components: War, Fantasy and Intense Dragon Battles! YESS!

Interesting Detail: The dragon on the cover is named Glaedr and Paolini wrote the first book to this series at age 15.

The third book in the Inheritance Trilogy is Brisingr, written by Christopher Paolini. This book was to be the third and final book but after realising how tremendously long it was turning out to be, Paolini decided to cut it into two. What was originally a trilogy, is now being called the Inheritance Cycle. Brisingr is the continuation of Eragon and his dragon Saphira’s story about their quest to end Galbatorix’s reign of terror against the people of Alagaesia. Now, don’t worry if you have a hard time pronouncing these names like Microsoft word is, man there are red underlines everywhere, because as always there is a very helpful pronunciation guide at the back of the book. Paolini definitely delivered with this book. It was packed full of intense action, descriptions that keep you glued to the page, twists and turns that keep you guessing and of course as with all books that have war in them, emotionally distressing scenes that you can’t help but tear up at. This book had its reader’s waiting a very long time for its release. Personally, I didn’t want to read the other two books over again just so I could remember what happened. Have no fear though, for right smack in the beginning of the book is a synopsis of Eragon and Eldest, covering all the important events that happened, something I greatly appreciated.

This 748 page book was filled with excitement. It may possibly be better than the first two books in the series; however, I may not be the best judge of that as I read those books years ago. As great as this book was, there was a lull in it. This happened in the middle of the book and its reason was because Paolini went into too much detail of Dwarvish politics. He took it upon himself to name all the Dwarvish royalty and many details about them. Now, for a fan that was obsessed with knowing every detail possible, this was fine, but it did force me to scan through those pages as they were incredibly dull. But, for a 748 page book to only have a few pages that are boring, that is quite a feat.

There are possibly only two words to describe this book, emotionally distressing. I must have gone through every emotion possible during this book. The suspense in some scenes is so intense I found myself clenching the book. At one point, I will not say which in case you decide the read the book, I actually had to close the book to get my thoughts and emotions in order before I could continue. Paolini did an excellent job of describing the scenery, the action and the emotions Eragon was going through without over-doing it (well, except for the Dwarvish politics description.)

I personally cannot wait for the fourth book but I do agree with Paolini’s decision to cut the book in half. I cannot imagine the book twice as thick and I think that if it was I would get a little tired of the story. There is only so much of one book you can take before you need a break. Liane Vaz, a fellow Inheritance Cycle enthusiast, has this to say, "This was a captivating, if super-long, book. I can understand why Brisingr is so huge, as Paolini takes his time describing events and scenery in detail. This is, for the most part, a good thing. But I didn't like how Paolini went extreme detail with dwarvish politics."

Overall, I loved it and would recommend the whole series as I can’t just recommend this one since you would have difficulty connecting with the characters without all the background information the other two books provide.

I rate this book 4.5 late nights out of 5.

I was unable to give this book a full score because if I had read that one scene of politics at night then I would have found myself waking up the next morning with the details of Dwarvish politics imprinted onto my forehead.

Other Fancy Tidbits
Price: $32.00 (It is hardcover, what do you expect? Worth every dollar)
Other book by Christopher Paolini: Eragon, Eldest
Website: www.alagaesia.com

Christopher Paolini wrote Eragon at age 15 when finished high school after being homeschooled all his life. At age 19 he became a New York Times bestselling author and currently resides in Montana, where the landscape provides inspiration for his descriptions of Alagaesia.

Water For Elephants

The Low Down
Title: Water For Elephants
Author: Sara Gruen
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Date: 2006
Main Components: Love, Murder and trying to survive when all odds are against you.
Interesting Detail: The book is filled with actual pictures of the circus

Sara Gruen’s recent novel, Water For Elephants, is a tale about a 23 year old man named Jacob Jankowski who unintentionally joins the circus after being told that not only is he an orphan, but he is also penniless...ouch! In an attempt to run away, he hops on the closest train only to find himself caught up in a world of murder, misfits and famous freaks. Jacob uses his veterinary skills to find himself a home among the animal performers, most notably a mischievous elephant named Rosie. Jacob finds himself trapped in a love triangle between the captivating performer Marlena and her charismatic but cruel animal training husband August. His only hope of survival is a murderous secret that could bring down the Big Top and all in it.

The novel, aimed towards adult readers, successfully immerses the reader in the world of the Benzini Bros Most Spectacular Show on Earth. The imagery in this book makes you feel as if you’re actually standing by Jacob’s side in the center of the circus with freaks, animals, high maintenance performers and common workers running around you. This book is like one giant flashback, every few chapters returning to present-Jacob as a trouble causing, rambunctious ninety-three year old man trying to stay sane in a nursing home. This book has everything a reader could want: murder, mystery, comedy, witty dialogue and even love. Gruen does a great job of creating captivating character that you just love or love to hate. Jacob Jankowski is a sarcastic and caring man even in old age, causing turmoil in the nursing home he hates that is filled with “slack-jaw dimwits” as he loves to call them. Marlena is a passionate woman who is stuck with her husband August, a man that if I could, would personally beat up. Now I don’t say that because his character was badly formed, on the contrary, he is so well developed that every move he makes wants you to scream out in frustration and wring his neck. But fear not, for there are many entertaining characters such as Walter, a defensive man that doesn’t seem fit for his job, a clown. There is also Rosie the elephant who you can’t help crack a smile at when you read about the newest problems she is causing for Mr. I-Am-Going-To-Beat-Animals-Because-Even-They-Can-Sense-I-Am-Not- Worthy-Of-Respect August.

This 2007 Book Sense Book of the year winner has a few little annoyances like all books do. It takes a few transitions between old and young Jacob to no longer get thrown and confused when suddenly the 23 year old is 93. There are also a few times I had to go back and re-read a paragraph as Gruen could get a little confusing at times. This book was well researched which gives it authenticity but also causes its downfall. This is because often Gruen will use technical terms referring to places or objects in the Big Top that force you to go back to the beginning where it defines them in a limited and confusing paragraph.

I found myself captured by this book after reading the prologue, which is filled with so many details that you feel as if you are there. The ending of the book brings tears to your eyes and sense of contentment. Often I will read a book and can’t wait to pick up the next one. However, with this book I had it on my mind for days, specifically because the ending left no loose strings. This just shows you can’t judge a book by its cover, or more accurately in this case, its title. Even I raised an eyebrow when I saw the title as it was presented to me at Christmas by my over-excited mom.

I rate this book 3.5 late nights out of 5.

The reason? As good as it was, I was able to put it down without too much difficulty to return to my dreaded units. However, the second I could, I came running right back to it trying to figure out what the big secret is. Trust me, the ending makes the occasional confusion and blasted character August all worth it.

Other Fancy Tidbits
Price: $16.50
Other books by Sara Gruen: Riding Lessons
Website: http://www.saragruen.com/

Sara Gruen was born in Canada and attended university in Ottawa. She is now living just outside of Chicago with her husband and three children. She travelled all across the country to different Big top museum and talked to many historians to have the novel as accurate as possible.

The low down

Hey all, so this is my first post and it should have come a long time ago. The purpose of this post is just to let you all know how this is going to work and the current books I am considering worthy of a review. Now I hope you all aren't too critical of my reviews as it is my first time writing them.
Potential Books To Be Ripped Apart (Not literally)

• Water For Elephants By: Sara Gruen
• Brinsingr By: Christopher Paolini
• The Castaways By: Iain Lawrence (Up for a Red Maple award)
• Jerk, California By: Jonathan Friesen
• Queen Of Babble In The Big City By: Meg Cabot
• My Sister's Keeper By: Jodi Picoult

At the end of each review I will be giving my final rating. I will judge how many out of 5 Late Nights it deserves. Why late nights? well whenever I am reading a book that I just cant put down, well lets just say I am late for school the next morning.